Staff Reports
Senate Democrats are at it again, demonstrating their mastery of obstructive tactics as they try to derail the confirmation of President Donald Trump’s nominees for key positions in the administration. The spotlight is on John Ratcliffe, the next CIA chief, and Pete Hegseth, who is vying for the role of Secretary of Defense. While Ratcliffe seems primed for a swift confirmation, Hegseth is facing choppy waters, thanks to some fickle GOP senators.
Initially, the nomination of Hegseth appeared to be a given, especially with the endorsements from Senators Joni Ernst and John Curtis. But, in a classic dose of political drama, some heavyweights from the Republican side—Mitch McConnell, Susan Collins, and Lisa Murkowski—are now reportedly teetering on the edge of opposition. This unfortunate turn of events means that if the vote ends in a tie, Vice President JD Vance will be called upon to work his magic and break the deadlock, complicating what should have been a straightforward process.
Fox has learned that unless there is a time agreement to accelerate debate on nominees, it is possible that the confirmation vote on Defense Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth could come late Friday night or in the wee hours of Saturday morning.
The key is when the Senate confirms…
— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) January 22, 2025
Fox News has been tracking this soap opera closely, revealing that unless an agreement is reached to speed things up, the confirmation vote for Hegseth could be pushed into the wee hours. Who doesn’t love a good late-night Senate session, right? It’s essentially Congress’ version of a midnight movie, only with more paperwork and fewer popcorn buckets. All eyes should be on Ratcliffe, as his confirmation needs to happen before any drama involving Hegseth can unfold. The Senate is looking at a vote on Ratcliffe during the day, which, if successful, would set the stage for Hegseth to be next in line.
But what’s even more entertaining is the sheer ability of Collins and Murkowski to control the narrative in these confirmations. Their history of stirring up trouble in the GOP camp is as consistent as the sunrise. This time, it seems that whispers of misconduct may be at play, with a fabricated story about Hegseth allegedly behaving poorly towards his second wife casting a long shadow of doubt. It’s worth noting that the source of these claims isn’t exactly reputable—an ex-wife of Hegseth’s brother, who has publicly stated that her allegations were crafted to sway undecided senators against Hegseth.
Fox is told 3 GOP senators (MCCONNELL, COLLINS, MURKOWSKI) could oppose Pete HEGSETH for Defense Sec, forcing VP VANCE to break the tie in a late Friday night vote.
-Per @ChadPergram— Aishah Hasnie (@aishahhasnie) January 22, 2025
The drama doesn’t stop there. If Hegseth’s confirmation can finally happen, the Senate is poised to tackle the nomination of Kristi Noem for Secretary of DHS. Given the political landscape, one might expect another exuberant round of filibustering, setting the stage for a delayed confirmation that could stretch well into the weekend. Ironically, while voters might assume this is all about patriotism and national tenure, it seems more about maintaining a status quo that values partisan bickering over timely governance.
In the grand scheme, the antics of a few Republican senators are making the confirmation process look more like a circus than a streamlined governmental procedure. With Hegseth’s candidacy at serious risk, and a potential tie looming, Senate watchers are left with a tantalizing cliffhanger. Will the GOP rally behind their nominee, or will the ever-controversial Collins and Murkowski derail yet another conservative hope? Stay tuned, because if this is what Senate politics looks like, the next episode promises to be just as thrilling.
