FBI director Christopher Wray to resign; Hegseth, Trump picks woo senators

The Hill staff

11 December 2024 at 2:39 pm·1-min read

FBI director Christopher Wray to resign; Hegseth, Trump picks woo senators

It was a busy day on Capitol Hill as Congress races to wrap up major, must-pass legislation and President-elect Trump’s Cabinet picks make their case to senators.

In the House, lawmakers passed the annual defense policy bill known as the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The mammoth bill is normally a bipartisan undertaking, but this year’s version contained some GOP-led amendments pertaining to culture war issues that sparked opposition among Democrats.

In the Senate, some of Trump’s most contested picks for his administration, including Tulsi Gabbard for director of national intelligence, Pete Hegseth for Defense secretary and Kash Patel to lead the FBI, attempted to woo senators, including some skeptical Republicans.

Patel has threatened to use the FBI’s power to scrutinize news outlets critical of Trump’s incoming administration, which have sent a chill through the media.

And both chambers have just nine days to agree to a deal on government funding and disaster aid and pass the measure before the Dec. 20 shutdown deadline.

Read below for a recap of Wednesday’s developments on Capitol Hill.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.

The Independent
Trump tells Danish PM he’s serious about taking over Greenland in ‘fiery’ call that has Danes in ‘crisis mode’
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The Independent
Trump fires 17 government watchdogs in middle of the night - but a key one remains in his post
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The Independent
Trump says Ukraine should have surrendered to Russia and blames Zelensky for war
Trump claims that the Ukrainian leader decided he ‘wanted to fight’ when it was actually Russia who started hostilities between the two countries
HuffPost
U.K. Magazine Expertly Trolls Donald Trump With Front Page ‘Apology’ For The Ages
Private Eye apologized “unreservedly” for its previous critical coverage of the president. But then came an utterly brutal twist.
The Independent
The fatal lengths North Korean soldiers will go to to avoid capture by Ukraine
SPECIAL REPORT: The North Korean troops fighting for Russia are highly trained and will stop at nothing to avoid surrender, Ukrainian sources tell Sam Kiley, The Independent’s World Affairs Editor, in Sumy
The Hill
White House says migrant deportation flights with military aircraft have begun
The Trump administration has started flying immigrants who entered the U.S. illegally out of the country using military aircraft, a White House spokesperson said Friday. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt shared photos on the social platform X of individuals in handcuffs boarding a military plane. “Deportation flights have begun,” Leavitt said. “President Trump is…
The Daily Beast
Trump Met By Very Handsy Gavin Newsom on L.A. Runway
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Yahoo Finance Video
Trump scraps $2 drug plan for Medicare patients in first week
In his first week back in office, President Trump rolled back a Biden-era executive order aimed at reducing prescription drug costs for Medicare patients, including a proposed $2 drug list for common generics. Yahoo Finance Senior Reporter Jordan Weissman joins Wealth to explain that the program, meant to save US seniors a combined $2 billion annually, was never implemented and is now scrapped. Trump’s decision reflects ideological differences over Medicare management, leaving questions about how his administration will handle upcoming drug price negotiations with Medicare. To watch more expert insights and analysis on the latest market action, check out more Wealth here. This post was written by Josh Lynch
Evening Standard
Oil refinery 120 miles south east of Moscow 'hit in mass drone attack' by Ukraine on Russia
Footage shared online showed people fleeing an enormous explosion
NewsWire
‘Most inappropriate’: Dutton slams Wong trip
The Opposition Leader has taken aim at the decision for Foreign Minister Penny Wong to lead Australia’s delegation to the commemoration of Auschwitz.
Evening Standard
Kim Kardashian loses nearly 250,000 followers in just a week after posting Melania Trump photo
The reality TV star is facing backlash from furious fans vowing to end their support of her business ventures
The Hill
McConnell opposes Hegseth on final confirmation vote
Former Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.), who stepped down from the leadership at the end of last year, cast a surprise vote Friday night against Pete Hegseth, President Trump’s controversial nominee to head the Department of Defense. His vote came as a surprise after he voted Thursday night to advance Hegseth’s nomination to a final…
Yahoo Finance AU
Major warning to mortgage payers as RBA interest rate cuts approach: 'Will not'
Economist Stephen Koukoulas has outlined how homeowners could soon be saving hundreds of dollars a month.
Reuters
North Korea suspected of preparing to send more troops to Russia, Seoul says
South Korea's military said on Friday that it suspects North Korea is preparing to send more troops to Russia to fight Ukrainian forces, even after suffering losses and seeing some of its soldiers captured. "As four months have passed for the dispatch of troops for the Russia-Ukraine war, and multiple casualties and captives have occurred, (North Korea) is suspected to be accelerating follow-up measures and preparation for an additional dispatch of troops," the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said in a statement. The JCS analysis did not specify what other follow-up measures Pyongyang might take.
CNN Business
Trump is targeting the immigrants who will be called on to rebuild LA
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The Independent
Nato chief says stopping Putin will cost trillions if they don’t support Ukraine now
The military alliance has been increasing its forces along its eastern flank with Russia, Belarus and Ukraine, deploying thousands of troops and equipment
HuffPost
The U.S. Is Already Losing Manufacturing Jobs, And Not Just Because Of Trump
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CNN
Kemp says anyone who harms law enforcement ‘should be held fully accountable’ for actions
Georgia Republican Gov. Brian Kemp criticized President Donald Trump’s decision to pardon virtually every rioter at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, including those who beat up cops.
The Hill
Trump’s DOJ asks Supreme Court to freeze cases on student debt, environment
President Trump’s Justice Department on Friday asked the Supreme Court to freeze four pending cases implicating the environment or student debt as the new administration considers reversing the regulatory decisions underlying the lawsuits. “After the change in Administration,” acting Solicitor General Sarah Harris told the justices in a series of motions, the government will “reassess…
The Independent
Trump pardons ‘peaceful’ anti-abortion protestors who barricaded door and injured nurse
Among those pardoned by Trump is Lauren Handy, who was discovered to have stolen fetal remains in her home

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