12.11.2024 — The Day Cabinet Names Fell Into Place

Rise of ‘doom spending,’ the 4B movement, lowering your blood pressure: Catch up on the day’s stories

President-elect Trump pulled tech billionaire Elon Musk and his son into a family photo on election night. The moment can be seen in a recently-posted YouTube video titled “Kai Trump Election Night Vlog” from the president-elect’s granddaughter, who notably spoke at the Republican National Convention (RNC) this year. Trump is seen in the video taking...

Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL) will be a Republican Senate leader who will deliver Donald Trump’s agenda, he explained in an exclusive interview with Breitbart News.

Chris Wallace, the veteran newscaster who left Fox News after decades to join CNN's short-lived streaming service, will depart the network this fall. News of Wallace's departure was first reported by The Daily Beast. In a statement to The Hill late Monday, CNN CEO Mark Thompson called Wallace "one of the most respected political journalists...

According to his biographer, former President Barack Obama is concerned about his legacy after his involved efforts with the Kamala Harris presidential campaign, which ended unsuccessfully with Donald Trump winning the popular vote in addition to winning every single swing state.

Welcome to The Hill's Defense & NatSec newsletter {beacon} Defense &National Security Defense &National Security   The Big Story Trump taps fierce UN critic to serve as envoy to it President-elect Trump’s nomination of Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations sets the stage for one of the organization’s most vocal and combative...

Donald Trump is starting to fill key posts in his administration, putting an emphasis on allies who were his strongest backers during the 2024 campaign.

Republicans are projected to take control of the House of Representatives, giving the party a trifecta as Republicans also took control of the Senate and the presidency.

Rise of ‘doom spending,’ the 4B movement, lowering your blood pressure: Catch up on the day’s stories

Rep. Ken Calvert (R-Calif.) is projected to win reelection in his Southern California House seat, according to Decision Desk HQ. Calvert faced a challenge from Democrat Will Rollins, a former federal prosecutor, for California’s 41st Congressional District situated between Los Angeles and San Diego. The district narrowly went for Donald Trump by a point in 2020....

The Mountain fire could have been a second coming of the 2018 Woolsey fire or even the 2017 Thomas fire — if not for a few conditions that changed on the ground last week.

The race between Garcia and Whitesides to represent California’s 27th Congressional District was closely watched across the country as one of several swing districts that could help determine which party won control of the House.

Democrat George Whitesides is projected to defeat two-term Rep. Mike Garcia (R-Calif.), according to Decision Desk HQ. Whitesides, the former Virgin Galactic CEO who also served as NASA chief of staff during the Obama administration, won California’s 27th Congressional District, a northern Los Angeles-area House seat. Garcia’s defeat is notable because California’s 27th District was...

President-elect Trump appears to have settled on the Florida senator, who has taken hard-line positions on China, Iran and Venezuela, to be the top U.S. diplomat.

Chris Pratt and Katherine Schwarzenegger welcome baby

Hamas and Fatah, bitter rivals, aim to create an apolitical committee acceptable to Israel to oversee aid distribution and rebuilding.

RUBIO FOR SECSTATE

Capitol riot defendants​ are citing Trump's election​ in requests to postpone their cases because of his pledge to pardon some convicted of Jan. 6-related crimes​.

Rep. Ruben Gallego is set to become the first Latino senator to represent Arizona, with a projected win over Republican Kari Lake.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said sorry to some 200,000 survivors of physical and sexual abuse in institutions, which an inquiry called a “national disgrace.”

China debuted the J-35A jet at an airshow that was attended by a senior Russian national security official, underlining Beijing’s ever-closer bonds with Moscow.

LAUSD planned to change the admission policy for honors programs at elite schools, sparking debate over equitable access to programs for gifted students.

Democrats have long struggled to reach voters without a college education. That growing blind spot played an important role in Harris' loss.

Former President Trump’s election victory has sent a jolt of enthusiasm through the fossil fuel and mining industries as they anticipate a favorable regulatory environment under his incoming administration. The president-elect’s Republican allies, meanwhile, see a fresh opportunity for policies like long-stalled energy permitting reforms. Trump, who withdrew from the Paris Climate Agreement and rolled back numerous energy...

Legal aid centers report receiving hundreds of inquiries from immigrants wondering what they should do ahead of Trump’s promised mass deportations.

