Top Items:
Axios:
Behind the Curtain: Trump's shock and awe … - Trump named real estate developer Charles Kushner — father of Trump's son-in-law, Jared — as ambassador to France. … - Less than six hours later, Trump announced he picked Kash Patel, one of the hardest of his first-term hardliners, as FBI director.
Discussion:
Raw Story
RELATED:
Tom Nichols / The Atlantic:
The Kash Patel Principle — Donald Trump has been releasing names of his nominees for the Cabinet and other senior posts in waves. He began with some relatively conventional choices, and then unloaded one bombshell after another, perhaps in an attempt to paralyze opposition in the Senate …
Discussion:
The Hill, Washington Post, The Gateway Pundit, Breitbart, Politico, CBS News and Semafor
Carl Hulse / New York Times:
A Second Trump Term Poses a Crucial Test of the Senate's Independence — President-elect Donald J. Trump is threatening to challenge the institution's historic role, and the Constitution, with his prospective nominees and threats to push the boundaries of executive authority.
Discussion:
Alternet.org and USA Today
Rachel Scully / The Hill:
John Bolton compares Kash Patel to Soviet secret police leader — Former National Security Advisor John Bolton compared Kash Patel, President-elect Trump's nomination for head of FBI, to one of the USSR's most feared secret police chiefs, Lavrentiy Beria. — “Trump has nominated Kash Patel …
Discussion:
CBS News, RedState, Raw Story, Tampa Free Press and The Independent
Washington Post:
Lawmakers express doubt over Trump plan to replace FBI's Christopher Wray — On Sunday, members of Congress on both sides of the aisle said the FBI director, whom Trump appointed in 2017, should be allowed to serve out his 10-year term. — President-elect Donald Trump's announcement …
David Corn / Mother Jones:
How Kash Patel, Trump's FBI Pick, Embraced the Unhinged QAnon Movement — In the middle of the Thanksgiving holiday stretch, Donald Trump announced what might be his most extreme and controversial appointment yet: Kash Patel for FBI director. There are many reasons why this decision is outrageous.
Discussion:
Raw Story and Crooks and Liars
Elizabeth Williamson / New York Times:
Five Things to Know About Kash Patel, Trump's Pick to Lead the F.B.I.
Discussion:
USA Today, Associated Press, Rolling Stone, Breitbart, Raw Story, Alternet.org, Twitchy, The Hill, Fox News, RedState and Townhall
Michael D. Shear / New York Times:
Republicans Stand Behind Trump's Choice of Kash Patel to Lead F.B.I.
Discussion:
Politico and Washington Times
Nick Arama / RedState:
DELICIOUS: Andrew McCabe Throws a Fit on CNN Over Trump Nomination of Kash Patel
Discussion:
The Daily Caller, The Gateway Pundit, Twitchy, Raw Story, Townhall, Mediaite, CNN, The Hill and Breitbart
emptywheel:
How Trump Rolled Out this Kash Patel Pick Is Part of Spinning False Claims about Rule of Law
Discussion:
Rolling Stone, CNN and Digby's Hullabaloo
Associated Press:
Trump taps Kash Patel for FBI director, an ally who would aid in his effort to upend law enforcement
NBC News:
Trump taps Kash Patel for FBI director
Discussion:
Fox News, The Post Millennial, The Independent, IJR, PJ Media, Contemplating Life …, Raw Story, Al Jazeera, Twitchy, ABC News, USA Today, Bloomberg and Washington Post
New York Times:
Trump Says He Will Nominate Kash Patel to Run F.B.I.
Discussion:
The Hill, Raw Story, Forbes, Axios, The Daily Caller, Daily Mail, Associated Press, New York Post, @amuse, One America News Network, Washington Examiner, Tampa Free Press, RedState, Al Jazeera, Twitchy, Fox News, CBS News, Althouse, Crooks and Liars, Mediaite, Townhall, Washington Times, The Daily Signal, The Gateway Pundit, Kevin Drum and The Moderate Voice, more at Mediagazer »
Sadie Gurman / Wall Street Journal:
Trump Picks Kash Patel as FBI Director
Discussion:
Washington Examiner, Washington Post, Associated Press, New York Post, CNN, Washington Times, ABC News, Forbes, CBS News, Bloomberg, The Hill, Newsbusters, Mediaite, Power Line, Breitbart, NPR, Reuters, One America News Network and Axios
Rachel Scully / The Hill:
Cheryl Hines sells products with naked RFK Jr. showering behind her — Actress Cheryl Hines, the wife of former independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., posted a video promoting her beauty products featuring her husband showering half-naked in the background.
