memeorandum: Joe Manchin torches Democrats on the way out the door (Kaanita Iyer/CNN)

5:05 AM ET, December 23, 2024

Top Items:

Retiring U.S. Rep. Kay Granger experiencing ‘dementia issues,’ per family — Retiring U.S. Rep. Kay Granger, R-Fort Worth, has missed votes in Congress since the summer and her son said she has been “having some dementia issues late in the year.” The last time the 81-year-old congresswoman cast …

Discussion: Axios, Alternet.org, New York Magazine, The Times of Israel, Mediaite, CBS News and The Guardian

Kelby Vera / HuffPost:

Texas Rep. Kay Granger Found At Senior Living Facility After Missing Months Of Crucial Votes … LOADING

David Cohen / Politico:

Kay Granger is residing in assisted-living facility, her son tells Dallas publication — The Texas lawmaker had been noticeably absent from Congress in recent months. — The son of Rep. Kay Granger (R-Texas) confirmed that his mother has “dementia issues” that have kept her away from Congress …

Discussion: The Independent, Ken Klippenstein, Raw Story, Breitbart, BizPac Review and abolish power 🏴

Peter Wade / Rolling Stone:
Absent GOP Congresswoman Found in Assisted Living Home: Report

Discussion: Fox News, Townhall, New York Post, The Hill, Washington Examiner and Daily Mail

Bloomberg:

Panama's Leader Takes Up Feud With Trump Over Canal Control — US president-elect stokes fight over fees, China's influence — Mulino says canal is Panama's, cites treaties with the US — Panama's president rebuffed Donald Trump's threat to reimpose US control over the Panama Canal …

Discussion: The Hill, Breitbart, Mediaite, HuffPost, Politico, The Independent, RedState, BizPac Review, Al Jazeera, New York Post, Washington Examiner, Raw Story, The Gateway Pundit and The Post Millennial

Rebecca Falconer / Axios:

Trump suggests he wants to buy Greenland … - He made the comments after demanding earlier in the weekend that Panamanian authorities lower fees for U.S. ships to transit the Panama Canal or return its control to the United States. … - “Ken will do a wonderful job in representing the interests of the United States.”

Discussion: Bloomberg, Daily Mail, New York Post and Mediaite

Andrea Margolis / Fox News:

Trump nominates Callista Gingrich as U.S. ambassador to Switzerland, announces other picks — Trump also named PayPal co-founder Ken Howery to an ambassador position — President-elect Trump on Sunday named Callista Gingrich, wife to former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, as one of his latest U.S. ambassador nominees.

Discussion: New York Times, Mediaite and The Hill

Kaanita Iyer / CNN:

Joe Manchin torches Democrats on the way out the door — For more on Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia, watch CNN's “Inside Politics with Manu Raju” at 8 a.m. ET and 11 a.m. ET. — Washington CNN — As Joe Manchin prepares to leave Congress after nearly 15 years, the West Virginia senator …

Discussion: RedState, The Guardian, CBS News, New York Post, The Gateway Pundit, Fox News, The Hill and Mediaite

CBS News: Transcript: Sen. Joe Manchin on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan,” Dec. 22, 2024

CBS News: Transcript: Rep. Tony Gonzales on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan,” Dec. 22, 2024

Washington Post:

Trump picks billionaire financier for deputy defense secretary — The choice of Stephen Feinberg of Cerberus Capital Management comes as Pete Hegseth continues to face questions in the confirmation process for the top Pentagon post.

Zach LaChance / Washington Examiner:

Trump finalizes Defense Department with slate of picks — President-elect Donald Trump has continued to solidify his administration with just under a month to go until Inauguration Day, announcing various picks for top positions in the Defense Department. — While his pick for secretary of defense …

Discussion: Forbes, Jewish Insider, Fox News, New York Times and The American Conservative

Elena Schneider / Politico:

New research shows the massive hole Dems are in — Even voters who previously backed Democrats cast the party as weak and overly focused on diversity and elites. — Democrats conducting post-mortems on their sweeping losses in 2024 are finding more reason for alarm.

Alexandra Marquez / NBC News:

GOP congressman says it feels like Elon Musk is ‘our prime minister’ — Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-Texas, told CBS News on Sunday that he spoke to the tech billionaire multiple times during negotiations for the funding package. — Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-Texas, on Sunday compared tech mogul Elon Musk to a …

Discussion: The Hill, CBS News and Mediaite

Michael D. Shear / New York Times:

Trump Previews Second Term in Sprawling Speech to Conservative Conference — President-elect Donald J. Trump repeated false claims about immigration and the border, slammed diversity initiatives and discussed the Panama Canal in the 90-minute address. — President-elect Donald J. Trump delivered …

Discussion: CNN, Fox News and The Guardian

Miranda Nazzaro / The Hill:

Why Big Tech is funding Trump's inauguration — Hefty donations from tech companies and leaders to President-elect Trump's inaugural fund are a sign of Silicon Valley's shifting relationship with the incoming leader after past tensions. — While inaugural donations by companies are nothing new …

Discussion: The Daily Caller

Tara Suter / The Hill:

Trump suggests Panama Canal be returned to US control — President-elect Trump on Sunday again took on the matter of the Panama Canal, suggesting to a conference of his supporters that it be returned to U.S. control in a remarkable suggestion to push a sovereign country to cede territory.