SEATTLE NEWS ARCHIVES & FEATURES

Draining the swamp: Does Trump know what that means?

Dec 8, 2016, 5:09 PM | Updated: Dec 9, 2016, 12:56 pm

draining the swamp...

Steven Mnuchin, President-elect Donald Trump's choice for Treasury Secretary, arrives at Trump Tower, in New York, Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2016. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)

(AP Photo/Richard Drew)

Does Donald Trump know what “draining the swamp” actually means?

I made a promise when I began this show that I would always tell you the truth as I see it. If I was ever told by anyone in management or ownership what position to take on something, I would quit.

Trump made a bad choice with Steven Mnunchin

And you know I didn’t ride the Trump train. But I’m happy with people who are joyful that he is in office. And I see good signs from the way he’s handling things early on.

But the flip side of this is that I spent serious time in Washington D.C. as an “insider” and I’m going to tell you the truth — I don’t buy that Trump really sees the depth of “the swamp” in D.C. And that might make it difficult when it comes to draining the swamp.

The fact that Trump has nominated Steve Mnuchin, who has grifted your tax dollars, who is tied to Goldman Sachs, and who made $1.6 billion dollars from the government for foreclosing on homes, shows that Trump is not really serious about draining the swamp. And the Senate should say ‘no’ to Mnuchin.

As far as Secretary of State, their first responsibility is not to the President, it us to “we the people” and to the Constitution.

I think Trump needs a counterbalance to himself; someone who can help form policy. He doesn’t need yes men because Trump is not a detail man. Smart executives hire their opposites; they look for people who can do what they don’t do well.

Is looking to people like Romney and Giuliani really draining the swamp?
I think if we can forgive David Petraeus, he may be the best choice (of the people Trump is considering). Petraeus is used to serving presidents and to being heard.

I want a Secretary of State whose loyalty is to the Constitution, the American people and then the President, in that order.

As always, please listen to the full audio clip for complete context.

The sun sets behind the U.S. Capitol, Tuesday, July 28, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Allison Robb...

Associated Press

Senate leaders reach funding deal to avoid shutdown during campaign season

WASHINGTON (AP) — Key senators unveiled a short-term spending bill on Sunday that would keep federal agencies funded past the midterm elections and into early December as they look to avoid a government shutdown during the middle of campaign season. The Senate is likely to vote on the measure before leaving Washington at week’s end […]

5 minutes ago

FILE - President Donald Trump holds up an image taken from his Truth Social account at an event abo...

Associated Press

Trump frequently announces he’s halting strikes in Iran. But they keep happening

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — President Donald Trump said late Saturday that he would halt new planned attacks on Iran pending renewed talks to wind down the war and revive stalled cargo traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. It was the latest in a pattern of announcements the U.S. president has made to first threaten […]

57 minutes ago

A crash on southbound I-5 near Arlington resulted in a five-mile backup Sunday morning. (Photo: WA ...

Tom Brock

Crash on I-5 near Arlington results in five-mile backup Sunday morning

Traffic on southbound I-5 is moving once again near Arlington, after a crash shut down the freeway Sunday morning. The collision involved a truck and travel trailer that ended up sideways across the roadway, blocking all three lanes of travel. It happened just south of Milepost 208, near the exit to SR 530. Tow trucks […]

2 hours ago

FILE - Rep. Marcy Kaptur, D-Ohio, is interviewed, Dec. 9, 2022, in Toledo, Ohio. (AP Photo/Carlos O...

Associated Press

Ohio Rep. Kaptur treated for non-life threatening injuries after a car accident in Toledo

WASHINGTON (AP) — Ohio Rep. Marcy Kaptur is being treated for non-life threatening injuries after a car accident in Toledo on Sunday morning, her office said Sunday. Kaptur, 80, was a passenger in a vehicle headed to a church service “when the car she was traveling in was struck,” the statement from her office said. […]

2 hours ago

The Old Trail Fire, seen from Spokane's W. Northwest Blvd. (AP Photo/Young Kwak)...

John Hanna, Associated Press

Eastern Washington fires have burned 600 structures and forced the evacuation of 5,000 homes

About 5,000 homes have been evacuated, and about 600 homes, businesses and other buildings have been destroyed by wildfires that remained uncontained Sunday in eastern Washington state, authorities said.

2 hours ago

Associated Press

In-N-Out Burger employee among 3 dead in shooting at Idaho fast-food restaurant, owner says

TWIN FALLS, Idaho (AP) — An employee was among three people killed in a shooting at an In-N-Out Burger restaurant in southern Idaho, the fast-food chain’s owner said. “My heart is broken, my chest is heavy, my eyes burn from the tears I’ve shed. We lost one of our beautiful Associates tonight,” In-N-Out owner Lynsi […]

3 hours ago

Draining the swamp: Does Trump know what that means?