Jan. 30 has finally been set as the date for the confirmation hearings for Tulsi Gabbard, nominee for Director of National Intelligence, and Kash Patel, nominee for FBI Director. Particularly for Gabbard, the delay in setting the date was absurd, on grounds that her “background check” had not been completed. Apparently, her U.S. military security clearance was not sufficient. Mainstream media are rife with reports that Gabbard’s candidacy is very “shaky,” that there are still two Republicans on the Intelligence Committee “on the fence” whose negative votes could prevent her nomination from getting out of committee to the floor, etc.