Trump transition live: Pete Hegseth swears he will not drink alcohol if confirmed as defense secretary
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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, 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.
What else might Biden push through before he cedes the presidency to Trump?
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:
Oliver O’Connell5 December 2024 06:45
ANALYSIS: Why a second Trump presidency is good for AOC and Jamie Raskin’s careers
Representative Jerry Nadler dismissed Jamie Raskin’s challenging him for the top spot on the House Judiciary Committee on Tuesday evening.
“I think we’re going to be okay,” Nadler told reporters on Tuesday evening during votes, calling the situation “unfortunate.”
His tune had changed by Wednesday. Late that afternoon, he tapped out in a surprising move, and endorsed Raskin to become the top Democrat on Judiciary. That sets Raskin up to become chairman the next time Democrats take the House.
Oliver O’Connell5 December 2024 05:45
ICYMI: Hegseth’s mom defends her ‘changed’ son as she trashes the media
Sitting down with the Fox & Friends crew, Penelope kicked off her interview by essentially pleading with President-elect Donald Trump to not drop her son as his nominee for secretary of defense. It has been reported that Trump is considering a list of other potential nominees following the controversies surrounding the ex-Fox star, including Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.
Justin Barangoa has the story.
Oliver O’Connell5 December 2024 04:45
Trump nominates cryptocurrency advocate Paul Atkins as SEC chair
President-elect Donald Trump announced Wednesday that he intends to nominate cryptocurrency advocate Paul Atkins to chair the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Trump said Atkins, the CEO of Patomak Partners and a former SEC commissioner, was a “proven leader for common sense regulations.” In the years since leaving the SEC, Atkins has made the case against too much market regulation.
Oliver O’Connell5 December 2024 02:45
Navarro, who served a four-month prison stint for contempt of Congress, hired as Trump’s senior tradecounselor
In a statement first posted to Truth Social, Trump said he was bringing on Peter Navarro, the former head of the National Trade Council during his first term, as a “Senior Counselor for Trade and Manufacturing.”
Oliver O’Connell5 December 2024 01:45
California farmer hopeful Trump administration will deliver more water to fields
Since winning the election, President-elect Donald Trump has been talking about immigration, border security and government efficiency.
But in California farm country, his comments about water are also getting top attention.
The Golden State grows three-quarters of the country’s fruits and nuts and more than a third of its vegetables, largely thanks to a complex network of dams and canals that funnel water to the state’s fertile Central Valley.
In recent years, farmers have faced more limits on how much water they can access from this network because of environmental concerns, as well as on how much groundwater they can pump after years of overuse and drought.
Trump admits he ‘pulled’ his own DEA nominee
President-elect Donald Trump admitted that he un-nominated Chad Chronister from Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) administrator after learning the sheriff publicly scolded and arrested a Florida pastor for hosting large church services during the pandemic.
Chronister, the sheriff of Hillsborough County, Florida, announced on Tuesday he was backing out of the nomination process citing the “gravity” of the “responsibility” of heading the agency in charge of coordinating and pursuing drug investigations domestically and internationally.
Ariana Baio has the story.
Oliver O’Connell4 December 2024 23:45
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.
Oliver O’Connell4 December 2024 23:15
Because of Trump, Bill Maher threatens to quit HBO talk show
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.
Oliver O’Connell4 December 2024 22:45
