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WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump's pick for intelligence chief, Tulsi Gabbard, faced fresh scrutiny Monday on Capitol Hill about her proximity to Russian-ally Syria amid the sudden collapse of that country's hardline Assad rule. Gabbard ignored shouted questions about her 2017 visit to war-torn Syria as she ducked into one of several private meetings with senators who are being asked to confirm Trump's unusual nominees . But the Democrat-turned-Republican Army National Reserve lieutenant colonel delivered a statement in which she reiterated her support for Trump's America First approach to national security and a more limited U.S. military footprint overseas. “I want to address the issue that’s in the headlines right now: I stand in full support and wholeheartedly agree with the statements that President Trump has made over these last few days with regards to the developments in Syria,” Gabbard said exiting a Senate meeting. The incoming president’s Cabinet and top administrative choices are dividing his Republican allies and drawing concern , if not full opposition, from Democrats and others. Not just Gabbard, but other Trump nominees including Pentagon pick Pete Hegseth, were back at the Capitol ahead of what is expected to be volatile confirmation hearings next year. The incoming president is working to put his team in place for an ambitious agenda of mass immigrant deportations, firing federal workers and rollbacks of U.S. support for Ukraine and NATO allies. “We’re going to sit down and visit, that’s what this is all about,” said Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D., as he welcomed Gabbard into his office. The president-elect announced other appointments Monday, including his lawyer Harmeet Dhillon for assistant attorney general for civil rights at the Justice Department and Mark Paoletta as the returning general counsel of the Office of Management and Budget. Meanwhile, Defense Secretary pick Hegseth appeared to be picking up support from once-skeptical senators, the former Army National Guard major denying sexual misconduct allegations and pledging not to drink alcohol if he is confirmed. The president-elect's choice to lead the FBI, Kash Patel , who has written extensively about locking up Trump's foes and proposed dismantling the Federal Bureau of Investigation, launched his first visits with senators Monday. “I expect our Republican Senate is going to confirm all of President Trump’s nominees,” said Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., on social media. Despite widespread concern about the nominees' qualifications and demeanors for the jobs that are among the highest positions in the U.S. government, Trump's team is portraying the criticism against them as nothing more than political smears and innuendo. Showing that concern, nearly 100 former senior U.S. diplomats and intelligence and national security officials have urged Senate leaders to schedule closed-door hearings to allow for a full review of the government’s files on Gabbard. Trump's allies have described the criticisms of Hegseth in particular as similar to those lodged against Brett Kavanaugh, the former president's Supreme Court nominee who denied a sexual assault allegation and went on to be confirmed during Trump's first term in office. Said Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., about Hegseth: “Anonymous accusations are trying to destroy reputations again. We saw this with Kavanaugh. I won’t stand for it.” One widely watched Republican, Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa, herself a former Army National Guard lieutenant colonel and sexual assault survivor who had been criticized by Trump allies for her cool reception to Hegseth, appeared more open to him after their follow-up meeting Monday. “I appreciate Pete Hegseth’s responsiveness and respect for the process,” Ernst said in a statement. Ernst said that following “encouraging conversations,” he had committed to selecting a senior official who will "prioritize and strengthen my work to prevent sexual assault within the ranks. As I support Pete through this process, I look forward to a fair hearing based on truth, not anonymous sources.” Ernst also had praise for Patel — “He shares my passion for shaking up federal agencies" — and for Gabbard. Once a rising Democratic star, Gabbard, who represented Hawaii in Congress, arrived a decade ago in Washington, her surfboard in tow, a new generation of potential leaders. She ran unsuccessfully for president in 2020. But Gabbard abruptly left the party and briefly became an independent before joining with Trump's 2024 campaign as one of his enthusiasts, in large part over his disdain for U.S. involvement overseas and opposition to helping Ukraine battle Russia. Her visit to Syria to meet with then-President Bashar Assad around the time of Trump's first inauguration during the country's bloody civil war stunned her former colleagues and the Washington national security establishment. The U.S. had severed diplomatic relations with Syria. Her visit was seen by some as legitimizing a brutal leader who was accused of war crimes. Gabbard has defended the trip, saying it's important to open dialogue, but critics hear in her commentary echoes of Russia-fueled talking points. Assad fled to Moscow over the weekend after Islamist rebels overtook Syria in a surprise attack, ending his family's five decades of rule. She said her own views have been shaped by “my multiple deployments and seeing firsthand the cost of war and the threat of Islamist terrorism.” Gabbard said, “It's one of the many reasons why I appreciate President Trump’s leadership and his election, where he is fully committed, as he has said over and over, to bring about an end to wars.” Last week, the nearly 100 former officials, who served in both Democratic and Republican administrations, said in the letter to Senate leaders they were “alarmed” by the choice of Gabbard to oversee all 18 U.S. intelligence agencies. They said her past actions “call into question her ability to deliver unbiased intelligence briefings to the President, Congress, and to the entire national security apparatus.” The Office of the Director of National Intelligence was created after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks to coordinate the nation’s intelligence agencies and act as the president’s main intelligence adviser. Associated Press writer Stephen Groves contributed to this report.None

