Republican lawmakers and allies are pressing Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to answer for the Iran war after the party’s Nov. 3 midterm defeat. Rep. Thomas Massie says he will seek a House impeachment vote when Congress returns next week. President Donald Trump also blamed Fox News for the Republican losses [krdo.com][cnbc.com]. Republicans privately accuse Hegseth of helping persuade Trump to attack Iran without an exit strategy, overstating prospects for a quick victory and urging escalation despite little sign that bombing would force Iran to surrender. Vice President JD Vance publicly said, “The reason we lost is the war,” though Republican strategists privately acknowledged that the party’s problems went beyond the conflict [krdo.com][independent.ie][news18.com]. Trump said Wednesday he did not plan to fire Hegseth and called his performance “very good,” even as reports said he had consulted allies about the defense secretary’s future. Hegseth’s spokesman said the defense secretary remains committed to serving through Trump’s term. Democrats, who won control of Congress, are preparing to oversee Pentagon operations when they take power in January [krdo.com][independent.ie][hindustantimes.com]. Highlights: • Impeachment charges: Massie’s eight-count resolution accuses Hegseth of launching military action against Iran without congressional authorization, seizing Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro without constitutional authority and ordering killings of suspected drug traffickers in the Caribbean without judicial process [independent.ie]. • Senate threshold: A House impeachment vote would not itself remove Hegseth: conviction and removal in the Senate require a two-thirds majority [firstpost.com]. • Funding dispute: Republican Sen. Thom Tillis linked Hegseth to stalled defense funding, including a $70 billion emergency request and the fiscal 2027 defense appropriations bill [independent.ie]. • Planned scrutiny: Democrats preparing to lead the House Armed Services Committee have said they will examine military operations, politicization of the armed forces and potential corruption in defense contracts [independent.ie]. Perspectives: Rep. Thomas Massie: Massie said a House impeachment vote could stain Hegseth’s record and suggested that would be a reason to leave [independent.ie]. (Independent.ie) "Hegseth has been a human wrecking ball swinging through one of our oldest and proudest institutions, and it will take years to undo the damage." — John Ullyot Sources: • Republicans Quickly Turn Against Pete Hegseth - politicalwire.com • Trump loyalists target Pete Hegseth to shield president from election fallout - alternet.org • Trump’s post-midterm Fox News breakup signals MAGA’s ‘death knell’ - alternet.org • Republicans quickly turn against Pete Hegseth after midterms rout - reddit.com • The GOP is secretly celebrating an electoral collapse - alternet.org • Trump weighs making Pete Hegseth the fall guy for Republicans’ crushing midterms loss: ‘Knives are definitely out’ - nypost.com • Frothing right-wing anchor tears into GOP leaders over midterm beatdown - alternet.org • The End of Fox News Republicanism - nationalreview.com • He’s the Scapegoat of the Right. I Spent Election Night With Him. It Was a Surreal Trip. - slate.com • MAGA media scrambles to form a circular firing squad - salon.com • Pete Hegseth, the first victim of the Republican rout? Speculation over his ouster grows - firstpost.com • From fire and fury to election fall guy – why Pete Hegseth has become top target for Trump in elections failure fallout - independent.ie • Los republicanos se vuelven rápidamente contra Pete Hegseth tras la debacle en las elecciones intermedias - krdo.com • Republicanos se voltam contra Pete Hegseth após derrota nas Midterms - cnnbrasil.com.br • Ex-MAGA firebrand drops craziest midterm conspiracy theory about Trump - cleveland.com • Will Trump Sacrifice Pete Hegseth? Inside The Republican Blame Game After Midterm Loss - news18.com • Trump rules out firing Pete Hegseth after reports of possible replacement following GOP midterm losses | Hindustan Times - hindustantimes.com • Valgfornektere, våpeninfluensere og konspirasjonsteoretikere: Her er MAGA-profilene som røk i natt - filternyheter.no • Trump hammers Fox News, blaming network for GOP losses as ratings slide - cnbc.com • Trump might be gearing up to fire Pete Hegseth after all - independent.co.uk • It’s the war, stupid. The hawks brought down the Republicans - israelpalestinenews.org • Knives Are Out in the White House - wired.com • Na de oplawaai in de midterms: wordt Pete Hegseth de zondebok van Donald Trump? - knack.be • Hegseth faces Republican revolt over Iran war after crushing midterm defeat — report - trtworld.com • Trump Weighs Replacing Pete Hegseth As US Secretary Of War After Midterm Losses; Ron DeSantis Emerges As Potential Successor - freepressjournal.in • ‘Dumb As A Rock’: Trump Rages At Fox News Over Midterm Coverage, Says Network Is ‘Against Me’ - news18.com • തോല്‍വിക്ക് പിന്നാലെ പീറ്റ് ഹെഗ്‌സെത്തിനെതിരെ റിപ്പബ്ലിക്കന്‍സും; ഇംപീച്ച്മെന്റ് നേരിടാന്‍ സാധ്യത, ട്രംപ് ഭരണകൂടത്തിലെ പ്രമുഖര്‍ക്ക് സ്ഥാനം തെറിച്ചേക്കും - suprabhaatham.com • Pete Hegseth could face fallout from GOP midterm losses amid impeachment push - thenews.com.pk --- 📰 Story aggregated by Kagi News