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☆ Austin says it’s ‘unfortunate’ that Chinese defense chief declined meeting
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-21 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +1 min

WASHINGTON — China’s defense minister declined a meeting with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin during a meeting of defense leaders in Laos, a move the Pentagon chief said Wednesday was unfortunate. Multilateral gatherings of national security officials in Asia have been used in the past for meetings between U.S. and Chinese defense leaders, but China declined a meeting request by Austin during this week’s Southeast Asian Nations-Plus defense ministers meeting. It affects the region because the region really wants to see us, you know, two significant players in the region, two significant powers, talk to each other,” Austin told reporters. “I don’t think that it has any sort of implications for the future. Chinese President Xi Jinping vowed on Saturday to work with the incoming U.S. administration of Donald Trump as he held his final talks with departing President Joe Biden on conflicts from cybercrime to trade, Taiwan, the South China Sea and Russia.

Persons: WASHINGTON, Lloyd Austin, Wednesday, “, ” Austin, ” Austin added.Austin, Dong Jun, Xi Jinping, Donald Trump, Joe Biden Organizations: Pentagon, Austin, Nations Locations: Laos, Asia, China, Singapore, Taiwan, cybercrime, South, Sea, Russia

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

The woman who accused Hegseth of assault broke into tears when asked about the matter by CNN reporters last week and declined to comment. The report, which identifies the accuser as “Jane Doe,” summarizes police interviews with Doe, Hegseth, conference attendees and a hotel employee, and includes descriptions of video footage from the hotel viewed by police. There, a conference attendee told police that Hegseth had touched her knee and invited her to come to his hotel room. Doe told police that her next memory after the argument was being in a hotel room with Hegseth. He said that he was “buzzed” that night after drinking beer and remembered going back to his hotel room with Doe.

Persons: Pete Hegseth, “, Hegseth, Donald Trump, I’ve, ” Timothy Parlatore, Jane Doe, ”, Doe, Facebook Doe, Hegseth “, Hegseth ejaculating, didn’t, Doe “, “ ‘, ‘, CNN’s Yahya Abou, Ghazala Organizations: CNN, Trump Cabinet, Fox News, California Federation of Republican Women, Hyatt Regency Monterey, Trump, Republican, Hyatt Regency Monterrey, Hegseth, ” Police Locations: California, Monterey , California, Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel, Spa, Monterey, Monterey County, Doe

☆ Ray Dalio says to understand Trump's 2nd administration, you should study how far-right governments in the 1930s worked
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-21 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

AdvertisementRay Dalio said Trump's approach to governance was tried by hard-right states in the 1930s. Dalio, who often publishes personal remarks on the global economy, wrote a LinkedIn commentary on Wednesday with his predictions for a second Trump administration. Advertisement"Think of Gordon Gekko and the perspective he conveyed in his 'greed is good' speech," Dalio wrote of Trump's approach, referring to Michael Douglas' character from "Wall Street," the 1987 film. Dalio wrote that he isn't saying Trump's administration would be fascist or that Trump would behave like fascist leaders. Brandon Bell/Getty ImagesTheir mission, Dalio wrote, is to "create maximum economic strength and fight foreign enemies."

Persons: Ray Dalio, Trump, Donald Trump, Trump's, Elon Musk, Vivek Ramaswamy, Gordon Gekko, Dalio, Michael Douglas, Ramaswamy, Marco Rubio, Tucker Carlson, Steve Bannon, Brandon Bell, Pete Hegseth, Elise Stefanik Organizations: Bridgewater Associates, of Government, Trump, SpaceX, Fox News, Defense Secretary, New York, United Nations, US Senate, Republican, Business Locations: United States, Washington, China

☆ 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

Russian President Vladimir Putin's broadened nuclear doctrine appeared to be a thinly veiled threat to the United States and its allies over their ramped-up support for Ukraine. The updated document includes a change that allows for Moscow to launch a nuclear strike if attacked by a nonnuclear country, such as Ukraine, that is supported by a nuclear state, such as the U.S. It was formally approved the same day that Kyiv used its first U.S.-supplied long-range ATACMS missiles against Russia. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told NBC News that he saw no indication that Moscow is imminently intent on using nuclear weapons. “He has rattled his nuclear saber quite a bit and this is dangerous behavior,” Austin said of Putin.

