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☆ Trump's Cabinet selection is off to a rocky start: From the Politics Desk
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-21 | by ( The Politics Desk | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +8 min

But it’s not even Thanksgiving, and Donald Trump is already looking for a backup top law enforcement officer after Matt Gaetz withdrew his AG bid Thursday. The last time around, Trump lost just one of his initial Cabinet picks, when Andrew Puzder withdrew as the labor secretary nominee in February 2017. ➡️ More on the Trump transitionAside from Gaetz, two of Trump’s other Cabinet picks, Hegseth and Kennedy, have also faced serious allegations of sexual impropriety, which they have both denied. 🗞️ Today’s other top stories 👀 Buckeye State battle brewing: The jockeying for JD Vance’s Ohio Senate seat has begun, and the potential candidates’ statements about Trump’s Cabinet picks are being closely watched. Read more →The jockeying for JD Vance’s Ohio Senate seat has begun, and the potential candidates’ statements about Trump’s Cabinet picks are being closely watched.

Persons: Matt Gaetz, Jonathan Allen, Henry J, Gomez, Olympia Sonnier, Jake Traylor, Julie Tsirkin Matt Gaetz’s, Donald Trump, ”, Gaetz, MAGA, Trump, Sens, Mitch McConnell of, Lisa Murkowski, Susan Collins of, Markwayne Mullin, John Curtis of Utah, Read, Jonathan Allen It’s, George H.W, Texas Sen, John Tower, it’s, — Trump, Bill Clinton’s, Zoë Baird, Kimba Wood, Pete Hegseth, Tulsi Gabbard, Robert F, Kennedy Jr, Barack Obama’s, Tom Daschle, Bill Richardson, Judd Gregg, Andrew Puzder, ➡️, Hegseth, Kennedy, Mehmet Oz, El Organizations: NBC, White House, Capitol, Republican, The Justice Department, Republicans, Gaetz, Pentagon, Former Fox News, Human Services, Commerce, ., Medicare, Services Locations: Florida, Washington, Trump, Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, Alaska, Susan Collins of Maine, Oklahoma, Texas, Obamacare

Matt Gaetz’s withdrawal Thursday as a candidate for attorney general illustrates the roadblocks President-elect Donald Trump could face as he attempts to convert his campaign of “retribution” into a governing coalition capable of working within the realities of Washington. In Gaetz, Trump would finally get the loyal attorney general he felt like he never had in his first term. But it was a tough sell from the moment Trump announced Gaetz as his choice eight days ago — in a pick that shocked much of Washington. In the end, it was the “combination of the ethics report and opposition among Senate Republicans,” that doomed Gaetz’s candidacy, a senior Senate aide told NBC News. Before Gaetz’s withdrawal Thursday, Trump allies were pushing hard on GOP senators and other ambitious Republicans to publicly support his embattled Cabinet picks.

Persons: Matt Gaetz’s, Donald Trump, ”, Gaetz, MAGA, Trump, “, Vance, ” Gaetz, Sens, Mitch McConnell of, Lisa Murkowski, Susan Collins of, Markwayne Mullin, John Curtis of Utah, JD Vance, ” Sen, Mike Rounds, ” Rounds, Pete Hegseth, shouldn’t, Robert F, Kennedy Jr, Tulsi Gabbard, Matt, they’re Organizations: Republican, The Justice Department, Republicans, NBC News, Trump, Capitol, Gaetz, “, Senate, Fox News, Justice Department Locations: Washington, Florida, Trump, Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, Alaska, Susan Collins of Maine, Oklahoma, Ohio, Hawaii

The search for Vice President-elect JD Vance’s successor in the Senate is reinforcing a rift among Ohio Republicans, whose loyalties are divided between the establishment-friendly Gov. Vance has consulted with DeWine on the Senate appointment, two sources familiar with the discussions said. When asked if Trump’s Cabinet picks were a part of DeWine’s considerations, Tierney emphasized the governor’s wish that his pick be able to win the GOP primary that year. Moreno, for his part, singled out Gaetz, Gabbard, Hegseth and Kennedy this week in a statement pledging to support Trump’s Cabinet choices. “The American people delivered President Trump a mandate, and it is crucial that Senate Republicans confirm his nominees quickly,” he said.

