President Trump’s pick for F.B.I. director, Kash Patel, is no stranger to controversy. And despite a vigorous Senate hearing on Thursday, he appears to be coasting toward confirmation. The New York Times politics correspondent Michelle Cottle spoke to the journalist and author Garrett Graff about what Patel’s F.B.I. appointment could mean for America and why, of all of Trump’s nominees, Patel is among the most dangerous.

Kash Patel as F.B.I. Director Could ‘Destabilize the Whole System’Michelle Cottle and Garrett Graff sit down to discuss one of the “most dangerous” Trump appointees.

Below is a lightly edited transcript of an episode of “The Opinions.” We recommend listening to it in its original form for the full effect. You can do so using the player above or on the NYT Audio App, Apple, Spotify, Amazon Music,phl63 casino YouTube, iHeartRadio or wherever you get your podcasts.

Michelle Cottle: I’m delighted to be joined by journalist and author Garrett Graff to talk about President Trump’s choice to head the F.B.I., Kash Patel, who just had his Senate confirmation hearing on Thursday.

Tape of Senator Adam Schiff: If an F.B.I. director promoted a song of people who spray pepper spray in the face of an F.B.I. agent, would you say they were fit to be director?

Tape of Kash Patel: Mr. Schiff ——

Tape of Schiff: Yes or no? Would they be fit to be director?

Calls for school crackdowns have mounted with reports of cyberbullying among adolescents and studies indicating that smartphones, which offer round-the-clock distraction and social media access, have hindered academic instruction and the mental health of children.

Tape of Patel: I am fit to be the director of the F.B.I.

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