live from washington, this is bbc news. the us senate confirms pete hegseth as defense secretary. for only the second time in american history, the vice president has to cast the deciding vote on a cabinet nominee. on this vote, the gaze of 50 and the knees are 50. the senate being equally divided, the vice president votes in the affirmative and the nomination is confirmed. —— on this vote, the yeas are 50 and the nays are 50. president trump visits california to tour damage caused in the la wildfires, showing a united front with the states�*s democratic governor gavin newsom. thousands of anti—abortion demonstrators march in washington a day after president trump pardoned 23 abortion activists. hamas releases the names of four israeli soldiers

who will be freed on saturday in return for 180 palestinian prisoners. hello, i'm ros atkins. just over an hour ago, the us senate confirmed pete hegseth as the country's new secretary of defense. it was a tight race with three republicans voting against their own party which holds the senate majority. vice presidentjd vance ultimately gave the tie—breaking vote, standing behind mr hegseth a former fox news host and combat veteran. on this vote, the yeas are 50 and the nays are 50. the senate being equally divided, the vice president votes in the affirmative and the nomination is confirmed. while hegseth�*s confirmation is a narrow win for the trump administration, his appointment was preceded by allegations of excessive drinking, aggressive behaviour towards women and abusing his second wife — all claims that he denies. now he has secured america's top militaryjob, he is set to lead more than 2 million service members and will oversee an annual defence

budget of $850 million. with me is our correspondent david willis. why did you get so tight when the republicans have a majority?— the republicans have a ma'ori ? , ., , ., majority? has been a slew of allegations — majority? has been a slew of allegations against _ majority? has been a slew of allegations against pete - majority? has been a slew of allegations against pete had | allegations against pete had seth and they've gained momentum over the course of the last week. he faced a very gruelling cross examination by democrat members in the senate armed forces committee just last week nays es —— hegseth. you mentioned financial assault, financial mismanagement, all of those came up and look for a while as though pete hegseth was really in trouble in securing the nomination, not since 1989 by john tower was george bush senior�*s nomination to be the us defence secretary has anybody, nominee been rejected by the senate and it looks for

a while as though despite the fact that this seven tends to go bipartisanly when it goes to matters of the appointment of the us defence secretary, seen as a national security issue and something they want to protect anonymity on, pete hegseth was clearly in trouble. you have these two republican senator susan collins and lisa murkowski who made public before this vote that they were not in favour of supporting this nomination of pete hegseth. then the bombshell, really, which was mitch mcconnell, the former republican leader in the senate, aligning with those two and that forced this thai off—road which came down to the narrowest of margins, 50—50, republicans have a 3—member majority in the upper house. but that had been eroded so it came down to the tie—breaking vote ofjd vance, the vice president of the united states. every dramatic way for pete

hegseth to be brought over the line, his candidature report over the line if you like and confirmed as the new us defence secretary. confirmed as the new us defence secreta . . , confirmed as the new us defence secreta . ., , ., secretary. donald trump would have known _ secretary. donald trump would have known when _ secretary. donald trump would have known when he _ secretary. donald trump would | have known when he nominated pete hegseth that it was going to be controversial, there would have been easier people for him to choose and get over the nomination process so why has he gone for pete hegseth? what is he looking for? i think it was a roll of the dice on donald trump of part to test if you like the unanimity of the party that he now governs with pretty much an iron fist, if you like, and this was a challenge to those who would say this ban is not up to the task for this man. he has run a couple of non—profit organisations which recorded losses so is this the man that can lead an organisation with 3 million staff, a budget annually of almost $850 billion. and donald trump staked his reputation, if you like, on that. it was a roll of

