The Honorable Mark Lee Greenblatt began his tenure as the Inspector General for the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) in 2019. Since then, Greenblatt has led a nationwide workforce of investigators, auditors, evaluators, attorneys, and support staff in providing independent oversight to promote accountability, integrity, economy, efficiency, and effectiveness within the DOI.
He speaks to Talking Feds host and founding Contrarian Harry Litman in a One-on-One about the recent blitz of Trump firing 18 IGs from more than a dozen federal agencies—presumably to make room to install loyalists in those positions. Is that legal? Is it precedented? Have a listen…
I have little faith in a Senate that is speedily confirming unqualified people for the Cabinet. Do they plan to lay down and die over the Inspector Generals as well?
These are the yellow-bellied kumquats and slobbering wormtongues who just approved a dumb, incompetent loutish, drunken jerk to run the Defense Department. My faith that these honorable ”gentlemen” and so-called ladies will do the right thing now is virtually non-existent.
It doesn't matter how we feel unless we let them know how we feel. They need to hear from us.
You know, I've consistently emailed my Senators, but I think it's time to start making a daily telephone call a ritual.
I write and call my Senators, but they are Dems (Minnesota), and they are already voting for my principles. I guess it's time to start writing actual letters and putting stamps on them to Republican "gentlemen" and "so-called ladies" of the Senate. If that will do any good at all.
Doesn't matter. Dems need to know we are watching what they do, and to thank them when they hold the line and stand up for us!
Good plan! Me too!
Absolutely 💯 % sure....
Right now sending emails to my maga congress traitors
You are absolutely real optimistic person Carole!!! Hit them hard!!!
We all must do this and do it often. Optimism be damned. My late husband was not very optimistic when he was sneaking up on Henderson Field on Guadalcanal either. We must speak.
I salute you and your husband M.
Thanks for your reply. 🫡
Since I was taught how to read, I always have preferred to read rather than be read to or listen to others read or speak. I do listen to podcasts in one and only one setting, that is when I am driving for a period of time long enough to finish the podcast, which occurs only occasionally. I had and have high hopes for The Contrarian and would love to read what many if not most of the contributors have on their mind. I do not have enough time to listen to all of them. I hope that over time more of these ideas and discussions will become available in written form.
Oh, thank you for your post. I'm with you. Watching videos doesn't work for me or even listening to podcasts for the reasons you cited plus I'm deaf! So I miss a lot of great Substack news & opinions. I don't expect any changes. I'm just joining you with the same wish and disappointment. (My hearing aids were $8000 and pieces of garbage.)
I'm sorry Josie re your hearing aids. If you are near a Costco, please look at their hearing aids. Under $2,000. Recommended by my ENT doctor and they work very well.
Thank you, Connie, for your kind comment and recommendation. If the current pair can't be adjusted to function reasonably well, I'll be headed to Costco. The WSJ ran a full-page article on the quality of Costco's hearing aids! Thank you again!
I saw the WSJ article after buying the useless pair! Oh well.
Hi Josie, there's a transcript (just below the video on my phone).
Good luck.
Brilliant idea to contact Apple support! Thanks!
Thanks for your info. What brand phone do you have? I don't see it on my iPhone.
Yes, I have an Android pixel.
I think I'd try Apple support for seeing if a transcript can be accessed on iPhone. They seem to be able to do everything else. ;*)
Best!
Thanks for the sympathetic remark. So far I need only 1 hearing aid. It cost just short of 3k and is of marginal benefit. Despite being able to watch and hear any talking head that is in front of me, I still prefer to read!
Thank you Steven. My exact circumstances too. I am a much faster reader than listener :-)
I do prefer reading to listening. However, there’s too much I need to do and less time to read. I’ve recently discovered that I can easily listen through my headphones and walk around getting work done.
It’s the only way I can keep up.
But I agree there should be a transcript available. All media should be accessible to all people.
There's a transcript.
I often read the transcripts of videos.
Thanks. I am new to Substack and The Contrarian. I just tried to find the transcript on the original post of the discussion. The “play” button is clear. I could not find a link to a transcript. Please tell me where I can find it.
