the us senate has confirmed — continue. the us senate has confirmed donald _ continue.e to america's allergy and expand america's allergy and nuclear power. it is widely to 7 expected to dismantle biden�*s policies. white climate policies. the white is announced trump ally house is announced trump ally musk will now elon musk will now be considered a "special government employee" but he not receive a sale . it will not receive a salary. it the boss of tesla and means the boss of tesla and space act will be able to leading the department continue leading the department of efficiency and of government efficiency and are aimed at cutting public he 7 he may 7 he may not to spending. he may not have to disclose his finances, something typically required of government employees. us donald signed president donald trump signed order on monday an executive order on monday... the creation of a ordering the creation of a fund within severeion wealth fund within ,, , w e , , year. sovereign wealth fund within ~ , ~~ .. , , year. saying could the nextyear. saying it could buy the sh

thanks for i keeping a close eye on - for the us senate has confirmed president trump's executive chrisca's lng and nuclear power. biden's climate policies. government employee" , but he won't receive a salary. it means the boss of tesla and spacex will be able efficiency, aimed at cutting public spending. and mobile phones. defending ukraine is in the economic interests of the united states. an executive order on monday ordering the creation of a sovereign wealth fund the short video app tiktok. trump is following on an idea he fronted during the presidential campaign, to a sovereign 77 for the us, is fund forthe us, he 7 wealth fend ferthettdfé't'he' www ”if” * an wealth fend for theddféghe' ' w ” ' w an executive wealth fend for theidfahhe ' w ” ' w an executive on signed an executive order on that charges monday that charges the treasury secretary and howard like nick his nominee to lead the commerce department with the commerce department with the process, mr beginning the process, mr lightening the fund lightening suggesting the fund could be used facilitate the oftiktok 777777l>i

for more on the situation, let's bring in the former policy director at the us senate foreign relations goma saw a glimpsethereinsidefioma hearing about the fact that hot hearingaoootethe fast that conflict could spill over this conflict could spill over into hifgf, .ss.s .s sss h|gh eoff think have high de “gee: think. that is? hg'fg�*hlgs. st... s..s is? hg'fg�*hlgs. s.1:.... s.1s is? . hg'fg�*hlgs. s.1:.1.. s.1s is? _, . , concern is? the concern is very hiuh. concern is? the concern is very high- the _ concern is? the concern is very high. the conflict _ concern is? the concern is very high. the conflict today - concern is? the concern is very high. the conflict today is - high. the conflict today is reminiscent of the devastating walls of the late 1990s congowallsofstheslate 1990s 2000 which killed and early 2000 which killed an estimated 5.4 million congolese and involved no less than seven militaries from the african militaries from the so it is very highly african militaries from the that it is very highly african militaries from the that there ery highly african militaries from

, how i mean, obviously it's, it's outrages that a tax payer funded organization which threaten us senator, who's simply trying to figure out if a method tax per money is being spent correctly. and unfortunately, yes, but for one thing on rest and toppling need is, isn't usa i days only bread and butter columns resume phrasal star named for 90 days has left 90 percent of ukrainian media risk upcoming dog. because yes, the agency is big on sponsoring independent journalism. and the child is proud to solve the o. c. c op a. not unless investigative organizations finding 6 continents with a team, but just one of the whole power in check. except interestingly, you don't get many dives into us corruption because that wouldn't be cutting off the hand that feeds that and how that sometimes gives it a split pull to that end up bringing about real change. you know, i think as donors have realized, this is really important. this is having impact. we've probably been responsible for about 5 or 6 countries changing over from one government to another government . so, you know, because and getting, you

expect our republican colleagues to stand up and work with us to get it done in a system of trust that this democracy is founded on. >> senator wyden, can you expand? sen. wyden: we've heard it several places. mr. kerry can get you some of the details, but yeah, and the point really is, it's almost government by whim. we're used to rules and the opportunity for all sides to be heard on the finance committee. we have worked on this for years and years, and we said we want to save for the working guy. $500, $600 it is now the filing season. based on what we've heard, essentially musk, i guess, says he's now going to be secretary of treasury as well as everything else because he's telling bessent, you know, he's going to go in there and bessent told us in the finance committee when i asked the question, he said it is on for this year and people have started filing. >> have you tried getting a hold of the treasury secretary in these last few days? sen. wyden: he certainly didn't consult with us. under normal circumstances, the treasury secretary consults with the committee, and we've heard nothing from him on this. >> can i ask a

