Ayaneo builds the best-looking handheld PCs in the business, but theyve always been boutique. The 2023 Ayaneo 2, for example, cost $1,300 for an arguably worse experience than the $400 Steam Deck. But that experience isnt dampening my excitement for the new 7-inch Ayaneo 3. Not only does this one start at $900, within striking distance of the highest-end handhelds youll find at retail, its the most feature-packed portable Ive seen with two USB4 ports and OcuLink and RGB-ringed Hall effect joysticks and your choice of two seemingly killer screens. Perhaps most exciting: a way to finally fix a handhelds joystick and button layout to match your ergonomic preferences!Just watch:Finally. Animation by AyaneoAyaneo is calling the Ayaneo 3 the worlds first modular handheld, because therell be other modular options too. An extra $139 buys a set of six modules that let you swap out your joysticks for analog sticks, a six-button microswitch pad for fighting games, or even D-pads and face buttons with conductive silicone underneath for a different feel. Six modules and extra joystick toppers come with the Magic Module kit. Image: AyaneoBut importantly, that basic module that lets you change joystick and button orientation and swap joystick caps comes with the handheld by default, and its not the only feature Ayaneo is impressively cramming into the $900 kit. While youll only get a Ryzen 8840U, 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM, and 512GB of storage that that price no Z2 option, and the HX 370 model starts at $1500 you do get your choice of OLED or IPS right away. That OLED screen is a 1080p 144Hz HDR OLED panel promising 800 nits of global brightness and 110 percent of the DCI-P3 color gamut, specs which suggest it could even beat the Steam Deck OLEDs excellent screen.An actual photo of the Ayaneo 3. Image: AyaneoLike the Deck OLED, it unfortunately doesnt have variable refresh rate for added smoothness but if thats important, the IPS panel option does! That ones a 120Hz, 500-nit, native landscape 1080p display, according to the company, with 7ms response time and only 100 percent sRGB coverage (read: nowhere near as colorful as the OLED panel). On top of all that, the Ayaneo 3 comes standard with both top and bottom USB4 ports, both of which are capable of 65W PD charging, plus the still-rare-on-handhelds Oculink port for eGPUs, and it takes full-length M.2 2280 SSDs for easy storage upgrades.Plus, theres a dedicated hardware mode switch on the bottom edge to switch the controller and virtual-mouse-and-keyboard modes. I doubt that will make up for the current state of Windows, but it could help! Also, new trigger locks for its Hall effect triggers, if you want to switch them into a hair trigger mode.I do have a few hesitations, even without having touched the Ayaneo 3. First, the company says its modules electronically latch into the frame you have to eject them by pressing a software button, which activates a motor to release the latch. Sounds potentially fiddly?Second, Im sorry to report that this 1.5-pound handheld only fits a 49 watt-hour battery, even though the Asus ROG Ally X manages to fit an 80 watt-hour pack into roughly the same weight. Fingers crossed, but I wouldnt expect great battery life here with neither a giant battery pack nor a particularly handheld-optimized chip.Lastly, its always important to point out that these products are crowdfunded, and while Ayaneo has a history of delivering its promised handhelds, they havent always been great and this is the most ambitious one yet. If that sounds worthwhile, you can find the Ayaneo 3 on Indiegogo here. The company says the handheld should ship at the end of April; heres the whole price breakdown. Image: Ayaneo

LatestMachine LearningMachine Learning in Healthcare 0 like January 24, 2025Share this postAuthor(s): Rohan Rao Originally published on Towards AI. Diabetes Prediction with MLThis member-only story is on us. Upgrade to access all of Medium.Photo by Stephen Dawson on UnsplashHow cool it sounds Machine Learning In Healthcare to you? It sounds more than a miracle to me. Machine learning trying to get on things in healthcare.I used to think what about doctors who has worked hard in this industry? Would they really accept a machines verdict?But as the time went on, I realized it has already started improving right from diagnosis and patients treatment, till patients monitoring and predicting health results.Using machine learning techniques/algorithms, we would try to predict whether a patient has diabetes or not. Seems simple? Sounds simple, but anything in healthcare has huge risk if proper accuracy is not achieved.In this article, our intention would just be understanding how machine learning technique could be used in healthcare problem and finding its solution.Lets get on to