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The Secretary of Defense nomination of Pete Hegseth, the ex-Fox News weekend co-host under a cloud of allegations ranging from sexual assault and sexual harassment to abuse of alcohol to financial mismanagement of two charities, appears to have turned around after several media appearances, and the support from key Republican Senators, especially Joni Ernst, who is being subjected to a "swarm of MAGA attacks," Politico reports.

Senator Ernst, a combat veteran who sits on the critical Armed Services Committee and initially appeared skeptical about Hegseth running the world's largest and most lethal military, has opened the door to the possibility of giving him the thumbs up.

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) shared an eyebrow-raising bar when it comes to whether he'll support Donald Trump’s cabinet selections in what is expected to be a contentious nomination battle for many of the president-elect’s unconventional picks.

Cruz's curious comment came Tuesday during a wide-ranging discussion about how he expects the Senate confirmation process to play out next month. He told CNN anchor Kaitlan Collins that he believes all of Trump’s cabinet-level nominees will be confirmed.

The top Democrat in the House took a moment to goad President-elect Donald Trump on CNN on Tuesday night during a discussion over how Democrats plan to "push back against far-right extremism."

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries joined CNN's "The Source" and told anchor Kaitlan Collins that while his colleagues will work with Republicans to find bipartisan common ground — particularly as it relates to "driving down the high cost of living" — they're simultaneously "prepared to push back against far-right extremism."

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) on Tuesday said she believes that the brazen assassination of UnitedHealth's CEO could be the beginning of a political movement that sparks calls for socialized medicine.

The MAGA lawmaker’s latest conspiracy theory came during an appearance on the far-right Real America’s Voice platform, where she said past political movements have traditionally included tactics like marches, riots and storming politicians' offices.

The attorney representing suspected UnitedHealth CEO assassin Luigi Mangione told reporters in Altoona, Pennsylvania, on Tuesday afternoon that he stands behind his client pleading not guilty — and has not seen any evidence tying him to the crime.

This comes even as Mangione was apprehended at a McDonald's after reportedly trying to use a fake ID, had a ghost gun and a manifesto that stated, "these parasites had it coming" and "it had to be done."

A judge on Tuesday shut down the suspect accused of gunning down a health care CEO in Manhattan last week following outbursts both inside and outside the courtroom, according to a report.

Luigi Mangione, 26, shouted at the crowd outside the courthouse where he was arraigned, and that didn't stop when he entered the courtroom.

Under questioning from Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX), Louis DeJoy, the postmaster general appointed during President-elect Donald Trump's first administration, admitted that cuts planned by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) would not help the United States Postal Service.

Crockett's questions came during a Tuesday House Oversight Committee hearing. The Texas Democrat first posed her query to Postal Service Inspector General Tammy Hull.

Retired Major General Randy Manner pushed back on Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA) after he complained about President-elect Donald Trump and his MAGA supporters being called fascists.

During a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on Trump's mass deportation plans on Tuesday, Kennedy accused Manner of wanting "open borders."

Overnight, President-elect Donald Trump continued his verbal assaults on Canada, America's largest trading partner and a top defense partner, by calling Prime Minister Justin Trudeau the "Governor" of the "Great State of Canada." Some Canadians are striking back.

After the November election, Trump announced that one of his first actions would be to impose massive tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China. The President of Mexico fought Trump in the press, explaining that his border demands were nonsensical since Mexico was already doing what he was calling for.

CNN's Kate Bolduan clashed with a conservative commentator over the role of experts in government.

More than 75 past Nobel Prize winners sent an open letter Monday to the U.S. Senate opposing Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s nomination to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, saying his lack of credentials and unconventional views on medical science "would put the public's health in jeopardy."

Incoming White House adviser Alina Habba falsely claimed that President-elect Donald Trump did not separate migrant families during his first term.

On Tuesday, Fox News host Bill Hemmer asked Habba about future border czar Tom Homan's admission that family separations "may happen" under the new administration.

MSNBC's "Morning Joe," co-hosts Joe Scarborough and Jonathan Lemire agreed Tuesday that Donald Trump often makes decisions that are detrimental to himself personally and to his agenda because he fears criticism from his base.

With Scarborough pointing out that the president-elect might be able to get together with Democratic leaders and reach a compromise on some policies that would forestall delaying tactics and battles, he suggested the blustery Trump is fond of floating trial balloons before retreating back due to fears of MAGA outrage.

Panelists on MSNBC's "Morning Joe" made fun of Sen. Joni Ernst's efforts to run away from a press gaggle seeking answers on her new support for Donald Trump's defense secretary nominee.

The Iowa Republican has seemingly softened her opposition to former Fox News host Pete Hegseth, who faced allegations about excessive drinking, sexual misconduct, financial mismanagement and bigotry, but she tried to outrun reporters in the U.S. Capitol hallway.