The Trump administration has removed the acting head of the DOJ's National Security Division after he served in the role for less than a month, sources say.
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Today's Political News Compilation - Thursday, Oct. 14, 2024
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Gaetz pick shows value Trump places on loyalty — and retribution — as he returns to Washington
By ERIC TUCKERUpdated 4:50 AM CST, November 14, 2024
WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump has had few defenders in Congress as reliable as Matt Gaetz, who has thundered at one prosecutor after another for perceived bias against the president-elect and emphatically amplified the Republican’s rallying cry that the criminal investigations into him are “witch hunts.”
That kinship was rewarded Wednesday when Trump named Gaetz as his pick for attorney general, turning to a conservative loyalist in place of more established lawyers who’d been seen as contenders.
In announcing his selection of Gaetz as attorney general and John Ratcliffe a day earlier as CIA director, Trump underscored the premium he places on loyalty, citing both men’s support for him during the Russia investigation as central to their qualifications and signaling his expectation that leaders in his administration should function not only as a president’s protector but also as an instrument of retribution.
The dynamic matters at a time when Trump, who will enter office in the wake of two federal indictments expected to soon evaporate and a Supreme Court opinion blessing a president’s exclusive authority over the Justice Department, has threatened to pursue retaliation against perceived adversaries.
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Trump's Gaetz pick as AG triggers audible gasp among some Republicans
Reaction among Republicans on Capitol Hill to President-elect Donald Trump's choice of Matt Gaetz for attorney general ranged from shock to support to outright dismissal.
Analysis: Why Trump is trying to outrage Washington with his controversial Cabinet picks | CNN Politics
Donald Trump’s increasingly provocative Cabinet picks have left some Republican senators aghast and Washington in shock.
www.cnn.comTrump's mainstream picks for top foreign policy posts could reassure allies — and worry China
China watchers know Marco Rubio and Mike Waltz as “the Florida faction” in foreign policy — two Florida lawmakers who share especially tough positions on China.
apnews.com
Former Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard is Trump's pick for director of national intelligence
Tulsi Gabbard -- a military veteran who once sought the Democratic presidential nomination, was chosen by Trump to be his director of national intelligence.
Ukrainian soldiers focus on keeping Russian advances at bay and brace for storm to come from US
Ukrainian soldiers on the front know that the reelection of Donald Trump will change their lives, but most say that they can't afford to lose focus on their more urgent mission: holding back Russian forces.
apnews.com
Hitting government with a 'blowtorch': Trump's Cabinet picks are the first step in carrying out his agenda
Some of Trump's choices for top administration jobs — such as Matt Gaetz for attorney general and Pete Hegseth for defense secretary — surprised even many in his own party.
www.nbcnews.com
Elon Musk’s new government role could raise ethical conundrums - Washington Examiner
X owner Elon Musk is one of the nation's largest government contractors.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Can Trump impose tariffs without Congress? It's complicated, according to experts.
President-elect Donald Trump claims he can unilaterally impose sweeping tariffs on U.S. imports. The reality is more complicated, according to trade experts.
www.cbsnews.com
US election live updates: Donald Trump picks vaccine sceptic RFK Jr as health secretary
The president-elect says Robert F Kennedy Jr will "make America healthy again", in his first speech since election night.
www.bbc.com
Trump says Thune 'will do an outstanding job' as Senate majority leader
President-elect Donald Trump congratulated Sen. John Thune on winning election to the role of Senate majority leader, declaring that the lawmaker "will do an outstanding job."
1 million migrants in the US rely on temporary protections that Trump could target
More than 1 million migrants are living and working legally in the U.S. under Temporary Protected Status. They are from 17 countries that the U.S. has deemed unsafe.
apnews.com
Justice Department officials react to Trump picking Matt Gaetz for attorney general
President-elect Donald Trump's pick of Rep. Matt Gaetz as his future attorney general has sent shockwaves through the Justice Department.
