It’s a scene that could only happen in today’s polarized America: a career national security bureaucrat, Patti Morrissey, unloading on a conservative black woman in a D.C.-area coffee shop because she dared to say something positive about Trump. Annetta Catchings, a former GOP candidate for mayor in Alexandria, Virginia, shared footage of Morrissey’s unhinged response after she overheard Catchings mention her conservative views. Morrissey, who touts her “35 years” in national security, couldn’t hold back, deciding her career experience gave her license to lecture and demean a complete stranger over coffee.
The drama unfolded when Morrissey overheard Catchings telling a friend she could “never vote for Kamala Harris.” That’s all it took. Morrissey immediately launched into a self-righteous rant about how Trump is a “convicted felon” and “sex offender” (news flash: he isn’t), before escalating into an all-caps meltdown over her “expert” status.
She reminded Catchings—multiple times—that she’s a “national security expert.” Apparently, Morrissey thinks her resume gives her the right to determine who’s educated enough to support a particular candidate. Catchings, however, held her ground, noting that the only people who ever seem to challenge her views are “white Democrat women.” Morrissey wasn’t amused.
The white liberal woman who accosted @annetta_of in Old Town Alexandria, VA is Patti Morrissey, CEO of Global Foresight Strategies
Retired DoD, State, ODNI Federal employee
Patricia is a longtime @timkaine donor & former (unsuccessful) @vademocrats candidate for State House https://t.co/Tngr8XnDPe pic.twitter.com/rv2FZBm2mb
— NOVA Campaigns (@NoVA_Campaigns) November 3, 2024
It wasn’t long before Morrissey doubled down on social media, but rather than apologize, she blamed “Russian trolls” for the backlash. In a since-deleted post, she claimed the criticism was likely part of a Russian plot. Because naturally, anyone who disagrees with her must be a Russian bot. She even warned her followers to “brace” for an alleged Russian disinformation storm, insisting that criticisms of her party’s election antics are foreign propaganda. So now, not only is Morrissey an “expert,” but she’s also apparently the self-appointed arbiter of truth.
“As a conservative woman I could never vote for Kamala Harris b/c,,,”
What happened next was 3 separate attacks from this stranger! Her friend had to hold her back. I was called uneducated as she proceeded to give me her resumé.#Unhinged pic.twitter.com/q1jRO5yUNs— Annetta Catchings for Alexandria (@annetta_of) November 1, 2024
This isn’t just about one unhinged interaction in a coffee shop; it’s part of a broader pattern among entrenched bureaucrats who think they know best. Trump has long been vocal about the presence of political bias among career government employees like Morrissey. His concerns aren’t unfounded, as demonstrated by figures like Eugene Vindman, who, along with his brother, famously used his “nonpartisan” role in government to critique and leak information during Trump’s administration. These officials may be hired for “nonpartisan” roles, but that hasn’t stopped them from pushing their political agendas under the guise of expertise.
With Trump’s proposed Schedule F reforms, however, there’s a chance to reimagine these bureaucratic roles and hold government officials accountable. Under Schedule F, certain career employees in policy-making roles would be easier to replace, allowing elected leaders to implement their agenda without being undermined by unelected, partisan officials.
In fact, conservative groups like the American Accountability Project are already working to track anti-conservative bureaucrats at agencies like the Department of Homeland Security. These officials, many of whom openly promote left-leaning causes, have no interest in enforcing conservative policies, and they’ve made that clear through their own social media.
The D.C. establishment has long protected insiders like Morrissey, but the backlash to this latest incident shows Americans are growing tired of bureaucrats who flaunt their “expertise” while dismissing the values of everyday voters. Catchings was just trying to enjoy her coffee, but for some in Washington’s bureaucracy, dissenting opinions are apparently fair game for public shaming. And if Trump has his way, the days of bureaucrats deciding policy from the shadows may be coming to an end.
