Hello listeners, welcome to “Good News Time”. I am Jia Yin, bringing you the latest updates. Let’s dive into today’s highlights:
Today’s focus is on Pete Hegseth, President Trump’s cabinet nominee facing scrutiny from the Democratic Party! Will he successfully lead the Pentagon? All eyes are on this confirmation hearing! China and Russia components completely banned! New regulations for connected cars unveiled in the U.S.; Super AI base established! Biden announces new policies; Wildfires ravage Los Angeles! An economic loss of 275 billion dollars, who should bear the cost of this disaster?
First, let’s take a look at the confirmation hearing for President Trump’s cabinet nominee, the focus today is on Pete Hegseth, nominated for Secretary of Defense.
During the Senate hearing, this military veteran who served in Iraq and Afghanistan underwent over four hours of questioning by the Senate Armed Services Committee.
As the first cabinet member nominated by President-elect Trump, Hegseth has sparked intense debate between the two parties.
Trump fully endorsed Hegseth, writing on the Truth Social platform: “Pete Hegseth will be an outstanding Secretary of Defense. I fully support him.”
Republican lawmakers praise Hegseth as a “transformative leader.” Committee chairman Roger Wike stated that Hegseth’s “non-traditional” background is the change the Trump administration hopes to bring to the Pentagon. Hegseth also made it clear that his top priority is to bring back a “warrior culture” to the Department of Defense, emphasizing the need for focus on lethality, elite standards, and readiness.
However, the Democrats have various doubts about him. Jack Reed of the Armed Services Committee bluntly stated that Hegseth lacks the ability to manage the Pentagon, and criticized some of his remarks as offensive to the traditional values of the military. In particular, his controversial comments on women in service were heavily scrutinized during the hearing.
In response to these questions, Hegseth tried to moderate his position, saying he respects the diversity in the military, but he insists that the core of the military is combat capability.
Additionally, some of his past personal issues were brought up, such as allegations of improper sexual behavior in 2017. He denied the allegations, calling it a “smear campaign,” but also admitted to reaching a confidential settlement at the time related to the issue. He also pledged not to drink during working hours to address questions about his alcohol problems.
Senator Joni Ernst from Iowa also mentioned issues of sexual assault in the military, urging Hegseth to pay attention to this serious challenge. Hegseth also promised that he would appoint a dedicated official to handle such cases and provide more support to the victims.
Moving on to other Trump nominees, the confirmation hearings for Doug Collins as Secretary of Veterans Affairs and Doug Bergum as Secretary of the Interior have been postponed to the 21st and 16th of this month, respectively, due to incomplete review processes.
Now, let’s discuss another topic closely related to everyone’s life – the new regulations for regulating connected cars.
Today, the U.S. Department of Commerce announced a new regulation that prohibits hardware and software from China and Russia from entering the U.S. connected car market.
This policy was well-prepared, as cars are becoming increasingly intelligent, essentially turning into “moving computers”. Commerce Secretary Raymondo stated that the ban aims to prevent hacking attacks, data misuse, and even remote control, threatening national security and personal privacy.
The new regulation stipulates that starting in 2027, connected cars in the U.S. market will not be allowed to use automatic driving software from China or Russia, and by 2030, all hardware with Bluetooth, cellular, and satellite connections will also be restricted. This means that almost all connected cars or related components produced by China and Russia will be shut out.
It sounds severe, right? This stems from a seven-month investigation, where the Department of Commerce found that the deep integration of connected cars with infrastructure such as charging stations and smart roads could pose serious security risks.
For example, if the car systems on a highway were simultaneously manipulated, the consequences are unimaginable! Raymondo also cited examples in Europe, warning that after the European electric car market was liberalized, Chinese car companies quickly dominated the market. The U.S. will not wait for threats to spread before taking action.
The implementation of this ban will have a significant impact on the market. Currently, it mainly targets passenger vehicles, with commercial vehicles temporarily not included, but the scope may be expanded in the future.
Next, let’s look at another news related to technology and national security.
Today, President Biden signed an important executive order allowing the Department of Defense and the Department of Energy to lease federal land for the construction of large AI data centers.
These data centers serve as crucial infrastructure to provide computing power and energy support for artificial intelligence, acting as the “charging stations” and “processing centers” of AI models.
With the rapid development of AI technology, the demand for computing power and electricity is constantly increasing, making the construction of more such data centers particularly important.
However, this policy is not “unconditional.” The government has set several stringent requirements for developers:
Firstly, developers have to foot the bill, bearing all construction, operation, and maintenance costs.
Secondly, the power needs of these data centers must be entirely met by clean energy sources and cannot lead to an increase in residential electricity prices.
Thirdly, to promote domestic manufacturing, companies leasing land for these data centers must purchase a certain proportion of American-made semiconductors – isn’t this in line with the “America First” ideology?
Lastly, developers must sign a public labor agreement, ensuring the rights and wages of workers.
The purpose of this policy is not only to promote the development of AI technology but also includes considerations for national security.