Persons: JD Vance’s, Mike DeWine, Donald Trump, DeWine, Vance, ”, Dan Tierney, “, Trump’s, Trump, Pete Hegseth, shouldn’t, Robert F, Kennedy Jr, Tulsi Gabbard, Matt Gaetz, Gaetz, Hegseth, “ We’re, Kennedy, Robert Sprague, Frank LaRose, they’ll, Dan Lusheck, Lusheck, Mike Carey, Carey, Justice Department “, ” Carey, “ I’d, Jay Edwards, ” Mehek Cooke, John Kasich’s, ” Cooke, Jane Timken, Jon Husted —, —, Tierney, Sprague, Dave Yost, Yost, Vivek Ramaswamy, Elon Musk, ” Tierney, Timken, Sen, Matt Dolan, Dolan, Bernie Moreno, Moreno, LaRose, Democratic Sen, Sherrod Brown Organizations: Ohio Republicans, Trump, NBC News, GOP, Fox News, Justice Department, “, U.S, Spectrum, Gov, Republican, Democrat, Republican National Committee, Senate, Democratic, America Locations: Ohio, Hawaii, Florida, Hegseth, Washington, DeWine

Matt Gaetz, who faced a torrent of scrutiny over allegations of sex trafficking and drug use, abruptly withdrew his bid to become attorney general on Thursday in the first major political setback for President-elect Donald J. Trump since his election this month. The collapse of Mr. Gaetz’s prospective candidacy just 16 days after the election appeared to be the earliest such failed cabinet pick in modern history and underscored the haphazard way that Mr. Trump has gone about assembling his new administration. He picked Mr. Gaetz almost on a whim last week without extensive vetting, knowing that allegations were out there, but essentially daring Senate Republicans to accept him anyway. Mr. Trump moved quickly to replace Mr. Gaetz with another conservative favorite. By the day’s end, he announced on social media that he planned to nominate Pam Bondi, the former attorney general of Florida and one of his defense lawyers in his first impeachment trial, to be U.S. attorney general.

Persons: Matt Gaetz, Donald J, Trump, Gaetz, Pam Bondi Organizations: Senate, Justice Department Locations: Florida

☆ More Biden judges will be confirmed, but four appeals court nominees won’t see a vote under Senate deal
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-21 | by ( Tierney Sneed | Ted | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

However, the four Biden appellate nominees already faced tough odds of confirmation, with some, like 3rd US Circuit Court of Appeals nominee Adeel Mangi, facing opposition among Democrats as well. The Senate deal puts Biden in a position to potentially beat Trump’s record of number of district court judges confirmed. Still, Demand Justice, an organization that advocates for progressive judicial nominees, blasted the new deal for depriving the four Biden circuit nominees of floor votes. Those efforts were always going to face headwinds and got more arduous when Trump demanded that Senate Republicans blockade all pending Biden nominees for the bench. Under the new deal, Republicans backed off procedural tactics that would stymie the confirmations of six district nominees that were on the floor Wednesday night and on Thursday.

Persons: Joe Biden’s, Donald Trump’s, Biden, Adeel Mangi, ”, Chuck Schumer, Trump, haven’t, Obama, Maggie Jo Buchanan, “, Donald Trump, headwinds, Independent Sen, Joe Manchin’s, Kyrsten Sinema, Washington –, Dick Durbin Organizations: CNN, Senate, Liberal, Democratic, Republicans, Biden, Democrats, GOP, Trump, Demand, Independent, Republican, Illinois Democrat Locations: Washington, Arizona, Illinois

☆ Absences by Trump’s Senate pals help Democrats confirm Biden judges
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-20 | by ( Tierney Sneed | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Trump earlier this month had urged Senate Republicans not to allow any judicial confirmations in the final weeks of the Biden administration while the upper chamber was under Democratic control. Since then, other judicial nominees have been able to clear pivotal votes because not enough Republicans were present to block them. Two of the missing Republicans, Sens. Several of the missing Republicans – which also included Sen. Marco Rubio, Trump’s pick for secretary of state – were back in the chamber Wednesday. Even if no other Biden-appointed judge is confirmed, Trump will start his second term with a number of openings that is fewer than half of that previous number.

