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Donald Trump’s nominee for secretary of defense, former Fox News weekend anchor Pete Hegseth, continues to be dogged by allegations about his past, leaving prospects for his confirmation hanging in the balance.
Hegseth took questions from the House Republican Study Committee on Wednesday, met with senators, and promised incoming Senate Armed Services Chair Roger Wicker that, if confirmed, he wouldn’t drink.
His mother Penelope appeared on his former network earlier in the day to defend him, having previously criticized her son’s behavior towards women in a letter.
The future of Hegseth’s nomination appears to depend on Senate Republican women, and Trump’s transition team is reportedly considering alternatives to lead the Pentagon, including Senator Joni Ernst and, more surprisingly, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.
Meanwhile, Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy are on Capitol Hill today, meeting with congressional Republicans about policy plans for the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), to slash spending at the federal level.
At the meeting, Sen. Ernst is expected to present a 60-page report proposing an end to remote working for federal workers, consolidation of office space, and the relocation of government departments out of Washington, DC.
FBI called in over mystery drones near Trump’s Bedminster golf course
Mystery drones spotted flying near Trump’s New Jersey golf course
A drone appeared to fly over President-elect Donald Trump’s golf course in Bedminster, New Jersey. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has launched an investigation after witnesses spotted a cluster of what appeared to be drones flying along the Raritan River since 18 November. Flights were also reported to have taken place near the Picatinny Arsenal, a US military research and manufacturing facility. FBI officials have asked anyone with videos or photos of the flights, or any other relevant information, to contact the agency.
Marjorie Taylor Greene is excited about Elon Musk’s meeting today. Other Republicans are not
But they may find that excitement isn’t exactly shared by other members of their party. Many Republicans are not exactly overcome with confidence in the MAGAworld wunderchild pairing’s ability to identify government waste.
John Bowden reports from Washington, DC.
Hegseth dragged for enlisting mom to help save his Defense nomination
But lawmakers and people online did not seem moved by Penelope’s plea.
Eric Garcia and Ariana Baio report.
DOGE: Mike Johnson says he’s aiming to ax 75% of all federal agencies with Elon Musk’s help
“We certainly hope” to slash the number of federal agencies from 428 to 99, as Musk has vowed, Johnson said in response to a question from Fox News host Martha McCallum in an interview Wednesday night. “We want to be willing partners in that,” he added.
Gustaf Kilander reports from Washington, DC.
Trans activists including Chelsea Manning occupy bathroom outside Speaker Johnson’s office in
Trans activists including Chelsea Manning held a sit-in in a bathroom outside of Speaker Mike Johnson’s office in protest at his rules regarding gender and the use of restrooms in the US Capitol complex.
Why the fate of Hegseth’s nomination depends not just on his behavior
Pete Hegseth has spent the week on Capitol Hill trying to reassure Republican senators that he is fit to lead President-elect Donald Trump’s Department of Defense in the wake of high-profile allegations about excessive drinking and sexual assault.
But senators in both parties have also expressed concern about another issue — Hegseth’s frequent comments that women should not serve in frontline military combat jobs.
Continue reading…
Watch: Tuberville claims not Senate Republicans’ job to vet Trump nominees
It is literally the job of the Senate to vet and scrutinize presidential nominees.
Per the Center for Presidential Transition: “Nominees can expect serious scrutiny from the Senate.”
Death penalty opponents say Joe Biden betrayed a campaign promise — but it’s not too late
John Bowden writes:
The ACLU and other supporters of progressive reforms to the US justice system, remembering the effort by Trump to speed up federal executions in 2020 before he left office, are encouraging Biden to take the opposite approach and commute the sentences of some or all of those awaiting execution.
Read on…
Ernst has no plans to meet with Hegseth again today or tomorrow
Senator Joni Ernst appears to remain unconvinced by Pete Hegseth’s suitability to lead the Department of Defense.
IOC head Bach confident about working with Trump toward 2028 Los Angeles Olympics
Olympic leaders are “very confident and relaxed” about working with the incoming Trump administration ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Summer Games, outgoing IOC president Thomas Bach said Thursday.
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has talked up his own role helping get the games for LA in 2017, though a White House meeting during that campaign with an Olympic delegation including Bach was not a success.
Still, the two men could meet again as soon as Saturday in Paris, which hosted the 2024 Olympics that LA originally bid for.
Continue reading…
Source: independent.co.uk
