By JONATHAN J. COOPER, Associated Press

A progressive group is targeting two Senate Democrats and an independent senator who voted to confirm some of President Donald Trump’s judicial nominees, promising to spend more than $1 million in hopes of pushing congressional Democrats to take a stronger stand against the Republican president.

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In a weeklong advertising campaign that began on Wednesday, Demand Justice is targeting only senators who aren’t up for reelection next year: Democrats John Fetterman of Pennsylvania and Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire, along with independent Angus King of Maine, who caucuses with Democrats.

But the group’s president, Josh Orton, said the blitz is only an opening salvo. He threatened an escalation targeting more imminently vulnerable lawmakers and those with presidential ambitions unless they “find their moral compass, and stand up to Trump.”

“We want to change Senate Democratic behavior so that they begin acting in a more moral way and in a more politically expedient way,” Orton said.

The push comes after eight members of the Senate Democratic caucus — including Fetterman, Hassan and King — joined with Republicans to end a government shutdown, a move that angered large swaths of the party’s base. The party is wrestling over the best strategy to fight what many Democrats see as Trump’s authoritarian ambitions while plotting to bounce back from major losses in 2024.

This combination photo of eight senators who are facing criticism from the Democratic party for their deal to end the government shutdown shows Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., top row from left, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Dick Durbin, D-Ill., Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., Sen. Maggie Hassan, D-N.H., and bottom row from left, Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., Sen. Angus King, I-Maine, Sen. Jacky Rosen, D-Nev., and Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H. (AP Photo)

In confirmation hearings, Trump’s second-term judicial nominees have avoided acknowledging that he lost the 2020 campaign or that the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol was a violent insurrection. Democrats shouldn’t give bipartisan cover to judges who are not “able to answer these simple questions of fact,” Orton said.

The Democratic base is clamoring for its representatives to aggressively challenge Trump, who has pushed the boundaries of presidential power to new heights since returning to the White House in January. Democratic leaders, meanwhile, are grappling with the limits of their power in Washington, where Republicans control both chambers of Congress and the White House.

Fetterman is a frequent target of the left over his staunch support for Israel in the Gaza war and his willingness to buck the majority of his party. He defended his voting record last month, telling CBS News he’s voted overwhelmingly with the rest of the Democrats.

“If Democrats have a problem with somebody that votes 91% of the same times as you are — more than nine out of 10 times — then maybe our party has a bigger problem,” Fetterman said.

Hassan said she voted to reopen the government, despite the backlash on the left, because many of her constituents were suffering and it was unlikely Republicans would agree to a better deal. She said she supported some of Trump’s executive branch nominees “who are qualified or acting in good faith.”

King was the lone member of the Democratic Caucus to vote to confirm a federal judge in Missouri who, as a lawyer, had worked on cases challenging abortion rights. He later said the vote was “a mistake.”

By STEPHEN GROVES and LISA MASCARO, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — Pete Hegseth barely squeaked through a grueling Senate confirmation process to become secretary of defense earlier this year, facing lawmakers wary of the Fox News Channel host and skeptical of his capacity, temperament and fitness for the job.

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Just three months later, he quickly became embroiled in Signalgate as he and other top U.S. officials used the popular Signal messaging application to discuss pending military strikes in Yemen.

And now, in what may be his most career-defining moment yet, Hegseth is confronting questions about the use of military force after a special operations team reportedly attacked survivors of a strike on an alleged drug boat off the coast of Venezuela. Some lawmakers and legal experts say the second strike would have violated the laws of armed conflict.

“These are serious charges, and that’s the reason we’re going to have special oversight,” said Sen. Roger Wicker of Mississippi, the Republican chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee.

The scrutiny surrounding Hegseth’s brash leadership style is surfacing what has been long-building discontent in Congress over President Donald Trump’s choice to helm the U.S. military. And it’s posing a potentially existential moment for Hegseth as the congressional committees overseeing the military launch an investigation amid mounting calls from Democratic senators for his resignation.

