Morning Brief

RJ Hamster

7 hours ago

Read Online | Jan. 15, 2025 | E-Paper

Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee to head the Pentagon, faced intense questioning from Senate Democrats on the Hill. Here are the five takeaways from the confirmation hearing.
South Korean police arrestedPresident Yoon Suk Yeol at his residence on Wednesday over his short-lived martial law declaration last month.
The wildfires in Los Angeles County continue to rage as thousands of firefighters work to contain the blazes and more dangerous weather is expected.
Trump has unveiled plans to create the External Revenue Service, a new agency modeled after the IRS but aimed at collecting tariffs, duties, and revenues from foreign countries rather than U.S. taxpayers.
President Joe Biden informed Congress on Tuesday that he is taking communist Cuba off the U.S. State Department’s state-sponsored terrorism list.
This father of 16 applies business principles to home life.

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Ivan Pentchoukov
National Editor

Send me an email—ivan@epochtimes.nyc

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🏛️ Politics

President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for Defense Secretary, Pete Hegseth, testifies before the Senate Armed Services Committee in Washington on Jan. 14, 2025. (Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch Times)

5 Key Takeaways From Pete Hegseth’s Confirmation Hearing

Pete Hegseth appeared before the Senate Armed Services Committee on Jan. 14 to make his case to become the next secretary of the Defense Department.

Hegseth was the first of roughly a dozen of President-elect Donald Trump’s appointees slated to go before Senate committees this week and is considered one of the more controversial Cabinet selections.

That fact was on full displayas Hegseth entered the crowded Senate chamber to raucous applause and chants of “U.S.A.” that were quickly followed by angry cries and accusations of support for genocide in the Middle East.

The polarization continuedthrough the single round of questioning afforded to lawmakers. Democrats pressed Hegseth on his professional experience and personal failings, while Republicans praised him for condemning “woke” politics in the military.

Five Takeaways From the Hearing

Focus on Warfighting: Hegseth sought early on to quash fears that he would lead a witch hunt of Trump’s perceived political enemies in the ranks. He said both he and Trump would seek to focus on improving the warfighting capability of the military without regard for the political affiliations of its servicemembers.
Pressed on Qualifications: Democratic lawmakers questioned Hegseth’s professional record, noting that he has never led an audit, has never driven costs down for an organization, has never conducted acquisition or reform initiatives, has never led international security negotiations, and appeared largely unaware of regional issues in the Indo-Pacific, where the military is engaged in confronting communist China.
Women in Combat: Hegseth’s views on women in the military were also a recurring topic of discussion during the hearing. Addressing Democrats’ questions about his prior statement that women should serve in combat roles, Hegseth attempted to temper the viewpoint, saying he would not seek to bar women from combat roles but remains opposed to lowering standards to make those roles more accessible.
Pledge to Reinstate Members Who Refused COVID-19 Vaccine: Falling in line with a key Trump promise, Hegseth also vowed that all servicemembers who were involuntarily removed from service for refusing the COVID-19 vaccination would be reinstated with back pay.
Alcohol Use, Sexual Assault Accusations: Much of the hearing went beyond military policy to questions concerning Hegseth’s personal conduct over the years, including allegations of alcohol abuse and sexual assault. Addressing the alcoholism allegations, Hegseth has said that he would commit to sobriety for the duration of his time as defense secretary if confirmed for the role but would not commit to resigning if he were to go back on that pledge.

More Politics

The Department of Justicereleased part of former special counsel Jack Smith’s report on President-elect Donald Trump.
The House passed a bill on Tuesday which would exclude males from participating in women’s sports sponsored by organizations that receive federal funding.
Senators will question more of Trump’s nominees on Wednesday, including his selections for the departments of Justice, State, and Energy.
Michelle Obama will skip the Trump Inauguration. The former first lady was also absent from the Jimmy Carter funeral.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said that flags at the U.S. Capitol will be returned to full-staff for Inauguration Day and then to half-staff the next day to continue honoring former President Jimmy Carter’s recent passing.

🇺🇲 U.S.

A man walks on the sand as Mexican Urban Search and Rescue comb through the ruins of a beachfront house searching for victims in the aftermath of the Palisades Fire in Malibu, Calif., on Jan. 14, 2025. (Valerie Macon/AFP via Getty Images)

Death Toll Expected to Rise as California Wildfire Disaster Enters 2nd Week

Fires in Southern Californiacontinue to burn, with extreme weather endangering hundreds of thousands of residents more than a week after flames ignited in the hills of Los Angeles County. Officials are reporting 25 fatalities and say the number is expected to increase.

The cause of the fires is still under investigation, and thousands of firefighters were working to control the flames on Jan. 14, while a strong wind warning was delayed until early the next morning and expected to last until mid-afternoon.

“We’re absolutely better prepared for this coming … severe fire weather event,” Anthony Marrone, Los Angeles County fire chief, said during a morning briefing on Jan. 13. “We’ve not only augmented the ground resources, but also the air resources.”

More than 5,000 firefightersare assigned to the Palisades Fire, and more than 3,000 are assigned to the fire near Eaton Canyon, he said, noting the numerous aircraft in operation, including water bombers and specialized military aircraft.

