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Trump’s pick for defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, was accused of sexual assault. Trump himself has faced various sexual misconduct allegations, which he has denied, though he was found liable last year for sexual abuse in a civil trial over an alleged incident in the 1990s that he also denies. Now, after having won the presidency again, he’s spending early political capital to confirm appointees who have faced sexual misconduct allegations of their own. The allegations against Trump’s picksGaetz’s years of controversies have been thrust back into the spotlight now that he’s up for a Cabinet post. “It’s a very scary time for young men in America when you can be guilty of something that you may not be guilty of,” Trump told reporters.

Persons: Donald Trump’s, Matt Gaetz, Pete Hegseth, Robert F, Kennedy Jr, Gaetz, Hegseth, Kennedy, “, Trump, ”, Marc Short, Mike Pence’s, we’ve, Trump’s, hasn’t, Tim Parlatore, Bill Clinton’s, George H.W, Barack Obama’s, haven’t, Andy Puzder, Puzder, Patrick Shanahan, Shanahan, Ronny Jackson, Jackson, Brett Kavanaugh, Kavanaugh, ” Trump, reconsidering, JD Vance, Karoline Leavitt, Vance, MAGA, ” Leavitt Organizations: NBC News, NBC, “, Justice Department, Trump, Committee, Washington Post, Republican, You’re, Politico, Pentagon, White House, Department of Veterans Affairs, Supreme, Capitol, White Locations: groping, Florida, America, Hegseth, Washington

☆ Vance debuts new role as Trump’s point person on Capitol Hill
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-21 | by ( Alayna Treene | Steve Contorno | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Congressional Republicans acknowledge that Vance hasn’t necessarily developed longstanding relationships on Capitol Hill during his abbreviated time in Washington. His coattails turned a 49-51 senate to a 53-47 senate,” Vance wrote on X on Wednesday. The three developed a bond that predates the campaign and has carried into the early days of Trump’s transition. But when you look at the effectiveness of JD in the campaign, there’s no better surrogate for President Trump’s agenda,” the adviser said. “In JD’s view, his role of VP is to take on any issue that President Trump would like him to take on,” the person close to Vance told CNN.

Persons: JD Vance, Donald Trump’s, Vance, Matt Gaetz, he’ll, Pete Hegseth, Vance hasn’t, ”, North Dakota Sen, Kevin Cramer, Trump, “, Donald Trump, ” Cramer, ” Vance, “ Donald J, coattails, Joe Biden’s, Grace Chong, Steve Bannon’s, Chong, ” Trump, Tom Homan, ’, Tulsi Gabbard, Donald Trump Jr, —, Trump’s MAGA, Kamala Harris ’, JD, James Braid, “ Vance, you’ll, ” CNN’s Ted Barrett Organizations: CNN, Capitol, Trump’s Cabinet, Florida Rep, Fox News, Department of Defense, Senate, White, GOP, Cabinet, Trump, FBI, Republican, Democratic, Mar, Elon, JD, Central America —, “, White House Locations: Ohio, Washington, North Dakota, Central, Trump

☆ After a stinging election defeat, the Democrats' next big race kicks off: From the Politics Desk
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-20 | by ( The Politics Desk | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +12 min

After a stinging election defeat, the race to lead the DNC kicks offBy Natasha Korecki and Alex Seitz-WaldTwo weeks after suffering another stinging defeat to Donald Trump, Democrats are in the throes of dissecting what went wrong and figuring out their path forward. Martin O’Malley, a onetime presidential candidate and the commissioner of the Social Security Administration, kicked off the race by entering the fray. Minnesota Democratic Party Chair Ken Martin, a DNC vice chair and leader of the Association of State Democratic Committees, followed by formally announcing his candidacy Tuesday. Still looming out there: Wisconsin Democratic Party Chair Ben Wikler, who has developed a reputation as a prodigious fundraiser and field organizer. Read more → ☑️ Latest race calls: Democratic Rep. Marcy Kaptur defeated Republican Derek Merrin in Ohio’s competitive 9th District, NBC News projected.