Hegseth vowed a ‘warrior culture,’ but lawmakers take issue

Since working to become defense secretary, Hegseth has vowed to bring a “warrior culture” to the U.S. government’s most powerful and expensive department, from rebranding it as the Department of War to essentially discarding the rules that govern how soldiers conduct themselves when lives are on the line.

Hegseth on Tuesday cited the “fog of war” in defending the follow-up strike, saying that there were explosions and fire and that he did not see survivors in the water when the second strike was ordered and launched. He chided those second-guessing his actions as being part of the problem.

Yet the approach to the operation was in line with the direction of the military under Hegseth, a former infantry officer with the Army National Guard, part of the post-Sept. 11 generation, who was deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan and earned Bronze Stars.

During a speech in September, he told an unusual gathering of top military brass whom he had summoned from all corners of the globe to the Quantico Marine Corps Base in Virginia that they should not “fight with stupid rules of engagement.”

“We untie the hands of our warfighters to intimidate, demoralize, hunt and kill the enemies of our country,” he said. “No more politically correct and overbearing rules of engagement, just common sense, maximum lethality and authority for warfighters.”

But now lawmakers and military and legal experts say the Sept. 2 attack borders on illegal military action.

“Somebody made a horrible decision. Somebody needs to be held accountable,” said Sen. Thom Tillis, a North Carolina Republican who in January held out support for Hegseth until only moments before casting a crucial vote for his confirmation.

“Secretary Talk Show Host may have been experiencing the ‘fog of war,’ but that doesn’t change the fact that this was an extrajudicial killing amounting to murder or a war crime,” said Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md. “He must resign.”

Rep. Don Bacon, a Republican who served 30 years active duty in the Air Force, finishing his career at the rank of brigadier general, said he hasn’t been a fan of Hegseth’s leadership. “I don’t think he was up to the task,” Bacon said.

Will Hegseth keep Trump’s support?

Trump, a Republican, has largely stood by his defense secretary, among the most important Cabinet-level positions. But the decisions by Wicker, alongside House Armed Services Chair Mike Rogers of Alabama and the top Democrats on the committees, to open investigations provide a rare moment of Congress asserting itself and its authority to conduct oversight of the Trump administration.

President Donald Trump speaks during a Cabinet meeting at the White House, Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2025, in Washington, as Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, look on. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., who shepherded the defense secretary’s nomination to confirmation, has said the boat strikes are within Trump’s authority as commander in chief — and he noted that Hegseth serves at the pleasure of the president.

“I don’t have, at this point, an evaluation of the secretary,” Thune said at the start of the week. “Others can make those evaluations.”

But Hegseth also has strong allies on Capitol Hill, and it remains unclear how much Republicans would actually be willing to push back on the president, especially when they have spent the first year in his administration yielding to his various demands.

Vice President JD Vance, who cast a rare tiebreaking vote to confirm Hegseth, has vigorously defended him in the attack. And Sen. Eric Schmitt, another close ally to Trump, dismissed criticism of Hegseth as “nonsense” and part of an effort to undermine Trump’s focus on Central and South America.

“He’s not part of the Washington elite,” said Schmitt, R-Mo. “He’s not a think tanker that people thought Trump was going to pick. … And so, for that reason and others, they just, they don’t like him.”

Tension between some Republican lawmakers and the Pentagon has been rising for months. Capitol Hill has been angered by recent moves to restrict how defense officials communicate with lawmakers and the slow pace of information on Trump’s campaign to destroy boats carrying drugs off the coast of Venezuela.

As he defends his job, Hegseth has spoken to both Wicker and Rogers, the top lawmakers overseeing the military. Rogers said he was “satisfied” with Hegseth after that conversation, while Wicker said that he told Hegseth that he would like him to testify to Congress.

Hegseth at first tried to brush aside the initial report about the strike by posting a photo of the cartoon character Franklin the Turtle firing on a boat from a helicopter, but that only inflamed criticism of him and angered lawmakers who felt he was not taking the allegations seriously.

Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer of New York called Hegseth a “national embarrassment,” adding the defense secretary’s social media post of the cartoon turtle is “something no serious leader would ever think of doing.”

What information will Congress get?