Persons: Joe Biden’s, Donald Trump’s, Trump, JD Vance, Embry Kidd, Sen, Joe Manchin, Vance, Bill Hagerty of, –, Democratic Sen, John Fetterman, Biden, Carrie Severino –, ” Vance, Grace Chong, Steve Bannon’s, Christopher Wray, Fetterman, Sarah Russell, Kamala Harris, Hagerty, Ted Cruz, Hagerty’s, Republicans –, Marco Rubio, Trump’s, Mike Braun, Cruz, Rebecca Pennell, Amir Ali, doesn’t, Ali, Kyrsten Sinema, Montana GOP Sen, Steve Daines, Embry, Aileen Cannon, Jack Smith’s, Barack Obama’s, Alyana Treene, Kristen Holmes, Betsy Klein, Devan Cole Organizations: CNN, GOP, Conservative, Republicans, Ohio Republican, Circuit, Mar, Democratic, Trump, Crisis Network, FBI, House, Republican, Sens, SpaceX, Indiana, US, Court, of, Montana GOP, Senate Locations: Ohio, Trump’s Florida, Bill Hagerty of Tennessee, Hawaii, Ted Cruz of Texas, Texas, Eastern, of Washington, Montana

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

☆ Trump urges Senate GOP to block Biden's last judicial nominees
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-19 | by ( Kevin Breuninger | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

President-elect Donald Trump on Tuesday pushed his fellow Republicans in the Senate to stop Democrats from confirming any more of President Joe Biden's judicial nominees. The Senate has confirmed 216 of Biden's nominees to the federal judiciary. Biden has put forward 261 total judicial nominees, the White House said in a Nov. 8 press release announcing his 56th round of hopefuls. Incoming Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., told ABC News he would continue to bog down the nomination process. "I was on the Senate floor until almost midnight last night voting to confirm President Biden's judicial nominees," Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., wrote on X.

Persons: Donald Trump, Joe Biden's, Trump, Judge Embry Kidd, Biden, Chuck Schumer, Schumer, John Thune, Sen, Thune, Patty Murray, We'll, Murray, Kamala Harris, Susan Collins of, Lisa Murkowski Organizations: America, Policy, Tuesday, Senate, Radical, Republican, U.S ., Appeals, ABC News, Democrat, ABC, Republicans, GOP Locations: Palm Beach , Florida, U.S, Susan Collins of Maine, Alaska

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

☆ 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

"I have said that there's, there's some positives to vaccinations. And if it isn't vaccines, there's no -- nothing wrong with actually taking a hard look and finding out, is that's what's causing it? Recess appointments would allow the president-elect to place the House and Senate into recess so that he could appoint his nominees without having to go through the traditional Senate confirmation process. It's something that the Senate strives to avoid and it's why the chamber gavels into pro-forma sessions even while they're in recess. "It'd be the absolute last resort," Mullin told Welker.

Persons: Sen, Markwayne Mullin, Robert F, Kennedy Jr, Donald Trump's, Kennedy, I've, Mullin, Kristen Welker, Trump, John Thune, Barack Obama, Welker Organizations: Department of Health, Human Services, NBC, America, for Disease Control, CDC, National Academy of Medicine, Republicans, Supreme Locations: United States, Oklahoma, TruthSocial

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.

