, Columnist
With Austin Pick, Biden Faces His First Test
An immediately controversial nominee for defense secretary will demonstrate how the president-elect deals with adversity.
Trouble ahead?
Photographer: Brendan Smialowski/AFP
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President-elect Joe Biden had started out on a roll with his personnel choices. Democrats were happy, many neutral observers were happy, and even several Republicans approved of choices such as Ron Klain for White House chief of staff and Janet Yellen for Treasury secretary. Sure, there was some partisan opposition, and some occasional Democratic griping, but nothing major.