The FBI’s controversial Kash Patel
4/23/202631 min
In his 14 months as director of the FBI, Kash Patel has not only overseen a radical transformation of the bureau, but has also embroiled himself in a seemingly endless list of controversies.
Late last week, The Atlantic published a scathing story with allegations of erratic behavior, excessive drinking, and unexplained absences. In response, Patel filed a $250 million defamation suit against the magazine, accusing it of publishing false and damaging claims.
Reporter Marc Fisher joins us to talk about the controversies, the transformation of the FBI, and the implications. Fisher is a former senior editor with the Washington Post, and co-author of “Trump Revealed: An American Journey of Ambition, Ego, Money, and Power”. He reported and wrote a piece for the New Yorker last fall called “Kash Patel’s Acts of Service.”
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First 90 secondsSpeaker 00:00
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Aaron Werri· Host0:23
[upbeat music] Hi, I'm Aaron Werri in for Jamie.
Joe Rogan· Soundbite0:28
What is it like to be the head of the FBI? How weird is that?
Kash Patel· Soundbite0:38
It's completely F-ing wild. [laughing] I mean, I don't even know how to describe it. Why is it that we had such an explosion in crime to deal with in the first place? Because the prior administration did not prioritize fighting crime. I'd shut down the FBI Hoover Building on day one and reopening the next day as a museum of the deep state.
Aaron Werri· Host1:01
That's just a sampling of FBI Director Kash Patel's podcast appearances. He's been in the job for just over a year, and during that time he has radically transformed the Bureau and become the subject of a growing list of controversies. Late last week, The Atlantic magazine published a scathing story containing allegations of erratic behavior, excessive drinking, and unexplained absences. In response, Patel filed a two hundred and fifty million dollar defamation suit against the magazine. So today, the many controversies surrounding