Cabot Phillips

So now, again, we wait to see whether these three make it out of committee. At that point, they'll head to the Senate floor for another round of debate and then a final vote.

So now, again, we wait to see whether these three make it out of committee. At that point, they'll head to the Senate floor for another round of debate and then a final vote.

Anytime.

Anytime.

Yeah, so far, Trump has gotten six nominees through, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. But now come a few nominees who are going to have a tougher time getting across the finish line.

Yeah, so far, Trump has gotten six nominees through, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. But now come a few nominees who are going to have a tougher time getting across the finish line.

Kash Patel, who's up for FBI director, Tulsi Gabbard for director of national intelligence, and the big one, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Trump's pick for secretary of health and human services.

Kash Patel, who's up for FBI director, Tulsi Gabbard for director of national intelligence, and the big one, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Trump's pick for secretary of health and human services.

Right. So Kennedy appeared before the Senate Finance Committee for step one of his confirmation. And it really marked the culmination of a remarkable turnaround for someone who two years ago was running for president as a Democrat. If confirmed, he would be the first HHS secretary in history to not share the party of the president who appointed them. But again, that is a big if.

Right. So Kennedy appeared before the Senate Finance Committee for step one of his confirmation. And it really marked the culmination of a remarkable turnaround for someone who two years ago was running for president as a Democrat. If confirmed, he would be the first HHS secretary in history to not share the party of the president who appointed them. But again, that is a big if.

Kennedy has arguably the toughest path to confirmation of any nominee for a few reasons. Democrats have turned on him for his vocal support of Trump, his skepticism on vaccines, and his criticism of party leadership over the last decade, among many other things.

Kennedy has arguably the toughest path to confirmation of any nominee for a few reasons. Democrats have turned on him for his vocal support of Trump, his skepticism on vaccines, and his criticism of party leadership over the last decade, among many other things.

For example, Democrat Sheldon Whitehouse said Kennedy, quote, while Senator Bernie Sanders took issue with a series of baby onesies sold by an organization Kennedy used to work with.

For example, Democrat Sheldon Whitehouse said Kennedy, quote, while Senator Bernie Sanders took issue with a series of baby onesies sold by an organization Kennedy used to work with.

And to give you an idea of how heated things got, here's a brief exchange between Senator Elizabeth Warren and Kennedy on the topic of legal protections for vaccine manufacturers.

And to give you an idea of how heated things got, here's a brief exchange between Senator Elizabeth Warren and Kennedy on the topic of legal protections for vaccine manufacturers.

That's exactly what you're doing. But Kennedy did have plenty of supporters in the room, including his wife, actress Cheryl Hines, and conservative host Megyn Kelly. It was a raucous crowd at times as the audience burst into applause following a number of his responses to Democrat questioning.

That's exactly what you're doing. But Kennedy did have plenty of supporters in the room, including his wife, actress Cheryl Hines, and conservative host Megyn Kelly. It was a raucous crowd at times as the audience burst into applause following a number of his responses to Democrat questioning.

For his part, Kennedy said much of the opposition coming from the left stems from Democrats' hatred of Donald Trump and anyone associated with him.

For his part, Kennedy said much of the opposition coming from the left stems from Democrats' hatred of Donald Trump and anyone associated with him.