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12:30 Report — Hegseth grilled in confirmation hearing

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14.01.2025

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12:30 REPORT

It’s Tuesday. My TikTok feed is a mix of Spencer Pratt’s viral videos after losing his house to the wildfires, as well as snide goodbyes to the platform, which is set to be banned in the U.S. in just five days. Here’s what’s happening in Washington today:

  • Pete Hegseth testifies.
  • Hegseth claims there is a “smear campaign” against him.
  • Two senators reportedly declined to meet with Hegseth’s accuser.
  • TikTok users are flocking to another Chinese app called RedNote.
  • A Senate Democrat introduced a temporary off-ramp for the TikTok ban.
  • Celebrities announce postponements due to the wildfires.

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. 

🎙️ News Of The Morning

 

Off to the races:

© The Hill, Greg Nash

Senate committees kicked off their Trump Cabinet confirmation hearings this morning with a whopper: Pete Hegseth for Defense secretary.

The former Fox News host and Army veteran has faced a series of scandals and damning media reports including allegations of sexual misconduct, excessive drinking and poor management.

💡 How is the hearing going?: Democrats are grilling Hegseth, but there haven’t been any moments to derail his nomination. Republicans have been friendly toward him. Heading into today, Democrats’ hopes of thwarting Trump’s nominees have quickly faded.

 

➤ LET’S QUICKLY CATCH YOU UP ON THE HEARING:

The most heated exchange: Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) went after Hegseth over his sexual assault allegations. 📹 Watch the clip

Hegseth slams a ‘coordinated smear campaign’: “What became very evident to us from the beginning — there was a coordinated smear campaign orchestrated in the media against us. That was clear from........

© The Hill


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