The public debut of new weapons at a Chinese airshow comes as concerns grow in Washington over Beijing’s expanding military power.

The NewsNation contributor called it a “unique time in history” that would give the former president a “free-fire zone” to implement his agenda.

Democrats need to engage in soul-searching to understand why they lost touch with the working class, but the American people also need to do some soul-searching about what's wrong with us, as Donald Trump has shattered basic values and half the country doesn't care.

These are not the staff picks of someone who doesn’t mean what he says.

President-elect Donald Trump is expected to take a slew of executive actions on his first day back at the White House, sources say.

Regulations Are Making It Harder To Meet the Nation's Power Demands

Control over the U.S. House of Representatives still hangs in the balance, teetering between a Republican or Democratic majority with more than a dozen races left to be called.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) is traveling to the nation’s capital this week amid a push to protect California’s policies from President-elect Trump, following his decisive victory in the White House race. The Democratic governor is seeking a $5.2 billion reimbursement for emergency funding, updates to California’s Medicaid program and other priorities during his meeting...

The driver was apprehended as he tried to flee, local authorities said, adding that an initial investigation suggested he was resentful over a divorce settlement.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) has invited Pennsylvania Republican David McCormick and Arizona Sen.-elect Ruben Gallego (D) to the Senate orientation this week after initially not extending an invitation to either man due to uncounted ballots in both races. Schumer’s decision to exclude McCormick was contentious, as the Associated Press had declared him...

Legal aid centers report receiving hundreds of inquiries from immigrants wondering what they should do ahead of Trump’s promised mass deportations.

At least 43 others were injured after the vehicle hit a group exercising in Zhuhai.

The decision follows a budget fight that prompted Chancellor Olaf Scholz to fire his finance minister and announce a confidence vote that is widely expected to fail.

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House GOP leadership will speak Tuesday morning after clinching the majority in last week's election, handing Republicans full control of Congress and the White House next year. Their remarks come as the House weighs whether to complete lawmakers' annual funding work by the Dec. 20 deadline or punt it to next year, when President-elect Trump...

At least 43 others were injured after the vehicle hit a group exercising in Zhuhai.

Mexicans make up half of immigrants living illegally in the U.S. The country could be the most vulnerable to a new Trump policy to deport the undocumented.

Get caught up on the biggest stories of the day with our newsletter.

The Ukrainians need the resources to fight, and time is running short.

Historian and political scientist Allan Lichtman is blaming disinformation and billionaire tech mogul Elon Musk for his incorrect prediction that Vice President Harris would win the presidency. "Number one, disinformation. We've always had disinformation, but disinformation has exploded to an unprecedented degree. You talked about a grievance election, but a lot of that grievance was...

He argued that moving manufacturing allowed the U.S. semiconductor industry to create more high-paying jobs at home. “We beat the Japanese,” he said.

Molly Olmstead

A Post analysis based on more than a dozen interviews found Israel has largely failed to comply with U.S. demands, bringing parts of northern Gaza closer to famine.

Congress is set to vote on bipartisan legislation that would allow the government to strip any nonprofit it deems a “terrorist-supporting organization” of tax-exempt status — potentially arming Donald Trump with a new tool against his opponents.

Trump's Reported National Security Advisor Supports Bombing Russia and Afghanistan

A judge is postponing a decision on whether to undo President-elect Donald Trump’s conviction in his hush money case because of a U.S.

Attack is latest in a string of violent acts. Xi called on authorities to “promptly resolve conflicts and disputes.”

A federal judge on Tuesday blocked a Louisiana law requiring that the Ten Commandments be displayed in all public school classrooms.   U.S. District Judge John deGravelles granted a preliminary injunction to a coalition of parents that sued the state, meaning Louisiana will not be allowed to require the Ten Commandments in classrooms while the...

Molly Olmstead

A New York court has put on hold the deadlines in President-elect Donald Trump's New York hush money case.

Democratic state attorneys general could be the last line of defense when Trump takes power again in January and begins implementing his extremist agenda.

Biden just finalized a major climate rule. This one could be tricky for Trump to dismantle

President-elect Trump’s picks include two New Yorkers, Representative Elise Stefanik and Lee Zeldin, who fought for him during his first impeachment.

