Jan 16, 2025 2:28 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 Lee Zeldin (EPA Administrator), Scott Bessent (Treasury Secretary) and Eric Scott Turner (Housing and Urban Development Secretary). They'll be easily confirmed. 

We'll be back on the live blog Monday morning, January 20, to cover the inauguration from Washington D.C. and President Donald Trump's first day in the Oval Office. Busy times ahead! Don't miss out. Join Townhall VIP TODAY!

Jan 16, 2025 1:52 PM ET Matt Vespa
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This is the end of the Bessent hearing.

Dems were keen on making sure the world knows they think the rich are evil, they don't pay their fair share in taxes, and they're the party for working people -- all of which are lies.

The GOP asked routine questions, but we all know this guy is safe.

Some bipartisan work might be done on credit card company fees, interest rates, and small business fees. 

Bessent was calm, collected, and answered all questions. Some were a bit rocky in the delivery, but this guy won't be blocked. 

Jan 16, 2025 1:21 PM ET Mia Cathell
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Jan 16, 2025 11:30 AM ET Mia Cathell

Markey now suggests that climate change is the reason why wildfires broke out in Los Angeles.

"Do you see the fires in L.A. right now? Did you see the storms ripple through Georgia and North Carolina? The threat of climate change hasn't gone away," Markey claimed.

Jan 16, 2025 1:19 PM ET Mia Cathell
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And that's a wrap on Zeldin's confirmation hearing. Some standout moments:

Similar to Sean Duffy's nomination debate, there were showings of bipartisanship.

Ranking minority member Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) presented the new GOP committee chair, Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), with a gavel crafted from West Virginian wood and used by her father. "Madam chair, may you bang it in good health," Whitehouse joked, adding that they have "indeed worked well together" and calling for future "big bipartisan opportunities." Capito gratefully accepted the gavel.

“I'd like to let everyone know that I like the chairman. That's a good start,” Whitehouse said.

Minutes later, Whitehouse suggested Zeldin "will be merely a rubber stamp for looters and polluters who are setting the Trump agenda."

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) pressed Zeldin on whether he sees climate change as an "existential threat" and if he agrees with Trump saying climate change is "a hoax."

"I believe that climate change is real. As far as President Trump goes, the context that I've heard him speak about it was the criticism of policies that have been enacted because of climate change and about the economic costs of some policies," Zeldin replied.

Sanders, unsatisfied, said: "I would respectfully disagree with you. I think he's called it a hoax time and time again." Zeldin reiterated that Trump's comments should be taken in the context of the climate alarmism policy landscape. "I think that he's concerned about the economic costs of some policies where there's a debate and a difference of opinion," Zeldin explained.

Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY), who introduced Zeldin, said he will "correct the course of the EPA." Capito said "the EPA must return to its core missions," better manage tax dollars, and implement environmental policies that also benefit economic growth.


She noted that Zeldin met ahead of time with multiple members of the committee. "I think that was definitely reflected in the tone and the substance that we saw here today, so I appreciate that," Capito said.

Jan 16, 2025 1:14 PM ET Matt Vespa
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Jan 16, 2025 1:12 PM ET Matt Vespa
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Jan 16, 2025 1:12 PM ET Matt Vespa
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Jan 16, 2025 1:12 PM ET Matt Vespa
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Jan 16, 2025 1:07 PM ET Mia Cathell
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Katie has covered the lack of consumer demand despite the Biden-Harris administration's EV mandate. Ford lost about $4.7 billion on EVs two years ago and projects last year's losses as in the range of $5 billion to $5.5 billion. In a recent quarter, Hertz took a $245 million hit to its earnings due to a drop in value of the EVs it was selling.

Jan 16, 2025 1:02 PM ET Mia Cathell

Ricketts notes that EV adoption in his state of Nebraska is a mere 2 percent whilst nationally it is about 7 percent. The current Biden-Harris administration's EV mandate is to have two-thirds of all new vehicles being sold as EVs by 2032. "That's just clearly not realistic," Ricketts said.