Later this week, the chairs of the armed services committees, along with the top Democrats on the committees, will hear private testimony from Navy Vice Adm. Frank “Mitch” Bradley, who the White House has said ordered the second strike on the survivors.

Republicans have been careful to withhold judgment on the strike until they complete their investigation, but Democrats say that these problems with Hegseth were a long time coming.

Sen. Tim Kaine, a Virginia Democrat, pointed back to Hegseth’s tumultuous confirmation hearing, at which issues were raised with his management of nonprofits, as well as allegations of a sexual assault and abuse, and drinking on the job. Hegseth had vowed not to consume alcohol if confirmed.

“You don’t suddenly change your judgment level or change your character when you get confirmed to be secretary of defense,” Kaine said. “Instead, the things that have been part of your character just become much more dire and existential.”

The newest member of the Gophers football program made it official when the early signing period opened Wednesday.

More than 15 of the 31 players expected to sign will enroll at the U, starting in January, which will give them a head start on winter conditioning and allow them to participate in spring practices.

This year, all 10 players pledged to the U from the Eastern time zone signed their financial aid agreements with Minnesota. A year ago, that wasn’t the case as Georgia prep running back Shane Marshall flipped to Georgia Tech at the last minute.

Here’s the tracker:

East

6:08 a.m. — Receiver Quayd Hendryx, Atco, N.J., 5-foot-11, 175 pounds

The Gophers said on social media: “Fresh off a second straight New Jersey state championship, (Hendryx) has signed with Minnesota!

Hendryx scored 14 (touchdowns), including two in the 2025 state title game, during his prep career at Winslow Township High School!”

6:13 — Defensive lineman Jeremiah Benson, West Bloomfield, Mich., 6-3, 265. Early enrollee.

“A TFL MACHINE! (Benson) is coming to the ‘U’ via West Bloomfield High School in Michigan!”

6:17 — Defensive lineman Anthony Charles, McDonald, Pa., 6-5, 200

“Athletic, Long and OFFICIALLY a Golden Gopher  (Charles) is joining Minnesota’s defensive line out of Pennsylvania!

6:21 — Offensive tackle Lucas Tielsch, Akron, Ohio, 6-7, 320. Early enrollee.

“A MASSIVE talent up front! (Tielsch), an all-state, two-sport athlete from Copley High School in Ohio is officially a Golden Gopher!”

6:28 — Running back Niko Castillo, Schuylkill Haven, Pa., 6-1, 235

“Over 10 yard per carry AND 11 sacks as a senior?! (Castillo) is bringing his versatility to the ‘U’ next season!”

6:33 — Defensive lineman Aaden Aytch, Lafayette, Ind., 6-4, 230

“Dynamic, Explosive and RELENTLESS! (Aytch) has signed with Minnesota after a Lafayette Jefferson career where he posted a school record 20 sacks, six forced fumbles and had 112 total tackles!”

6:39 — Cornerback Chance Payne, Jefferson, Ga., 5-10, 175. Early enrollee.

“BRINGIN’ THE PAYNE! Out of Jefferson High School in Georgia, (Payne) is officially bringing his physical DB skills to the Twin Cities!”

6:43 — Linebacker Angel Luciano, Stilton, Pa., 6-1, 225

“BACKER UP! Two-time Pennsylvania state champion (Luciano) has signed with the ‘U’!”

6:49 — Running back Zeke Bates, Malvern, Pa., 5-11, 220. Early enrollee.

“(Bates) averaged 15.3 yards per rush his senior season at Malvern Prep and now ie is officially a Gopher!”

6:53 — Wide receiver Hayden Moore, Newberry, Fla., 6-1, 190. Early enrollee.

“(Moore) brings his electric style to the Twin Cities after putting up 2,592 receiving yards at Newberry High School in Florida.”

Central

7:07 — Quarterback  Owen Lansu, Downers Grove, Ill., 6-1, 185. Early enrollee.

“An absolute GAMER! (Lansu) brings in over 60 touchdowns and 5,000 passing yards in his high school career.”