Republicans complete election sweep by retaining House control
Republicans have retained control of the U.S. House of Representatives maintaining the majority in the chamber over Democrats following a fierce 2024 election for a few dozen House seats.
apnews.com
Trump’s Pentagon pick aims for clash with top military leadership | CNN Politics
President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for defense secretary Pete Hegseth has railed against women in combat, voiced support for troops accused and in some instances, convicted of war crimes, and advocated for the firing of the military’s most senior officers accused of supporting so-called “woke”...
www.cnn.com
London Mayor Sadiq Khan says Trump's attacks on him are due to his ethnicity and religion
London Mayor Sadiq Khan has accused Donald Trump of repeatedly criticizing him because of his "ethnicity" and Muslim faith, comments likely to renew his long-running feud with Trump.
www.cbsnews.comTrump issues early challenge to GOP Senate with defiant nominations
Just hours after Republican Sen. John Thune was elected as the incoming Senate majority leader, President-elect Donald Trump presented him with one of his first tests — an announcement that he intends to nominate House Republican Matt Gaetz as attorney general.
apnews.com[URL...
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Judge orders HHS, CDC, FDA to restore deleted webpages with health information
Washington — A federal judge on Tuesday ordered the Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Food and Drug Administration to restore webpages and data that had been removed in compliance with President Trump's executive order on gender ideology.
U.S. District Judge John Bates agreed to grant a temporary restraining order sought by the group Doctors for America, which argued that its members used the websites when treating patients and conducting research. The nonprofit organization said that the removal...
Continue reading...U.S. District Judge John Bates agreed to grant a temporary restraining order sought by the group Doctors for America, which argued that its members used the websites when treating patients and conducting research. The nonprofit organization said that the removal...
Trump's order to discontinue the penny doesn't add up, expert says
As part of his plan to cut alleged federal government waste, President Donald Trump has ordered the end of the penny.
Continue reading...Trump meets with Jordan's King Abdullah II as he pushes Gaza plan
Washington — President Trump is hosting Jordan's King Abdullah II at the White House on Tuesday as he escalates pressure on the Arab nation to take in refugees from Gaza — perhaps permanently — as part of his audacious plan to remake the Middle East.
The visit is happening at a perilous moment for the ongoing ceasefire in Gaza as Hamas, accusing Israel of violating the truce, has said it is pausing future releases of hostages. Mr. Trump has called for Israel to resume fighting if all those remaining in captivity are not freed by this weekend.
Mr...
Continue reading...The visit is happening at a perilous moment for the ongoing ceasefire in Gaza as Hamas, accusing Israel of violating the truce, has said it is pausing future releases of hostages. Mr. Trump has called for Israel to resume fighting if all those remaining in captivity are not freed by this weekend.
Mr...
Noem, Hegseth, Bondi plead with Congress for more border funding amid large-scale deportations
FIRST ON FOX: President Donald Trump's newly sworn-in top Cabinet members are asking Congress to provide more resources to continue the administration's full court press to secure the border and facilitate large-scale deportations.
Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Attorney General Pam Bondi penned a letter to top appropriators in the House and Senate, pleading with them to designate more funds to the cause of securing the U.S. southern border.
"The American people strongly support sealing our borders...
Continue reading...Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Attorney General Pam Bondi penned a letter to top appropriators in the House and Senate, pleading with them to designate more funds to the cause of securing the U.S. southern border.
"The American people strongly support sealing our borders...
Judge blocks Trump order limiting 'indirect' NIH research costs after public outcry
A judge temporarily halted a directive by the Trump administration that imposed a cap on overhead costs that go to universities and other institutions that host federally funded research projects.
The directive, which went into effect Monday, sparked an outcry of criticism from research institutions that argued the new rule would have devastating consequences. It was immediately challenged in court by 22 Democratic state attorneys general, as well as by several leading research universities and related groups in a second lawsuit.
U.S. District...
Continue reading...The directive, which went into effect Monday, sparked an outcry of criticism from research institutions that argued the new rule would have devastating consequences. It was immediately challenged in court by 22 Democratic state attorneys general, as well as by several leading research universities and related groups in a second lawsuit.
U.S. District...
'Deregulatory flavor': JD Vance lays out vision in Paris for the future of AI under Trump
Vice President JD Vance said Tuesday that U.S. artificial intelligence (AI) systems must not become tainted with "ideological bias" and cautioned against coordinating with "hostile foreign adversaries" on AI capabilities.
Vance appeared Tuesday at the AI Action Summit in Paris, where world leaders, top tech executives and policymakers teamed up to hash out tech policy and its intersection with global security, economics and governance. The appearance marked his first foreign trip as vice president.
While the Trump administration has signaled it...
