If it's Wednesday, President-elect Trump's pick for defense secretary digs in and lashes out at the press and his critics as a growing number of Republican senators bulk at his confirmation amid allegations tied to his drinking and treatment of women.

Plus, a manhunt is underway for a gunman who shot and killed the CEO of United Health

Care in the middle of Midtown Manhattan, in what law enforcement officials are calling

a pre-planned and targeted attack.

And the Supreme Court tackles a key transgender rights case that could decide whether states

can restrict or ban gender-affirming care for minors in what could be one of the most

consequential cases this term.

Welcome to meet the press now.

I'm Ali Vitale in Washington. As President-elect Trump's pick for

defense secretary is vowing to fight on, his selection appears to be in serious peril. Hegzeth was back

on Capitol Hill today, meeting with senators, including Senate Armed Services Committee,

chairman Roger Wicker. Even as three GOP sources tell NBC News that at least six Republican

senators are not comfortable supporting Pete Hegsett's bid to lead the Pentagon. That comes as NBC

news reports that 10 current and former Fox News employees say Hegsets drinking concerned his colleagues.

Two of them said Hegsett smelled of alcohol before he went on the air on more than a dozen occasions.

One of the sources said they smelled alcohol on him as recently as last month.

Hegset says he spoke to President-elect Trump this morning and that Trump told him, quote,

I'm behind you all the way.

Here's Hegseth with Sirius XM's Megan Kelly earlier today.

He said to me when I left his office when he chose me, was, besides what he said about being a warfighter, we can get into that,

was you're going to need to be tough and .

You're going to need to be tough and .

...