President-elect Donald Trump and his team are now looking at rolling back some student debt relief that was started under President Joe Biden, according to a report.
Transitions advisers and friends have been discussing ways to undo Biden-era programs designed to help those crippled by student debt, according to Politico. It is unclear exactly how many borrowers could be impacted or which relief programs are most at risk.
The GOP has launched attacks for years on Biden’s programs to ease the burden on those with student loan debt.
The revelation could lead to millions of Americans having to pay more each month, the latest in worrying economic news for the incoming White House. On Monday, Trump vowed to impose massive tariffs on China, Canada and Mexico with the aim of stopping drug smuggling, an announcement that left the markets reeling in fear of a new trade war with Beijing.
The threatened double-digit tariffs would likely have major impacts on key sectors of the US economy, including auto manufacturing, crude oil and agriculture, all of which involve trade with the targeted countries.
The measures could also further drive inflation, hitting the American consumer.
Key Points
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Donald Trump vows to impose tariffs on China, Canada and Mexico to stop drug smuggling
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Markets in turmoil as China warns ‘no one will win’ if Trump starts trade war
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President-elect’s nominees to receive ‘sweeping security clearances’ and delayed FBI background checks, report claims
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Trump demands apology from New York Times for ‘junk’ coverage of him and lashes out at Maggie Haberman
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Jack Smith moves to dismiss charges against Trump in election interference and classified documents cases
If Trump targets Britain, Levi’s and Jack Daniel’s ‘on tariff hit list’
17:45 , Oliver O’Connell
Sir Keir Starmer could hike taxes on American staples including Harley Davidsons, Jack Daniel’s whiskey and Levi’s jeans if Donald Trump targets the UK with tariffs.
The prime minister has been urged to “Trump-proof” Britain after the president-elect overnight threatened to unilaterally impose massive levies on imports to the US on his first day in office.
Archie Mitchell reports from London.
Levi’s and Jack Daniel’s ‘on tariff hit list’ if Trump targets Britain
What can American consumers expect from Trump’s proposed tariffs plan?
17:31 , Oliver O’Connell
While Donald Trump claims his tariffs plan will hurt U.S. trade partners, what does it actually mean for American consumers?
Rhian Lubin investigates.
What do Trump’s tariffs on China, Mexico and Canada mean for American shoppers?
Eric Trump demonstrates he has no clue how tariffs work
17:25 , Oliver O’Connell
Eric Trump appeared to mix up tariffs and sanctions during an appearance on Fox News on Monday night, aggressively going after Mexico, Canada, and China as his top targets.
“You want to allow drugs to come through our southern border? We’re going to tariff you,” he said. “You want to allow them to come through Canada? We’re going to tariff you.”
Donald Trump’s second son proceeded to rant about costing the economies of the three countries “billions”, while failing to acknowledge the impact tariffs have on American consumers as prices on imported goods are inevitably hiked in response.
Gustaf Kilander has the story.
Eric Trump demonstrates in 30 seconds he doesn’t have a clue how tariffs work
COMMENT: When it comes to trade and tariffs, Trump’s bark is worse than his bite
17:05 , Oliver O’Connell
Chris Blackhurst writes:
According to Donald Trump, “the most beautiful word in the dictionary” is tariffs.
It says much about the US president-elect’s values – doubtless we can all think of plenty of other words – but that’s his choice and we have to live with the consequences.
Today, true to his selection, we received an inkling of what is to come as he fired the first salvo, promising to impose levies of 25 per cent on all imports from Canada and Mexico and an extra 10 per cent on Chinese goods. They will come into effect on his first day in office. The tariffs would remain “until such time as Drugs, in particular Fentanyl and all Illegal Aliens stop this Invasion of our Country.”
The use of capitals is indicative. This is going to be a commander-in-chief, who for now anyway, brooks no opposition, who sees trade as a way of imposing social, domestic policies on other nations.
Continue reading…
When it comes to trade and tariffs, Trump’s bark is worse than his bite
What do economists think of Trump’s tariffs proposal?
16:58 , Oliver O’Connell
Economists are generally skeptical, considering tariffs to be a mostly inefficient way for governments to raise money. They are especially alarmed by Trump’s latest proposed tariffs.
Carl B. Weinberg and Rubeela Farooqi, economists with High Frequency Economics said Tuesday that energy, automobiles and food supplies will be particularly hit hard.
“Imposing tariffs on trade flows into the United States without first preparing alternative sources for the goods and services affected will raise the price of imported items at once,” Weinberg and Farooqi wrote. “Since many of these goods are consumer goods, households will be made poorer.”
High Frequency Economics believes the threats are not meant to support new trade policy and are instead a tool to elicit some changes along the borders and for imports from Canada, Mexico and China.
AP
MSNBC host names three good things about Pete Hegseth before delivering blistering attack…
16:45 , Oliver O’Connell
MSNBC host Jen Psaki took the opportunity this week to offer several compliments about President-elect Donald Trump’s controversial pick for secretary of defense, noting that Pete Hegseth should be credited with his military service and television hosting talent.
At the same time, the former White Press secretary launched into a withering critique of the ex-Fox News star’s ability to lead the Pentagon.
Justin Barangoa has the story.
Jen Psaki names three good things about Hegseth before going on blistering attack
‘No higher priority’ for Giuliani than complying with court orders concerning property, judge says
16:34 , Oliver O’Connell
Alex Woodward reports from the federal courthouse in Lower Manhattan where Rudy Giuliani appeared in court this morning for a status conference on his property turnover case stemming from his defamation verdict.