Continue reading...Vance appeared Tuesday at the AI Action Summit in Paris, where world leaders, top tech executives and policymakers teamed up to hash out tech policy and its intersection with global security, economics and governance. The appearance marked his first foreign trip as vice president.
While the Trump administration has signaled it...
Steven Bannon pleads guilty to scheme to defraud in border wall fundraiser, avoids jail time
Steve Bannon, a longtime ally of President Donald Trump, pleaded guilty on Tuesday to a charge that he defrauded donors who gave money to a private campaign to build a wall along the U.S. southern border.
Bannon pleaded guilty to one scheme to defraud count and was sentenced to three years conditional discharge. He will avoid jail time as part of a plea agreement as long as he stays out of trouble.
When reporters asked Bannon how he felt as he left the courtroom, he responded: "Like a million bucks."
Bannon's lawyer told reporters outside the...
Continue reading...Bannon pleaded guilty to one scheme to defraud count and was sentenced to three years conditional discharge. He will avoid jail time as part of a plea agreement as long as he stays out of trouble.
When reporters asked Bannon how he felt as he left the courtroom, he responded: "Like a million bucks."
Bannon's lawyer told reporters outside the...
Swedish woman convicted of genocide for IS crimes against Yazidis
Ishaq joined so-called Islamic State in Syria and held nine Yazidi women and children captive as slaves.
Continue reading...Steve Bannon pleads guilty in border wall case and avoids jail time
The former Trump adviser was accused of defrauding donors of $15m, though his lawyer says he did not pocket the money.
Continue reading...Lawyer in Saudi trans student's suicide note had embassy links, BBC finds
Eden Knight had wanted a new life in the US but was persuaded home, according to her final X post.
Continue reading...Trump says no exemptions with metal tariffs to start in March
The move threatens to have a big impact in Canada, a major source of the metals in the US.
Continue reading...Steve Bannon pleads guilty in New York ‘We Build the Wall' case
Steve Bannon, a longtime ally of President Donald Trump, pleaded guilty Tuesday on a fraud charge in a case alleging he helped defraud donors who were giving money to build a wall at the southern U.S. border.
In exchange for the guilty plea, he agreed to a conditional discharge and waived his right to appeal.
Bannon was sentenced to three years conditional discharge. He will not be allowed to serve as an officer or director of a charity or any charitable organization in New York State or any fundraising or not for profit organizations in New York...
Continue reading...In exchange for the guilty plea, he agreed to a conditional discharge and waived his right to appeal.
Bannon was sentenced to three years conditional discharge. He will not be allowed to serve as an officer or director of a charity or any charitable organization in New York State or any fundraising or not for profit organizations in New York...
U.S. border czar shrugs off Pope Francis' condemnation of deportations
Rome — President Trump's U.S. border czar Tom Homan lashed out Tuesday at Pope Francis after the leader of the Catholic Church strongly criticized the mass deportation of migrants that Mr. Trump has initiated in his second term.
In an open letter to U.S. Catholic bishops sent Tuesday, the Argentinian pope criticized Mr. Trump's mass deportation program, saying those who entered the United States illegally should not be treated as criminals and that the overall plan could not be supported as it violates human dignity.
When asked Tuesday by a Fox...
Continue reading...In an open letter to U.S. Catholic bishops sent Tuesday, the Argentinian pope criticized Mr. Trump's mass deportation program, saying those who entered the United States illegally should not be treated as criminals and that the overall plan could not be supported as it violates human dignity.
When asked Tuesday by a Fox...
House GOP to move forward with budget plan as Senate pursues competing proposal
Washington — Speaker Mike Johnson said Tuesday that House Republicans expect to move forward on a budget plan later this week that lays a foundation for approving President Trump's agenda, though a budget resolution has yet to be released.
"We'll be rolling out the details of that probably by tonight," Johnson said at a news conference Tuesday, adding that "we are right on the schedule that we need to be on."
Leaders in Congress have been pursuing a massive legislative package under the budget reconciliation process that would enact Mr. Trump's...
Continue reading..."We'll be rolling out the details of that probably by tonight," Johnson said at a news conference Tuesday, adding that "we are right on the schedule that we need to be on."
Leaders in Congress have been pursuing a massive legislative package under the budget reconciliation process that would enact Mr. Trump's...