Santa Ana winds are expected to bring gusts as high as 70 miles per hour through Jan. 15.

More U.S. News

The Securities and Exchange Commissionsued Elon Musk on Tuesday, accusing him of failing to disclose his purchase of Twitter shares within the legally mandated timeline.
Small-business owners are expressing renewed confidence in the economy on hopes of pro-growth policies of the incoming Trump administration, according to the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), whose latest survey shows that expectations for economic improvement in the year ahead have soared to a four-decade high.
Meta will cut roughly 5 percent of its workforce, according to CEO Mark Zuckerberg.
A medical system with 16 hospitals in California, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island filed for bankruptcy.
Traffic in Manhattan decreased by 7.5 percent in the week after New York City’s congestion pricing plan took effect.

🌎 World

South Korean President Detained Over Martial Law Declaration

South Korean police arrested President Yoon Suk Yeol at his residence on Wednesday over his short-lived martial law declaration last month.

A convoy of vehicles was seen departing the presidential residence, which is believed to be transporting Yoon to the Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials (CIO) headquarters for questioning, local media reported.

The arrest was made after the CIO secured a second arrest warrant for Yoon last week. The CIO now has up to 48 hours to hold Yoon, who is facing charges of leading an insurrection.

In a pre-recorded video message on Wednesday, Yoon spoke about why he had opted to appear before the CIO.

“To prevent an unfortunate and violent incident, I decided to appear before the CIO even though I believe the investigation is illegal,” he was quoted as saying by Yonhap News Agency.

Yoon, who was previously South Korea’s chief prosecutor, has been suspended from official duties since the opposition-led National Assembly voted to impeach him on Dec. 14.

His lawyers had previously filed complaints against the CIO, alleging that the execution of an arrest warrant against him was illegal.

Prior to the arrest, investigators had summoned the president three times for questioning, but Yoon failed to comply with all summonses, prompting them to obtain an arrest warrant.

The initial arrest warrantexpired on Jan. 6 after attempts to arrest him were thwarted by the Presidential Security Service (PSS). Investigators faced resistance from Yoon’s supporters rallying outside the residence to block his detention. (More)

More World News:

A deal on the Israel–Hamas war appears to be getting closer, with mediating nations pressing the warring parties to make concessions.
When Latvia decided to stage a performance by a New York-based arts company this January, the small European nation found itself under unexpected diplomatic pressure from a far-off giant: China.
NATO is launching a new mission to protect undersea cables in the Baltic Sea. The move follows a recent spate of incidents in the region that have heightened concerns about possible Chinese and Russian activities.
The outgoing Biden administration is banning imports from an additional 37 China-based companies over forced labor in Xinjiang.
Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum unveiled a new economic strategy on Monday, which includes plans to reduce imports from China.

☀️ A Few Good Things

🎤 American Thought Leaders: Why Trump may be the first post-racial president. (Watch)

🍿 Documentary: Antarctica: A Year on Ice is a visually captivating account of experiencing a full year in Antarctica, featuring winters cut off from the world and enduring extended periods of darkness in the planet’s coldest region. (Watch free on Gan Jing World)

✍️ Opinion: Distracted by Tiny Squabbles by

Jeffrey A. Tucker

🍵 Health: Chronic pain could be a silent echo of unprocessed emotions.

🎵 Music: Brahms: Hungarian Dance No. 5 (Listen)

📷 Photo of the Day: Chloe Mills and Emma Harry work on paintings by Victorian artist Marianne North in London, England, on Jan. 14, 2025.👇

Caption

Day in Photos: A Rocket on a Roof in Israel, Hearings on the Secretary of Defense, and Rescuing Illegal Miners

Arts & Culture

The Gallaghers have found a system that keeps their family running smoothly, even with 16 (15 pictured here) kids. (Courtesy of Conor Gallagher)

Father of 16 Creates Business Model to Help Families Thrive

As the father of 16 children and a CEO of several enterprises, Conor Gallagher of Charlotte, North Carolina, applies the principles and systems of the business world to the home.

Of his tribe of offspring, who range in age from 5 months old to 22 years old, Gallagher said with a chuckle: “People say: ‘Oh, my gosh, how do you raise 16 children? I can barely raise two.’ And I say to them: ‘I don’t raise 16 children. I manage environments.’”

Just as systems, good or bad,shape the environment of a workplace, so too, Gallagher contends, they shape the environment in a home. And every system, he says, is the fruit of the vision behind it.

“The vision statement is the foundation of it all,” Gallagher said. “That’s not meant to be some platitude. It’s really meant to be a foundation, and particularly in a marriage.

“When we apply a vision statement to marriage and a family, it should serve as a reminder that you and your spouse are literally on the same page. We have a complete agreement, complete unity, on the ultimate goal of this family.”

Once mom and dad have a written vision statement, clear markers, and aspirations for creating a healthy marriage and a loving family, Gallagher suggests several systems based on those principles and intentions that will help them manage their lives and the household.

To help make these goalsbecome realities, he wrote a new book, “Well-Ordered Family,” supplying an abundance of advice and several dozen checklists and charts.

Read the full article by our colleague Jeff Minick here.