Persons: Natasha Korecki, Alex Seitz, Wald, Chuck Todd, Donald Trump, Joe Biden, Jaime Harrison, Martin O’Malley, Ken Martin, Martin, O’Malley, Chuck Rocha, Sen, Mallory McMorrow, Ben Wikler, “ Ben, That’s, Rahm Emanuel, Barack Obama, Emanuel, Adam Parkhomenko, Hillary Clinton’s, “, ” Parkhomenko, James Zogby, it’s, Howard Dean, Obama —, Chuck Todd Here’s, Trumpism, Trump, wasn’t, Harris, Biden, Read, Chuck → ➡️, Matt Gaetz, Lloyd Austin, Pete Hegseth, Linda McMahon, Matt Whitaker, 🗞️ Organizations: NBC, White House, Capitol, Democratic National Committee, DNC, Maryland Gov, Social Security Administration, Minnesota Democratic, Association of State Democratic Committees, Democratic, Politico, Republican, Democratic National Convention, Wisconsin Democratic, Chicago, NBC News, Arab American Institute, America, GOP, Pentagon, “ DEI, Biden, Chuck → ➡️ Trump, Wrestling Entertainment, Education Department, Former, Atlantic Treaty Organization Locations: Michigan, U.S, Japan, Oklahoma

☆ Speaker Mike Johnson says he supports banning transgender women from using women's bathrooms
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-20 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Ali-Vitali-Circle-Byline-Template.Jpg | Ali Vitali | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +4 min

Speaker Mike Johnson on Wednesday said that he supports restricting “single-sex facilities” in the Capitol, including restrooms, to “individuals of that biological sex”— which would effectively ban the first transgender congresswoman from using women’s bathrooms in the next Congress. Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., introduced a resolution this week that would ban transgender women from using women's bathrooms and other facilities at the Capitol. She said Tuesday the bill "absolutely" targets Rep.-elect Sarah McBride, D-Del., the first openly transgender person elected to Congress. In a statement posted to X on Wednesday, McBride wrote, “I’m not here to fight about bathrooms. We should be focused on bringing down the cost of housing, health care, and child care, not manufacturing culture wars."

Persons: Mike Johnson, Nancy Mace, Sarah McBride, Johnson, ” Johnson, McBride, “ I’m, Speaker Johnson, I’ve, ”, doesn’t, Mace, resoundingly, Hakeem Jeffries, ” Jeffries, ” Sarah McBride, Andrew Harnik, Jeffries, Jamie Raskin, Pramila Jayapal, Jayapal, Chuck Schumer, ” McBride Organizations: Rep, Capitol and, GOP, Republican, Small House Republican Conference, U.S, Capitol

WASHINGTON — Members of the House Ethics Committee will meet behind closed doors Wednesday afternoon to discuss whether to publicly release a report detailing their sweeping investigation into former Rep. Matt Gaetz, President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for attorney general. Several Republicans and Democrats in the Senate have said they want to review the House report before a Judiciary Committee confirmation hearing for Gaetz next year. She argued that there is precedent for the Ethics Committee to publish reports after members of Congress have resigned. If the committee declines to make the Gaetz report public, any House member can try to force a vote to release it. In September 1996, House Democrats tried to force the Ethics Committee to release a report from an outside counsel about its investigation of then-Speaker Newt Gingrich, R-Ga.

Persons: Matt Gaetz, Donald Trump’s, Gaetz, Mike Johnson, Trump, “ I’ve, ” Johnson, “ Matt Gaetz, —, Michael Guest, Susan Wild, Joel Leppard, Leppard, ”, JD Vance, Pete Hegseth, Bill Boner, Boner, Boner’s, Buz Lukens, Newt Gingrich Organizations: WASHINGTON, Republicans, Democrats, Justice Department, NBC News, Trump, Capitol, Cabinet, Senate, Congress, “, Committee Locations: Florida, Nashville, Ohio

☆ Ethics Committee deadlocks on releasing Matt Gaetz sex, drug probe report
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-20 | by ( Kevin Breuninger | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The bipartisan House Ethics Committee deadlocked Wednesday on whether to release a report on its investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct and other wrongdoing by former Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz. Ethics Chair Michael Guest, R-Miss., told reporters after the closed-door meeting on Capitol Hill, "There has been no agreement to release the report." She stressed that the vote in the 10-member committee, which is evenly divided between Republicans and Democrats, fell along partisan lines. In September he said he would no longer voluntarily participate in the ethics probe, while revealing that the committee had asked him whether he ever "engaged in sexual activity with any individual under 18." Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee urged the FBI earlier Wednesday to turn over all the evidence it had gathered from its investigation into Gaetz.

