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Today's Political News Compilation - Tuesday, January. 14, 2025
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Hegseth confronts allegations of misconduct as senators grill Trump’s choice for Pentagon chief
By LISA MASCARO, TARA COPP and MATT BROWNUpdated 7:35 PM CST, January 14, 2025
WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump’s choice for defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, vowed Tuesday to foster a “warrior culture” at the Pentagon and confronted allegations of sexual assault and excessive drinking and questions about his derisive views of women in combat during a heated Senate confirmation hearing.
Hegseth repeatedly deflected the various misconduct allegations and instead focused on his own military experience in the Army National Guard as senators determine whether the combat veteran and former TV news show host is fit to lead the U.S. military.
“It’s time to give someone with dust on his boots the helm. A change agent,” Hegseth said in his opening remarks.
Asked directly about the sexual assault allegation, Hegseth dismissed it as a “smear campaign,” as he did in response to a rapid-fire series of questions about his personal behavior and complaints of drinking on the job. He has vowed not to drink alcohol if he is confirmed to lead the Pentagon. But pressed about his marital infidelity, Hegseth acknowledged, “I am not a perfect person.”
READ THE FULL STORY - AP
Mike Johnson eyes April deadline to pass one big MAGA bill through the House, but GOP senators are skeptical
House and Senate Republicans still disagree on the best strategy to advance Trump's policy priorities on the border, energy and taxes. A recent Trump-GOP meeting failed to resolve it.
www.nbcnews.com
Top 5 moments from Pete Hegseth's Senate confirmation hearing
Pete Hegseth, President-elect Trump's choice to head up the Pentagon, faced a Senate confirmation grilling from the Armed Services Committee.
Biden moves to lift state sponsor of terrorism designation for Cuba, part of deal to free prisoners
President Joe Biden has notified Congress of his intent to lift the U.S. designation of Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism, the White House announced, as part of a deal facilitated by the Catholic Church to free political prisoners on the island.
apnews.com
Special counsel report condemns Trump’s ‘criminal efforts to retain power’ in 2020 | CNN Politics
Attorney General Merrick Garland has publicly released special counsel Jack Smith’s report on his investigation into Donald Trump and efforts to overturn the 2020 election, detailing the president-elect’s “criminal efforts to retain power” and projecting confidence in the investigation.
www.cnn.com
Jack Smith, in final report, says voters saved Trump from being convicted in Jan. 6 case
The Justice Department has released Volume One of special counsel Jack Smith's final report, detailing his election interference investigation into Donald Trump.
Trump says he will create an 'External Revenue Service' agency to collect tariff income
President-elect Donald Trump says he plans to create a new agency called the External Revenue Service to collect tariffs and other revenues from foreign nations.
apnews.com
Live updates: Los Angeles battles Palisades and Eaton fires as California struggles with containment efforts | CNN
The Eaton and Palisades Fires are likely the second and fourth most destructive in California history. Follow for live updates
www.cnn.com
‘If you want to take it outside ...’: Rep. Nancy Mace challenges Rep. Jasmine Crockett at House hearing
The heated exchange took place during a discussion of civil rights and transgender rights at a House Oversight Committee meeting.
www.nbcnews.com
California fires live updates: Newsom signs $2.5 billion relief package for Los Angeles
At least 28 people are believed to be dead and more than a dozen others remain unaccounted for as multiple wildfires rage across Southern California.
Elon Musk poised to occupy White House office space: report
Elon Musk could occupy space in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building next to the West Wing to head up the newly created Department of Government Efficiency, known as DOGE.
Mark Zuckerberg will cohost reception with Republican billionaires for Trump inauguration
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg cohosting a reception with billionaire Republican donors next week for Donald Trump’s inauguration.
apnews.com
Trump and Biden national and homeland security staff will meet Wednesday for threat exercises | CNN Politics
Some of President-elect Donald Trump’s Cabinet picks and top national security staff are expected to meet Wednesday with President Joe Biden’s National Security Council in the White House to walk through how the US government responds to a range of homeland security threats and scenarios, three...
www.cnn.comSouth Korea's impeached President Yoon detained in massive law-enforcement effort
Yoon was brought into custody about three hours after hundreds of law enforcement officers entered the residential compound in their second attempt to detain him.
apnews.com
Hegseth interrupted by multiple protesters during Senate confirmation hearing
Secretary of Defense nominee Pete Hegseth's confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee was interrupted by protesters on Tuesday morning.
Top DC prosecutor: Trump pardons couldn't erase impact of Capitol riot convictions
The top federal prosecutor for Washington, D.C., says pardoning rioters who stormed the U.S. Capitol four years ago can’t erase the truth about what happened that day.
apnews.com
In his final report, Jack Smith says Trump has used 'intimidation and harassment' to get his way
Special counsel Jack Smith, in his final report on his Jan. 6 investigation into Donald Trump, says Trump used "intimidation and harassment" to stymie his probe.
