China Hacked Treasury Dept. in ‘Major’ Breach, U.S. Says  —  The department notified lawmakers of the episode, which it said was linked to a state-sponsored actor in China.  —  A state-sponsored actor in China hacked the U.S. Treasury Department, gaining access to the workstations …

How Elon Musk Has Planted Himself Almost Literally at Trump's Doorstep  —  For much of the period since Election Day, the billionaire has been staying at a $2,000-a-night cottage at Mar-a-Lago, giving him easy access to the president-elect.  —  Elon Musk plays many roles with President-elect Donald J. Trump.

Trump team orders ‘all intended nominees’ to stop posting on social media ahead of Senate confirmations  —  President-elect Donald Trump's chief of staff Susie Wiles sent a message Sunday ordering nominees to refrain from any posting on social media as Senate confirmation hearings are scheduled to start next week.

An appeals court upholds a $5 million award in a sexual abuse verdict against President-elect Trump  —  A federal appeals court on Monday upheld a jury's finding in a civil case that Donald Trump sexually abused a columnist in an upscale department store dressing room in the mid-1990s.

The MAGA Honeymoon Is Over  —  Silicon Valley and the nativist right worked together to elect Trump.  Now the infighting has begun.  —  Elon Musk spent Christmas Day online, in the thick of a particularly venomous culture war, one that would lead him to later make the un-Christmas-like demand …

Biden Angry That Lawfare Was Too Slow to Destroy Trump  —  In my Sunday Smiles essay, I riffed on this Washington Post retrospective on Joe Biden's presidency and how it soft-pedaled Biden's disastrous policies and all the important questions about who was really in charge over the past few years.

Holding the ‘Title of Citizen,’ Carter Carved a New Mold for Ex-Presidents  —  Jimmy Carter redefined what a president can do after departing the White House, leaving a lasting imprint through his work overseas, particularly in the realm of public health.  —  President Jimmy Carter had no idea …

United States Files Complaint Against Dave Inc. and CEO Jason Wilk Alleging Deceptive Practices in Violation of Federal Law  —  For Immediate Release  —  The Justice Department, together with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), today announced a civil enforcement action against Dave Inc. …

Tesla replaced laid off US workers with foreign workers using H-1B visas that Musk want to increase  —  Tesla has replaced some of its US employees who were let go as part of a big wave of layoffs earlier this year with foreign workers using H-1B visas, which CEO Elon Musk is now campaigning to increase.

House Ethics Committee closes investigations into 4 members  —  The House Ethics Committee closed investigations into at least four members Monday for violating campaign finance rules.  The investigations involved Reps. Sanford Bishop (D-Ga.), Wesley Hunt (R-Tex.), Ronny Jackson (R-Tex.) …

Executive Order Providing for the Closing of Executive Departments and Agencies of the Federal Government on January 9, 2025  —  By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered as follows:  —  Section 1.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott mistakenly sends condolences to late Rosalynn Carter after Jimmy Carter's passing  —  Abbott sent condolences to the Carter family, and specifically extended prayers to Rosalynn Carter, who died in 2023.  —  AUSTIN, Texas — After former president Jimmy Carter died at 100 years old …

United States Attorney Matthew M. Graves to Step Down January 16, 2025  —  For Immediate Release  —  U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Columbia  —  WASHINGTON - Matthew M. Graves announced today that he is resigning as United States Attorney for the District of Columbia, effective January 16 …

The things we got wrong in 2024  —  The News  —  The news media is wrong all the time — though not exactly as its loudest critics claim.  Reputable outlets get most of their facts right, and correct fast when they're wrong.  In fact, one way you can tell a reputable American news media outlet …

Whitehouse calls for ‘war machine’ to spar against GOP as DNC chair election looms  —  Rhode Island Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse is calling for DNC delegates to consider how the Democratic Party's infrastructure can support a “war machine” to lead attacks against Republicans.

TikTok is headed for a ban — but can Trump still save it?  —  The four ways Trump could potentially preserve the app. … With the TikTok ban poised to go into effect in January, President-elect Donald Trump once again waded into the debate over the app's future this past weekend.

From the Grave, Mondale to Eulogize the Man Who Made Him Vice President  —  Walter F. Mondale died in 2021, but he left behind the eulogy he planned to deliver at former President Jimmy Carter's funeral.  —  Former Vice President Walter F. Mondale thought he would still be around to speak …

The 118th Congress passed the fewest laws in decades … - Every fiscal deadline led to brinksmanship between the Republican House and the Democratic Senate and White House.  — House Republicans were also beset by infighting and palace intrigue, most notably the ouster of former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.

Texas Gov Mistakenly Sends Condolences to Jimmy Carter's Dead Wife  —  OOPS  —  Abbott later amended the statement on X to remove any mention of the former first lady.

“This is Trump's America now!”:  MAGA diehards jumpstart a new year of political violence  —  There are already calls for vigilantes to round up “brown folks” to imprison in camps  —  Donald Trump isn't in office yet but his fans are already getting excited about hurting and stealing from people of color.

Jimmy Carter's final gift to America.  —  One of the most decent men ever to hold the office of President of the United States passed away in his 100th year on December 29, 2024.  I am not a historian, so I will leave the assessment of his presidency and equally consequential post-presidency …