Tonight on the readout.

Mr. Hegstead, you are the ninth nominee for Secretary of Defense that I've had the honor to consider as a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee.

I have voted in favor of all your predecessors, including those in the first Trump administration.

Unfortunately, you lack the character and composure and competence

to hold the position of security defense. Does a junior varsity fox host have the right

stuff to lead two million uniformed service members? I mean, of course not. And Democrats rightly

blasted his fitness at today's confirmation hearing.

Also tonight, the damning results of Jack Smith's Trump investigation.

Now pretty much a moot point because of the slow-moving Attorney General, Merrick Garland.

But we begin tonight with the job of the Secretary of Defense.

Now, you would be forgiven if you've never given much thought to what exactly the job entail.

So a little explanation is in order.

The Secretary of Defense manages a staff of more than 3 million active duty reserve and civilian employees of the Department of Defense and controls a budget

of around $900 billion.

The Secretary of Defense oversees things like America's nuclear weapons command and what forces

are deployed where and when, as well as the staff and equipment at 500 military bases in the U.S. and some 750 American

military installations abroad. In short, it's a big job, not just some figurehead ceremonial

position. Just take a look at some of those who've recently served in the position. Current

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin commanded troops in Iraq and

Afghanistan. President Barack Obama had Leon Panetta, whose resume included serving as CIA director,

White House Chief of Staff, and a member of Congress, as well as Senator Chuck Hagel, the only

Vietnam veteran and the first enlisted combat veteran to serve as secretary.

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