Former Donald Trump lawyer and former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani arrives at Federal court in his case to surrender valuables to Georgia election workers he was found to have defamed (REUTERS)
Judge Lewis Liman ruled that the former Trump attorney’s “social calendar” for the president-elect’s inauguration is not an excuse for him to skip an upcoming trial surrounding the case.
Liman also warned Giuliani that he could face sanctions if he continues to dodge court orders to turn over applicable property to the two women he defamed, who are trying to collect on the nearly $150 million he owes them.
Judge Liman offered a “word of advice or caution” to stick with the orders after attorneys for the plaintiffs said they had not yet received the title for a Mercedes Benz convertible.
Giuliani then spoke out from the defense table, raising his voice to say “every implication” from the judge about him “is wrong,” and that he was struggling to keep up with orders while strapped for cash.
“I don’t have a penny, and it’s been tied up with them!”
Liman concluded by warning Giuliani’s new attorney — his attorneys formally quit as today’s hearing started, without a handshake or a nod from their now-former client — that “there should be no higher priority for your client than complying by the court’s orders, period.”
Trump’s sharp tariff hikes could speed up China’s shift to new markets and offshore factories
16:25 , AP
Visitors who bought fridge magnets at Times Square or other tourist hotspots around New York in recent years most likely were purchasing the work of Du Jing or one of her fellow exporters in a small Chinese city that supplies the U.S. and the world with tons of small commodities.
Du and her husband run Yiwu Xianchuang Handicraft Manufacturing in the eastern city of Yiwu, home to the world’s largest wholesale market. Products from here -– ranging from plushies to glass vases and portable toolboxes -– are sold in stores and on online platforms around the world, including to U.S. consumers on Amazon.
For years, the United States has been a major destination for Chinese goods, but exporters like those in Yiwu have been reducing their reliance on the world’s largest consumer market as Beijing and Washington feud over trade. Some have moved production to Southeast Asia and other parts of the world to evade U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods.
Continue reading…
Trump’s sharp tariff hikes could speed up China’s shift to new markets and offshore factories
Fox News host apologizes after mixing up photos of Fani Willis and Letitia James on air
16:05 , Oliver O’Connell
Fox News host Laura Ingraham took a few seconds from her Monday night show to apologize to viewers for showing a photo of New York Attorney General Letitia James instead of Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis.
During a portion of The Ingraham Angle, the host lambasted the prosecutors, district attorneys and judges who brought criminal indictments or held proceedings against Donald Trump, calling them “modern-day Keystone cops.”
Ariana Baio has the story.
Laura Ingraham apologizes after mixing up photos of Letitia James and Fani Willis
Are we about to see a new wave of Trump books?
15:45 , AP
As she anticipates her estranged uncle’s return to the White House, Mary Trump isn’t expecting any future book to catch on like such first-term tell-alls as Michael Wolff‘s million-selling “Fire and Fury” or her own blockbuster, “Too Much and Never Enough.”
“What else is there to learn?” she says. “And for people who don’t know, the books have been written. It’s all really out in the open now.”
For publishers, Donald Trump‘s presidential years were a time of extraordinary sales in political books, helped in part by Trump’s legal threats and angered tweets. According to Circana, which tracks around 85% of the hardcover and paperback market, the genre’s sales nearly doubled from 2015 to 2020, from around 5 million copies to around 10 million.
Continue reading…
Will Trump’s return lead to new wave of bestselling books?
Trump’s border czar nominee warns Denver mayor he’ll throw him in jail if he resists deportations
15:25 , Oliver O’Connell
President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for border czar has threatened to throw the Denver mayor in jail if he doesn’t comply with mass deportations.
Denver Mayor Mike Johnston has voiced resistance to Trump’s campaign promise to conduct mass deportations and last week said he would even go to jail to stand up for the cause. Tom Homan, Trump’s border czar nominee, said both he and Johnston think he should be behind bars if he doesn’t abide by what could be a federal policy.
Kelly Rissman reports.
Trump border czar pick threatens Denver mayor with jail if he resists deportations
Democrats blame their own party for failures after election loss
15:05 , Joe Sommerlad
In the wake of Vice President Harris’s loss to Trump, many liberal voters and leaders in the Democratic Party have racked their brains trying to understand what went wrong and looking for a scapegoat to blame – but some say it’s a collective problem.
Political analysts, commentators and even voters have tried attributing Democrats losing both the executive and legislative branches to President Joe Biden staying in the race until July, Harris saying the wrong thing on the campaign trail, Democrats being too soft on Trump and other excuses.
But rather than play the blame game, Adam Schiff says the Democrats failed to listen to voters.
Here’s more from Ariana Baio.
Democrats blame their own party for failures after election loss
Republican accuses State Dept of offering ‘therapy’ after Trump’s win
14:45 , Joe Sommerlad
California GOP Representative Darrell Issa has written a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken after the State Department reportedly held “therapy and listening sessions” for employees following President-elect Donald Trump’s November victory, with Issa expressing his concern about “catering” to the political bias of officials.
Katie Hawkinson has more.
Republican lawmaker accuses State Department of offering ‘therapy’ after Trump’s win
14:34 , Oliver O’Connell
Watch: Eric Trump doesn’t seem to understand how tariffs work
14:32 , Oliver O’Connell
Trump’s cabinet picks rile up the far right. Will that matter?