Persons: Matt Gaetz, Donald Trump’s, Todd Blanche, Blanche, Trump, ”, JD Vance, Gaetz, Matt, ’, Mike Johnson, John Clune, ” Sen, Lindsey Graham, Johnson, “, John Cornyn, Sen, Kevin Cramer, Michael Guest, ” Cramer, Gaetz —, Democratic Sen, Richard Blumenthal, we’re, Tom Williams, Vance, Cramer Organizations: Republicans, Department of Justice, NBC, Trump, Justice Department, NBC News, Trump —, Capitol, House, ”, Democratic, …, Washington , D.C, Inc, Getty, Pennsylvania’s Senate, GOP, Truth Social Locations: America, Texas, Orlando, Washington ,, Pennsylvania’s

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

☆ The House GOP is more aligned with Trump than ever: From the Politics Desk
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-15 | by ( The Politics Desk | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +9 min

In today’s edition, national political reporter Ben Kamisar examines how House Republicans are growing increasingly aligned with Donald Trump. Plus, "Meet the Press" moderator Kristen Welker looks back at how Trump's Cabinet announcements from right yers ago compare to now. The House GOP is more aligned with Trump than everBy Ben KamisarPresident-elect Donald Trump and the GOP believe Americans delivered them a mandate last week when they handed the party unified control of Washington. Newly elected Senate GOP leader John Thune certainly isn’t a Trump antagonist, but he’s a descendent of the institutional Republican Party. It’s a dynamic worth keeping tabs on, especially as Senate Republicans begin the process of vetting Trump’s Cabinet picks.

Persons: Ben Kamisar, Donald Trump, Kristen Welker, Trump, ” Rep, Troy Nehls, Kyle Stewart, “, John Thune, Trump’s, Sen, John Barrasso, Donald Trump’s, ”, — Trump, Marco Rubio, Matt Gaetz, Pete Hegseth, Robert F, Kennedy Jr, Doug Burgum, Tulsi Gabbard, James Mattis, John Kelly, Jeff Sessions, —, Steve Bannon, Gaetz, Mike Johnson, Elon Musk, Vivek Ramaswamy, Todd Blanche, Doug Collins, 🗞️, Jo Organizations: NBC, White House, Capitol, Republicans, GOP, Trump, NBC News, ”, Senate, Republican Party, Press, State Department, Justice Department, Defense Department, Department of Health, Human Services, Interior Department, Pentagon, Department of Homeland Security, RFK Jr, Department, Former Trump, Republican, Health, Elon, Department of Veterans Affairs, Sena Locations: Washington, Texas, Pennsylvania, Gaetz, California, Iraq

☆ Trump’s latest controversial Cabinet pick could have a huge impact on Americans’ health and lives
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-15 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

The president-elect’s previous selections for director of national intelligence, attorney general and defense secretary could change the country and the world in the long term. The US Department of Health and Human Services secretary has a massive platform and huge power to influence the information that Americans have and the choices they make. “I guess if you like health and you like people who live a long time, it is the most important position,” Trump said. Christina House/Los Angeles Times/Getty ImagesAnother health expert and former US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention acting director condemned the pick. The highly contagious disease is preventable with two doses of the measles vaccine that most Americans get as kids.

Persons: Donald Trump’s, Robert F, Kennedy Jr, “, Kennedy, Trump’s MAGA, Kennedy’s ascendency, Bobby ’ Kennedy, ” Trump, Bobby, ”, Matt Gaetz, Trump, Pete Hegseth, Tulsi Gabbard, Bashar al, Assad, Carlos Barria, Jake Tapper, Indiana Sen, Jim Banks, Jake, Donald Trump, ” Banks, —, ’ Kennedy, he’d “, Dr, Ashish Jha, Covid, CNN’s Wolf Blitzer, Jha, Christina House, Richard Besser . Besser, CNN’s Kaitlan Collins, kindergartners, Mandy Cohen, CNN’s Meg Tirrell, who’s, ” Cohen, Lex Fridman’s, CNN’s Kasie Hunt, don’t, –, ’, won’t, Mitch McConnell — Organizations: CNN, National Institutes of Health, RFK Jr, Trump, US Department of Health, Human Services, Trump’s, Fox News, America, Reuters, Biden, Brown University’s School of Public Health, Republican, Democratic, “ RFK, Los Angeles Times, US Centers for Disease Control, World Health Organization, CDC, Milken, Health Summit, Trump Cabinet, Senate, FBI, GOP Locations: Lago, Florida, Palm Beach , Florida, Washington, Huntington Park , California