Persons: Vladimir Putin's, Putin, Lloyd Austin, ”, ” Austin, Kyiv’s, Keir Starmer, Russia …, Jean, Noel Barrot, Putin’s, Josep Borrell, Dmitry Peskov, “ Russia’s, Keir Giles, Biden, ” Giles Organizations: Ukraine, Kyiv, West . Defense, NBC News, Union, Tass, Kremlin, Moscow Locations: United States, Moscow, Ukraine, U.S, Russia, Europe, Washington, British, Brazil, Western, London, Chatham, Eurasia

VIENTIANE, Laos — Women and racial diversity are vital to the strength of U.S. armed forces, outgoing Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in an exclusive interview with NBC News as he prepares to shortly exit the top military post after four years. “I would tell you that, you know, our women are the finest troops in the world. Our military is going to remain a diverse military," Austin said. Austin did not weigh in on what he thinks about Trump's choice of Hegseth to lead the Department of Defense. Austin, a four-star general who was previously commander of U.S. Central Command, was appointed as Secretary of Defense by President Joe Biden and was sworn in on Jan. 22, 2021.

Persons: Lloyd Austin, “, ” Austin, Donald Trump’s, Pete Hegseth, Hegseth, ”, Austin, Trump, Biden, Vladimir Putin, —, we've, Joe Biden, Lester Holt Organizations: NBC News, Defense, Army National Guard, Pentagon, Senate, Republicans, Department of Defense, ., Korean, U.S . Central Command, NBC Locations: VIENTIANE, Laos, Iraq, Afghanistan, United States, Ukraine, Russia, U.S, Russia's Kursk, Jan

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

Plus, not all of his Fox News picks are for Cabinet roles. A TV doc to oversee health insurance for 160 million-plus AmericansDr. Mehmet Oz outside of a polling location during the primary election in Rockledge, Pennsylvania, on May 17. In between failed bids for the Republican presidential nomination in 2008 and 2016, Huckabee hosted a show on Fox News. Homan was actually the first of Trump’s picks to be announced from the Fox News orbit. An anti-mainstream conspiracy theorist and author to oversee health policyRobert F. Kennedy Jr. in New York in May.

Persons: Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Trump’s, Trump, Dan Bongino, Read, Hegseth, John Lamparski, Pete Hegseth, Tulsi Gabbard, Mehmet Oz, Hannah Beier, Oprah, Mike Huckabee, Chip Somodevilla, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Huckabee, he’s, there’s, Sean Duffy, Mary F, Reuters Long, MTV’s, ”, Duffy, Rachel Campos, she’s, “, Justin Sullivan, Robert F, Kennedy Jr, Elon, Gabbard, Hillary Clinton, ’ Tom Homan, Kamil Krzaczynski, Tom Homan, ” Homan won’t, Homan, Brian Stelter, Anthony Scaramucci, Richard Grenell, Heather Nauert, Morgan Ortagus, Bill Shine, Lev Radin, Kennedy, There’s, Dr, Anthony Fauci, Bill Gates, Peter Bergen, Linda McMahon, Jeenah, McMahon, Vince McMahon Organizations: CNN, ”, Black Americans, Fox News, Service, Fox News Channel Studios, Army National Guard, Joint Chiefs of Staff, Army, Medicare, Services, Holy Land Former Arkansas Gov, Republican, Trinity Broadcasting Network, Calvert, Reuters, Boston, Trump, “ Fox, Friends, Hegseth, Fox Business, Fox, Democratic Party, Democratic, Elon Musk’s, Convention, Getty, Customs, Human Services, New York Times, Republican National Convention, Trump’s, Business Administration, WWE Locations: America, Washington, New York, New York City, Iraq, Rockledge , Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania, Drexel Hill , Pennsylvania, Arkansas, Jerusalem, Israel, Rayburn, Washington , DC, Wisconsin, Russia, Las Vegas, Syria, Milwaukee, AFP

Trump has been “heavily working the phones” to Republican senators for their support on behalf of Gaetz, according to a transition official. Trump announced Gaetz as his pick nearly a week ago. The official said Trump’s transition knows Gaetz is the toughest confirmation they will have to fight for by far. Sen. Kevin Cramer, R-ND, said he had received a phone call from Trump personally urging him to support Gaetz. This year, Trump announced his first pick to be White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles just two days after election day.