Steven, on my phone it's a box that says "transcript" just below the video, next to a box for "open in app" ; just below these boxes is the BREAKING: .....
Best regards!
Thanks for the reply. No link to a transcript on my iPhone
Hmmm, perhaps you can speak with someone at Apple?
I’ve read this several times as to how to find the transcript on your phone. I’ve yet to see it despite trying every time I see someone mention it. Don’t know why I can’t find it.
However, I did find how to listen to a written article using the “arrow” at the top of the screen of an article.
On my computer, there is a link to the transcript just below the screen (next to the "Share" button).
Thanks for trying. I have 4 icons at the bottom of my screen; like, comment, restack(?) and share. Nothing for transcript
Listen to this! It gives a very clear picture. Thanks, IG Greenblatt.
And all this before the first week is completed !!!!
Shows the value of detailed organisation over a full three-year period. But will he stick to the script, or start ad libbing when somebody annoys him? Have we got a lead group following Project 2025 on paper? We knew what was planned, if we bothered to read it. It should be a good guide.
He'll do all that but the planners and investors won't allow him to deviate too much. Reaching this point cost them years just planning and it was a big investment. They are here for a long run. That's my biggest concern, what's not on paper. I consider the next midterm election a point of no return. They will do their utmost to stay put by straight cheating or due provocative actions and reactions to declare a state of emergency or invoke the insurrection act. They would do anything to prevent us from winning. If we winn that will be the begging of the end for al their efforts. Thanks for your reply 👍
👍
Thanks for the update!
It’s the duty of cowardly, craven, treason-supporting Republicans to tell the Dumb Felon where he can shove it. If it’s just Democrats, Donnie Dumpus won’t even notice.
These people are determined to smear their feces against the walls just to see how much of it sticks. Only been a week and this is where we are.
It's not even a week yet!!!
How many weeks left?
No, no actually I don't want to know...
Trump is trying to rewrite the Constitution and laws as did Hitler - and with Musk at his side can continue to feed Thomas and Alito with gifts/bribes. We lovers of the Constitution and law and order need to keep the faith and the focus because we outnumber the corrupt Monarchs, Federalist Society, SCOTUS, and the corrupt GOP Congress.
The religious should be coming around with the current insults of Trump and Vance to multiple bishops and Fox will continue to lose its control and audience.
This country wants democracy - not a king and Monarchs.
Note: recently published ATLANTIC magazine article HOW HITLER DISMANTLED A DEMOCRACY IN 53 DAYS by Timothy W. Ryback, a historian and director of the Institute for Historical Justice and Reconciliation in the Hague. Author of, among other books on Hitler’s Getmany, TAKEOVER: HITLER’S RISE TO POWER.
But what you don't outnumber are the people who cast their vote for President Trump. Careful what you wish for.
He freed the insurrectionists so he can rely on them to cause chaos and they fish from muddy waters . All this has been carefully planned for years
Nice tin hat ya got there....
Very important conversation. I wish Harry Litman would make his thoughts and questions more succinct and not interrupt so much.
Agreed. He is at his best answering questions or just commenting but as for questioning...OMG.😉
Dictators don't want oversight. Donald is acting like a dictator. We must not allow this to stand. The courts must not let these firings stand.
Good luck with that Lisa 🫣
This is frightening. Thank you for the information
The IG system was first instituted under President Carter as part of the post-Watergate reform era. Every President and every Congress since then -- whether Democratic or Republican -- has abided by this system with good reason. IGs are not political hacks, but management experts uniquely posed to ask, and demand answers to, critical performance questions day-to-day bureaucracies either cannot or will not. They answer only to the Executive, with Congressional approval. They're there not just to stop corruption, but ensure government is actually doing what it's supposed to. That's the way it's been for over 40 years. Anything anybody else tells you otherwise is simply self-serving bullshit.
Trump, his Band of Bastards have just broken the law, claiming everything is broken and only THEY can fix it. Like all arrogant dictators everywhere, they break the rules and shatter norms, relying on their wormtongues and sycophants to terrorize would-be dissenters.
