Hold onto your hats, folks—Washington’s latest drama has the Senate slamming the brakes on 88 of President Donald Trump’s nominees, all because of a single controversial pick.

On Thursday, the Senate hit a wall when a group of nominees for various government roles was blocked from moving forward together, CBSAustin reported. 

The roadblock came courtesy of Sen. Michael Bennet, a Colorado Democrat, who took issue with the inclusion of Sarah Bailey, a former Fox News contributor tapped by Trump to lead national drug policy.

Bailey’s Nomination Sparks Senate Standoff

Under Senate rules, positions like drug policy director must be considered one by one, not bundled with others, meaning Republicans needed a three-fifths majority to push the whole group through—a tall order they likely couldn’t meet.

Bennet’s objection wasn’t just procedural; he’s sounding the alarm on what he sees as a pattern of questionable appointments by the president.

“I just blocked 88 Trump nominees from confirmation—including Sara Carter Bailey, a former Fox News contributor nominated to be our country’s Drug Czar,” Bennet declared.

Concerns Over Qualifications Fuel Debate

With that quote, Bennet throws down the gauntlet, but let’s unpack this—while scrutiny of nominees is fair, stalling nearly 90 picks over one name feels like political theater at the expense of governance.

Bennet also tied his objection to Trump’s recent pardon of former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández, who was serving a 45-year sentence for drug trafficking conspiracy before being released early.

Democrats, Bennet included, have criticized this pardon, especially as Trump ramps up efforts against alleged narcoterrorism in the Caribbean, creating a perceived contradiction in policy.

Pardon Controversy Adds to Tensions

Layer on top of this the broader Democratic pushback against Trump’s appointees, like Pete Hegseth, another former Fox News personality now serving as Secretary of Defense amid his own storm of controversies.

Hegseth has been under fire for alleged actions like ordering military strikes on suspected drug traffickers and using private messaging apps for sensitive discussions, which a Pentagon watchdog flagged as risking troop safety.

Yet, Trump stands by his man, stating during a Tuesday cabinet meeting that Hegseth was “doing a great job.”

Trump Defends Picks Amid Criticism

That vote of confidence from the president is telling—Trump isn’t backing down, even as critics pile on, and it’s hard not to admire the loyalty, though one wonders if a broader vetting process might save everyone the headache.

Democrats, including Bennet, have a history of rejecting Trump’s choices, as seen earlier this year when every one of them voted against Hegseth’s confirmation, citing similar concerns over qualifications.

At the end of the day, this Senate skirmish isn’t just about Bailey or Hegseth—it’s a proxy war over Trump’s vision for government, with conservatives arguing for bold, outsider picks and opponents decrying a lack of traditional credentials. While the left’s concerns about experience deserve a hearing, grinding the entire nomination process to a halt risks punishing dozens of potentially capable appointees for the sins of a few. Let’s hope cooler heads prevail before Washington’s gridlock becomes the only thing getting confirmed.