Persons: Sen, JD Vance, Matt Gaetz, Donald Trump's, Michael Guest, Susan Wild of, Wild, Guest's, Gaetz, Trump, Guest, Gaetz's, Dick Durbin Organizations: U.S, Capitol, Republican, Republicans, Democrats, Department of Justice, DOJ, Senate Locations: Washington ,, Susan Wild of Pennsylvania

☆ 3 urgent tasks awaiting Trump’s pick for Treasury secretary
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-20 | by ( Tami Luhby | Matt Egan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

His Cabinet picks, including the Treasury secretary, traditionally have to be confirmed by the Senate. “The Treasury secretary has historically played a significant role in advancing the administration’s tax policy priorities,” Akabas said. Next year, Trump’s Treasury secretary will act as the quarterback, executing his economic gameplan. It will also fall to Trump’s Treasury secretary to put out fires in financial markets or in the real economy like the regional bank failures that rocked Wall Street and Washington early last year. Trump’s Treasury pick will also help manage the complicated relationship between the president and Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell.

Persons: Donald Trump’s, Trump, “, ”, Ed Mills, Raymond James, Janet Yellen, Shai Akabas, Steven Mnuchin, ” Akabas, Isaac Boltansky, Jerome Powell, Powell, Mills Organizations: CNN, Quarterbacking, Treasury Department, Department, Treasury, Trump, Senate, Republicans, Capitol, Wall, Washington, Committee, Federal, Fed, Trump White House Locations: Washington, filers

☆ Trump’s turn to bask in Musk’s reflected glory
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-20 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

Musk, the Tesla and SpaceX visionary, has spent the last two weeks basking in Trump’s reflected glory at Mar-a-Lago. He’s around so much it’s almost like he’s family, and he even made it into a photo of Trump’s extended clan. Trump’s growing cultural cloutTrump’s visit to Musk’s launchpad was also the latest occasion since the election when he has inserted himself into high-profile photo-ops. The hit perhaps reflects Trump’s starry-eyed infatuation with Musk’s amazing array of spaceships and limitless ambition. With Musk, Trump might get more than he bargained for.

Persons: Donald Trump, Elon Musk, Robert F, Kennedy Jr, —, “, ”, Trump, Rushmore, Donald Jr, Texas Sen, Ted Cruz, Ronny Jackson, Musk, it’s, ” Trump, Greg Autry, Vivek Ramaswamy, Chandan Khanna, It’s, Kena Betancur, Joe Rogan, Theo Von, Musk’s launchpad, who’s, Anna Moneymaker, Kim Jong Un, MAGA, Elton John, DOGE, Andrew Harnik, Tim Pawlenty, CNN’s Erin Burnett, “ Trump, Volodymyr Zelensky, Emmanuel Macron, Kim Organizations: CNN, Elon, SpaceX, Texas, White, Trump, University of Central, of Government, Fox News, Tesla, UFC, Madison, Getty, YouTube, Barstool Sports, Republican Party, House Republicans, Hyatt, Minnesota Gov Locations: Texas, Washington, New York, Great State of Texas, He’s, Trump, Gulf of Mexico, United States, University of Central Florida, AFP, Novi , Michigan, Korean, Washington ,, Mar, Minnesota, Russia, Paris

☆ Act now for $7,500 EV tax credit: There's 'real risk' Trump will axe funding in 2025, lawyer says
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-20 | by ( Greg Iacurci | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Chris Unger | Ufc | Getty ImagesThere's considerable uncertainty over the contents of a future Republican tax package and the fate of the EV credit, experts said. Repealing all the IRA's green energy tax credits, including the EV credit, would offset that cost by about $921 billion, it said. She was getting ready to buy one thanks to the $7,500 EV credit, which made the vehicles more affordable, she said. To wait and buy in 2025 is "too big of a gamble" given Trump's antipathy toward the EV credit, she said. There's no question there's real risk in the EV credit going away.

