Ron who?  How Trump allies brought Hegseth back from the brink  —  Skeptical Republican senators were singing a different tune on Monday.  —  Donald Trump's transition team entered a critical week of nomination meetings on Capitol Hill with a new head of steam, emboldened by a swarm …

Nobel Laureates Urge Senate to Turn Down Kennedy's Nomination  —  Elevating Mr. Kennedy to secretary of H.H.S. “would put the public's health in jeopardy,” more than 75 laureates wrote.  —  More than 75 Nobel Prize winners have signed a letter urging senators not to confirm Robert F. Kennedy Jr. …

Rupert Murdoch Fails in Bid to Change Family Trust  —  A Nevada commissioner ruled resoundingly against Mr. Murdoch, who was trying to give full control of his empire to his son Lachlan and lock in Fox News's right-wing editorial slant.  —  A Nevada commissioner ruled resoundingly …

Person of interest in fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson ID'd as Luigi Mangione, an ex-Ivy League student  —  The person of interest identified in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson is an anti-capitalist former Ivy League student — who liked online quotes from …

Top ‘Washington Post’ editor kills article on deputy's departure  —  As the Washington Post newsroom awaits the appointment of a new top editor, its acting news chief intervened to block an article about the departure of its second-highest-ranking editor, a contender for the position …

Matt Gaetz to join One America News as an anchor, source says  —  Former Florida congressman Matt Gaetz is expected to announce he is joining One America News Network (OAN) as an anchor, a source familiar told CNN.  —  Last month, Gaetz withdrew his name from consideration to serve …

Patel FBI plans spark concern over agency independence, retribution  —  Kash Patel, President-elect Trump's nominee to lead the FBI, has promised to deliver a massive reform of a bureau he sees as among the agencies that have “weaponized the government.”  —  Patel hasn't offered specifics …

Criminal Charges Unsealed Against Two Former High-Ranking Syrian Government Intelligence Officials for War Crimes against Americans and Other Civilians  —  For Immediate Release  —  A copy of the indictment can be found here.  —  An indictment was unsealed today in the Northern District …

GOP Congresswoman Nancy Mace is caught on video in gross act with two women and a man  —  Her crusade against transgender bathroom access has cemented her role as a hardline culture warrior and MAGA favorite.  —  But an eye-popping video unearthed exclusively by DailyMail.com suggests …

Federal court blocks ACA coverage for Dreamers  —  A federal court in North Dakota has blocked Affordable Care Act (ACA) coverage for immigrants that came into the U.S. illegally as children, also known as “Dreamers.”  —  U.S. District Judge Daniel M. Traynor on Monday granted Kansas …

Acrimonious Texas House Speaker race divides state's Republicans  —  An acrimonious race for Speaker of the Texas House is splitting the state GOP — and forcing a confrontation between the body's warring Republican camps.  —  Competing Republican state Reps. David Cook and Dustin Burrows …

On Issue After Issue, Trump Promises the Moon.  No Word on the Rocket.  —  The president-elect has made some of the most expansive campaign pledges in history.  Some supporters fear that his bravado could undermine his ambitions.  —  In his own telling, President-elect Donald J. Trump wields magical powers …

Biden pardoned his son for good reason  —  Even if he's being coy about it. … ☃️  —  President Biden has taken a lot of heat from both Republicans and Democrats over the pardon of his sole surviving son, Hunter.  On the surface, the criticism is valid.

Republican-led states are rolling out plans that could aid Trump's mass deportation effort  —  As President-elect Donald Trump assembles his administration, Republican governors and lawmakers in some states are already rolling out proposals that could help him carry out his pledge to deport millions …

Playbook PM: A Jan. 6 insider on the transition team?  —  ON THE WAY OUT THE DOOR — Interesting parting gesture from Sen. JOE MANCHIN (I-W.Va.): “I'm proud to introduce legislation with @SenPeterWelch that would establish 18-year term limits for Justices of the United States Supreme Court.”

Trump's Perfume Line Hits the Market With Jill Biden Photo  —  Donald J. Trump learned a long time ago that photo opportunities could get him attention and that slapping his name on everything from skyscrapers to steaks could make him money.  —  As a second-time presidential candidate …

Trump Spoke to DeSantis About Choosing Lara Trump for Florida Senate Seat  —  Florida governor will decide who succeeds Sen. Marco Rubio and is considering a range of candidates  —  Lara Trump wants to be the next U.S. senator from Florida, and she has a powerful advocate in her corner: her father-in-law.

What to look for in Supreme Court arguments over environmental regulation of Utah oil railway plan  —  A proposed western railroad expansion aimed at boosting crude oil production in Utah is coming before the Supreme Court Tuesday in a case that could have wider impact on federal environmental regulation.

Kari Lake a top contender to become Trump's ambassador to Mexico  —  The Scoop  —  Kari Lake is a leading contender for the nomination as Donald Trump's ambassador to Mexico, two people familiar with the situation told Semafor.  —  Lake won Trump's endorsement in both her unsuccessful bids for statewide office in Arizona.

Money in Your Pockets: Governor Hochul Proposes Sending 8.6 Million New Yorkers an Inflation Refund Check as First Proposal of 2025 State of the State  —  Proposal Would Deliver $3 Billion by Taking Excess Sales Tax Revenue Driven by Inflation and Giving That Money Back to Everyday New Yorkers

Susan Wild absent from Ethics Committee meeting after Gaetz leaks to press  —  Rep. Susan Wild (Pa.), the top Democrat on the House Ethics Committee, was absent from the panel's meeting last week after being traced as the source of leaks to the press regarding the investigation into former Rep. Matt Gaetz …

My Last Column: Finding Hope in an Age of Resentment  —  This is my final column for The New York Times, where I began publishing my opinions in January 2000.  I'm retiring from The Times, not the world, so I'll still be expressing my views in other places.

Bomb Threat Against Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene  —  The Rome Police Department's Assistant Chief of Police received an email containing a bomb threat directed at Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene.  —  We are pleased to report that Congresswoman Greene is safe.