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Live updates: Hegseth to testify on Capitol Hill as Trump weighs joining war on Iran
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is scheduled to testify on Capitol Hill on Wednesday as President Donald Trump weighs joining Israel in a war against Iran. Hegseth's appearance before the Senate Armed Services Committee is ostensibly about the Defense Department's budget request but is expected to touch on an array of other topics, including the former Fox News host's stewardship of the Pentagon. Trump, meanwhile, plans to attend a swearing-in ceremony for Charles Kushner as ambassador to France. Kushner is the father of Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner. Trump also plans to meet with Pakistan's army chief at the White House.
Senate Judiciary Republicans will hold a hearing Wednesday on former president Joe Biden's mental acuity, led by Sens. Eric Schmitt (Missouri) and John Cornyn (Texas). The senators are accusing Biden's inner circle and the media of a cover-up of a mental decline during his presidency. Among the witnesses are former White House staffers from Trump's first term, including his first press secretary, Sean Spicer. The senators also created a hotline for former Biden staffers to send in tips from the inside.
Many Democratic leaders and activists have grown frustrated with the state of their national party operation, worrying that a spate of internal divisions and unflattering feuds threatens to hinder their fight against President Donald Trump's Republican Party.
The Democratic National Committee, typically the domain of nuts and bolts political activity, has been rocked by clashes that reflect broader generational and ideological strains in the party.
Industry and business groups that depend on immigrant workers are scrambling to respond to President Donald Trump's heightened deportation efforts, after winning a partial reprieve on raids last week that was reversed days later.
President Donald Trump faced one of the most monumental decisions of his presidency on Tuesday as he debated whether to join a war against Iran that risked sucking Washington into a new Middle Eastern conflict but also offered the chance to eliminate a foe's nuclear program.
