Donald Trump’s nominee for secretary of defense, former Fox News weekend anchor Pete Hegseth, continues to be dogged by allegations about his past, potentially making his confirmation less likely and splitting right-wing media on his prospects as his candidacy faces an “absolutely critical day” on Wednesday.
Hegseth took questions from the House Republican Study Committee today as well as from Megyn Kelly on her podcast.
His mother Penelope appeared on the network earlier to defend him, having previously criticized her son’s behavior towards women in a letter. The Trump transition team is reportedly considering alternatives to lead the Pentagon — surprisingly including Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.
On Tuesday, Trump’s pick to serve as administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Sheriff Chad Chronister, withdrew from consideration, posting on X that he would be declining the “honor of a lifetime” after “the gravity of this very important responsibility set in”.
In a slew of appointments on Wednesday morning, the president-elect asked his former trade adviser Peter Navarro to return in a similar role for his new administration. Trump also picked a NASA administrator, a secretary of the army, and an ambassador for hostage affairs.
Key Points
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Peter Navarro to return to White House in trade and manufacturing role
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Donald Trump’s defense secretary nominee Pete Hegseth facing ‘absolutely critical day’
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Trump team reportedly considering Ron DeSantis to replace Hegseth
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President-elect’s DEA nominee backs out over criticism of handling of Covid-19 and immigration
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Trump picks billionaire commercial astronaut Jared Isaacman as NASA head
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Trump names Paul Atkins chair of Securities & Exchange Commission
Trump names White House counsel and DOGE counsel
18:52 , Oliver O’Connell
Donald Trump has tapped David Warrington to serve as the White House’s top attorney and William McGinley to serve as counsel to the Department of Government Efficiency.
The president-elect made both announcements on Truth Social:
I am proud to announce the appointment of David A. Warrington to serve as Assistant to the President and Counsel to the President. Dave will lead the Office of White House Counsel, and serve as the top attorney in the White House. Dave has represented me well as my personal attorney, and as General Counsel for my Presidential Campaign. He is an esteemed lawyer and Conservative leader. Dave is currently a Partner at the Dhillon Law Group, and a former President of the Republican National Lawyers Association. Dave is a Veteran of the United States Marine Corps, and a Magna Cum Laude Graduate of Georgetown University, and the George Mason University School of Law…
…Additionally, I have asked William Joseph McGinley to serve as Counsel to the Department of Government Efficiency (“DOGE”), something he is very passionate about. Bill will work with Elon Musk, Vivek Ramaswamy, and their team of incredible pioneers at DOGE, to rebuild a U.S. Government that truly serves the People. Bill will play a crucial role in liberating our Economy from burdensome Regulations, excess spending, and Government waste. He will partner with the White House and the Office of Management and Budget to provide advice and guidance to end the bloated Federal Bureaucracy. Bill is a great addition to a stellar team that is focused on making life better for all Americans. He will be at the forefront of my Administration’s efforts to make our Government more efficient and more accountable.
Congratulations to Dave and Bill!
Scaramucci impressed with Trump economic picks
18:48 , Oliver O’Connell
Watch: Hegseth tells Megyn Kelly he has never had a drinking problem
18:42 , Oliver O’Connell
Donald Trump’s nominee for secretary of defense sat down for an interview with Megyn Kelly today to address the questions about his alleged drinking problem.
Kelly also asked if he was being “Kavanaugh’d”, referring to the aggressive questioning of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh during his confirmation hearing regarding his drinking and allegations of sexual assault.
Hegseth dismissed allegations against him as “all anonymous, all innuendo, all rumor, nothing sourced, no verification … because you’re a threat to them.”
He described the allegations against him as the “classic art of the smear.”
“Take whatever tiny kernels of truth and there are tiny, tiny ones in there, and blow them up into a masquerade of a narrative about somebody that I am definitely not.”
Hegseth then committed to not drinking if confirmed.
Joe Rogan reveals the one person who pushed him to get involved in the election
18:36 , Oliver O’Connell
Podcaster Joe Rogan said he publicly endorsed Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election because he strongly opposed Michigan Governor Tim Walz, branding the Democratic vice presidential nominee a “liar”.
Ariana Baio has the story.
Joe Rogan reveals the single person who drove him to get involved in the election
Watch: Hegseth directs reporters’ questions to Megyn Kelly interview
18:31 , Oliver O’Connell
Hegseth cancels Thursday meeting with Sen Hawley
18:30 , Oliver O’Connell
Trump defense secretary pick Pete Hegseth has canceled a meeting with Senator Josh Hawley tomorrow, according to reporting by Lisa Dejardins of PBS Newshour.
Former Treasury spox and Fox News contributor nominated as chief of protocol
18:26 , Oliver O’Connell
Another comeback from the first Trump administration, and another Fox News connection, as Monica Crowley is nominated by Donald Trump to serve as Ambassador, Assistant Secretary of State, and Chief of Protocol. This could be high profile role in the coming four years with the 250th Anniversary of US independence, the FIFA World Cup, and the Los Angeles Olympics all lined up.
The president-elect wrote:
I am honored to nominate Monica Elizabeth Crowley, Ph.D. to serve as Ambassador, Assistant Secretary of State, and Chief of Protocol of the United States of America. Monica will be the Administration Representative for major U.S. hosted events, including America’s 250th Birthday in 2026, the FIFA World Cup in 2026, and the Olympic Games in Los Angeles in 2028.
During my First Term, Monica did an incredible job as Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for Public Affairs. For her exceptional service, she received the Alexander Hamilton Award, the highest honor bestowed by the Department. Monica is a New York Times bestselling author, and has been a popular anchor, and political and foreign affairs analyst, for the Fox News Channel and Fox Business Network, among others. A graduate of Colgate University, she holds two Master’s degrees, and a Doctorate in International Relations, from Columbia University.
She will be an extraordinary Representative of our Country. Congratulations Monica!
Trump nominates for anti-trust role to take on big tech
18:18 , Oliver O’Connell
Donald Trump has named Gail Slater as his nominee for assistant attorney general for the Antitrust Division of the Justice Department to take on Big Tech and ensure competition laws are enforced.
The president-elect wrote on Truth Social:
I am pleased to nominate Gail Slater as Assistant Attorney General for the Antitrust Division at the Department of Justice. Big Tech has run wild for years, stifling competition in our most innovative sector and, as we all know, using its market power to crack down on the rights of so many Americans, as well as those of Little Tech! I was proud to fight these abuses in my First Term, and our Department of Justice’s antitrust team will continue that work under Gail’s leadership.