'When can he start?': Trump allies bullish on Cabinet nominees getting confirmed
The confirmation process for Trump's Cabinet nominees kicked off Tuesday with a hearing for Pete Hegseth, the nominee for Defense secretary.
www.usatoday.com
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RFK Jr. questioned for hours on vaccines, abortion in contentious Senate hearing
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. faced questions from senators in a hearing that last more than three hours Wednesday as he strives to be confirmed as President Trump's director of the Department of Health and Human Services. He was pressed about controversial statements he has made in the past on vaccines and abortion. Dr. Jon LaPook has more on the hearing.
Continue reading...Abortion opponents praise RFK Jr., after he vows to follow Trump
Abortion opponents praised Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Wednesday, after he vowed at a Senate hearing to implement "whatever" position President Trump takes on regulating abortion pills, if confirmed as the next secretary of health and human services.
Kennedy's pledge comes as conservatives have stepped up pressure on the Trump administration to force the Food and Drug Administration to roll back decisions that eased restrictions on the abortion pill mifepristone, also known as Mifeprex.
If confirmed as head of the department that oversees the FDA...
Continue reading...Kennedy's pledge comes as conservatives have stepped up pressure on the Trump administration to force the Food and Drug Administration to roll back decisions that eased restrictions on the abortion pill mifepristone, also known as Mifeprex.
If confirmed as head of the department that oversees the FDA...
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Continue reading...Trump's executive order aims to restrict education related to race, gender, politics
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Continue reading...Trump signs order aimed at critical race theory in schools
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A separate plan announced Wednesday calls for aggressive action to fight antisemitism on college campuses, promising to prosecute offenders and revoke visas for international students found to be "Hamas sympathizers."
Both plans were outlined in executive orders signed by Mr. Trump on Wednesday. The measures seek to fulfill some of the Republican president's core...
Continue reading...A separate plan announced Wednesday calls for aggressive action to fight antisemitism on college campuses, promising to prosecute offenders and revoke visas for international students found to be "Hamas sympathizers."
Both plans were outlined in executive orders signed by Mr. Trump on Wednesday. The measures seek to fulfill some of the Republican president's core...
First-term House Dem attacks White House spox Karoline Leavitt as 'Fake Christian'
A first-term House Democrat is attacking White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt on X after she sought to clarify a White House memo rescinding an earlier policy statement on President Donald Trump's federal funding order.
"Karoline Leavitt is a Fake Christian, like so many in this Golden Calf administration," Rep. Dave Min, D-Calif., wrote on Wednesday.
It comes after the White House rescinded an Office of Management and Budget (OMB) memo that ordered the freeze of most federal grants and assistance, which was blocked by a federal judge on...
Continue reading..."Karoline Leavitt is a Fake Christian, like so many in this Golden Calf administration," Rep. Dave Min, D-Calif., wrote on Wednesday.
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Continue reading..."RFK crushed it," conservative commentator Charlie Kirk posted on X. "Very proud of him. Confirm him, now!"
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Sec. Noem says Homeland Security will freeze grants to non-governmental organizations
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Continue reading...Then-U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland had cited the pending appeal as the reason why he would not publicly release special counsel Jack Smith's report on the criminal case he'd brought against Trump, saying it could impact the due process rights of the co-defendants, Walt Nauta and Carlos De Oliveira...
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If he is confirmed as health and human services...
Continue reading...The government-based health insurance program that covers nearly 80 million people with low incomes has drawn increased attention as Republicans in Congress look for ways to reduce federal spending, with Medicaid among the possible sweeping cuts.
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Meta agrees to pay $25 million to settle lawsuit with President Donald Trump
Meta agrees to settle a lawsuit with President Donald Trump.
Continue reading...Meta to pay Trump $25 million to settle 2021 lawsuit
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The lawsuit stemmed from Meta's suspension of his accounts after the riot at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.
The Wall Street Journal first reported the settlement.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
Continue reading...The lawsuit stemmed from Meta's suspension of his accounts after the riot at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.
The Wall Street Journal first reported the settlement.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
What to know about Trump's claims about U.S. plan to send Gaza condoms
Both President Trump and his press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, have claimed that the administration has stopped a plan to spend $50 million on condoms for Gaza as part of the new administration's reevaluation of federal funding.
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The U.S. Department of State said in 2021 that Hamas and other militant groups have a history of launching incendiary balloons toward Israel. Previous photos taken by The...
Continue reading..."We identified and stopped $50 million being sent to Gaza to buy condoms for Hamas," he said Wednesday. "They've used them as a method of making bombs."
The U.S. Department of State said in 2021 that Hamas and other militant groups have a history of launching incendiary balloons toward Israel. Previous photos taken by The...