Persons: Donald Trump, Jamie Wickett, Hogan Lovells, Wickett, Joe Biden, Trump, Chris Unger, Laura, Hogan, —, wouldn't, it's, Ingrid Malmgren, Malmgren Organizations: Digitalvision, Getty, Biden, Republicans, Capitol, IRA, Elon, UFC, Madison, Garden, Ufc, Security, Tax, Chrysler Pacifica, Local, Plug, U.S . Treasury Department, Treasury Locations: New York, Charlotte , North Carolina

Leppard said his clients only spoke to the Ethics Committee after receiving a subpoena and would only testify in public "with a valid legal subpoena that requires them to speak." But he said he would prefer to get that information either through the House Ethics Committee report or from the Justice Department. But, he added, that getting a copy of the House Ethics Committee report would be “the right starting point, politically balanced and complete. Wild and other Democrats on the House Ethics Committee want the report released to the public — or at least sent to Senate Judiciary members for their review. “I have not dictated anything to the Ethics Committee.

Persons: WASHINGTON —, Matt Gaetz, Gaetz, Joel Leppard, Leppard, Donald Trump, rouser, haven’t, Trump, Mckenzie Lange, Dick Durbin, he’s, ” Durbin, Michael Guest, Susan Wild, Mike Johnson, “, I’ve, ” Johnson, “ I’m, ” Leppard, Sen, Richard Blumenthal, victimize, ” “, ” Blumenthal, JD Vance, Kevin Cramer, Cramer Organizations: NBC News, USA Today Network Senate, Justice Department, NBC, Trump, Judiciary, Committee, Senate Locations: Orlando, America, Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut

☆ Biden fades into the background at his final international summits: From the Politics Desk
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-19 | by ( The Politics Desk | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +11 min

In today’s edition, White House correspondent Mike Memoli files a dispatch from Rio de Janeiro on President Joe Biden's final international summit. Biden fades into the background at his final international summitsBy Mike MemoliRIO DE JANEIRO — President Joe Biden’s final international summits almost certainly would have played out differently had the elections back home gone as he had hoped. But President-elect Donald Trump cast a long shadow over a seemingly humbled Biden as he bid farewell to his counterparts here. Read more → 🥊 Democrats’ next fight: Minnesota Democratic Party Chairman Ken Martin became the second candidate to jump into the race to lead the Democratic National Committee. Read more →Minnesota Democratic Party Chairman Ken Martin became the second candidate to jump into the race to lead the Democratic National Committee.

Persons: Mike Memoli, Joe Biden's, Steve Kornacki, Biden, Joe Biden’s, Donald Trump, “, Trump, ”, Xi Jinping, Justin Trudeau, ” Trudeau, ” Biden, Joe Biden, Hillary Clinton, Clinton, It’s, Barack Obama, Dasha Burns, Dane, Kamala Harris, Steve, ️, edu, tim e Organizations: NBC, White House, Capitol, White, APEC, Canadian, Trump, “, NBC News, Democratic, Republican, Hialeah, voters, Gwinnett, Biden, Trump’s, ics Locations: Rio de Janeiro, JANEIRO, Brazil, Peru, China, Japan, South Korea, America, Lima, Rome, ”, Maricopa County , Arizona, Maricopa County, Maricopa, Phoenix, Maryvale, Miami, Dade County , Florida, Cuban, Venezuelan, Doral, Aventura, Gwinnett County , Georgia, The Atlanta, Atlanta, Norcross, Kent County , Michigan, Michigan, Trump, Washoe County , Nevada, Washoe County, Clark County, Erie County , Pennsylvania, Erie, Dane County , Wisconsin, Poli

Fresh from a devastating loss to Donald Trump, Vice President Kamala Harris may now head to Capitol Hill to defy him in what could be her last major act in office. As the president of the Senate, Harris wields the constitutional power to provide a tie-breaking vote. “We are going to use the lame duck to confirm judges. GOP senators can slow the process down, but Democrats need a simple majority to overcome any obstruction and confirm judges. The senior administration official declined to discuss whether Biden has talked to Harris or Schumer about lame-duck confirmations.