Gail previously served at the FTC, in my National Economic Council and, most recently, advising Vice President-Elect JD Vance in his Senate office. Gail has also worked in the private sector, in Media at FOX, and in the Tech sector at Roku. In her new role, Gail will help ensure that our competition laws are enforced, both vigorously and FAIRLY, with clear rules that facilitate, rather than stifle, the ingenuity of our greatest companies. Congratulations Gail – Together, we will Make America Competitive Again!
US military takes pride in religious diversity. Would that change under Hegseth?
18:15 , AP
It was a history-making event: In a chapel at Fort Liberty, North Carolina, 2nd Lt. Khady Ndiaye stood proudly — wearing a hijab – as she became the first Muslim woman commissioned by the U.S. Army as a chaplain candidate.
Presiding over the ceremony in June was Maj. Gen. Bill Green, the Army’s chief of chaplains. He said the chaplains serve more than 200 faith groups, “while caring for the entire Army family … regardless of their personal beliefs.”
That ethos — a commitment to religious diversity throughout a U.S. military with 1.3 million active-duty troops — could be strained if Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for defense secretary, is confirmed as the next Pentagon leader.
Continue reading…
US military takes pride in religious diversity. Would things change if Pete Hegseth takes charge?
Trump names chair of Securities & Exchange Commission and deputy at Treasury
18:09 , Oliver O’Connell
The nominations keep coming today, with Donald Trump picking his chair of the Securities & Exchange Commission as well as the deputy secretary of the treasury — Paul Atking and Michael Faulkender, respectively.
Atkins contributed to Project 2025’s chapter on financial regulatory agencies.
The president-elect wrote on Truth Social:
I am delighted to announce the nomination of Paul Atkins to be the next Chairman of the Securities & Exchange Commission.
Paul is a proven leader for common sense regulations. He believes in the promise of robust, innovative capital markets that are responsive to the needs of Investors, & that provide capital to make our Economy the best in the World. He also recognizes that digital assets & other innovations are crucial to Making America Greater than Ever Before.
Paul is the CEO & Founder of Patomak Global Partners, a risk management consultancy. As Co-Chairman of the Digital Chamber’s Token Alliance since 2017, he has worked on & studied the digital assets industry. A former SEC Commissioner from 2002-2008, Paul strongly advocated for transparency & protecting investors. He earned a J.D. from Vanderbilt University School of Law, & his A.B. from Wofford College, summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa.
Congratulations to Paul, his wonderful wife, Sarah, & sons, Stewart, Peter, & Henry.
Atkins is a pro-business conservative who is expected to take a lighter regulatory approach than the present chair, Gary Gensler. Crypto-currency companies and advocates will likely be enthused by this choice.
And at the Treasury, it’s another returning face from the first Trump administration.
I am pleased to nominate Dr. Michael William Faulkender, of the Great State of Maryland, to serve as the Deputy Secretary of the United States Department of the Treasury. Mike is a distinguished Economist and Policy practitioner who will drive our America First Agenda. He will help Treasury Secretary Nominee Scott Bessent usher in a new Golden Age for the United States by delivering a Great Economic Boom for all Americans.
Mike previously served as the Assistant Secretary for Economic Policy at the Treasury Department during my First Administration. In that role, he advised the Secretary on domestic and international issues that impacted the Economy. Mike is currently the Dean’s Professor of Finance at the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business, and is the Chief Economist and Vice Chair for the America First Policy Institute’s Center for American Prosperity. Congratulations to Mike, and his two wonderful daughters, Lauren and Catherine!
Trump — who tried to overthrow 2020 US election — to get Fox Patriot of the Year award
17:45 , Oliver O’Connell
President-elect Donald Trump has announced that he will attend the Fox News Patriot Awards event in New York on Thursday to receive the Fox Patriot of the Year honor just a few years after he tried to overturn the results of of the 2020 election.
“I look greatly forward to attending the Fox News Patriot Awards, hosted by Sean Hannity in New York on Thursday evening. I will be receiving the Fox Patriot of the Year Award — so nice! See you there,” Trump preened on Truth Social on Tuesday night.
Guess who the original host of the event was supposed to be…
Gustaf Kilander reports.
Trump to get Fox Patriot of the Year award
Jared Isaacman ‘honored’ to be picked as next NASA administrator
17:29 , Oliver O’Connell
Jared Isaacman (REUTERS)
Jared Isaacman, the billionaire SpaceX pilot picked to lead NASA by President-elect Donald Trump, says he is honored to be chosen, promising that Americans will walk on the Moon and Mars.
Here’s his full statement:
I am honored to receive President Trump’s @realDonaldTrump nomination to serve as the next Administrator of NASA. Having been fortunate to see our amazing planet from space, I am passionate about America leading the most incredible adventure in human history.
On my last mission to space, my crew and I traveled farther from Earth than anyone in over half a century. I can confidently say this second space age has only just begun. Space holds unparalleled potential for breakthroughs in manufacturing, biotechnology, mining, and perhaps even pathways to new sources of energy. There will inevitably be a thriving space economy—one that will create opportunities for countless people to live and work in space. At NASA, we will passionately pursue these possibilities and usher in an era where humanity becomes a true spacefaring civilization.
I was born after the Moon landings; my children were born after the final space shuttle launch. With the support of President Trump, I can promise you this: We will never again lose our ability to journey to the stars and never settle for second place. We will inspire children, yours and mine, to look up and dream of what is possible. Americans will walk on the Moon and Mars and in doing so, we will make life better here on Earth.
It is the honor of a lifetime to serve in this role and to work alongside NASA’s extraordinary team to realize our shared dreams of exploration and discovery.
Grateful to serve,
Jared
‘Amtrak Joe’ Biden uses his visit to Angola to promote a major African rail project
17:15 , AP
Even in the waning days of his presidency and thousands of miles from home, U.S. President Joe Biden is finding ways to celebrate trains.
Biden is using his third and final day in Angola to showcase the Lobito Corridor railway, where the U.S. and key allies are investing heavily to refurbish 800 miles (1,300 kilometers) of train lines in Zambia, Congo and Angola.
The project aims to advance the U.S. presence in a region rich in cobalt, copper and other critical minerals used in batteries for electric vehicles, electronic devices and clean energy technologies. By the end of the decade, the rail line could even go a long way toward linking southern Africa’s western coast with the continent’s eastern edge.
Continue reading…
‘Amtrak Joe’ Biden uses his visit to Angola to promote a major African rail project
Trump says he withdrew DEA pick in rant at Wall Street Journal
16:49 , Oliver O’Connell
It’s a busy morning on Truth Social for the president-elect.
Donald Trump has now lashed out at The Wall Street Journal over its coverage of Sheriff Chad Chronister’s decision to step back as the pick to run the Drug Enforcement Administration.
