Does anybody know who the "designated survivor" is tonight?

[niyad]

[Blues Heron]

1. Mitch?

[niyad]

4. How could we tell? Is he even out of the hospital?

[SheltieLover]

27. Yes, but he was hospitalized for 8 days

Bet his old ass is having some difficulties dragging his shell around.

No offense intended to turtles.

[niyad]

32. True. Turtles are at least interesting and useful.

[SheltieLover]

40. Yes, they are

[Jack Valentino]

76. I'll designate MYSELF as the 'designated survivor', if I

wake up tomorrow morning after listening to this bullshit!

[niyad]

77. I am only surviving because I am not listening to him. My kitty gets upset

when Mom starts swearing.

[efhmc]

2. Well it sure isn't the American people. Too late for us.

[niyad]

5. Sadly true.

[redwitch]

3. I hope it's Kiefer Sutherland.

But probably not.

[niyad]

7. True

[Nittersing]

10. Never knew about the series... until I just googled...

Sounds like people really liked the first two seasons, but it fell apart in the third.

Might be something to watch tonight.

[newdeal2]

6. There are some things I'd rather not know

My guess is Kid Rock and RFK Jr. will be at their sauna drinking milk and watching it on TV.

[niyad]

9. Urrrrrp. That's okay, I didn't really need breakfast.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

8. 'Hot mess!' Rachel Maddow laughs at Trump's choices for designated survivor

Rachel had fun last night

'Hot mess!' Rachel Maddow laughs at Trump's choices for designated survivor

— Raw Story (@rawstory.com) 2026-02-24T14:00:26.550Z

https://www.rawstory.com/rachel-maddow-2675303516/

MS NOW's Rachel Maddow previewed one of the side curiosities about President Donald Trump's State of the Union Address: the designated survivor, or the sole member of the Cabinet who is hidden in a safe room during the speech, to be sworn in as president in case there is an attack that takes out the Capitol building.

It's normally a fairly mundane Cabinet official, Maddow noted — but the problem for Trump is, even his most mundane Cabinet officials are steeped in scandal this year.

"The whole idea of it is very dystopian and weird, but they do it every year," said Maddow. "And, you know, you'd think, given the responsibility associated with being the designated survivor, you'd think they'd pick like the most widely respected person. They'd pick the person who everybody agrees would be the best choice to take over the country in the wake of an unimaginable disaster. You'd think it would be like a really high-profile person they picked every year. They don't do that, actually. Kind of the opposite. The person does get some attention for being picked as the designated survivor every year, but usually the person is kind of not well known."

"And so like in this Cabinet, you might expect that they'd pick maybe the Labor Secretary, right?" said Maddow. "Labor is not a particular area of interest for this president, or really for any Republican president. So maybe they just, you know, keep things quiet, pick somebody low-key, make the Labor Secretary the designated survivor this year. Could they do that? Oh no no no no no, can't do that. Trump's Labor Secretary is Lori Chavez-DeRemer. And if they pick Lori Chavez-DeRemer as the designated survivor, then people will Google Lori Chavez-DeRemer. And this is what they will find."

"Headline: Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer under investigation for, quote, 'inappropriate relationship with employee,'" wrote Maddow. "These are reports that started with a complaint that was reportedly filed with the inspector general of the Labor Department. Trump Labor Secretary, quote, 'accused of drinking in her office during the workday' and committing travel fraud by having her chief of staff and deputy chief of staff, both of whom are now on leave, quote, 'make up official trips to destinations where Chavez-Deremer can spend time with family or friends on the taxpayer's dime.'"

[niyad]

11. There is not a single decent one in that sick, twisted bunch.

[SheltieLover]

26. I'm beginning to wonder if they weren't all involved with eps

[niyad]

30. That would surprise absolutely none of us, I would think!

[SheltieLover]

41. I kept wondering how he found all this scum

Then it hit me.

[Deuxcents]

55. That was a great opening segment from her last night

[malaise]

66. Was sooo good

😂

[CurtEastPoint]

12. Kash is looking for the designated survivor now....

[niyad]

17. Disturbing image.

[SheltieLover]

25. Yuck Manson Eyes

[niyad]

31. Yes!!!

[SheltieLover]

42. Couldn't find his own ass with both hands, a flashlight & 2 mirrors

[Clouds Passing]

65. Need. More. Coke.

[Laffy Kat]

67. Doesn't he look like he has hyperthyroidism?

Poorly managed Grave's disease can make your eyes protrude like that.

