We begin today’s roundup with John Cassidy’s analysis of Donald Trump’s embattled Veterans Affairs nominee Ronny Jackson:
[W]hatever comes of the allegations against Jackson, there is virtually nothing to suggest that he is a suitable choice to run a complex and vital federal department that employs more than three hundred and fifty thousand people, has an annual budget of close to two hundred billion dollars, and has a history of deep problems. Even Trump, during his press conference on Tuesday, conceded, of his nominee, “I know there’s an experience problem, because lack of experience.” And now Jackson’s ability to run even a small organization, the White House medical team, has been called into question.
Jackson is the one under assault. But the entire episode is another indictment of Trump, and of the cavalier and narcissistic fashion in which he approaches the Presidency. Clearly, Trump didn’t bother to order any proper background checks before nominating Jackson. It was enough that the physician was a member of the armed services and had informed the world that—contrary to appearances and the judgment of outside medical experts—Trump is in excellent physical and mental shape.
Here’s Ryan Cooper’s take at The Week:
I have a friendly piece of advice for anyone who might be considering serving in the Trump administration, or indeed working for Trump in any capacity whatsoever: Don't. [...]
Even if he were squeaky clean personally, he's not remotely qualified in the first place. Trump appears to have nominated him because he said nice things about Trump on TV once, and because he's quite handsome.
If Jackson faceplants on his nomination and is forced out of the White House, it will be the 42nd high-level Trump administration employee to resign or be fired by CNN's count. This has to be most unstable administration since the development of the modern executive branch — if not all of American history.