Midwest
You're hired! Here's who passed Congress' Trump cabinet test and how stormy their hearings were
As of Wednesday, 11 of President Donald Trump’s cabinet nominees have been successfully confirmed to their posts.
While some, like Secretary of State Marco Rubio, sailed through, others, like Attorney General Pam Bondi, saw their confirmation process marred with pointed confrontations and deep dives into their personal lives, as was the case for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Sens. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., left, and Dick Durbin, D-Ill., (durbin.senate.gov)
MARCO RUBIO: STATE
Rubio, a longtime Florida senator from Miami, and the son of Cuban immigrants, enjoyed a relatively calm confirmation hearing when it came to interactions with lawmakers.
However, several Code Pink protesters, angry over what their shirts denoted as the “killing of children in Gaza,” had to be removed from the room due to outbursts.
The final protester shouted at Rubio in Spanish, to which the now-secretary remarked that his protesters are at-times bilingual.
KASH PATEL ENRAGES ADAM SCHIFF IN CLINTONIAN BATTLE OVER WORD ‘WE’; JAN 6 SONG
Rubio was confirmed unanimously 99-0. At the time, Sen. Jon Husted, R-Ohio, was still lieutenant governor and had not been seated in Vice President JD Vance’s place.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)
PETE HEGSETH: DEFENSE
A veteran and former Fox News host, Hegseth laid a more contentious path through the confirmation process.
Hegseth earned two Bronze Stars and several other medals while serving in the Army National Guard. He joined Fox News Channel in 2014 and resigned upon his Pentagon nomination.
The nomination became in embroiled in controversy after several stories surfaced taking aim at Hegseth’s character. Hegseth’s former sister-in-law filed an affidavit alleging that he had an alcohol abuse problem and had made his ex-wife fear for her safety.
While Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., offered praise for Hegseth’s confirmation – later telling reporters he clearly answered every question put to him – other lawmakers did not view the nominee the same way.
When protesters disrupted the hearing, Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., said they appeared to be from the “Chinese Communist [Party] front-group” Code Pink and were upset about Hegseth’s support for Israel.
“I support Israel’s existential war in Gaza. I assume, like me and President Trump, you support that war as well,” Cotton said.
Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., also grilled Hegseth about his qualifications to lead America’s troops.
ZELDIN GRILLED IN CONFIRMATION HEARING
“I do not believe that you can tell this committee or the people of America that you are qualified to lead them. I would support you as a spokesperson for the Pentagon,” he said.
Critics, including Fox News contributor Joe Concha, claimed irony in the lawmaker’s grilling – as Trump previously dubbed Blumenthal “Da Nang Dick” after claims surfaced that Blumenthal had misrepresented his own military service during the Vietnam War.
In the end, a 50-50 split, brought on by GOP Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska joining all Democrats in opposition, led to Vance having to cast his first tie-breaking vote of the congressional session to confirm Hegseth.
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum. (Getty)
DOUG BURGUM: INTERIOR
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum received substantive Democratic support in his final confirmation vote of 80-17 last week. Three Democrats did not vote.
His confirmation hearing’s tenor was also mixed, with fellow North Dakotan, Sen. John Hoeven, calling him the right man for the job.
Some Democrats, including Sens. Catherine Cortez-Masto and Mazie Hirono, however, offered pointed questions about environmental issues and other concerns during the hearing.
When Cortez-Masto asked about the Trump administration repealing electric vehicle credits, Burgum said he “support[s] economics and markets” and highlighted the comparatively high costs of electric vehicles.
Burgum grew up in eastern North Dakota, near a grain elevator his grandfather operated. He reportedly met future Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer in college and later “bet the farm” to invest a quarter million dollars in 1983 in a tech startup called Great Plains Software.
He eventually became president of the company, which was purchased by Microsoft around the turn of the century.
He served as North Dakota’s governor in recent years, briefly mounting a 2024 presidential bid before dropping out to endorse Trump.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. (Getty)
SCOTT BESSENT: TREASURY
South Carolina billionaire Scott Bessent was confirmed as Trump’s second-term Treasury secretary on Jan. 28.
With the confirmation, Bessent became the highest ranking openly gay cabinet official in U.S. history.
Bessent was born in Conway, South Carolina, just inland from the famous “Calabash” seafood area in North Carolina and the resort city of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
He previously worked for several global investment management companies for decades, notably including a stint as chief investment officer for Soros Fund Management, led by left-wing Hungarian-American billionaire George Soros.
His politics, however, appear to greatly differ from those of Soros himself – as Bessent once called Trump’s 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act “‘single most important economic issue of the day.”
During his confirmation process, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., was a noted foil.
Warren reportedly sent Bessent more than 100 written questions on subjects spanning from housing to financial oversight ahead of his testimony, according to PBS.
