Senate Democrats ask FBI for files on Gaetz sex trafficking probe  —  Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee have sent a letter to FBI Director Christopher Wray asking for “the complete evidentiary file” from the agency's investigation into allegations of sex trafficking of minors …

Speaker Johnson announces policy barring trans women from Capitol bathrooms  —  Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) announced on Wednesday that transgender women are not permitted to use bathrooms in the Capitol that match their gender identity, taking a stance on the hot-button issue that has overtaken the Capitol in recent days.

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 …

Ukraine Fires UK Cruise Missiles at Russia for First Time  — Comes day after Western-supplied ATACMS were used by Ukraine  — Ukraine's Zelenskiy has said weapons critical to the conflict  —  Ukrainian forces fired British cruise missiles at military targets inside Russia for the first time …

Morning Digest: In stunning turnaround, Democrat takes lead in North Carolina Supreme Court race  —  Leading Off  —  NC Supreme Court  —  A critical race for North Carolina's Supreme Court is headed to a recount after late-counted votes gave Democratic incumbent Allison Riggs the slimmest …

This time around, Trump's transition team has a new approach toward the media  —  As president-elect, Donald Trump has shied away from the media as he releases a stream of Cabinet picks and White House staffers in statements, most posted to his social media platform Truth Social.

Past Nominees Have Been Undone by Far Less Than What Surrounds Trump Picks  —  Back taxes, youthful pot smoking and undocumented nannies scuttled previous presidential choices.  Some of President-elect Donald J. Trump's candidates face bigger questions.  —  A Supreme Court prospect bowed …

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 education pick once incorrectly claimed to have education degree  —  Linda McMahon, in a questionnaire for a 2009 post on a Connecticut state education board, incorrectly said she had a bachelor's degree in education, according to news reports.  —  Linda McMahon, President-elect …

Harris Loss Has Democrats Fighting Over How to Talk About Transgender Rights  —  Kamala Harris left Donald J. Trump's anti-transgender attack ads largely unanswered.  Some Democrats call it political malpractice.  —  In the weeks before Election Day, aides to Kamala Harris could see in campaign polling …

Court extends hold on Louisiana law requiring the Ten Commandments in classrooms  —  Louisiana's plan to make all of the state's public school classrooms post the Ten Commandments remains blocked under an order Wednesday by a federal appeals court in New Orleans.

How 2024 may shift our understanding of the political generation gap  —  Data from the election remains incomplete, but we can already assess how the generational divide has changed — and how it hasn't.  —  Hours after polls closed — or even before polls closed in some states …

Trump lawyers demand judge ‘immediately’ throw out hush money case  —  Letting the conviction stand would threaten to “hamstring the operation of the whole governmental apparatus,” lawyers Todd Blanche and Emil Bove argued in a letter to the judge.  —  Donald Trump's attorneys are demanding …

Entering Our Crank Era  —  The TV-guy administration grows: Yesterday, Donald Trump tapped Dr. Mehmet Oz as his administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.  “Dr. Oz will work closely with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to take on the illness industrial complex …

Trump's corruption of the DOJ goes much deeper than Gaetz  —  📳 Public Notice is possible thanks to paid subscribers.  If you aren't one, please click the button below to sign up and support our independent journalism.  📳  —  ⚖️ Subscribe to Public Notice ⚖️

Behind the Scenes at a Secretive Gathering of Rising MAGA Donors  —  The Winklevoss twins, Rebekah Mercer, allies of Elon Musk, Donald Trump Jr. and top Trump campaign aides recently joined a conclave of right-wing donors who are suddenly flush with power.  —  Just four days after being named …