this is bbc news. live from washington. president trump arrives in california to tour damage caused in the la wildfires, showing a united front with the states�*s democratic governor, gavin newsom. earlier trump also visited hurricane—hit north carolina, and said he might abolish the federal disaster relief agency. thousands of anti—abortion demonstrators march in washington — a day after president trump pardoned 23 abortion activists and as we go on air the senate appears poised to confirm peter hegseth, president trump's controversial pick as defence secretary. let's begin by immediately going to the us senate and

listen to discussions and debate around president trump's nominee for defence secretary pete hegseth. mr kim. mr king. you can see various activities and conversations happening. we are expecting the result of this vote not too far into the evening. we are going to keep across that and across the statements. expectation is that this vote will go through in favour of donald trump and pete hegseth but it is tight and only need one or two senators to change their mind. at the moment it appears he remains on track to become

defence secretary but has been controversial nomination from donald trump and we will continue to keep an eye on whether the republican senators stay behind the idea of pete hegseth becoming the new defence secretary. president trump is visiting fire—ravaged los angeles where he was greeted at the airport by california governor gavin newsom. the two men presenting a unified front there for cameras although they have disagreed in the past few weeks over the governor's response to the devastating wildfires in his state. the fires killed 28 people and damaged at least 12,000 homes and businesses. but the president has suggested he might withhold federal disaster assistance unless leaders there change the state's approach to its water management. let's listen back to some of the exchange between president trump and governor newsom. i appreciate the governor coming out and meeting me. we

will be talking and a little bit. we want to get it fixed, we want to get the problem fixed. it is like got hit by a bomb. ~ .,, fixed. it is like got hit by a bomb. ~ ., , fixed. it is like got hit by a bomb. . , . ~' bomb. most importantly thank ou for bomb. most importantly thank you for being _ bomb. most importantly thank you for being here, _ bomb. most importantly thank you for being here, means - bomb. most importantly thank you for being here, means a l you for being here, means a great — you for being here, means a great deal to all of us not just— great deal to all of us not just the _ great deal to all of us not just the folks in the palisades, the folks in altadena devastated, we will need — altadena devastated, we will need your support, help, you were — need your support, help, you were there for us during covid, i don't — were there for us during covid, i don't forget that. i have all the expectations we will be able — the expectations we will be able to— the expectations we will be able to work together to get the speedy recovery.- the speedy recovery. we're coin: the speedy recovery. we're going to — the speedy recovery. we're going to get _ the speedy recovery. we're going to get it _ the speedy recovery. we're going to get it done. - 0ur senior north america correspondent, gary 0'donoghue, said the political rivals were showing a united front. the governor needs to look limited toil, the president needs to look presidential and some cheap shots on the tarmac would not work. that does not

paper over the problems. number one the president threatening to tie federal money to changes in state policy, how they handle water, forestry, the governor won't be able to agree with that effectively blaming the governors for these fires that wreaked devastation. there is a lot of politics in these methods and you have to remember there are people as well involved. i have been talking to two people that have just come back and their house is up that way, they were renters, they have come back for the first time since the fire. they lived here for 12 years. sarah's parents house was lost in the palisades fire as well. two generations of their family lost their houses. this house behind me was on the market at the time the fires burned. it was a seven bedroom house, a beautiful spot, $18 million on the market for and look at what is left. you heard

that from the governor and his comments, he said notjust about the palisades and lovely bits of malibu like this, also about altadena. there is some annoyance the president did not decide to go to dinner with the other big fire was. after he toured some of the destruction in la, mr trump attended a meeting with local officials and affected residents. the mayor of los angeles karen bass was in attendance, and was challenged by members of the public and president trump himself. we are going to do everything we can, slashing regulations, expediting everything so people can begin the process right away. we have the disaster recovery centre and westward, building and safety, people already contacting the local agencies. we are bringing our city apartments together so people don't get caught in the loop of going from one room to the next. we want them all to

