Robert F. Kennedy confirmed as Trump’s health secretary 

The Senate confirmed Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Secretary of Health and Human Services on Thursday. Kennedy is responsible for overseeing a $1.7 trillion budget and services that include regulating vaccines, food standards and health insurance, according to AP News. 

The confirmation vote was 52-48 along party lines, with Republicans supporting a member of one of the most well-known families of Democrats in American politics. The only “No” vote on the Republicans side came from Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., who had polio as a child. McConnell also voted against the nominees for the Pentagon and national intelligence director. 

Department of Education begins layoffs as DOGE attempts to downsize government 

The Education Department cut jobs across the department including the civil rights office, a day after President Trump claimed he wanted to get rid of the department. Employees who had been hired within the last year received their termination notices by email on Tuesday stating they could appeal their termination if they felt it was because of “partisan political reasons or because of your marital status,” according to CBS News. 

Termination notifications were sent as Trump’s nominee for secretary of education, former World Wrestling Entertainment chief executive and billionaire Linda McMahon was questioned by senators during her confirmation hearing on Thursday. 

While it is unclear the extent of the firings, a government worker’s union spokesperson said new employees at the Small Business Administration, which was led by McMahon during Trump’s first term, were also laid off. These firings have the potential to make McMahon’s hearings more difficult, while Democrats ask her if she would continue alongside Trump’s plan to eliminate the department “immediately.” 

Suspected attack in Munich, Germany after a car drives into a crowd and injures 30 people 

Thirty people were injured Thursday in central Munich after a driver, believed to be an Afghan asylum-seeker, drove a car into a crowd of people, according to CBS News. It was “suspected to be an attack,” said Markus Söder, the Barvarian governor. 

A protest that was organized by the service workers’ union ver.di was underway when the incident took place, and it is not known yet if any of the at least 28 people injured were a part of the protest. 

Munich is set to have an intense security presence within the next few days as it prepares to host the three-day Munich Security Conference, an annual event with global leaders discussing security policy. Vice President JD Vance is expected to attend and meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. 

The incident happened less than two months after a truck ran into a crowd in Magdeburg, killing five people at a Christmas market and injuring over 200 others. 

Meanwhile, Dresden prosecutors said a suspect is in custody for an attempted attack on asylum seeker’s shelter, and received an anonymous tip that a 21-year-old male from the Meissen area had gathered explosives to target the shelter in Senftenberg, according to the AFP news agency.

Minnesota Senator Tina Smith will not seek reelection, challenging Democrats’ hopes of reclaiming the Senate 

U.S. Sen. Tina Smith from Minnesota announced Thursday she will not be seeking reelection. Her departure could make it harder for Democrats to gain a majority in the Senate in 2026, according to AP News. Republicans hold a 53-47 majority, which allowed them to push President Trump’s Cabinet through. Smith’s decision cost Democrats an incumbent seat. Minnesota has not had any Republicans win a statewide office since 2006. Smith stated she intends to utilize her last two years left to stand for Minnesota’s interests in the Senate while not stressing about running for reelection, and says that there are Democrats who are prepared to take the lead. 

“We have a deep bench of political talent in Minnesota, a group of leaders that are more than ready to pick up the work and carry us forward,” Smith said. “And I’m excited to make room for them to move forward.”

Smith started the job in 2018 and went on to win a six-year term in 2020, after serving as Minnesota’s lieutenant governor when Governor Mark Dayton chose her to replace Senator Al Franken due to sexual misconduct allegations.