the dice that worked in his favour, although very, very narrowly. favour, although very, very narrowly-— narrowly. in terms of what donald trump _ narrowly. in terms of what donald trump is _ narrowly. in terms of what donald trump is looking i narrowly. in terms of what | donald trump is looking for from the military, he has made no secret of the fact that he wants america to be involved fathers around the world than it has been previously. absolutely, and pete hegseth seemed as we have heard as an agent of change, somebody who would go into the pentagon and do donald trump's bidding and that may well mean fewer diversity —related missions in terms of that department and it may well mean pruning the staff and, of course, it may mean getting on board generals who are much, much more willing to carry out donald trump's agenda, militarily. david, thank you _ agenda, militarily. david, thank you very _ agenda, militarily. david, thank you very much. - agenda, militarily. david, l thank you very much. david willis. president trump has been 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. gavin. very much. and we'll will be talking and a little bit. we want to get it fixed — we want to get the problem fixed. and there will be some ways. but it looks like you got hit by a bomb, but it looks like you got hit bya bomb, right? but it looks like you got hit by a bomb, right?- but it looks like you got hit l by a bomb, right?- you but it looks like you got hit - by a bomb, right?- you got by a bomb, right? yeah. you got hit b a by a bomb, right? yeah. you got hit by a bomb- — by a bomb, right? yeah. you got hit by a bomb. would _ by a bomb, right? yeah. you got hit by a bomb. would you - bya bomb, right? yeah. you got hit by a bomb. would you like to say something? most importantly, thank you for being here.

it means a great deal to all of us — not just the folks in the palisades, the folks in altadena devastated. we will need your support, help. you were there for us during covid — i don't forget that — and i have all the expectations we will be able to work together to get the speedy recovery. we will. we're going to get it done. our senior north america correspondent gary o'donoghue sent this update from la. the president spent around three hours on the ground here in los angeles — the president spent around three hours on the ground here in los angeles in a visit overshadowed by politics. he had already said that california had mismanaged these fires, accusing democrats of having not stopped them when they could have done so with more water from the north. they could have done so with more waterfrom the north. he was met at the airport by the democratic governor gary newson, those you have exchanged passwords in the past —— gavin. today it was all cordiality. thanks for coming. hope we can get some money from you. yes, of course you can.

the president and toward some of the devastated areas and talked to some of the families affected then spend about one hour with city officials and local residents and then ended up local residents and then ended up in something of a stand—off with the la mayor karen bass over the time it would take residents to get back to their homes and rebuild their properties. the president leaves here with the big questions still unanswered — will california get the money unconditionally or will it have to change its state laws before it is handed over? and will fema, the federal emergency management agency, will it survive his presidency? 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 that people can begin the process

right away. you know, we have the disaster recovery centre on eco and westwood, we have building and safety, people are already contacting the local agencies. we are bringing our city departments together so that people don't get caught in the loop of going from one group to the next. we want them all to be in the same room so that you can get busy rebuilding asap. that you can get busy rebuildin: asap. �* , �* rebuilding asap. inaudible. absolutely- _ rebuilding asap. inaudible. absolutely. you _ rebuilding asap. inaudible. absolutely. you have - rebuilding asap. inaudible. absolutely. you have to - rebuilding asap. inaudible. j absolutely. you have to clear the lots _ absolutely. you have to clear the lots. �* . ., the lots. and we will clear the lot, absolutely, _ the lots. and we will clear the lot, absolutely, in _ the lots. and we will clear the lot, absolutely, in the - the lots. and we will clear the lot, absolutely, in the city - lot, absolutely, in the city and in the county. we are working together, both levels of government are working in unity. of government are working in uni . �* , �* of government are working in unity-_ core - unity. inaudible. core engineers _ unity. inaudible. core engineers is _ unity. inaudible. core engineers is not - unity. inaudible. core | engineers is not months, unity. inaudible. core - engineers is not months, is it like _ engineers is not months, is it like - — engineers is not months, is it like - that _ engineers is not months, is it like — that was the answer we -ot like — that was the answer we got and — like — that was the answer we got and that is what we are all hanging — got and that is what we are all hanging on. got and that is what we are all hanging on-— got and that is what we are all hanging on.- so _ got and that is what we are all hanging on. yes. so you are tellin: hanging on. yes. so you are telling us — hanging on. yes. so you are telling us now— hanging on. yes. so you are telling us now faster, - hanging on. yes. so you are telling us now faster, is - hanging on. yes. so you are telling us now faster, is it i telling us now faster, is it six months? i mean all of our lives, — six months? i mean all of our lives, rents, stuff is weighing on this — lives, rents, stuff is weighing on this. ., ., , lives, rents, stuff is weighing on this-_ in i lives, rents, stuff is weighing| on this._ in the on this. six months in? in the number one _ on this. six months in? in the