this job!For any machine learning prediction model building, from technology part we would require the following things:Python https://www.python.org/downloads/Jupyter Lab https://jupyter.org/installKaggle https://www.kaggle.com/code/melikedilekci/diabetes-dataset-for-beginners/inputKaggle is basically a hub of dataset for machine learning and data analysis. You would get free sample dataset for your model training Its absolutely FREE! (Well some dataset are Read the full blog for free on Medium.Join thousands of data leaders on the AI newsletter. Join over 80,000 subscribers and keep up to date with the latest developments in AI. From research to projects and ideas. If you are building an AI startup, an AI-related product, or a service, we invite you to consider becoming asponsor. Published via Towards AITowards AI - Medium Share this post

LatestMachine LearningAgents Are All You Need vs. Agents Are Not Enough: A Dueling Perspective on AIs Future 0 like January 24, 2025Share this postAuthor(s): Emil Walleser, DVM, PhD Originally published on Towards AI. This member-only story is on us. Upgrade to access all of Medium.The rapid evolution of artificial intelligence (AI) has sparked a compelling debate: Are autonomous agents sufficient to tackle complex tasks, or do they require integration within broader ecosystems to achieve optimal performance? As industry leaders and researchers share insights, the divide between these perspectives has grown more pronounced.Photo by Maximalfocus on UnsplashAn AI agent is an autonomous program designed to perform tasks on behalf of a user. These agents range from simple systems, such as thermostats that adjust temperature based on sensor input, to advanced applications like virtual assistants scheduling appointments or autonomous vehicles navigating traffic. AI agents distinguish themselves by learning, adapting, and making decisions independently, often using machine learning, natural language processing techniques, and access to outside tools. Their ability to offload repetitive and increasingly complext tasks has made them the hot topic and 2025 being declared The Year of the AI Agent.While the concept of AI agents isnt new dating back to symbolic systems in the 1950s and expert systems in the 1980s recent advancements in large language models (LLMs) have revitalized their potential. LLMs excel at mapping complex dynamics, such as interpreting human Read the full blog for free on Medium.Join thousands of data leaders on the AI newsletter. Join over 80,000 subscribers and keep up to date with the latest developments in AI. From research to projects and ideas. If you are building an AI startup, an AI-related product, or a service, we invite you to consider becoming asponsor. Published via Towards AITowards AI - Medium Share this post

Looking for the most recentregular Connections answers? Click here for today's Connections hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle and Strands puzzles.Oh come on, New York Times. Today'sConnections: Sports Editionwas likely tough for most players, but that blue category especially was a huge stumper for me. Read on for hints and answers for today's Connections: Sports Edition puzzle.For now, the game is in beta, which means the Times is testing it out to see if it's popular before adding it to the site's Games app. You can play it daily for now for free and then we'll have to see if it sticks around.Read more: NYT Has a Connections Game for Sports Fans. I Tried ItHints for today's Connections: Sports Edition groupsHere are four hints for the groupings in today's Connections: Sports Edition puzzle, ranked from the easiest yellow group to the tough (and sometimes bizarre) purple group.Yellow group hint: Ouch!Green group hint: State below Washington.Blue group hint: First-year success.Purple group hint:Same first name.Answers for today's Connections: Sports Edition groupsYellow group: Soreness.Green group: An Oregon athlete.Blue group: Rookie QBs to reach conference championship.Purple group:Jalen ____.Read more: Wordle Cheat Sheet: Here Are the Most Popular Letters Used in English WordsWhat are today's Connections: Sports Edition answers? The completed NYT Connections: Sports Edition puzzle for Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025. NYT/Screenshot by CNETThe yellow words in today's ConnectionsThe theme is soreness. The four answers are ache, discomfort, pain and sting.The green words in today's ConnectionsThe theme is an Oregon athlete. The four answers are Beaver, Thorn, Timber and Trail Blazer.The blue words in today's ConnectionsThe theme is rookie QBs to reach conference championship. The four answers are Daniels, Flacco, Purdy and Sanchez.The purple words in today's ConnectionsThe theme is Jalen ____. The four answers are Brunson, Hurts, Ramsey and Rose.