14:25 , Joe Sommerlad
Donald Trump’s picks for a second term cabinet were supposed to illuminate what a MAGA presidency free of guardrails would look like.
Many of his picks have been surprising, some controversial.
His initial announcements were giveaways to his base – Matt Gaetz, then Pam Bondi for attorney general; Tulsi Gabbard for director of national intelligence; RFK Jr at Health and Human Services.
But as the process continues, one familiar theme has emerged: the willingness of the incoming president to spurn committed right-wing ideologues within his party.
Here’s John Bowden on why that is and what might be the consequences for Trump.
Trump’s Cabinet picks rile up hardline conservatives. Will that matter?
Watch: Trump tariffs will create ‘winners and losers’ says GOP lawmaker
14:20 , Oliver O’Connell
Some GOP senators hope Trump’s cabinet picks follow Gaetz and withdraw
14:05 , Joe Sommerlad
A number of Republican senators are “privately hoping” that other controversial Trump cabinet nominees will follow Matt Gaetz’s lead and drop out of the running, according to a report.
The likes of Pete Hegseth, Robert F Kennedy Jr and Linda McMahon are all likely to face tricky confirmation hearings in the Senate. with questions about past allegations against them all but certain to come up, placing GOP members under pressure to show loyalty to Trump in a difficult spot.
Rhian Lubin has more.
Some GOP senators hope more of Trump’s cabinet picks follow Gaetz’s lead and withdraw
Former Trump aide shares warning to women entering his White House
13:45 , Joe Sommerlad
Olivia Troye, ex-national security adviser to Trump’s first VP Mike Pence, has issued a stark warning for women entering the incoming administration.
“TheTrump White House’s chauvinistic male-dominated culture will be exacerbated by the presence of Elon Musk, JD Vance, Donald Trump Jr, Matt Gaetz, Pete Hegseth and other ‘bros’ in positions of authority or influence,” Troye wrote on her Substack.
“It will be an intimidating environment, but stay true to your values, even when it is uncomfortable or unpopular. Remember, you have only yourself to face in the mirror every day.”
Josh Marcus has more.
Former Trump aide shares ominous warning to women entering his White House
Kamala Harris tells advisers to keep her options open for another run
13:25 , Joe Sommerlad
The vice president has told her aides to keep her options open in case she decides to run for president again in 2028, according to reports.
Sources close to the Harris family told Politico that she has vowed to “stay in the fight” and may even run to be governor of California in 2026.
Here’s more from Io Dodds.
Harris tells advisers to keep her options open for another run for president
Trumpworld turns on one of its own: Boris Epshteyn faces internal probe over pay-to-play scheme
13:06 , Joe Sommerlad
Donald Trump’s transition team is already grappling with its own internal politics after one of his most loyal advisers was accused of running a pay-to-play scheme.
The president-elect’s legal team launched an internal investigation – which was not criminal – into longtime Trump attorney and adviser Boris Epshteyn following claims he has been profiting personally from his proximity to the president-elect.
The review, conducted by the transition team’s top lawyer David Warrington, recommended that aides close to Trump limit Epshteyn’s access to the president-elect, The Washington Post reports.
Here’s more from Rhian Lubin.
Boris Epshteyn probed by Trump team over pay-to-play scheme
Recap: Trump lashes out at ‘failing’ New York Times and ‘third rate writer’ Maggie Haberman
12:45 , Joe Sommerlad
Here’s more on the president-elect’s latest broadside against the Big Apple newspaper and its famed correspondent.
Trump lashes out at ‘failing’ New York Times and ‘third rate writer’ Maggie Haberman
Bizarre moment Trump asks to buy young girl’s hair ‘for millions’ on golf course
12:25 , Joe Sommerlad
The president-elect was driving a buggy around his Trump International Golf Club at West Palm Beach when he spotted the girl and offered this strange compliment.
James Liddell attempts to make sense of it.
Bizarre moment Trump asks to buy young girl’s hair ‘for millions’ at golf club
What do Trump’s tariffs actually mean for Americans’ pockets?
12:05 , Joe Sommerlad
On the campaign trail, Donald Trump repeatedly told his supporters that tariffs are “not going to be a cost to you, it’s a cost to another country”.
But that claim has been widely dismissed by economists.
Before Election Day, the Bloomberg editorial board issued a warning slamming the claim as a “popular delusion”.
So while Trump claims his tariffs plan will hurt US trade partners, what does it actually mean for American consumers?
Rhian Lubin takes a closer look.
What do Trump’s tariffs on China, Mexico and Canada mean for American shoppers?
Donald Trump Jr and Elon Musk joke about MSNBC host’s ‘castration’
11:45 , Joe Sommerlad
Influential conservatives are currently having a lot of fun joking about buying liberal news network MSNBC and standing in for its top hosts.
In a series of recent posts on X, that platform’s owner Elon Musk, the president-elect’s son Donald Trump Jr and podcaster Joe Rogan fantasized about what they would do if they owned the channel and mocked host Lawrence O’Donnell in distrubing fashion.
Josh Marcus has more.
Donald Trump Jr. and Elon Musk joke about MSNBC host’s ‘castration’
Kevin McCarthy says Gaetz’s AG nod was ‘a fear for all young girls’ in latest war of words between GOP enemies
11:25 , Joe Sommerlad
The former House speaker has called Matt Gaetz’s nomination to become Trump’s attorney general a “fear for all young girls” in the latest war of words between the longtime Republican foes.