number one thing _ on this. six months in? in the number one thing that - on this. six months in? in the number one thing that we're. number one thing that we're going to do immediately, and you will see happen, is to clear out the debris and you know, we are concerned right now over the weekend because of the potential rain but we are going to move as fast as we can but we want you to be safe. we want you to be back in your homes immediately. but the eo - le homes immediately. but the people are — homes immediately. but the people are willing _ homes immediately. but the people are willing to - homes immediately. but the people are willing to clean . homes immediately. but the | people are willing to clean up their— people are willing to clean up their own _ people are willing to clean up their own debris? _ people are willing to clean up their own debris?— people are willing to clean up their own debris? yes. and they can. you should _ their own debris? yes. and they can. you should let _ their own debris? yes. and they can. you should let them - their own debris? yes. and they can. you should let them do - their own debris? yes. and they can. you should let them do it l can. you should let them do it because by — can. you should let them do it because by the _ can. you should let them do it because by the time _ can. you should let them do it because by the time you - can. you should let them do it because by the time you hire i because by the time you hire contractors, _ because by the time you hire contractors, it's— because by the time you hire contractors, it's going - because by the time you hire contractors, it's going to - because by the time you hire contractors, it's going to bel contractors, it's going to be two — contractors, it's going to be two years _ contractors, it's going to be two years if— contractors, it's going to be two years— two years. if a family... people _ two years. if a family... people are _ two years. if a family... people are willing - two years. if a family... people are willing to . two years. if a family... | people are willing to get two years. if a family... i people are willing to get a dumpster— people are willing to get a dumpsterand_ people are willing to get a dumpsterand do- people are willing to get a dumpster and do it - people are willing to get a - dumpster and do it themselves and clean — dumpster and do it themselves and clean it— dumpster and do it themselves and clean it out... _ dumpster and do it themselves and clean it out... find- dumpster and do it themselves and clean it out. . ._ and clean it out... and they can. there's _ and clean it out... and they can. there's not _ and clean it out... and they can. there's not that - can. there's not that much-loved, - can. there's not that much-loved, it's - can. there's not that much-loved, it's all| much—loved, it's all incinerated. - much—loved, it's all incinerated. that's. much—loved, it's all- incinerated. that's right. and it's going _ incinerated. that's right. and it's going to _ incinerated. that's right. and it's going to take _ incinerated. that's right. and it's going to take a _ incinerated. that's right. and it's going to take a long - incinerated. that's right. and it's going to take a long time| it's going to take a long time and you _ it's going to take a long time and you - _ it's going to take a long time and you - you _ it's going to take a long time and you — you can _ it's going to take a long time and you — you can do - it's going to take a long time and you — you can do it, - it's going to take a long time and you — you can do it, thatj and you — you can do it, that guy— and you — you can do it, that guy right _ and you — you can do it, that guy right there. _ and you — you can do it, that guy right there, i— and you — you can do it, that guy right there, i know- and you — you can do it, that guy right there, i know my. guy right there, i know my people _ guy right there, i know my people. you _ guy right there, i know my people. you will— guy right there, i know my people. you will be - guy right there, i know my people. you will be in - guy right there, i know myl people. you will be in there tonight— people. you will be in there tonight i_ people. you will be in there tonight i throwing _ people. you will be in there tonight i throwing your- people. you will be in there| tonight i throwing your stuff away — tonight i throwing your stuff away and _ tonight i throwing your stuff away and your _ tonight i throwing your stuff away and your site - tonight i throwing your stuff away and your site will - tonight i throwing your stuff away and your site will look| away and your site will look perfect _ away and your site will look perfect within _ away and your site will look perfect within 24 _ away and your site will look perfect within 24 hours - away and your site will look perfect within 24 hours and| perfect within 24 hours and that's— perfect within 24 hours and that's all— perfect within 24 hours and that's all he _ perfect within 24 hours and that's all he wants - perfect within 24 hours and that's all he wants to - perfect within 24 hours and that's all he wants to do. i perfect within 24 hours and i that's all he wants to do. he doesn't _ that's all he wants to do. he doesn't want _ that's all he wants to do. he doesn't want to _ that's all he wants to do. he doesn't want to wait - that's all he wants to do. he doesn't want to wait around | that's all he wants to do. he i doesn't want to wait around for seven— doesn't want to wait around for seven months— doesn't want to wait around for seven months until— doesn't want to wait around for seven months until the - doesn't want to wait around for seven months until the city- seven months until the city hire — seven months until the city hire some _ seven months until the city hire some demolition- hire some demolition contractors _

