Trump's election and the subsequent allegations against him ignited broader conversations about sexual misconduct, creating an environment where reporting on such issues became more prominent and acceptable.
Initially, the movement focused on workplace accountability, leading to the loss of jobs for hundreds of men accused of sexual misconduct across various industries, regardless of political affiliation.
These picks challenge the movement's core principle of workplace accountability, suggesting a potential backlash or normalization of tolerating sexual misconduct in high-level positions.
Trump's selections could be seen as a political statement, attempting to confirm individuals despite allegations, thereby politicizing and potentially undermining the movement's non-partisan stance.
Despite numerous allegations and a recent legal liability, public support for Trump has remained largely unchanged, indicating a persistent tolerance for his behavior among his base.
The movement is grappling with questions about the severity of behavior considered misconduct, the necessary evidence for allegations, and the appropriate consequences for acknowledged wrongdoers.
Despite frequent claims of its demise, the movement continues to see new allegations against powerful figures, though it has become more politicized.
If you're tracking Donald Trump's cabinet picks, you may have noticed common threads among them: top jobs are going to people fiercely loyal to Trump, people with experience appearing on TV, but no experience directly relevant to the jobs they would be doing.There's another thing several share: being accused of sexual misconduct. Secretary of Defense nominee Pete Hegseth, HHS Secretary nominee Robert F. Kennedy, Jr, Elon Musk, who Trump has picked to co-run the Department of Government Efficiency — all these men have faced some variation of accusations of sexual misconduct. All have denied it, or claimed no memory.Donald Trump's first presidential win helped lay the groundwork for the #MeToo movement. What do his cabinet picks say about the movement today?For sponsor-free episodes of Consider This, sign up for Consider This+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org). Email us at [email protected]).Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices)NPR Privacy Policy)