Today’s edition of quick hits.
* At least it was close: “The Senate on Thursday voted to advance Pete Hegseth’s nomination to be President Donald Trump’s defense secretary, putting him on a path to final confirmation at the end of the week. The vote was 51 to 49, with just two Republicans — moderate Sens. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, and Susan Collins of Maine — voting with all 47 Democrats to try to block Hegseth. He needed a simple majority to advance to a final vote.”
* It was unfortunate that this vote was not close: “John Ratcliffe will lead the Central Intelligence Agency under President Donald Trump after the Senate confirmed him to the position by a 74-25 vote on Thursday. Twenty-four Democrats voted alongside their Republican counterparts to confirm Ratcliffe. Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., did not vote.”
* Rolling back the clock six decades: “President Donald Trump this week revoked an executive order aimed at banning discrimination by federal contractors and subcontractors as part of his sweeping effort to crack down on federal diversity programs.”
* On a related note: “The Justice Department has ordered an immediate halt to all new civil rights cases or investigations — and signaled that it might back out of Biden-era agreements with police departments that engaged in discrimination or violence, according to two internal memos sent to staff on Wednesday.”
* Puzder’s name might sound familiar from Trump’s first term: “Andrew F. Puzder, the former chief executive of the corporation that owns the Hardee’s and Carl’s Jr. fast-food chains, is President Trump’s pick to be the next U.S. ambassador to the European Union. Mr. Puzder, a frequent commentator on economic and business issues on networks like Fox Business, would not bring foreign policy experience to what is a prestigious and influential diplomatic position — representing the United States to a bloc of some of the wealthiest countries in Europe.”
* L. Brent Bozell III: “President Trump selected a conservative activist and media critic to head the U.S. Agency for Global Media, making a move likely to fuel concerns that his administration will try to politicize a group of federally funded outlets whose mission is to counter authoritarian propaganda with independent news.”
* This should produce some fascinating meetings: “Secretary of State Marco Rubio is set to visit Panama — the country whose canal President Donald Trump has suggested he’d seize — as early as next week, according to three U.S. officials briefed on the plan.” * A burgeoning effort worth watching: “Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick on Sunday said the Legislature should amend the language of the state’s near-total abortion ban to address confusion over when doctors may terminate pregnancies.” * In New Jersey: “Former New Jersey Senator Bob Menendez on Wednesday lost a bid for a new trial, after arguing his recent corruption conviction should be thrown out because jurors were allowed to review improper evidence during deliberations. U.S. District Judge Sidney Stein’s decision paves the way for Menendez’s sentencing next Wednesday. The U.S. Attorney’s office in Manhattan says the Democratic former chair of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations should spend 15 years in prison.” See you tomorrow.
Steve Benen is a producer for "The Rachel Maddow Show," the editor of MaddowBlog and an MS NOW political contributor. He's also the bestselling author of "Ministry of Truth: Democracy, Reality, and the Republicans' War on the Recent Past."
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