Connor O’Brien

Republicans struggle with unified response to Trump's plan for Ukraine peace talks Lawmakers' reactions underscore the challenge Republicans face as they try to make sense of the administration’s efforts to end the Ukraine war.

Congress is out, but lawmakers are in Munich and hearing from allies concerned about Trump's push for talks with Russia. And Republican supporters of Ukraine are grappling with the administration’s actions. www.politico.com/news/2025/02...

Senior Republican senator ‘puzzled’ and ‘disturbed’ by Hegseth’s Ukraine remarks Senate Armed Services Chair Roger Wicker is breaking with the line from the Trump White House.

SecDef Pete Hegseth made a “rookie mistake” when he said returning to Ukraine’s pre-war borders “unrealistic,” SASC Chair Roger Wicker said.

“I don’t know who wrote the speech—it is the kind of thing Tucker Carlson could have written, and Carlson is a fool,” he said. www.politico.eu/article/sena...

BREAKING: Senate advances Pete Hegseth’s nomination to be defense secretary, 51-49. Tees up a confirmation vote in ~30 hours.

Two Republicans opposed moving forward with Hegseth: Collins and Murkowski.

The list of executive orders repealed by Trump includes Biden’s directive allowing transgender people to serve in the military, which reversed the ban from Trump’s first term.

Senate committee advances Hegseth to lead Pentagon The full chamber is likely to vote on his nomination later this week.

Senate Armed Services advanced Pete Hegseth’s nomination in a 14-13 party-line vote. A confirmation vote is expected later this week. www.politico.com/live-updates...

Hegseth’s defense: Deny, blame and shrug “How many senators have shown up drunk to vote at night?” one Republican senator asked in support of the Pentagon chief pick.

Pete Hegseth countered controversies around his nomination with denials, memory holes and attacking the “left-wing” media at his confirmation hearing.

That strategy may work for him — along with other Trump nominees. www.politico.com/news/2025/01...

House Dems named nine new members of the Armed Services Committee yesterday:
Jason Crow
Gil Cisneros
Eric Sorensen
Maggie Goodlander
Sarah Elfreth
George Whitesides
Derek Tran
Eugene Vindman
Wesley Bell

Turf war breaks out over DC fighter jet squadron-RFK stadium deal Critics warn the transfer of a D.C. National Guard unit puts the nation’s capital in jeopardy.

Turf war breaks out over DC fighter jet squadron-RFK stadium deal
www.politico.com/news/2025/01... @reporterjoe.bsky.social Daniel Lippman and @connorobriennh.bsky.social

Senate Armed Services top Dem Jack Reed says following his meeting with SecDef pick Pete Hegseth: “Today’s meeting did not relieve my concerns about Mr. Hegseth’s lack of qualifications and raised more questions than answers.”

House Armed Services Chair Mike Rogers announced his slate of subcommittee chairs...
Cyber: Don Bacon
Intel/Special Ops: Ronny Jackson
Personnel: Pat Fallon
Readiness: Jack Bergman
Seapower: Trent Kelly
Strategic Forces: Scott DesJarlais
Tactical: Rob Wittman

Biden signs defense bill despite transgender care restrictions Lawmakers removed some of the most controversial provisions during negotations on a final bill.

Biden on Monday signed an $895 billion Pentagon policy bill despite language he said he “strongly opposes” that restricts medical treatment for transgender youth. www.politico.com/news/2024/12...

In an NDAA statement, Biden criticizes care restrictions for transgender youth (which he just signed into law). Says it undercuts the force by denying care to troops’ kids.

“No service member should have to decide between their family’s health care access and their call to serve our Nation.”

NEW: Biden has signed the NDAA into law after it cleared Congress last week.

The 14 senators who voted NO on the NDAA just now:

D: Baldwin, Booker, Kim, Markey, Merkley, Schiff, Stabenow, Warren, Welch, Wyden

R: Braun, Lee, Paul

I: Sanders

NEW: Senate passes the NDAA, 85-14.