There’s been no love lost between the two former GOP congressmen ever since Gaetz led the charge to oust McCarthy as speaker in October 2023.
On Monday, the injured party couldn’t resist sticking the knife in over Gaetz’s shortlived bid to join Trump’s administration when he appeared on Fox News’s Jesse Watters Primetime.
McCarthy commended the Trump administration for getting rid of the “problem” and took a swipe at Gaetz, saying that young girls “need their justice”.
James Liddell reports.
Kevin McCarthy says Matt Gaetz’s AG nod was ‘a fear for all young girls’
Trump nominees to receive ‘sweeping security clearances’ and delayed FBI background checks, report claims
11:05 , Joe Sommerlad
Donald Trump’s cabinet nominees will receive “sweeping security clearances” and only receive FBI background checks once the 47th president’s administration takes over that bureau, The Guardian reports this morning.
That could mean that his appointees do not classified briefings until Trump takes office on January 20, the latest evidence of the Republican’s scornful attitude towards the bureau and its vetting process, which he appears to regard as a tiresome obstacle to his aims, rather than a highly necessary security safeguard.
“The Trump-Vance transition lawyers continue to constructively engage with the Biden-Harris administration lawyers regarding all agreements contemplated by the Presidential Transition Act. We will update you once a decision is made,” Trump spokesperson Brian Hughes said in a statement responding to the story.
Donald Trump (AP)
Lauren Boebert follows Gaetz on to Cameo – then apparently realizes why she shouldn’t have
10:45 , Joe Sommerlad
Republican Representative Lauren Boebert briefly followed her former colleagues Matt Gaetz and George Santos onto the paid video app Cameo – before abruptly deactivating her account.
The controversial Colorado representative posted a clip on Saturday offering “America First pep talks”, birthday wishes, or other recorded messages for a fee of $250 or more.
The account reportedly did not initially identify her as a serving congresswoman, instead describing her as an “influencer”, a “political commentator” and “not your typical Republican politician”.
But according to reports, the account soon stopped taking bookings and then went offline entirely after experts questioned whether it would break congressional ethics laws.
Io Dodds has more.
Lauren Boebert follows Matt Gaetz on to Cameo – then apparently thinks better of it
Trump endorses Florida CFO to replace Matt Gaetz in Congress
10:25 , Joe Sommerlad
The president-elect has endorsed Florida’s Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Jimmy Patronis as his personal choice to replace Matt Gaetz in the House of Representatives.
Gaetz stepped down from his seat in the House earlier this month after Trump nominated him to lead the Department of Justice, only to then withdraw his bid to be attorney general last week as allegations of sexual misconduct and illicit drug use mounted, despite his denials.
Here’s the latest from Katie Hawkinson on Patronis.
Donald Trump endorses Florida CFO Jimmy Patronis to replace Matt Gaetz in Congress
Watch: Trump ‘border czar’ Tom Homan threatens to jail Denver mayor
10:05 , Joe Sommerlad
Another day, another serving of macho rhetoric from Homan on Fox News as he outlines his plans for enforcing the mass deportation of illegal immigrants next year.
Here’s a bonus video of Jesse Watters invoking one of Trump’s creepier recent pronouncements in discussion of the same Colorado city.
Truth Social: Trump demands apology from New York Times for ‘junk’ coverage of him and lashes out at Maggie Haberman
09:45 , Joe Sommerlad
The president-elect unexpectedly lashed out at the newspaper overnight, demanding an apology for its critical coverage of him and reserving particular ire for correspondent Maggie Haberman – or “Magot Hagerman”, as Trump prefers.
He may well have been annoyed by Haberman’s latest story about his aide, Natalie Harp, which contains the interesting detail that she sent him a series of passionate letters, declaring in one: “You are all that matters to me.”
Equally, he might have been upset by Haberman’s appearance on Kaitlan Collins’s CNN show last night, in which she speculated about the prospect of Trump ordering a revenge investigation into Jack Smith once he takes office.
Here’s Mike Bedigan with more on Harp.
One of Trump’s aides wrote him letters that said ‘you are all that matters to me’
Markets in turmoil as China warns ‘no one will win’ if Trump starts trade war
09:25 , Joe Sommerlad
While the likes of Laura Ingraham and Eric Trump were salivating over the prospect of the president-elect’s geopolitical posturing on Fox News last night – relishing the prospect of punishing international drug trafficking with, in effect, billion dollar fines – the markets did not care for it at all.
The Canadian dollar hit a four-year low against the US dollar, the Mexican peso slumped to its weakest point since 2022 and the European and Asian stock markets declined in anticipation of a feud with China.
The FTSE 100 fell 0.4 percent, Paris’s Cac 40 and the Dax in Frankfurt both dropped 0.7 percent and Japan’s Nikkei tumbled 0.9 percent.
“It was just last month that Trump said that ‘the most beautiful word in the dictionary is tariff’, so there really should not have been a surprise in Trump’s intention, just in the timing of the comments,” said Sean Callow, a senior FX analyst at ITC Markets, according to The Daily Telegraph.
“The fall in trade-sensitive currencies makes sense, and should persist near term.”
Natixis economist Gary Ng added: “It’s definitely a shock to the market and weighing on Chinese assets, especially the export sectors.
“But compared to what he imposed on Canada and Mexico, the magnitude (of the Chinese tariff) is not that big, so investors might still want to see what are the follow ups and when/if the 60 percent promised will actually come through.”