It's only been a week and this is where we are. He promised to be a dictator on Day 1 and he's kept word. And surprise, surprise, Senator Pitty-Pat from South Carolina, no doubt strengthened by hard drink, shows up on TV assuring us it was "the right thing to do."
We will never get our republic back until the entire Republican Party is made small and powerless enough to drown in a bathtub.
Remember when the Biden's Shadow President wanted to remove inspector generals? Allow me to refresh all the hand-wringing privileged folks in the echo chamber:
the IG for the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) - Martin Dickman
the acting IG for the Department of Commerce - Roderick Anderson
Inspector General Cuffari
Inspector General Ennis
Biden sought to remove two IGs; Obama sought to remove one. In both cases, rationales were provided to the Senate "in accordance with federal law."
Note the quotation..."in accordance with federal law." You're quite welcome.
https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/IF/IF11546
You are engaging in disinformation and being personally insulting. I have reported you. No other President has engaged in what the convicted felon has done with these 18 IGs. And stating other Presidents have shows you are not engaging with fact but are here to act in a grandiose and untruthful manner. And before you question my credentials to assess you this way you had best be able to match 27 years as a Behavioral Analyst assigned to Federal Law Enforcement.
Which part is 'disinformation'? Are you saying Biden didn't seek to remove any IGs? If you are, then you are spreading disinformation. Again, which part of my comment is 'disinformation'?
Which part did you find personally insulting? Pointing out that Joe (or whoever was pulling the strings) fired IGs? Pointing out your hand-wringing? Or pointing out your privilege? Privileged has been triggered. 'Chase the black man off the comments section'. Check your privilege, Ms. Hanan.
Sunshine you need to do a little more googling...
ps. You don't know me from Adam, and haven't the faintest idea what "privileges" in life I may have --- or may not --- have enjoyed. I would therefore suggest you keep your condescending assumptions about people you know nothing about to yourself.
(Verse 1)
Yo, let me break it down, let me make it clear,
We talkin' white privilege, let me bring it near.
It’s the perks and the benefits you ain’t gotta earn,
You just get 'em handed over, no lessons to learn.
Unquestioned, unearned, that’s how it’s designed,
An invisible advantage, baked in the grind.
Entitlements and choices, yeah, they come with ease,
But you don’t even notice, it’s just part of the breeze.
(Chorus)
White privilege, it’s real, it’s a lens on the game,
You might not see it, but it ain’t the same.
For some, it’s a ladder, for others, a wall,
But we gotta break it down, yo, justice for all.
(Verse 2)
See, it’s woven in the systems, it’s built in the code,
From the schools to the jobs, to the streets you go.
It ain’t about guilt, nah, it’s about awareness,
Opening your eyes, showing you care-ness.
Most who got it, they don’t even know,
It’s the water they swim in, the life they know.
Like a VIP pass, you don’t gotta ask,
Doors open wide, no questions, no task.
(Bridge)
This ain’t about hate, it’s about the truth,
About dismantling systems that burden the youth.
It’s about looking deeper, it’s about being fair,
And making sure the world shows love everywhere.
(Chorus)
White privilege, it’s real, it’s a lens on the game,
You might not see it, but it ain’t the same.
For some, it’s a ladder, for others, a wall,
But we gotta break it down, yo, justice for all.
(Outro)
So listen up close, it’s a call to reflect,
A chance to do better, to show more respect.
Privilege ain’t a crime, but ignoring it’s wrong,
So let’s build a better world, let’s all get along.
My guess is that the color of your skin is much much lighter than Martin Luther King Jr's. Under your whiteness, you are privileged.
Was this in the Project 2025 plan?
Yup
Emilie, everything you'll see in the next four years minus one week, it's in the 2025 plan. Remember Felon 34 denying any knowledge of, or anybody related to 2025 ?
Absolutely. It has been carefully planned by the Republican think tanks. People must rise or we will lose it all
It is illegal for the president to fire the IGs. IGs report to Congress not to the president. This is NOT okay.