Cash App users who were victims of fraud may have money coming their way, after the app's parent company was fined $175 million for "weak" security measures and poor customer service.The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accused Cash App's parent company, Block, Inc., of unfair customer practices and ordered the company to pay fines for violations that included:Not providing effective customer service for Cash App customers to solve problems in a timely manner. The bureau's report stated that fake customer service lines stole customers' information.Not taking appropriate action to "detect, limit and address fraud" on Cash App.Using the chargeback process instead of investigating and solving unauthorized transaction disputes in a timely manner.Misrepresenting its ability to protect customers from unauthorized transfers and its customer support phone line.The CFPB ordered Block to update its business practices to comply with the law, pay between $75 and $120 million to users whose unauthorized transfers weren't investigated and send a $55 million penalty to the CFPB's victim relief fund.Block agreed to the settlement but disagreed with the CFPB's characterizations of the company's actions. "We made the decision to settle this matter in the interest of putting it behind us and focusing on what's best for our customers and our business," the company said in anonline statement. "The historical issues raised in this agreement do not reflect the Cash App experience today."Cash App now has multiple ways to receive live support and has an online dispute tool, the statement said. The payment app also offers a payment warning tool that can help alert you if your transaction may be part of a scam.If you reported an unauthorized transaction onCash Appand didn't receive customer support, you may be entitled to a refund. Here's what you need to know.How to get your refund from Cash AppIf you believe you were impacted by Cash App's violations, there's no action you need to take to request a refund. Inmost cases, companies pay the CFPB, and then the federal agency or a payment administrator distributes the refunds to impacted parties. Specifics on how much money impacted users can expect from Cash App or the timing of the refunds are still unclear.For now, you can watch your email and physical mail for further information. You can also check your bank account for a refund from the settlement. We'll keep you updated as we learn more.If you have additional questions, you can contact Cash App's customer support line at 1-800-969-1940. More personal finance news

TAMPA, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 15: Tyron Woodley works out during a media workout at the Seminole Hard ... [+] Rock Tampa pool prior to her December 18th fight against Jake Paul on December 15, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)Getty ImagesThe inaugural Global Fight League draft took place virtually on Friday, January 24. The draft saw dozens of UFC, Bellator, and Professional Fighters League veterans selected to the six MMA teams.The fights begin in April, and the season runs for six months with a monthly event through the playoffs and finals. There were a total of 120 draft picks. The teams are London, So Paulo, New York, Dubai, Los Angeles, and Miami.Dubai selected Tyron Woodley as the No. 1 overall selection. The draft was conducted in a serpentine format, with many of the fighters landing in regions close to where they live or train.Here is a look at all of the draft picks.Global Fight League Draft ResultsLondonChiara Penco - Womens AtomweightKelly Staddon - Womens AtomweightJosefine Knutsson - Womens StrawweightKarolina Owczarz - Womens StrawweightJulia Budd - Womens BantamweightPannie Kianzad - Womens BantamweightCameron Else - Mens BantamweightJosh Hill - Mens