Reuters: “The U.S. Senate on Tuesday backed President Joe Biden’s nominee, veteran diplomat Antony Blinken, to serve as secretary of state. As voting continued, the 100-member Senate backed Blinken by 67-17, meaning he could be sworn in as the nation’s top diplomat later in the day. A simple majority was needed in the Democratic-controlled chamber for his confirmation. Blinken is a longtime Biden confidant who has been confirmed by the U.S. Senate before, most recently to serve as No. 2 at the State Department during former Democratic President Barack Obama’s administration, when Biden was vice president.”