Here’s Alisha Rahaman Sarkar on Beijing’s retaliatory rhetoric.
China warns ‘no one will win’ if Donald Trump starts trade war
Jack Smith moves to dismiss charges against Trump in election interference and classified documents cases
09:05 , Joe Sommerlad
As markets and world leaders reacted to the president-elect’s bombshell trade announcement on Monday evening, Trump himself was celebrating a major legal victory after a judge in DC agreed to dismiss the federal election interference indictment against him.
Citing a precedent that prevents a sitting president from being charged, Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith said his team is treating Trump as a current president and asked that the case be abandoned – to which Judge Tanya Chutkan duly agreed.
Smith stressed that the reason for the motion had nothing to do with the strength of the evidence.
His case accused Trump of pushing false claims of voter fraud and engaging in a fake elector scheme to overturn his 2020 election defeat to Joe Biden.
Smith’s team also moved to abandon its attempt to revive its classified documents case against Trump.
This was how he reacted on Truth Social:
Mike Bedigan and Ariana Baio have more.
Trump won’t face charges in classified docs or election interference case
Donald Trump vows to impose tariffs on China, Canada and Mexico to stop drug smuggling
08:45 , Joe Sommerlad
Good morning!
President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to impose massive tariffs on China, Canada and Mexico with the aim of stopping drug smuggling.
The threatened double-digit tariffs would likely have major impacts on key sectors of the US economy, including auto manufacturing, crude oil and agriculture, all of which involve major trade with the named countries.
The measures could also further drive inflation.
Here’s what Trump had to say about it on Truth Social…
…and here’s a full report from Andrew Feinberg and Josh Marcus.
Trump threatens Mexico, China, and Canada with tariffs over immigration and drugs
Elon Musk praises Trump tariff threat
07:59 , Josh Marcus
Elon Musk is among the Donald Trump allies cheering the president-elect’s threat to tariff Canada, Mexico, and China to stop drug smuggling.
“Price of Fentanyl will rise sharply,” Musk wrote on X.
While the tariffs are unlikely to impact illicit drug flows across the U.S. border, where most fentanyl is brought in by U.S. citizens at official ports of entry, they might impact Musk himself.
Tesla is reportedly building a factory in Mexico, one of numerous U.S. automakers with cross-border ties to suppliers and factories.
Watch: Jack Smith moves to dismiss charges against Trump in election interference and classified documents cases
06:00 , Ariana Baio
Donald Trump endorses Florida CFO Jimmy Patronis to replace Matt Gaetz in Congress
05:00 , Josh Marcus
President-elect Donald Trump has endorsed Florida’s Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis to replace Matt Gaetz in the US House of Representatives.
Patronis, a long-time ally to the president-elect, has served as Florida’s CFO since 2017. He is married with two children and owns a seafood restaurant in Panama City.
In January, the CFO promoted a state bill that would have helped Trump, whose Mar-a-Lago residence is in Florida, pay his mounting legal fees.
Read more here
Walmart becomes latest business to pull back from DEI policies after conservative pressure campaign
04:59 , Josh Marcus
Walmart is cutting back its diversity programs after a conservative activist threatened to call a boycott days before Black Friday.
Robby Starbuck, a former music video director who campaigns against corporate diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, said on Monday that he had persuaded the US retail giant to end a raft of “woke policies” such as providing racial equity training to its workers and funding anti-racist non-profits.
The company will review all funding for LGBT+ Pride events, remove all “transgender products” marketed to children from its stores, and stop participating in the Human Rights Council’s LGBT+ equality index.
It will also stop using the terms “DEI” and “LatinX” in official communications and stop requiring its suppliers to provide “certain demographic data” as part of its supplier diversity program.
Io Dodds has the story.
Walmart becomes latest business to pull back from DEI after conservative pressure
Donald Trump Jr. says White House might kick out legacy media
04:00 , Josh Marcus
The Trump administration might kick traditional journalists out of the White House press room and replace them with online media personalities, according to Donald Trump, Jr.
“We had the conversation about opening up the press room to a lot of these independent journalists,” Trump said on his Rumble show “Triggered.”
”Why not open it up to people who have larger viewerships, stronger followings?” he added.
Trump, who said he recently talked about the idea with his father, president-elect Donald Trump, claimed such a step was necessary because outlets like The New York Times “lied” and had been “adverse to everything.”
Project 2025, the right-wing blueprint for a future GOP administration that has influenced Trump administration proposals and appointees, also suggested booting out standard White House beat reporters.
Trump rails against those who brought ‘empty’ criminal cases against him
03:30 , Josh Marcus
After federal prosecutors signaled their plans to abandon the criminal cases against Trump, the president-elect celebrated his legal victory by insulting prosecutors, judges and district attorneys.
On Truth Social, Trump called the cases “empty and lawless” declaring they should have never been brought against him because they wasted “$100 Million Dollars of Taxpayer Dollars.”
As he has done in the past, Trump claimed the cases were politically motivated and brought by Democrats.
He insulted Fulton County DA Fani Willis and special prosecutor Nathan Wade, two people who oversaw the Georgia federal election interference case and faced accusations of misconduct. Claiming Wade has “zero experience”, Trump accused the two of taking vacations together using the money Wade was paid with.
He lashed out at Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg, claiming Bragg did not want to bring the New York hush-money case against Trump but did so at the behest of the Justice Department. The New York case was separate from federal criminal inquiries.
Trump also accused New York AG Letitia James of unethically and “probably illegally” campaigning on a platform of holding Trump accountable.
