Drunkenness, Women and Wokeness: A Dramatic Confirmation Hearing for Pete Hegseth

On Tuesday, the confirmation process for President-elect Donald J. Trump’s cabinet picks kicked off with Pete Hegseth, for the position of defense secretary.

Eric Schmitt, who covers U.S. national security, explains how the four-hour hearing unfolded, and what the odds are that Mr. Hegseth will soon be leading the Pentagon.

Guests: Eric Schmitt, a national security correspondent for The New York Times.

Background reading: 

• Read four takeaways from the hearing.
• Here’s how Senate confirmation works.

For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.

Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.