BantamweightBrett Johns - FeatherweightMike Grundy - FeatherweightBenson Henderson - LightweightTim Wilde - LightweightDanny Roberts - WelterweightNorman Parke - WelterweightGegard Mousasi - MiddleweightMariusz Ksiazkiewicz - MiddleweightAlexander Gustafsson - Light HeavyweightIlir Latifi - Light HeavyweightStuart Austin - HeavyweightTanner Boser - Light HeavyweightLos AngelesMORE FOR YOUCory McKenna - Womens AtomweightJessica Penne - Womens AtomweightIlimia-Lei MacFarlane - Womens AtomweightCynthia Calvillo - Womens StrawweightAspen Ladd - Womens BantamweightLeslie Smith - Womens BantamweightRay Borg - Mens BantamweightUrijah Faber - Mens BantamweightChad Mendes - FeatherweightTyler Diamond - FeatherweightSage Northcutt - LightweightTony Ferguson - LightweightLorenz Larkin - WelterweightLouis Glismann - WelterweightGrant Neal - MiddleweightUriah Hall - MiddleweightDa Woon Jung - Light HeavyweightRashad Evans - Light HeavyweightFrank Mir - HeavyweightAndrei Arlovski - HeavyweightDubaiAnastasia Nikolakakos - Womens AtomweightJessica Aguilar - Womens AtomweightFaine Mesquita - Womens StrawweightRandi Field - Womens StrawweightAlex Conners - Womens BantamweightArlene Blencowe - Womens BantamweightFarboo Iran Nezhad - Mens BantamweightTimur Valiev - Mens BantamweightAoilet Nurmatov - FeatherweightKhumoyun Tukhtamurodov - FeatherweightDamir Ismagulov - LightweightTofiq Musayev - LightweightAbubakar Nurmagomedov - WelterweightTyron Woodley - WelterweightDerek Brunson - MiddleweightLuke Rockhold - MiddleweightOmari Akhmedov - Light HeavyweightRonny Markes - Light HeavyweightAli Isaev - HeavyweightTodd Duffee - HeavyweightMiamiKayla Hracho - Womens AtomweightNatasha Kuziutina - Womens AtomweightHannah Goldy - Womens StrawweightPaige VanZant - Womens StrawweightCat Zingano - Womens BantamweightMariya Agapova - Womens BantamweightEric Shelton - Mens BantamweightMarlon Moraes - Mens BantamweightAndre Harrison - FeatherweightCharles Rosa - FeatherweightAnthony Pettis - LightweightJeremy Stephens - LightweightDilano Taylor - WelterweightGleison Tibau - WelterweightHector Lombard - MiddleweightYoel Romero - MiddleweightPhilipe Lins - Light HeavyweightThiago Santos - Light HeavyweightRobelis Despaigne - HeavyweightJunior dos Santos - HeavyweightSao PauloJoice Mara - Womens AtomweightPamela Mara - Womens AtomweightCamila Reynoso - Womens AtomweightViviane Pereira - Womens StrawweightAlejandra Lara - Womens BantamweightPaula Bittencourt - Womens BantamweightRaphael Assuncao - Mens BantamweightRenan Barao - Mens BantamweightJulio Arce - FeatherweightMaike Linhares - FeatherweightPatricky Pitbull - LightweightLucas Martins - LightweightAlex Oliveira - WelterweightCarlos Petruzzella - WelterweightAlan Patrick - MiddleweightDouglas Lima - MiddleweightAntonio Carlos Jr. - Light HeavyweightMaurico Rua - Light HeavyweightBruno Cappelozza - HeavyweightFabricio Werdum - HeavyweightNew YorkBi Nguyen - Womens AtomweightMarisa Messer-Belenchia - Womens AtomweightMelissa Amaya - Womens StrawweightMiao Ding - Womens StrawweightHolly Holm - Womens BantamweightLiana Jojua - Womens BantamweightJimmie Rivera - Mens BantamweightZviad Lazishvili - Mens BantamweightLance Palmer - FeatherweightKai Kamaka III - FeatherweightSidney Outlaw - LightweightKevin Lee - LightweightNeiman Gracie - WelterweightDillon Danis - WelterweightPhillip Hawes - MiddleweightChris Weidman - MiddleweightDevin Clark - Light HeavyweightOvince Saint Preux - Light HeavyweightAlan Belcher - HeavyweightAleksei Oleynik - HeavyweightThe draft show wasnt horrible though there were some bumps (leaks and misspellings) as well as some awkward commentary from UFC legend Mike Goldberg. Still, overall the intrigue likely grew after this stream.There are some names that will draw some interest. Well see if the GFL can continue on and establish some momentum.