“It was a political hijacking, and a low point in the History of our Country that such a thing could have happened, and yet, I persevered, against all odds, and WON,” Trump said.
Majority of Americans say they are happy with Trump’s transition
03:00 , Josh Marcus
A majority of Americans are satisfied with Donald Trump’s election victory and approve of the transition process into his new administration, according to a CBS/YouGov poll released on Monday.
According to the poll, 59 percent of respondents approve of the transition process and 55 percent are happy or satisfied with Trump’s victory.
That support, however, is highly fractured on partisan lines, with 95 percent of Republicans optimistic or excited about Trump compared with just 15 percent of Democrats.
Majority of Americans happy with Trump transition despite cabinet controversies
Elon Musk confirms X is limiting people’s ability to share news
02:27 , Josh Marcus
Elon Musk has appeared to confirm that his social media company X, formerly Twitter, throttles traffic to other websites by stifling any posts that contain outside links.
Paul Graham, an influential tech investor and essayist, had complained on Sunday about X’s “deprioritization of tweets with links in them,” saying it made it harder to “find out what’s going on.”
“Just write a description in the main post and put the link in the reply. This just stops lazy linking,” Musk replied.
Graham then questioned why it should be any less “lazy” for him to link to one of his essays in a reply rather than an initial post, but Musk had not responded further as of Monday evening.
Io Dodds reports.
Elon Musk confirms that he’s limiting people’s ability to share outside news on X
Elon Musk targets government workers by name as he recommends mass firings
02:00 , Katie Hawkinson
Elon Musk is already identifying specific government employees with “fake jobs” as he recommends mass firings as co-chair of Donald Trump’s newly-created Department of Government Efficiency.
The billionaire re-shared a post last week that highlighted Ashley Thomas, a little-known director of climate diversification at the US International Development Finance Corporation. The original poster shared a screenshot of Thomas’s role, writing, “I don’t think the US Taxpayer should pay for the employment of a ‘Director of Climate Diversification (she/her)’ at the US International Development Finance Corporation.”
Musk captioned his re-shared post: “So many fake jobs.
Trump threatens major tariffs
01:30 , Josh Marcus
President-elect Donald Trump on Monday threatened to unilaterally impose a massive consumption tax on Americans who purchase goods imported goods from three of the country’s top trading partners on the day he takes office, seemingly with no regard for the inflationary effects of such a move.
In a series of posts on his Truth Social platform, Trump said he would hike the cost of Mexican and Canadian products by 25 percent by executive order if both countries did not take steps to curb what he described as unacceptable flows of drugs and migrants into the U.S. across their respective borders.
“On January 20th, as one of my many first Executive Orders, I will sign all necessary documents to charge Mexico and Canada a 25% Tariff on ALL products coming into the United States, and its ridiculous Open Borders,” he wrote.
More details in our full story.
Trump threatens Mexico, China, and Canada with tariffs over immigration and drugs
Why a Trump aide wrote a letter telling him ‘you are all that matters to me’
01:15 , Josh Marcus
One of Donald Trump’s most trusted aides reportedly wrote him a series of adoring letters including one in which she told the President-elect: “You are all that matters to me.”
Natalie Harp, a former right-wing cable television host, had been on Trump’s radar since 2019 after her story of cancer survival caught his attention and he invited her to speak at the 2020 Republican National Convention (RNC).
She later joined his staff in 2022 as a devoted aide, though she has no official title. It is also uncertain what role, if any, Harp will have in the forthcoming administration.
Mike Bedigan reports.
One of Trump’s aides wrote him letters that said ‘you are all that matters to me’
Megyn Kelly jokes Pete Hegseth is not marriage material
01:00 , Ariana Baio
Former Fox News host Megyn Kelly attacked her ex-colleague Pete Hegseth’s marriage history but still defended him against sexual assault allegations.
Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for defense secretary, worked at Fox News alongside Kelly from 2014 to 2017. Kelly appeared on The Charlie Kirk Show, telling the far-right influencer she doesn’t “recommend marrying” Hegseth – before defending him against allegations of sexual assault.
“I’m gonna be honest, like looking at his marital history, it’s not an example of fidelity,” Kelly told Kirk. “I’m just gonna be honest and admit that upfront.”
Katie Hawkinson reports:
Megyn Kelly defends defense secretary pick Hegseth from sexual assault allegations
Former Trump aide shares ominous warning to women entering White House
00:40 , Josh Marcus
Former Trump White House official Olivia Troye has issued a stark warning for women entering the incoming administration.
“The Trump White House’s chauvinistic male-dominated culture will be exacerbated by the presence of Elon Musk, JD Vance, Donald Trump Jr., Matt Gaetz, Pete Hegseth, and other ‘bros’ in positions of authority or influence,” Troye, who served as former Vice President Mike Pence’s national security adviser, wrote on her Substack on Thursday.
“It will be an intimidating environment, but stay true to your values, even when it is uncomfortable or unpopular. Remember, you have only yourself to face in the mirror every day.”
Read more below.
Donald Trump Jr. and Elon Musk make crude joke about MSNBC host
00:20 , Josh Marcus
Influential conservatives are joking about buying liberal news network MSNBC and standing in for top hosts. In a series of posts on Friday, Elon Musk, Donald Trump, Jr., and Joe Rogan fantasized about what they would do if they owned the channel and mocked host Lawrence O’Donnell with a vulgar comment.
