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If you work in the Senate, we’re sorry about your weekend plans for the foreseeable future.<\/p>\n

Majority Leader John Thune appears to be making good on his threat to keep senators in town to confirm a trio of President Donald Trump\u2019s nominees, after Democrats delayed CIA pick John Ratcliffe and continue to raise concerns about Pete Hegseth for Defense secretary. And Republicans are responding to Trump’s renewed talk of recess appointments by saying they’re not going to have<\/i> a recess<\/a> until all of his Cabinet nominees are confirmed.<\/p>\n

That could take a while. In Trump\u2019s first term, Republicans didn\u2019t get all of his initial Cabinet confirmed until April. And Democrats tell us they\u2019re not inclined to speed up the confirmation process for Trump\u2019s more controversial appointees just to avoid dreaded weekend work or an extended stay in Washington.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe can’t be aggressive enough, because these nominees are really, many of them, absolutely repugnant to the rule of law and to the need for qualifications,\u201d Sen. Richard Blumental (D-Conn.) told reporters.<\/p>\n

With Ratcliffe coming up for a floor vote today, Democrats are turning their attention to Hegseth. Several Democrats believe some Republicans may vote against him; four GOP senators can sink the confirmation. Senators continue to parse the affidavit from Hegseth\u2019s former sister-in-law alleging he caused his second wife to fear for her safety, though Hegseth\u2019s lawyer denied the claims and several Republicans have dismissed the accusations.<\/u><\/a><\/p>\n

Here\u2019s what else we\u2019re watching:<\/p>\n