Persons: Donald Trump, Kamala Harris, Joe Biden, Trump, Harris, —, Chuck Schumer, Biden, ”, “, Sen, Elizabeth Warren, Warren, Schumer, ” Schumer, irking Trump, ” Trump, ” Sen, Mazie Hirono, they’re, That’s, “ I’m, “ Hope she’s Organizations: Capitol, House, Senate, D.C, Biden, NBC News, Radical, Republican Senators, Trump, Republicans, Democrats, Appeals, White, Democratic, Dems Locations: Hawaii, California

WASHINGTON — Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., said Tuesday that her effort to ban transgender women from using female bathrooms at the U.S. Capitol is a direct response to the election of Sarah McBride, who is set to be the first openly transgender person in Congress. Mace introduced a resolution Monday to prohibit any lawmakers and House employees from “using single-sex facilities other than those corresponding to their biological sex." She was asked by reporters Tuesday if the move was in response to McBride. Mace said she would like to see her resolution incorporated into the House Rules package for the next Congress. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said Tuesday that Republicans are trying to resolve the issue but that they will make accommodations for McBride.

Persons: Nancy Mace, Sarah McBride, Mace, McBride, she's, McBride's, Andrew Harnik, Marjorie Taylor Greene, “ doesn’t, ” Greene, she’d, Mike Johnson, we’ll, ” Organizations: WASHINGTON — Rep, U.S . Capitol, U.S, Capitol, Getty

The Cantor Fitzgerald CEO has led and been the public face of Trump’s transition. As co-chair of Trump's transition, Lutnick has been an outspoken advocate for Trump’s agenda, including explaining how he plans to use tariffs once in office. Lutnick is the CEO and chairman of financial services titan Cantor Fitzgerald. Adam Gray / Bloomberg via Getty Images fileLutnick has been at Cantor Fitzgerald since the early 1980s when he graduated from Haverford College in Pennsylvania with an economics degree. Lutnick was working at Cantor Fitzgerald when terrorists targeted New York’s World Trade Center towers on Sept. 11, the firm's headquarters.

Persons: Donald Trump, Howard Lutnick, Cantor Fitzgerald, Lutnick, Adam Gray, Trump, Lutnick's, Elon Musk, evincing Organizations: WASHINGTON, Commerce Department, The Commerce Department, Bloomberg, Getty, Haverford College, New, Trade, Punchbowl News, Trump, Treasury, Elon, ‘ Department, Government Locations: United States, New York, Pennsylvania

And Gaetz himself has been making calls to GOP senators and visiting his own loyalists in the House GOP. The pressure is all building ahead of a planned Wednesday meeting of the House ethics panel, which is expected to discuss the fate of the report. But privately, Republicans on the panel are signaling that they could bury the report as Gaetz and Trump are making direct appeals. In a call last week to GOP Sen. Josh Hawley, Gaetz urged him “to give him a shot,” Hawley told CNN. Meanwhile, nearly 100 House Democrats are calling on the House Ethics Committee to “immediately” release the report.

Persons: Matt Gaetz, J.D, Vance, Donald Trump’s, Gaetz, GOP Sen, Chuck Grassley, we’ve, ” Grassley, “ You’ve, …, Sen, John Kennedy, Pete Hegseth, Elise Stefanik, Doug Collins, Trump, Lindsey Graham, Judiciary —, Josh Hawley, “, ” Hawley, Hawley, Mike Simpson, ” Simpson, ”, Simpson, Kevin McCarthy, “ Matt, Rogers, Gaetz wouldn’t, Tim Burchett, he’s, Glenn Ivey, Ivey Organizations: CNN, GOP, Capitol Hill, Republican, Trump, Louisiana Republican, Fox News, Department of Defense, United Nations, Veterans Affairs, Judiciary, House, Caucus, Missouri Republican, Republicans, Armed, Democrats, Capitol, Florida congressman, ” Democratic, Maryland Locations: Trump, Louisiana, United, Gaetz, Florida

☆ Trump escalates test of strength over Gaetz pick
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-19 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

Video Ad Feedback Lawyer describes client's testimony in House Ethics Committee investigation of Gaetz 03:04 - Source: CNNThe Ethics Committee report has quickly become the first big crisis of the nascent second Trump administration. A small handful of Republican senators would be needed to defect in order to block Gaetz’s nomination when the party controls the Senate majority next year. GOP senators could pay a price for a prolonged confirmation fightIf Trump sticks with his pick, Republican senators feeling the MAGA movement’s pressure could be forced to defend Gaetz for weeks. Maine Sen. Susan Collins told CNN’s Raju that it would be “helpful” to see the House Ethics report. “Whether we get the ethics report or not, the facts are going to come out one way or the other,” Cornyn said.

