Pete Hegseth Crumbles Under Pressure 1.14.25 Ally Sammarco Jan 15 Credit: Getty Images Happy Tuesday and welcome back to Today’s American News, your source for news and analysis on the circus that is American politics and entertainment. Hegseth confirmation hearing shows unpreparedness for defense post… Any objective observer already knew that C-list Fox News host Pete Hegseth was unqualified to command the most powerful armed forces in the history of the world. Senate Republicans will likely vote to confirm him in deference to (or fear of) Donald Trump, but it won’t be without a fight from Democrats, who skewered the nominee on sexual assault allegations, his opposition to women in combat roles, and more. Politico chronicled seven “wild moments” from the hearing. Watch Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), a decorated war hero, grill and stump Hegseth here. Michelle Obama to skip Trump’s second inauguration… It’s tradition for former first spouses to join former U.S. presidents at the inauguration of a new commander-in-chief. Michele Obama is saying to hell with that, and who can blame her? The world of politics seems superficial, it’s good to see our former first lady speak her mind through action. Other current and former presidents (and vice presidents) and their spouses will attend, meaning that Hillary Clinton and Kamala Harris will be sitting through the travesty that is a second Trump swearing in. (Former first lady Michelle Obama at Trump’s first inauguration in 2017) Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs needs better lawyers… We don’t know who needs to hear this, but this message from Diddy’s lawyers is not exactly exonerating. Apparently the videos he took of his so-called “freak-offs” did not show illegal activity in their view. Maybe they were trying to be clever and frame the video evidence in their own terms before it is widely seen. But this seems like a blunder that won’t help the rapper’s reputation or his case–though if what his attorneys say is accurate, it is a relief that Americans, and particularly those who have suffered SA, won’t have such trauma-inducing video clips being plastered wall-to-wall by the media. U.S., China agree that AI should not have sway over nuclear weapons… When geopolitical rivals, the United States and the People’s Republic of China, agree on the most basic and obvious of matters, it’s news. In a bilateral conversation between their respective heads of state, the countries’ leaders agreed on “the need to maintain human control over the decision to use nuclear weapons.” The U.S. and China are two of a small club of nuclear-armed nations that includes the other three members of the veto-wielding U.N. Security Council (France, Russia, and the United Kingdom are others), as well as south Asian rivals India and Pakistan, and global hermit North Korea. Israel has not disclosed that it is a nuclear power but is widely thought to have nuclear capability, while Iran seems to be nearing nuclear capacity. Today’s Buzz This Jimmy Kimmel montage of kindness is a must-see… The wildfires that have ravaged southern California have shown the worst of Mother Nature as well as the best in people. Kimmel, a southern California resident who sheltered 19 people at his home in recent days, gave a tearful monologue that can be viewed here. Today’s Furry Friend Watch as wildfire victims are reunited with their animal family members. Thanks for reading Today’s American News. Join us again tomorrow evening for more headlines and analysis.