The Washington Post’s bombshell report Sunday that revealed Tulsi Gabbard may have been guided throughout her political career by a “cult guru” cemented the Trump administration’s legacy for the worse, argued Zeteo’s Martin Pengelly, who noted how the revelation made clear that the federal government had transformed into a full “kakistocracy.”
Gabbard, who resigned from her position as Director of National Intelligence last Friday, was revealed to have received guidance throughout her 20-plus years in politics from Chris Butler, the leader of a religious group that countless former members have described as a “cult.”
That guidance allegedly shaped nearly every facet of her political life – from her talking points to the bills she introduced – with the Post identifying several instances where she appeared to follow through.
“Ask yourself a question: ultimately, what does Gabbard’s career tell us about how we are governed now?” Pengelly, who previously worked for Raw Story as an investigations editor, wrote in an analysis published Monday in Zeteo.
“A Fox weekend host with an alleged drinking problem is secretary of defense. An anti-vaccine conspiracy theorist runs health and human services. And a dedicated cult member became director of national intelligence, despite the association being long known. This is what a kakistocracy looks like.”
The revelation also painted a rough picture of President Donald Trump’s legacy, Pengelly argued.
“And Gabbard’s extreme behavior in particular, highlighted by [journalist Jon] Swaine and the Post, shows us it’s not just a matter of Trump being mad as a hatter,” Pengelly wrote. “He’s dragged us all through the looking glass now.”