The president-elect says that it was he who pulled Chronister from consideration for the role “because I did not like what he said to my pastors and other supporters”.
This appears to be a reference to the Hillsborough County sheriff’s enforcement of Covid-19 restrictions during the pandemic — including the arrest of Ronald Howard-Browne, the pastor of The River at Tampa Bay Church, for holding church services in violation of state and local public health orders, The New York Post reports.
Trump also took issue with the Journal’s characterization of the news as his “latest setback” following the withdrawal of Matt Gaetz as nominee for attorney general, and the increasingly difficult battle faced by Pete Hegseth to be secretary of defense.
Here’s what the president-elect had to say in full:
The Wall Street Journal is becoming more and more obnoxious and unreadable. Today’s main headline is: “Trump’s DEA Pick Pulls Out In Latest Setback.” With all that’s happening in the World, this is their Number One story of the day. Besides, he didn’t pull out, I pulled him out, because I did not like what he said to my pastors and other supporters. But, more importantly, what’s my “latest” setback??? I just won the Presidency of the United States! They haven’t written a good story about me in YEARS. Somebody over there ought to look at what they’re doing. The only one worse than them is stupid, China-centric Forbes Magazine!
MTG and Laura Loomer come to blows — again!
16:45 , Oliver O’Connell
MAGA Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene and far-right activist Laura Loomer have once again come to blows – this time over President Joe Biden’s controversial decision to pardon his son Hunter Biden.
James Liddell has the story.
MTG and Laura Loomer come to blows again — this time over Hunter Biden’s pardon
Trump picks billionaire commercial astronaut as NASA head
16:20 , Oliver O’Connell
In a morning of appointments, President-elect Donald Trump has chosen commercial astronaut and billionaire Jared Isaacman to lead NASA.
Isaacman commanded spaceflights for SpaceX and the Polaris Program, becoming the first private citizen to perform a spacewalk earlier this year.
I am delighted to nominate Jared Isaacman, an accomplished business leader, philanthropist, pilot, and astronaut, as Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Jared will drive NASA’s mission of discovery and inspiration, paving the way for groundbreaking achievements in Space science, technology, and exploration. Over the past 25 years, as the Founder and CEO of Shift4, Jared has demonstrated exceptional leadership, building a trailblazing global financial technology company. He also co-founded and served as CEO of Draken International, a defense aerospace company, for over a decade, supporting the U.S. Department of Defense, and our Allies. Jared’s passion for Space, astronaut experience, and dedication to pushing the boundaries of exploration, unlocking the mysteries of the universe, and advancing the new Space economy, make him ideally suited to lead NASA into a bold new Era. Congratulations to Jared, his wife Monica, and their children, Mila & Liv!
Days after Trump threat, Mexico seizes largest ever fentanyl haul
16:15 , AP
Mexican marines have seized over a ton of fentanyl pills in two raids in the north, with officials calling it the biggest catch of the opioid in the country’s history.
The raids came after a sharp drop in fentanyl seizures in Mexico earlier this year, and days after President-elect Donald Trump threatened to impose 25% tariffs on products from Canada and Mexico unless those countries cracked down on the flow of migrants and drugs across the border.
Mexico’s top security official said soldiers and marines late Tuesday spotted two men carrying guns in the northern state of Sinaloa, home to the drug cartel of the same name.
Read on…
Mexico seizes largest ever fentanyl haul days after Trump threat
Sen Mullin emerges as key supporter of Hegseth
16:12 , Oliver O’Connell
Abraham Accords lead negotiator named as special envoy for hostage affairs
16:10 , Oliver O’Connell
Donald Trump has chosen his lead negotiator from the Abraham Accords team to become his special presidential envoy for hostage affairs.
The president-elect announced his pick on Truth Social, amidst a slew of other appointments.
I am pleased to announce that Adam Boehler will be my Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs, with the personal rank of Ambassador. Adam worked for me as a Lead Negotiator on the Abraham Accords team. He has negotiated with some of the toughest people in the World, including the Taliban, but Adam knows that NOONE is tougher than the United States of America, at least when President Trump is its Leader. Adam will work tirelessly to bring our Great American Citizens HOME. Adam was unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate as the first CEO of the United States Development Finance Corporation. He went to the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Congratulations to Adam, his wife, Shira, and their four beautiful children, Ruth, Abraham, Esther, and Rachel!
Trump names pick for secretary of the army
16:07 , Oliver O’Connell
Donald Trump has chosen a senior adviser to JD Vance as his choice to be secretary of the army.
The president-elect wrote on Truth Social:
I am pleased to nominate Daniel P. Driscoll, from the Great State of North Carolina, to serve as the Secretary of the Army. As a former Soldier, Investor, and Political Advisor, Dan brings a powerful combination of experiences to serve as a disruptor and change agent. Dan graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill in three years to join the fight with the U.S. Army. After completing U.S. Army Ranger school, Dan deployed with the 10th Mountain Division as a Cavalry Scout Platoon Leader in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. After returning from combat, Dan graduated from Yale Law School on the Post-9/11 GI Bill….
….Dan has worked in venture capital and private equity, and most recently has been serving as Senior Advisor to Vice President-Elect JD Vance. Dan will be a fearless and relentless fighter for America’s Soldiers and the America First agenda.
Hailing from Boone, NC, Dan is married to his high school sweetheart, Dr. Cassie Driscoll, a plastic surgeon. They have two beautiful children, Daniel Jr. and Lila.
Navarro to return to White House
16:03 , Oliver O’Connell
Peter Navarro, who recently served time in prison for contempt of Congress, will return to the White House to again focus on trade, President-elect Donald Trump announced on Truth Social.
I am pleased to announce that Peter Navarro, a man who was treated horribly by the Deep State, or whatever else you would like to call it, will serve as my Senior Counselor for Trade and Manufacturing. During my First Term, few were more effective or tenacious than Peter in enforcing my two sacred rules, Buy American, Hire American. He helped me renegotiate unfair Trade Deals like NAFTA and the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement (KORUS), and moved every one of my Tariff and Trade actions FAST….
….The Senior Counselor position leverages Peter’s broad range of White House experience, while harnessing his extensive Policy analytic and Media skills. His mission will be to help successfully advance and communicate the Trump Manufacturing, Tariff, and Trade Agendas.
Peter is not just a superb, Harvard-trained Economist, he is a noted author of more than a dozen bestselling books on strategic business management and unfair Trade. He did a superb job for the American People in my First Term. Peter will do even better as Senior Counselor to protect American Workers, and truly Make American Manufacturing Great Again.
