Trump’s DNI Pick Under Fire on Capitol Hill

Summary

The MeidasTouch Podcast – Episode Summary

Episode Title: Trump’s DNI Pick Under Fire on Capitol Hill
Date: July 15, 2026
Hosts: Ben, Brett, and Jordy Meiselas (MeidasTouch Network)
Main Theme:
A detailed breakdown of the disastrous Senate confirmation hearing for Donald Trump’s nominee for Director of National Intelligence (DNI), Jay Clayton. The episode spotlights Clayton’s evasiveness on the 2020 election, additional grilling over major national security controversies, and the wider implications for U.S. democracy and global security under the Trump administration.

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Episode Overview

The Meiselas brothers dissect the Senate hearing in which Jay Clayton, Trump’s pick for DNI and current U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, faces tough questioning from Senators Jon Ossoff and Angus King. The hearing becomes a flashpoint for debates on truth, accountability, the rule of law, and the competence required for America’s top intelligence job against an explosive backdrop of escalating Middle East tensions and unprecedented Trump administration actions.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Jay Clayton’s Senate Hearing: Evasiveness on the 2020 Election

• Opening Drama – Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff presses Jay Clayton with a straightforward question: “Who won the 2020 election?” (01:27)

  • Clayton repeatedly refuses to answer clearly, saying, “You know, I’m not. I’m not going to do this with you.” (01:29)
  • Ossoff counters: “You’re not being honest or forthright. Who won the 2020?” (01:54)
  • Clayton insists, “I think I’m going to ask the question. We can keep doing this.” (01:58)

• Escalation – Ossoff accuses Clayton of indulging Trump’s delusions, underscoring the risk of appointing someone unwilling to affirm basic truths.

  • Ossoff: “Isn’t it humiliating to be unable to answer this question, to have to indulge the president’s delusions?” (02:54)
  • Clayton ambiguously claims: “I think I gave you the answer.” (03:17)

Notable Quote (01:54):
Senator Ossoff to Clayton:

“You’re not being honest or forthright. Who won the 2020?”

Notable Quote (02:54):
Senator Ossoff:

“Isn’t it humiliating to be unable to answer this question, to have to indulge the president’s delusions? We know you know. Everybody in this room knows the truthful answer to that question. Why can you not give it?”

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2. Additional Grilling: National Security and Accountability

• Director Gabbard and Fulton County Raid

  • Ossoff questions Clayton’s awareness of Director Gabbard’s presence at a high-profile Georgia raid.
  • Clayton vacillates, saying, “You discussed that with me yesterday in your office.” (03:49) and, “It was the first time that in my recollection, I’ve thought about it recently.” (04:24)
  • Ossoff: “Your answers lack credibility. Your testimony lacks credibility. You’re being evasive, and you’re not being candid or forthright.” (04:43)

• Trump’s Pardon of Juan Orlando Hernandez (Convicted Narco-Trafficker)

  • Ossoff: “Is it the case in the Juan Orlando Hernandez case that the President of the United States pardoned a man who had worked with the Sinaloa Cartel...?” (05:55)
  • Clayton equivocates, ultimately acknowledging: “He was a convicted narco trafficker.” (06:27)
  • Final direct exchange:
    • Ossoff: “Yes or no, did the President of United States pardon a convicted narco trafficker?”
    • Clayton: “Yes.” (06:54)

Notable Quote (04:43):
Senator Ossoff:

“Your answers lack credibility. Your testimony lacks credibility. You’re being evasive, and you’re not being candid or forthright.”

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3. Hearing Meltdown: Committee Frustration

• The intensity leads to confusion and committee chair Senator Tom Cotton calling for order and an abrupt adjournment.
  • Senator Angus King attempts to get a straightforward answer: “Who won the 2020 election?” (08:05)
  • Clayton gives legalistic, evasive responses: “Joe Biden was certified as no...” (08:19), “We went through our electoral process.” (08:32)
  • King insists: “That’s not an answer to the question of who... If I’m asking one more time, who won the I don’t.” (08:55)

Notable Quote (08:14):
Senator King:

“You have not answered that question. Could you answer the question who won the 2020 election? Pretty simple question.”