Answers for today's NYT Mini Crossword are just ahead.New York TimesIn case you missed Fridays NYT Mini, you can find the answers here:Wondering what kind of mark trunks might leave? Not sure how many things I hate about you there are in a rom-com title? Dont worry, because I'm here to help you with the answers for today's NYT Mini crossword.The NYT Mini is a quick and dirty version of the newspaper's larger and long-running crossword. Most days, there are between three and five clues in each direction on a five by five grid, but the puzzles are sometimes larger, especially on Saturdays.Unlike its larger sibling, the NYT Mini crossword is free to play on the New York Times website or NYT Games app. However, youll need an NYT Games subscription to access previous puzzles in the archives.MORE FOR YOUTo help you avoid getting stuck and having to reveal missing letters, here are the NYT Mini Crossword answers for Saturday, January 25 (spoilers lie ahead, of course):NYT Mini Crossword Clues And AnswersNYT Mini Across Answers1 Across: Comfy slip-on shoes, for short MOCS5 Across: Convincing evidence PROOF7 Across: Why you might breathe into a paper bag or drink water upside down HICCUPS10 Across: Start arguing GO AT IT11 Across: Mark left by trunks, perhaps TANLINE12 Across: Bird of Australia EMU13 Across: Bruce who starred in Enter the Dragon LEE14 Across: Small issue to pick NIT15 Across: Clairvoyant's gift, for short E.S.P.NYT Mini Down Answers1 Down: Speed limit abbr. M.P.H.2 Down: Art form with folding ORIGAMI3 Down: ___ milk is a natural laxative. That's something Gilligan never told us (Cast Away line) COCONUT 4 Down: Where L.A. and San Diego are, casually SO. CAL6 Down: Utterly hopeless FUTILE8 Down: Trees with needles PINES9 Down: Like a big roller coaster drop STEEP11 Down: Number of "things I hate about you," in a rom-com title TENCompleted New York Times Mini crossword for Saturday, January 24New York TimesIt took me 1:40 to complete today's NYT Mini.Aside from HICCUPS (which coincidentally I had as I was completing todays crossword), I struggled with the Across clues until I got to the last few. I was able to get EMU, LEE and NIT quickly.I fared much better on the Down clues, though I missed the COCONUT and SO. CAL answers on my first pass. I really feel like I should have gotten those faster. Still, thats not a bad time at all for a Saturday Mini.Make sure to follow my blog for more coverage of the NYT Mini and other word games, as well as video game news, insights and analysis. It helps me out a lot! Also, follow me on Bluesky! Its fun there.

This gorgeous new image from the Hubble Space Telescope shows a bustling nearby star forming region called the Tarantula Nebula. Given its name due to its complex, web-like internal structure, this nebula is located in a satellite galaxy of the Milky Way called the Large Magellanic Cloud and is often studied by astronomers researching star formation and evolution.This new image shows the edges of the nebula, further out from its center. In the middle of the nebula are enormous stars that are as much as 200 times the mass of the sun, but here on the outskirts the view is calmer.Recommended VideosThe section of the nebula shown here features serene blue gas, brownish-orange dust patches, and a sprinkling of multicolored stars, Hubble scientists write. The stars within and behind the dust clouds appear redder than those that are unobscured by dust. Dust absorbs and scatters blue light more than red light, allowing more of the red light to reach our telescopes, which makes the stars appear redder than they are. This image incorporates ultraviolet and infrared light as well as visible light.Please enable Javascript to view this contentUsing Hubble observations of dusty nebulae in the Large Magellanic Cloud and other galaxies, researchers can study these distant dust grains, helping them better understand the role that cosmic dust plays in the formation of new stars and planets.Hubble has previously imaged the same nebula, with an image released in 2023 and another shared in 2020. You might also recognize the name of this nebula as it was made world famous when the James Webb Space Telescope selected it as one of its early targets, taking this gorgeous image in 2022:As per NASA: In this mosaic image stretching 340 light-years across, Webbs Near-Infrared Camera (NIRCam) displays the Tarantula Nebula star-forming region in a new light, including tens of thousands of never-before-seen young stars that were previously shrouded in cosmic dust. The most active region appears to sparkle with massive young stars, appearing pale blue. NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, Webb ERO Production TeamWhen stars are young, they give off large amounts of radiation and glow brightly, even more so than older stars like our sun. The process of star formation happens when there is enough dense dust and gas present in one area that it forms clumps, which attract more matter over time due to gravity, eventually forming knots which become the core of young stars, called protostars.Although there is some debate over the exact rate of star formation in the Milky Way, in general it is known that our galaxy produces far more stars compared to another nearby galaxy, the Andromeda galaxy. But the Large Magellanic Cloud, which is a much smaller galaxy, has both a high rate of star formation and is located close by, making it the ideal laboratory to study star formation. Instruments like Hubble and James Webb are revealing new information about how stars form in this busy next door galaxy.Editors Recommendations