If we only consider the confirmation of Pete Hegseth, we need to take control of the House, the sooner the better.
We've just elected a felon and rapist to the Presidency. In comparison, "drunk" seems like a minor item indeed. Except, of course, for the potential massive loss of life of our uniformed service people, men and women. Because of a drunk's ill-informed, uncaring and muddled decisions.
With more to come. Unfortunately.
Donald is pushing out so many outrageous things at once that people are not taking this firing of the IGs as seriously as they should. Also the Republicans are turning into lackeys for Donald.
Every president has their lackeys. Democrats were Biden's lackeys. What's your point?
Your statement is irrational and can not be supported. Presidents do act on preference to shape their administrations. No other President has been convicted of felonies and adjudication for sexual abuse and pathologically lied every time he has spoken. The convicted felon is NOT ABIDING BY THE LAW by removing these IGs. No other President has done this.
Third Trump quote, point out the lie: I do whine because I want to win, and I'm not happy about not winning, and I am a whiner, and I keep whining and whining until I win.
Second Trump quote, point out the lie: Power corrupts.
Democrats were not Senile Joe's lackeys? If not, Why did they hide his cognitive disability from Americans? As for irrational, for a Therapist to say, "pathologically lied every time he has spoken' is irrational. Let's play a game. I list a Trump quote, you point out the lie. Here's your first one: No dream is too big. No challenge is too great. Nothing we want for our future is beyond our reach.
No. Trump didn’t say that. He couldn’t get the words out. You are too protective of convicted felon.
You are stating he did NOT say, "No dream is too big. No challenge is too great. Nothing we want for our future is beyond our reach" ? He did say it, now point out the lie...
Are you okay with these firings? Are you okay with Hegseth? Do you like Executive overreach? Are you okay with this country becoming an Autocracy? Seems like it.
Were you okay with hiding senile old Joe? Seems like it.
Remember FFOUS (First Felon of the US) threat/promise to his MAGA cult members, "I am your retribution?" I don't think any of us thought that would include destroying the country that turned its back on this raving sociopath in the 2020 election.
Jeff. I always wondered why he says I'm "your" retribution. 🤔
I just have a hard time with this and everything in this administration so far. How can all this even happen?
Come on, guys, MAGAs in the House and Senate are lacking in backbones. How many times does this need to be proven? Trump controls all the resources for enforcement, so don't hold your breath that anything will happen during his march towards autocracy/dictatorship.
Do you have to hit me so hard with really just before I go to bed? 😄
I can't imagine Trump coming up with this and some of his other orders. I can see Stephen Miller and a few Project 2025 people who have been planning these moves for some time sitting around in their lair spitballing what dictatorial move to take next. They want each of them to be as public and outrageous as possible, and timed to make the media whenever there might be a lull in the news cycle.
Harry quit interrupting. You are supposed to be interviewing so you must listen to the answers.
Trump doesn't want independent IG's. If these IG's get a 30-day reprieve, Republicans in Congress will rubber stamp Trump's wishes. If the IG's stayed on, Trump would make it miserable for them.
The whole thing stinks to high heaven.
Harry, this is great, but PLEASE let your guest finish a sentence. You are constantly cutting in and it's distracting to the listener. Thanks.
Yes please Harry do not allow your need to process auditorily interfere with your guests responses to your questions.
Write or call your Representative and Senators and support independent news media. This is bad. Let them know you know.
Inspector Generals DO need to be independent.
Very important news item. Thank you for the first hand information.
Thank you for sharing this insightful conversation!
Do the presidential appointeed IGs have RIF rights?
Project 2025 is published, but Russell Vought has gone beyond that to write up detailed instructions for basically gutting federal agencies and turning them into dictator supporters. He said in a hidden camera video before the election that he had distributed these instructions to the Trump inner circle so they could execute them immediately. See CNN investigates from August 15 2024. Vought is in hearings to become head of the Office of Management and budget. Check out his testimony so far. He almost admits he has no interest in what the Constitution says he can do. If Congress doesn't reign him in, our whole government could come crashing down.
