Susan Collins Is Not Concerned About Election Denial
The Atlantic critiques Senator Susan Collins for her support of Jay Clayton's nomination as Director of National Intelligence, despite his refusal to affirm the legitimacy of the 2020 election. The piece argues that such stances undermine democratic norms.
Why it matters
The confirmation of high-level intelligence officials who refuse to acknowledge election results raises concerns about the politicization of national security institutions.
Mortal threats to the republic are apparently a sideshow that distracts from cutting taxes, confirming judges, and deregulation.
Kent Nishimura / Getty July 17, 2026, 12:43 PM ET Share Save When Jay Clayton, Donald Trump’s nominee for the next director of national intelligence, appeared before the Senate on Wednesday, Jon Ossoff of Georgia had a simple question for him: Who won the 2020 election? Clayton dodged and squirmed. “I’m not gonna engage in the theater,” he insisted, at one point simply going silent when Ossoff repeated the question.
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