be in the same room so you can get busy rebuilding asap. you have to clear _ get busy rebuilding asap. you have to clear the _ get busy rebuilding asap. you have to clear the lines. yes, i have to clear the lines. yes, and we will _ have to clear the lines. yes, and we will clear— have to clear the lines. yes, and we will clear the - have to clear the lines. yes, and we will clear the lines. i have to clear the lines. yes, | and we will clear the lines. in the city and the county. we are working together, both levels of government are working. i5 of government are working. is it not 18 months? that is the answer— it not 18 months? that is the answer we got and what we are all hanging on. if you are telling _ all hanging on. if you are telling us now faster, is it six months? all of our lives, rent. — six months? all of our lives, rent. all_ six months? all of our lives, rent. all of— six months? all of our lives, rent, all of this stuff is weighing on this.- rent, all of this stuff is weighing on this. the number one thing _ weighing on this. the number one thing we're _ weighing on this. the number one thing we're going - weighing on this. the number one thing we're going to - weighing on this. the number one thing we're going to be i one thing we're going to be immediately, you will see this happen, is to out the debris. we are concerned right now over the weekend because of potential rain but we are going to move as fast as we can, we want you to be as safe, back in your homes immediately. the

eo - le your homes immediately. the people are — your homes immediately. the people are willing to clean out their— people are willing to clean out their own _ people are willing to clean out their own debris. you people are willing to clean out their own debris.— their own debris. you should let them _ their own debris. you should let them do _ their own debris. you should let them do it _ their own debris. you should let them do it because - their own debris. you should let them do it because by . their own debris. you should| let them do it because by the time you hire contract as it will be two years.- time you hire contract as it will be two years. the people are willing — will be two years. the people are willing to _ will be two years. the people are willing to get _ will be two years. the people are willing to get a _ will be two years. the people are willing to get a dumpster| are willing to get a dumpster and do — are willing to get a dumpster and do it— are willing to get a dumpster and do it themselves and clean it out — and do it themselves and clean it out. there is not that much left it — it out. there is not that much left it is— it out. there is not that much left it is all— it out. there is not that much left it is all incinerated. it will— left it is all incinerated. it will take _ left it is all incinerated. it will take a long time. you can do some _ will take a long time. you can do some of— will take a long time. you can do some of it but a lot of these _ do some of it but a lot of these people, i know that go right— these people, i know that go right they talking, i know my people _ right they talking, i know my people. you will be there tonight— people. you will be there tonight following the stuff away _ tonight following the stuff away and it will look perfect within — away and it will look perfect within 24 hours and that is what — within 24 hours and that is what he _ within 24 hours and that is what he wants to do, does not want _ what he wants to do, does not want to— what he wants to do, does not want to wait around for several months — want to wait around for several months into the city hire some demolition contract and charge on $25,000 to do his lawn. before california president trump visited north carolina, where hurricane helene killed more than a hundred people in september. speaking in asheville, president trump again threatened to dismantle the us federal emergency agency, fema, saying it had turned out to be a disaster.

in the last hour, the white house has told federal agencies to start firing staff who work in teams designed to promote diversity. agencies have been given 60 days to start terminating the contracts of those who work in environmentaljustice as well deia, which stands inclusion, and accessibility. earlier this week, the president ordered all deia staff be put on paid leave. meanwhile the administration says it has started deporting migrants from the us. state department officials confirmed that two military planes flew about 80 people each back to guatemala. mexican officials say they rejected a request from the white house for another aircraft carrying a group of deportees to land in mexico. on his first day in office, president trump signed an executive order declaring illegal immigration a national emergency. president trump took executive action late friday — to limit us government funding for abortions and other reproductive healthcare.

he signed a memorandum to reinstate a policy which bans global health aid for foreign organizations that provide or promote abortions. he also signed an executive order aimed at enforcing the hyde amendment, which has blocked the use of us government funds on abortions since 1977. the three most powerful politicians in america have spoken at what organisers claim is the largest anti abortion rally in the world. thousands of campaigners joined the event here in washington, which is called the march for life. the vice president, jd vance, spoke to the crowd — telling them they were there to celebrate victories yet to come. the speaker of the house, mikejohnson, said it was a new golden age for america. donald trump sent a pre—recorded video message from the white house — the day after he pardoned more than 20 protesters convicted of crimes around abortion clinics. he promised to protect what he called the gains made in his first administration — which oversaw the reversal of a nationwide right

to an abortion. hello to everyone at the march for life. it is a pleasure to speak to you from the beautiful 0val speak to you from the beautiful oval office. that is where we are right now, the magnificent 0val are right now, the magnificent oval office and thank you for turning out once again to show your extraordinary love and compassion for the unborn. 0n the first anniversary of the disaster risk ruling known as ruby wade. 0n the first anniversary of the disastrous ruling known as roe v wade. that unconstitutional decision took power away from the states and voters, kicking a 50 years of division and anger. it has been a contentious issue for decades and the supreme court has played key role.

