The voices of dissent
Would I prefer public opposition to Donald Trump’s most troubling Cabinet picks? Yes, of course. But Senate Republicans’ quiet defiance is having an impact.
Just ask Matt Gaetz, who was forced to withdraw as the candidate for attorney general just eight days after he was chosen.
And Trump’s defense secretary pick, Pete Hegseth, may be next. Earlier this week, Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, didn’t exactly give him a ringing endorsement on Fox News. “A number of our senators want to make sure that any allegations have been cleared,” Ernst said. Now she is rumored to want the job herself. Hegseth should probably be worried.
Earlier this week, Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., shared that he had spoken with “five to 10” Republican senators who have privately voiced reservations about Hegseth. According to Blumenthal, these senators are “waiting for the right moment to say no to Pete Hegseth.”
Of course, it would be better if these Republican senators aired their grievances publicly, especially when some of the allegations include serious misconduct. But their approach could still prevent Trump’s most dangerous nominees from moving forward.
For now, one thing is clear: Republican senators may not be standing on principle in public, but Tulsi Gabbard had better prepare herself, because I suspect she may feel the power of their dissent next.
A story you should be following: House Democrats ‘mutiny’
Here’s a nerdy “inside D.C.” tell that things are not “business as usual” in Washington: Multiple House Democrats are challenging senior committee leaders for their roles. Reps. Jamie Raskin and Jared Huffman have already succeeded in replacing more senior members; just this week, Rep. Jerry Nadler dropped his bid to remain the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, and endorsed Raskin as his replacement.
Meanwhile, Rep. David Scott of Georgia, 79, is facing multiple Democratic challenges for his position as the ranking Democrat on the Agriculture Committee. And New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has just launched her campaign to become the ranking member of the House Oversight Committee.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries has largely stayed silent through this process, which some have interpreted as a tacit endorsement of the challengers.
Notably, this kind of shake-up is rare within the Democratic caucus. Unlike House Republicans, who have term limits for committee leadership roles, Democrats have traditionally prioritized seniority. But that tradition may be changing. According to retiring Rep. Ann McLane Kuster of New Hampshire: “I think we, as Democrats, could do a better job with elevating some of our younger members who have great experience. And [you should] not have to be in Congress for 30 years before you can have a meaningful role in leadership and on policy.” These leadership battles could be a major sign of generational change within the Democratic Party, and signal which voices will take the lead opposing the Trump administration’s agenda. The race to replace Jaime Harrison as chair of the Democratic National Committee is officially heating up. The DNC is scheduled to elect its new party chair on Feb. 1, following a series of four regional candidate forums scheduled throughout January. So far, I’ve had the chance to interview two of the leading candidates: Wisconsin Democratic Party Chair Ben Wikler and Minnesota Democratic Party Chair Ken Martin. Martin is a veteran state party chair who has led Minnesota to 22 straight statewide Democratic victories, and Wikler has defied national headwinds to keep Wisconsin one of the most competitive states in the country. Other notable contenders include former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley, New York State Sen. James Skoufis and former Maryland Senate candidate Robert Houton. According to Politico, Martin is off to an early lead, having secured over 100 endorsements from DNC delegates. With a majority of 448 votes required to win, Martin’s early support is significant, but there’s still plenty of time for other candidates to shake up the race.
Jen Psaki is the host of "The Briefing with Jen Psaki" airing Tuesdays through Fridays at 9 p.m. EST. She is the former White House press secretary for President Joe Biden. Recommended
A race to watch: The DNC chair
