The U.S. Senate has confirmed Pete Hegseth as defense secretary. Vice President JD Vance cast a rare tie-breaking vote to confirm Hegseth, a former Fox News host and combat veteran who faced accusations of rape, spousal abuse, excessive drinking on the job and financial mismanagement. Three Republican senators joined Democrats in opposing him: Mitch McConnell, Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins. Ahead of the vote, Democratic Senator Tim Kaine said there were many more qualified people for the post.

Sen. Tim Kaine: “There are hundreds of them without the personal baggage of sexual assault claims that have been settled, of allegations of spousal abuse that have been testified to, of allegations of drunkenness on the job and fiscal mismanagement that are the subject of a very extensive report written by nonanonymous co-workers.”

We will look at Pete Hegseth’s embrace of extreme Christian nationalism later in the program.

The Senate has also confirmed South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem to head the Department of Homeland Security. The final vote was 59 to 34, with seven Democrats supporting her: John Fetterman, Maggie Hassan, Tim Kaine, Andy Kim, Gary Peters, Jeanne Shaheen and Elissa Slotkin.