Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is facing growing criticism from some Republicans, with a key senator now calling on President Donald Trump to replace him. It comes amid Hegseth’s reported plans to extend troop deployments in the Middle East, a sign that the conflict with Iran could drag into next year. Meanwhile, the war continues to escalate with Iran targeting U.S. sites across the region in response to a wave of American bombings earlier in the week. NBC’s Keir Simmons reports for TODAY.