Discussion:
HuffPost, Page Six, Fox News, New York Post, The Gateway Pundit, The Hollywood Reporter and TMZ.com
RELATED:
Alejandra O'Connell-Domenech / The Hill:
Trump's health team: RFK Jr. and 5 doctors tapped to lead ‘MAHA’
Discussion:
Los Angeles Times
Jonathan Nicholson / HuffPost:
Trump's Next Term Could See America's First True Oligarchs, Warns Democracy Activist Garry Kasparov — Elon Musk's DOGE plan could mix public and private interests in a way previously not seen in American politics, the former world chess champion said. — LOADING
RELATED:
Reid J. Epstein / New York Times:
Wisconsin Democratic Chair Says He Is the One to Revive a Distressed Party — Ben Wikler, who has led the Wisconsin Democratic Party since 2019, announced a bid to be national party chair with a platform to “unite, fight, win.” — Ben Wikler, the Wisconsin Democratic chairman …
Discussion:
Associated Press, ABC News, Washington Examiner, The Guardian, Althouse and Politico
Nancy Scola / Politico:
Democrats Face an Existential Crisis on X — Conversations with a dozen insiders point to a party that is unsure about whether to leave or engage with the increasingly MAGA platform. — Two days after the election, Patrick Dillon, a longtime Democratic strategist and current Biden administration official …
Discussion:
Digby's Hullabaloo, Twitchy and RedState
Associated Press:
Social democrats gain and incumbents are punished in Iceland's election — Voters in Iceland appeared to have rejected incumbent parties in a parliamentary election, partial results showed Sunday, with a center-left party leading the contest in the North Atlantic island nation.
Discussion:
Al Jazeera, Politico, Reuters and Associated Press
RELATED:
Ragnhildur Sigurdardottir / Bloomberg:
Iceland's Opposition Social Democrats Score Election Victory
Discussion:
Al Jazeera
Associated Press:
Putin signs off record Russian defense spending as top EU officials visit Kyiv — Russian President Vladimir Putin approved budget plans, raising 2025 military spending to record levels as Moscow seeks to prevail in the war in Ukraine. Around 32.5% of the budget posted on a government website Sunday …
Discussion:
Agence France-Presse, The Kyiv Independent and Reuters
RELATED:
Claudia Chiappa / Politico:
Putin approves new budget with record defense spending
Discussion:
The Kyiv Independent and Reuters
Rolling Stone:
Trump and His Team Are ‘Laughing’ at Biden's Commitment to Decorum — Biden called Trump a fascist. Now his White House is ensuring an orderly transfer of power — and staging photo ops with the president-elect — Donald Trump and his incoming administration officials think Joe Biden and Kamala Harris are suckers.
Discussion:
Raw Story and Associated Press
Zach Montague / New York Times:
Trump Offers Massad Boulos Middle East Adviser Role — The announcement on Sunday was the second time this weekend that Mr. Trump offered an influential post to an in-law. — President-elect Donald J. Trump announced on Sunday that he would name Massad Boulos, a Lebanese American businessman …
Discussion:
Wall Street Journal, ABC News, The Hill, HuffPost, CBS News, Business Insider, Fox News, USA Today, Washington Examiner, Breitbart, Townhall, Rolling Stone, New York Post, Los Angeles Times, Axios, Al Jazeera, Politico, The Independent, The Gateway Pundit, The Times of Israel, RedState, Daily Mail, Raw Story and One America News Network
Drew Harwell / Washington Post:
Trump and allies blur the lines between politician and influencer — The president-elect and some in his proposed Cabinet are adopting influencer tactics to hawk products, boost political points and promote their personal brands. — A few weeks before he was named to lead the Department …
Ally Mutnick / Politico:
The congressional battlegrounds were set. Then Trump changed everything. — “There's definitely a realignment going on in American politics,” said Dan Conston, the president of the Congressional Leadership Fund. — Donald Trump's surge among Latino voters is upending the American political map.
Discussion:
RedState
Zachary Leeman / Mediaite:
Ex-Dem Rep Tim Ryan Warns On MSNBC His Own Party ‘Is Toxic’ To Voters: ‘What Are We Doing?’ — Former Rep. Tim Ryan (D-OH) told MSNBC that Democrats need a complete “rebrand” and to find common ground with MAGA figures like Elon Musk. — Ryan joined MSNBC's The Weekend on Saturday and offered …
Discussion:
Fox News, The Hill, The Gateway Pundit and Balloon Juice
RELATED:
Manager - Publishing Editorial, Manila — 
Congress Reporter, DC — 
FX/Rates Reporter, Tokyo — 
Newsperson (Engagement Editor), Remote US — 
Business Reporter, SC — 
State Government Reporter, WA — 
Climate Crisis Columnist — 
Community Engagement Mgr., DC — 
Jackson Reporter, MS — 
Senior California Politics Reporter, CA — 
Staff Writer - Business, NY — 
Team Editor - Opinion, ON — 
Assistant Correspondent, DC — 
Senior Tech Editor, Remote US — 
Lead Business Reporter, TN — 
Affordable Housing Reporter, TX — 
Reporter, FL — 
Managing Editor, WA — 
Trending News Reporter, TX — 
Legislative Reporter, CA — 
Politics Editor, TX — 
Visual Editor, Remote — 
Local Editor - Midwest, Remote — 
Staff Writer, ME — 
L.A. Issues Reporter, CA — 
Senior Editor, Remote — 
Senior Political Reporter, DC — 
Climate Finance Reporter, VA — 
Business & Gaming Reporter, NV — 
Reporter II - Technology, Remote — 
Clean Energy Reporter, TX — 
Editor, Remote US — 
Business Reporter, WA — 
