Republicans made their picks for party leaders in the U.S. Senate and House, as President-elect Trump announced new nominees, including Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz for attorney general.
Thune says Trump’s border plan is 1st up in rigorous priority list for new Congress: ‘Real work begins’
Senate Minority Whip John Thune, R-S.D., is planning to make ushering in President-Elect Donald Trump’s immigration agenda the first item on his to-do list when he succeeds Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., in the new Congress, when Republicans will have a majority in both the upper chamber and the House.Â
“Now the real work begins delivering on our agenda,” he said in a floor speech on Thursday. “That starts with ending the Biden-Harris border crisis and deporting illegal immigrants.”
He said repairing the economy is also near the top of his list. As crucial elements of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 passed by Trump are set to expire in 2025, Thune said Republicans will take action through the budget reconciliation process to renew them.Â
MATT GAETZ FACES GOP SENATE OPPOSITION AFTER TRUMP SELECTION FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL
President-elect Donald Trump, left, Sen. John Thune, R-S.D. (Left: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images; Right: Nathan Posner/Anadolu via Getty Images)
The budget reconciliation process would allow Republicans to avoid Democrats blocking action on the economy, because it cannot be filibustered or delayed as bills can be. The 53-member incoming Republican majority would be able to push the item through without issues.Â
The South Dakota Republican further highlighted the significant communication and procedural changes that his leadership will usher in, which have been a frequent point of criticism by senators under McConnell’s reign.Â
According to Thune, his office would be “a resource, not a roadblock” for his conference members.Â
THUNE WINS SECRET BALLOT TO BECOME NEW SENATE GOP LEADER, SUCCEEDING MCCONNELL
Outgoing Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., arrives for the Senate Republican leadership elections at the U.S. Capitol on Nov. 13, 2024 in Washington, D.C. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
In a notable win for many outspoken conservative hard-line senators, he stressed his “commitment to amendments.”Â
“[A]ll members of the Senate, and not just the members of a particular committee, should have a voice in final legislation through amendments on the floor. Members should assume that amendment votes will be the norm,” he said.Â
RICK SCOTT KNOCKED OUT OF SENATE LEADER RACE ON FIRST BALLOT AS THUNE AND CORNYN ADVANCE
Senator Mike Lee, a Republican from Utah, during a Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee and Senate Judiciary Committee joint hearing in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, July 30, 2024. (Tierney L. Cross/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
The Senate has operated in recent history by often using amendment trees, which are filled with pre-determined amendments offered by the majority leader. This prevented individual senators from offering their own amendments on the floor.
In another achievement for vocal GOP critics of both McConnell and the current Congress, Thune made clear, “Members should also expect a return to regular order in the Senate next year.” This, he said, includes the appropriations process, “so that we don’t constantly wind up with an end of the year pileup and problematic continuing resolutions.”
TED CRUZ GETS BEHIND RICK SCOTT FOR LEADER, IN BLOW TO FELLOW TEXAN JOHN CORNYN
House Speaker Mike Johnson shakes hands with President-elect Donald Trump onstage at a House Republicans Conference meeting at the Hyatt Regency on Capitol Hill on Nov. 13, 2024 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
The Congress is notably on track for another potential stopgap spending bill ahead of Christmas when the deadline for the last continuing resolution expires.Â
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The minority whip added that confirming Trump’s nominees will also be high on his to-do list “and members should expect an aggressive schedule until those nominees are confirmed.”
Further, he foreshadowed open lines of communication with both House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., and Trump in order to deliver on these priorities with the new federal GOP trifecta.Â
Republican strategist Scott Jennings discusses congressional leadership
NPR’s Steve Inskeep talks with Republican strategist Scott Jennings about Republican leadership in in the U.S. Senate and House.
FBI releases surveillance video of ballot drop box fire in search of suspect
The FBI has released surveillance video of an unknown suspect setting a ballot drop box on fire with an incendiary device in Portland, one of several incidents that occurred in Oregon and Washington state ahead of the 2024 presidential election.
Investigators described the suspect as a White male between 30 and 40, who is balding with short hair. It is believed he has some experience with metalwork and welding.
Surveillance footage shows the individual driving up to the box in an early 2003 to 2004 Volvo S-60 sedan, described to be dark, with dark wheels and a light-colored interior. Officials said the vehicle does not have a Volvo logo on the front grill.Â
At the time of the Oct. 28 incident, the vehicle also displayed a fraudulent temporary Washington state license plate on the rear and no front license plate. The plate, which is not associated with a Volvo, may no longer be on the vehicle, officials said.
