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    Back to To the Point

    To the Point

    DeVos confirmed as education secretary as Pence breaks tie

    Betsy DeVos was confirmed as President Trump's Education Secretary today by the narrowest margin provided by the Constitution. Vice President Mike Pence declared, "The Senate being equally divided, the Vice President votes in the affirmative and the nomination is confirmed."

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    By Warren Olney • Feb 7, 2017 • 1 min read

    Betsy DeVos was confirmed as President Trump's Education Secretary today by the narrowest margin provided by the Constitution. Vice President Mike Pence declared, "The Senate being equally divided, the Vice President votes in the affirmative and the nomination is confirmed."

    That was the first time in history that a Vice President broke a tie to confirm a cabinet nominee. Democrats conducted a 24-hour speaking marathon before the vote. Alia Wong, Education Editor at The Atlantic, says efforts by two GOP Senators to derail the confirmation fell short against pressure from fellow Republicans to stick with their party's preference.

    The full episode

    1 of 3
    Terrorists don't have to cross borders to carry out attacks
    1. 1:22DeVos confirmed as education secretary as Pence breaks tieYou’re reading this
    2. 7:56Terrorism by remote control: Is there any protection?
    3. 42:44French election shake-up holds promise for far right
    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/e23b2c8a5a7a4a05410f82a6104e445f/custom_thumbnail_large.png?h=250&fm=webp

      Warren Olney

      former KCRW broadcaster

    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/e23b2c8a5a7a4a05410f82a6104e445f/custom_thumbnail_large.png?h=250&fm=webp

      Jenny Hamel

      KCRW

    • KCRW placeholder

      Katie Cooper

      Producer, 'One year Later'

    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/e23b2c8a5a7a4a05410f82a6104e445f/custom_thumbnail_large.png?h=250&fm=webp

      Luke Vander Ploeg

      Producer, 'To the Point'

    • KCRW placeholder

      Alia Wong

      Atlantic magazine

      NewsNationalPolitics

    The full episode

    1 of 3
    Terrorists don't have to cross borders to carry out attacks
    1. 1:22DeVos confirmed as education secretary as Pence breaks tieYou’re reading this
    2. 7:56Terrorism by remote control: Is there any protection?
    3. 42:44French election shake-up holds promise for far right
    Back to To the Point