Deirdre Walsh

The difference now is there's now a Senate Republican majority to help push through border security legislation.

The difference now is there's now a Senate Republican majority to help push through border security legislation.

The difference now is there's now a Senate Republican majority to help push through border security legislation.

Well, it was definitely a smoother first day for John Thune. He now has a 53-seat Republican majority, and he's been coordinating very closely with President-elect Trump and Speaker Johnson. First, Thune is focused on getting Trump's cabinet nominees confirmed in the Senate. Republicans need a simple majority to get these nominees through.

Well, it was definitely a smoother first day for John Thune. He now has a 53-seat Republican majority, and he's been coordinating very closely with President-elect Trump and Speaker Johnson. First, Thune is focused on getting Trump's cabinet nominees confirmed in the Senate. Republicans need a simple majority to get these nominees through.

Well, it was definitely a smoother first day for John Thune. He now has a 53-seat Republican majority, and he's been coordinating very closely with President-elect Trump and Speaker Johnson. First, Thune is focused on getting Trump's cabinet nominees confirmed in the Senate. Republicans need a simple majority to get these nominees through.

So far, there's been no Republican senator who's come out publicly as a no for any nominee. But if any four Republicans did break, one of Trump's nominees couldn't get confirmed. There are some controversial nominees that we've talked about before, like Pete Hegseth, to be the defense secretary, Tulsi Gabbard, to serve as the director of national intelligence.

So far, there's been no Republican senator who's come out publicly as a no for any nominee. But if any four Republicans did break, one of Trump's nominees couldn't get confirmed. There are some controversial nominees that we've talked about before, like Pete Hegseth, to be the defense secretary, Tulsi Gabbard, to serve as the director of national intelligence.

So far, there's been no Republican senator who's come out publicly as a no for any nominee. But if any four Republicans did break, one of Trump's nominees couldn't get confirmed. There are some controversial nominees that we've talked about before, like Pete Hegseth, to be the defense secretary, Tulsi Gabbard, to serve as the director of national intelligence.

And there's still some Republican senators who want more details, things like the FBI background check. Other confirmation hearings are expected to start in mid-January.

And there's still some Republican senators who want more details, things like the FBI background check. Other confirmation hearings are expected to start in mid-January.

And there's still some Republican senators who want more details, things like the FBI background check. Other confirmation hearings are expected to start in mid-January.

You know, his plans track those of Trump's. Here's how Thune summed it up yesterday.

You know, his plans track those of Trump's. Here's how Thune summed it up yesterday.

You know, his plans track those of Trump's. Here's how Thune summed it up yesterday.

Thune is already hard at work drafting an initial legislative package he plans to move using special rules that get around a Democratic filibuster. Like Johnson, he wants to do border security first. That package initially in the Senate will also include some energy policies, and then a separate tax bill is going to come later in 2025.

Thune is already hard at work drafting an initial legislative package he plans to move using special rules that get around a Democratic filibuster. Like Johnson, he wants to do border security first. That package initially in the Senate will also include some energy policies, and then a separate tax bill is going to come later in 2025.

Thune is already hard at work drafting an initial legislative package he plans to move using special rules that get around a Democratic filibuster. Like Johnson, he wants to do border security first. That package initially in the Senate will also include some energy policies, and then a separate tax bill is going to come later in 2025.

Happy to do it, Eric.

Happy to do it, Eric.