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You’re reading Jennifer Rubin’s subscriber-only newsletter. <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/newsletters/jennifer-rubin/?method=SURL&location=ART&initiative=TOP" target=_blank>Sign up to get it in your inbox</a>.

This week, I look at the human impact of unfit Cabinet nominations, pick the distinguished person of the week and share some Thanksgiving tips.

President-elect <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/donald-trump/" target="_blank" class="contextual_link">Donald Trump</a> apparently thinks the White House is a reality TV set. To fill his Cabinet, he turned to faces he recognizes from TV — primarily Fox News — including Pete Hegseth for defense secretary, Tulsi Gabbard for national intelligence director and Mehmet Oz (the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/dr-oz-treatments-that-other-doctors-say-are-bogus-2015-4" target=_blank>TV doctor </a>who pushes suspect remedies) for Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services administrator. (Oz would be expected to maintain the liquidity and smooth operation of more than 160 million people’s <a href="https://www.abc27.com/news/top-stories/donald-trump-to-nominate-mehmet-oz-for-centers-for-medicare-and-medicaid-services/" target=_blank>health-care coverage</a> through Medicare, Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program and the Affordable Care Act’s insurance exchanges.)

These picks are unprecedented. Gabbard, for example, while in Congress “traveled to Syria and met the country’s authoritarian president, Bashar al-Assad. She also accused the United States of supporting terrorists there,” <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/18/us/politics/tulsi-gabbard-trump-russia.html" target=_blank>the New York Times reported</a>. “The day after Vladimir V. Putin began a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Ms. Gabbard blamed the United States and NATO for provoking the war by ignoring Russia’s security concerns.”

In the <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/11/21/pete-hegseth-monterey-police-report/" target=_blank>case of Hegseth</a>, a sexual assault allegation, which he denies, might derail him. (RFK Jr. has also <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2024/11/20/rfk-jr-sexual-assault-allegation-eliza-cooney/76450231007/" target=_blank>been accused</a> of unwanted sexual advances.) Matt Gaetz has <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/11/21/trump-administration-transition/" target=_blank>already withdrawn</a>, but it takes chutzpah and complete disdain for the rule of law to choose someone <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2024/11/14/matt-gaetz-attorney-general-underage-sex-allegations-investigation/" target=_blank>accused of sex trafficking</a> for attorney general. Virtually all of them spout crazy ideas, from vaccine denial to exclusion of women from combat roles in the military. And not one of them has the necessary subject matter expertise or experience managing a large, bureaucratic government organization.

The discussion of the nominations has focused almost entirely on Trump’s power play against the Senate, the constitutionality of recess appointments and his contempt for the operation of government. His decision to put buffoons and ignoramuses in important positions does not stop there.

Consider a member of the armed services having to report to a TV personality who has assumed the critical role of defense secretary. That serviceman’s life and well-being would be placed in the hands of someone entirely lacking the proven judgment, qualifications and strategic experience needed to make life and death decisions (as well as to make recommendations about initiating a war or using nuclear weapons).

Moreover, servicemen relying on the intelligence community to provide eyes and ears on the battlefield would be trusting a member of the Putin fan club to preserve our most vital military secrets, maintain critical surveillance programs, share critical information with allies and dispassionately provide advice to the entire national security apparatus. No rational observer would suggest Gabbard could fill those roles. Consequently, the incoming commander in chief, through his appointments, could be among the greatest threats to those in uniform.

One could — and should — consider the people who would be harmed or killed by the incompetence, corruption, immaturity and ignorance of each appointee. As tempting as it is to see the picks “merely” as a threat to democracy, they also vividly capture Trump’s complete lack of concern for millions of Americans. The child who could acquire a preventable communicable disease, the undercover intelligence agent whose life would be imperiled, the senior who would literally starve without her Medicare check are among the millions of potential real-life victims of leaders lacking the intellectual and moral requirements of their jobs.

Democratic Rep. Mikie Sherrill announced on Monday her run for governor of New Jersey. When I first met her during research for my book, “<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Resistance-Women-Saved-Democracy-Donald/dp/0062982133" target=_blank>Resistance: How Women Saved Democracy From Donald Trump</a>,” I knew she was a rising political star. With a military background, superb communication skills and a pragmatic outlook, she is a good model for Democratic leaders and candidates throughout the country.

