The Briefing with Jen Psaki

Episode Title: OFF THE RAILS: Rand Paul beef with Markwayne Mullin adds surreal layer to bizarre hearing
Date: March 19, 2026
Host: Jen Psaki, MS NOW
Guests: Senator Mark Kelly, Congressman Maxwell Alejandro Frost, Senator Mark Warner

Episode Overview

This chaotic episode unpacks a series of Capitol Hill spectacles marked by partisan infighting, questionable qualifications, and increasing dysfunction amidst escalating global crises. Jen Psaki guides listeners through a dramatic Senate hearing on the confirmation of Markwayne Mullin as Homeland Security Secretary—dominated by his personal feud with Senator Rand Paul—while paralleling it with a separate intelligence hearing starring Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, herself dodging questions about Iran and election security. The episode also covers an explosive closed-door House briefing on the Epstein files, raising further concerns about transparency and accountability in Trump’s administration.

Key Segments and Insights

1. Capitol Hill Sideshow: Mullin vs. Paul and Bizarre DHS Hearing

Timestamps: 01:00 – 09:41

• Senate Confirmation Meltdown:
  The show opens on the surreal energy of Markwayne Mullin’s confirmation hearing to lead the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), immediately derailed by his ongoing, publicized animosity with Committee Chair Senator Rand Paul.

  • Background: Mullin previously called Paul “a freaking snake” and even empathized with the Kentucky neighbor who assaulted Paul in 2017.
  • Senator Paul’s Challenge:
    • “Tell the world why you believe I deserve to be assaulted from behind, have six ribs broken and a damaged lung… why they should trust a man with anger issues to set the proper example for ICE and Border Patrol agents.”
      (Rand Paul, 05:28)
  • Mullin’s Defiance:
    • “Actually, it wasn’t heated. And I’m not apologizing for pointing out your character.”
      (Markwayne Mullin, 06:13)

• "War Hero" Claims and Evasions:
  Mullin is confronted over his repeated claims regarding secret military missions and the “smell of war,” despite never serving in the military.

  • Senator Kelly’s Challenge:
    • Asks Mullin to clarify his “smell of war” comments and details on supposed classified missions.
    • Mullin’s response: “It was done here… in the House... I have no idea.” (07:20–07:44)
  • Jen Psaki’s Reaction:
    • Sarcastically: “It was a super secret mission… so secret he doesn’t even know about it himself.” (07:57)

• Disqualifying Ignorance of DHS Operations:
  Mullin fumbles basic questions on the primary mission of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

  • Instead, delivers a word salad about “being in the same boat.”
  • Psaki highlights: “That didn’t even come close to describing HSI’s primary mission… All important stuff. Senator Mullen, though, didn’t appear to know what HSI is.” (09:41)

• Senator Kelly’s Verdict:

  • “Yeah. I mean, I'll be a no. This agency needs to be overhauled. We need somebody who knows how to do that. It’s not going to be an easy job.”
    (Senator Mark Kelly, 29:03)

2. Dysfunction at the Top: Tulsi Gabbard and the Iran War Hearing

Timestamps: 09:41 – 22:57, 36:11 – 44:46

• DNI Testimony Undermined:
  Tulsi Gabbard, now Director of National Intelligence, is called out for last-minute omissions in her opening statement that contradict Trump’s claims about the Iran war and nuclear threat.

  • Senator Mark Warner’s Interrogation:
    • “You chose to omit the parts that contradict the president.”
      (Warner, 11:51)
    • Gabbard insists the omission was due to time constraints, but her written remarks state Iran’s program was “obliterated” with “no threat.”
  • Gabbard’s Dodges:
    • “The only person who can determine… an imminent threat is the president.”
      (Gabbard, 14:08)
    • Senator Kelly: “False. This is… where you present to Congress national intelligence independent of political considerations.” (Kelly, 14:14)

• Fundraising Scandal:
  Gabbard is blindsided by a question concerning a pro-Trump fundraising email offering “private national security briefings” to donors.

  • “I'm not familiar with that document…” (Gabbard, 15:26)
  • Jen Psaki’s incredulity: “Her entire domain is America’s secrets… You’d think someone would have told her an email went out offering to sell those secrets.” (15:33)

• Consequences of Yes-Men Culture:
  Senator Kelly laments the administration’s loyalty-over-competence ethos and the dangers of unchecked escalation:

  • “These are the kind of things that happen when you have an administration that's full of a bunch of yes people... We are at war with a country with no strategic goal, no plan, no timeline, no end state, no exit strategy.”
    (Senator Mark Kelly, 16:48–18:40)
  • Kelly on intelligence assessment: “Part of her job is to try to coordinate all this stuff between these agencies… but it is also her role to decide what to bring him. The stuff at the top of the list is, hey, here's the stuff we have to react to right now. Here’s the imminent danger. That's in the job description.”
    (Senator Mark Kelly, 21:28)

• Chilling on Election Security:
  Senator Warner returns to emphasize the omission of foreign election threats in this year’s intelligence assessment.

