Graham Backs Kash Patel for FBI as Kaine Calls Hegseth 'Very Dangerous' Defense Pick
On CBS’s 'Face the Nation,' Sen. Lindsey Graham said he is 'ready to vote for Kash Patel' to lead the FBI, even though no confirmation date has been set for President‑elect Donald Trump’s controversial choice and former Trump officials have publicly raised red flags about Patel’s past conduct. In the same program, Sen. Tim Kaine warned that Pentagon contender Pete Hegseth would be a 'very dangerous Secretary of Defense,' signaling likely Democratic resistance if Trump formally nominates him to run the Defense Department. The episode underscores the battle lines in the Senate over two of the most sensitive national‑security posts in government at a moment when Trump is under fire for his overseas military actions and domestic crackdowns. Also on the show, Save the Children CEO Janti Soeripto said her group is trying to reunite more than 17,000 Gazan children separated from their families during the Israel‑Hamas war under the current ceasefire, calling it 'a real moment of hope and peril at the same time.' Her comments highlight the sheer scale and fragility of child‑protection work now intersecting with U.S.‑backed negotiations over Gaza.
📌 Key Facts
- Sen. Lindsey Graham told 'Face the Nation' he is 'ready to vote for Kash Patel' as FBI director despite ongoing controversy and no set hearing date.
- Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine said on the same program that Pete Hegseth would be a 'very dangerous Secretary of Defense,' signaling opposition if he is nominated.
- Save the Children president Janti Soeripto said the group is working to reconnect more than 17,000 separated Gazan children with family members during the Israel‑Hamas ceasefire.
📊 Relevant Data
As of mid-2023, children under 18 years old constituted approximately 47% of Gaza's population, totaling around 1,067,986 children (544,776 males and 523,210 females).
H.E. Dr. Awad, highlights the Palestinian children's situation on the eve of the Palestinian Child Day, 05/04/2024. — Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS)
Gaza experiences a youth bulge, with the youth population (aged 15-29) representing about 30% of the total population, the highest increase in Arab countries over the past 20 years.
Population matters — UNFPA Palestine
In 2022, youth unemployment in Gaza reached over 60%, with young women facing the worst rates at around 53% overall, and unemployment among youth graduates in Gaza at 73.9% (61.3% for females vs. 34.3% for males).
West Bank and Gaza: Selected Issues — International Monetary Fund (IMF)
Between 15,000 and 19,000 children in Gaza are estimated to have been orphaned due to the conflict, with causes including parental deaths from bombardment and military operations.
Unaccompanied and separated children in Gaza — International Rescue Committee (IRC)
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