Sen. Tim Kaine says RFK Jr. is unfit after 9/11 comments
Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., said RFK Jr. is unfit to lead the Department of Health and Human Services after he couldn't answer yesterday in his hearing what he meant by saying he couldn't take sides on 9/11.
"As I was looking at my Republican colleagues across the aisle that they were having some significant concerns about a guy who won't even take sides on 9/11," he said. "I don't even know what that means."
In July 2024, Kennedy posted that he "won't take sides on 9/11 or any of the other debates."
Trade adviser can’t say if Trump will impose tariffs on Canada and Mexico tomorrow
Peter Navarro, Trump’s senior trade and manufacturing adviser, told CNBC that he does not know when the president will impose tariffs on Canada and Mexico that the president promised to implement by Saturday, Feb. 1. Trump reiterated the pledge as recently as yesterday afternoon.
“I have no breaking news for you on that,” he said. “I can’t tell you when; I can talk a little about why.”
“One of the big reasons we think about tariffs, and that’s the fentanyl.” Navarro also mentioned immigration and trade deficits as a reason why tariffs have been threatened against two of the United States’ top trading partners.
“The boss wants to do something about that,” Navarro said, referring to the president.
Hegseth doesn’t rule out military going into Mexico to target cartels
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in an interview on "Fox and Friends" did not rule out the military going into Mexico to target cartels now that they are designated foreign terrorist organizations — saying “all options will be on the table” but the decision is up to the president.
"Ultimately, we will hold nothing back to secure the American people," he said.
Hegseth also said the Defense Department is “preparing options for the actual detention facilities” at Guantanamo Bay to be used to temporarily house the most violent criminals in transit upon deportation.
This is a shift, as the administration had previously talked about housing migrants at the current migrant facility there, distinguishing that from the prison facilities.
USAID labor director pushed out after fighting back against removal of career leadership
An order sidelining almost 60 senior career leaders at the U.S. Agency for International Development was temporarily rescinded yesterday by one of the few remaining senior career civil servants with the authority to do so, two current and two former USAID employees told NBC News.
Hours later, the same career employee was also placed on administrative leave.
“The materials show no evidence that you engaged in misconduct,” Nick Gottlieb, USAID’s director of employee and labor relations, said in an email to the dozens of senior USAID employees placed on paid leave Monday. “As a result, I no longer have authority to maintain you in this status.”
Gottlieb acknowledged that he did not know how long his decision would hold.
Colombian president asks undocumented Colombians in the United States to return
Colombian President Gustavo Petro today urged undocumented Colombians in the United States to quit their jobs “immediately” and return to Colombia.
He added in a post on X that the Department of Social Prosperity would offer credits to returnees who enroll in its programs.
Trump’s key national security nominees grilled at confirmation hearings
Kash Patel, Trump’s nominee for FBI director, and Tulsi Gabbard, Trump’s nominee for director of national intelligence, faced intense questioning at their Senate confirmation hearings. When pressed about his independence, Patel said he would “always obey the law.” Gabbard pushed back on accusations that she parroted Russian talking points. NBC News’ Ryan Nobles reports.
Trump is reversing the Justice Department’s civil rights policies
Trump kicked off his second presidential term with dozens of executive orders, many of which focus on hot-button culture war issues, from transgender and abortion rights to diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. The job of enforcing the administration’s position on those issues will largely fall to the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division.
During past handovers between Democratic and Republican administrations, the Civil Rights Division has undergone major policy shifts. During the George W. Bush administration, for example, the division focused resources on fighting religious discrimination. After Barack Obama took office, the division prioritized preventing racial and ethnic discrimination.
The Republican doctor who could be a hurdle to RFK Jr.’s confirmation
Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., cast doubt yesterday over whether Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is qualified to be the next leader of the government’s largest and most powerful health agency.
Cassidy, a doctor, has emerged as a key swing vote in Kennedy’s bid to be the secretary of health and human services. He chairs the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee and sits on the Finance Committee, the two panels Kennedy testified before this week.