Trump asks Michael Whatley to continue as chair of RNC
16:00 , Oliver O’Connell
Donald Trump has asked Michael Whatley to continue to serve as chair of the Republican National Committee.
The president-elect made the announcement on Truth Social a short time ago.
Michael Whatley, from the Great State of North Carolina, has been with me since the beginning, and has done an OUTSTANDING and HISTORIC JOB in running the Republican National Committee with the fantastic Lara Trump! He is a smart, tough lawyer who put together a completely unprecedented ELECTION INTEGRITY OPERATION that protected the Vote all across America, and a GET OUT THE VOTE CAMPAIGN that delivered the Votes we needed in every Battleground State. Michael and Lara transformed the RNC into a lean, focused, and powerful machine that will empower the America First Agenda for many years to come.
I have asked Michael to return as Chairman of the RNC to continue to build our Party, and be a trusted partner as we Make America Great Again, and ensure Free and Fair Elections. Republicans everywhere should support him as he continues his mission at the RNC. Thank you for your hard work, Michael!
Speaker Mike Johnson condemns Thanksgiving bomb threats against Democrat lawmakers
15:57 , Oliver O’Connell
Speaker Mike Johnson condemns the Thanksgiving bomb threats against several Democratic lawmakers: “This is a dangerous and insane behavior that we are seeing across the country, and it has no place in our country… whoever’s doing this, you will be found out and you will be punished.”
ANALYSIS: His mother on TV, a slew of allegations and demands to ‘keep fighting’: What on earth does Pete Hegseth do now?
15:45 , Oliver O’Connell
Pete Hegseth’s nomination for defense secretary is looking increasingly tenuous as new revelations about the ex-Fox host’s history appear. A new TV appearance by his mother on Fox & Friends and claims that Trump told him to “keep fighting” haven’t exactly turned down the heat, either.
On Wednesday, Hegseth embarked on a bid to save what looks to be a sinking ship. He was back on Capitol Hill meeting with senators, and told reporters that he had no plans to withdraw his bid.
John Bowden reports from Washington, DC.
What on earth does Pete Hegseth do now?
‘Architect’ of 2020 fake electors scheme wants to invalidate guilty plea in Georgia
15:40 , Oliver O’Connell
Kenneth Chesebro, the so-called architect of the fake elector scheme to try and throw the 2020 election to Donald Trump, has moved to invalidate his guilty plea in the sprawling Fulton County, Georgia, racketeering case in which he was named as one of the co-conspirators alongside the now president-elect.
After pleading guilty, Chesebro began cooperating with investigators in other key battleground states where the scheme was also operative.
Read the full filing here.
Here’s our reporting on his guilty plea and what it meant for the case:
Kenneth Chesebro pleads guilty in Georgia election subversion case
AOC calls for Biden to commute federal death sentences after Hunter Biden pardon
15:15 , Oliver O’Connell
The New York Democrat and outspoken progressive told The Independent that commuting federal death sentences is more than just about the individual pardon, which many Democrats have loudly criticized.
Specifically, she cited Native American activist Leonard Peltier, who is serving a life sentence for killing two FBI agents, though advocates say he was wrongly convicted.
Eric Garcia has more.
AOC calls for Biden to commute federal death sentences after Hunter Biden pardon
Watch: Hegseth says he spoke to Trump this morning ‘he said keep going, keep fighting’
14:56 , Oliver O’Connell
Nikole Killion of CBS News caught up with Pete Hegseth at the Capitol this morning as he arrived for meetings with senators.
“I spoke to the president-elect this morning. He said keep going keep fighting. I’m behind you all the way.”
Hegseth says he will ‘never back down’ and retweets messages of support
14:48 , Oliver O’Connell
Facing a crucial moment in his nomination to be Donald Trump’s secretary of defense, Pete Hegseth is attempting to rally his supporters in the face of allegations regarding alcohol abuse, sexual assault, and mismanagement that his detractors say make him wholly unqualified for the role.
The former Fox News host posted a defiant tweet this morning, saying: “I’m doing this for the warfighters, not the warmongers.”
“The Left is afraid of disrupters and change agents. They are afraid of Donald Trump—and me. So they smear w/ fake, anonymous sources & BS stories. They don’t want truth,” he continued.
“Our warriors never back down, & neither will I.”
He also posted messages of support from Charlie Kirk, actor Dean Cain, Senator Rick Scott, and Vice President-elect JD Vance.
Trump’s controversial FBI pick Kash Patel targeted in Iranian cyberattack
14:35 , Joe Sommerlad
Here’s James Liddell with the latest on the alleged hacking of Kash Patel by Tehran.
Trump’s controversial FBI pick Kash Patel targeted in Iranian cyberattack
Judge lashes out over Hunter Biden pardon
14:15 , Joe Sommerlad
The judge overseeing Hunter Biden’s tax case is not thrilled with the president’s pardoning his son and has accused him of misrepresenting the case, saying his public statement “stands in tension with the case record”.
Judge Marc Scarsi issued a strong rebuke in response to the president’s announcement over the Thanksgiving weekend, saying that “in the president’s estimation, this legion of federal civil servants, the undersigned included, are unreasonable people” and declared “a press release is not a pardon.”
Joe and Hunter Biden (AFP/Getty)
Tucker Carlson returns to Moscow to interview another Russian leader
13:55 , Joe Sommerlad
The conservative media personality has returned to Russia to interview Vladimir Putin’s foreign minister Sergei Lavrov.
The former Fox News primetime host and Donald Trump ally made waves nine months ago when he unexpectedly appeared in Moscow to interview Putin himself, only to be widely derided for his credulous coverage of the country and failure to confront the Kremlin leader over his actions in Ukraine.
Even the Russian president mocked Carlson, pointing out his lack of “sharp” questions and teasing him about his failed attempt to join the CIA earlier in his career.
On Tuesday, Carlson posted a video on X from Red Square, where he explained his latest visit.
Here’s more.
Tucker Carlson returns to Moscow to interview another Russian leader
Penelope Hegseth defends son on Fox and Friends
13:35 , Joe Sommerlad
The mother of Trump’s nominee for defense secretary, who previously rebuked him over his treatment of women, is on Fox’s morning show right now to defend her boy.
Here’s what she’s had to tell Steve Doocy so far:
Justin Baragona has more.
Pete Hegseth’s mom trashes media as she defends her ‘changed’ son on Fox & Friends
Trump in New York on Thursday to receive ‘Fox Patriot of Year’ award
13:25 , Joe Sommerlad
Here’s an interesting little sidenote to the president-elect’s latest Truth Social announcement.