The defense bill now heads to President Joe Biden to sign.

NEW: Text of the CR to fund the government through March 14th has been released. All 1,547 pages of it: docs.house.gov/billsthiswee...

Trump eyes donor for Air Force chief Andrew McKenna would be the latest Pentagon pick without experience in the building.

SCOOP: Trump donor Andrew McKenna is a leading contender for secretary of the Air Force, according to three people close to the transition www.politico.com/live-updates... by Jack Detsch @connorobriennh.bsky.social @reporterjoe.bsky.social

Per a person familiar, the House GOP Steering Committee selected 7 new members for the Armed Services Committee on Monday:
Derrick Van Orden
Mark Messmer
John McGuire
Derek Schmidt
Pat Harrigan
Abe Hamadeh
Jeff Crank

The 12 votes against ending debate on the final NDAA in the Senate:

D: Baldwin, Booker, Markey, Merkley, Schatz, Schiff, Stabenow, Warren

R: Lee, Paul

I: Sanders

NDAA advances: Senate votes 83-12 to end debate on the defense bill. Actually similar to last year’s cloture vote (85-15).

Final vote could happen as early as Tuesday.

Hegseth walks back controversial comments on women and gays in the military The Pentagon pick backtracked after conversations with Republican senators seen as potential swing votes.

Hegseth softens some of his tougher stances in his quest to win votes from centrists www.politico.com/news/2024/12... @reporterjoe.bsky.social @connorobriennh.bsky.social

Schumer has set up a cloture vote on the NDAA at 5:30pm on Monday when the Senate returns.

That means the defense bill could be cleared as early as Tuesday. (If Schumer can get a time agreement.)

House Armed Services top Dem Adam Smith tells Bloomberg of his former House colleague Tulsi Gabbard: "She didn't do that much on the committee that I noticed."

He also notes the concerns about her stances on Syria, Russia and Ukraine.

Schumer filed cloture on the NDAA agreement this morning after the House cleared it yesterday. That sets up a procedural vote with a 60-vote majority next week, and passage after that.

House passes major Pentagon bill despite Dem revolt over transgender health care The fight over medical care for transgender children overshadowed many of the bipartisan provisions in the National Defense Authorization Act.

Selected Dems who voted for NDAA, despite transgender language:
-Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries
-Dem Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar
-Approps Chair Rosa DeLauro
-NJ governor candidates Josh Gottheimer and Mikie Sherrill
-Former Dem leaders Hoyer and Clyburn www.politico.com/news/2024/12...

House passes major Pentagon bill despite Dem revolt over transgender health care The fight over medical care for transgender children overshadowed many of the bipartisan provisions in the National Defense Authorization Act.

NEW: The House passed an $895 billion defense bill Wednesday, but lawmakers were split over language barring gender affirming medical care for transgender kids.

Just 81 Dems voted for the NDAA, which passed 281-140. www.politico.com/news/2024/12...

Fetterman agrees to meet with Hegseth The Pennsylvania lawmaker will be the first Senate Democrat to meet with Trump’s controversial pick to run the Pentagon.

SCOOP: Sen. John Fetterman plans to meet with Pete Hegseth on Thursday, making him the first Senate Democrat to sit down with Donald Trump's embattled pick for Pentagon chief www.politico.com/live-updates... @reporterjoe.bsky.social
@connorobriennh.bsky.social

House Armed Services Chair Mike Rogers not happy about Johnson pushing transgender medical care language in NDAA. He predicts passage will be close because Dems won't help.

"We would have 375, 380 votes but for that one provision, which is irrelevant after January 20," he says.

JUST IN: Top House Armed Services Dem Adam Smith will oppose the NDAA over the prohibiting coverage for medical treatments for transgender kids.

He says Mike Johnson “chose to pander to the most extreme elements of his party in an attempt to retain his speakership.”

House clears the rule to debate NDAA, 211-207. Debate and a final vote on the defense bill should happen Wednesday or Thursday.