  • “It’s much easier to intervene in a free election than to buy a new aircraft carrier... We've known Russia, China, Iran, others do this… If we have a corrupted election because Donald Trump does not trust the people of America to vote, we’re in a heap of trouble.”
    (Senator Mark Warner, 41:00)

• Warner’s Fears:

  • “I never thought I'd say that at this point in my life… I have never been more terrified about the security of our elections than this year.”
    (Senator Mark Warner, 40:27)
  • “This president is so obsessed… will he use the power of the national intelligence offices to… intervene federally in these elections?”
    (Senator Mark Warner, 39:00)

3. Epstein Files Cover-Up: Pam Bondi’s Closed Door Standoff

Timestamps: 31:20 – 36:11

• Contentious House Briefing:
  Attorney General Pam Bondi holds a closed-door session on the Epstein files, but Democrats walk out in protest, led by Congressman Maxwell Frost.

  • “We asked her multiple times, are you going to… speak with us under oath? She would not say yes… Because she’s a liar.”
    (Congressman Maxwell Frost, 31:42)

• Staged Hearing and Accountability:
  Frost details the setup: a faux hearing without oath or transcript, which he calls an attempt to escape a subpoena for formal testimony.

  • “What I think was really happening is they were trying to set up the basis for her to try to weasel herself out of coming to the deposition under oath. That is very much needed.”
    (Frost, 32:10)

• Public Trust and Cover-ups:

  • “She’s involved in one of the greatest coverups we’ve ever seen with the Epstein files. There were literally files about Donald Trump that were not published…”
    (Frost, 32:10)
  • On why a real deposition matters: “It’s a lot more of a serious thing that I think will uncover a lot for us.”
    (Frost, 35:09)

4. Lingering Questions and Broader Takeaways

Timestamps: Throughout

• Will Officials Follow the Law?

  • Mullin refuses to directly say whether he would follow the law or a potentially unlawful presidential order:
    • “The President would never ask me to do that.” (Mullin, 23:24 & 25:38)
    • Senator Kelly: “I don't know what’s wrong with them, why they just can't say, I'm always going to follow the law… We are a country of laws.”
      (Senator Mark Kelly, 27:19)

• Election Denialism:

  • Mullin dodges the question of whether Joe Biden won the 2020 election:
    • “We know that President Joe Biden was sworn into office. He was president for the last four years. But I do believe one the election…”
      (Mullin, 26:32)

• Military Expertise and Staged Credentials:

  • Kelly rebuts Mullin’s war claims:
    • “He didn’t serve in the military… I flew combat missions over Iraq… For me the smell of war is just jet fuel. It's not something I would ever say.”
      (Senator Mark Kelly, 27:19)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “A freaking snake.”
  (Mullin referring to Paul in a local interview, as recounted by Psaki, 04:01)

• “You offer no apology, sir, and you offer no apology today. And no regrets.”
  (Rand Paul, 05:28)

• “I have no idea.”
  (Mullin, when asked to clarify his classified mission, 07:44)

• “It also gives them almost allowance to move forward with it. We’re spending one to two billion dollars a day. This is hugely expensive...”
  (Senator Mark Kelly on Iran supplemental spending, 20:14)

• “We asked her multiple times, are you going to come and speak with us under oath? She would not say yes. We want her under oath because we do not trust her. Why don’t we trust her? Because she’s a liar.”
  (Congressman Maxwell Frost, 31:42)

• “I've never been more terrified about the security of our elections than this year.”
  (Senator Mark Warner, 40:27)

Episode Structure & Timestamps

01:00–09:41 – Capitol Hill hears drama: Mullin v. Paul, confirmation hearing fireworks
09:41–22:57 – DNI Tulsi Gabbard's evasions, Iran war falsehoods, threats to accountability
31:20–36:11 – Epstein files: House Dems vs. Bondi, cover-up allegations
36:11–44:46 – Fulton County raid, Gabbard’s wobbly answers, Warner’s election security alarm

Conclusion

This episode lays bare the extraordinary dysfunction, partisan spectacle, and absence of accountability permeating the highest levels of government—from the openly antagonistic spectacle of Mullin and Paul to the unsettling evasiveness of Tulsi Gabbard and the unrepentant stonewalling over the Epstein case. With escalating war, massive spending, and the next election looming, there is deep concern across guests and hosts that the imperative for truth, competence, and the rule of law is being abandoned in favor of loyalty and spectacle.

For listeners:
If you haven’t heard the episode, review these highlights and timestamps to dive directly into the most dramatic moments and critical exchanges—and get a front-row seat to a government “off the rails.”