Persons: Donald Trump, Matt Gaetz, Joel Leppard, CNN’s Erin Burnett, Gaetz, Mike Johnson, Trump, Dakota Sen, Kevin Cramer, ” Cramer, CNN’s Manu Raju, MAGA, Cramer, Pete Hegseth, Robert F, Kennedy Jr, Florida Republican –, Capitol Hill, it’s, Washington Trump, Bill Clinton, Zoë Baird, Kimba Wood, Maine Sen, Susan Collins, CNN’s Raju, Texas Sen, John Cornyn, ” Cornyn, “, Johnson, Susan Wild of, won’t, —, ” CNN’s Kristen Holmes, Axios, Kennedy, Hegseth, Tulsi Gabbard, It’s Organizations: CNN, Florida Republican, Justice Department, Trump, Gaetz, Fox News, Human Services Department, GOP, Capitol, FBI, Democrat, —, National Intelligence, Senate, Republican, North Dakota Republican Locations: Dakota, Washington, Texas, Susan Wild of Pennsylvania

☆ ‘It’s on him’: Democrats look to Hakeem Jeffries to plot a path to revival
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-19 | by ( Sarah Ferris | Annie Grayer | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

In the last Congress, Democrats repeatedly helped Republicans keep the government open and propped up Speaker Mike Johnson when he faced a challenge to his leadership post. He even tapped other senior House Democrats to echo his message to the Biden team, according to another person familiar with the efforts. Still, unlike some in his party, Jeffries is not in despair, according to multiple people familiar with his thinking. But Democrats say Jeffries — alongside Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, who will serve as minority leader in the next Congress — might be the best person to at least try. Internal party sparringOne of Jeffries’ toughest tasks will be keeping Democrats unified on immigration despite the many intraparty divisions.

Persons: Hakeem Jeffries, Jeffries —, Donald Trump, Jeffries, “, ’, Emanuel Cleaver, he’s, ” Jeffries, Mike Johnson, Trump, Rosa DeLauro, Harris, who’ve, Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, overperformed Harris, —, Chuck Schumer, ”, Gregory Meeks, Pramila Jayapal, Jim McGovern, Johnny Cash’s, McGovern, Chip Somodevilla, That’s, That’s James Madison’s, Jeffries didn’t, I’m, Henry Cuellar, ” Cuellar, Cuellar, Gabe Vasquez, Susie Lee of, Scott Peters, Scott Peters of California —, Anna Padilla, Democrats ’, CNN’s Ali, Haley Talbot Organizations: CNN, Democratic Party, House Democratic, Congressional Hispanic Caucus, Progressives, GOP, Capitol, Republicans, Biden, White, Democrats, Democratic, New York Democrat, Progressive, Getty, House Democratic Caucus, Congressional Hispanic, Scott Peters of, Bloomberg Locations: Washington, Yorker, Back, New York, —, Washington ,, New Mexico, Susie Lee of Nevada, Scott Peters of California, Albuquerque , New Mexico

☆ Visa and Mastercard execs grilled by senators on 'duopoly,' high swipe fees
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-19 | by ( Ece Yildirim | In Ecedyildirim | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Interchange fees, also known as swipe fees, are paid from a merchant's bank account to the cardholder's bank, whenever a customer uses a credit card in a retail purchase. "In 2023 alone, Visa and Mastercard charged merchants more than $100 billion in credit card fees, mostly in the form of interchange fees," Durbin told the committee. Visa and Mastercard, however, stand by their swipe fees. But the current high credit card swipe fees for retailers translate to higher prices for consumers, the National Retail Federation told the committee in a letter ahead of the hearing. "Last year, the average American spent $1,100 in swipe fees, more than they spent on pets, coffee or alcohol."

