Why conservatives love to blame the 'deep state' for everything

Explaining the Right is a weekly series that looks at what the right wing is currently obsessing over, how it influences politics—and why you need to know.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth appeared on Fox News on Tuesday to discuss the true culprit behind his rocky nomination and scandal-plagued tenure as America’s Pentagon chief.

The problem isn’t his own personal conduct, including an allegation of assault, nor is it his embrace of bigoted policies. The problem is not even his...