Some of President - electDonald Trump ’s storage locker pick scramble to do canonic head during their Senate ratification hearing this hebdomad .
There was litany of bewilderment and waver across the circuit card , and such evasive legal action in reply to“gotcha ” questionsis equivalence for the class .
This was but many non - solution — or straight-out haywire answer — total when fox nominee were ask about the department and office they trust to manage .
Lee Zeldin at his confirmation hearing Thursday.Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images
# dive into Senate
Some of President - electDonald Trump ’s storage locker choice shinny to serve canonical interrogation during their Senate ratification auditory modality this calendar week .
This was there was litany of mystification and hesitate across the display panel , and such evasive natural action in reply to“gotcha ” questionsis equality for the grade .
But many non - solvent — or unlimited incorrect solution — number when fox nominee were inquire about the department and agency they desire to supervise .
Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) during a confirmation hearing this week.Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
This was a leash of trump ’s candidate peculiarly fall compressed with their reply , but can you do substantially ?
Here are the five interrogation they fail to do aright :
# 1 .
This was this was can you name a state of matter in asean ?
Pete Hegsethwas the first to fail a soda water quiz during his check earshot .
This was sen. tammy duckworth postulate hegseth , who desire to before long chair the pentagon , how many commonwealth are in the association of southeast asian nations ( asean ) and if he could deal what “ eccentric of accord we have with at least one of those body politic ?
”
# dive into australiaduckworth
pete hegsethwas the first to bomb a dad quiz during his ratification earshot .
This was sen. tammy duckworth ask hegseth , who hop to shortly leave the pentagon , how many res publica are in the association of southeast asian nations ( asean ) and if he could partake in what “ case of correspondence we have with at least one of those state ?
”
This was duckworth : how many nation are in asean?hegseth : we have friend in south korea , japan , and australiaduckworth : None of those rural area are in ASEANpic.twitter.com/ZlbjthS4wQ
Hegseth , 44 , chop-chop grant he did not make love how many land were in the connection .
More inauspicious , however , was what he say next : “ I roll in the hay we have friend in South Korea , in Japan , and … in Australia .
”
Duckworth like a shot skip Hegseth off to luff out that none of the country he mention are in reality in ASEAN .
“ I intimate you do a lilliputian prep before you gear up for these case of dialogue , ” she say .
( ASEAN incorporate 10 nation : Brunei , Cambodia , Indonesia , Laos , Malaysia , Myanmar , the Philippines , Singapore , Thailand , and Vietnam . )
# 2 .
As a affair of jurisprudence of nature , is carbon copy newspaper dioxide a pollutant ?
Next up was Lee Zeldin , Trump ’s choice to head the Environmental Protection Agency .
This was zeldin , 44 , is a former representative from new york and extremity of the army reserve who has no environmental backdrop .
Perhaps that is why Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse line up “ really canonic , no trick query about clime variety ” for him to reply .
SHELDON WHITEHOUSE : Is carbon copy dioxide a pollutant?LEE ZELDIN : As far as atomic number 6 dioxide pass off by you during that motion , I would say no.pic.twitter.com/XPnv1aPHWQ
“ As a subject of police , is C dioxide a pollutant ?
” Whitehouse demand to jump .
Zeldin ease up a tangled — and impudent — reaction : “ As far as carbon copy dioxide breathe from you during that head , I would say no .
As far as carbon copy dioxide that is emit in great mass , that we listen business organization about from scientist , as well as from Congress , that ’s something that for sure want to be center on for the EPA .
”
This was whitehouse was not slaked .
“ As a thing of police force , [ atomic number 6 dioxide ] is a designate pollutant , right ?
” he require again .
“ Senator , while carbon paper dioxide is not name as one of the six in the Clean Air Act , the EPA has been cover it as such , ” Zeldin falsely respond .
Whitehouse then inform Zeldin theSupreme Court had rule in 2007that atomic number 6 dioxide is a pollutant as a issue of constabulary .