WASHINGTON OFFICIALS RETRIEVE ABOUT 475 DAMAGED BALLOTS FROM BURNED DROP BOX
The unknown suspect was described as a White male between 30 and 40, who is balding with short hair. He appeared to be driving an early 2003 to 2004 Volvo S-60 sedan. (FBI)
The first ballot box fire happened on Oct. 8 between 3:30 a.m. and 4 a.m. in Vancouver, Washington, the FBI said. No ballots were damaged in that incident.
The unknown suspect used an incendiary device at the ballot drop box in Portland. Similar devices were used at two other ballot drop box fires. (FBI)
Two more incidents occurred on Oct. 28 between 2 a.m. and 4 a.m. in Vancouver and Portland. Hundreds of ballots were destroyed in the Vancouver drop box, while officials said three were damaged in Portland.
The ballot boxes were equipped with fire suppression systems, but the system inside the ballot box in Vancouver failed, causing more ballots to be destroyed.
The FBI is offering a reward of up to $25,000 for information leading to the identification, arrest, and conviction of the suspect responsible for these crimes. (FBI)
All three incidents involved improvised incendiary devices placed on the outside of the boxes. Investigators recovered enough material from the devices to link all three fires.
Clark County Auditor Greg Kimsey called the incident “a direct attack on democracy” just days before Election Day.
Authorities are offering a reward of up to $25,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the suspect.
Israeli Airstrikes Hit Suburbs South of Beirut
The Dahiya, an area just outside Beirut, has been a frequent target of airstrikes since Israel stepped up its air war in Lebanon in September.
Blue states prepare to fight Trump administration policies
States run by Democrats are making preparations to oppose and fend off Trump administration polices — especially on immigration.
Trump attorney Alina Habba not considering press secretary role
President-elect Donald Trump’s senior adviser and attorney Alina Habba says she is not considering the role of press secretary, despite “support and speculation.”
Habba addressed the rumors on the social media platform X early Thursday morning, adding that “this administration is going to be epic!”
“Although I love screaming from a podium I will be better served in other capacities,” she said.Â
Names under consideration include Trump campaign national press secretary Karoline Leavitt, former Trump administration official Monica Crowley, former ESPN host Sage Steele, CNN contributor Scott Jennings and RNC spokeswoman Elizabeth Pipko, according to Axios.Â
The press secretary role is one of the most visible at the White House, typically holding daily press briefings with the White House press corps to speak on behalf of the president.
His new administration plans to challenge longstanding traditions that favor mainstream outlets like major broadcast and cable news networks, national newspapers and wire services, like The Associated Press, in the James Brady Press Briefing Room, according to Axios.Â
TRUMP APPOINTS TULSI GABBARD AS DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE: ‘FEARLESS SPIRIT’
Alina Habba has served as President-elect Donald Trump’s legal advisor. (Getty Images)
Trump’s new administration is considering giving MAGA-friendly outlets access to the press briefings, Axios reports, which have traditionally featured cable news, print and wire service reporters.
MATT GAETZ RESIGNS FROM CONGRESS OVER TRUMP NOD TO BE ATTORNEY GENERAL, JOHNSON SAYS
Trump campaign senior advisor Alina Habba and president-elect President Donald Trump. (Getty Images)
Trump continues making his cabinet picks ahead of his inauguration as the 47th president of the U.S. in January.
Some congressional Republicans told Fox News Digital Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., who resigned from Congress on Wednesday as Trump tapped him to be his attorney general, may face a tough confirmation path because he was previously under Department of Justice (DOJ) investigation into sex trafficking allegations. Last year, Gaetz’s office said the DOJ ended their investigation and determined he would not be charged with any crimes.Â
A House Ethics Committee investigation into Gaetz was also expected to be released soon, but Gaetz’s resignation means it may not become public.
Rep. Matt Gaetz, wearing a Laken Riley pin, is seen in the Capitol Building in Washington, D.C., on March 7, 2024, ahead of President Biden’s State of the Union address. (Aaron Schwartz/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
President-elect Donald Trump shakes hands with former Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard at the National Guard Association of the United States’ 146th General Conference on Monday, Aug. 26, 2024 in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
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Tulsi Gabbard, who served as a Democratic congresswoman from Hawaii from 2013 to 2021 before becoming an independent in 2022 and joining the GOP last month, has been selected by Trump to serve as director of national intelligence in his new Cabinet.Â
Fox News’ Elizabeth Elkind, Julia Johnson, Kelly Phares and Andrea Margolis contributed to this report.Â
Department of Education; Trump attorney general : NPR
Good morning. You’re reading the Up First newsletter. Subscribe here to get it delivered to your inbox, and listen to the Up First podcast for all the news you need to start your day.