I hope many people saw that same interview. Beyond concerning, that there’s more to their “project” that has even been publicly released.
The unrecognizable R party being led by a convergence of groups, Trp leading the way, has seemingly managed to weaponize the media with their misinformation campaign, curtailing their mixed messages to the specific groups they were addressing, at any given time, knowing full well (and counting on) the limited amount of time and energy people could spend on fact checking, cross checking messaging and relying on using and abusing many people’s patriotic and religious reverence as cloaks, to draw them in to unwittingly assault the very ideals they love. It’s complete and utter hypocrisy. As well as, using the term “woke” as an alarmist term, as though being awake and aware, is a negative. For those that voted for this, wake up! Wake up, America! They’ve been working on the media and the justice system since the first term.
How can people make an informed decision up against, and inundated by, the misinformation machine where a win is based on lies, and where truth is twisted (and this continues, even from elected officials, to justify what is going on). Thank you to the brave Capital Police Officers, and all civil servants working for common good and decency. Leadership in protecting our constitution and democracy is needed.
Thank you. This is the kind of primary source material that is basically billionaire blocked. So, what to do? What is the most effective lever to apply to maintaining an effective IG function? It is essential to maintain the ability to know what agencies do with our money, which is the essence of the IG. As ordinary citizens, who can I call on to assert the need for an independent AG, and how can I support their efforts? (Edit: corrected AG to IG).
To all at The Contrarian, thank you so very much for keeping us informed. I know we must stay informed and take an active part in saving our democracy. The horrific nature of what is being done simply breaks my heart.
I am really depressed after listening to this podcast. I feel that I am reading and listening to as many publications and podcasts so I can personally witness the end of our democracy. Where is the outrage from our elected Democratic leaders ? Yes, the Republican senators have no spine to vote against these horrible nominees. They put themselves first before country. The Democratic senators have been chaotic and obviously have no game plan. And some have even voted for some of the nominees. How many Friday Night massacres should we have until they get a clue. It is pretty bad when the heroes of the resistance are Karen Pence, Bishop Mariann Budde and the Inspectors general. IG Greenblatt was a wonderful guest and I am truly thankful for his response on being fired. But the Inspectors general cant do it alone.
Since when did something like a law stop this person. He believes his own bullshit that he was sent by god to make America great & that's really dangerous. Hitler believed he was saved from several assassination attempts & he thought of himself as a Messiah!
Speak up ! Take up 02!
Thanks, I was wondering what was going on with all of this.
Now, I know (as much as most anyone, I guess).
IT DOESN'T MATTER if the new appointees are objective, fair, objective, etc. because the Senate has a SPINELESS GOP majority. America is royally screwed.
Immigrated to USA to get higher education in 68 and stayed after completion. I had never expected to see how this country is falling apart by only one man. To demonstrate the direction we are going, it will be very helpful to draw a chart having the newly elected president on top. Below the chart put down every action the Republican sycophants are taking by the boss who directs. Gradually and consistently removing the pillars of democracy and freedom. If. Phoning happens to stop the trend, we will be Putin’s country with our own president. I know and because I have seen it happen from where I came from. Brace ourselves.
It's just open violation of the law at this point. And why not? Republicans in Congress won't do anything. SCOTUS gave him near unlimited immunity for his actions. He is going to keep pushing to see what he can get away with and so far it's whatever he wants.
Any chance you can provide transcripts for those of us who don’t want to watch the videos?
This was an excellent interview by Harry Litman with Mark Greenbelt. Very informative and frankly, terrifying. Thank you for doing this.
I so agree !
This purge sickens me.
No surprise.
We can hardly expect more than criminal actions from a criminal in office.
Resist!
Defeat!
2026!
2028!
I wish you would provide transcripts for deaf people.
It's hard for the current Senate to get more more predictably toadies whoare willing to march us to complete dictatorship. And it's only day 7.
No accountability!
Look for TFG to play Putin and take a percentage of every federal dollar spent.
Civil servants have always been there for us serving for the public good.
