American Politics Today

New Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel Addresses Pentagon Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel can now start moving in. We’re hearing the new crew he’s expected to keep close includes Marcel J. Lettre, who had been outgoing Secretary Leon Panetta’s deputy chief of staff and is now acting chief of staff to the new SecDef. Word is that he’ll get the “acting” removed very shortly. Also, Aaron Dowd, a former Hagel Senate staffer and his top aide at Georgetown University/Atlantic Council, is roaming the Pentagon these days and will likely get a staff job in the E-Ring. http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/video/chuck-hagel-sworn-secretary-defense-addresses-pentagon-18607994

  Confession stealing doughnuts.               Time to steal some doughnuts! Apparently, that's also the way to steal the heart of Gov. Chris Christie. In an interview with talk-show queen Oprah Winfrey, set to air this weekend on Oprah's new cable television network, the hefty New Jersey leader said he knew he had found a partner for life in wife Mary Pat when she suggested making an illicit late-night doughnut run. The governor and Winfrey also dished about their struggle with weight and presidential politics. A full transcript of the interview was obtained in advance by The Associated Press. The hourlong interview, filmed at Christie's home in Mendham, is airing Sunday at 9 p.m. EST on the Oprah Winfrey Network. Asked by Winfrey what drew him to Mary Pat, whom he met at the University of Delaware in the 1980s when they were both involved in student government, he said it was her independence, her faith, and becau...