Trump picks Fox News host Pete Hegseth to serve as secretary of defense  —  President-elect Donald Trump announced Tuesday he has chosen Fox News host Pete Hegseth to serve as his secretary of defense.  —  The selection elevates the television personality to a Cabinet-level position in Trump's second term.

Trump Draft Executive Order Would Create Board to Purge Generals  —  The panel could upend the military review process and raise concerns about the politicization of the military  —  WASHINGTON—The Trump transition team is considering a draft executive order that establishes a “warrior board” …

Conservatives plot challenge against Johnson in internal Speaker elections  —  Hardline conservatives are plotting to challenge Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) for the gavel during Wednesday's internal House GOP elections, four sources familiar with the matter told The Hill.

It's 2004 all over again  —  I wish I could give you a crystal-clear sense of what Democrats felt like in 2004 after George W. Bush was elected to a second term.  But the truth is, my memories of that time are hazy.  That's partly because I was a twentysomething doing dumb twentysomething things …

Putin Isn't Fighting for Land in Ukraine  —  And Biden has mere weeks to give the Ukrainians the resources they need to fight.  —  russian drone and missile strikes on Ukrainian targets have increased in frequency in the week since the U.S. election, killing civilians and destroying another dam.

Pentagon secrets leaker Jack Teixeira sentenced to 15 years in prison by a federal judge  —  A federal judge on Tuesday sentenced a Massachusetts Air National Guard member to 15 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to leaking highly classified military documents about the war in Ukraine.

Putin Aide Issues Ominous Warning About Trump's New “Obligations” … Donald Trump may have secured a second term in the White House, but his Russia problems are far from over—at least according to suspiciously phrased comments by some of Russian President Vladimir Putin's closest allies.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Reveals Plans to Fire 600 Federal Health Workers  —  The Trump ally and anti-vax conspiracist takes aim at the agencies he loathes.  —  At an event late last week in Arizona, anti-vaccine activist and Donald Trump transition team member Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said he'd fire …

Federal judge blocks Louisiana law that requires classrooms to display Ten Commandments  —  A federal judge called the law religious government coercion of students and “unconstitutional on its face.”  —  BATON ROUGE, Louisiana — A new Louisiana requirement that the Ten Commandments …

Mike Pence Comes Out Against Trump's Plan to Pardon January 6 Rioters: ‘Literally Praying’ Trump and Vance Uphold Their Oaths  —  Former Vice President Mike Pence spoke at the Dispatch's Summit 2024 and made clear he opposes President-elect Donald Trump's plan to pardon January 6 rioters - especially those who attacked police.

They Turned Against Kamala Harris in Decisive Numbers.  They're About to Find Out if It Was Worth It.  —  Dearborn, Michigan, turned against Kamala Harris decisively.  Now the city is about to find out if Trump was worth it.  —  On election night, at a political watch party, Abbas Alawieh …

Scoop: Alina Habba Emerges as Front-Runner For Trump Press Secretary  —  Alina Habba, a lawyer who represented Donald Trump in a series of high-profile cases, has emerged as a front-runner to serve as press secretary in the incoming White House, four sources told Mediaite.

Hispanic groups challenge data on Trump's Latino inroads … - In Michigan, Trump won 58% of Latino voters compared to just 39% for Harris, according to the Edison poll. … - In San Diego's eighth council district, which is roughly 75% Latino, Trump got 40% of the vote, local election analyst Mason Herron points out.

Rubio news triggers MAGA backlash  —  Some Trump diehards are holding out hope for Ric Grenell for the top foreign policy post.  —  Shortly after news leaked that Donald Trump was expected to name Sen. Marco Rubio as his secretary of state, some of the most MAGA-minded online warriors rushed …

Donald Trump names former intelligence chief John Ratcliffe to CIA director  —  WASHINGTON − President-elect Donald Trump designated his former Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe, to become director of the Central Intelligence Agency.  —  Prior to being appointed by Trump …

Exxon Chief to Trump: Don't Withdraw From Paris Climate Deal  —  Darren Woods was one of only a few Western oil executives attending a global climate conference in Baku, Azerbaijan.  —  Darren Woods, the chief executive of Exxon Mobil, cautioned President-elect Donald J. Trump on Tuesday …

Trump picks Kristi Noem to serve as his Homeland Security secretary  —  President-elect Donald Trump has selected South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem as his next secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, according to two people familiar with the selection.

Kamala Harris Did Listen To Working-Class Voters.  They Didn't Listen To Trump.  —  Plus, the shocking New Jersey result, and the connection between the election and “The Big Lebowski” — all in the November 12, 2024 newsletter.  —  One week later and the Democratic Party's self-flagellation continues.

Lighthizer and his allies lay groundwork for Trump's massive new tariffs  —  Preemptive efforts to counter expected criticism of tariffs signal an even greater shake-up on trade during Trump's second term.  —  President-elect Donald Trump's former trade chief and those close to him are preparing …

‘Extraordinary circumstances’: NY judge in Trump case pauses all court deadlines, sentencing  —  The 34 convictions could have placed President-elect Donald Trump in prison for up to 4 years  —  The Manhattan judge overseeing President-elect Donald Trump's trial agreed to grant a stay …

Will the American project survive the anger of white men?  —  At key moments throughout US history, white male anger has been privileged over national security, progress or basic welfare  —  A friend recently asked: “Do you think the United States will survive the anger of white men?”

The Sickest Patients Are Fleeing Private Medicare Plans—Costing Taxpayers Billions  —  Medicare Advantage patients in the last year of life were far more likely to switch to traditional Medicare, shifting costs from insurers

Trump Picks Musk, Ramaswamy for Government Efficiency Effort  — President-elect has vowed to cut ‘fraud and improper payments’  — Effort aims to partner with OMB, conclude work by July 4, 2026  —  Billionaire Elon Musk and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy will lead a new Department …