3 Things To Know Today

Vintage movie countdown, illustration

Photo: Science Photo Library RF

1 Secretary Of Defense Nominee Peter Hegseth Grilled By Senate Committee

As expected, the Senate confirmation hearing for Secretary of Defense nominee Pete Hegseth was contentious at times yesterday. Republicans on the Senate Armed Services Committee gave Hegseth a warm welcome, while Democrats on the committee questioned if he was fit to serve in the position during over four hours of questioning. Only 50 votes are needed in the Senate to confirm Hegseth, and Republicans control 53 this session. Senate Majority Leader John Thune said after the hearing that Hegseth made “a strong argument” for why he should be confirmed, while Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer criticized committee chairman Sen. Roger Wicker for opposing letting committee members review all FBI background documents on Hegseth. Three people were arrested at the hearing and charged with crowding, obstructing or incommoding by the US Capitol Police. At the start of the hearing, several protesters interrupted Hegseth’s opening statement and were removed by officers. South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, the nominee for the head of the Department of Homeland Security, was set to appear before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee today at 8 am, but her hearing was postponed to Friday at 8 am.

2 Red Flag Warnings Continue In Los Angeles

One correction from the Los Angeles Medical Examiner later, the death toll from the wildfires remained at 24 yesterday. The medical examiner’s office originally added one person to the official death toll yesterday, but last night issued a correction and said what it had counted as an additional death was found to be non-human remains. Red flag warnings remain in place through tonight in Los Angeles County, while the “Particularly Dangerous Situation” red flag warnings expire at 6 pm Eastern time. Wind gusts of up to 72 mph were recorded in the area yesterday, with more high winds expected today. LA Fire Chief Kristin Crowley said she and Mayor Karen Bass went on an aerial survey of the burned areas, and Crowley said the fire department had staged extra resources near undamaged areas of the city to prepare for the current high winds.

3 House Speaker Mike Johnson Orders US Capitol Flags Raised To Full Staff For Inauguration

Hot on the heels of Texas Gov. Greg Abbott proclaiming that the state’s buildings would fly the US flag at full staff on Inauguration Day, House Speaker Mike Johnson has done the same for the US Capitol Building. Johnson ordered yesterday that flags at the Capitol would be raised to their full height on Monday, pausing a 30-day flag-lowering order following the death of former President Jimmy Carter. Governors in other states, including North Dakota, Florida, Alabama, Tennessee, and Iowa also issued orders yesterday to raise the US flag to full staff on Monday.


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