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4. Stakes: National Security, Middle East Escalation & Trumpian Chaos

• The Political Commentator (presumably Ben Meiselas) emphasizes the gravity:

  • “The stakes could not be higher right now to have somebody as the Director of National Intelligence who knows what the hell they’re doing and who doesn’t behave that way.” (11:04)

• Escalating Iran Conflict:

  • Trump’s overnight White House Situation Room meeting about new, more devastating attacks on Iran (11:35)
  • Iran claims U.S. forces are bombing civilian infrastructure; U.S./CENTCOM denies
  • Iran threatens to shut down the Bab El Mandab Strait in the Red Sea, further risking global shipping and U.S. oil reserves
  • Trump makes a questionable announcement of “peace” with Iran to boost markets (12:57)

Notable Quote (11:04):

“The stakes could not be higher right now to have somebody as the Director of National Intelligence who knows what the hell they’re doing and who doesn’t behave that way. Isn’t that just like an objective thing that I’m saying right there? I mean, like, who would want that guy to lead our intelligence community essentially?”

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5. Trump Administration Chaos & Culture

• Commemorative Coin Controversy:
  • U.S. Mint to issue a $1 gold coin featuring Trump’s face, despite legal prohibitions for living presidents. (13:36)
• Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth:
  • Blocking promotions for senior Navy officers, including women and people of color, without explanation.

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6. Red State vs. Blue State: Quality of Life Dispute

• Analysis of CNBC report: most “worst states to live in 2026” are Trump-won states, despite high business influx.
  • Political Analyst: “How does that make any sense? They have kind of a weird calculus there...but it’s really nothing new.” (17:11)

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Notable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• Sen. Ossoff: “You’re not being honest or forthright. Who won the 2020?” (01:54)
• Sen. Ossoff: “Isn’t it humiliating to be unable to answer this question, to have to indulge the president’s delusions?” (02:54)
• Sen. Ossoff: “Your answers lack credibility. Your testimony lacks credibility. You’re being evasive, and you’re not being candid or forthright.” (04:43)
• Sen. King: “You have not answered that question. Could you answer the question who won the 2020 election? Pretty simple question.” (08:14)
• Political Commentator: “The stakes could not be higher right now to have somebody as the Director of National Intelligence...” (11:04)

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Conclusion

This episode captures a high-stakes Senate hearing unmasking the dysfunction, dishonesty, and evasion at the heart of Trump’s DNI nomination. The Meiselas brothers’ urgency and frustration highlight the existential dangers of unqualified leadership in U.S. intelligence, with far-reaching implications for American democracy and world peace. The political chaos continues both in Congress and on the world stage, punctuated by moments of surreal presidential showmanship and deep concern for the rule of law.

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Transcript

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[Political Commentator]

Donald Trump is panicking this morning as his nominee to become the Director of National Intelligence. A guy by the name of Jay Clayton who currently serves as the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York just completely froze and collapsed under pressure during a Senate hearing. He was grilled and cross examined by Democratic Senator Ossoff. Let me show you what went down when Senator Ossoff asked a basic question. Who won the 2020 election? Watch as Donald Trump's pick quite literally melts down and goes silent and just freezes up. Here, play this clip.

[Jay Clayton]

Yes.

[Senator Jon Ossoff]

Who won the 2020 election?

[Jay Clayton]

You know, I'm not. I'm not going to do this with you.

[Senator Jon Ossoff]

This is a job interview. We have established that you have an obligation to be honest and forthright with the committee. Yes. You do have an obligation to be honest and forthright with the committee.

[Jay Clayton]

Yes.

[Senator Jon Ossoff]

Who won the 2020 election?

[Jay Clayton]

Like I said, I'm not. I'm not going to get into that

[Senator Jon Ossoff]

with you, but you do have an obligation to be honest and forthright with the committee.

[Jay Clayton]

Is anything that I just said not honest or forthright?

[Senator Jon Ossoff]

Yes. You're not being honest or forthright. Who won the 2020?

[Jay Clayton]

I think I'm going to ask the question. We can keep doing this.

