Resistance on Capitol Hill: Democratic Lawmakers Intensify Fight Against Trump

During a chaotic day on Capitol Hill, the Senate confirmed Exxon CEO Rex Tillerson by a vote of 56 to 43. Reuters reports it was the closest vote — by a wide margin — for a secretary of state nominee in at least a half-century.

The Senate Judiciary Committee also approved the nomination of Senator Jeff Sessions to be attorney general in a straight party-line vote.

Democratic lawmakers on the Senate Finance Committee boycotted committee votes on two of Donald Trump’s Cabinet picks: Steven Mnuchin for treasury secretary and Tom Price for health and human services secretary. The committee rules require at least one Democrat present to vote. Republicans on the committee then suspended the rules and voted to send the two nominations to the Senate floor.

Democrats on the Environment and Public Works Committee also boycotted a vote on Scott Pruitt to become head of the Environmental Protection Agency.

For more, we speak with Ryan Grim, Washington bureau chief for The Huffington Post. His most recent piece is titled "After Trying Everything Else, Democrats Have Decided to Listen to Their Voters."