us. here now with more reaction, texas senator ted cruz. i don't think i've ever in all my years doing this, which is 35 in radio, 29 here at the fox news channel, i don't think i've ever seen a force of nature like this or as much dramatic, impactful, transformational change as we're seeing on full before our eyes. >> nobody has. in the first two weeks of the trump presidency more has been accomplished then any time in our lifetimes. maybe you can go back to fdr but you and i want to live when fdr was president so i haven't lived through that. i've lived through these last two weeks and if not to say this is what winning looks like. this is what delivering on our promises looks like. president trump is showing strong and powerful leadership. last week, seeing columbia just cave immediately, they said no. we will not allow illegal immigrants from the united states come back from columbia. they are an anti-american president. the president immediately responded by threatening tariffs and within eight hours they caved. you looked at mexico an

senate. unfortunately, it has brought us to this point. we need to restore the norms and traditions of the senate and get past us. unprecedented partizan filibuster. therefore, i raised a point of order that the vote on cloture under the precedent set on november 21st, 2013, is a majority vote on all nominees. the precedent of november 21st, 2013 did not apply to nominees to the supreme court. those nominations are considered under the plain language rule 22. the point of order is not sustained appeal. the ruling of the chair, michael tackett, what was he doing there on the senate floor in 2017? he was setting us up for getting rid of the filibuster for supreme court judges, and he was, in effect, doing what he accused harry reid of doing, which was to change the rule, to break the rule and set the country on a different course, because you have this sort of ideological sort now that's happened with the two parties and it's playing out in the courts. and so what is what does that led to? it's led to a supreme court where people seem to have

us. all right. here now with more reaction, texas senator ted cruz. senator, i don't think i've ever in all my years, you know, doing this which is 35 in radio, 29 here at the fox news channel. i don't think i've ever seen a force of nature like this, or as much dramatic, impactful, transformational change as we're seeing unfold before our eyes. well. >> listen, nobody has in the first two weeks of the trump presidency, more has been accomplished than certainly any time in our lifetimes. maybe you could go back to fdr in the first hundred days. but, sean, you and i weren't alive when fdr was president, so. so i haven't lived. >> through that. >> i have lived through these last two weeks. >> and i got to say, this is what winning looks like. this is what delivering. >> on our promises. >> looks like. >> and president trump is showing strong and. powerful leadership. >> i got to say. last week. seeing columbia just just cave. >> immediately columbia. >> said, no. >> we will not. allow illegal immigrants from the united. >> states to. >> come back from c

sounds like you are saying it's more about supporting israel if they decide to strike versus us. >> senatorsome assistance, but it would be their actions. >> shannon: i want to try to get some answers from you on some of these nominees pray let's start with rfk jr. you've been one of the most pro-life folks in the senate for a long time. the national review has this. "pro-lifers should be especially wary of a man who publicly advocated legislation to codify roe v. wade in 2023, and affirmed in 2024 that he supported legal abortion even if it is full-term." given your dedication to that topic, is it something you're willing to compromise on? >> senator graham: i am now okay supporting rfk jr., because i think during the course of the hearing he has committed to a republican pro-life agenda. president trump's pro-life agenda, mexico city policy, dealing with chemical abortions. so i will take him at his word. i'm comfortable with what he said on the pro-life issue. he has been radically approa, bi believe he will be pushed by president trump. but i will be a "yes." i will watch every move he

i am so happy we're able to talk to us today. senator amy klobuchar had some of the sharpest questioning of kash patel during his confirmation hearing for fbi director. she's going to be here today. senator maggie hassan pretty much left the room speechless during rfk jr. s hearing she's going to join us as well. and congressman jamie raskin is here in studio to talk about trump's unprecedented purge of the department of justice and the fbi. and that story is where we're going to start today, because late friday night, we learned that trump administration officials forced out a number of the fbi's most senior executives and multiple heads of the bureau's field offices all across the country. now, that included the leader of the field office here in washington, d.c, the office, of course, that investigated donald trump. at the same time, the doj fired nearly two dozen federal prosecutors who investigated the january 6th insurrectionists. and remember, all of this comes after a dozen officials who worked with special counsel jack smith wer

