House Republican math problems: From the Politics Desk

Welcome to the online edition of From the Politics Desk, our evening newsletter that brings you the latest reporting and analysis from the NBC News political team from the White House, Capitol Hill and the campaign trail.

In today’s issue, national political correspondent Bridget Bowman and senior Congressional reporter Scott Wong examine House Republicans’ mathematical problems after the final vote in the 2024 election. We also dive into the latest updates on Pete Hegseth’s struggles to lead the Pentagon.

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Democrats flip final House seats in 2024 election, shrinking Republican majority

Written by Bridget Bowman and Scott Wong

The final election that Washington has been waiting for since last month’s election has officially been called. On Wednesday morning, NBC News reported that Democrat Adam Gray defeated Republican Rep. John Duarte in California’s 13th District after weeks of vote counting.

This result means Republicans will gain 220 seats next year to Democrats’ 215. This would give Republicans even less room for error as they try to advance President-elect Donald Trump’s policies, as Democrats would only lose two votes to pass legislation if they united in opposition.

Further complicating House Speaker Mike Johnson’s (R-Louisiana) calculations is the fact that President Trump has chosen two sitting Republicans to serve in his Cabinet. One is the fact that New York state’s Elise Stefanik was chosen as ambassador to the United Nations, and Florida state’s Mike Walz was chosen as deputy secretary. National Security Advisor.

And Republicans are already trying to oust members of Congress in the new Congress. Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) resigned from the House last month after President Trump selected him to be the next attorney general. However, Gates withdrew his name from consideration amid allegations of sexual misconduct. Although he was re-elected in the November election, he has said he has no intention of joining the next parliament.

If Stefanik and Walz’s resignations happen at the same time, Johnson could be running with a slim one-seat majority (217-215).

Florida’s special general election to replace Gaetz and Walz will not be held until April 1. Once Stefanik resigns from Congress, Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul will have 10 days to declare a special election in New York, which must be held within 70 to 80 days. After declaration according to state law.

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President Trump’s defense pick Pete Hegseth vows to keep fighting

Written by Scott Wong, Frank Thorpe V, and Rebecca Chabad

Pete Hegseth, the embattled nominee for defense secretary by President-elect Donald Trump, on Wednesday dismissed the idea that he would resign, saying he spoke with Trump and encouraged him to “keep going, keep fighting.” said.

“This morning, I spoke to the president-elect. He said, ‘Keep going, keep fighting.’ I’ll be behind you all the way,” Hegseth told CBS News at the Capitol. . “Why would I step back? I’ve always been a fighter. I’m here for the fighters. This is personal and passionate for me.”

But his nomination appeared to be in serious jeopardy on Tuesday and Wednesday after a series of reports raised further questions about his treatment of women and his drinking history.

On Wednesday, Hegseth’s mother, Penelope Hegseth, defended her son on “Fox & Friends,” referring to emails he wrote in 2018 during their divorce in which he accused his son of abusing women for years. The New York Times published details of the email last week.

Mr. Hegseth showed no signs of letting up, holding back-to-back meetings with members of Congress from both sides of the aisle and writing an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal titled: For this reason, a mass media attack was carried out. I encountered a fire before. I won’t back down. ”

In response to the allegations, Hegseth referred reporters to an interview he recorded earlier in the day on former Fox News host Megyn Kelly’s SiriusXM show, in which he said he did not have a drinking problem. He denied raping a woman in Monterey, California. , 2017.

“Absolutely not. Absolutely not,” he said when asked whether he had raped the woman. “I started with law enforcement and spoke honestly about that encounter. …I may have been drinking, but I was aware enough to remember every detail.

“I’m not here to say what I did was good,” he continued. “It’s not OK to be in a hotel room with someone you’re not with. I understand that.”

Mr. Hegseth also said that he had “no intention of drinking” if he was confirmed as defense secretary, adding that Mr. Trump, senators, and U.S. military personnel would call him 24/7 and say, “We want them to know that we’re fully dialed in.” ”

NBC News reported Wednesday morning that Trump is considering a replacement for Hegseth, despite opposing his nomination. Another person Trump could select to lead the Pentagon is Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), according to people familiar with the decision-making process. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. Sen. Bill Hagerty, Republican, Tennessee. and Congressman Mike Walz (R-Florida), who is currently nominated to be National Security Advisor.

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Trumpification of Joe Biden

Written by Chuck Todd

President Joe Biden’s decision to pardon his son Hunter has received a lot of criticism, but most of it has real merit, even if it’s harsh criticism with a partisan tinge. There is no greater scope for defending amnesty than this. he is a father What parent would not use any force to help their children in crisis?

Pretending that I wouldn’t have made the same decision when faced with a similar situation, that I would do whatever it took to protect my child, even if it meant destroying my own legacy. I have no intention of doing so.

That complicates criticism of Biden’s decision. There’s a human element to this, and it’s tragic on so many levels. It truly meets the definition of “Shakespearean” and is an overused expression in today’s world, but still perfect for this event.

Now, the question is, how much damage has Biden done in the name of protecting his son?

The presidential act is a license. The fact that the president did something unprecedented means there is precedent. And if one president tries something and gets it done, I promise future presidents will try something similar.

Well, welcome to a new precedent. This time, the president overruled a jury of fellow Americans, not the kangaroo court that convicted his son. And Mr. Hunter faces not just previous charges, but all the charges he may face in the future from everything he did in the 10 years between 2014 (when he first tried to do business in Ukraine) and now. was also exempted.

No one knows whether Donald Trump will grant a pardon similar to Hunter Biden’s before he leaves office, but the date is from June 15, 2015 (the day he stepped off the escalator) to 2029. The deadline is January 20th. Last day in office? Whatever the odds, they’re definitely up.

More importantly, Mr. Biden borrowed Mr. Trump’s rhetoric to describe Mr. Hunter’s experience in the justice system. What kind of precedent would we set if both parties accepted the premise that elected officials would politically prosecute their opponents? That’s part of the basis for Biden’s pardons. It’s a department. And that will no doubt be the basis for President Trump’s future pardons.

What do ordinary people think about the justice system now? Both the country’s Republican leaders (Trump) and Democratic leaders (Biden) argue that the system is unfair due to politics.

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⚖️ Related article: The judge in the California tax evasion case against Hunter Biden accused the president of trivializing his crime by mischaracterizing his son in announcing his reasons for pardoning him. Read more →

That’s all from the political desk. If you have any feedback, love it or hate it, email us at politicsnewsletter@nbcuni.com.

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