Persons: Donald Trump, Justice Department — Matt Gaetz —, Trump, JD Vance, Chris Wray's, Vance, Biden, Pete Hegseth, Gaetz, “ Trump, Sen, John Thune, Kevin Cramer, ” Cramer, Ron Klain, Susie Wiles, Ben Carson, Carson, Elon Musk, Musk, Howard Lutnick Organizations: Justice Department, FBI, Trump, State , Defense, Homeland Security, Commerce, National Intelligence and National Security, White, Urban, Treasury Department, ‘ Department, Government Locations: Mar

☆ Many women are unsure about Trump’s style and agenda. They voted for him anyway
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-19 | by ( Ronald Brownstein | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +20 min

But even with Trump’s gains among men, women still had greater leverage to decide the election’s outcome. Both the exit polls and VoteCast showed her winning 57% of white women with at least a four-year college degree. Solid majorities of Black, Latina and college-educated White women described Trump in the exit poll as “too extreme,” as did over two-fifths of the White women without a college degree. But among the White women without a college degree who described Trump as “too extreme,” almost 1 in 5 voted for him anyway. Though many women are expressing unease about mass deportation, Trump’s claim that immigrants are driving crime may provide him considerable leeway to pursue his agenda, particularly among the blue-collar White women who proved most receptive to that argument.

Persons: Donald Trump, Kamala Harris, Joe Biden’s, Harris, ”, Jenifer Fernandez Ancona, Trump, –, Biden, Joe Rogan, NORC, VoteCast, Harris’s, John Kerry, George W, Bush, White, Chip Somodevilla, Court’s Dobbs, Voters “, ‘, ’, pollster Nicole McCleskey, Dobbs, Harris ’, “, pollster Christine Matthews, Jackie Payne, ” Payne, Will Lanzoni, Bill Clinton, Robert F, Kennedy Jr, Mifepristone, Matthews, ambivalently, Tresa Undem, …, Trump’s, Fernandez Ancona, can’t, Hillary Clinton Organizations: CNN, Trump, Edison Research, AP, Gallup, Democratic, Biden, Santander Arena, Nationwide, Wall, White, Latina, Voters, Republican National Convention, Republican, GOP, Congressional, Republicans, White House, Trump ., Human Services Department, Pew Research Center, Pew, ” Locations: Michigan , Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Reading , Pennsylvania, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Nebraska, Milwaukee , Wisconsin, America

☆ Allowing Ukraine to use U.S. missiles 'the right thing to do': Fmr. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-19 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailAllowing Ukraine to use U.S. missiles 'the right thing to do': Fmr. Defense Secretary Leon PanettaLeon Panetta, Former Defense Secretary, joins 'Closing Bell Overtime' to talk the latest escalation in the Ukraine-Russia war.

Persons: Leon Panetta Leon Panetta Organizations: Defense, Former Locations: Ukraine, U.S, Russia

☆ China rebuffs meeting with US defense secretary
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-19 | by ( Haley Britzky | Oren Liebermann | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —China rejected a meeting with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin during a conference in southeast Asia this week, marking the latest turn in a tumultuous relationship between the two countries’ defense leaders. But China did not accept the offer, pointing to a recent Taiwan arms sale as their rationale, a senior defense official told reporters traveling with Austin in Laos. The Chinese rejection of the meeting in Laos comes just days after US President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping met in Peru for their final meeting under Biden’s administration. China has often used the cancellation of meetings and lines of communication as a way of registering displeasure with the United States. After then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan in 2022, China cut off a number of lines of communication with the US, including on military issues and climate.