Jan 16, 2025 1:02 PM ET Mia Cathell
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Ricketts notes that EV adoption in his state of Nebraska is a mere 2 percent whilst nationally it is about 7 percent. The current Biden-Harris administration's EV mandate is to have two-thirds of all new vehicles being sold as EVs by 2032. "That's just clearly not realistic," Ricketts said.

Jan 16, 2025 1:01 PM ET Matt Vespa
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Sen. Tillis says he'll support Bessent. 

He had humble beginnings and noted that his family got poorer when the government had some plan to tax the rich. 

Closing line: the GOP needs to deliver on the economic front 

Jan 16, 2025 12:52 PM ET Matt Vespa
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Jan 16, 2025 12:52 PM ET Matt Vespa
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Jan 16, 2025 12:50 PM ET Matt Vespa
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Sen. Lujan asks Besent if he'd cut many programs, including Medicare and Head Start.

Bessent refuses to answer, noting that he would need to see a full budgetary workup

A very long-winded way of saying he wouldn't entertain answering hypotheticals 

Jan 16, 2025 12:43 PM ET Matt Vespa
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Jan 16, 2025 12:39 PM ET Mia Cathell
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Whitehouse is attacking America First Works, where Zeldin is a board member. The non-profit champions America First security and economic policies.

Jan 16, 2025 12:34 PM ET Mia Cathell
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Second round of questioning is underway for Zeldin. Some senators are balancing multiple congressional hearings today so we may not hear again from them.

Jan 16, 2025 12:33 PM ET Madeline Leesman
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Jan 16, 2025 12:28 PM ET Matt Vespa
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Dems are trying to keep this dead narrative alive about how they're trying to make life easier for "regular people"

Dems are a party of snobby, college-educated, wealthy whites. 

Funny how rich libs owning the media wasn;t a problem until Elon Musk bought Twitter and prevented them from controlling information

Jan 16, 2025 12:24 PM ET Madeline Leesman
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Jan 16, 2025 12:24 PM ET Matt Vespa
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Sanders worries about billionaires controlling the media and warns about America becoming an oligarchic society.

Bessent noted Biden awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom to two billionaires. 

Jan 16, 2025 12:21 PM ET Matt Vespa
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Sen. Sanders has arrived for the Bessent hearing and, like clockwork, goes into his wealth and inequality schtick 

Jan 16, 2025 12:09 PM ET Leah Barkoukis
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Jan 16, 2025 11:57 AM ET Madeline Leesman
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Jan 16, 2025 11:56 AM ET Mia Cathell
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Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) notes that Zeldin is a JAG officer.

"So if Pete Hegseth gives you a hard time, call me," Graham jokes.

Jan 16, 2025 11:56 AM ET Matt Vespa
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Jan 16, 2025 11:54 AM ET Matt Vespa
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Sen. Lankford mentioned Pillar 2. Here's what that is, and it's no shock that the Biden admin. loved it. 

America Last days is coming to an end.

Bessent eager to reverse this terrible policy 

Jan 16, 2025 11:49 AM ET Matt Vespa
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Bessent mentions Jake Sullivan announcing more sanctions on Russian oil and gas companies. 

Gas prices in the US have risen 9 percent this month.

Says he might be willing to continue that policy to get Russians to the table  

Jan 16, 2025 11:49 AM ET Madeline Leesman
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Burgum said that America needs more "clean coal" to power AI. 

“This is part of a larger crisis our nation is facing around electricity. We have a shortage of electricity, and especially we have a shortage of baseload...Without baseload, we're going to lose the AI arms race to China. And if we lose the AI arms race to China, then that's got direct impacts on our national security in the future of this country.”

Jan 16, 2025 11:49 AM ET Matt Vespa
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Bessent: If the Treasury can play a role in ending the Ukraine War, I'd be welcome to exploring those options 

The event hasn't started yet

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