He was confirmed by a relatively bipartisan 68-29, with one Republican and two Democrats not voting.
SEAN DUFFY: TRANSPORTATION
Former Rep. Sean Duffy, R-Wis., was confirmed in a comparatively more peaceful process than other nominees. Duffy enjoyed a relatively cordial hearing before Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and the Senate Commerce Committee.
However, 22 Democrats still voted against his confirmation, with Sen. Jon Ossoff, D-Ga., not voting.
Within a day of his confirmation, Duffy was faced with a catastrophic midair collision over the Potomac River in Washington, D.C., involving a military helicopter and an American Airlines-sanctioned passenger flight from Kansas to Reagan National Airport.
All of those aboard both aircraft died as the fuselage crashed into the shallow but frigid Potomac, just yards shy of the Arlington, Virginia, airport’s runway.
Soon after, Duffy had to simultaneously handle the fallout from a medical plane crashing near the junction of US-1 and PA-73 in northeast Philadelphia.
The doomed plane spewed jet fuel as it crashed, setting a row of homes on Cottman Avenue ablaze. Six Mexican nationals on board and one Pennsylvanian on the ground was killed, according to news reports.
Energy Secretary Chris Wright. (Al Drago)
CHRIS WRIGHT: ENERGY
Energy Secretary Chris Wright was confirmed Sunday in a 59-38 vote, with one Democrat and two Republicans not voting.
The energy company CEO from Colorado told lawmakers he would unleash U.S. energy potential as secretary.
He has been a critic of climate change regulations and was endorsed by American Energy Alliance chief Tom Pyle, as well as Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo. – the former chairman of the natural resources committee.
Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collings.
DOUG COLLINS: VETERANS AFFAIRS
Former Rep. Doug Collins, R-Ga., was recently confirmed as Trump’s pick to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Collins saw wide bipartisan support in his 77-23 vote. In the Veterans Affairs Committee that heard his nomination, only Hirono voted against him.
Collins is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force Reserve and will now lead the agency meant to care for veterans after their service.
“I do not come into this with rose-colored glasses. This is a large undertaking that I feel called to be at,” Collins said. “When a veteran has to call a congressman or senator’s office to get the care they have already earned, it’s a mark of failure.”
Collins notably garnered a pro-life streak in Congress, vociferously opposing the Affordable Care Act and remarking upon the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, “RIP to the more than 30 million innocent babies that have been murdered during the decades that Ruth Bader Ginsburg defended pro-abortion laws.”
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. (AP)
KRISTI NOEM: HOMELAND SECURITY
Now-former South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem successfully made it through her confirmation hearing to become the nation’s homeland security chief.
As governor, Noem provided South Dakotan resources to Texas and Gov. Greg Abbott to help assuage the Biden border crisis.
As secretary, she has been on hand for immigration enforcement operations undertaken by Border Czar Thomas Homan, including one in the Bronx, New York.
Noem saw a relatively peaceful confirmation process, though only a handful of Democrats ultimately supported her.
“We must be vigilant and proactive and innovative to protect the homeland,” she said at her hearing.
“The challenges in front of us are extremely significant, and we must secure our borders against illegal trafficking and immigration. We must safeguard our critical infrastructure to make sure that we’re protected against cyberattacks, respond to natural disasters and also terrorism.”
Noem was raised on a ranch near Hayti, South Dakota, before venturing into politics.
In 2012, Noem won South Dakota’s at-large U.S. House seat – a GOP flip from its previous officeholder, Rep. Stephanie Herseth-Sandlin, D-S.D.
From there, she moved on to the governor’s office in 2018.
Environmental Protection Agency Secretary Lee Zeldin. (AP)
LEE ZELDIN: EPA
Former New York Rep. Lee Zeldin sat for his confirmation hearing to lead the Environmental Protection Agency two weeks ago and was grilled by Democrats on his views of climate change.
Senate EPW Committee ranking member Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island questioned Zeldin on the effects of carbon dioxide and pollutants on the atmosphere.
“Is carbon dioxide a pollutant?” the Rhode Island Democrat asked, leading to a short back-and-forth.
Later, after Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., questioned Zeldin about climate change and other concerns, a cellphone that appeared to be Zeldin’s rang loudly.
“That was the fossil fuel industry,” Sanders quipped.
Later, Green New Deal co-sponsor Sen. Edward Markey of Massachusetts questioned Zeldin on comments from a 2016 congressional debate where he said it is the U.S.’ job to “reduce reliance on fossil fuels.”
“I support all of the above energy,” Zeldin replied before Markey cut in.
In the final vote, three Democrats joined Republicans to confirm him – Pennsylvania Sen. Fetterman and both Arizona senators – while three other Democrats did not vote.