Hegseth: ‘I’m doing this for the warfighters, not the warmongers’
13:05 , Joe Sommerlad
Here’s a defiant Pete Hegseth on X this morning accusing “the Left” of trying to bring him down with false stories because they fear “disrupters and agents of change”.
What Republican senators have said about Pete Hegseth
12:45 , Joe Sommerlad
“I think some of these articles are very disturbing,” admitted South Carolina’s Lindsey Graham.
“He obviously has a chance to defend himself here, but some of this stuff is… it’s going to be difficult.”
Iowa’s Joni Ernst, another veteran who has been mentioned as a possible replacement for Hegseth, pledged to have “a really frank and thorough conversation” with him.
Louisiana’s John Kennedy said he had read up on the nominee and conceded he was “going to have to address” the stories about his past, pointing to the email Hegseth’s mother reportedly sent her son and saying: “Of all the allegations I’ve seen, that’s probably the most serious.”
Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming said Hegseth needed to address the concerns about him, James Lankford of Oklahoma said it was “reasonable” and “fair” to ask about them and Josh Hawley of Missouri admitted that some of his colleagues were “very worried” about the man’s qualifications to lead the Pentagon.
Alabama’s Tommy Tuberville stood up for him, however, saying he had asked Hegseth about the misconduct allegations and concluded: “There’s not going to be anything to this at the end of the day.”
Lindsey Graham (NBC News)
Fox & Friends hosts defend Hegseth: ‘We will not succumb to the left’s playbook’
12:30 , Joe Sommerlad
Lawrence Jones made the case for the defense (secretary) this morning, commenting:
“He’s a Harvard guy. He’s a Princeton guy. He’s been talking about this stuff for years, wrote the whole book about transforming the military, the way that we’re doing things, the wokeness.”
He denied the media reporting about Hegseth’s past scandals and said: “The fact that they’re going out there with unnamed sources when we sit on the couch with him almost every day, for over ten years.
“It’s just – to me, that is the stunning part, especially when you don’t reach out to his co-hosts of the show for comment to say, ‘Hey, what do you guys think about this?’ No one has been contacted about that. I think that screams that it’s a witch hunt.”
Jones then compared the affair to the controversial confirmation hearings of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh. “We can’t allow them to Kavanaugh Pete because I feel like that’s what they’re trying to do right now.”
After Steve Doocy fleshed out the allegations, Emily Compagno commented: “The roadblock to a nomination process to me is almost blasphemous because of this entire thing that the American people voted into office.
“No, we will not succumb to the left’s playbook. We will not succumb to Kavanaugh becoming a verb in that the left likes to wield the media and a very public witch hunt to thwart the possibility for actual success. And that’s the whole point.”
Trump expected to be watching Hegseth’s Fox interview with interest
12:15 , Joe Sommerlad
We will, of course, bring you all the latest on the president-elect’s defense secretary as he appears on Fox today, a session Trump himself is certain to be watching to assess how Hegseth handles himself, which could well determine whether his nomination to the cabinet is allowed to proceed.
On CNN this morning, the pundits agreed that his goose is already cooked because his own mother has described him as a man who “belittles, lies, cheats, sleeps around and uses women for his own power and ego” (even though Penelope Hegseth has now revoked her attack and said it was written in 2018 “in anger, with emotion”).
Here’s Justin Baragona on how the right-wing networks have struggled to cover the Hegseth scandals.
Right-wing networks can’t agree on how to cover Pete Hegseth’s many scandals
Trump considers ally-turned-rival DeSantis to replace Hegseth as Pentagon chief
12:00 , Joe Sommerlad
As promised, here’s more from James Liddell on the Florida Governor’s rumored candidacy for the defense secretary position should Hegseth be forced out.
Trump considers ally-turned-rival DeSantis to replace Hegseth as Pentagon chief
Hegseth accused of chanting ‘kill all Muslims’ on a drunken night out
11:40 , Joe Sommerlad
Justin Baragona has this on Trump’s nominee allegedly drunkenly shouting “kill all Muslims!” in the middle of a crowded bar while serving as the president of a veterans’ group, as first reported by The New Yorker.
Pete Hegseth accused of chanting ‘kill all Muslims’ on a drunken night out
Hegseth admitted to having five affairs during first marriage
11:20 , Joe Sommerlad
Let’s get back to the scandal-hit defense secretary nominee.
Here’s Gustaf Kilander on his alleged extramarital activities.
Pete Hegseth admitted to having five affairs during first marriage
California Democrat Adam Gray flips Republican seat as final 2024 House race called
11:00 , Joe Sommerlad
Gray captured the western state’s 13th Congressional District on Tuesday, unseating Republican John Duarte in the final House contest to be decided this year.
His win in the farm belt seat that cuts through five counties means Republicans won 220 House seats this election cycle, with Democrats holding 215 seats.
Gray won by a margin of less than 200 votes, with election officials reporting late yesterday that all ballots had been counted.
Duarte captured the seat in 2022 when he defeated Gray by one of the closest margins in the country, 564 votes.
He was often listed among the most vulnerable House Republicans given that narrow margin of victory in a district with a Democratic tilt – about 11 points over registered Republicans.
Here’s more.
California Democrat Adam Gray flips Republican seat as final 2024 House race called
Trump posts bizarre AI pic of himself with Canadian flag – on a Swiss mountain
10:40 , Joe Sommerlad
Does Donald Trump want to conquer Canada?
The president-elect posted a bewildering image of him and the Canadian flag on top of a mountain just days after suggesting Canada become the US’s 51st state
“Oh Canada!” Trump captioned the AI-generated image.
There was just one problem: the mountain range appeared to be the Swiss Alps, with a peak reminiscent of the Matterhorn visible in the background.
It’s unclear exactly what Trump was referencing with the image, but clearly the neighbor up north is on his mind.
Here’s Mike Bedigan on his latest baffling contribution to the internet.
Trump posts bizarre AI pic of himself with a Canadian flag (on a Swiss mountain)
Trump’s lawyers formally ask judge to dismiss hush money case
10:20 , Joe Sommerlad
Donald Trump’s attorneys are calling on the judge overseeing his hush money trial to toss the case altogether, pointing to President Joe Biden’s pardon of his son Hunter, and raising the idea that presidential “immunity” should apply to the president-elect.
The “disruptions to the institution of the presidency violate the presidential immunity doctrine because they threaten the functioning of the federal government,” the criminally convicted former president’s attorneys wrote in a 72-page filing made public on Tuesday.
Trump’s lead criminal defense attorneys Todd Blanche and Emil Bove – both of whom were nominated by Trump for top roles at the Department of Justice – quoted from President Biden’s own statement claiming that his son was “selectively, and unfairly, prosecuted” and “treated differently.”
