Category: Politics

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of Nigeria met with President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev of Kazakhstan in Abu Dhabi to explore new opportunities for expanding bilateral relations between Nigeria and Kazakhstan.

Tinubu is good to me so I will never criticise him – Ndume

The Senator representing Borno South senatorial district, Ali Ndume, has stated that he has too much respect for President Bola…

Electoral Reform bill will be ready before 2027 — Akpabio/Vop

Senate President Godswill Akpabio has pledged the National Assembly’s commitment to completing the electoral reform process ahead of the 2027…

Edo Election Tribunal: PDP alleges attempt to arrest star witnesses/Vop

Edo Election Tribunal: PDP alleges attempt to arrest star witnesses The Edo State Chapter of the People Democratic Party (PDP)…

Cabinet Confirmation Hearings Set to Shape Trump Administration’s Agenda By Eric Bradner, CNN January 15, 2025 President-elect Donald Trump’s key Cabinet nominees are set to face confirmation hearings in the Senate on Wednesday, as Republicans largely align behind his choices. The hearings come just five days before Trump’s inauguration, amid growing scrutiny over his picks for top positions, including attorney general, secretary of state, and other influential roles. The confirmation process kicked off on Tuesday with Pete Hegseth, Trump’s controversial nominee for Defense secretary, who faced tough questions during his appearance before the Senate Armed Services Committee. By the end of the day, however, Iowa Senator Joni Ernst, one of the few Republicans initially hesitant about his nomination, announced her support. On Wednesday, attention will shift to several high-profile nominees. Among them are Florida Senator Marco Rubio, Trump’s pick to lead the State Department, and former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, who has been nominated to head the Justice Department. These nominees are expected to face questions on key issues like foreign policy, political prosecution, and Trump’s “America first” agenda. Rubio’s Test on Foreign Policy Senator Rubio, a veteran on foreign relations, has been widely expected to easily win confirmation. However, he will need to explain how Trump’s “America first” approach will shape U.S. involvement in global affairs. Rubio has been known as a hawk on foreign policy, and during his hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, he plans to target China for “lying, cheating, and stealing” its way to global power. He is also likely to address Trump’s plans on Ukraine, amid concerns about shifting U.S. support for the war-torn country. Bondi’s Confirmation and Political Prosecution Pam Bondi’s confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee will likely be contentious. Democrats plan to press Bondi for answers on whether she will act on Trump’s stated desires to pursue political enemies and his potential plans to pardon supporters convicted over their actions during the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot. Russell Vought’s Project 2025 Connection Another key figure, Russell Vought, Trump’s pick to lead the Office of Management and Budget, will testify before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. Vought, one of the chief architects of Project 2025 – a conservative blueprint for a second Trump term – will face questions about the controversial plan and how it could shape federal policy. Shift in Energy Policy Trump’s choice of Chris Wright, an executive in the fracking industry, for the Department of Energy signals a major departure from the previous administration’s push toward renewable energy. Democrats have raised concerns about Wright’s financial disclosures and his stance on fossil fuels, as his hearing before the Energy and Natural Resources Committee unfolds. The hearings are expected to set the tone for Trump’s administration, as nominees navigate both supportive and skeptical questioning from Senate members. With control of the Senate firmly in Republican hands, most of Trump’s picks are likely to secure confirmation, but Democrats will use these hearings to challenge the direction of his policies./Vop

President-elect Donald Trump’s key Cabinet nominees are set to face confirmation hearings in the Senate on Wednesday, as Republicans largely…