Some undercaffeinated thoughts: Esper's interview last night was ridiculous, but today, it is still an important moment that a SecDef is standing at the Pentagon podium delivering remarks (something all too rare in this administration in normal times). 1/
As I wrote last night it is very, very rare for top officials to resign in protest and reasons to think there are structural factors making it even more rare today. 2/
Speaking out in opposition to president's policy also rare (more often done in print, and anonymously, not on camera). 3/
Many self-interested reasons for advisers not to speak out; but presidents also have incentives to ensure they don't, and they bargain over policies to keep advisers on board--see my JCR paper on advisers and the use of force: 4/ journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/00…
So for Esper to stand up on camera and say so explicitly he does not agree with the president's policy at a moment of national crisis -- yes, that is something. 5/
And among many other things, it shows (again) that Trump is not doing much in the way of good internal politics to maintain cohension on his team, beyond demanding loyalty. 6/
All administrations have disagreements, often bitter ones. But it is a politics that affect whether statements like this make it out into the world, and this is Trump failing at those politics. 7/7