The exchange began when Trump claimed on X he had the “funniest idea ever” in response to the news that NBCUniversal is planning to spin off some of its cable networks, including MSNBC, and tagged Musk.
Musk then asked how much the network would cost.
“If you buy MSNBC I would like Rachael Maddow’s job,” Rogan chimed in. “I will wear the same outfit and glasses, and I will tell the same lies.”
“Ok @elonmusk & @joerogan. Since this is getting interesting I’ll throw my hat in the ring as well,” Trump responded. “I’ll mimic Lawrence O’Donnell… minus the castration of course. That’s a bridge too far.”
More details in our full story.
Donald Trump Jr. and Elon Musk joke about MSNBC host’s ‘castration’
Kamala Harris is keeping her options open
00:00 , Josh Marcus
Kamala Harris has told her aides to keep her options open in case she decides to run for president again in 2028, according to reports.
Sources close to the Harris family told Politico that the vice president has vowed to “stay in the fight” and may even run to be governor of California in 2026.
The sources said Harris would be pondering her path forward over the coming holiday season, but has told allies and advisers she doesn’t want to rule anything out.
Io Dodds reports.
Harris tells advisers to keep her options open for another run for president
Trump vows to impose tariffs on Mexico, Canada, and China to stop drug smuggling
Monday 25 November 2024 23:55 , Josh Marcus
Donald Trump is threatening to impose serious tariffs on Mexico, Canada, and China once he takes office to crack down on drug smuggling and immigration.
In a series of posts on Truth Social, the president-elect outlined his thinking.
Here’s his full message:
As everyone is aware, thousands of people are pouring through Mexico and Canada, bringing Crime and Drugs at levels never seen before. Right now a Caravan coming from Mexico, composed of thousands of people, seems to be unstoppable in its quest to come through our currently Open Border. On January 20th, as one of my many first Executive Orders, I will sign all necessary documents to charge Mexico and Canada a 25% Tariff on ALL products coming into the United States, and its ridiculous Open Borders. This Tariff will remain in effect until such time as Drugs, in particular Fentanyl, and all Illegal Aliens stop this Invasion of our Country! Both Mexico and Canada have the absolute right and power to easily solve this long simmering problem. We hereby demand that they use this power, and until such time that they do, it is time for them to pay a very big price!I have had many talks with China about the massive amounts of drugs, in particular Fentanyl, being sent into the United States – But to no avail. Representatives of China told me that they would institute their maximum penalty, that of death, for any drug dealers caught doing this but, unfortunately, they never followed through, and drugs are pouring into our Country, mostly through Mexico, at levels never seen before. Until such time as they stop, we will be charging China an additional 10% Tariff, above any additional Tariffs, on all of their many products coming into the United States of America. Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Republican lawmaker accuses State Department of allegedly offering post-Trump ‘therapy’
Monday 25 November 2024 23:45 , Josh Marcus
A California Republican has penned a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken after the State Department reportedly held “therapy and listening sessions” for employees following President-elect Donald Trump’s November victory.
Representative Darrell Issa penned the letter on November 19 after The Free Beacon, a conservative media outlet, reported the State Department offered stress management webinars on November 8 and November 13 to employees.
At least one of the sessions was titled “Managing stress during change” and offered “tips and practical strategies for managing stress and maintaining your well being,” according to the Beacon.
Katie Hawkinson reports.
Republican lawmaker accuses State Department of offering ‘therapy’ after Trump’s win
Jack Smith moves to dismiss charges against Trump in election interference and classified documents cases
Monday 25 November 2024 23:00 , Mike Bedigan
Special counsel Jack Smith has announced that he will be dropping both his 2020 election interference case and classified documents case against Donald Trump, following the President-elect’s victory.
The sudden, but somewhat surprising decisions were announced in two separate motions filed on Monday.
In the first, Smith wrote that there was precedent to not bring an indictment or proceedings against a sitting president, but stressed that the decision had been made due to the recommendations of the Justice Department rather than the strength of the case.
Mike Bedigan reports:
Trump won’t face charges in classified docs or election interference case
Trump adviser accused of trying to profit from position
Monday 25 November 2024 22:00 , Ariana Baio
Boris Epshteyn, a longtime Trump adviser aiding with the presidential transition process, has been accused of trying to profit off his position within Trump’s circle, according to a CBS News report.
Former Missouri Governor Eric Greitens submitted a sworn declaration to the transition team claiming Epshteyn implied he would advocate for Greitens to have an appointed position unless it benefited him financially.
“Mr. Epshteyn’s overall tone and behavior gave me the impression of an implicit expectation to engage in business dealings with him before he would advocate for or suggest my appointment to the President,” the sworn declaration, seen by CBS News, said.
Epshteyn denied all wrongdoing calling the allegations “fake and defamatory” as a way to “distract” people.
Trump’s federal election interference case is dismissed
Monday 25 November 2024 21:47 , Ariana Baio
Judge Tanya Chutkan has granted Jack Smith’s request to dismiss the federal election interference indictment against Donald Trump, officially ending the case – at least for the next four years.
Following the precedent that sitting presidents cannot be indicted or prosecuted, Chutkan agreed to dismiss the charges against Trump ahead of his inauguration.
“Dismissal without prejudice is also consistent with the Government’s understanding that the immunity afforded to a sitting President is temporary, expiring when they leave office,” Chutkan wrote.
