Skip to content
Search
Human content, AI powered search.

Latest Stories

What We're Watching

Patel likely to be confirmed, despite Democrats’ concerns

​Kash Patel, Trump’s nominee for Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), testifies at a Senate Judiciary Committee confirmation hearing in Washington, DC, January 30, 2025.

Kash Patel, Trump’s nominee for Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), testifies at a Senate Judiciary Committee confirmation hearing in Washington, DC, January 30, 2025.

Photo by Allison Bailey
Riley Callanan
By Riley CallananJanuary 30, 2025
Riley Callanan

Riley is a writer and reporter for GZERO. When she isn’t writing about global politics, you can find her making GZERO’s crossword puzzles, conducting research on American politics, or persisting in her lifelong quest to learn French. Riley spends her time outside of work grilling, dancing, and wearing many hats (both literally and figuratively).

See Full Bio
Kash Patel faced intense questioning on Thursday during his Senate confirmation hearing for FBI director and attempted to distance himself from past controversial statements and to address concerns about how he would run the powerful law enforcement agency. Democratic senators’ biggest concern was that Patel could be overly loyal to the president, breaking the tradition of selecting nonpartisan FBI directors.

The hearing highlighted a mess of partisan divisions. Republican Chairman Charles Grassley portrayed the FBI as an agency “in crisis” due to politicization, while Democrats, led by Richard Durbin, criticized Patel’s lack of law enforcement experience and worried that he could provide Trump with direct access to the bureau, removing traditional safeguards against White House interference.

During the hearing, Patel denied that an appendix in his book “Government Gangsters” was an enemies list and claimed he appeared on podcasts with conspiracy theorists to debunk their views. He also broke with the president by expressing disagreement with Trump’s grants of clemency for violent Jan. 6 rioters.

Democrats have signaled they won’t support the nomination, but Patel is likely to receive enough Republican votes.

“He’s gonna get confirmed,” says Eurasia Group US Director Clayton Allen. “Senate Republicans don’t have the political capital to block him.” And the little power they have to stand up to Trump they are likely saving to block the confirmation of Trump’s pick for head of national intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard.

Latest Videos

Trump likely to attack Iran soon–and may even target Khameneiplay icon
The Debrief

Trump likely to attack Iran soon–and may even target Khamenei

Epstein and America’s two-tier justice system
ask ian

Epstein and America’s two-tier justice system

Why Singapore sees AI as an opportunity, not a threat
GZERO World Clips

Why Singapore sees AI as an opportunity, not a threat

Trump’s next move in Iran
Quick Take

Trump’s next move in Iran

How Singapore navigates a fragmented world
GZERO World with Ian Bremmer

How Singapore navigates a fragmented world

Singapore thrived on globalization. Now what?
Ian Explains

Singapore thrived on globalization. Now what?

More For You

What We’re Watching: Big week for elections, US and China make trade deals, Suicide bombing in Pakistan

​Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, president of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), appeals for a candidate during a street speech of the House of Representatives Election Campaign in Shintomi Town, Miyazaki Prefecture on February 6, 2026. The Lower House election will feature voting and counting on February 8th.

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, president of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), appeals for a candidate during a street speech of the House of Representatives Election Campaign in Shintomi Town, Miyazaki Prefecture on February 6, 2026. The Lower House election will feature voting and counting on February 8th.

The Yomiuri Shimbun
Three elections, one weekendJapanese voters head to the polls on Sunday in a snap election for the national legislature’s lower house, called just three months into Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s tenure. She’s betting that her personal popularity could deliver an outright majority for her new ruling coalition.In Southeast Asia, Thailand is [...]

What We’re Watching: Nuclear deal STARTs to end, Syria pens deal with Chevron for oil exploration, Lights go off in parts of Cuba

Aerial view of the nuclear explosion, code-named Seminole, at Enewetak Atoll in the Pacific Ocean on June 6, 1956.​

Aerial view of the nuclear explosion, code-named Seminole, at Enewetak Atoll in the Pacific Ocean on June 6, 1956.

Science Photo Library via Reuters Connect
The end of the New START?New START, the last nuclear arms control treaty between the US and Russia, expires today. Signed in 2010, it limited each side to 1,550 warheads and required inspections and data sharing. Its absence removes the final binding constraint on the world’s two largest nuclear arsenals. Russian President Vladimir Putin suspended [...]

What We’re Watching: The Groundhog Day of Ukraine peace talks, Colombia fares well at White House, South African ruling coalition faces stability test

​Workers repair a pipe at a compound of Darnytsia Thermal Power Plant which was heavily damaged by recent Russian missile and drone strikes, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine February 4, 2026.

Workers repair a pipe at a compound of Darnytsia Thermal Power Plant which was heavily damaged by recent Russian missile and drone strikes, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine February 4, 2026.

REUTERS/Valentyn Ogirenko
The leader of South Africa’s second-largest party to stand downDemocratic Alliance leader John Steenhuisen announced Wednesday that he will not run for a third term as leader of the liberal, pro-business party, after months of internal pressure over a host of controversies – including allegations, since cleared, that he used the party credit card [...]

What We’re Watching: Trump and Modi make up, Turkey’s Erdogan goes to Riyadh, A step toward peace in the DRC

​US President Donald Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the White House in Washington, D.C., USA, on Feb. 13, 2025.

US President Donald Trump welcomes Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the White House in Washington, D.C., USA, for bilateral discussions about trade and security on Feb. 13, 2025.

India PM Office handout via EYEPRESS
Modi and Trump finally make upAfter months of simmering tensions, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump – two old friends – finally reached an agreement: Washington will drop tariffs on Indian exports from 50% to 18%, and in return, New Delhi will halt Russian oil purchases. Instead, it will buy from the US and possibly [...]