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Minnesota Now with Nina Moini
Nina Moini and Alanna Elder

Sen. Smith: Trump cabinet picks are concerning, but I will give each a fair hearing

Donald Trump
President-elect Donald Trump arrives at an election night watch party at the Palm Beach Convention Center on Nov. 6, in West Palm Beach, Fla.
Evan Vucci | AP

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President-elect Donald Trump is quickly building his cabinet, with a flurry of nominations for top positions. Among them is Minnesotan Pete Hegseth, a Fox News commentator who Trump nominated to be Secretary of Defense.

Under the typical process of checks and balances, Hegseth and other nominees would need to be confirmed by the Senate – which Republicans will control next year. But Trump has suggested he’d like to sidestep that process.

U.S. Democratic Sen. Tina Smith joined the program to talk about her role in the nomination process and what she hopes will come out of it.

Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.

Subscribe to the Minnesota Now podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

We attempt to make transcripts for Minnesota Now available the next business day after a broadcast. When ready they will appear here.