Top Items:


Playbook: What the GOP's new Big 3 discussed this weekend — With help from Eli Okun, Garrett Ross and Bethany Irvine — DRIVING THE DAY — TOP-ED — “The Price of American Retreat,” by Mitch McConnell for Foreign Affairs: “To pretend that the United States can focus on just one threat at a time …
Discussion:
HuffPost and New York Magazine
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Congress grapples over pre-Christmas catch-all deal as government shutdown looms — Top lawmakers had aimed to release bill text over the weekend but hit an impasse over agriculture aid. — Congressional leaders were still trading offers Sunday afternoon on a government funding patch attached …
Discussion:
Alternet.org, The Hill and Fox News


RFK Jr. Has a Battle Plan to Get Senate Confirmation — Health secretary nominee, after meeting resistance in some corners, plans to play down vaccine skepticism, pro-abortion stances — WASHINGTON—Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s attempt to win over Capitol Hill starts this week with a strategy …
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RFK Jr. seeks to win over Senate GOP skeptics as he begins HHS meetings — Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will be seeking to ease any skepticism over his confirmation this week as he begins meetings with Senate Republicans over his nomination to lead the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
Discussion:
Washington Examiner, The Boston Globe, Politico, New York Magazine and Reuters


Journalists anticipate a renewed hostility toward their work under the incoming Trump administration — For the press heading into a second Trump administration, there's a balancing act between being prepared and being fearful. The return to power of Donald Trump, who has called journalists enemies …
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Trump and His Picks Threaten More Lawsuits Over Critical Coverage — The small flurry of threatened defamation suits is the latest sign that the incoming Trump administration appears poised to do what it can to crack down on unfavorable media coverage. — The legal threats have arrived in various forms.


Trump vows to ‘hire American.’ His businesses keep hiring foreign guest workers — President-elect Donald Trump vowed on the campaign trail to do everything in his power to benefit American workers. “We will build American, buy American and hire American,” he said during a rally in August.


Why Musk Doesn't Have Access to SpaceX's Biggest Government Secrets — Executives haven't sought higher security clearance for the CEO to avoid questions about his drug use and contact with foreign officials; the answers might no longer matter — The payloads SpaceX launches into the heavens …


Tax Cuts Take Lead Over Deficit Worries in GOP's Internal Fight — Republicans embrace the contentious idea that some of their tax cuts would largely pay for themselves — WASHINGTON—Tax cutters are beating deficit hawks in the early phases of the Republican Party's fiscal tug of war.


Steve Bannon Is Already Claiming Trump Can Run Again in 2028 — WHO'S GONNA STOP ME? — The political strategist says the Constitution doesn't count in this case.


Trump's ‘explosive’ economic growth claims are no match for the $36 trillion debt — The new president could face even more daunting challenges than his predecessors if he follows through on his tax and tariff pledges. — Jeff Bezos, Larry Fink and Donald Trump's Treasury pick Scott Bessent all agree …


His Family Voted to Support Trump's Deportation Plan. That Includes Him. — His friends and family members in Rome, Ga., voted to support mass deportation. Now he's scrambling to stay in the country. — Jaime Cachua with his son Julian. He fears he will be deported.


Speaker Johnson faces ‘complicated’ decision on crucial Rules Committee chair — Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) is barreling into a tricky — yet critical — decision over whom to appoint as the next chair of the House Rules Committee, a post that will set the tone for legislating and play …


Trump girds for battle with Democrats, Supreme Court over birthright citizenship — President-elect Trump, Democratic lawmakers and the Supreme Court are on a collision course over restricting birthright citizenship, which Trump has identified as a top priority for his incoming administration.
Discussion:
Los Angeles Times and Daily Kos


Bernie Sanders believes Hunter Biden pardon sets a ‘dangerous’ precedent — Sanders discusses Biden's legacy, one way he will work with President-elect Trump — Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., had two thoughts about President Biden pardoning his son Hunter Biden after previously saying he would not …
Discussion:
NBC News, The Hill, HuffPost, New York Post, Washington Examiner and Daily Mail
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Romney defends Trump after ‘overwhelming’ win: 'Can't complain' — Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT) is contending people “can't complain” about President-elect Donald Trump's Cabinet picks given Trump signaled he would make such picks before he was elected. — Romney, a longtime critic of the president-elect …
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Romney stands by Trump criticism but says MAGA is now the Republican Party
Discussion:
RedState, Townhall, The Hill, The Independent, Mediaite, USA Today, HuffPost, New York Post, Daily Caller News Foundation, Politico and Washington Times