Just sayin'

[Endlessmike56]

13. Hopefully no one from his administration

[niyad]

15. Sadly, it is supposed to be a cabinet secretary. They are all scum!

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

14. Stephen Miller. It's the worst thing I could think of.

[niyad]

16. Naziferatu is not a cabinet secretary.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

18. I didn't know there were rules. Ok, how about RFK Jr?

He might be the only one who's actually more stupid than Trump.

[niyad]

19. The line of succession, so yes, rules.

[Alephy]

35. I had not seen that moniker

It is apt.

[niyad]

43. I shamelessly stole it from another DU'er some time back. It is, indeed, apt.

[Johonny]

20. I assume Tiffany

[niyad]

21. She is not a cabinet secretary.

[Johonny]

22. She's 4th in line to the throne

Or do we pretend there is still a constitution and such?

[niyad]

23. Per the title of my OP, I was, clearly, specifically asking about standard

protocol tonight. Hence, the "designated survivor" (an actual role during a SOTU) in the title.

[SheltieLover]

24. I have no idea.

[niyad]

28. It appears that nobody knows!

[SheltieLover]

29. Cripes what a pedo shit show

[niyad]

33. A bit scary, really.

[SheltieLover]

34. It's scary every day with these deplorables in charge.

[niyad]

44. Sadly true.

[SheltieLover]

59. My first thought when Joe was elected: "I'll finally be able to sleep again."

We need adults in charge and NOT ruskie ASSets.

[niyad]

61. Exactly. I remember Rachel saying, years ago, that one of the signs

of good government is that one does not have to give it any thought fot days,, or even weeks, on end.

[SheltieLover]

63. Yes!

They just do their jobs!

[multigraincracker]

36. Pick the absolute worst.

Then impeach that person one the first day.
Might expand our choices right away.

[niyad]

45. There's a good thought!

[leftstreet]

37. This guy is claiming it's him

Congressman from CA?

Mike Thompson
@RepThompson
·Feb 23
I’ve been selected as a designated survivor for tomorrow’s State of the Union, so I won’t be there in person, but I’ll be watching. Americans deserve accountability for the militarization of ICE, terrorization of our communities and killing of American citizens.

Link to tweet

?s=20

[leftstreet]

50. Last year it was the VA Secretary

So do the Ds and Rs each have a designated survivor?

[Qutzupalotl]

48. Appears to be legit.

https://thehill.com/homenews/house/5752356-democrats-designated-survivor-trump-state-of-the-union/

[niyad]

54. Thank you for that.

[Vinca]

38. I heard there was a fat rat hanging around outside the White House kitchen. Probably the most qualified.

[generalbetrayus]

39. Can the Senate nominate and approve a Secretary of Designated Survivorship before tonight, someone with ethics

and a brain? We might even get a few Republican votes given the state of the current cabinet.

[niyad]

49. One wishes, but, no.

[mr715]

47. Isn't it going to be Sec. McMahon?

Hasn't it usually been Sec. of Education?

[niyad]

51. I have no idea, which is why I am asking.

[wnylib]

68. Is there still an Education Dept?

I guess somebody has to be in charge of destroying our finest universities and all public schools before they could eliminate the post.

OTOH, they will need someone to supervise the propaganda under the Big Brother dictatorship.

[malaise]

52. Did you watch Rachel last night

Last edited Tue Feb 24, 2026, 06:25 PM - Edit history (1)

She had a blast with Costume Gnome as designated survivor.

I select democracy.

[niyad]

57. No. I do not have tv. Will check the link upthread.

[jmowreader]

53. Pam Bondi

He owes her a big favor for keeping him out of a Florida prison, and she’s completely useless and odious. In other words, she’s perfect.

[niyad]

58. Sadly true.

[LogDog75]

56. Will the designated survivor appear on Survivor 50

which airs tomorrow night. It'll probably be more interesting that the SOTU.

[niyad]

60. I have no idea. Have never seen the program.

[gopiscrap]

62. It's John Barron

[niyad]

64. But of course!

[Kid Berwyn]

70. It's always John Barron.

[Buzz cook]

69. Whoever it is will be just as good as Trump.

And by that I mean not good at all.

[niyad]

71. Sadly true.

[jxla]

72. Yahoo!News says Sec'y of Veterans Affairs Doug Collins

The Cabinet member serving as this year’s designated survivor will be Doug Collins, the secretary of Veterans Affairs, according to CNN.

[niyad]

74. Thank you.

[mr715]

73. Its the VA Sec

[niyad]

75. Thank you.

[Katinfl]

78. Doug Collins is the designated survivor.

[niyad]

79. Thank you.