It's Wednesday. The 2025 House calendar was released this morning. Now you can start planning your year, Hill folks and journalists. Here's what's happening today: - The CEO of UnitedHealthcare was fatally shot in NYC this morning.
- Pete Hegseth's nomination is hanging by a thread, and Trump has a plan B.
- Tulsi Gabbard may have the toughest confirmation battle.
- Mitt Romney gave his farewell address to the Senate.
I'm Cate Martel with a quick recap of the morning and what's coming up. Send tips, commentary, feedback and cookie recipes to cmartel@thehill.com. Did someone forward this newsletter to you? Sign up here. |
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How long will Pete Hegseth make it as the nominee?: |
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Pete Hegseth is swimming upstream to keep his nomination to be President-elect Trump's Defense secretary alive. NBC News reports that at least six Republican senators are "not comfortable" supporting Hegseth. He can only afford to lose three Republican votes and still be confirmed. What happens now?: Hegseth told CBS News this morning that he does not plan to withdraw as Trump's nominee. He also said he spoke with Trump this morning, who he said agrees. Hegseth also defended himself on X: "The Left is afraid of disrupters and change agents. They are afraid of [Trump] —and me," Hegseth posted on X, including a photo of himself in the military. "So they smear w/ fake, anonymous sources & BS stories. They don't want truth. Our warriors never back down, & neither will I." Why are senators uncomfortable with Hegseth?: Here are some of his controversies: - He has been accused of sexually assaulting a woman in 2017, and a police report was publicized detailing the allegations.
- NBC News also reports that Hegseth's drinking habits concerned 10 of his current and former Fox News colleagues.
- Hegseth's mother sent an email to him in 2018 accusing him of "routinely mistreating women for years." Read the email published by the NYT
- He was forced to step down from the two nonprofit advocacy groups that he ran because of his mismanagement of funds, sexual impropriety and reports of intoxicated behavior, according to The New Yorker.
💬 Live updates of the Hegseth saga Related read, via the Wall Street Journal: 'Hegseth Heads Into a Critical 24 Hours in Faltering Bid to Lead Pentagon' |
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➤ HEGSETH'S LAST-DITCH EFFORT: |
Pete Hegseth's mother, Penelope Hegseth, appeared on "Fox & Friends" this morning to vouch for her son. When asked about the email she sent in 2018, she said that she retracted the email shortly after sending it and apologized. From Penelope Hegseth: "He's not that man he was seven years ago and I'm not that mother," she said when asked about the email. "They were going through a very difficult divorce … There's emotions, I wrote that in haste with deep emotions, as a parent." 📹 Watch the interview |
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Trump's thinking about his plan B: |
Trump is weighing his options as Hegseth fends off bad headlines. A source confirmed to The Hill that Trump is considering swapping in Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) as his Defense secretary nominee. Why DeSantis?: "Picking DeSantis, a 2024 GOP primary rival for the presidency, would amount to a stunning turn for Trump. But he would also find in the governor a well-known conservative with a service record who shares Trump's—and Hegseth's—view on culling what they see as 'woke' policies in the military." (WSJ) Keep in mind: "Trump and DeSantis spoke in-person Tuesday during an event for fallen law enforcement officers in Florida, though it's unclear if an administration job was part of the discussion." (The Hill) The Wall Street Journal reported speculations about DeSantis — read: 'Trump Mulls Replacing Pete Hegseth With Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' |
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In: Trump nominated Jared Isaacman to lead the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Isaacman worked with SpaceX CEO Elon Musk in September to test new spacesuits. In: Trump named his former once-jailed aide Peter Navarro as senior counselor for trade and manufacturing. In: Trump selected businessman and Army veteran Daniel Driscoll to serve as his secretary of the Army. Driscoll is a senior advisor to Vice President-elect JD Vance. Out: Chad Chronister, Trump's pick to lead the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), has withdrawn his nomination just three days after Trump selected him. 🔎 Read his X post |
Hegseth isn't the only headache: |
Hegseth's uphill battle may be getting the attention, but former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (Hawaii) is also expected to have an uphill confirmation fight to become Trump's director of national intelligence. Of the three tough confirmation battles — Hegseth, Kash Patel and Gabbard: A number of senators and aides think Gabbard will have the toughest path to confirmation. Why?: "A number of GOP senators are skeptical about her foreign policy dealings and her trustworthiness in potentially heading the nation's intelligence apparatus … Some members of that crowd remain skeptical of Gabbard especially due to her past remarks about the Ukraine war that were sympathetic to Moscow and echoed by Russian state media — which has also praised her selection." Keep in mind about Gabbard's reputation: "Although Gabbard is a favorite of Trump World, the Senate Republican Conference remains a different type of playing field, as it still contains a number of defense hawks and supporters of Ukraine in their ongoing war with Russia." Read Al Weaver's reporting: 'Gabbard seen as tough lift for Trump in Senate GOP' |
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It's Bow Tie Day!: "Members sporting bow ties to honor Rep. Patrick McHenry's last hearing as House Financial Services Committee chair," reports Politico's Olivia Beavers. 🎀 Photo of Bow Tie Day Romney said his goodbyes: Outgoing Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) made his farewell speech on the Senate floor this morning. "Romney said he wouldn't miss 10 minute votes that 'go on forever' and chamber's 'absurd passion for inconsequential votes,' the latter of which prompted a hearty guffaw from Thune," HuffPost's Igor Bobic noticed. Lol. |
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The CEO of UnitedHealthcare was killed: |
UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was fatally shot in New York City this morning in what police are describing as a targeted attack. What we know: Thompson was on his way to an investor conference at the Hilton hotel in Manhattan. A suspect approached from behind and shot him in the chest, according to police. Thompson was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead. Is there a suspect?: Police say the suspect fled and is still at large. Photos showing an individual outside the hotel aiming a weapon were released by police during a briefing shortly before noon. Read more on the shooting here from The Hill's Nathaniel Weixel. 📸 Photos outside the hotel |
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🍪 Celebrate: Today is National Cookie Day! |
🌮 'A Michelin-Starred Taqueria from Mexico City is Popping Up in the DC Area': "For a limited time this month, two Tacombi locations will serve tacos from El Califa de León." (Washingtonian) |
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The House and Senate are in. President Biden is in Angola. Vice President Harris is in Washington. (all times Eastern) |
- This morning: The Supreme Court heard arguments on a case about transgender medical treatments. 🎙️ Listen
- 1:30 p.m.: Attorney General Merrick Garland speaks at a community policing event. 💻 Livestream
- This afternoon: The Senate votes on judicial confirmations. 📆 Today's agenda
- 4:30 p.m.: First and last House votes. 📆 Today's agenda
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