In the news today: U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s nominees are rapidly gaining support for confirmation; Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announces a ‘last minute crisis’ to the proposed ceasefire deal with Hamas; and progress is being made on LA-area fires. Also, Jeff Bezos launches a new reusable rocket on its first flight into space. |
Pam Bondi is sworn in before the Senate Judiciary Committee in Washington, on Wednesday. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)
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Trump’s outsider Cabinet picks are rapidly gaining support for confirmation
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One by one, all of President-elect Donald Trump’s nominees are falling into place in his Cabinet. His other nominees pushed Wednesday through a gauntlet of confirmation hearings with the help of allied Senate Republicans carrying them toward the finish line, despite Democratic objections. Read more. |
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Republicans narrowly hold a Senate majority, 53-47, but they are down to 52 after Vice President-elect JD Vance resigned his seat last week ahead of taking office. That means Trump’s nominees need support from almost every GOP senator for majority confirmation over objections from Democrats. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer all but acknowledged Democrats are essentially powerless to prevent Trump from getting his desired team.
Trump’s more controversial choices of Kash Patel, Tulsi Gabbard and Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. have yet to come before senators for public questioning. Once they do, they face a long haul ahead in winning over skeptics from both sides of the political aisle.
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Sen. John Barrasso of Wyoming, the GOP whip, predicted the Senate will start voting on Inauguration Day, Jan. 20, to confirm Trump’s picks.
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Netanyahu says ‘last minute crisis’ with Hamas holding up approval of Gaza truce and hostage deal
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Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday that a “last minute crisis” with Hamas was holding up Israeli approval of a long-awaited agreement to pause the fighting in the Gaza Strip and release dozens of hostages. Israeli airstrikes meanwhile killed dozens of people across the war-ravaged territory. Read more.
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Netanyahu’s office said his Cabinet won’t meet to approve the agreement until Hamas backs down, accusing it of reneging on parts of the agreement in an attempt to gain further concessions. Netanyahu’s office had earlier accused Hamas of backtracking on an earlier understanding that he said would give Israel a veto over which prisoners convicted of murder would be released in exchange for hostages. Izzat al-Rishq, a senior Hamas official, said the militant group “is committed to the ceasefire agreement, which was announced by the mediators.”
Under the deal reached Wednesday, 33 hostages were set to be released over the next six weeks in exchange for hundreds of Palestinians imprisoned by Israel. The remainder of the hostages, including male soldiers, were to be released in a second — and much more difficult — phase negotiated during the first phase. Hamas has said it will not release the remaining captives without a lasting ceasefire and a full Israeli withdrawal, while Israel has vowed to keep fighting until it dismantles the group and to maintain open-ended security control over the territory.
- Palestinians in Gaza reported heavy Israeli bombardment overnight as people celebrated the ceasefire deal. In previous conflicts, both sides have stepped up military operations in the final hours before ceasefires as a way to project strength.
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Firefighters make significant gains against wildfires around Los Angeles
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The windy, flame-fanning weather that put the nation’s second most populous metropolitan region on edge eased up Wednesday as firefighters made significant gains against the two massive wildfires burning around Los Angeles. Read more. |
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A “Particularly Dangerous Situation” red-flag warning expired without causing explosive fire growth as feared, though forecasters said gusty winds could linger into early Thursday, mostly in the mountains. Santa Ana winds could return early next week.
More manageable winds allowed firefighters to make gains on the two most destructive fires. Almost half of the Eaton Fire just north of LA was contained, and one-fifth of the fire that destroyed much of the seaside neighborhood of Pacific Palisades was surrounded.
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Honey-miso salmon and broccolini traybake. (Milk Street via AP)
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Honey, miso and soy create an umami-rich marinade for salmon
Traybakes are the ultimate in weeknight ease, but they often suffer from unexciting flavors and a lack of textural contrast. For a dinner that’s anything but lackluster, we lean on a trio of high-impact ingredients and combine miso, soy sauce and honey to make a savory-sweet, marinade for meaty, fat-rich salmon. |
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Please let us know what you think of this newsletter. You can sign up for more and invite a friend here. For news in real time visit APNews.com. - Sarah
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