Evening Wire: Texas Refinery Explodes & Mullin Sworn In | 3.24.26

This Evening Wire episode delivers a fast-paced roundup of U.S. domestic incidents, government personnel changes, shutdown fallout, aviation probes, and scattered foreign policy notes, with emphasis on security roles amid ongoing disruptions.

Security Appointments and Funding Standoff

Markwayne Mullin was sworn in as Secretary of Homeland Security after a 54-45 Senate confirmation vote, with Democrats John Fetterman and Martin Heinrich crossing party lines. Heinrich cited the need for steady leadership during turbulence from the partial DHS shutdown. President Trump attended the ceremony, praising Mullin as the ideal pick. Energy executive Alan Armstrong will serve as interim senator for Mullin's Oklahoma seat until November elections.

Trump rejected a proposed funding deal for other DHS agencies in exchange for delaying ICE funding to a future reconciliation bill needing only Republican votes. He insisted on Democrats first supporting the Save America Act, while a GOP staffer noted existing ICE funding from last year's "one big beautiful bill act" already covers much of the need.