Hello — I’m Major Garrett in Washington. Today on The Takeout:
Pentagon briefing on Sept. 2 strikes off Venezuela
Congressional leaders were briefed after U.S. airstrikes on a vessel believed to be carrying drugs. The session, prompted by Senator Roger Wicker, included Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Dan Caine and Special Operations Commander Admiral Frank Bradley. Lawmakers watched video of the strikes and heard military explanations about the operation.
There was agreement on several facts: the boat had drugs on board, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth did not order a “kill them all” directive, and the military commanders answered questions visibly enough to preserve bipartisan support. But members of Congress drew sharply different conclusions from the footage and testimony.
– Republican Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas called the strikes “righteous,” saying survivors appeared to be trying to recover cargo and that commanders acted lawfully with proper legal oversight.
– Democratic Senator Chris Coons of Delaware and Representative Jim Himes of Connecticut described the footage as deeply troubling. Coons said the videos were difficult to watch and appeared to show multiple strikes that killed survivors. Himes called it among the most disturbing things he’s seen in public service, describing people in distress being attacked by U.S. forces.
Democratic Congresswoman Chrissy Houlahan of Pennsylvania, who serves on the Armed Services and Intelligence committees, pressed for more transparency. She urged that full committees and the public be allowed to see the video and the supporting intelligence. Houlahan warned that the administration’s designation of cartels as foreign terrorist organizations and the resulting military posture should not replace open congressional debate, arguing it risks treating drug interdiction as a war without congressional authorization. She defended a recent lawmaker video urging service members to refuse unlawful orders, calling criticism of that message misguided and patriotic in its attempt to restate the law.
Kati Weis reports: arrest in Jan. 6 eve pipe-bomb case
After nearly five years, authorities arrested 30-year-old Brian Cole Jr., a northern Virginia resident, in a probe tied to pipe-bombs placed near the 2020 conventions. Investigators say a painstaking review of evidence, plus bank and surveillance records that matched purchases and vehicle movements, led to the arrest. Attorney General Pam Bondi emphasized the case broke through intensive investigative work rather than a new tip.
Interior immigration enforcement operations
Border Patrol agents were sent to New Orleans and other cities to apprehend and process people suspected of immigration violations, led by Border Patrol Chief Gregory Bovino. The deployments are part of multiple U.S. operations targeting cities away from the southern border. In Minneapolis, ICE focused on immigrants from Somalia who have final deportation orders, an effort that has drawn local controversy.
CDC vaccine panel debates newborn hepatitis B timing
An Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) panel convened to consider changing guidance on the hepatitis B vaccine dose given at birth. The panel was selected by HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and members debated the quality of evidence and appeared poised to recommend delaying the birth dose. Dr. Céline Gounder, a CBS News medical contributor, criticized the panel’s process, saying it did not consistently follow the evidence-to-recommendation framework. She stressed that the newborn hepatitis B dose, recommended since 1991, sharply reduced pediatric infections and that infants are especially vulnerable. Concerns were also raised about the involvement of vaccine-safety trial lawyer Aaron Siri and the potential consequences for vaccine manufacturers and the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program if policy shifts increase litigation and liability.
Harvard youth poll: young Americans pessimistic
New polling from Harvard’s Institute of Politics finds young adults (18–29) largely pessimistic about the country and their prospects.
Key findings:
– Just 13% say the United States is headed in the right direction; 57% say it’s on the wrong track.
– Financial anxiety is widespread: 43% say they are struggling or barely getting by.
– By about a three-to-one margin, young people are more likely to believe AI will take opportunities rather than create them.
– Trust in institutions is low across the board, though doctors and scientists remain among the most trusted sources for vaccine information.
Jordan Schwartz, student chair of the Harvard Public Opinion Project, said young people report disillusionment, institutional distrust, and a lack of clear economic opportunity.
Politics and public opinion
Recent surveys show voters who supported former President Trump are increasingly worried about affordability — a potential midterm vulnerability. The administration argues inflation has cooled from higher levels earlier in the prior administration, but household cost pressures remain the immediate concern for many voters. Congressional debate continues over expiring health-care subsidies and what compromise packages moderates in the Senate and House leaders might reach. House Speaker Mike Johnson signaled a possible plan next week amid pressure to address health-care tax credits and costs.
Congressional music — Spotify Wrapped for lawmakers
As the year ends and Spotify Wrapped rolls out for listeners, reporters checked the top artists and songs on members’ public playlists. Taylor Swift, Bad Bunny, and classic rock artists show up frequently. Some lawmakers say they don’t use Spotify and still prefer radio. Notable examples: Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s Wrapped included Bad Bunny; Senator Ruben Gallego highlighted family moments with his daughter’s Little Mermaid sing-along; others showed tastes ranging from Fleetwood Mac and Bruce Springsteen to electronic dance music.
Other highlights
– Federal investigators tied a recent arrest in the 2021 DNC and RNC pipe-bomb case to the suspect’s movements and purchases using surveillance, license-plate readers, and financial records.
– The administration’s interior immigration enforcement actions in Democratic-led cities, including New Orleans and Minneapolis, continue to draw criticism and debate over tactics and targets.
– Programming note: CBS News will host a town hall on Dec. 13 featuring Erica Kirk, widow of Charlie Kirk, to discuss political violence, faith, and the aftermath.
That’s The Takeout with Major Garrett — relentlessly curious, reliably civil, occasionally clever.