brian schatz from hawaii did the first thing that a us senator actually haso do, which he said, i'm going to now start holding up, you know, nominees for trump. and i think. that's tuberville, right? tuberville. right. except for this time, it actually makes sense. tuberville was doing it because he wanted to make some political hay with the trump and maga people. schatz is doing it to prove a point, which is i still have a little bit of power and the power i do have, i'm going to exercise. and we've seen that too, not in congress, but in a place like illinois with jb pritzker. he said, i'm not going to hire anybody who had anything to do with january 6th. democrats have always had an uncomfortable relationship with power. they've been very unwilling to utilize it. they've been very unwilling to do the things they could when they have it. look, they have a history. speaker nancy pelosi always understood it. lbj going back, harry reid, like there are democrats who've understood it. but now you have to say, are you going to bear the consequences of utilizing wh

brian schatz from hawaii did the first thing that a us senator actually. >> has the ability.that tuberville. right. >> ala tuberville. right. except for. this time, it actually makes sense. tuberville was doing it because he wanted to make some. political hay with the trump. >> and maga people. >> schatz is doing. >> it to prove a point, which. >> is, i still have a little bit of power and. >> the power. >> i do have, i'm going to exercise. and we've seen that too, not in congress, but in a place like illinois with jb pritzker, who said. >> i'm not going to hire anybody. >> who had anything to do with january 6th. democrats, stephanie, have always. >> had an uncomfortable. >> relationship with power. >> they've been. very unwilling to utilize it. >> they've been very unwilling to do the things. >> they. >> could when they haven't. >> look. >> they have. >> a history. speaker nancy pelosi's always. >> understood it. >> lbj going. >> back, harry reid. >> like there are democrats who've understood it. but now you have to say, are you going to bear the. consequences of utilizing.

but let's be clear, kash patel is right now probably going to cruise through confirmation at the us senate. and so you have this essentially attack dog. of donald trump's who is going to go after his political enemies. and i you know, i think it's comical. we should laugh at donald trump saying he had no idea that this was actually happening. give me a break. donald trump knows exactly what is happening, and he's trying to seize as much control as he can for himself, for elon musk, for his billionaire friends. and he's trying to essentially wipe anyone out that wants to stand in his way. we should be very concerned about these actions and these actions, by the way, along with getting rid of, for example, of all the inspector generals should be very concerning to us. >> i'm going to ask you specifically about the january 6th employees. at the fbi. i mean, the fact that, you know, you're talking about, as you mentioned, potentially thousands of employees who were involved in this sprawling investigation, it was at the time described as the largest investigation ever carried out. almost every

what defines us is our strength, our determination and our commitment to moving forward together. joey: ohio senatorficials on the ground, and he joins us now. senator, i know that you're a newly-mintedded senator, but this issue isn't new to you because you were lieutenant governor for the past several years. give us an update what's happening in east palestine. >> well, the people of east palestine are resilient. the cleanup has taken two years to fully get accomplished, but they're trying to rebuild and restart their community helpfully better than it was before. that that's their aspiration. and on monday, j.d. vance and i and senator moreno p governor dewine and new epa director lee zeldin will be there to talk about our commitment to to make sure that people know that the east palestines of the world -- not just east palestine, but any community in need -- is going to be supported by this administration. joey: what is the state of the town, the village two years later in i know that the original controversy wasn't just that it derailed, but there was a decision to release a bunch of dechemical

i've spoken to our us senator john fetterman.yone all hands on deck. that's where we are right now. thank you so very much. and we'll have more information to report in the near future. thank you. mayor. >> we just heard that was just the mayor of philadelphia giving us an update on what we are seeing on the ground. she told residents to stay away from the scene if they see debris. don't touch it. there are real questions about the impact of on the ground beyond the individuals we know who were on the plane, but fatalities on the ground. we have seen explosions, we know that cars were hit and others. we're learning about that. she also mentioned that governor shapiro and senator fetterman are also both en route. and we're going to continue to bring you updates as we find them. and as soon as they come in. we also wanted to provide you an update, as i noted right before the break on another piece of breaking news tonight here in the nation's capital, where the trump administration has conducted an unprecedented purge at the top le

i think it would be in the world's interest for us to decimate the iranian nuclear threat while we can. if we don't we will regret it later and senatoretterman has been a champion on this and every other issue regarding israel. shannon: it sounds like you are saying it's more about supporting israel they decide to strike versus us having melters right? >> yes. they need some assistance it will be their actions. shannon: i want to try get answers from you on some of these nominees let's start with rfk junior. you have been one of the most pro life folks for logs at the national review has this warning pro-lifers should be especially weary of a man who publicly advocated legislation to codify roe v wade in 2023. a firm in 2024 he supported legal abortion even if it is full-term. given your dedication to that topic is that something you're willing to compromise on? >> well i am now okay supporting rfk junior because i think during the course of the hearing he has committed to a republican pro life agenda, president trump's approach life agenda mexico city policy dealing with chemical abortions. i will take him at his word i am comfortab

