Jan 15, 2025 3:32 PM ET Katie Pavlich
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Thank you for joining our live coverage of confirmation hearings for President-elect Donald Trump's Cabinet nominees. Support our coverage by becoming a Townhall VIP member and follow along as the new Trump administration gets underway. Use code POTUS47 for 74 percent off when you sign up now

Today we heard from Pam Bondi (Attorney General), Marco Rubio (Secretary of State), Russ Vought (OMB Director), Jon Ratcliff (CIA Director), Sean Duffy (Transportation Secretary) and Chris Wright (Energy Secretary). 

We'll be back tomorrow morning and Friday at 10 am eastern time for additional confirmation hearings for Lee Zeldin (EPA Administrator), Scott Bessent (Treasury Secretary) and Eric Scott Turner (Housing and Urban Development Secretary). We'll also hear from Pam Bondi again on Thursday. Friday, Kristi Noem (Department of Homeland Security Secretary) will have her hearing. 

Jan 15, 2025 3:18 PM ET Jeff Charles
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Pam Bondi performed well during this hearing. She expertly fended off Democrats' attacks on her and prevented them from painting her as a Trump loyalist who will help him get revenge on his political foes while outlining her vision for the Justice Department.

Her responses were mostly direct and she gave as well as she got when Democrats tried to trip her up. She was good about emphasizing her commitment to working with lawmakers across the aisle and returning the DOJ back to its roots of being an independent agency.

I'd be pretty shocked if she wasn't confirmed. She might even pick up a few Democratic votes from senators who do not suffer from TDS.

Jan 15, 2025 2:56 PM ET Mia Cathell
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Sean Duffy said drivers of EVs should have to pay to use U.S. roads for the damage they do to the country's infrastructure. Because of their large batteries, EVs are generally heavier than gas-powered cars and can cause wear and tear on the roads. Some states already charge EV fees to cover road repair costs.

Jan 15, 2025 2:54 PM ET Madeline Leesman
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Jan 15, 2025 2:53 PM ET Leah Barkoukis
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Rubio's hearing is now over and it's clear he will be easily confirmed. 

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Jan 15, 2025 2:49 PM ET Matt Vespa
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Hilarious. Schiff now says Bondi should talk to all these anti-Trump swamp creatures to get a better grasp on what lies ahead for her.

This guy, man. 

What a tool. 

Jan 15, 2025 2:49 PM ET Rebecca Downs
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WOAH! Some fun presidential/foreign policy at the end of Rubio's hearing, with how Harry Truman tried to buy Greenland. 

Jan 15, 2025 2:44 PM ET Madeline Leesman
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Jan 15, 2025 2:43 PM ET Matt Vespa
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Sen. Alex Padilla (D-CA) admits Bondi will be confirmed 

... says he can read the tea leaves 

Jan 15, 2025 2:42 PM ET Jeff Charles
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Interesting. Sen. Alex Padilla is bringing up Bondi's support for red flag laws. Of course, he agrees with these useless policies. 

Jan 15, 2025 2:37 PM ET Rebecca Downs
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Mike Lee, the last to go during Marco Rubio's confirmation hearing, is making "a bold prediction" that Rubio will be confirmed as Secretary of State. 

Jan 15, 2025 2:34 PM ET Jeff Charles
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Cory Booker is uncharacteristically reasonable during Pam Bondi's hearing. I like what he's saying about improving the implementation of the First Step Act.

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Jan 15, 2025 2:30 PM ET Madeline Leesman
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Jan 15, 2025 2:25 PM ET Rebecca Downs
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Rubio in response says that Trump administration will be most pro-Israel administration, which makes sense, given how Trump's first administration went.

Jan 15, 2025 2:23 PM ET Rebecca Downs
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If you thought Cruz wasn't holding back at the start when he went after the Biden administration over foreign policy, he REALLY is not holding back when it comes to how the administration has left Israel behind, calling it the most-anti Israel administration... 

This has been QUITE the hot topic for Cruz to discuss 

Jan 15, 2025 2:23 PM ET Rebecca Downs
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While Rubio doesn't want to commit to too much right now, on Cuba he does point out that it's not binding on the Trump administration. 

Jan 15, 2025 2:22 PM ET Leah Barkoukis
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Cruz says he's certain Rubio will be confirmed (that has been very clear during this hearing) 

Jan 15, 2025 2:21 PM ET Rebecca Downs
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I accurately guessed that Cruz would ask Rubio about Cuba being a state sponsor of terror, which the Biden administration just removed from the list. Both senators are Cuban-Americans, with family members who have had stories of fleeing the regime. 

"Without a question," Cuba is a state sponsor of terror, Rubio answered without hesitation. "There is zero doubt in my mind," he stressed.

Jan 15, 2025 2:17 PM ET Rebecca Downs
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I find myself really nodding along with both Cruz and Rubio's points about how foreign policy has failed during this administration... 

Jan 15, 2025 2:15 PM ET Rebecca Downs
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Ted Cruz wastes no time going after the Biden administration on the foreign policy front as a way to praise the incoming Trump administration and the "shift" that the administration and Rubio will bring. 

Jan 15, 2025 2:13 PM ET Leah Barkoukis
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Sen. Brian Schatz (D) said the U.S.'s North Korea policy is not working since Pyongyang has developed weapons at a much faster pace than anyone would've imagined a decade ago. They're meeting and exceeding every technical mark we think they can't make - our policies don't appear to be slowing them down.

Rubio said there must be an appetite for looking at broader policies toward North Korea. 

Jan 15, 2025 2:13 PM ET Rebecca Downs
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This discussion on North Korea between Rubio and Sen. Brian Schatz (D-HI) references interesting insight on how Rubio was once skeptical of Trump's handling of North Korea... 

Jan 15, 2025 2:05 PM ET Madeline Leesman
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Democrat New Jersey Sen. Andy Kim implies that Vought does not understand the Constitution and "what the president is allowed to do."

Jan 15, 2025 2:01 PM ET Leah Barkoukis
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On the topic of Chinese influence in Panama - Rubio said the issue is not new. He has continually seen people express concern about it. 

Jan 15, 2025 1:56 PM ET Madeline Leesman
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Blumenthal tells Vought that he thinks he is "above the law" and that it's "baffling."

Jan 15, 2025 1:55 PM ET Rebecca Downs
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Rubio giving a helpful explanation of the "One China" policy, and it's role in the second Trump administration, as well as what it means for stabilized relations between China and the United States. "They really need to stop messing around with Taiwan and the Philippines," Rubio insists. 

Jan 15, 2025 1:55 PM ET Jeff Charles
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I love how this senator is blasting his colleagues for doing "theater" and bringing up QAnon. Needed to be said!

Jan 15, 2025 1:44 PM ET Madeline Leesman
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Jan 15, 2025 1:43 PM ET Madeline Leesman
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Jan 15, 2025 1:38 PM ET Jeff Charles
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Dick Durbin actually thinks bringing up QAnon is going to stump Pam Bondi? Nobody's thinking about QAnon anymore.

The event hasn't started yet

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