☆ How Democrats can still flex power in Trump's Washington: From the Politics Desk
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-14 | by ( The Politics Desk | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +11 min

In today’s edition, senior national political reporter Sahil Kapur examines the way Democrats can still exert some power in Donald Trump's Washington. How Democrats can still flex power in Trump’s WashingtonBy Sahil KapurRepublicans have won full control of Washington, but Democrats will retain two key levers of power to shape legislative outcomes in Donald Trump’s second term. That margin is slimming further as Trump plucks House members for administration jobs. The last two years showed how chaotic and dysfunctional this GOP-controlled House can be, even when the stakes are low. The Ethics Committee has jurisdiction over only sitting House members.

Persons: Sahil Kapur, Donald, Donald Trump's Washington, Matt Gaetz's, Robert F, Kennedy Jr, Donald Trump’s, Robert Garcia, “, Sen, John Thune, ”, Chris Van Hollen, Van Hollen, Patty Murray, Richard Hudson, Trump, Donald Trump, it’s, it’ll, Tony Gonzales, Matt Gaetz, Ryan Nobles, Julie Tsirkin, Frank Thorp V, Kate Santaliz, Gaetz, Justice Department —, they’ll, Joni Ernst, John Curtis, → Trump, Berkeley Lovelace Jr, Dasha Burns Trump, Kennedy, Bill Cassidy, Tulsi Gabbard, Pete Hegseth, Elon Musk, Vivek Ramaswamy’s, 🗞️, Tim, lea Organizations: NBC, White House, Capitol, Republicans, Health, Human Services Department, Sahil Kapur Republicans, Trump plucks, ”, Republican, Senate, GOP, House Republican, Justice Department, NBC News, Committee, Punchbowl News, RFK, Human Services, Department of Health, Food and Drug Administration, Education, Labor, Pensions, “ RFK, Trump, Elon, of Government, Cabinet Locations: Donald Trump's, Trump’s Washington, Washington, “, Texas, Florida, Congress, Iowa, Utah, Elon, usk

WASHINGTON — Republican senators are preparing for a robust vetting of Matt Gaetz, President-elect Donald Trump's pick to lead the Justice Department, with a keen interest in details from a House Ethics Committee investigation into the former congressman from Florida. The Ethics Committee has jurisdiction only over sitting House members. Many Republican senators, including members of the GOP-led Judiciary Committee that will oversee Gaetz’s nomination for attorney general, said they'll want to see the details of the House Ethics investigation into Gaetz. But Gaetz's resignation complicates things, and the House committee hasn't indicated what it will do. Asked directly if he'd vote to confirm Gaetz, Cramer said the Florida congressman would have to make it through the Judiciary Committee first.

Persons: WASHINGTON, Matt Gaetz, Donald Trump's, Gaetz, Justice Department —, Trump, they'll, Sen, Joni Ernst, John Curtis, “, hasn't, Bill Boner, Buz Lukens, John Cornyn of, he'd, ”, Cornyn, it’s, ” Cornyn, ” Sen, Lindsey Graham, ” Graham, Trump hadn’t, Matt, Chuck Grassley, we’ve, ” Grassley, , Grassley, Susan Collins, Collins, Kevin McCarthy, Lisa Murkowski, Gaetz's, Ernst, He’s, JD Vance, Kevin Cramer, we’re, —, Cramer, McCarthy, I’ll, he’s, Mike Braun, I’m Organizations: Justice Department, NBC News, Republican, GOP, Committee, Punchbowl News, Judiciary, “, Department, NBC, Republicans, —, Trump Locations: Florida, Congress, Iowa, Utah, Ohio, John Cornyn of Texas, Maine, Pennsylvania, Alaska

