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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Janine Hurst.

Senate confirmation hearing started on Capitol Hill today.

First up, President-elect Trump's pick for Defense Secretary Pete Hegsef.

The military vet and former Fox host got intense criticism from Democrats,

ranking committee member Senator Jack Reed.

We must acknowledge the concerning public reports against you.

A variety of sources, including your own writings,

implicate you with disregarding the laws of war, financial mismanagement,

racist and sexist remarks about men and women in uniform, alcohol abuse, sexual assault,

sexual harassment, and other troubling issues.

But Heggseth says if confirmed, he won't drink, and he says he's the victim of a smear campaign by the media.

I'm not a perfect person, but redemption is real. And God forged me in ways that I know I'm prepared for.

Most Republicans defended him, while many Democrats focused on his conduct and whether he has the

experience needed to lead the Pentagon with some 3 million employees and a nearly

$850 billion budget. High winds have returned to L.A. where crews are still working to knock

down the wildfires that displaced hundreds of thousands and killed at least 24. At least Hugh has more.

Powerful winds are expected to be in the range of 50 to 70 miles per hour.

This comes as firefighters have gotten more containment over the two largest fires,

the Palisades and Eatonblazes, which have burned a combined 60 square miles.

That's an area nearly the size of Washington, D.C.

L.A. County Sheriff Robert Luna said the community should stay on alert.

...