Persons: Lloyd Austin, Austin, Dong Jun, Joe Biden, Xi Jinping, Jake Sullivan, Biden, Trump, Nancy Pelosi Organizations: CNN, ASEAN Defense, ’, National Locations: China, Asia, Laos, People’s Republic of China, Taiwan, Austin, Peru, United States

☆ 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

☆ 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

Labor leaders say Democrats need to rethink their approach to working-class voters. Former Fox News host Pete Hegseth’s attorney confirmed he paid a woman after she accused him of sexual assault. He also denied that the encounter between Hegseth and an unnamed woman, which she alleges happened in 2017, was sexual assault. 🏈 The Kansas City Chiefs’ undefeated season is no more as the Buffalo Bills beat their AFC rivals 30-21 at home. Bills quarterback Josh Allen threw for 262 yards with one touchdown and one interception as Buffalo improved to 9-2.

Persons: Pete Hegseth’s, Democratic Party ’ Donald Trump, Chip Somodevilla, Kamala Harris ’, ”, Brent Booker, ” Booker, Mike Johnson, Trump, Brendan Carr, Roy Rochlin, Donald Trump, “, Parlatore, Dick Schoof, Nora Achahbar, NFL Gregory Bull, Greg Rosenstein, hird, 🐆 Organizations: Labor, Former Fox News, Union, Democratic Party, ’ International Union of, ”, Trump, Federal Communications Commission, Justice Department, FBI, Trump Pentagon, Fox News, NBC News, Washington Post, Authorities, Hegseth, Getty Images, Dutch, NFL, Los Angeles Chargers, Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, NBC Locations: Amsterdam, Netherlands, West Palm Beach, Fla, Biden’s, ’ International Union of North America, Afghanistan, Hegseth’s, Monterey , California, Anadolu, Getty Images Amsterdam, Moroccan

☆ Trump doubles down on provocative Cabinet picks as their fates hang in the balance
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-18 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

Not all of Trump’s picks are causing uproar. But in a conventional administration, controversies raging around at least four key Cabinet picks would be seen as a disaster. The president-elect’s son explains the planGaetz and several other Trump picks have caused consternation in some circles given the questions about their qualifications and past behavior. That’s what the American people want.”It would take a handful of Republican senators to block the most provocative Trump nominees early next year, given that Democrats are likely to vote en masse against them. If he’s qualified, he’s qualified.”Missouri Sen. Eric Schmitt said he believed Trump’s nominees would get confirmed.

Persons: Donald Trump, Matt Gaetz, Tulsi Gabbard, Pete Hegseth, Robert F, Kennedy Jr, Hegseth, Trump’s, Intrigue, Gaetz, —, Kennedy, Florida Sen, Marco Rubio, Trump, he’s, ” Johnson, South Dakota Sen, John Thune, Mike Johnson, CNN’s Jake Tapper, “, ” Sen, Adam Schiff, Jim Himes, they’re, Matt Gaetz —, Robert Kennedy, Tulsi, ” Trump, Donald Trump Jr, ”, Sen, Markwayne Mullin, “ I’ve, … I’ve, Matt, ” Missouri Sen, Eric Schmitt, Alabama Sen, Tommy Tuberville, Pennsylvania Sen, John Fetterman Organizations: CNN, Washington, Republican Senate, Office, Fox News, Florida Republican, of Justice, Department of Health, Human Services, Senate, Trump, South, Louisiana Republican, California Democrat, Democrat, House Intelligence, Sunday, Connecticut Democrat, CBS, Republican, Fox Business, Oklahoma Republican, Press, ” Locations: Gaetz, — Russia, Washington, Florida, South Dakota, “ State, Louisiana, United States, California, Connecticut, ” Missouri, Alabama, Pennsylvania

☆ Trump picks former congressman and Fox Business host Sean Duffy as next Transportation secretary
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-18 | by ( Kate Sullivan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —President-elect Donald Trump announced Monday he has selected former congressman and recent Fox Business co-host Sean Duffy to serve as the next secretary of the Department of Transportation. He most recently was co-host of Fox Business’ “The Bottom Line,” after first joining Fox News as a contributor in 2020. Wednesday marked his last day appearing on Fox Business, and he interviewed for the role of transportation secretary later in the week, according to a source. In the role, Duffy would takeover the department from Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who was named to lead the department in February 2021. Campos-Duffy is the co-host of “Fox & Friends Weekend,” where she worked for years alongside Pete Hegseth, Trump pick for defense secretary.

Persons: Donald Trump, Sean Duffy, Duffy, Duffy’s, ”, “, ” Trump, Pete Buttigieg, Elaine Chao, Duff, Rachel Campos, Campos, Pete Hegseth, Trump, CNN’s Brian Stelter Organizations: CNN, Fox Business, Department of Transportation, Congressional, Fox News, Trump, Republican, ”, Competence, Competitiveness, Beauty, National Security, ESPN, Fox, MTV, “ Fox, Friends, Republicans Locations: Ashland County , Wisconsin

The Trump transition team did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Lebanon’s ancient heritage faces Israeli airstrikesRubble and destruction caused by an Israeli airstrike near the historic Roman temple in Baalbek, Lebanon, on Nov. 7. The war in Lebanon has killed more than 3,200 people and displaced more than a million others, according to Lebanese officials. The conflict has also taken a toll on the nation’s unique heritage at the crossroads of ancient Phoenician, Egyptian, Greek, Persian and Roman civilizations. The Israel Defense Forces’ latest attacks on northern Gaza’s besieged city of Beit Lahiya killed “about 100” people, Mahmoud Basal, a spokesperson for Gaza’s Civil Defense, told NBC News on Sunday.

Persons: “, Joe Biden, Matt Gaetz, Gaetz, Pete Hegseth, Timothy Parlatore, ” Parlatore, Hegseth, Marwan Naamani, amphitheaters, ’ citadels, Beit Lahiya, Mahmoud, Press Sen, Markwayne Mullin, Robert F, Kennedy Jr, I’ve, ” Mullin, Kristen Welker, Kennedy, Mullin, ”, Leila, aren’t, Mike Peditto, Martin Mejia Organizations: Trump, U.S, Trump Cabinet, Republicans, NBC, Justice Department, Republican, ZUMA, NBC News, United Nations, Israel Defense Forces ’, Civil Defense, Press, Department of Health, Human Services, “, Intelligence, American Society of Tropical Medicine, Hygiene Locations: Afghanistan, California, Baalbek, Lebanon, Mhaibib, Nabatiyeh, Gaza’s, Beit, Talara, Peru, Americas

Former Fox News host Pete Hegseth’s attorney on Sunday confirmed to NBC News that Hegseth, whom President-elect Donald Trump has named as his candidate for defense secretary, paid a woman an undisclosed amount after she accused him of sexual assault. “In 2023, Hegseth paid the complainant as part of a civil confidential settlement agreement and maintains his innocence,” Timothy Parlatore, Hegseth’s attorney, said in a statement. He also denied that the encounter between Hegseth and an unnamed woman, which she alleges happened in 2017, was sexual assault. Parlatore’s statement comes after The Washington Post on Saturday reported that a friend of Hegseth’s accuser sent a memo to the Trump transition team detailing the allegations. Authorities in Monterey investigated the allegation in 2017 and did not file charges against Hegseth.

Persons: Pete Hegseth’s, Donald Trump, “, Hegseth, ” Timothy Parlatore, Parlatore, ”, he’ll, Sen, Markwayne Mullin, ” Mullin Organizations: Fox News, NBC News, Washington Post, Trump, California Federation of Republican Women, Authorities, Hegseth, Senate, NBC, Press Locations: Monterey , California, Hegseth’s, Monterey, United States

☆ 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.