President Donald Trump visited California on Friday to discuss the Los Angeles fires.During a roundtable with California officials, Trump promised to help fund relief efforts.The meeting came after weeks of Trump threatening to withhold federal funds for recovery.President Donald Trump traveled to California on Friday afternoon to meet with local leaders, pledging to provide federal disaster relief for people affected by the deadly wildfires ravaging the region.California Gov. Gavin Newsom greeted Trump cordially on the runway at the Los Angeles International Airport despite tense exchanges between the pair in recent weeks. The governor and president embraced briefly before addressing reporters for short remarks."We're going to need your support. We're going to need your help," Newsom said as he stood next to Trump. "You were there for us during COVID, I don't forget that, and I have all the expectations that we'll be able to work together to get this speedy recovery.""We are going to get it fixed, and we're going to get it permanently fixed," Trump responded, "We're looking to get something completed and the way you get it completed is to work together. They are going to need a lot of federal help."During a subsequent roundtable with California officials, Trump promised to help fund relief efforts but did not specify how much federal aid would be provided to the state. He also said he would issue an executive order to route more water from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta to Southern California and Central Valley for "beneficial use," echoing a statement in an earlier memo directed to the Secretary of Commerce and Secretary of the Interior.Trump's visit to the state came after the recently inaugurated president repeatedly criticized California's water policies and threatened to withhold federal aid to help Los Angeles recover from the Palisades and Eaton fires, which killed 28 people. AccuWeather estimates the economic damage from the wildfires totals more than $250 billion, making it one of the costliest wildfire disasters in modern US history.Newsom and Trump have had tense relations since the president's first term.sanctuary state" for immigrants in 2017 and the state's right to set its own vehicle emission standards. Trump canceled nearly $1 billion in federal grants for California's high-speed rail in 2019. Newsom also characterized Trump as a threat to American democracy throughout much of last year's presidential campaign, while Trump frequently refers to the governor as "Newscum." President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump walk with California Gov. Gavin Newsom after arriving on Air Force One. AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein Ahead of the meeting, the Los Angeles Times reported that Newsom had been excluded from a list of participants released by the White House who would attend the briefing.Over the past week, Trump also repeatedly accused Newsom of having water "pouring into the Pacific Ocean" and of creating "an inferno," including during a press conference on Tuesday where he announced massive funding for an AI initiative."I don't think we should give California anything until they let the water flow down," Trump said in an interview with Fox's Sean Hannity on Wednesday, referring to a perceived lack of water being diverted from Northern California to the more drought-prone south.Newsom's spokesperson, Izzy Gardon, told Business Insider the Governor is "committed to advocating for the needs of Californians in partnership with the federal administration."Representatives for Trump did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Business Insider.Los Angeles obtains water from various sources, mostly imported from outside the county. Aside from 660,000 acre-feet of local groundwater every year, a large amount of water comes from the city's 112-year-old aqueduct that runs from the Owens Valley east of the Sierra Nevadas. The city also imports"Presidents and their administrations do have the power to stop or delay disaster funds, although they rarely do," wrote Karrigan Brk, professor at the California Environmental Law and Policy Center at UC Davis, in a blog post, citing when the first Trump administration delayed $20 billion in disaster aidBrk also warned that interference from the president would fundamentally change authority over water rights from the state to the federal government, which would risk opposition from many western states, and that water flowing into the ocean is needed to keep salinity down so that water can remain fresh for human use.It remains unclear how much federal funding California will receive for Los Angeles. Trump said at an earlier stop in North Carolina on Friday that he might issue an executive order to "fundamentally reform and overhaul FEMA" or "recommend that FEMA go away."