“President Trump is going to hit the Justice Department with a blowtorch, and Matt Gaetz is that torch,” Steve Bannon, Trump’s former White House strategist, told NBC News. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, said she didn't think Gaetz was "a serious nomination for the attorney general." From bitter experience, Trump knows that he needs an attorney general he can trust implicitly, and it might be worth the political capital to battle for Gaetz's confirmation. Little happened in Trump’s first term that angered him as much as Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ decision to recuse himself and appoint a special counsel to investigate whether there were links between his 2016 campaign and Russia. In Gaetz, Trump would get an attorney general who has said Trump won the election that year, as well as an iconoclast who shares his willingness to upset the status quo.

Persons: Donald Trump, Trump, Matt Gaetz, Steve Bannon, Trump’s, Pete Hegseth, Tulsi Gabbard, Tom Homan, Kristi Noem, Mount Rushmore, James Mattis, Mattis, John Kelly, Kelly, who'd, Hegseth, Donald J, ”, Max Stier, Gaetz, Kamala Harris, Sen, Lisa Murkowski, Kevin Cramer, Jeff Sessions, I’m, ” Trump, Robert Mueller, William Barr Organizations: WASHINGTON, Justice Department, Defense, Justice, White, Department, White House, NBC News, Fox News, Democrat, Trump, South Dakota Gov, National Guard, Partnership for Public Service, Senate, Republicans, FBI, CDC, ATF, DOJ, NBC, Washington Locations: Afghanistan, Iraq, Alaska, Russia

"OMG," a current senior Justice Department official said. Another Justice Department employee said, "I’m struggling to find words." "And look, he is uniquely qualified," that Justice Department official said, snarkily. A current senior Justice Department official "did not see this coming," while another called it "absolutely unbelievable." A former senior Justice Department official, meanwhile, said in a text message Gaetz's selection "cannot be real."

Persons: Donald Trump's, Matt Gaetz —, ” Gaetz, ”, Gaetz, I’m, Kevin Dietsch, Ray Epps, Brandon Straka, “, Trump, Matt, ” Said Organizations: WASHINGTON, Justice Department, Trump, FBI, Department, Justice, U.S . Capitol, Republican National Committee, Democratic National Committee, Senate, Department of Justice Locations: Florida, United States, Pennsylvania

WASHINGTON — A triumphant President-elect Donald Trump huddled with House Republicans before their leadership elections Wednesday and threw his support behind Speaker Mike Johnson, a key ally, as the GOP prepares for unified control of government next year. Trump, the 45th and future 47th president, got multiple standing ovations from rank-and-file Republicans at the meeting. After the event with Republicans, Trump headed to the White House for a meeting with President Joe Biden. House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole, R-Okla., said Trump's meeting with Republicans was less about specific policy proposals and more of a "rah-rah address." Even before Trump's endorsement, Republicans were expected to nominate Johnson to continue as speaker in the 119th Congress.

Persons: WASHINGTON —, Donald Trump, Mike Johnson, Johnson, Trump, Elon Musk, Vivek Ramaswamy, Kamala Harris, Joe Biden, Tom Cole, Troy Nehls, Nehls, Andy Harris, “, Kevin McCarthy, McCarthy, Scott DesJarlais, — Harris, Dusty Johnson, —, Harris, We've, Steve Scalise, Tom Emmer, Sen, John Thune of, Mitch McConnell of, Elise Stefanik, Lisa McClain, Kat Cammack, Rand Paul, Rick Scott, Richard Hudson of, Blake Moore of, Kevin Hern, Gary Palmer of, Palmer, Hern, Erin Houchin, Mark Alford of, Mariannette Miller, Meeks, sidestep, Trump's, Johnson Organizations: Republicans, GOP, Hyatt, Capitol, Trump, NBC, Tech, “ Department, Government, White, Rep, House Republicans, HFC, Caucus, Freedom Caucus, Main Street, Stefanik, Republican, United Nations, National Republican Congressional Committee, Oklahoma, Committee, Reps, Mar, Republican Party, Congress Locations: Washington, Mar, Florida, Texas, America, John Thune of South Dakota, Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, New York, U.S, Lisa McClain of Michigan, Sens, Ky, Richard Hudson of North Carolina, Blake Moore of Utah, Gary Palmer of Alabama, Indiana, Mark Alford of Missouri, Iowa