Here’s the latest from Alex Woodward.
Trump attorneys ask hush money judge to toss conviction after Hunter Biden pardon
Kash Patel, Trump’s choice to lead FBI, reportedly targeted by Iranian hackers
10:00 , Joe Sommerlad
The president-elect’s choice for FBI director, Kash Patel, is understood to have been targeted by Iranian hackers, according to a new report.
The cyber-criminals are believed to have accessed at least some of Patel’s communications, according to a source cited by CNN.
Trump’s tranisiton team have yet to comment on the alleged hacking specifically, although spokesman Alex Pfeiffer did say: “Kash Patel was a key part of the first Trump administration’s efforts against the terrorist Iranian regime and will implement President Trump’s policies to protect America from adversaries as the FBI director.”
Kash Patel (Reuters)
Trump’s DEA nominee backs out after Covid-19 and immigration criticisms
09:40 , Joe Sommerlad
In case you missed it, Trump’s pick to serve as administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Sheriff Chad Chronister, withdrew from consideration for the role on Tuesday, posting on X that he would be declining the “honor of a lifetime” after “the gravity of this very important responsibility set in”.
Here’s more from Josh Marcus.
Trump’s DEA nominee backs out after Covid and immigration criticisms
Trump team reportedly considering Ron DeSantis to replace Hegseth
09:20 , Joe Sommerlad
The president-elect’s transition team is reportedly quietly considering alternatives to Hegseth to lead the Pentagon, including Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and Iowa Senator Joni Ernst.
We’ll bring you more more on the prospects of “Meatball Ron” shortly.
Ron DeSantis (Getty)
Donald Trump’s defense secretary nominee Pete Hegseth facing ‘absolutely critical day’
09:00 , Joe Sommerlad
Good morning!
Donald Trump’s nominee for secretary of defense, former Fox News weekend anchor Pete Hegseth, continues to be dogged by allegations about his past, potentially making his confirmation less likely and splitting right-wing media on his prospects as his candidacy faces an “absolutely critical day” on Wednesday.
Trump appears determined to get his man, a war veteran with a distinguished record but little administrative experience, and risks a fight with Republican senators on Capitol Hill who could be reluctant to confirm a candidate to lead the Pentagon who has been accused of sexual assault, drunkenness, Islamophobia and the mismanagement of a non-profit organization.
South Carolina GOP Senator Lindsey Graham, for one, has branded the man scandals pursuing Hegseth “disturbing”.
The ex-Fox personality is due to take questions from the House Republican Study Committee today as well as appearing on Fox for an interview.
Hegseth’s mother is also due to appear on the channel, having previously criticized her son’s behavior towards women in a letter.
Here’s more from Mike Bedigan on Hegseth’s alleged drinking habit concerned his colleagues at the network.
Pete Hegseth’s alleged drinking worried colleagues at Fox News, claims report
Trump attorneys call on hush money judge to toss criminal conviction — citing Hunter Biden’s pardon
08:40 , Oliver O’Connell
Donald Trump’s attorneys are calling on the judge overseeing his hush money case to toss it altogether, pointing to President Joe Biden’s pardon of his son Hunter, and raising the idea that presidential “immunity” should apply to the president-elect.
The “disruptions to the institution of the Presidency violate the Presidential immunity doctrine because they threaten the functioning of the federal government,” attorneys wrote in a 72-page filing made public on Tuesday.
Alex Woodward reports.
Trump attorneys ask hush money judge to toss conviction after Hunter Biden pardon
ANALYSIS: Will Pete Hegseth answer questions about his history with women — or will he take the other option?
08:10 , Oliver O’Connell
John Bowden writes:
Pete Hegseth’s nomination for defense secretary is looking increasingly tenuous as new revelations about the ex-Fox host’s past history with women come to light.
Almost certain to face unified Democratic resistance, Hegseth can only afford three defections from his own party. The question now: Will the same senators who tanked Matt Gaetz’s nomination with their “implacable” resistance to his selection be the ones to take Hegseth down?
Continue reading…
Will Hegseth answer questions about his history with women — or take another option?
Iowa sues Biden administration for citizenship status of over 2,000 registered voters
07:40 , AP
Iowa officials on Tuesday sued the Biden administration for access to information on the citizenship status of more than 2,000 registered voters they had questioned in the weeks leading up to the 2024 election.
The complaint details a back and forth with the federal government after state election officials checked voter rolls against a list of people who identified themselves as noncitizens with the state’s Department of Transportation. The vast majority of the 2,176 names had subsequently registered to vote or voted, meaning that some of those people could have become naturalized citizens in the lapsed time.
Secretary of State Paul Pate’s office requested information from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on the citizenship status of those individuals but did not get it, the complaint alleges. The Associated Press left email messages with DHS on Tuesday seeking comment on the lawsuit.
Federal authorities’ “failure meant that the State had to rely on the best — imperfect — data it had available to ensure that no Iowan’s vote was canceled by an illegal, noncitizen vote,” a joint statement from Pate and Attorney General Brenna Bird said.
Two weeks before Election Day, when early voting was already underway, Pate told county elections officials to challenge those voters’ ballots and have them cast a provisional ballot instead.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa then sued Pate on Oct. 30 on behalf of four voters who are naturalized citizens but were named on the list, calling into question the accuracy of the DOT’s information and alleging Pate infringed upon their right to vote. Their request for a stop to the ballot challenges was denied by a federal judge on Nov. 3.
It is illegal for non-U.S. citizens to vote in federal elections, but there is no evidence that it is occurring in significant numbers, though Iowa and some other states say they have identified dozens of such cases.
RFK Jr: ‘Practicing moves for my confirmation hearing’
06:40 , Oliver O’Connell
Robert F Kennedy Jr, nominee for Health and Human Services Secretary, has flexed his own health and fitness regime in a bizarre shirtless workout video.
The video, posted Sunday on X, captures a ripped RFK Jr pulling himself up before performing a flip over an exercise machine to the beat of Survivor’s “Eye of the Tiger.” The 70-year-old completes the pull-up-rollover without knocking into another shirtless man, in sweatpants and a hat, doing a headstand on the machine above him.
Kelly Rissman has the story.
RFK Jr posts workout video claiming he’s ‘practicing moves for confirmation hearing’
Bernie Sanders claims Musk ‘is right’ over defense spending
05:40 , Oliver O’Connell
Bernie Sanders has praised Elon Musk over plans by the tech billionaire’s new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to cut defense spending.
The veteran Democratic Senator, from Vermont, tweeted criticism for the department on Sunday, claiming that it had managed to “lose track of billions.”