these rallies happen every year but it is given extra significance for the people it because of president trump back in the white house. feelings are strong, people come from across the country, many from church groups, faith schools, people with banners saying things like babies lives matters, stickers saying made in the womb and among the crowd earlier i met a man one of the 23 people pardoned. the anti—abortion protesters who were pardoned yesterday by president trump. cold coleman boyd, 53 years old and he told me he was recently released from house arrest. he had been sentenced after preaching outside a health clinic, two of his children had been trying to block access to it. everyone we have spoken to wants to see a nationwide ban and now looking to donald trump, he wants to be

seen to be on their side because most are from the evangelical rights who supported him and funded him and want the band across the country. it does not seem to be priority issue for him all be on his agenda right now. the main things are immigration and economy and opinion polls show about two—thirds of the population don't want a nationwide ban so he has made it clear he wants to leave it up it clear he wants to leave it up to individual states to decide for so many people here today may be disappointed. let's hear what some of the people who were at the rally want to see from the new administration. we would like it not to be legal. we would like abortion band everywhere. we believe it is murder. that would not be appropriate, it is not right in god �*s eyes. that would be the ultimate goal, help people understand it is a true human

life. at the moment of conception.— life. at the moment of concetion. , ,, conception. he is way less pro-life — conception. he is way less pro-life than _ conception. he is way less pro-life than he _ conception. he is way less pro-life than he was - conception. he is way less pro-life than he was in - conception. he is way less i pro-life than he was in 2016 pro—life than he was in 2016 but absolutely is a potential atty~ — but absolutely is a potential atty~ we _ but absolutely is a potential ally. we cannot mince words it is promoted. ally. we cannot mince words it is promoted-— ally. we cannot mince words it is promoted. what do you want him to do? _ is promoted. what do you want him to do? i— is promoted. what do you want him to do? i want _ is promoted. what do you want him to do? i want him - is promoted. what do you want him to do? i want him to - is promoted. what do you want him to do? i want him to put i him to do? i want him to put everything — him to do? i want him to put everything he _ him to do? i want him to put everything he has _ him to do? i want him to put everything he has into - him to do? i want him to put everything he has into a - everything he has into a federai— everything he has into a federal politics of the fourth and 15th amendment. that is you and15th amendment. that is you shatt— and 15th amendment. that is you shall not — and 15th amendment. that is you shall not take life without due process — shall not take life without due process of law.— process of law. state or national _ process of law. state or national level, - process of law. state or national level, i- process of law. state or national level, i want i process of law. state or| national level, i want no taxpayer_ national level, i want no taxpayer funds - national level, i want no taxpayer funds going - national level, i want no- taxpayer funds going towards abortion _ the bbc heard from a representative from the pro choice group emily's list, who spoke about president trump's pardoning of 23 anti—abortion activists on friday. take a listen. donald trump may have campaigned on not supporting a national abortion band but we know his real agenda. he liked

the people interviewed and that peace wants to end abortion, he knows it is an unpopular position. he is taking action now. we believe it will lead up to a national abortion band. i think the fallout is it sends the message of what his true agenda is. ithink the message of what his true agenda is. i think it reminds people he willjeopardise this act. i know there are activists and allies who support our ability to make our own reproductive healthcare decisions working to ensure safe access to abortion. it is more important than ever we work to put people in office that will protect our rights instead of stand against them. hamas has named fourfemale soldiers who are due to be released on saturday as part of the israel—gaza ceasefire deal. naama levy, liri albag, daniela gilboa and karina ariev were seized by hamas from an army base in southern israel during the

october 7 attacks. in return, israel is expected to release about 180 palestinian detainees. it is the second such exchange under the ceasefire deal which came into effect last sunday. hamas is also expected to provide information about 26 israeli hostages due to be released over the next five weeks. 0ur correspondent nick beake is injerusalem and gave us the latest details. it was overrun by hamas fighters on october seven. some videos were taken by those fighters as they seized people, these hostages and took them to gaza. the four women been released on saturday were part of this unit and they had warned because they were spotted there had been

suspicious signs there was possibly some sort of assault coming and it does seem those warnings were not acted 1539 00:16:25