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Trump expected to offer Kelly Loeffler secretary of Agriculture — President-elect Donald Trump is expected to offer Kelly Loeffler the job of secretary of the Department of Agriculture, two people familiar with the matter told CNN. — He is set to meet with her at Mar-a-Lago Friday afternoon …
Discussion:
Daily Mail, Raw Story, Forbes, Democrats, Reuters, New Republic, Bloomberg and E&E News
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The ‘Landslide’ That Wasn't: Trump and Allies Pump Up His Narrow Victory — The latest vote count shows that Donald J. Trump won the popular vote by one of the smallest margins since the 19th century. But Mr. Trump claims a “powerful mandate.” — On the night he won a second term …
Discussion:
Raw Story, The Root, Vanity Fair, Digby's Hullabaloo, Washington Examiner, Daily Kos, Althouse and Los Angeles Times


Matt Gaetz says he's not returning to Congress next year — Former Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz, who withdrew from consideration as President-elect Donald Trump's pick for attorney general on Thursday, said Friday he will not be returning to Congress next year. — “I'm still going to be in the fight …
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The Atlantic, Breitbart, New York Times, Daily Caller News Foundation, freebeacon.com, The Daily Caller, Al Jazeera, New Republic, Axios, Le·gal In·sur·rec·tion, Washington Examiner, Mississippi Free Press, Twitchy, USA Today, The Post Millennial, One America News Network, Vanity Fair, BizPac Review, Trending Politics …, Raw Story, The Hill, The Independent, ABC News, Politico, CBS News, Sun-Sentinel, WFLA-TV, Florida Politics, Foreign Policy, Talking Points Memo, NBC News and Rolling Stone


Trump Is Pissed at True Reports His Victory Wasn't Exactly a Landslide — Donald Trump is upset with the media for accurately reporting that his election night victory wasn't exactly a “landslide.” — Trump transition team spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt on Friday took aim at Politico …
Discussion:
Digby's Hullabaloo and Raw Story


Trump Won Less Than 50 Percent. Why Is Everyone Calling It a Landslide? — Right and left have bought the narrative of a crushing triumph. They're wrong. — Is it newsworthy that Donald Trump's share of the 2024 presidential vote has fallen below 50 percent?
Discussion:
The Gateway Pundit, PolitiFact, Raw Story, New York Magazine and MSNBC


House Democrats prepare to make Mike Johnson's life hell … - On any GOP-only legislation, there is “going to be enormous pressure” on Republican centrists to break away, said Rep. Joe Morelle (D-N.Y.). — Morelle pointed to Rep. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.), predicting some GOP bills will be …


Trump expected to name Kelly Loeffler for Agriculture secretary — President-elect Trump is expected to name former Sen. Kelly Loeffler (R-Ga.) to serve as secretary of Agriculture, a source close to the transition told The Hill. — Loeffler is currently the co-chair of Trump's second inaugural committee …


Matt Gaetz says he doesn't plan to rejoin Congress after withdrawing name for attorney general
Discussion:
CNN, RedState, Associated Press, WFLA-TV, Roll Call, USA Today, New York Post, HotAir, Washington Times, CBS News, Fox News, Rolling Stone, HuffPost, The Guardian, New York Daily News, Washington Examiner, Florida Politics, Forbes, E&E News, Politico, Mediaite, Los Angeles Times, The Gateway Pundit, The Daily Caller, Democrats, TPR and ABC News

Florida sets special election to fill Matt Gaetz vacancy on April Fools' Day
Discussion:
ABC News, Washington Examiner, Mediaite, Florida Phoenix and The Independent

Chaos reigns supreme in Trump's Washington
Discussion:
The Guardian, Raw Story, The DSR Network, Wall Street Journal, Townhall and HuffPost

Resistance is not futile: Matt Gaetz's implosion shows how MAGA's chaos can be turned against Trump
Discussion:
No More Mister Nice Blog, LGBTQ Nation, Raw Story and New Jersey Online


Gabbard nomination puts Senate GOP in a bind … That panel — which is responsible for processing Gabbard's nomination — is stacked with hawks on both sides of the dais. … But GOP senators are already indicating they'll be interested in probing Gabbard's controversial …
Discussion:
The Hill, Raw Story and The Bulwark
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Now GOP Senators Want Another Trump Nominee's Full FBI File — JUST A LITTLE PEEK — An alignment between Russia and Tulsi Gabbard is worrying some Senate Intelligence Committee members. — Some Republican senators are privately eager to see Tulsi Gabbard's FBI file …
Discussion:
ABC News


Texas approves new Bible-based curriculum for elementary schools — Teachers can opt in, but state is offering financial incentive of $60 a student for participating school districts — The Texas board of education voted 8-7 on Friday to approve a new Bible-based curriculum in elementary schools.
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Texas Board of Education votes to approve Bible curriculum in elementary schools
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USA Today, The Hill, ABC News, CBS News, UPI, New Republic, New York Times, KVUE-TV, Daily Caller News Foundation and WHEC.com


Trump's transition team turns to Project 2025 after disavowing it during the campaign — Transition officials have used Project 2025's extensive personnel database to identify potential hires for the incoming administration, a person familiar with the plans said.
Discussion:
America Transformed, Raw Story, New Republic and Politico

Trump plans to fire Jack Smith's team, use DOJ to probe 2020 election — The plans show how president-elect Donald Trump wants to use the Justice Department to address his own personal grievances.