“Elon Musk is right. The Pentagon, with a budget of $886 billion, just failed its 7th audit in a row. It’s lost track of billions,” he wrote. “Last year, only 13 senators voted against the Military Industrial Complex and a defense budget full of waste and fraud. That must change.”
Musk responded to Sanders’s post on Sunday with two American flag emojis.
Mike Bedigan has the story.
Bernie Sanders claims DOGE boss Elon Musk ‘is right’ over defense spending
Pete Hegseth’s alleged drinking worried colleagues at Fox News, claims report
05:16 , Graeme Massie
Pete Hegseth’s alleged drinking worried colleagues at Fox News, claims report
Everyone who has already asked Trump for a pardon
04:40 , Oliver O’Connell
In the waning hours of his first administration, Donald Trump enacted one of his final executive orders on January 20, 2021 and granted clemency to 143 individuals, including former aide Steve Bannon and rapper Lil Wayne.
Four years on, it’s Joe Biden’s turn.
On Sunday December 2, the president sparked controversy when he pardoned his own son, Hunter Biden.
In late October, Trump had hinted that he might consider pardoning the political scion, calling him a “bad boy”. Biden, meanwhile, previously insisted he wouldn’t intervene in his son’s criminal cases.
Presidents can issue pardons (removing a punishment after a court decision) and commutations (a reduction in punishment for a crime) as they see fit for federal convictions, but not for state crimes.
Now, Trump, with his own felony conviction, is just weeks away from returning to the White House and a raft of fellow convicted felons are already knocking at the door begging him to pick up his pardoning pen.
Disgraced politicians, January 6 rioters and reality TV celebrities are among those already clamoring for a Trump pardon.
Here are the key names who have asked to be on the list:
Everyone who has already asked Trump for a pardon – from Joe Exotic to the Proud Boys
Trump transition agrees to let FBI vet nominees
04:10 , Graeme Massie
Despite the Trump transition announcement that it had signed a memorandum of understanding with the Justice Department that will permit names of incoming administration personnel to undergo background investigations by FBI agents and receive interim security clearances, it’s unclear to what extent President-elect Donald Trump intends on relying on the nation’s preeminent law enforcement agency to vet his appointees.
The move appears to be aimed at blunting criticism from senators of both parties who expect to see FBI background check reports on cabinet nominees before they hold confirmation hearings but the transition statement does not say whether Trump will move forward with plans discussed among transition officials to bypass the FBI entirely for some administration personnel and instead have Trump grant them clearances by executive fiat upon taking office next month.
ICYMI: Hegseth accused of chanting ‘kill all Muslims’ on a drunken night out
03:40 , Oliver O’Connell
Pete Hegseth, the former Fox News host who is currently President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the Department of Defense, once drunkenly shouted “kill all Muslims!” in the middle of a bar while serving as the president of a veterans’ group, The New Yorker reports.
This is just one of many jaw-dropping allegations included in Jane Mayer’s deep-dive investigation into Hegseth’s unprofessional and lewd behavior while leading two separate non-profit advocacy organizations, which includes claims of constant intoxication, financial mismanagement and inappropriate sexual conduct that prompted both groups to eventually boot him from leadership.
Justin Barangoa reports.
Pete Hegseth accused of chanting ‘kill all Muslims’ on a drunken night out
Trump’s conquest: President-elect posts bizarre AI pic of himself with Canadian flag (on a Swiss mountain)
03:10 , Graeme Massie
Trump posts bizarre AI pic of himself with a Canadian flag (on a Swiss mountain)
The clock is ticking… who else could Biden pardon?
02:40 , Kelly Rissman
In the final stretch of his presidency, President Joe Biden issued a pardon to his son Hunter Biden, who was convicted on federal gun charges.
But Sunday’s pardon has sparked controversy. Biden repeatedly insisted he would not grant clemency to Hunter, prompting members of Congress and advocates to criticize the president’s U-turn, accusing him of putting his family before the country or pointing to his clemency record.
Hunter marks the 26th person that the president has pardoned since he entered the White House in 2021, records show.
A host of Congress members have urged Biden to pardon certain groups and people in his last 50 days in office.
The White House Press has said more pardons can be expected before Inauguration Day.
Who else could Biden pardon?
Ohio woman who sparked election disinformation after eating a cat is sentenced
02:11 , Graeme Massie
Ohio woman who sparked election disinformation after eating a cat is sentenced
Report: Trump chose Kash Patel for FBI after his first choice flunked the interview
01:40 , Oliver O’Connell
Donald Trump’s controversial decision to have Kash Patel to head up the FBIwas not his first choice, according to a new report.
The MAGA loyalist was being considered as deputy director of the bureau, an appointment that may have raised fewer eyebrows, with Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey a frontrunner for the top job.
However, a source in the Trump transition team told Axios that Bailey’s interview at Mar-a-Lago did not go well and that he “looked the part” but “just didn’t have the presence in the room.”
Mike Bedigan reports.
Trump chose Kash Patel for FBI after his first choice flunked the interview: report
Trump’s DEA nominee backs out after Covid and immigration criticisms
01:05 , Graeme Massie
Trump’s DEA nominee backs out after Covid and immigration criticisms
What is covered by Hunter Biden’s pardon?
00:40 , Oliver O’Connell
With less than 50 days left in the White House, President Joe Biden has taken a controversial step he had previously vowed he wouldn’t take: pardoning his son Hunter Biden.
On Sunday night, Biden announced he had granted his son clemency for “offenses against the United States which he has committed or may have committed or taken part in during the period from January 1, 2014 through December 1, 2024.”
Presidents can grant clemency, including both pardons (forgiving federal criminal offenses) and commutations (reducing penalties) for federal convictions. Presidents cannot pardon those convicted of state crimes.
In June, Hunter, 54, was convicted of three federal gun charges related to his purchase of a firearm in 2018. Three months later, he pleaded guilty to nine federal tax charges in September.
So what does the president’s pardon cover?
What does Hunter Biden’s pardon cover?
‘2,000 Mules’: Dinesh D’Souza apologizes for false claims in election conspiracy theory documentary
Tuesday 3 December 2024 23:40 , Oliver O’Connell
Far-right provocateur and pardoned felon Dinesh D’Souza has issued an apology over false accusations he made in his 2022 election conspiracy theory movie 2000 Mules, acknowledging that his claims about illegal “ballot trafficking” during the 2020 presidential election were misleading and inaccurate.
In a lengthy statement posted to his website on Sunday, D’Souza said that his movie — which asserts that “mules” were paid to fraudulently deposit harvested ballots in swing states — had relied on “cell phone geolocation data” provided by conservative non-profit group True the Vote. That data, D’Souza noted, had turned out to be false.
Justin Barangoa reports.
