Republicans fume as GOP absences help Democrats move judicial nominees  —  Senate Republicans aired frustrations Tuesday after Vice President-elect Vance and other party members skipped votes Monday, greasing the skids for Democratic-backed judicial nominees to be greenlighted as part …

Linda McMahon expected to be named Education secretary, sources say  —  Trump transition co-chair Linda McMahon is expected to be named as secretary of the Department of Education, four sources familiar with the matter told CNN.  —  The decision took shape after it became clear that McMahon would be passed over for Commerce secretary.

“Pro-LGBTQ” Republican launches vicious attack on first trans Congresswoman  —  Donald Trump's successful 2024 presidential campaign, along with its Republican allies, spent more than $215 million on television ads that stoked resentment against trans people.

Playbook: The real divide roiling Democrats  —  With help from Eli Okun, Garrett Ross and Bethany Irvine  —  DRIVING THE DAY  —  TRUMP-PROOFING IN OVERDRIVE — “Raimondo's new mission: Leave no cash for Trump,” by Steven Overly: “The Biden administration is aiming to commit nearly every unspent dollar …

Gaetz sent over $10K in Venmo payments to 2 women who testified in House probe, records suggest  —  House investigators also obtained a $750 check from Gaetz, said sources.  —  Matt Gaetz talks before President-elect Donald Trump speaks during an America First Policy Institute gala at his Mar-a-Lago estate …

Trump's corruption of the DOJ goes much deeper than Gaetz  —  It's John Yoos all the way down. … 📳  —  Donald Trump's nomination of Matt Gaetz as attorney general is a giant middle finger to anyone who believes in the rule of law.  But his nominees for other key Justice Department positions …

‘100% on board’: Border state offers Trump massive plot of land to aid mass deportation operation  —  Texas has ramped up its own efforts to secure southern border  —  EXCLUSIVE: Texas is offering the incoming Trump administration a tract of more than 1,400 acres on which to stage …

Biden approves antipersonnel mines for Ukraine, undoing his own policy  —  The move comes as Russia's advances in eastern Ukraine threaten to overwhelm front-line defenses.  —  President Joe Biden has authorized the provision of antipersonnel land mines to Ukraine, two U.S. officials said …

Fetterman opens door to supporting ex-rival Oz as CMS administrator  —  Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) opened the door on Tuesday to supporting ex-rival Mehmet Oz as the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) administrator.  —  “If Dr. Oz is about protecting and preserving Medicare and Medicaid …

Scoop: New twist in Trump's Treasury race … - “Respected, loyal and great on TV — the total Trump package,” a top Republican source said. … The senator was with Trump and Elon Musk in South Texas Tuesday as SpaceX launched a Starship rocket.  — Trump will meet Warsh and Rowan at Mar-a-Lago this week.

Italian village offers $1 homes to Americans upset by the US election result  —  For travel tips, recipes and more insight on Italian culture, sign up for CNN's Unlocking Italy newsletter.  This eight-part guide will have you packing your bags in no time.  —  CNN —

Trump ignores transition rules.  It's a ‘hostile takeover,’ ally says.  —  Donald Trump's transition team has begun what a close ally calls a hostile takeover of the federal government, ignoring the rules for the handover of power in the process.  —  A thousand miles from the austere buildings …

Here's what to know about bacteria in Tom's of Maine's toothpaste  —  Tom's of Maine toothpaste was manufactured with water containing bacteria, while a “black mold-like substance” was found in a factory where the product was made, according to a warning letter from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Macron urges Putin to ‘be reasonable’ on nuclear weapons  —  RIO DE JANEIRO — French President Emmanuel Macron told Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday to climb down from making nuclear threats after Russia lowered its threshold for launching a nuclear strike earlier in the day.

Multiple election offices report receiving mailed ballots misdirected from other states  —  Terry Thompson had an election to run for voters in Cascade County, Montana.  Why then, she thought, was her office in Great Falls being sent mailed ballots completed by voters in places such as Wasilla …

Raimondo's new mission: Leave no cash for Trump  —  With a massive legacy program hanging in the balance, the Commerce secretary wants to get billions in microchip money out the door in the next two months.  —  Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo is on an urgent mission: get as much high-tech spending …

LA enacts sanctuary city ordinance to prepare for potential mass deportations under Trump  —  The Los Angeles City Council on Tuesday approved a so-called “sanctuary city” ordinance that bars city resources from being used for immigration enforcement and city departments from sharing information …