hire some demolition contractors and - hire some demolition. contractors and charge hire some demolition- contractors and charge them $25,000 _ contractors and charge them $25,000 to _ contractors and charge them $25,000 to do _ contractors and charge them $25,000 to do his— contractors and charge them $25,000 to do his lot. - also attending that meeting wasjudy chu, the democrat representative for california's 28th congressional district. we'll speak to her in a moment, but first let's watch her exchange with president trump. ijust want i just want to make sure that you remember that people in altadena and pasadena and that you can come there and see how terrible the devastation has been there so that they can get the help that they need. just remember — the help that they need. just remember one _ the help that they need. just remember one thing, and i like the way— remember one thing, and i like the way you express yourself — beautifully, actually — but i've — beautifully, actually — but i've only _ beautifully, actually — but i've only been here three days and ill— i've only been here three days and i'll do— i've only been here three days and i'll do a greatjob. but we had another president and this took— had another president and this took place during the life of another— took place during the life of another president, not me, but i'm another president, not me, but i'm going — another president, not me, but i'm going to be the president is going — i'm going to be the president is going to help you fix it because _ is going to help you fix it because he would not have been able to— because he would not have been able to help you fix it, ok? so

we will— able to help you fix it, ok? so we will take care of it applause. we will work closely and i_ applause. we will work closely and i know your community was really_ and i know your community was really devastated incredibly, so we — really devastated incredibly, so we understand that. judy chu joins me now. thanks indeed for your time. what did you make of the president's response to your question? inaudible. iwonder if you have muted yourself because we cannot hear you. we can see you. i'm hoping it will fix the problem.— can see you. i'm hoping it will fix the problem.- we i fix the problem. hello. we still cannot _ fix the problem. hello. we still cannot hear _ fix the problem. hello. we still cannot hear you, - fix the problem. hello. we| still cannot hear you, that's fix the problem. hello. we i still cannot hear you, that's a shame. ., ., ., still cannot hear you, that's a shame-_ we i still cannot hear you, that's a i shame._ we can shame. how about now? we can hear you. _ shame. how about now? we can hear you, that's _ shame. how about now? we can hear you, that's a _ shame. how about now? we can hear you, that's a relief. - shame. how about now? we can hear you, that's a relief. i - hear you, that's a relief. i wasjust hear you, that's a relief. i was just asking you what you made of the president's reply to you. made of the president's reply to ou. ~ ., , made of the president's reply to ou. .,, to you. well, he was gracious in terms _ to you. well, he was gracious in terms of — to you. well, he was gracious in terms of recognising - to you. well, he was gracious in terms of recognising the i in terms of recognising the devastation of altadena in terms of recogni