Persons: KRISTEN WELKER, Donald Trump’s, SEN, LISA MURKOWSKI, SUSAN COLLINS, KEVIN CRAMER, JOHN BOLTON, Trump’s, Trump, MIKE JOHNSON, JOHN, CHUCK SCHUMER, DONALD TRUMP, Hakeem Jeffries, Markwayne Mullin, Amna Nawaz, Eugene Daniels, Jen Psaki, Lanhee Chen, it’s, Kristen Welker, Donald Trump, Matt Gaetz, Gaetz, who's, we're, Mike Johnson, Johnson, MATT GAETZ, Robert F, Kennedy Jr, Kennedy, he's, ROBERT F KENNEDY JR, I'm, I've, LEX FRIDMAN, Trump's, Pete Hegseth, Hegseth, ” Hegseth, SHAWN RYAN, PETE HEGSETH, Mullin, Press . SEN, MARKWAYNE MULLIN, Kristen, you've, Kristi Noem, Matt Gaetz's, they're, Matt, Here's, We've, we've, Biden, Hunter Biden, didn't, Trump hasn't, Garland, Pete, Bobby Kennedy, Bobby, Rachel, Sam, There's, Pete Buttigieg, Let's, Kristen –, there's, let's, Chuck Schumer, Obama, Canning, we'll, He's, Jeffries, HAKEEM JEFFRIES, Roe, Wade, Pelosi's, Pelosi, It's, Nancy Pelosi, Jim Clyburn, Steny Hoyer, That's, should've, Kamala Harris, it's, Matt Gaetz –, Tulsi Gabbard, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, DEBBIE WASSERMAN SCHULTZ, Assad, She's, Dick Durbin, Donald Trump's, Politico “ Playbook, AMNA NAWAZ, Jim Mattis, Rex Tillerson, John Kelly, Eugene, EUGENE DANIELS, –, Susan Collins, hasn't, LANHEE CHEN, aren't, Doug Burgum, Marco Rubio, Elise Stefanik, Jen, JEN PSAKI, – AMNA NAWAZ, that's, Thune, Biden's, George W, Bush, Joe Biden, JOE BIDEN, – I’ve, —, – JEN PSAKI, Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders, We're, We'll Organizations: GOP, Democratic, Oklahoma, PBS, White House Press, Hoover Institution, Press, NBC, Department of Justice, Mar, FBI, CDC, ATF, DOJ, NBC News, Republicans, of Health, Human Services, Defense, Fox News, Police, Republican, Pentagon, Press ., Trump, Senate, Biden, White, Justice Department, America, Senate Armed Services Committee, The Washington, HHS, of Energy, Department of Transportation, RFK Jr, ’, House Democratic, Democracy, REP, House Democrats, Social, Medicare, Democrats, Committee, of, Politico, Stanford University, Trump’s, Gaetz, Department of Defense, Office, Mr, Republican Party, Democratic Party Locations: Washington, America, Florida, Monterey , California, States, Oklahoma, Russia, United States, Afghanistan, Iraq, New York, American, Syria, Russian, Will, California, –, Trump

CNN —President-elect Donald Trump’s defense secretary pick, Pete Hegseth, paid a woman who accused him of sexual assault in a settlement agreement that included a confidentiality clause, according to Hegseth’s attorney. Attorney Timothy Parlatore said Hegseth denies assaulting the woman and has characterized the October 2017 incident in Monterey, California as a “consensual sexual encounter.”Monterey city officials last week confirmed that local police had investigated “an alleged sexual assault” involving Hegseth. The woman, whom CNN is not naming because she is an alleged victim of sexual assault, did not respond to subsequent requests to be interviewed. Hegseth was a speaker at a conference held by the California Federation of Republican Women at a hotel during the timeframe when the alleged assault took place. Trump’s announcement was swiftly followed by news of the alleged sexual assault, catching the president-elect’s transition team off guard, CNN reported Friday.