CIA Director John Ratcliffe. (Getty Images)
JOHN RATCLIFFE: CIA
CIA Director John Ratcliffe was confirmed by a 74-25 margin on Jan. 23, with Fetterman not voting.
Ratcliffe previously served as Trump’s director of national intelligence from May 2020 until January 2021, during Trump’s first term in office.
While in Congress representing North Texas, Ratcliffe sat on the House Intelligence Committee and notably garnered support in his confirmation from Virginia Sen. Mark Warner, the top Democrat on the Senate’s partner panel.
An Illinois native, Ratcliffe later became an attorney in Texas, was elected mayor of Heath and later named by former President George W. Bush to lead counterterrorism efforts in the state’s Texarkana-based eastern district.
President Donald Trump’s attorney general pick, Pam Bondi, right, went back and forth with Hawaii Sen. Mazie Hirono in her confirmation hearing. (Getty Images)
PAM BONDI: JUSTICE
Former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi was confirmed to the federal version of her erstwhile role by a vote of 54-46 – with Fetterman being the lone Democrat in support.
Bondi’s hearing was one of those that was marred by tense moments, including an exchange with Rhode Island’s Whitehouse.
Whitehouse grilled Bondi whether her Justice Department would seek to target individuals on a political basis and “look for a crime.”
“It’s a prosecutor’s job to start with a crime and look for a name. Correct?” he asked.
“Senator, I think that is the whole problem with the weaponization that we have seen the last four years and what’s been happening to Donald Trump,” Bondi replied.
“They targeted Donald Trump. They went after him, actually starting back in 2016. They targeted his campaign. They have launched countless investigations against him. That will not be the case. If I am attorney general, I will not politicize that office.”
As her exchanges with Whitehouse continued, she pointed to Kevin Clinesmith – an ex-FBI lawyer sentenced to probation after he illegally altered a FISA document during a federal probe through which Trump’s 2016 campaign had been accused of colluding with Russia.
There have been several other confirmation hearings for other potential cabinet members.
Notably, FBI nominee Kash Patel’s clash with Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., made waves last week.
Patel enraged Schiff over his reported support for January 6 inmates and his reported work in concert with the production of a song sung by the inmates that featured an a capella Pledge of Allegiance from Trump.
The tit-for-tat devolved into a Clintonian spat when Patel riffed to Schiff that his response to the lawmaker hinged on his definition of the word “we” – as Clinton had told prosecutors in 1998 that a response to part of his Monica Lewinsky testimony centered on the independent counsel’s definition of “is.”
Fox News’ Adam Shaw, Caitlin McFall, Diana Stancy and Alec Schemmel contributed to this report.
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Midwest
What’s next for Kristi Noem? 2026 Senate chatter grows after DHS exit
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
President Donald Trump cut short Kristi Noem’s tenure at the Department of Homeland Security after weeks of internal turmoil. Now headed to a new envoy post, the onetime conservative star faces a pressing question: Can she stage a political comeback?
Noem was fired as the nation’s immigration chief after a turbulent stretch marked by internal clashes and two contentious congressional hearings where even some Republicans pressed her over leadership missteps. Trump announced on Truth Social that Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., will replace her effective March 31, while Noem shifts to a newly created envoy role the president says he’ll detail this weekend.
An administration source told Fox News “it was time” to move on from Noem, citing internal feuding, staff mismanagement and controversies — including a $200 million ad campaign and fallout in Minnesota — that “overshadowed” Trump’s immigration agenda.
“Kristi’s drama sadly overshadowed and distracted from the Administration’s extremely popular immigration agenda, which will continue full force,” the source said.
KRISTI NOEM OUSTED FROM HOMELAND SECURITY POST AMID RECENT TURMOIL
DHS Sec. Kristi Noem meets with service members at a U.S. compound in Ecuador. (Pool/Getty Images)
Trump said Noem will be named “Special Envoy for The Shield of the Americas,” a newly created role he described as part of a broader Western Hemisphere security initiative. The White House has not yet detailed the scope of the position.
The reassignment comes as speculation grows in South Dakota over whether Noem could mount a primary challenge against Sen. Mike Rounds in 2026 — a move that would test whether her standing with Trump and GOP voters has truly eroded.
Rounds, who is seeking a third term, secured Trump’s “complete and total endorsement” last year and is backed by Senate Republican leadership — a formidable barrier to any challenger. “He will never let you down,” Trump wrote in his endorsement, calling Rounds an “America First Patriot.”
Fox News Digital reached out to Rounds’ office for comment.
Noem would enter any race with statewide name recognition and a deep political network, having served eight years in Congress before winning two terms as governor.
But some Republican operatives question whether her abrupt exit from DHS weakened her standing within Trump’s inner circle at a critical political moment. One GOP strategist involved in Senate races, who acknowledged that Noem was once a MAGA rock star, described a potential Senate bid at this time as a “suicide mission.”
