Trump transition live: Pete Hegseth says no alcohol if confirmed after meeting with Republican lawmakers
President-elect’s pick for defense secretary dogged by allegations of sexual assault, drunkenness, Islamophobia and mismanagement of a non-profit, as Ron DeSantis floated as possible alternative
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Your support makes all the difference.Donald Trump’s nominee for secretary of defense, former Fox News weekend anchor Pete Hegseth, continues to be dogged by allegations about his past, potentially making his confirmation less likely. On Wednesday his candidacy faced an “absolutely critical day.”
Hegseth took questions from the House Republican Study Committee, 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 to defend him, having previously criticized her son’s behavior towards women in a letter.
The Trump transition team is reportedly considering alternatives to lead the Pentagon — reportedly including Senator Joni Ernst, and surprisingly, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.
Meanwhile, Trump’s pick to serve as administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Sheriff Chad Chronister withdrew from consideration, although Trump has since said he pulled the nomination over comments he made to pastors.
In another flurry of appointments, the president-elect asked his former trade adviser Peter Navarro to return in a similar role for his new administration. Trump also picked a NASA administrator, a secretary of the army, and a chair of the SEC.
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GOP pollster dismisses allegations against Pete Hegseth
Republican pollster and strategist Lee Carter said on Wednesday that she found it “offensive and wrong” that so much attention has been paid to the allegations of Pete Hegseth’s excessive drinking and sexual impropriety, describing the startling accusations as merely “extracurricular activities.”
Shortly after Hegseth’s mother appeared on Fox & Friends to vociferously defend her embattled son as his appointment to lead the Pentagon hangs perilously in the balance, Carter told CNN that she had known the former Fox News star for years and enjoyed working with him in the past.
Jason Barnagoa reports.
GOP pollster dismisses allegations against Pete Hegseth: ‘Extracurricular activities’
Strategic communications expert Lee Carter told CNN on Wednesday that “what happened in his private life, all of that is off the table” when it comes to Hegseth’s confirmation.
Because of Trump, Bill Maher threatens to quit HBO talk show
Bill Maher has suggested he could quit his HBO talk show Real Time with Bill Maher after the re-election of Donald Trump.
The comedian, 68, has hosted the political chat show since 2003.
Speaking to guest Jane Fonda on his podcast Club Random, Maher said he already felt exhausted by the prospect of having to cover the Trump administration for another four years.
“I mean I may quit,” said Maher.
Kevin E G Perry reports from Los Angeles.
Bill Maher threatens to quit HBO talk show due to Donald Trump
‘I called him a con man before anybody,’ claimed Maher
ICYMI: California Democrat flips Republican seat as final 2024 House race called
Democrat Adam Gray captured California’s 13th Congressional District on Tuesday, unseating Republican Rep. John Duarte in the final U.S. House contest to be decided this year.
Gray’s win in the farm belt seat that cuts through five counties means Republicans won 220 House seats this election cycle, with Democrats holding 215 seats.
Gray won by a margin of less than 200 votes, with election officials reporting Tuesday all ballots had been counted.
Continue reading...
California Democrat Adam Gray flips Republican seat as final 2024 House race called
Gray’s win in the farm belt seat means Republicans won 220 House seats this election cycle, with Democrats holding 215 seats
Second Democrat joins House DOGE caucus
Rep Greg Landsman of Ohio has become the second Democrat to join the House Department of Government Efficient (DOGE) caucus. Rep Jerd Moskowitz of Florida was the first.
Sen Schmidt says Hegseth not drinking
Senator Eric Schmidt, who met with Pete Hegseth yesterday, says Trump’s defense secretary nominee is promising senators he has stopped drinking and won’t drink if confirmed.
Profile: Jared Isaacman — Billionaire SpaceX astronaut picked to lead Trump’s NASA
President-elect Donald Trump has tapped billionaire astronaut Jared Isaacman to lead the nation’s top space agency.
The former president cited Isaacman’s accomplishments in business, philanthropy, and space, saying his passion and dedication made him “ideally suited to lead NASA into a bold new era.”
Julia Musto reports.
Who is Jared Isaacman? Billionaire SpaceX astronaut picked to lead Trump’s NASA
Isaacman, a billionaire tech entrepreneur, funded and led two private missions to orbit on SpaceX rockets
Trump to give first network interview since election on Sunday
President-elect Donald Trump will give his first network interview since winning the 2024 election.
He will sit down with Kristen Welker moderator of NBC News for this weekend’s edition of Meet the Press this Sunday.
Hegseth dragged for enlisting mom to help save his Defense nomination
Penelope Hegseth’s attempt to dispel concerns about her son, defense secretary nominee Pete Hegseth, by vouching for him on Fox News seemingly did not immediately sway people.
On Wednesday morning, Penelope appeared on Fox & Friends to downplay the severity of a harsh email she sent to her son in 2018 after an extramarital affair ended his second marriage. Asserting that her son was no longer the person he was seven years ago, Penelope asked Senators to ignore media reports.
But lawmakers and people online did not seem moved by Penelope’s plea.
“I’d hate to put my mom on there. She would have chewed my a** out,” Republican Senator Tommy Tuberville told The Independent.
Ariana Baio and Eric Garcia report.
Pete Hegseth dragged for enlisting mom to help save his Defense nomination
Hegseth’s mother tried to downplay the impact of an angry email she sent her son in 2018
Ernst says she and Hegseth had ‘frank and thorough’ conversation
Senator Joni Ernst, whose name has come up as a possible replacement as nominee for secretary of defense, says she and Pete Hegseth had a “frank and thorough conversation.”
Not the most enthusiastic message of support he’s received today.
YOLO era Biden? What else might the president push through before he cedes power to Trump?
Andrew Feinberg writes:
With Congress set to spend its remaining time this year pushing through judicial nominees and a few must-pass pieces of legislation, Biden has no more political capital to spend and little more than his pen and phone to get anything done before he closes the book on a full half-century in public life.
Yet at the same time, he might still have levers he can pull to make some things happen before he leaves the Oval Office for the last time.
Some things Biden can do himself while he still has the powers of the presidency.
Continue reading...
After pardoning Hunter, what else might Biden push through before he leaves?
Is the president in his YOLO era? Andrew Feinberg explains what the president can and can’t do in his lame duck period — and what’s most likely
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