listen to what senator kennedy said. there are folks like us tired of the pendulum swinging back and forth. we want to be the senate that confirms and fbi director that writes the ship, shows consistent spect for the rule of law, respect for law enforcement officers and i believe you are up to the task and look forward to supporting your nomination. thank you. mr. patel: thank you. chair grassley: i want the members of this committee to think about something brand-new. it deals with this exchange we had today in regard to the grand jury testimony. based upon whistleblower disclosures made today it is clear how unfair and corrupt the trump prosecution was and that has created little faith at best in the grand jury process. we should not allow part of that corrupt process to be used by this committee against the nominee. example, one document i made public today, doj officials literally concurred with tbo to open the electric case against trump and that included grand jury investigation. jack smith's lawfare efforts should be with this committee

. >>> to virginia democratic senator mark warner, the vice chairman of the senate intelligence committee, and joins us from palm beach, florida. good morning to you, senator. >> good morning, margaret. >> do you have any sense yet what the cost of these tariffs could be for virginia, which does have a wine industry, for example? >> yeah. first of all, i think we might want to call this the donald trump super bowl tax, with the big game coming next week, if you -- avocados, tomatoes, beer from mexico, prices going to go up. the question around cars, i read already about $3,000 of an additional price on cars, up to 10,000 on trucks, because we've actually integrated very well our auto production with canada and mexico. i think as well about the fact for years we've been encouraging businesses to leave china and near shore to a place like mexico, and now that is going to end up costing consumers more. for industries like ours like the wine industry, where we are growing rapidly in virginia, those folks are going to get socked as well. this is -- remember donald trump got hired trying to lower -- saying h

>> i don't know if we're using the same definition of efficient issue. senator wyden: you used something that would suggest other than the point i'm making. right now -- spending less than medicare and insurance over the last four years so this program that you want to clobber, that you want to reduce is more efficient than practically a host of other things and i want to know what your definition is of medicaid being inefficiency that you use to justify the cuts. >> what i was referring to and have, particularly defending the budget that president trump set up is that the populations that you mentioned are no longer just the populations of medicine cade but now we have able-bodied working adults that get a higher match and that has taken away from the ability to have a focus on those specific populations because you have states chasing the match instead of trying to focus on those it was intended for and weed improper payments and waste fraud abuse and we know that there are improper payments to a high degree. senator wyden: spending is less in all these other

us now. great to see you be senator.to restart the abraham accords, pick up where he left off. this is the first meeting with a foreign head of state that seems to be a big priority for him. >> good morning, first of all, let me say how happy i am to see how swiftly and decisively the administration is moving to honoring the promises he made. securing the border. rooting out waste, fraud and abuse, examples usaid and solidifying our relationship with israel. trying to bring that war to an end. return the hostages. it's actually breathtaking how effective president trump is in his second term coming in obviously aware of what happened in the first term. we this h. these agencies, some people in them undermining and sabotaging his efforts. is he not taking any chances. he is appointing really good people. intelligent, also fighters. and, again, this is just good sign across the border board. successful in first term with the abraham accords. i look forward with him doing that in his second term as well. >> charlie: turning

senator, thank you for sticking with us through the break. i want to ask you about some of the rather fiery hearings you were a part of this past week, in particular with a potential health and human services secretary to be, rfk jr. you told cbs in december you think he's right about the food industry and obesity and what he says about high prices for prescription drugs. but during the hearing, you had some sharp exchanges. are you at this point decided on your vote? will you cross over and help republicans confirm him? >> margaret, i have up to now voted for some trump appointee, a few. i voted against most and i'll make my decisions next week. where kennedy is right is we are an unhealthy society. the point i have been making, many others have been making for a long time. one of the things that concerns me very much, and kennedy mentioned it, our life expectancy, how long our people live is five years less than other wealthy countries. if you're working class in this countries you live six or seven years lower than rich. it's an issue and