Persons: Donald Trump’s, Pete Hegseth, Timothy Parlatore, Hegseth, “, Parlatore, – “ contusions, Trump, ”, ” Steven Cheung, CNN’s Kyung Lah, Scott Glover Organizations: CNN, Fox News, Washington Post, Hyatt Regency Monterey, California Federation of Republican Women, Hegseth, Pentagon, United, Defense Locations: Monterey , California, Monterey, Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel, Spa, Monterey City

House Speaker Mike Johnson said yesterday that he will request the committee not release the report. For defense secretary: Separately, the Trump transition team was caught off guard by a previous allegation of sexual assault against defense secretary pick Pete Hegseth, who had received little internal vetting, according to sources. Several members of Trump’s team have since raised questions about the viability of his nomination, according to two people close to the situation. Within 48 hours of Trump announcing Hegseth, the heads of the president-elect’s transition team were brought a complaint about the sexual assault allegation. But the nature of the allegations caused incoming chief of staff Susie Wiles to question Hegseth during a call Thursday, a source told CNN.

Persons: Donald Trump’s, Matt Gaetz, Trump, Gaetz, Mike Johnson, “ Merrick, ”, Trump’s, Pete Hegseth, Hegseth, Susie Wiles Organizations: ABC News, CNN, Trump Locations: Congress, Florida, Monterey , California, Monterey County

☆ Elon Musk is looking for trillions in government waste, and defense is a massive potential target
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-16 | by ( Jake Epstein | Grace Kay | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

President-elect Donald Trump has tapped Elon Musk to help spearhead cuts to government spending, and the defense sector could be a prime target. But Musk's past comments hint at one area he could target: defense contracts. Musk built SpaceX's business model around fixed-price contracts. Musk's new initiative could recommend exactly this: a move away from cost-plus contracts toward fixed-price contracts. An aerial view of the Pentagon AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, FileMusk's new initiative may target other areas of Pentagon spending, as well.

Persons: Donald Trump, Elon, Elon Musk, It's, Trump, Musk, Julia Demaree Nikhinson, Clayton Swope, Walter Isaacson's, Swope, John Raoux Overspending, Gerald R, Mike Gallagher, Gallagher, Ford, Steve Helber, Bryan McGrath, Todd Harrison, —, Harrison, Michael Bohnert, they've, Archer Macy, Patrick Semansky, John Harvey Jr, Mississippi Sen, Roger Wicker Organizations: Defense, Pentagon, Department of Government, SpaceX, NASA, AP, Center for Strategic, International Studies, Services, International Space, Kennedy Space Center, Littoral, Ford, DoD, Republican, Palantir Technologies, Newport News Shipbuilding, American Enterprise Institute, Shipbuilding, BAE Systems, RAND Corporation, CSIS, US Air Force, Navy, Senate Armed Services Committee Locations: Pennsylvania, Columbia, China, Wisconsin, Virginia, Mississippi

Trump wants Gaetz confirmed “100%,” a source told CNN. He also believes Gaetz is uniquely positioned to defend the Trump administration on television, an attribute prioritized by the president-elect. Trump’s pick for deputy attorney general — his defense attorney Todd Blanche — will carry out the day-to-day work of overseeing the Justice Department’s more than 40 agencies and 115,000 employees. In recent days, Gaetz has been reaching out directly to Republican senators, according to a source familiar with the efforts. The Democratic-controlled Judiciary Committee formally requested the House Ethics Committee report already, but Democrats will lose control of the committee in January.

Persons: Donald Trump, Matt Gaetz, Trump, Gaetz, ” Trump, Trump’s, Todd Blanche —, Justice Department’s, ” Gaetz, “, ”, Sean Spicer, Gaetz’s, Pete Hegseth, Robert F, Kennedy Jr, Tulsi Gabbard, Kennedy, Sen, Lisa Murkowski, Susan Collins of Maine, Joni Ernst, “ He’s, North Dakota Sen, Kevin Cramer, Kevin McCarthy, Oklahoma Sen, Markwayne Mullin, CNN’s Manu Raju, ” Mullin, Mullin, Mike Johnson, Mike Rounds, John Cornyn of, ” Rounds, Chuck Grassley, Grassley, John Thune, Thune Organizations: CNN, Department, Senate, Justice Department, Trump, Justice, Fox News, Hawaii Rep, Republican Senate, Republicans, Republican, North Dakota, Democratic, GOP Locations: Florida, Alaska, Iowa, Oklahoma, John Cornyn of Texas

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