Divining Trump 2.0 From His Cabinet Picks

Hosted by Ross Douthat and David French

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As nominees roll in, the reality of Donald Trump’s second administration is rapidly coming into focus. This week on “Matter of Opinion,” the Opinion columnists Ross Douthat and David French discuss the surprising picks and what they signal about the incoming president’s policy shifts this time around.

(A full transcript of this audio essay will be available within 24 hours of publication in the audio player above.)

Credit…Photo Illustration by The New York Times. Photos: Jeenah Moon/Reuters; Win Mcnamee/Getty Images

Recommended in this episode:

• “There Will Always Be a Trump. That’s Only Part of the Problem.,” by David French

• “What JD Vance Believes,” by Ross Douthat

• “Donald Trump Is Dead Serious About Getting Matt Gaetz to DOJ” by Marc Caputo

Thoughts? Email us at matterofopinion@nytimes.com.

Follow our hosts on X: Ross Douthat (@DouthatNYT) and David French (@DavidAFrench).

“Matter of Opinion” is produced by Sophia Alvarez Boyd, Phoebe Lett and Andrea Betanzos. It is edited by Jordana Hochman. Mixing by Carole Sabouraud and Pat McCusker. Original music by Isaac Jones, Pat McCusker and Carole Sabouraud. Our fact-checking team is Kate Sinclair, Mary Marge Locker and Michelle Harris. Audience strategy by Shannon Busta and Kristina Samulewski. Our executive producer is Annie-Rose Strasser.

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