Biden’s New Shot for Nominees

Plus: Senators demand UFO answers.

By
18
Gigi Sohn, President Joe Biden's nominee to serve on the Federal Communications Commission, testifies before the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee in February 2022. (Photo by Susan Walsh-Pool/Getty Images)

Several of President Biden’s nominees failed to advance in the evenly divided Senate during his first two years in office. With a slightly more favorable chamber—51 Democratic votes, when counting reliable independents—some of Biden’s most controversial nominees will get another shot at approval.

The dynamic comes into focus this week as the Senate once again weighs Gigi Sohn for a spot on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). 

Sohn’s first nomination, in 2021, stalled early as Republicans raised concerns over her past tweets describing Fox News as “dangerous to our democracy” and “state-sponsored propaganda.” She also retweeted someone else’s post that called former President Donald Trump a “raggedy white supremacist.” 

As of December, at least three Democratic senators were also reportedly hesitant to support her: Sens. Joe Manchin, Catherine Cortez Masto, and Mark Kelly. Biden renominated her in January, and we could find out soon if any have changed their stances. 

Keep reading with a free account
Create a free Dispatch account to keep reading Get Started ALREADY HAVE AN ACCOUNT? SIGN IN
18
By
Comments (18)
Join The Dispatch to participate in the comments.
 
  1. Avatar photo
    Ben Connelly

    Haley, I want your personal opinion on the UFO-alien question.

    (Mine is that they aren’t aliens.)

    Collapse
  2. Avatar photo
    David M

    Thanks Haley.

    Collapse
  3. Misterharban

    Re: The Balloons

    Someone's Doordash order of Moo Shu Pork is likely to arrive cold and soggy.

    Collapse
  4. Avatar photo
    PJ

    "Republicans are pressing for a full unclassified accounting of the situation."

    Republicans are not the only ones. Partisan reporting like this just further fortifies the partisan divide.

    Collapse
    1. Raymondbrosterhous

      Sen. Mark Warner (D) isn't happy either. And he's really upset about the Administration's stonewalling of information regarding the classified materials scandals involving Trump, Biden, and Pence.

      Collapse
      1. Avatar photo
        PJ

        Yes and Sen. John Tester is not happy either.

        Collapse
  5. James B. Ronan

    What is Sen. Rubio referring to about a shoot don in US airspace 65 years ago?

    Collapse
    1. KLang

      The founding of NORAD in 1957

      Collapse
      1. James B. Ronan

        He said, “For the first time in 65 years, the United States has shot something down over our airspace,”...

        I know a US RC-130 was shot down by the Russians in 1958, but do not think the Sen. got it right.

        Collapse
  6. Avatar photo
    Cthocas

    The "moderate" Biden sure has thrown a lot of progressive activists at the nomination wall to see what sticks.

    The business world is already walking a tightrope above the massive, gaping maw of Lina Khan's ravenous FTC. The economy doesn't need any extra help from more zealous appointees in slowing down.

    Collapse
  7. Avatar photo
    Marty

    Haley: The headline says, "Biden’s New Shot for Nominees" (plural). The first paragraph says, "Several of President Biden’s nominees (plural) failed to advance in the evenly divided Senate during his first two years in office. With a slightly more favorable chamber—51 Democratic votes, when counting reliable independents—some of Biden’s most controversial nominees (plural) will get another shot at approval." But the story is only one nominee, Gigi Sohn. I'd really like to know names of the other controversial nominees who Biden is likely to renominate, and positions they were nominated for.

    For the record, your reporting is generally excellent, and I've learned a lot from Uphill. This is the first time I've thought you left out something important. Thanks.

    Collapse
  8. Avatar photo
    Murrayprof

    "...describing Fox News as “dangerous to our democracy” and “state-sponsored propaganda.” She also retweeted someone else’s post that called former President Donald Trump a “raggedy white supremacist.”
    ‐-------------
    Never pays to tell all you know...

    Collapse
    1. Raymondbrosterhous

      Those comments certainly don't pay when you are trying to get a spot on an FCC Committee regulating the entities you are condemning.

      Collapse
  9. Raincheck

    Why is Biden coming back with the same nominee that even his own party couldn’t agree on? The man is stubborn and never admits a mistake, but this seems like bad politics. Find someone your own caucus want to vote for, at a minimum.

    Collapse
    1. Raymondbrosterhous

      Once again, it's evidence of how deeply in the thrall of progressives he is.

      Collapse
      1. Avatar photo
        PJ

        Or maybe he is more progressive than he has to act sometimes?

        Collapse
      2. Avatar photo
        JohnM.

        This is exactly right. One needs only to point out this re-nomination whenever someone tries to tell you that Mr. Biden is a 'moderate'.

        Collapse
    2. Avatar photo
      Wilhelm

      It's because she seems like such a charmer. And equanimous, too.

      Collapse