MITCHELL — As a new season of high school basketball tips off across South Dakota, the inaugural set of South Dakota Prep Media basketball polls for 2024-25 has been unveiled. Four defending state champions from last season start with No. 1 rankings, including all three girls title winners from a year ago. Three of the six classes have clear preseason favorites, while the other three races for the top spot were decided by just a couple of votes. ADVERTISEMENT Here are the preseason polls and a breakdown of the initial rankings. The preseason South Dakota Prep Media basketball polls for the week of Dec. 9, 2024, are listed below, ranking the top-five teams in each class. First-place votes are indicated in parentheses and teams are ranked by total points received. 1. Mitchell (13) 69; 2. Sioux Falls Washington 49; 3. Sioux Falls Lincoln 24; 4. Huron 23; 5. O’Gorman 15. Others receiving votes: Brandon Valley 14, Harrisburg (1) 9, Sioux Falls Roosevelt 4, Sioux Falls Jefferson 3. Kernels in control: With much of its roster returning following a 23-1 state championship season a year ago, Mitchell opens as a heavy favorite in the Class AA boys ranks, collecting 13 of 14 first-place votes and checking in 20 votes clear of No. 2 Sioux Falls Washington. Last season, the Kernels took over the No. 1 ranking on Jan. 22 and held it over the final five weeks of polling. Behind Washington, which was fourth at the 2024 state tournament, Sioux Falls Lincoln and O’Gorman slotted in at No. 3 and No. 5, respectively, though neither qualified for the state tournament. Huron, which finished seventh, starts at No. 4. Harrisburg, the No. 2 seed (and third-place finisher) at last season’s state tournament and the lone team to defeat Mitchell in 2023-24 (a 62-53 overtime final), was not among the top five but did receive the only first-place vote that didn’t go to the Kernels. ADVERTISEMENT 1. Sioux Falls Christian (8) 64; 2. Hamlin (6) 62; 3. Dakota Valley 31; 4. Rapid City Christian 23; 5. Pine Ridge 16. Others receiving votes: Lennox 9, Sioux Valley 2, Dell Rapids 1, Vermillion 1, St. Thomas More 1. Let’s try this again: A year ago, Sioux Falls Christian opened as the preseason Class A boys No. 1 and maintained that position from start to finish with a 20-0 regular-season record. The Chargers did not graduate a single player from their 2023-24 varsity roster that made the state championship game and went 25-1, with the returners headlined by South Dakota State commit Griffen Goodbary. SFC received eight top votes, edging out defending champion Hamlin for the No. 1 ranking. Hamlin defeated SFC 53-50 in overtime for the state title last season, finishing 23-3, and similarly brings back a large core of its roster. Behind the two Chargers squads, Dakota Valley is No. 3, followed by No. 4 Rapid City Christian and No. 5 Pine Ridge. All five teams were in the top six places at last season’s state tournament. 1. Castlewood (8) 62; 2. Viborg-Hurley (5) 60; 3. Gregory 27; 4. Dell Rapids St. Mary 26; 5. Wessington Springs 15. Others receiving votes: Howard 11, De Smet (1) 6, Aberdeen Christian 2, Leola-Frederick Area 1. You’re new here: For the first time since 2018, the top Class B boys team in the preseason poll isn’t De Smet or White River, as Castlewood claimed the No. 1 ranking. Last season, the Warriors started the season ranked No. 2, appeared in every poll, took third place at the state tournament and posted a 22-4 record. ADVERTISEMENT Castlewood garnered eight first-place votes and 62 vote points, followed closely by Viborg-Hurley with five top votes and 60 vote points. De Smet, which has appeared in five consecutive state title games, received the remaining first-place vote but was not among the top five. Elsewhere in the top five, Gregory, Dell Rapids St. Mary and Wessington Springs slotted in at slots 3-4-5, respectively. Defending champion Howard was just outside of the rankings as the top vote-getter beyond the top five. 1. O’Gorman (3) 59; 2. Brandon Valley (9) 58; 3. Sioux Falls Washington 31; 4. Rapid City Stevens 28; 5. Sioux Falls Jefferson (2) 22. Others receiving votes: Harrisburg 8, Pierre 3, Spearfish 1. Close call: After completing the only unbeaten season in South Dakota high school hoops last season, O’Gorman begins a new campaign as the slight Class AA girls favorite. The Knights received three first-place votes and 59 vote points, sliding in just ahead of Brandon Valley, last season’s runner-up, which grabbed nine top votes and 58 points. Sioux Falls Jefferson nabbed the remaining two first-place votes and is No. 5 in the preseason poll, with Sioux Falls Washington at No. 3 and Rapid City Stevens at No. 4. ADVERTISEMENT 1. Vermillion (11) 66; 2. Sioux Falls Christian (2) 50; T-3. Hamlin (1) 20; T-3. Wagner 20; 5. Mahpiya Luta 19. Others receiving votes: Sisseton 12, Lennox 11, Mount Vernon/Plankinton 6, Dakota Valley 5. Tanagers take top spot: Though not ranked in the top five at the end of the 2023-24 regular season, Vermillion earned the No. 4 state tournament seed and won a state championship with a record of 22-4. Led by USD commit Brooke Jensen and rising freshman star Taylor Reuvers, the Tanagers begin their title defense with 11 first-place votes and the No. 1 ranking. No. 2 Sioux Falls Christian and Hamlin, which tied with Wagner for the No. 3 ranking, also garnered top votes. Mahpiya Luta rounded out the rankings at No. 5. 1. Centerville (13) 69; 2. Ethan 47; 3. Sanborn Central/Woonsocket (1) 27; 4. Parkston 26; 5. Lyman 25. Others receiving votes: Arlington 12, Gayville-Volin 2, Andes Central/Dakota Christian 1, Warner 1. Centerville of attention: To end the 2023-24 regular season, Centerville was the top-ranked squad in the media polls, and though the Tornadoes were the No. 3 seed in the state tournament, they marched to a state title. Centerville, which earned 13 of 14 first-place votes in the preseason poll, graduated three players but brings back a strong contingent from a title-winning roster that turned in a record of 24-2. ADVERTISEMENT Behind Centerville, Ethan starts at No. 2, while Sanborn Central/Woonsocket received the spare first-place vote and checked in at No. 3, just ahead of No. 4 Parkston and No. 5 Lyman.