A senior Republican close to Trump and the transition called the choice of Hegseth “a complete surprise,” and not in the line of what has been discussed in multiple meetings. While not discounting Hegseth’s intellect or service, this Republican described the choice as “not what anyone was...
Sen. Mike Lee, who organized the forum and endorsed Scott as it ended, said much of the discussion was about the need to return to “regular order” and an open amendment process, where control over legislation would theoretically be divided more evenly amongst senators in the conference. Th...