The elevation of Pete Hegseth to SECDEF effectively ends the conversation on “DEI” and “meritocracy.” Trump has unleashed a mediocracy, full of demonstrably unqualified and inadequate hires — DUI hires, if you will. Their sole qualifications seem to be utter loyalty to him, the fact that he likes watching them on TV, and the fact that they’re not Black. I never - ever - want to hear another word from conservatives about “merit.”