Persons: Bill Sheedy, Linda Kirkpatrick, Democratic Illinois Sen, Dick Durbin, Durbin, Republican Kansas Sen, Roger Marshall, Ryan McInerney, Sheedy, Americas Linda Kirkpatrick, Dodd, Frank, Roger Alford, General Merrick Garland Organizations: Visa, Americas, Mastercard, Committee, Democratic Illinois, Republican Kansas, Credit, National Retail Federation, Notre Dame University Locations: Washington ,

☆ What awaits the GOP's narrow House majority: From the Politics Desk
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-18 | by ( The Politics Desk | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +8 min

In today’s edition, national political reporter Ben Kamisar examines how House Republicans are growing increasingly aligned with Donald Trump. “One of the main takeaways from this cycle is that the Democratic Party has a lot of work to do on how we’re reaching voters,” Democratic strategist Christina Freundlich said. It’s one more thing a narrow House Republican majority will have to work through early next year. The remaining House Republicans are going to have to summon a different level of unity than they have managed recently to move the party’s legislative agenda. Martin O’Malley, a onetime presidential candidate, announced he’d enter the race for Democratic Party chair, but many more names are already circulating.

Persons: Ben Kamisar, Donald Trump, Kristen Welker, Mark Murray, Kamala Harris, Harris, Trump, Christina Freundlich, “, Steve Schale, Barack Obama’s, Joe Biden, ”, ” Schale, Sen, John Fetterman, Sahil Kapur, Syedah Asghar, Ryan Nobles, Kyle Stewart, Mike Johnson, We’re, ” Johnson, Donald Trump’s, you’d, —, Matt Gaetz’s, Elise Stefanik, Mike Waltz, Pete Hegseth, Brendan Carr, Carr, Johnson, ann o, lea Organizations: NBC, White House, Capitol, Republicans, Press, Democrats, Democratic Party, Democratic, PAC, Kyle Stewart Congress, “ Fox, Republican, NBC News, Trump, Fox News, Federal Communications Commission’s, adjourning, gov Locations: Florida, Gaetz

The Library of Congress said hackers broke into its communications systems and were able to read its email correspondence with congressional offices for most of this year. In a private notification sent Friday to some congressional offices, obtained by NBC News, the Library of Congress said that hackers “accessed email communications between congressional offices and some Library staff, including the Congressional Research Service.” The hackers had access from January until September, the notification said. The Library of Congress, the world’s largest library, offers a dedicated research staff for Congress. Last year, it gave congressional staffers more than 76,000 custom responses to inquiries, according to its most recent annual report. Bill Ryan, director of communications at the Library of Congress, told NBC News in an email that the software vulnerability the hackers used to gain access has been “mitigated.”“The Library has referred the matter to law enforcement and is also conducting its own analysis of the breach,” Ryan said.

Persons: Bill Ryan, ” Ryan, ”, Chuck Schumer Organizations: Congress, NBC News, of Congress, Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress, ., Russian Embassy, Washington , D.C, Embassy Locations: United States, China, Russia, U.S, Russian, Washington ,

WASHINGTON — Congress faces a Dec. 20 deadline to fund the government and avert a shutdown, and Speaker Mike Johnson says House Republicans will probably push the fight into early 2025 rather than reach a full-year funding deal this year. And then then we should be actually working on the next year’s appropriations.”But even if they push the fight to early 2025, Republicans won’t have full control over spending decisions. Government funding legislation is subject to the 60-vote threshold in the Senate, which top Republicans have promised to preserve. That means they’ll have to reach a deal with Democrats, who currently control the Senate and want to pass full-year funding this year, not in 2025. “The bottom line is we’ve got to control spending and not allow there to be a runaway spending bill in December,” he said.

Persons: Mike Johnson, “, We’re, ” Johnson, Donald Trump’s, you’d, Donald J, Trump, Robert Aderholt, there’s, it’ll, ” Aderholt, Trump’s, ” Sen, John Boozman, ” Boozman, Republicans won’t, Patty Murray, Susan Collins, We’ve, I’ve, ”, Pete Aguilar, “ Mike Johnson, Chip Roy, Boozman Organizations: WASHINGTON, “ Fox, Democrats, ”, Committee, Republicans, NBC, GOP, CRs Locations: WASHINGTON —, Maine, Texas

☆ What is impoundment? How Trump thinks he can control spending without Congress
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-18 | by ( Zachary B. Wolf | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —“Impoundment” is another word that Americans may need to learn in the vernacular of President-elect Donald Trump’s second term. Trump took the time to record a video about impoundment during the Republican primary season, and he promised seizing control over spending from Congress would be a top priority if he was elected. Impoundment occurs when Congress appropriates money that the president then declines to spend. As a result of these standoffs, Congress passed a law to curtail a president’s use of impoundment, particularly for policy reasons. The Impoundment Control Act of 1974 did a lot more than that, however.

