memeorandum: Trump Picks Callista Gingrich for Ambassador to Switzerland (Lisa Friedman/New York Times)

5:50 AM ET, December 23, 2024

Top Items:

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: Mediaite

Lisa Friedman / New York Times:

Trump Picks Callista Gingrich for Ambassador to Switzerland — In announcing his choice of various envoys, including ambassador to Denmark, the president-elect again floated the idea of the United States acquiring Greenland. — President-elect Donald J. Trump said on Sunday that he intended …

Discussion: Mediaite and The Hill

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

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 and New York Post

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

Aishvarya Kavi / New York Times:

Biden Commutes 37 Death Sentences Ahead of Trump's Plan to Resume Federal Executions — Those affected by the president's action on Monday are still subject to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. Three men will remain on federal death row.

Discussion: Politico and NPR

The White House:

Statement from President Joe Biden on Federal Death Row Commutations — I've dedicated my career to reducing violent crime and ensuring a fair and effective justice system. — Today, I am commuting the sentences of 37 of the 40 individuals on federal death row to life sentences without the possibility of parole.

Discussion: Wall Street Journal and Washington Post

Dallas Morning News:

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

David Cohen / Politico:
Kay Granger is residing in assisted-living facility, her son tells Dallas publication

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

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

The White House:

FACT SHEET: President Biden Takes Action to Protect American Workers and Businesses from China's Unfair Trade Practices in the Semiconductor Sector — A resilient and secure supply of foundational semiconductors is critical to U.S. national and economic security.

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.

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

CNN:

Inside the Trump team's plans to try to end birthright citizenship — President-elect Donald Trump's team is assessing multiple options to fulfill his long-promised pledge to end birthright citizenship, according to two sources familiar with the discussions, teeing up a legal fight …

Discussion: Raw Story