The Biden administration emphasizes that building these data centers can reduce reliance on foreign technology, especially preventing adversaries such as China and Russia from acquiring U.S. AI technology. This also creates greater opportunities for domestic AI companies to develop.
According to the government’s plan, the Department of Defense and the Department of Energy plan to select at least three locations and allow private companies to construct these data centers through competitive bidding. In addition, a portion of the land has been specifically reserved for small and medium-sized AI companies, providing emerging enterprises with development opportunities.
This executive order, coupled with Biden’s previous policy restricting the export of AI chips, forms a “one-two punch.” Yesterday’s chip restrictions mainly targeted 120 countries, aiming to protect U.S. technological security, while today’s policy focuses on domestic infrastructure construction.
Through these two measures, the U.S. hopes to not only maintain its global leadership position in the AI field but also enhance technological security and autonomy.
Finally, let’s talk about the recent wildfires in Los Angeles, a disaster that has left the whole of the U.S. deeply concerned.
According to estimates from weather forecasting agency AccuWeather, this wildfire could lead to economic losses of up to 275 billion dollars, likely to become the most expensive wildfire disaster in U.S. history.
The affected area is not only densely populated but also one of the highest-valued real estate areas in the U.S., contributing to the extensive losses.
As of now, the wildfires have resulted in at least 24 deaths, forced roughly 300,000 people to evacuate, and over 400,000 residents facing power outages. The fires have already scorched 40,000 acres of land, equivalent to the size of the entire city of San Francisco, with over 12,300 buildings destroyed, showcasing the devastation.
So, how is the current status of fire control? There are still three active fire incidents in the greater Los Angeles area, with the Palisades fire being the largest, having consumed nearly 24,000 acres of land, only at a 14% containment rate. Another severely affecting fire, the Eaton fire, has burned 14,000 acres of land, with a 33% containment rate.
To make matters worse, meteorologists warn that the fires could worsen.
The dry vegetation and fierce Santa Ana winds, hurricane-level winds, create conditions for the rapid spread of the fires. Wind speeds are expected to increase further today, potentially leading to “explosive growth of fires,” a significant challenge for firefighting efforts.
The federal government is providing emergency aid to affected families. Outgoing President Biden announced that each family affected by the California wildfires will receive a one-time grant of $770, for immediate needs like purchasing water, baby formula, and prescription medications.
This fund is provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), with nearly 6,000 survivors registered, and the federal government has disbursed over $5.1 million.
Additionally, Biden also announced that the federal government will cover all costs of extinguishing the wildfires in the next 180 days. This means that after President Trump’s inauguration on Monday, this program will continue.
However, this disaster has sparked a political storm in California.
Governor Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Bass have faced fierce criticism for their inadequate response.
In a petition, over 130,000 people signed calling for Mayor Bass to resign. Meanwhile, the “Save California” alliance announced the start of a new recall campaign against Newsom, the seventh recall attempt since he took office.
Criticism mainly focuses on the following aspects:
Firstly, budget cuts leading to a shortage of firefighting resources. The Los Angeles city government significantly reduced the budget for the fire department, cutting $17 million in funding, resulting in understaffed firefighting teams and inadequate equipment maintenance.
According to a fire department report, over 100 fire equipment pieces were unusable due to a lack of maintenance. Additionally, many fire hydrants were in short water supply or completely dry, such as the Pacific Palisades reservoir that can hold 117 million gallons of water, which is already dried up.
Secondly, the imbalance in environmental policies.
The Newsom administration has been known for promoting the “Green New Deal,” investing significant funds in zero-emission vehicles and clean energy projects, with expenditures reaching as high as $14.7 billion just in the 2024-2025 budget.
However, the budget for fire prevention projects was cut by over $100 million. This forced many planned fire mitigation measures to be canceled or postponed.
Thirdly, the long-standing controversy over water resource management.
Critics claim that to protect the endangered fish species Delta smelt, the Newsom administration significantly restricted the amount of water flowing from Northern California water sources to the south. This decision has led to long-term water shortages in Southern California.
Trump has also strongly criticized this policy, stating that “protecting an almost worthless fish species without considering the safety of the people of California.” The Newsom office responded, saying these claims are baseless.
California’s stringent environmental regulations are also seen as a major obstacle hindering fire prevention measures. California’s Republican parliamentary leader, James Gallagher, cited an example in the small town of Berry Creek in Northern California – local authorities attempted to clear flammable materials like deadwood to prevent wildfires but were halted due to restrictions in the California Environmental Quality Act. As a result, this town was almost entirely destroyed in the 2020 wildfires.
Newsom’s communication director responded that since Newsom took office, California’s forest management and firefighting capabilities have increased tenfold, but whether this data can quell public anger remains uncertain.
The aftermath of this wildfire may continue to brew in the coming weeks or even months. We will continue to monitor the latest developments. If you are in the affected area, we hope you stay safe and heed government evacuation recommendations.
That wraps up today’s program, thank you for tuning in. Join us tomorrow at the same time for more hot news, don’t forget to follow “Good News Time”!