Najib Razak Files Appeal Against Latest 1MDB Corruption Conviction and 15-Year Sentence 
Australia Orders Independent Review After Bondi Mass Shooting, Albanese Resists Royal Commission Calls 
Trump Administration Audits Somali-Origin Citizenship Cases Amid Fraud Allegations 
Jazz Ensemble Cancels Kennedy Center New Year’s Eve Shows After Trump Renaming Sparks Backlash 
South Korea Prosecutor Alleges Former First Lady Kim Keon Hee Abused Power for Bribes 
Zelenskiy Says Ukraine Discussing Possible U.S. Troop Presence as Security Guarantee 
U.S. Lifts Sanctions on Three Intellexa-Linked Executives Amid Spyware Controversy 
Bolsonaro Undergoes Second Medical Procedure for Persistent Hiccups While Hospitalized in Brasilia 
Trump and Netanyahu Diverge on West Bank Policy Amid Rising Tensions 
MSF Faces Possible Ban From Gaza as Israel Enforces New Aid Registration Rules 
Bukele Signals Willingness to Extend Power as El Salvador’s Term Limits Are Scrapped 
Zohran Mamdani Names Steve Banks as New York City Corporation Counsel Amid Clash With Trump 
Ukraine Drone Attacks Target Moscow and Western Russia, Injure One Civilian 
U.S. Questions Russia’s Claim of Ukrainian Drone Attack on Putin Residence 
U.S. Appeals Court Allows Trump Administration to Enforce Medicaid Funding Ban on Planned Parenthood 
China Conducts Largest-Ever Live-Fire War Games Around Taiwan Amid Rising Cross-Strait Tensions 
U.S. Government Agrees to Review Frozen NIH Diversity Research Grants After Legal Challenge 
President Joe Biden’s Cabinet has yet to be completed as the Senate moves to confirm his nominees at this time. Several of Biden’s nominations are currently facing heavy opposition from the Republicans in the upper chamber, leading Senate Democrats to utilize their majority powers to advance the nominations.
The Senate voted to advance Biden’s nominee for Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra to the floor Thursday. Democratic lawmakers moved past GOP support with a new procedure to avoid a gridlock as the Senate is now evenly divided among both parties. When it came to Becerra, the Senate Finance Committee was split on advancing Becerra’s nomination at 14 votes for both sides.
However, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer forced a vote to discharge Becerra’s nomination with a 51-48 vote. The vote would clear the way for floor debate that would lead to his confirmation. Speaking ahead of the vote, Schumer expressed concern that none of their Republican counterparts would vote to support Becerra.
“I’m perplexed that none of my Republican colleagues would vote for him. He’s a capable man. He’s worked hard to make sure people get healthcare,” said the majority leader. During the vote to advance, Susan Collins was the only Republican Senator that voted for Becerra. This would be another step towards filling the top position at the department that would play a central role in the Biden administration’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Prior to his nomination to become the HHS Secretary, Becerra currently serves as California’s attorney general and was previously a congressman for the state. During his time as the state’s AG, Becerra specialized in blocking Trump administration actions.
With Becerra’s nomination advanced for a full Senate vote, a few more confirmations to Biden’s cabinet were made this week. Ohio Congresswoman Marcia Fudge was confirmed to become Biden’s Housing and Urban Development Secretary, Michael Regan to become the head of the Environmental Protection Agency, and Merrick Garland as the new Attorney General of the Justice Department. All three received bipartisan support from the Senate.
Both Fudge and Regan are making history as the first Black woman and man to run both government agencies respectively. Prior to her confirmation, Fudge cast her last vote as a congresswoman in favor of Biden’s $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill.
