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From the opinion pages of the Wall Street Journal, this is Potomac Watch.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. faces tough grilling at the Senate confirmation hearings as he searches for votes to be confirmed as HHS Secretary.

How did he do? Plus, the White House issues a memo to pause spending on some public

programs, then clarifies that memo a day later, then withdraws it all together a day after

that. What have we learned about this White House operation from this contentious experience

that Democrats really have gone to tone on politically.

Welcome to Potomac Watch, the Daily Opinion podcast of the Wall Street Journal.

I'm Paul as you go, editor of the editorial pages.

I'm here with my two colleagues, Alicia Finley and Monet Uquay-Bruua. So welcome to you both. So Alicia, let's start

with RFK Jr. in his hearings, two rounds of hearings, one before the Senate Finance Committee

on Wednesday and then on Thursday in front of the Senate Health Committee. Is he making converts?

Well, I wouldn't say that. I think the hearings are

pretty polarized. Democrats seem to be lined up against him, which wasn't clear at the outset. There was a

chance that he might be able to pick off some Democratic senators, maybe Sheldon White House, Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth

Warren, because recall he was a Democrat and actually a very progressive Democrat.

He supported a lot of their agenda, but they have come out swinging against him.

And then you have Republicans on their hand, mostly who have been cheerleaders, you know, saying you are a truth teller, you've done God's work

...