Persons: Donald Trump’s, ”, Trump, Thomas Jefferson, Richard Nixon, Nixon, Volodymyr Zelensky, Joe Biden, Trump’s, “, Vivek Ramaswamy, Elon Musk, DOGE –, Ramaswamy, ” Ramaswamy, Matt Gaetz, Jimmy Carter, It’s Organizations: CNN, Senate, Republican, Congress, Congressional Research Service, Office, Capitol, Supreme, overreach, Elon, “ Department, Government, Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, Explosives, Ramaswamy, Department of Education, Nuclear Regulatory, Trump, FBI Locations: Mississippi, Louisiana, France, Ukraine, Trump’s, Ohio, Washington

☆ Meet the Press – November 17, 2024
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-17 | by ( ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +58 min

And by the way, I do believe that President Trump has the ability to pick some really, really good people. We've seen what they've done to President Trump, we've seen the attacks that they continue to go after him with. That's - that’s being taken completely out of context. And President Trump hasn't been the one that weaponized the DOJ to go after his political enemies. I think that's a pretty controversial pick, from whatever pronoun that he or he - he or she decides to use.

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But many Republicans and Gaetz allies have touted his aggressive style as an essential attribute for an attorney general. The president-elect filled some of those spots Thursday evening, appointing a series of his own personal lawyers to run key sections of the Justice Department. Trump also announced his selection of Emile Bove, another member of his criminal defense team, to be principal associate attorney general. Now, while some of his colleagues in Congress expressed skepticism of his pick as attorney general, they said they are prepared for a detailed confirmation process. As attorney general, Gaetz would be in control of the FBI investigative files that detail the evidence the bureau uncovered.

Persons: Donald Trump, Matt Gaetz, Trump, Gaetz, there’s, John Morgan, doubters, Morgan, ” Morgan, “, General Merrick Garland, Joe Biden, Todd Blanche, Emile Bove, ”, AnchorsGordon didn’t, Lawrence “ Larry ” Keefe, Keefe, Ron DeSantis, Feedback Sen, Klobuchar, —, Michael Cohen, Sen, Rick Scott, ” Gaetz, Hunter, Hank Johnson, Kevin McCarthy, Liz Cheney, Gaetz didn’t, South Carolina Sen, Lindsey Graham, Bill Barr, Joel Greenberg, CNN’s Kristen Holmes Organizations: CNN, Justice Department, Trump, Florida Republican, Prosecutors, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, Explosives, Drug Enforcement Administration, Democrats, Capitol, Senate, Panhandle Republican, Truman, Florida State University, & Mary Law School, AnchorsGordon, Florida Panhandle, Partners, Florida, Northern, Northern District of Florida, Vineyard, Tallahassee statehouse, Republican, Florida Bar, Florida Republicans, Washington Elected, White, Republican Party, House Republican, Union, House Intelligence, Democratic, Judiciary Committee, FBI, South, Garland’s Justice Department Locations: Congress, United States, Trump’s, Florida, Gaetz, Manhattan, Northern District, Texas, Tallahassee, Washington, Wyoming, South Carolina

While Gaetz’s ability to be confirmed appears on the rocks among Senate Republicans, President-elect Donald Trump’s team remains confident he will eventually be confirmed, even if it’s after an ugly battle. Gaetz and Trump attorney Todd Blanche are moving full speed ahead on trying to fill out the Justice Department, according to sources familiar with the planning. In his few terms in the House, Gaetz has often been embroiled in controversy. The attorney, John Clune, also called for the release of a House Ethics Committee report detailing the committee’s investigation into Gaetz, which has been ongoing for several years. Since the Truth Social post, Trump has not asked for any specific Cabinet pick, including Gaetz, to be confirmed via recess appointment.

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