Cabot Phillips

They're completely uncooperative. So we had no choice but to take dramatic steps to bring this thing under control.

They're completely uncooperative. So we had no choice but to take dramatic steps to bring this thing under control.

Well, back in November, when Trump announced his cabinet appointments, a few names jumped out as facing the toughest roads to confirmation. Tulsi Gabbard and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. But on Tuesday, both appointees cleared a major hurdle and now appear well on their way to confirmation. First, Kennedy won approval from the Senate Finance Committee by a 14-13 party-line vote.

Well, back in November, when Trump announced his cabinet appointments, a few names jumped out as facing the toughest roads to confirmation. Tulsi Gabbard and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. But on Tuesday, both appointees cleared a major hurdle and now appear well on their way to confirmation. First, Kennedy won approval from the Senate Finance Committee by a 14-13 party-line vote.

The White House had been concerned that his nomination would be killed by Republican Senator Bill Cassidy, who really grilled Kennedy last week on his vaccine skepticism, specifically his past claims that vaccines were related to increased rates of autism in children. But ultimately, Cassidy came around, saying on X, quote,

The White House had been concerned that his nomination would be killed by Republican Senator Bill Cassidy, who really grilled Kennedy last week on his vaccine skepticism, specifically his past claims that vaccines were related to increased rates of autism in children. But ultimately, Cassidy came around, saying on X, quote,

and the opportunity to make progress on the issue we agree on, like healthy foods and a pro-American agenda, I will vote yes. Cassidy added that the, quote, honest counsel of J.D. Vance helped win him over. Kennedy will now head to the Senate floor for a full vote where he can afford to lose just three Republicans. But so far, none have said they'll oppose him.

and the opportunity to make progress on the issue we agree on, like healthy foods and a pro-American agenda, I will vote yes. Cassidy added that the, quote, honest counsel of J.D. Vance helped win him over. Kennedy will now head to the Senate floor for a full vote where he can afford to lose just three Republicans. But so far, none have said they'll oppose him.

So it appears RFK will be the next health secretary. And then there's Tulsi Gabbard, who also had a strong day yesterday. How did that play out? Right. So like Kennedy, Gabbard could only afford to lose one Republican vote to pass the Senate Intelligence Committee, which seemed like a tall order. Three Republicans on that committee, including Susan Collins, James Lankford and Todd Young.

So it appears RFK will be the next health secretary. And then there's Tulsi Gabbard, who also had a strong day yesterday. How did that play out? Right. So like Kennedy, Gabbard could only afford to lose one Republican vote to pass the Senate Intelligence Committee, which seemed like a tall order. Three Republicans on that committee, including Susan Collins, James Lankford and Todd Young.

had all grilled her during her confirmation hearing and expressed major reservations about her appointment to Director of National Intelligence. But all three fell in line Tuesday, allowing her to pass the committee by another 9-8 party-line vote.

had all grilled her during her confirmation hearing and expressed major reservations about her appointment to Director of National Intelligence. But all three fell in line Tuesday, allowing her to pass the committee by another 9-8 party-line vote.

For his part, Senator Young released a list of assurances that Gabbard had given him, which he said helped win him over, including her promise to go after whistleblowers and the intel community, who illegally disclosed confidential information, along with commitments to refrain from lobbying President Trump for the pardon of NSA leaker Edward Snowden.

For his part, Senator Young released a list of assurances that Gabbard had given him, which he said helped win him over, including her promise to go after whistleblowers and the intel community, who illegally disclosed confidential information, along with commitments to refrain from lobbying President Trump for the pardon of NSA leaker Edward Snowden.

Yeah, the looming confirmations of Gabbard and Kennedy and the relatively easy confirmation late yesterday of Pam Bondi for Attorney General are further proof of just how united the GOP is right now behind Donald Trump. Over the last 30 years, the average president had three cabinet appointments fail to win confirmation.

Yeah, the looming confirmations of Gabbard and Kennedy and the relatively easy confirmation late yesterday of Pam Bondi for Attorney General are further proof of just how united the GOP is right now behind Donald Trump. Over the last 30 years, the average president had three cabinet appointments fail to win confirmation.

But if Gabbard and Kennedy get through, that number for Trump will likely be just one. His original pick for Attorney General, Matt Gaetz. Here's how CNN described Trump's cabinet confirmation so far. Trump's picks have been doing better than the average in terms of getting through the United States Senate. Simply put in a word, he's winning.

But if Gabbard and Kennedy get through, that number for Trump will likely be just one. His original pick for Attorney General, Matt Gaetz. Here's how CNN described Trump's cabinet confirmation so far. Trump's picks have been doing better than the average in terms of getting through the United States Senate. Simply put in a word, he's winning.

Right, a lot to keep up with from the White House. So the Wall Street Journal is reporting that President Trump is preparing an executive order that would dismantle the Department of Education, slashing any programs or functions within the department that are not explicitly laid out in the law.

Right, a lot to keep up with from the White House. So the Wall Street Journal is reporting that President Trump is preparing an executive order that would dismantle the Department of Education, slashing any programs or functions within the department that are not explicitly laid out in the law.