[Senator Jon Ossoff]

Well, we're gonna keep doing it because you're not being honest and forthright.

[Jay Clayton]

I'm not gonna engage in the theater.

[Senator Jon Ossoff]

It's a simple question, Mr. Clayton, and I've answered it. Who won the 2020 presidential election?

[Jay Clayton]

I've answered it.

[Senator Jon Ossoff]

You're here asking for the support of senators to lead America's intelligence community. We've established that you have an obligation to be honest and forthright with this committee and with the American public. But you refuse to answer a matter of fact about the 2020 election. Is that right?

[Jay Clayton]

No, that's not right.

[Senator Jon Ossoff]

Then answer the question. Who won 2020 election?

[Senator Angus King]

I have answered the question.

[Senator Jon Ossoff]

Answer it. What is your answer?

[Jay Clayton]

I've given you my answer.

[Senator Jon Ossoff]

What is your answer? You refuse to answer a basic question about who won a presidential election.

[Jay Clayton]

No.

[Senator Jon Ossoff]

But you asked to lead America's intelligence community. Isn't it humiliating to be unable to answer this question, to have to indulge the president's delusions? We know you know. Everybody in this room knows the truthful answer to that question. Why can you not give it?

[Jay Clayton]

I think I gave you the answer.

[Senator Jon Ossoff]

Are you aware that Director Gabbard.

[Political Commentator]

More cross examination here by Senator Ossoff of Jay Clayton reminding you. This is who Don. Donald Trump wants to lead the office for the Director of National Intelligence. Like the top intelligence job is this guy right here. Watch what goes down next. Let's play this clip.

[Senator Jon Ossoff]

Are you aware that Director Gabbard was present at the Fulton county raid in Georgia earlier this year?

[Jay Clayton]

You. You discussed that with me yesterday in your office.

[Senator Jon Ossoff]

Are you aware that Director Gabbard was present at the Fulton county raid earlier this year?

[Political Analyst]

You.

[Jay Clayton]

You brought it to me. My.

[Senator Jon Ossoff]

What is going on here? You've said at the beginning of this, you have an obligation to be honest and forthright with the committee. I'm asking a very simple question. Are you aware that Director Gabbard was present at the Fulton county raid earlier this year? Yes or no? Are you aware?

[Jay Clayton]

I was.

[Senator Jon Ossoff]

You won't answer that question?

[Jay Clayton]

I just said. I was made aware of it by you yesterday.

[Senator Jon Ossoff]

The first time you learned that Director Gabbard was present at that raid was in my office yesterday.

[Jay Clayton]

It was the first time that in my recollection, I've thought about it recently. Now, was I aware of it before?

[Senator Jon Ossoff]

What?

[Jay Clayton]

You. I mean, you brought it to my attention yesterday. I had not.

[Senator Jon Ossoff]

So you had not known.

[Senator Angus King]

I had not.

[Jay Clayton]

I had not thought about it until you brought it to my attention.

[Senator Jon Ossoff]

Your answers lack credibility. Your testimony lacks credibility. You're being evasive, and you're not being candid or forthright. And everybody across the country is going to watch this and know that. Are you aware that former Director Grabber testified that her presence at the raid was, quote, requested by the President?

[Jay Clayton]

I'm not aware of that until now.

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Okay.

[Senator Jon Ossoff]

You are now aware of that.

[Jay Clayton]

Yeah.

[Political Commentator]

And then Senator Ossoff continues to grill Jay Clayton about Donald Trump pardoning Juan Orlando Hernandez, one of the top narco drug traffickers and in the world, in history. Worked with Sinaloa, worked with El Chapo brought in huge quantities of drugs. And then in order for Donald Trump to continue to launch these silent coups of countries in the Western Hemisphere, Donald Trump pardoned Juan Orlando Hernandez. Here, let's play this clip.

[Senator Jon Ossoff]

You have an obligation to be honest and forthright with this committee, correct?

[Jay Clayton]

Yes.

[Senator Jon Ossoff]

And is it the case in the Juan Orlando Hernandez case that the President of the United States pardoned a man who had worked with the Sinaloa Cartel to facilitate massive narco trafficking into the United States?