Walmart just leveled with Americans: China won't be paying for Trump's tariffs, in all likelihood you will — Donald Trump told voters tariffs are a tax on a foreign country. But it's Americans that will pay the price, Walmart's finance chief warned. — Voters who returned Donald …
Discussion:
Quartz, Fox Business and New York Times


Trump's Pentagon pick Hegseth wrote of US military taking sides in ‘civil war’ — Defense secretary pick said in 2020 that should Democrats win election the military ‘will be forced to make a choice’ — Pete Hegseth, Donald Trump's pick for defense secretary, has written in a book …
Discussion:
New Republic, Raw Story, The Independent and The Atlantic


Elon Musk Gets a Crash Course in How Trumpworld Works — The world's richest person, not known for his humility, is still learning the cutthroat courtier politics of Donald Trump's inner circle — and his ultimate influence remains an open question. — For the first 53 years of his life …
Discussion:
Business Insider


More details about JFK assassination keep emerging, even 61 years later — Sixty-one years ago, on November 22, 1963, President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Texas, in a shocking tragedy that still echoes. — The JFK assassination sent the nation into mourning and shook it to its core …
Discussion:
Washington Examiner, LewRockwell, Associated Press and New Jersey Online


Trump Picks Scott Bessent as Treasury Secretary — Hedge-fund manager has been a key economic adviser to president-elect — WASHINGTON—Donald Trump has selected hedge-fund manager Scott Bessent to lead the Treasury Department, according to people familiar with the matter …
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Bloomberg, Washington Examiner, Axios, Reuters, CBS News, NBC News, Business Insider, Politico, Washington Post, CoinDesk, Quartz, The Guardian, New York Post, Fox Business, The 19th, Raw Story, Forbes, The Post Millennial, NewsNation and RedState


Musk Unleashes Online Army on Federal Workers. 'A Tough Way to Find Out She's Losing Her Job.' — As Trump efficiency czar, the billionaire is targeting employees by name on X—sparking pushback — As co-director of President-elect Donald Trump's nascent Department of Government Efficiency …
Discussion:
New Republic, Digby's Hullabaloo and Raw Story, more at Techmeme »


Nancy Mace's Federal Trans Bathroom Ban Would Apply To Major Airports, Hindering Travel — Congresswoman Nancy Mace, who has targeted Congresswoman Sarah McBride with a bathroom ban in the capitol, is now pushing a sweeping federal bathroom ban for trans people.
Discussion:
Washington Post, them. and Inqorporeal


Bird flu confirmed in child for first time in US: CDC — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed that bird flu was found in a child in California, according to a press release issued Friday. — The case is the first reported infection in a child in the U.S., according to the release.
Discussion:
WAGA-TV, Le·gal In·sur·rec·tion and Florida Phoenix


Kim Jong Un's Message to Trump: We're Not Interested — North Korean dictator has fewer reasons to seek sanctions relief from the U.S. and has played down the need for disarmament talks — SEOUL—North Korean leader Kim Jong Un appeared to rebuff the prospect of reviving his nuclear diplomacy …
Discussion:
Raw Story, Plain Dealer, UPI, New Republic, The Daily Caller, The Independent, Reuters, Daily Kos and Bloomberg


Kennedy's ‘MAHA transition team’ includes anti-vax activists — At least three informal advisers connected to the anti-vaccine movement are assisting Kennedy in filling out his staff as he prepares to lead HHS. — Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is enlisting associates with close ties …


New York judge delays Trump hush money sentencing — President-elect Trump's sentencing in his New York criminal case will not go forward as planned next week as his attorneys push to dismiss the prosecution following his election victory. — Judge Juan Merchan, who oversees the trial proceedings …
Discussion:
The Guardian, Axios, Fox News, ABC News, Townhall, Forbes, Reuters, WHEC.com, Raw Story, UPI, New Jersey Online, One America News Network, Washington Times, Michigan Advance, BizPac Review, Rolling Stone, USA Today, Daily Caller News Foundation, Scripps News, Mediaite, Business Insider, Washington Post, NPR and The Sun