Lina Khan’s controversial tenure as Federal Trade Commission (FTC) chair seems at an end with President-elect Trump’s win last week, removing a massive “thorn” in the side of large tech firms that faced additional scrutiny under her leadership. However, experts cautioned that Big Tech is not in the clear under a second Trump presidency, particularly...

A City Hall spokesperson confirmed that due to existing NYC laws, “we will not be providing any information about the undocumented to the federal government.”

And Biden has mere weeks to give the Ukrainians the resources they need to fight.

I wondered at the image of carnage right-wing pundits and podcasters project onto this glorious landscape.

The judge overseeing President-elect Donald Trump’s hush money trial is postponing a decision on whether to undo his conviction, due to a U.S. Supreme Court ruling on presidential immunity.

It can be hard to get a foothold in today’s tough housing market — even for folks who have been homeowners before.

Archbishop Justin Welby resigned under pressure over allegations that he had failed to act adequately against a serial child abuser.

State superintendents, outside organizers and even former rivals of President-elect Trump have all been floated as potential picks to lead his Department of Education.   Trump's Cabinet picks are coming fast and furious one week after his election, and the next Education secretary could also be the last, as Trump and his allies have regularly...

A report found Justin Welby took insufficient action into allegations against John Smyth, believed to be “the most prolific serial abuser” associated with the Church of England.

Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Ala.) said he believes President-elect Trump will move the Space Command to Alabama in his first week in office. During an interview with Mobile, Ala., radio FM Talk 106.5 that aired Monday, Rogers, who is the House Armed Services Committee chair, said he expects Trump will immediately reverse the decision made by...

And now the signs are everywhere that the corporate media have turned the corner into irrelevance…

Presented by Electronic Payments Coalition — Plus: The fate of Trump's hush money case {beacon} 12:30 REPORT It’s Tuesday. Capitol Hill is filled with freshly dry-cleaned suits this morning. That casual, seven-week fall recess has come to an end. Here’s what’s happening: DDHQ projects that Republicans have won the House. Trump has made nearly a...

Texas Sen. John Cornyn (R), who is locked in an intense three-way race to become the next Senate majority leader, is pledging to Republican senators that he will give them more opportunity to debate and amend bills on the Senate floor, responding to criticisms of current Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell’s (R-Ky.) style. “It’s no...

Billionaire investor John Paulson said Tuesday that he will not serve in President-elect Trump’s new administration amid speculation that he could be tapped to serve as Treasury secretary. “Although various media outlets have mentioned me as a candidate for Secretary of the Treasury, my complex financial obligations would prevent me from holding an official position...

Dropping poison in a drink. Serving food gone dangerously bad. Or, hiring hitmen to take out a foe.  Are those violent crimes? The Supreme Court appeared unconvinced Tuesday by a New York crime family associate’s argument that his conviction in a foiled murder-for-hire plot does not qualify as a “crime of violence” because he...

And now the signs are everywhere that the corporate media have turned the corner into irrelevance…

The probe comes as the court weighs Karim Khan’s request to issue arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.

Much of the reaction among show business and tech chief executives has been either explicitly supportive or generally hopeful.

Grover Norquist has won The Hill's 2024 elections contest, predicting that Republicans would control the White House, the House and the Senate next year.  The president of Americans for Tax Reform was the only one in the contest who saw the GOP trifecta coming. Norquist's crystal ball was spot on when he said President-elect Trump...

The wild, nonsensical world of toilet paper math, explained.

Democrat Ruben Gallego has won the Arizona Senate race.

Huckabee’s intended nomination comes as Trump has promised to align U.S. foreign policy more closely with Israel’s interests as it wages wars against Iran-backed Hamas and Hezbollah.

The head of the Church of England, who married Prince Harry and American actress Meghan Markle, is set to resign over his poor handling of a child sexual abuse case.

The United States will not withhold military aid from Israel, the State Department said Tuesday, despite the situation in Gaza not improving, according to aid groups and U.N. officials.

Oprah Winfrey says she didn’t take a “personal fee” for the event she did with Vice President Harris before the election. Winfrey was responding to a rumor that she was paid $1 million by the Harris campaign after they did a star-studded event in September. “I was not paid a dime. My time and energy...

Some of the hardest hit areas could require 7 inches or more of rain to end the dry spell fueling East Coast wildfires this fall.

The violent assaults have set off a charged debate over antisemitism in the Netherlands and the country’s success in integrating immigrants.