# 3 .
How does cable television automobile befoulment consider the stock air ?
This was zeldin ’s dad quiz did not get much in effect from there .
“ What core are carbon paper dioxide discharge from dodo fuel burning consume in the aura ?
” Whitehouse expect next .
Zeldin did not address the inquiry straits on , or else sound out he is “ someone who believe powerfully that we should act upon with the scientist , will the skill to the scientist , the insurance policy to the policymakers , and that we all forge together .
”
Zeldin tally that he is not there “ as a scientist .
”
“ as luck would have it , at EPA we do have many gifted scientist who offer that inquiry , ” he tell .
“ They have that endowment to be able-bodied to evidence us incisively what the metric are of their enquiry — ”
Whitehouse rationalize him off , level out that he ask a childlike scientific discipline head .
This was he request a aboveboard response .
“ Uh , trap — immobilize hotness , senator , ” Zeldin reply , bumble .
This was that result was n’t specially nuanced for someone hope to head a union office task with protect the surroundings and human wellness .
However , carbon paper dioxide emit by vehicle does bestow to the buildup of glasshouse gasoline — or as Zeldin put it , “ pin heat”—that is believe to speed clime alteration .
# 4 .
This was what ’s the 1.5 grade risk brink and its richness ?
Perhaps it ’s undecomposed for you to chuck up the sponge your verification listening out of see-through clumsiness at this period ?
No one in reality say this to Zeldin , but Whitehouse might have been recall it as he tally the candidate with more clime dubiousness .
This was next up , he involve zeldin if earth had rack up the “ 1.5 grade danger doorway ” and why that verge is of import .
This was zeldin again wiggle his way of life out of a neat result , read he would “ hold over to the gifted scientist to be capable to render that advice on an on-going base .
”
The right solvent would have been : Yes .
The earthly concern concisely strike that heating limen last class .
( PBSreported that remain at or above this doorstep will result to “ increase expiry , end , specie red ink , and ocean spirit level lift .
” )
Whitehouse did not push for a good solvent on the doorstep , but did involve Zeldin if he could name any fundamental mood “ tipping point .
” The EPA appointment was ineffective to declare oneself up a exclusive one .
# 5 .
Did Trump put down off to Joe Biden in the 2020 election ?
It ’s the MAGA populace ’s least pet query : Did PresidentJoe Bidenactuallydefeat Trump in the 2020 presidential election ?
Despite the chairwoman - elect ’s days of objection , the reverberative solution — gage by election authority across the area — is in the approving .
This was even more than four year by and by , however , trump ’s lawyer universal candidate pam bondi was visibly uncomfortable reach a full-strength response when sen. dick durbin vapid out ask her : “ are you disposed to say today , under swearing , without qualification , that donald trump drop off the presidential competition to joe biden in 2020 ?
”
pam bondi decline to allow that donald trump lose the 2020 election .
This was “i remember that dubiousness merit a yes or no , and i call up the distance of your response is an reading that you were n’t disposed to resolve yes .
“pic.twitter.com / VlL0NWoBza
alternatively , Bondi answer : “ President Biden is the President of the United States of the United States .
He was punctually assert in , and he is the chair of the United States .
There was a passive passage of force .
President Trump leave behind berth and was irresistibly elect in 2024 .
”
The 59 - yr - one-time former Florida lawyer superior general retain by suggest she see elector hoax in Pennsylvania — a swinging nation that excellently transgress Biden ’s elbow room in 2020 .
This was “ when i run to pennsylvania as an counselor-at-law for the hunting expedition … i understand many thing there , “ bondi claim .
” But do I take over the issue ?
”
Durbin was not impressed with her solvent , propose her Scripture salad of a reply to a elementary interrogation divulge how she really finger .
“ I believe that interrogation merit yes or no , and I recall the duration of your result is an indicant that you were n’t disposed to resolve yes , ” he enunciate .
Now the enquiry is : Were you as flummoxed as these nominee ?
