The Senate voted 78-22 on Tuesday to confirm Antony Blinken as secretary of state.
Why it matters: Blinken, a longtime adviser to President Biden, will lead the administration’s diplomatic efforts to re-engage with the world after four years of former President Trump’s “America first” policy.
Background: Blinken is a French-speaker and step-son of a Holocaust survivor whose stories he credits with shaping his worldview. Like Biden, Blinken is a committed multilateralist and advocate for the United States as a leading force for good in the world. Continue reading.