Pete Hegseth has been confirmed as defense secretary after a tie-breaking vote by JD Vance.The outspoken Army National Guard veteran and former Fox News host faced major controversies.Hegseth's confirmation suggests major changes may be in store for the Pentagon.Vice President JD Vance on Friday delivered his first tie-breaking vote in the senate, confirming Pete Hegseth, a Trump confidant and Iraq veteran, as defense secretary after a contentious battle over his qualifications.Democrats and three Republicans questioned Hegseth's readiness to lead the Pentagon, as the US Army National Guard veteran and former "Fox & Friends" host lacks experience in the defense industry or running large organizations that have characterized past defense secretaries.Hegseth was barely confirmed on Friday night after a 50-50 Senate vote, which required a tie-breaking vote by Vance. Republican Senators Mitch McConnell from Kentucky, Susan Collins from Maine, and Lisa Murkowski from Alaska voted against Hegseth. All Democratic senators voted no.The confirmation was only the second time in US history that the Vice President has been required to break a tie for a cabinet appointment. The first was Betsy DeVos' 2017 confirmation as secretary of education during President Donald Trump's first term.Hegseth's confirmation is one of the closest ever for the position, which has often seen strong bipartisan support. For comparison, Lloyd Austin, a retired Army general tapped by formerHegseth's nail-bitter confirmation in the GOP-led Senate is a victory for Trump's unconventional Cabinet nominations. Since Trump announced his pick in November, Hegseth's personal history, controversial comments on culture war topics, and qualifications for the position have all been under fire.At the Fox News host's confirmation hearing in January, he faced intense questioning, walking back previous comments he made against women serving in combat roles and promising to bring a warrior ethos back to the Pentagon.He has also received support from many Republicans and veterans. Tim Kennedy, a retired Army Green Beret and mixed martial artist, has repeatedly advocated for Hegseth's candidacy, calling him "an agent of change." On Thursday, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, a South Dakota Republican, said that Hegseth would bring "a warrior's perspective to the role of defense secretary and will provide much-needed fresh air at the Pentagon."Hegseth's confirmation may bring radical changes to the Pentagon that had been resisted in Trump's first term. It was Hegseth who then advised Trump to pardon troops accused or convicted of war crimes over the objections of top Pentagon leaders who worried this would erode the discipline and order in their ranks. Senators questioned Hegseth about his personal life, views, and experience. Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images By rhetoric and background, Hegseth has been seen by lawmakers and officials as an unconventional pick.Hegseth, who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, was among a group of National Guard members who had their orders to secure then President-elect Joe Biden's inauguration revoked after the January 6 insurrection due to controversy over his tattoo of a Jerusalem cross; he also has a tattoo of a Christian motto that dates to the Crusades and has been adopted by the alt-right.Hegseth has also received backlash over his views of women serving in combat roles. During a podcast episode after Trump's reelection, Hegseth said, "I'm straight-up just saying we should not have women in combat roles," arguing it hurt the military's readiness. At his confirmation hearing in January, he took a different tone."Yes, women will have access to ground combat roles, given the standards remain high, and we'll have a review to ensure the standards have not been eroded in any one of these cases," Hegseth said, noting that if he's confirmed, he'll initiate a review of gender-neutral standards. Hegseth has said he wants to bring warrior ethos back to the Pentagon and will order a review of physical standards for military jobs. Andrew Harnik/Getty Images He has also been grilled about his drinking, beliefs against diversity, equity, and inclusion, and his personal history. During a media blitz to shore up his struggling candidacy, he vowed "there won't be a drop of alcohol on my lips" while he's the SECDEF.In November, sexual assault allegations against Hegseth from an incident in 2017 were made public. At the time, Hegseth told police that the encounter was consensual and denied any wrongdoing; he was never criminally charged. In November, he told reporters that the matter was fully investigated and he'd been cleared.Hegseth, an avowed opponent of the Defense Department's efforts to diversify its disproportionately white workforce, suggests major changes may be in store beyond the removal of any DEI or so-called"woke" policies.His selection by Trump is also a sign the White House is focused on purging the military's top ranks of purported"woke generals," along the lines of the"warrior board" reviews first reported by The Wall Street Journal.