☆ Trump is on the verge of announcing RFK Jr. for Health and Human Services secretary
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-14 | by ( Kaitlan Collins | Kristen Holmes | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: 1 min

West Palm Beach, Florida CNN —President-elect Donald Trump is on the verge of announcing Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as his next secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, according to two people close to the situation, in a move that would add to Trump’s provocative picks whose confirmation process will test the loyalty of Senate Republicans. Trump has formally offered Kennedy the job and the announcement could come as soon as Thursday. This is a breaking story and will be updated.

Persons: Donald Trump, Robert F, Kennedy Jr, Trump, Kennedy Organizations: Palm Beach , Florida CNN —, Department of Health, Human Services, Republicans Locations: Palm Beach , Florida

☆ Gaetz faces rocky road to confirmation as pressure builds for release of House ethics probe
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-14 | by ( Manu Raju | Lauren Fox | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Sen. John Cornyn, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said he “absolutely” wants to see the House Ethics Committee’s findings on Gaetz. “I think there should not be any limitations on the Senate Judiciary Committee’s investigation, including whatever the House Ethics Committee has generated,” he said. Trump has pushed to keep all options on the table to greenlight his nominees, including recess appointments, which would bypass the typical Senate confirmation process. However, Sen. Rick Scott told CNN, “I believe in recess appointments.” Scott had supported recess appointments during his bid for GOP leader, which he lost to Thune. The Supreme Court has ruled on questions about recess appointments, which makes the outcome of taking these questions to court uncertain.

Persons: Donald Trump’s, Matt Gaetz, Sen, John Cornyn, “, ”, Gaetz, John Thune, James Lankford, ” Cornyn, Cornyn, Rick Scott, ” Scott, Scott, Trump’s, Dick Durbin, Richard Blumenthal, Chris Coons, Durbin, Donald Trump, ” Blumenthal, “ Matt Gaetz, ” Coons, he’s, Thune, Leah Millis, Reuters Sen, Chuck Grassley, “ We’ve, ” Grassley, Lindsey Graham, Thom Tillis, Tillis, Graham, ” Sen, Josh Hawley, ” Graham, Matt, ” Tillis, Samuel Corum, it’s, ’, Thune couldn’t, CNN’s Danya Gainor, Sarah Ferris, Annie Grayer, Ted Barrett, Morgan Rimmer, Emma Newman Organizations: CNN, Top, Republicans, GOP, Trump, Florida Republican, Democratic, Democrats, Republican U.S, U.S, 119th, Capitol, Reuters, Democrat, Senate Locations: Florida, Washington , U.S, Sens, Washington , DC

☆ Cabinet confirmation process and recess appointments, explained
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-14 | by ( Zachary B. Wolf | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

Rather than face the humiliation of a rejection vote in the Senate, Cabinet nominees are more frequently withdrawn when it becomes clear they cannot be confirmed. Here’s a look at the Cabinet confirmation process, why it exists, where it’s gone wrong and how Trump wants to find a way around it. Presidents like Ronald Reagan, Clinton and both Bushes did use recess appointments, although usually for positions below the Cabinet level. While Democrats can no longer filibuster Cabinet nominees, they can slow the process down. Then, the Senate rejected Taney when Jackson put him forward for a Supreme Court nomination.

