TL/DR –
The Senate confirmation hearings for six of President-elect Donald Trump’s nominees were held, with former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, Trump’s choice for U.S. attorney general, facing tough questions. Heated discussions centered around whether Bondi would stand up to the president and if she would acknowledge that Trump lost the 2020 election. Furthermore, a ceasefire and hostage deal in Gaza was announced after 15 months of talks, with both outgoing President Joe Biden and President-elect Trump claiming credit for the agreement.
Welcome to the online version of From the Politics Desk, our evening newsletter that provides the latest political news and analysis from the NBC News Politics team. It was a bustling day on Capitol Hill with a wealth of confirmation hearings for incoming Trump administration nominees. Jonathan Allen provides his insights, and Andrea Mitchell reflects on the arduous journey to the Gaza ceasefire deal.
Former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, Trump’s nominee for U.S. attorney general, was one of six facing Senate confirmation hearings. Bondi faced scrutiny over whether she would confront a president known for dismissing his previous Attorney Generals, reported by Ben Kamisar and Ryan J. Reilly. Bondi remained elusive about Trump’s 2020 loss, and resisted retracting statements that Trump had won Pennsylvania in 2020.
Other Trump nominees faced their hearings too. Despite grueling questions, none seemed to lose Republican support, signalling a likely smooth confirmation process. Read more takeaways from the day’s hearings.
Biden and Trump both seek credit after a long road to a Gaza ceasefire deal
By Andrea Mitchell
Following 15 months of strenuous discussions, a ceasefire and hostage deal in Gaza was achieved, with both outgoing President Joe Biden and incoming President Donald Trump claiming credit. Trump applied pressure on Hamas to compromise, while Biden coordinated closely with the incoming team for a unified approach.
Despite the ceasefire deal, the balance of power in the region shifted due to intensive negotiations over 15 months by White House envoy Brett McGurk. As McGurk heads to Cairo to implement the deal and ensure hostages return home, the question of credit remains unanswered.
Today’s top stories
- Biden’s farewell address from the Oval Office. Read more →
- Bernie Sanders’ former campaign manager, Faiz Shakir, eyes Democratic National Committee leadership. Read more →
- Key position in forthcoming Trump administration remains vacant: Federal Emergency Management Agency’s administrator. Read more →
That’s all From the Politics Desk for now. Today’s newsletter was compiled by Adam Wollner and Ben Kamisar. Feedback is welcome at politicsnewsletter@nbcuni.com. If you enjoy these newsletters, please share with others. They can sign up here.
—
Read More US Political News