Is there a way to get a transcript of interviews?
Will you please caption posts that require the ability to hear or at the very least provide text content. Thank you.
We know it was illegal for Trump to fire the Inspectors General Friday night but I see there is no one stopping him from doing it, certainly not even Democrats. I am very outraged and frightened that he is being allowed to commit such a consequential illegal action five days into office. Can you provide any insight into this, where and how resistance would come for such an action? And what happens from now on if he has carte Blanche to do anything he wants with no checks and balances?
For those looking for a transcript, on my computer in the Firefox browser, there is a button below the video, below the title, just below Harry Litman and the date, and above the bio of the guest. It's on the line with the heart and just to the right of the button for "share."
In Safari on my iPhone the transcript button is directly below the video and above the title.
I can't find a transcript button in the app. As a hearing impaired person myself, I hope this helps.
Harry Litman: If you are interviewing someone, wouldn't it make sense to talk less and let him speak? You said a couple of times "I should shut up". Please take your own advice.
Yes. Almost everything the Trump clans are doing is in project 2025 designed by Heritage foundation think tank as to how they get DT elected and how to turn this country to an oligarchy.
As a democrat voter, I am sad to say that we did not do a good job demonstrating what project 2025 is. A few words on a campaign trail can sink in the issues on a population that has no better than a fourth grade education or logic or … what people would have understood if Biden would have set his ego aside and Dems would puts a classroom type information infusion to the public on TV nit billion dollar ads. One has to talk to a child like a child . Trump knows how but we didn’t. I regret it.
To speak frankly, it is hard to listen to a conversation when the host (Harry Litman) interrupts the speaker (Greenblatt) so frequently. It is not as if Greenblatt was digressing from the specific topic at hand. It seemed as if Harry Litman was just a bit impatient, or felt the need to vent his own frustrations over the Trump action even as Greenblatt was choosing to speak very calmly about it.
Harry, I just listened to your latest “Talking Feds.” Agreed with all speakers but will respectfully say I find it difficult to listen to Susan Glasser. It is just false that no one saw how bad this could be. It is just false that I one saw how Trump could completely destroy the government. For God’s sake, he tried to do it with a MOB 3 years ago!
Her words today were what she and the NYT and others should have been saying years ago. But way more time was spent criticizing Biden.
Sorry, but if she thinks no one saw this coming, she is just wrong.
Another safeguard disabled by the current regime! Where is the outrage in Congress? I am livid! When do we refuse to pay our taxes because we do not approve of the way our money is being spent?
We notice and we are concerned!
This is disgusting, yes. But it is part of the Project 2025 p;an to rid us, the people, of all protections so the can install their oligarchical puppets in all offices designed to protect the people from corruption. Thank you Mr. Greenblatt for your years of service. This Country needs and will need people like you when we, the people get our Country back again.
Harry, you made it too hard to follow by your long questions and interruptions.
I am disappointed in Greenblatt's response. He should resist the firing with all legal tools available. If resisting will give him 30 days, take it. He and the other IG's will have more leverage holding their positions as long as possible. I disagree with his apparent assumption that the independence of the IG's will somehow be compromised if he resists. I think he is wrong to believe the Senate will do what it "should" do if he makes nice with the administration of the 78 year old convicted criminal.
Good interview, but can you stop with the flying red and white boxes? To me, those signify changing to a new interview or something, not a new question in the same interview. They’re very abrupt and even aggravating.
The positions being eliminated is distinct from firing. Does anyone know the the complete language of the law? If positions are eliminated they will not be refilled.
I sincerely hope that these IG’s fight back with all available tools at their disposal
Didn’t they refuse to leave?
Thank you for the transcript!
I appreciate both the video and written form.
If the position was terminated, as he said, then how could someone be nominated to replace him? There is no longer a position to fill.
What do all these men have in common: Donald J. Trump, Abraham Lincoln, John F. Kennedy, Ronald Reagan and Martin Luther King Jr?
They all stood up to the Democrat Machine and all were shot.
Celebrating the 200th Birthday of the Democrat Party.