joining us now is democratic senator adam schiff of california.iary committee, as well as the and the committee on environment and public works and the agriculture committee. and senator schiff, let me just begin with the california water point, because you are an expert on exactly what happened and what should not have happened with that water. >> well. >> i spent part of this. >> weekend in the central. >> valley, which is the largest. agricultural producing area in the country. >> no one. >> can make heads or tails out. >> of what donald trump did, or. >> why, or thinks it. makes any sense whatsoever. >> as you. >> were pointing out. >> that water can't. get to. >> los angeles. >> the fires. >> are out there. not 5%. >> contained or 20 or 50% contained. they're 100% contained. >> so that water is going to be of no use to firefighters. >> but here's the thing. >> it's been. >> a. >> dry winter. there isn't. >> as much snowpack. >> as. >> we would usually have. we rely on water that is stored like this water. when farmers. >> need it. in summer t

theme when you join us on this program. thank you. senatorat donald trump and his former criminal defense lawyer are doing at the justice department. that's who's in charge of the justice department right now. donald trump's former criminal defense lawyer, andrew weissmann, will join us. frank weissmann, will join us. frank figliuzzi will join us. the itch and rash of moderate to severe eczema disrupts my skin, night and day. despite treatment, it's still not under control. but now, i have rinvoq. rinvoq is a once-daily pill... that reduces the itch... and helps clear the rash of eczema— ...fast. some taking rinvoq felt significant itch relief as early as 2 days. and some achieved dramatic skin clearance... as early as 2 weeks. many saw clear or almost-clear skin. rinvoq can lower ability to fight infections. before treatment, test for tb and do bloodwork. serious infections, blood clots, some fatal... cancers, including lymphoma and skin; serious allergic reactions; gi tears; death; heart attack; and stroke occurred. cv event risk increases

thank you, senator chris van hollen, for being with us. turning now to chicago, a city that has been targeted by trump's administration's ice deportation raids. take a listen to what the city's mayor, brandon johnson, had to say this past week on the matter that. >> white house is being ran in one of the most raggedy forms of government that i've ever seen. if anybody is questioning whether or not what our country will look like had the confederacy won, there should be no question now. they want us to be afraid. do not be afraid, chicago. >> joining me now is chicago mayor brandon johnson. mr. mayor, thank you for being with us. to start, can you elaborate on your comments from wednesday and what has been the reaction? >> yeah, sure. thank you. and happy new year, reverend al. look, it's very clear that there is a real assault against working people, not just in the city of chicago, but america. and it. is quite clear. and there's evidence now that those who have not accepted the results of the civil war are now trying to literally roll ba

and appreciate you joining us. >> okay thank you congressman. >> c1 sender roger joins us now and welcome senatoraking time to be with us and people may be wondering why the helicopter was so close to an airport of washington is a big target for our enemies and o of course there will be a military presence right. >> well sure yes and i think there are questions that need to be answered in the training mission needed to be done in a later time and i don't know what i hate to make conclusions and i know this, we had a great secretary of transportation. he and his team are going to get to the bottom of this, it is a tragedy we cannot do but it sure would be nice to know that we can take some steps to avoid that in the future. >> yes john w met recently with the president on the state of our military, what are your concerns as the chair of the committee jurisdiction. >> well, i think that anybody looks at it objectively, has to share the same concerns. our access of aggressors our adversaries mother world are acting together like you have never be together before and of course, they are led by xi jin

look-back window closes as a way of continuing to use this tool, you know, to target regulations for disapproval. one reason for that is, we talk on the senate side about expedited procedures. but still every resolution of disapproval has 10 hours of floor time. that's a precious commodity that will only be used a limited number of times. so, there is the possibility of thinking about creative uses of the cra, i would think, after the look-back window closes. ms. neeley: also for the guidance documents where the administration can go in and make their own changes. there was another hand? >> [indiscernible] look-back window, right? the administration is going to take these bad rules outside the look-back window off the books. is there any talk, is it possible, as we wait on the sixth circuit somewhere? why not reissue a substantially similar rule to that that kills both the rule you just got so it is substantially similar and it forecloses this regulatory space forever. you don't have to do this again. is that what it's contracted for? is it possible? mr. fragoso: i don't think it has been tried before, but it is an interesting idea. it depen