Her <a href="https://x.com/MikieSherrill/status/1858480848422445362" target=_blank>announcement video</a> put her biography (in addition to having been a Navy pilot, she was also a federal prosecutor) front and center:

Build Something

Her emphasis on affordability suggests she has internalized voters’ inflation worries. (“Let’s make life more affordable for hardworking New Jerseyans, from health care to groceries to child care,” she said in the video. “These challenges aren’t new, and it’s time to confront them head on.”) In a crowded Democratic field, she is the only woman. (She immediately earned an endorsement from Emily’s List, as well as “the Laborers’ International Union of North America and, unofficially, from Democratic chairs in Essex, Middlesex and Passaic counties,” <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2024/11/18/sherrill-2025-campaign-takes-off-00190108" target=_blank>Politico reported</a>.)

A Democrat is favored to win the deep-blue state, but it matters greatly which Democrat is elected. Democrats desperately need dynamic, capable and relatable <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/11/18/blue-governor-trump-communication/" target=_blank>leadership from governors</a>, and it behooves them to choose someone who does not come across as another political hack.

Although not a career politician, Sherrill nevertheless will have the benefit of her platform in Congress, where she can help lead the opposition to the Trump administration’s absurd and dangerous policies, including <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2024/11/20/rfk-senators-vaccines-abortion-agriculture/" target=_blank>vaccine skepticism</a>, tariff increases, further restrictions on abortion and tax cuts for billionaires.

Unlike <a href="https://www.northjersey.com/story/news/columnists/charles-stile/2021/08/20/josh-gottheimer-nancy-pelosi-infrastructure-bill-2021/8194807002/" target="_blank">Rep. Josh Gottheimer</a> (D-New Jersey), who has been a blustery <a href="https://newjerseyglobe.com/congress/gottheimer-blames-pelosi-far-left-faction-of-house-democrats-for-reneging-on-infrastructure-deal/" target="_blank">critic of progressives</a> and teamed up with the inaptly named Problem Solvers Caucus (which provided cover for Republicans who rarely bucked the MAGA leadership), Sherrill has strong relationships throughout the Democratic caucus.

Interestingly, in the only other gubernatorial race next year, another woman from the congressional class of 2018 with a national security background (a former CIA officer), Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D), is the leading Democrat running to be governor of Virginia. Perhaps Democrats’ road back from MAGA will start with these two pragmatic, engaging national security veterans.

With the Thanksgiving around the corner, it is time for annual holiday tips. Aside from some inviolate rules (e.g., never travel, turkey isn’t legally required, save angst by using disposable tableware), here are timely pointers:

1. Looking for something to do with or without guests over the weekend (other than watch the National Dog Show, which is mandatory in my household)? “<a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt21823606/" target=_blank>A Real Pain</a>” is a moving, thought-provoking and insightful movie about two Jewish cousins who take a Holocaust tour in Poland. (Although rated R, it is perfect for older children.) How much pain should we allow ourselves? What does “hope” entail? How do we memorialize a horrific historical episode? It provides a lovely lesson in the need to remain open, empathetic and whimsical in hard times.

2. If you are going to hit the Friday sales, first go through your drawers and closets. If you haven’t worn something in 18 months, donate such items in good condition to your favorite charity. Try a 5 (donations) to 1 (purchase) ratio.

3. Make a list of silver linings (e.g., Elon Musk’s X is the pits, but now we have <a href="https://news.sky.com/story/the-x-exodus-could-bluesky-spike-spark-end-of-elon-musks-social-media-platform-13254722" target=_blank>Bluesky</a>). Even in disappointment or tragedy (personal or political), there is usually something to appreciate.

4. If you live in or near D.C. (or have disregarded my advice and are visiting), take a kid-friendly outing to: the <a href="https://washington.org/event/seasons-greenings-holiday-exhibit-2024" target=_blank>Season’s Greenings</a> celebration at the <a href="https://washington.org/visit-dc/guide-us-botanic-garden" target=_blank>U.S. Botanic Garden</a>, the new <a href="https://www.nps.gov/places/000/national-world-war-i-memorial-future-site.htm" target=_blank>World War I memorial</a>, <a href="https://nationalzoo.si.edu/visit/events/zoolights" target=_blank>ZooLights</a>, the<a href="https://nbm.org/exhibitions/capital-brutalism/" target=_blank> National Building Museum </a>(the Lego Brick City will wow your kids and maybe you, too) and/or <a href="https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/fryingpanpark/" target=_blank>Frying Pan Farm Park</a>. All but ZooLights ($6 for everyone over 2) and the Building Museum ($10 for adults, $7 for kids) are free.

Every other Wednesday at noon, I host a Q&amp;A with readers. <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/12/04/jennifer-rubin-live-chat/?itid=ap_jenniferrubin" target=_blank>Submit a question for the next one</a>.

University of California at Berkeley, BA in history

University of California at Berkeley, JD

Jennifer Rubin writes reported opinion for The Washington Post. She is the author of “Resistance: How Women Saved Democracy from Donald Trump” and is host of the podcast Jen Rubin's "Green Room."

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