Persons: George H.W, Bush, John Tower, ”, Tower, Matt Gaetz, Donald Trump’s, Gaetz, Department of Justice –, Trump, Robert F, Kennedy Jr, Kennedy, it’s, Bill Clinton, Zoe Baird, Joe Biden, Biden, Trump’s, Sen, John Thune, Ronald Reagan, Clinton, Mickey Kantor, Barack Obama, Senate can’t, …, Republicans don’t, Mike Johnson, Let’s, Johnson, Edward Whelan, Roger B . Taney, Andrew Jackson, Taney, Jackson, Martin Van Buren, England . Taney, Scott Organizations: CNN, Pentagon, Florida Rep, Department of Justice, Senate, Former House, of Health, Human Services, White House, United Nations, CIA, Law, Public Service, Democratic, Partnership for Public Service, Office, National Labor Relations, US, Senators, Republicans, GOP, Trump, Republican, The Washington Post, Bank of, Federal Reserve, Taney Locations: Texas, Geneva, United States, The, England

CNN —President-elect Donald Trump and Elon Musk have big ambitions for making the federal government leaner and more efficient by reviewing its budget and operations from top to bottom. Details about how the new Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, will operate – and how Musk and his co-leader Vivek Ramaswamy will avoid conflicts of interest – remain scarce. Musk also took aim at the Department of Education, a frequent target of Trump and Republicans, criticizing the agency for allegedly indoctrinating kids with left-wing propaganda and other failings. Slashing that much from the federal budget – which totaled roughly $6.8 trillion in fiscal 2024 – would require cutting every program by roughly one-third, said Bobby Kogan, senior director of federal budget policy at the left-leaning Center for American Progress. “Trump’s ‘Department of Government Efficiency’ will not be an actual department.

Persons: Donald Trump, Elon Musk, Vivek Ramaswamy, Trump, ” Musk, Ramaswamy, Musk, ”, “, ” Ramaswamy, Stephen Moore, Elon, Vivek, Moore, Larry Summers, Clinton, Glenn Hubbard, George W, Bush, Bobby Kogan, ” Kogan, Brian Riedl, Riedl, GOP Sen, Rob Portman, Sharon Parrott, Ronald Reagan, Reagan, William Hoagland, Peter G, Peterson, –, Jon Greenbaum, ’ that’s, Harry Sandick Organizations: CNN, Elon, Department of Government, Trump, Republican, White House, SpaceX, Department of Education, of Defense, Veterans Affairs and Homeland Security, Education Department, Labor Department, FBI, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Heritage Foundation, US, of Economic, American, Security, Social Security, Manhattan Institute, GOP, ‘ Department, Government, White, White House & Congress, Congressional Republicans, Children’s Health Insurance, Affordable, Budget, Republicans, Grace, Center, Elon Musk, Federal Advisory Committee, Democratic Locations: Rob Portman of Ohio

Pennsylvania’s Senate race is heading to a recount, which the narrow margin between Republican Dave McCormick and Democratic Sen. Bob Casey triggered automatically under state law. Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt announced Wednesday that the unofficial results showing a narrow race have led to a recount. Any margin under 0.5 percentage points triggers a recount in Pennsylvania. But the current vote count shows a sizable drop-off between Trump and McCormick, with Trump winning more than 100,000 more votes than McCormick. NBC News projected that Democratic Senate candidates in Arizona, Michigan, Nevada and Wisconsin won their races even as Trump carried the states.

Persons: Republican Dave McCormick, Democratic Sen, Bob Casey, Commonwealth Al Schmidt, Schmidt, McCormick, Elizabeth Gregory, “, Casey’s, ” Gregory, Casey, ” Dave McCormick, ”, Donald Trump, Kamala Harris, ” McCormick, we’ve, I’ll, Trump Organizations: Senate, Republican, Democratic, Commonwealth, NBC News, “, Getty, Capitol, Trump, Republicans, Wisconsin Locations: Pennsylvania, American, Pittsburgh, West Virginia , Ohio, Montana, Arizona , Michigan, Nevada

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