AUSTIN’S BIG DAY: President-elect Joe Biden’s decision to nominate a retired four-star general to a job that by law must be filled by a civilian who has been out of uniform for at least seven years will put Lloyd Austin in the hot seat this afternoon, as he testifies at his Senate confirmation hearing to be defense secretary.

Democrats, with some notable exceptions, have been falling in line in hopes of giving Biden the person he says he needs to lead the Pentagon at a time of rising challenges from China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea.