We’ve seen endless mafia films over the years of criminals being “made” with the approval of their Don, and thus becoming full-fledged associates in a criminal family. Aside from the financial onus of being a made-member of a criminal enterprise—sending a percentage of their take upward as tribute—the value of this association is group agreement.

Criminals don’t think like the rest of society. They view the rest of us as sheep to be sheared. Our belongings are theirs according to their way of thought. So crooks want to surround themselves with people who have this same mental aberration—it justifies their insanity and warped intentions.

If we look at the history of Trump’s various criminal indictments and the decisions in cases brought against him, we can see a clear pattern of ill intent and malevolent actions. The fact that he has managed to escape consequences even now is no reason to discount how much of a crook he really is. John Gotti was known for many years as the Teflon Don because of his ability to dodge convictions—ironically until the now disbarred Rudy Giuliani brought him down.

Trump has been found liable for massive fraud in a civil trial brought by the New York State Attorney General, found guilty of 34 criminal counts in the New York “Hush Money” trial. He’s been adjudicated a sex offender in his case against journalist Jean Carroll. Then there’s the indictments for election interference in Georgia and the classified documents case brought by Jack Smith. Aside from the incompetence shown by AG Merrick Garland in bringing Trump to justice, these decisions and indictments could not have been brought without evidence. Then there’s the matter of the Jan 6th Committee findings and his attempted insurrection. And let’s not forget the Mueller Report. Sure it was suppressed by Trump’s pet AG Bill Barr. This gives us a pretty clear picture of what we are looking at.

With all this said, let’s look at some of his cabinet picks:

Tulsi Gabbard: Trump’s pick for Director of National Intelligence. That fact that she has almost no experience with the intelligence community, this position would put her in command of it. But the real issue here is that she is viewed as an ideological fan of Vladimir Putin and possibly a Russian asset. If there are any shade of truth to this, Trump would be putting a Putin ally in command of our entire intelligence apparatus. Trump has also been viewed as a Putin asset going all the way back to the much maligned Steele Dossier—which Republicans conveniently forget was originally commissioned by them.

With the Gabbard, Trump can at least commiserate with someone who is also likely a traitor.

Matt Gaetz: Since Trump has been known as a sex offender and predator for quite some time, the appointment of Gaetz as Attorney General should come as no real surprise. But this one has a bit more to it. Criminals hate those who investigate them. Part of this is because of the mental stress cause by wondering what they may have found out—even more than what is known.

Much information has already been exposed about Trump’s attitudes and abuse of women over the years. The Jean Carroll and the New York “Hush Money” trials are just the most widely known. You can be certain Trump fears someone will find out about what hasn’t been exposed yet. Same with Matt Gaetz.

What Trump really wants Gaetz for is to use his built-in fear of exposure to tear down and defund the FBI and negate any investigations Trump and Gaetz choose. And then to turn around and start manufacturing revenge proceedings against his enemies.

Pete Hegseth: Here’s another sex offender and a guy who has zero experience in managing any size organization much less something the size and scope of the DOD. Yet Trump has picked him as Secretary of Defense. Aside from their mutual attitudes of sexual offense and denialism, Hegseth is most likely viewed by Trump as someone he can manipulate. This has been demonstrated to Trump over the years by their interactions on FOX and Friends.

Criminals favor minions who will do their bidding and the military—in Trump’s mind—will be an important tool in the wide program of repression, detention and deportation he desperately wants to engage in. What better lever for him to have over generals and admirals who have sworn their allegiance to the Constitution than their boss.

Trump’s mindset is obvious and to him set in concrete. These three widely discussed examples of his appointments show the clear pattern of intent to surround himself with “yes” people who will blindly follow orders.

Other appointments can probably be just as easily viewed through this lens. We don’t know if any Senate Republicans will grow a spine and push back on at least these three most egregious of Trump’s selections. But, it was a small favor that at least his wish to have Rick Scott as Majority Leader was denied. Scott would have been a rubber stamp, which is why Trump wanted him.

Trump and the Republican Party are hellbent on the road to Fascism. Denying some of these insane appointments will at least slow down their progress.