[Jay Clayton]

I don't remember the specifics of that case.

[Senator Jon Ossoff]

He was convicted in your district.

[Jay Clayton]

He was convicted. I'm just, we convict a lot of people for a lot of drugs.

[Senator Jon Ossoff]

Convicted of narco trafficking? Yes, I believe. No. So at massive scale. Yes.

[Jay Clayton]

Well, you're telling me what I know. That's kind of. He was, he was, I believe, look, I'll take your word for it. He was a convicted narco trafficker.

[Senator Jon Ossoff]

Did the President of the United States, Donald J. Trump pardon a convicted narco trafficker?

[Jay Clayton]

I, I believe we just discussed that. The President provided a pardon.

[Senator Jon Ossoff]

Yes or no, did the President of United States pardon a convicted narco trafficker?

[Jay Clayton]

Yes. Who?

[Political Commentator]

This hearing got so out of hand, it was such an absolute disaster that the chair of the committee, MAGA Republican Tom Clayton, Tom Cotton was crashing out at the end of Jay Clayton's hearing. Here, play this clip.

[Senator Angus King]

Thank you Mr. Clayton for your testimony today. Chairman, do we have time for any follow up questions? No, they're not. Second round, the Capitol Police will receive the annoying or remove the annoying lunatic from the crowd. I apologize to lunatics for comparing that guy to him. Mr. Clayton, thank you for your testimony today. As a reminder, we expect to have here have a vote next week. Members questions for the records will be due today at 5:30. Mr. Clayton, I trust you can respond to those no later than 5:30 on Friday. This hearing is adjourned.

[Political Commentator]

But then you had people like Senator King saying no, no, we want to know your answer to these basic questions here, play this clip.

[Senator Angus King]

So I want to ask a follow up question to the Vice chairman who won the 2020 election?

[Jay Clayton]

I've answered that question. I'm not going to get into that.

[Senator Angus King]

You have not answered that question. Could you answer the question who won the 2020 election? Pretty simple question.

[Jay Clayton]

Yeah. I said, I'm going to give you the same answer. The answer to the chairman was, he asked me if I was an election denier. I am not an election denier. Joe Biden was certified as no.

[Senator Angus King]

We all know President.

[Jay Clayton]

He went, he went through went through his process. We went through our electoral process. Can tell you that I was, I was in my seat at the sec

[Senator Angus King]

and I'm just working hard for really simple question. Who won the 2020 election?

[Jay Clayton]

As, as I said to you, went through our processes and Joe Biden became the President of the United States. And that's.

[Senator Angus King]

That's not an answer to the question of who. If I'm asking one more time, who won the I don't.

[Senator Jon Ossoff]

I don't.

[Jay Clayton]

I'm not. This is like, I'm just not. I'm here to talk about my qualifications.

[Senator Angus King]

One of your qualifications is you told us you're going to tell the truth to power and you won't answer a very simple question.

[Jay Clayton]

I think I've answered it many times.

[Senator Angus King]

You have not answered it.

[Jay Clayton]

Okay.

[Senator Angus King]

You have not answered it. Saying Joe Biden was certified is not an answer.

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[Political Commentator]

