What we’re watching: Hegseth heads to the Hill
Here’s what we’re watching in transition world today:
????️ What we're watching
- At least three of Donald Trump’s nominees will test whether the president-elect’s ability to withstand sexual misconduct allegations is transferable. The current moment has been shaped by #MeToo but in some of the exact opposite ways that movement could have imagined roughly seven years ago.
- The House Ethics Committee on Wednesday did not agree to release the long-anticipated report into Matt Gaetz but members are expected to meet again next month. Meanwhile, Democrats are infuriated and argue the committee is dragging out the process, while Republicans remain furious that Gaetz put them in this position.
- There are a handful of GOP senators who could reject some of Trump’s picks for top Cabinet positions. Jonathan Martin breaks down who they are in his latest column.
????What’s up with the nominees?
- Secretary of Defense nominee Pete Hegseth is set to visit Capitol Hill on Thursday to meet with Republican senators after police records revealed new details Thursday about the sexual assault allegation against him
- Dr. Mehmet Oz seems to be drawing more enthusiasm from Senate Republicans to be administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services than Trump’s selection to run the Department of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Several Republicans told POLITICO that Oz is “well respected” and that his nomination is a “great opportunity.”
- With Trump tapping Linda McMahon as his choice for Education secretary, some are seeing similarities to the president-elect’s last pick for that job, Betsy DeVos.
⏱️What Cabinet secretary announcements are we still waiting on?
- Treasury
- Agriculture
- Labor
- HUD
- Trade