Pardoned felon Dinesh D’Souza apologizes for election conspiracy movie
Kash Patel’s MAGA merch ventures — from kids books to pills that will reverse Covid vaccine
Tuesday 3 December 2024 22:40 , James Liddell
Kash Patel, Donald Trump’s pick to lead the FBI, has made a living hawking products to MAGA loyalists from “King Donald” children’s books to supplements claiming to reverse the Covid-19 vaccine.
Patel, a Trump ultra-loyalist who served as chief of staff to the acting Secretary of Defense Christopher Miller in Trump’s first administration, was tapped for the position on Saturday – despite being a vocal critic of the bureau, previously describing it as the so-called “deep state.”
Following his exit from Trump’s first administration, the right-wing operative has benefited from his close association with the president-elect.
In particular, Patel has flogged a suite of products aimed at the MAGA crowd, bringing in hundreds of thousands of dollars from Trump-aligned businesses.
Here’s a look at his MAGA merchandise ventures:
Kash Patel’s King Donald books and other MAGA merch ventures
Watch: Hegseth refuses to comment on allegations against him
Tuesday 3 December 2024 22:28 , Oliver O’Connell
Trump pick for DEA withdraws
Tuesday 3 December 2024 22:25 , Oliver O’Connell
Sheriff Chad Chronister, Donald Trump’s pick to serve as Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration has withdrawn himself from consideration for the role.
He wrote on X: “To have been nominated by President-Elect @realDonaldTrump to serve as Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration is the honor of a lifetime. Over the past several days, as the gravity of this very important responsibility set in, I’ve concluded that I must respectfully withdraw from consideration. There is more work to be done for the citizens of Hillsborough County and a lot of initiatives I am committed to fulfilling. I sincerely appreciate the nomination, outpouring of support by the American people, and look forward to continuing my service as Sheriff of Hillsborough County.”
Watch: Susan Collins wants FBI background check to evaluate allegations against Hegseth
Tuesday 3 December 2024 22:18 , Oliver O’Connell
ICYMI: Hunter Biden’s presidential pardon ‘an abuse and miscarriage of Justice’, says Trump
Tuesday 3 December 2024 22:10 , Oliver O’Connell
Donald Trump was quick to react to news of Hunter Biden’s presidential pardon on Sunday night, blasting the decision as “an abuse and miscarriage of Justice.”
In a short post to his social media platform less than an hour after the official announcement, the president mused over pardons for those convicted in the violent insurrection on January 6 2021.
Mike Bedigan reports.
Trump slams Hunter Biden’s presidential pardon as ‘abuse and miscarriage of Justice’
Watch: Lindsey Graham calls allegations about Trump defense pick Hegseth ‘disturbing’
Tuesday 3 December 2024 22:00 , Oliver O’Connell
Full story: Trump attorneys call on hush money judge to toss criminal conviction — citing Hunter Biden’s pardon
Tuesday 3 December 2024 21:54 , Oliver O’Connell
Donald Trump’s attorneys are calling on the judge overseeing his hush money case to toss it altogether, pointing to President Joe Biden’s pardon of his son Hunter, and raising the idea that presidential “immunity” should apply to the president-elect.
The “disruptions to the institution of the Presidency violate the Presidential immunity doctrine because they threaten the functioning of the federal government,” attorneys wrote in a 72-page filing made public on Tuesday.
Alex Woodward has the details.
Trump attorneys ask hush money judge to toss conviction after Hunter Biden pardon
Democrats are turning to governors to block Trump and be faces of party
Tuesday 3 December 2024 21:40 , Oliver O’Connell
With their party hollowed out on the national stage, the eyes of many Democrats are now turning to state leaders as they search for a new bench of candidates for 2028 as well as signs of life for the resistance to the GOP White House.
John Bowden has the details.
Democrats are turning to governors to block Trump and lead the party
Trump lawyers formally ask judge to dismiss hush-money case
Tuesday 3 December 2024 21:32 , Oliver O’Connell
Donald Trump’s lawyers have called on Judge Juan Merchan to dismiss the hush money case in which the president-elect was found guilty of all 34 counts back in May. They cite President Joe Biden’s pardon of his son Hunter, and quote the president’s “enough is enough” statement.
Todd Blanche and Emil Bove accuse District Attorney Alvin Bragg of engaging in “‘precisely the type of political theater’ that President Biden has condemned.”
Read the full filing here.
More follows…
Here’s the latest on the case when sentencing was delayed indefinitely:
Trump’s hush money sentencing indefinitely postponed as judge considers tossing case
Joe Manchin: Biden’s pardon of Hunter would have been ‘more balanced’ if he also pardoned Trump
Tuesday 3 December 2024 21:25 , Oliver O’Connell
Independent West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin, a former Democrat, has said that President Joe Biden’s pardon of his son Hunter would have been “more balanced” had he also pardoned President-elect Donald Trump.
“As a father, I don’t know a father that wouldn’t have done the same thing,” Manchin told CNN Monday.
Gustaf Kilander has the story about what he also suggested.
Joe Manchin tells Biden to pardon Trump
Construction industry prepares for possible labor shortages with Trump migrant crackdown
Tuesday 3 December 2024 21:10 , Oliver O’Connell
Leaders in the construction business, including Republicans, are worried that Donald Trump’s plans to carry out a mass deportation of undocumented immigrants will crater their industry, given its reliance on migrant workers.
“We will absolutely have a labor shortage,” developer George Fuller, mayor of McKinney Texas, a Dallas suburb that’s undergone a construction boom in recent years, toldThe Wall Street Journal. “Whether you want to acknowledge it or not, these industries depend on immigrant labor.”
Josh Marcus reports from San Francisco.
Construction industry ‘hoping like hell’ Trump won’t crack down on undocumented labor
Trump transition team enters MOU with DOJ on background checks for nominees and staff
Tuesday 3 December 2024 21:05 , Oliver O’Connell
The Trump-Vance transition team has entering into a Memorandum of Understanding with the U.S. Department of Justice, and released the following statement:
Today, the Trump-Vance Transition has entered into a Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU) with the U.S. Department of Justice. This is the next step in the ongoing preparation of senior administration officials for the purpose of serving in President Trump’s Administration. This allows the transition team to submit names for background checks and security clearances. Ultimately, this will afford the transition process additional insights, and it facilitates our agency landing teams gaining access to the information they need to prepare for leadership of the federal agencies and departments.
“This agreement with the Department of Justice will ensure President Trump and his team are ready on Day 1 to begin enacting the America First Agenda that an overwhelming majority of our nation supported on Election Day.” – Susie Wiles, President-elect Trump’s Chief of Staff