Bird flu virus found in raw milk on California farm as RFK Jr continues to advocate its use
Monday 25 November 2024 21:30 , Ariana Baio
As Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the incoming administration’s pick to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, continues to tout the use of raw milk, California health authorities acted Sunday to recall raw milk that had been contaminated with bird flu.
While no illnesses have been reported, the state’s Department of Public Health warned residents against drinking the batch of cream top, whole raw milk from Fresno County’s Raw Farm LLC and advised consumers to return the product to where it was purchased.
Julia Musto reports:
Bird flu found in raw milk on California farm as RFK Jr continues to advocate its use
Some GOP senators hope more of Trump’s cabinet picks follow Gaetz’s lead
Monday 25 November 2024 21:00 , Rhian Lubin
Some Republican senators are “privately hoping” that other controversial Trump cabinet nominees will follow Matt Gaetz’s lead and drop out of the running, according to a report.
Gaetz bowed out of consideration to be attorney general last Thursday following intense scrutiny over resurfaced sexual allegations from his past. The former congressman said he was “unfairly becoming a distraction” to the Trump administration’s agenda.
Now some GOP lawmakers are turning their attention to Trump’s cabinet picks of Pete Hegseth, tapped for defense secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for health and human services secretary and Linda McMahon as education secretary, The Hill reports.
Hegseth and Kennedy Jr are likely to face tough questions over sexual misconduct allegations, which they deny, at Senate hearings next year, while McMahon could be asked about accusations of failing to prevent the sexual abuse of teenage WWE workers.
“My expectation, not just my hope, is that some of these people may be weeded out in the process before they ever get to a hearing,” one Republican senator who requested anonymity told The Hill.
Adam Schiff says Justice Department ‘failed’
Monday 25 November 2024 20:30 , Ariana Baio
Congressman Adam Schiff reprimanded the Justice Department and court system for failing after Jack Smith motioned to dismiss the cases against Donald Trump.
“The Justice Dept and the court system failed to uphold the principle that no one is above the law. DOJ by neglecting to promptly investigate the events of Jan 6, and the courts by willfully delaying progress of the case and providing immunity. The public deserved better,” Schiff wrote.
New York City district attorney resigns ahead of Trump inauguration
Monday 25 November 2024 20:00 , Ariana Baio
Damian Williams, the US Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced he will step down from his position, effective December 13, ahead of Donald Trump taking off in January.
“Today is a bittersweet day for me, as I announce my resignation as United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York. It is bitter in the sense that I am leaving my dream job, leading an institution I love that is filled with the finest public servants in the world. It is sweet in that I am confident I am leaving at a time when the Office is functioning at an incredibly high level – upholding and exceeding its already high standard of excellence, integrity, and independence,” Williams said.
Williams pursued cases against Senator Bob Menendez, FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried, Ghislaine Maxwell, and recently Sean “Diddy” Combs.
Edward Kim, the Deputy United States Attorney, will become the Acting United States Attorney upon Williams’ departure.
Trump endorses CFO of Florida to replace Gaetz
Monday 25 November 2024 19:30 , Ariana Baio
Trump, on Monday, endorsed Jimmy Patronis – the chief financial officer to the state of Florida – to replace outgoing congressman Matt Gaetz to represent Florida’s 1st congressional district, despite Patronis not launching a bid for the seat yet.
Patronis, who has served as chief financial officer of Florida since 2017, is a Republican who promoted a bill that would give Trump up to $5 million in taxpayer funds to pay his legal bills. Although the bill was filed, it was later withdrawn after Governor Ron DeSantis threatened to veto it.
Trump called Patronis a “wonderful friend” and highlighted his stance on protecting gun rights, bolstering the military, securing the border and growing the border.
Patronis has until Monday to submit his notice of resignation to run in the Republican primary.
“Should he decide to enter this Race, Jimmy Patronis has my Complete and Total Endorsement. RUN, JIMMY, RUN!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
Smith asks to abandon classified documents case
Monday 25 November 2024 19:15 , Ariana Baio
Smith also asked the 11th Circuit Appeals Court to abandon his appeal to re-instate the classified documents case against Trump on Monday – but noted he would continue pursuing the case against co-defendants Walt Nautu and Carlos de Oliveira.
The classified documents case accused Trump and his co-defendants of knowingly and willfully retaining boxes that contained classified information, some containing national security information, at Trump’s home Mar-a-Lago home after leaving office.
Prosecutors said Trump did not cooperate with authorities’ attempt to give the documents back to the National Archives when he left office. Trump denied all wrongdoing and all three co-defendants pleaded not guilty.
A district judge in Florida initially dismissed the case against the three earlier this year, claiming Smith was improperly appointed. Prosecutors were in the midst of appealing that ruling when Trump was elected president.
Trump team celebrates motion to dismiss election interference case
Monday 25 November 2024 19:00 , Ariana Baio
“The American People re-elected President Trump with an overwhelming mandate to Make America Great Again. Today’s decision by the DOJ ends the unconstitutional federal cases against President Trump, and is a major victory for the rule of law. The American People and President Trump want an immediate end to the political weaponization of our justice system and we look forward to uniting our country,” Steven Cheung, Trump Communications Director, said in a statement
Understanding the federal election interference case against Trump
Monday 25 November 2024 18:45 , Ariana Baio
Last year, the Justice Department brought a criminal indictment against Trump for his actions leading up to and after the 2020 presidential election. Now, that indictment – and the damning accusations – are likely to be thrown out.
Alex Woodward explains the case here:
Trump’s election interference case, explained