healthy economy. >> are you going to expected to retaliate tomorrow they do not tweet us fairly, properly. >> the senator from wyoming has a huge impact because of the energy coming from canada which is a lower tariff than the 25% that is ten, the carveouts of the wall street journal as reported on on friday that is a piece of that, maybe there's more but something else that the journal points out i'm going to steal their line how will the north american trade war last how long does this last depends on how trump constituents feel the pain, that is one side of this but the other side particularly with candida, justin trudeau is on his way out in the incoming conservative party leader is likely going to be the new prime minister canada in march he is releasing these unjust and unjustified i went dollar for dollar retaliation is candida going to back down it depends what the offer is from the trump administration, my other question about tiktok with a 10% share of sitting china what does this mean for the tiktok negotiation. maria: were just getting started we have a lot coming up a quick break chinese a.i

us. before we get started with introductions, i wanted to share my sincere thanks with tom demo tio from the senate judiciary committee for hosting us and providing this exceptional space for today's important discussion. i will be introducing the moderator and the panelists very briefly and then turn it over to our moderator who is going to lead our discussion on the congressional review act. like has previously served as the chief counsel to senate republican leader mitch mcconnell and as chief counsel for the nominations and constitutional law on the senate judiciary committee. we have an associate per effort -- professor of local science and public administration and the codirector of the george washington regulatory study center that has a wealth of information on its website and a handout has been provided to you as a sample of their important work on this issue. he currently serves, working on several projects pleaded to congressional oversight of rigell torry policymaking and transparency in state rulemaking. next we have counsel at gibson dunn andy member of the public policy investigation

us. we are the senate. we get to decide whether we confirm this nominee. we did not select this nominee. can't we do better than someone who does not believe in 702. can we believe someone who cannot answer whether edward snowden was a traitor five times today, who made excuses for vladimir putin's invasion of ukraine the first time i am aware of any american official has done that -- i am questioning her judgment. that is the issue at stake and as you said and i totally agree this is about our intelligence officers. you cannot answer. most of what we do is in secret. this is one of the very few opportunities you will ever have to have a conversation with this panel in public. the record will be very clear about the position you took with regard to edward snowden and the record will be clear about your reaffirmation of the statement you made in the middle of the night when russia was invading the free country of ukraine. we will take that into consideration. chair cotton: your time has expired. i will note that during senator bennet's question and answer t

senators to use this kind of leverage with all of trump's nominees in every department and at every level state department nominees is at least a step in that direction. also turning out today at usaid headquarters was democratic senator andy kim of new jersey. he started his government career with usaid. this morning, he showed up to ask, just what the heck is going on? by midday, there was a whole bunch of other democratic lawmakers gathered outside to demand that the agency be reopened. one of them, congressman jamie raskin, is going to join us here, live in just a moment. beyond washington, some democratic governors are also leading the pushback. in illinois, governor j.b. pritzker has announced he's banning all january 6th offenders from taking any job in the state of with the state of illinois. never mind the pardons from the white house. pritzker is using his power as governor to do that. in the senate, in the house and governor's offices, we are starting to see some elected democrats take action, taking a stand against what trump is trying to do. figuring out how to block it as be

extend it using current policy, senator crapo's idea. let's discuss that for a minute. in past budgets, we adhere to the rule that a spending policy expires. if you extend that, there is no cost. if it is tax cut that expires, you are dealing with trillions of dollars -- i don't believe those scores. don't you think it makes a lot of sense to treat both spending and taxes the exact same way? if we pass a budget in this committee, it will be based on current policy for spending and taxes? mr. vought: i am not here to make any announcements strategically for the ministration but i do think it makes sense to treat spending in the same way that you treat the tax baseline. i think that is something that should be considered, as you navigate the reconciliation process and have conversations. i think that is a very important discussion that needs to continue to move forward to give options for the president for this body. sen. johnson: i'm always speaking in terms of goals. i think it is a goal to return that certainty. let's take any automatic tax increase off the table as qu

us. let me give you my good friend, senator chris van hollen. [applause] senator van hollen: thank you to don buyer and all of our colleagues gathered here and all of you who are here at this moment of a clear and present danger for the future of our country. make no mistake, this effort by elon musk and so-called doge to shut down the agency for international development is an absolute gift to our adversaries, russia, china, iran, and others because aid is an essential instrument of u.s. foreign policy and u.s. national security policy. [applause] so, this has nothing to do with making the u.s. government more efficient and everything to do with aiding and betting our adversaries around the world. if you doubt that for a moment, listen to what the former president and putin crony just put out on x. "smart move by elon musk," referring to shutting down aid. former russian president vladimir putin. this is also a huge gift to the prc. it is interesting that vivek ramaswamy, originally that elon musk copilot on doge, is no longer here, but here is