The clock is already ticking. South Dakota’s filing deadline is March 31 at 5 p.m. CT, and candidates must gather roughly 2,200 petition signatures in just over three weeks to qualify for a June 2 primary.
NOEM SLAMS DEMS BLOCKING DHS FUNDING BILL CITING TSA, FEMA, COAST GUARD: ‘I HOPE THEY COME TO THEIR SENSES’
The speculation has drawn national attention. The Atlantic reported that pollsters in South Dakota were surveying a potential Rounds-Noem matchup, with one Republican source telling the magazine that the senator would “handily win” if challenged.
Rapid City’s ABC affiliate reported on the rumors of Noem’s ambitions in February, saying Republicans in her home state are watching to see if she would challenge Rounds.
Still, Noem has a fair share of powerful allies back home. Gov. Larry Rhoden, Noem’s successor in Pierre, commented Thursday that “Kristi is a dear friend and the toughest person I know.”
“When she shut down the border in record time, others were shocked, but I wasn’t. I knew what she was capable of.”
“She’ll deliver in her next role just as capably. I thank her for everything she’s done to keep South Dakota — and all America — strong, safe, and free,” Rhoden said.
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As governor, Rhoden worked with Noem’s DHS to make South Dakota one of the first states to enter a 287(g) agreement allowing state-level cooperation with ICE. Under the arrangement, the South Dakota Highway Patrol has been authorized to assist with immigration enforcement, and National Guard personnel have supported administrative functions — a record that could bolster her standing with conservative primary voters as speculation about her next move intensifies.
Fox News’ Peter Doocy contributed to this report.
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Detroit, MI
Detroit ‘Sloppy Chops’ restaurateur\u00a0killed: What to know
How to anonymously submit a tip to Crime Stoppers of Michigan
Here are the three ways to submit a tip to Crime Stoppers of Michigan safely and anonymously: by phone, online, and through the P3 Tips mobile app.
Mourning continued and no suspects were in custody a week after the fatal shooting of Detroit restaurateur and nightlife figure Mikey “Mike B” Brown at the end of February.
Brown was the beloved figure behind the “Sloppy” brand of restaurants, and remembrances have been rolling in online since his death.
Here’s what to know:
Shooting outside cocktail bar
“Mike B” Brown, 51, and two others were shot about 4:30 a.m. Feb. 28 in the area of 15789 Schaefer, police previously said.
The two others were found in front of the location, and Brown was found across the street, police said.
Police have asked those with information on the shooting to come forward.
There were no suspects in custody and no further updates in the case as of Monday, March 9, according to a statement from the Detroit Police Department.
Updates on the conditions of the two other individuals shot were also not provided.
Who was Mikey ‘Mike B’ Brown?
Brown was a husband, a father of five and a restaurateur.
He opened Sloppy Chops Restaurant, a steakhouse, in 2020 on West McNichols off the Lodge Freeway and later opened a seafood restaurant called Sloppy Crab, which was renamed the Crab Sports Bar, on East Jefferson Avenue near the Renaissance Center. Brown previously had two clubs, as well.
His downtown dining spot served as an answer to questions on offerings for Black diners in the city’s renaissance. His other “Sloppy” location showcased successful reach beyond downtown and into the city’s neighborhoods. Brown was also a cultural figure in not only the world of dining, but in the nightlife, the Free Press reported.
When are funeral services for Mikey ‘Mike B’ Brown?
A family hour was set for 9 a.m. March 13 and a funeral was set for 10 a.m. March 13, both at Triumph Church –North Campus at 15600 J.L. Hudson Drive in Southfield.
What’s been the fallout since Mike ‘Mike B’ Brown’s death?
Outside of the community hurt, there’s also been calls for a crackdown on establishments that stay open into early morning hours in residential areas, ClickOnDetroit reports.
How to report tips on Mikey ‘Mike B’ Brown’s shooting
Those with information tied to the triple shooting can contact the Detroit Police Department’s homicide unit at 313-596-2260 or submit anonymous tips through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-Speak-Up or DetroitRewards.tv.
Milwaukee, WI
Critically missing Milwaukee man; last seen near Teutonia and Good Hope
MILWAUKEE – The Milwaukee Police Department is seeking the public’s assistance in locating a critically missing man, 33-year-old Nicolas Blakely.
Missing man
What we know:
Blakely was last seen around 9:45 p.m. on Monday, March 9 in the area of Teutonia and Good Hope.
Blakely is described as a male, black, 6’1″ tall, 160 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a blue puffy jacket over a white hooded sweatshirt, with tan Nike sweatpants.
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Police tips
What you can do:
Anyone with information is asked to call the Milwaukee Police Department District 4 at 414-935-7242.
The Source: The information in this post was provided by the Milwaukee Police Department.
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