7:13 — Safety Trason Richardson, Rosharon, Texas, 6-0, 180. Early enrollee.

“Adding ANOTHER ball-hawking DB! (Richardson) has signed and adds even more talent to Minnesota’s defensive backfield!”

This past week proved that, in fantasy football, bad matchups and poor circumstances can ruin the best of lineups.

We opined last week that you might want to sit two NFL greats: Vikings receiver Justin Jefferson and Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson. Resumes aside, we thought fantasy mavens couldn’t count on them to produce in Week 13.

Jackson wound up going touchdown free, barely completing half of his passes. Jefferson did even worse: a two-catch, four-yard game in his most ineffective performance since Pony League.

We’re just one week from the three-week fantasy playoff run. Here are 10 guys whose matchups in Weeks 15-17 are far less than optimal:

Breece Hall (Jets RB) — He managed only his third rushing touchdown last week. And with Jaguars, Saints and Patriots coming up, he’ll have to work really hard to add his fourth.

FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS – NOVEMBER 13: Breece Hall #20 of the New York Jets is pursued by Christian Gonzalez #0 of the New England Patriots during the second half of a game at Gillette Stadium on November 13, 2025 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jaiden Tripi/Getty Images)

R.J. Harvey (Broncos RB) — Denver rookie looked great at times last Sunday night, but he has three tough run defenses ahead in Packers, Jaguars and Chiefs.

LANDOVER, MARYLAND – NOVEMBER 30: RJ Harvey #12 of the Denver Broncos scores a rushing touchdown against the Washington Commanders during overtime at Northwest Stadium on November 30, 2025 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

Rico Dowdle (Panthers RB) — He’s losing touches to teammate Chuba Hubbard lately, and neither will thrive in upcoming games against the Saints, Bucs and Seahawks.

SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA – NOVEMBER 24: Rico Dowdle #5 of the Carolina Panthers is tackled by Jordan Elliott #92 of the San Francisco 49ers in the first quarter of the game at Levi’s Stadium on November 24, 2025 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)

Jaylen Warren (Steelers RB) — Another back sharing too much work with a teammate (Kenneth Gainwell). And the run defenses of Dolphins, Lions and Browns are all above average.

PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA – NOVEMBER 16: Jaylen Warren #30 of the Pittsburgh Steelers runs with the ball during the third quarter against the Cincinnati Bengals at Acrisure Stadium on November 16, 2025 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images)

Xavier Worthy (Chiefs WR) — Easy game against Titans is sandwiched by games with Chargers and Broncos. It’s also obvious now he’s clearly behind Rashee Rice in the pecking order.

ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK – NOVEMBER 02: Maxwell Hairston #31 of the Buffalo Bills intercepts a pass intended for Xavier Worthy #1 of the Kansas City Chiefs during the fourth quarter in the game at Highmark Stadium on November 02, 2025 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)

Rome Odunze (Bears QB) — Sophomore has only one TD catch in his past eight games, and Bears’ next three foes (Browns, Packers, 49ers) will make QB Caleb Williams sweat.

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – NOVEMBER 28: Rome Odunze #15 of the Chicago Bears runs out of bounds after a catch against Sydney Brown #21 of the Philadelphia Eagles during the second quarter in the game at Lincoln Financial Field on November 28, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)

Dalton Kincaid (Bills TE) — Has only nine catches in three games since returning from injury, and Buffalo has three tough defenses ahead in Patriots, Browns and Eagles.

ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK – OCTOBER 05: Dalton Kincaid #86 of the Buffalo Bills makes a catch and is tackled by Craig Woodson #31 of the New England Patriots in the third quarter of the game at Highmark Stadium on October 05, 2025 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Timothy T Ludwig/Getty Images)

Sam Darnold (Seahawks QB) — Former Viking has cooled off over the past month, and his next three are against Colts, Rams (who just intercepted him four times) and Panthers.

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON – NOVEMBER 30: Sam Darnold #14 of the Seattle Seahawks fumbles the ball while being hit by Dallas Turner #15 of the Minnesota Vikings in the second quarter of a game at Lumen Field on November 30, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

Caleb Williams (Bears QB) — As alluded to earlier, the Chicago sophomore will have his newfound proficiency tested by three of the NFL’s better defenses.

Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams reacts during an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Friday, Nov. 28, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)

Jared Goff (Lions QB) — Detroit needs him to step up in order to claim a playoff berth, and with the next three against the Rams, Steelers and Vikings, it’s not a certainty he will.

Green Bay Packers defensive end Micah Parsons sacks Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff during the second half of an NFL football game in Detroit, Thursday, Nov. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/David Dermer)

Sitting stars

Don’t count on Chicago RBs D’Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai repeating their Black Friday magic against the Packers’ tough defense. … Same goes for Chargers RB Kimani Vidal against a bruised Eagles D. … Vegas RB Ashton Jeanty has almost no blocking to speak of and will have another long day against Denver. … Tua Tagovailoa will continue to disappoint against the Jets’ defense, and that will make WR Jaylen Waddle “almost” unstartable. … Baltimore’s Lamar Jackson is again an iffy QB choice versus Pittsburgh. … And two quarterbacks we expect to be mostly kept in check are Arizona’s Jacoby Brissett against the Rams and … yes … the Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes against Houston’s top-shelf defense.

Chicago Bears running back D’Andre Swift in action during an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Friday, Nov. 28, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)

Matchup game

Someone is going to thrive for Cleveland this week against 1-11 Tennessee. It won’t be Shedeur Sanders. It very likely will be RB Quinshon Judkins. … The Lions will need to run roughshod through Dallas, and Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery will. … Tampa Bay RB Bucky Irving looked strong in his return from injury and will post strong numbers versus New Orleans. … Vikings have little choice but to rely on RB Jordan Mason against Washington. … Seattle wideout Jaxon Smith-Njigba was mostly quiet against the Vikings, but he’ll rebound facing that Atlanta defense. … Two receivers that will stay hot are Houston’s Nico Collins against the Chiefs and Jacksonville’s Jakobi Meyers versus the Colts. … And the Bills’ defense better be ready, because Cincy quarterback Joe Burrow is BACK!

Cleveland Browns running back Quinshon Judkins (10) runs the ball against the San Francisco 49ers during an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 30, 2025, in Cleveland. (Photo by Jeff Haynes/AP Images for Panini)

Injury watch

Couple of big injuries over the long weekend. Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert broke a bone in his non-throwing hand, and it remains to be seen if he will miss time. … Detroit star wideout Amon-Ra St Brown sprained his ankle early on Thanksgiving, and he’s considered week to week for the suddenly desperate Lions. … Players considered questionable include four running backs (Vikings’ Aaron Jones, New Orleans’ Alvin Kamara, Arizona’s Trey Benson and the Chargers’ Omarion Hampton) and four pass catchers (Dallas’ George Pickens, Atlanta’s Drake London, Arizona’s Marvin Harrison Jr. and Cincinnati’s Tee Higgins).

Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (10) passes the ball during the first half of an NFL football game against the Las Vegas Raiders, Sunday, Nov. 30, 2025, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/William Liang)

Deepest sleeper

Sleepers don’t get any deeper than Atlanta receiver David Sills V, the only NFL player we’re aware of who rocks the V in his name. He has caught a touchdown pass in each of the past two games in which former Viking Kirk Cousins has started at quarterback for the Falcons. So he’s hot. Those are also his only two scores since arriving in the league with the 2021 Giants. If you put your faith in him making it three straight, you’re a braver fantasy maven than I.

Atlanta Falcons wide receiver David Sills V (87) celebrates hios touchdown against the New York Jets during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 30, 2025, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

The Thursday pick

Cowboys at Lions (-2½)
Pick: Lions by 3

Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs (0) pulls away from Green Bay Packers cornerback Carrington Valentine (24) during the first half an NFL football game in Detroit, Thursday, Nov. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

You can hear Kevin Cusick on Thursdays on Bob Sansevere’s “BS Show” podcast on iTunes. You can follow Kevin on X– @theloopnow. He can be reached at kcusick@pioneerpress.com.

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