In less than a week, the odds that Pete Hegseth would be confirmed as secretary of defense dropped to the point that Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) was expected to replace him, and then rebounded to the point that his most outspoken skeptic, Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA), gave him a statement of confidence.

The abrupt change in fortunes for Hegseth’s nomination, which last week looked dead in the water, is a testament to the enduring political capital that President-elect Donald Trump has accumulated with his popular and electoral victory last month. However, it is also a testament to the power of outside pressure campaigns from Trump’s allies.