The National Institutes of Health, the crown jewel of biomedical research in the U.S., could face big changes under the new Trump administration, some fueled by pandemic-era criticisms of the agency.

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol is preparing for the return of golf diplomacy under President-elect Donald Trump.

President-elect Trump’s return to the White House has those in the artificial intelligence (AI) industry preparing for potential cutbacks in regulation and federal funding. From the launch of ChatGPT to the increased use of deepfakes, AI rapidly developed over the past four years, and Trump is heading back to the Oval Office amid a very different...

A Kentucky woman who wants an abortion filed a lawsuit Tuesday to strike down the state's near-total ban. The lawsuit alleges that the woman referred to as Mary Poe, who is about seven weeks pregnant, is suffering severe harms because the government has denied her access to the care she needs.   The complaint, filed...

Nitish Pahwa

Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders (R) announced she would not be joining President-elect Trump for a second term in the White House on Tuesday. “I've already announced my bid for reelection & I look forward to serving in this position for the next six years,” Huckabee Sanders said while answering questions after a scheduled speech...

Jack Teixeira's leak of classified documents about Ukraine and North Korea were described as 'shocking' and led to discipline for 15 service members.

Nitish Pahwa

The Biden administration says Israel has taken steps to improve humanitarian situation, but aid groups say conditions are dire.

Former Vice President Pence said on Tuesday that he is "very encouraged" by President-elect Trump's initial cabinet picks for his next administration. "I am very encouraged by the early appointments by the president-elect,” Pence, Trump’s previous vice president, said at The Dispatch Summit. The former vice president also noted Trump’s picks of Sen. Marco Rubio...

Tech billionaire Elon Musk said early Tuesday that his political action committee (PAC), America PAC, will continue working to support Republicans through the midterm elections, as well as being involved in primary contests. “Normally, PACs go somewhat dormant after a big election,” Musk wrote in a post on X. “@America PAC is going to do...

P’Nut the Squirrel and Fred the Raccoon did not have rabies, officials announced– as it was revealed the animals were marked for death and decapitation days before they were seized by the state. “Test results are negative,”…

A U.S. District Court judge sentenced a Massachusetts Air National Guard member to 15 years in prison on Tuesday after he leaked classified information about the country’s war strategy in Ukraine on the social platform Discord, according to the Associated Press. The leak uncovered critical staging for troops in Ukraine and equipment supplied to the...

The president-elect has already appointed a chief of staff, U.N. ambassador and "border czar" while other picks are said to be imminent.

P’Nut the Squirrel and Fred the Raccoon did not have rabies, officials announced — as it was revealed the animals were marked for death and decapitation days before they were seized by the state. The internet famous P’Nut and his…

The president-elect has already appointed a chief of staff, U.N. ambassador and "border czar" while other picks are said to be imminent.

President-elect Trump has selected Rep. Michael Waltz (R-Fla.) as his next national security advisor, picking a retired Army Green Beret with years of experience on defense and foreign policy. Waltz, who represents District 6 in Florida, has served in the House since 2019. He sits on the House Armed Services, Foreign Affairs and Intelligence committees....

Anti-abortion groups are plotting an aggressive post-election strategy to undo federal and state protections for abortion, including ballot measures passed in the past two years after the end of Roe v. Wade. The strategy outlined in Students for Life's "Make America Pro-Life Again Roadmap" includes filing lawsuits challenging the federal regulation of the abortion pill...

President-elect Donald Trump will nominate former Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe to lead the Central Intelligence Agency.

Welcome to The Hill's Technology newsletter {beacon} Technology Technology   The Big Story Big Tech will face continued scrutiny under Trump Lina Khan’s controversial tenure as Federal Trade Commission (FTC) chair seems at an end with President-elect Trump’s win last week, but experts cautioned that Big Tech is not in the clear under a second...

Pollster Nate Silver said he believes there is “hidden good news” for Democrats in the 2024 election results, despite the party wondering where its messaging went so wrong. In his newsletter, “Silver Bulletin,” Silver broke down his thoughts on the election and the major loss for Democrats. Silver compared the party pointing fingers about Vice...

Elon Musk Spent $118 Million To Elect Trump. What Will He Get in Return?

According to four individuals familiar with the matter, President-elect Donald Trump intends to appoint Republican Governor Kristi Noem of South Dakota as secretary of the Department of Homeland Security.