The stakes could not be higher right now to have somebody as the Director of National Intelligence who knows what the hell they're doing and who doesn't behave that way. Isn't that just like an objective thing that I'm saying right there? I mean, like, who would want that guy to lead our intelligence community essentially? I mean, we know that last night Donald Trump held a meeting. According to Trump's personal stenographer Barack Ravid over at Axios, Trump held a meeting last night in the White House Situation Room to discuss plans for a new wave of massive and devastating attacks against Iran, which will be more extensive than the bombings currently taking place in the Strait of Hormuz area. It should be noted that Iran claims that over 30 people in Iran have already been killed from these attacks by the United States. Iran claims that the US Is targeting civilian infrastructure like wheat processing facilities, petrochemical facilities, and other critical civilian infrastructure. The Trump regime and CENTCOM deny that. Iran, though, has made it very clear that it will cut off all transit. This was the video I made this morning. In and out of the Red Sea with its control of the Houthis or its alliance with the Houthis in Yemen. Should the Trump regime continue to escalate, Iran says that's their next move, shutting down the Bab El Mandab Strait in the Red Sea, the same way the Strait of Hormuz is shut down right now in the Persian Gulf. And if you just take a look at the marine traffic, you can see that the only ships that are leaving right now are going through the IRGC directed route and there's no other traffic in the Strait of Hormuz. Now what's the Trump regime doing? At 6:00am Eastern Time this morning, U.S. central Command forces launched another wave of strikes against Iran. As CENTCOM puts it, the strikes are designed to further degrade the military capabilities against Iranian forces. But as I shared with you earlier this morning, Iran has not had their capabilities degraded. They're striking harder in Kuwait, in Jordan, in Bahrain, in Fujara, in this UAE pipeline that they're trying to build to get around the Strait of Hormuz. You've had these strikes deeper into The Persian Gulf. Iran sending a message that any effort to try to avoid the Strait of Hormuz through pipelines through the United Arab Emirates or through other routes to try to route it away from the Strait of Hormuz, that's where Iran is attacking. And lots of tankers are saying, we're just not going to go and do that. So shipping out of the Strait of Hormuz has hit a complete shutdown, as I've been warning about. Our strategic reserves here in the United States continue to get depleted. So Donald Trump just put out a statement as well, saying Iran just called, they want to make a deal. And then that caused the stock market to rise. I'm not making this up. I'm not like, this isn't a parody. Donald Trump this morning said, Iran wants to make a deal. They've called, they really want to do a deal. And that caused the stock market to rise on that. Now, Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson said the armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran have shown that any aggression against Iranian territory will definitely be met with a reciprocal response. We have no plans for negotiations at the moment and are focused on defense. The memorandum of understanding is a set of mutual obligations. And in the event of a violation by the other party, we will also refrain from implementing our obligations. This is a principle in the same path will be followed in the future. To which Donald Trump responded this morning by trying to co opt the fame of Taylor Swift by saying Swift and Kelsey's mystery dog debuts at Trump Airport in West Palm. And Trump goes so cool. Also, as the American people are suffering today, Treasury Secretary Besson says as America commemorates 250 years of independence, the US Mint will begin striking a new $1 gold coin to honor the enduring legacy of liberty and lasting symbol of patriotism featuring Donald Trump's face on it. They're doing a $1 gold coin. Federal law requires a president to be dead for two years before appearing on a US Coin. But the treasury says we're making an exception because this is a commemorative coin, although it can be used. Oh. Meanwhile, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is blocking the promotion of seven senior Navy officers, including five women and people of color, without publicly explaining why. And you have Laura Ingraham over of state over at state regime media, which calls itself Fox, saying a CNBC report came out and they listed that the 10 worst states to live in for 2026 are states that Trump won. And there's a lot of businesses going into the state, but it's the worst place to live. How could it be that if businesses are going in there that the people are suffering? Maybe it's because the people are being treated like absolute crap and exploited in these areas. You're very close to getting it, Laura. Here, play this clip.

[Political Analyst]

Now, check out this recent list. 650 CEOs were polled and they rated the best states in which to do business. The top 10, including Texas, Florida, Tennessee, Georgia, South Carolina are Republican. They're run by Republicans. Except Virginia, which is at number 10 in North Carolina, kind of a purple state at number five. So money and people resources are pouring into red states. So how do the socialists brush this off? Well, they do so either by ignoring it or distorting the data or with a little help from their friends. This CNBC report just comes out. They listed the 10 worst states to live in for 2026. All the states on this list. Okay. Trump won every state except Georgia in 2020. And the list included four of the top 10 states for business. How does that make any sense? They have kind of a weird calculus there. But this is obviously a blatant effort to dismiss and denigrate more conservative states, but it's really nothing new.

[Political Commentator]

There you have it, everybody. Hit subscribe. Let's get to 7 million subscribers. Thanks for watching. Want to stay plugged in? Become a subscriber to our [e-mail] youm'll get daily recaps from Ron Filipkowski, ad

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[Political Commentator]

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