Today’s top stories
President-elect Donald Trump says he’ll nominate Matt Gaetz, a Florida lawmaker who’s faced repeated investigations, for attorney general. Gaetz, a Trump ally, has limited legal experience but is known for frequently challenging the Justice Department. The nomination has drawn criticism from Democrats and is causing concern among some Senate Republicans.
Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) questions Attorney General Merrick Garland during a hearing by the House Judiciary Committee, on June 4. President-elect Trump announced his intent to nominate Gaetz to head up the Department of Justice Wednesday.
Allison Bailey/AFP via Getty Images
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Allison Bailey/AFP via Getty Images
- 🎧 Gaetz was under review by the House Ethics Committee, but that probe ended last night when he resigned from the House, NPR’s Carrie Johnson tells Up First. The committee planned to release its findings as early as this week. Now, it’s unclear if that will happen. Trump says Gaetz will root out corruption within the Justice Department. He will also possibly carry out Trump’s retribution against prosecutors and his perceived enemies.
Several Democratic-led states are forming coalitions and developing plans to push back against policies they expect from the incoming administration. State leaders are making efforts to protect against what they describe as threats to democracy and constitutional norms. This comes as the GOP wins a full trifecta of power in the nation’s capital: the presidency, control of the House and a three-seat majority in the Senate.
- 🎧 A new group called Governors Safeguarding Democracy broadly says they’re going to work with legal experts and advocates to tackle challenges facing democracy. NPR’s Ryland Barton says Trump was not mentioned on the group’s website or announcement. The group responded to an idea floated by Trump’s incoming deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller that National Guard units from red states could execute mass deportations in blue states. Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker called that plan unacceptable and said he wouldn’t cooperate.
French officials are deploying thousands of police to secure a Paris stadium ahead of a soccer match tonight between the French and Israeli national teams. The match is moving forward despite calls to postpone it or change venues due to antisemitic and anti-Arab violence in Amsterdam last week when an Israeli team played there.
- 🎧 The match has been called high-risk, but French officials say they won’t back down in the face of antisemitic threats, NPR’s Eleanor Beardsley says. They deployed 4,000 officers, which is four times more than usual with double layers of security. Officials say fewer than 13,000 tickets have been sold for the location, which seats 80,000. Beardsley says French Jews have remarked that they feel like they’re being blamed for the war, especially the longer it goes on.
Special series
Former President Donald Trump holds a campaign rally at Macomb Community College on Nov. 1, in Warren, Mich.
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
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Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
Each day this week, Morning Edition will dive deep into one of the promises President-elect Donald Trump has made for day one of his administration.Â
One of Trump’s clearest campaign promises is his plan to close the Department of Education. Since 1979, the federal department has overseen everything from college student loans to aid for public school special education. It doesn’t operate public schools and universities — that’s left to state and local governments. Jon Valant, an education policy expert at the Brookings Institution, says many Republicans have been calling for the Department of Education’s elimination for some time. Valant explores the reasons behind this push and the potential consequences if it were to be accomplished.
Life advice
Photo illustration by Becky Harlan/NPR
Extracurricular activities can encourage grit and foster belonging in children. But for some kids, it can also cause stress-inducing obligations. It can be hard for parents to know when a child is ready to stop taking part in an activity. Vanessa Lapointe, a child psychologist and parenting coach, has advice on how to have hard conversations with your child about quitting.
- âš¾ If the news of them wanting to quit elicits a strong response from you, unpack whether the problem lies with you.
- âš¾ Ask your child what’s going on. Sometimes the issue turns out to be simple.
- âš¾ The younger your child is, the less likely they are to express their emotions verbally. Pay attention to other cues to figure out how they feel.
- âš¾ Quitting or toughing it out aren’t the only options. Consider a creative compromise.
Click here for more ways to talk to your child about quitting.
3 things to know before you go
Students walk by the Rush Rhees Library at the University of Rochester on Feb. 22, 2023.
Ted Shaffrey/AP
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Ted Shaffrey/AP
- The University of Rochester is investigating the origin of hundreds of “wanted” posters that appeared across campus accusing some staff of contributing to an “ethnic cleansing” in Gaza.
- Over the weekend, the Florida Department of Education released a list of over 700 books banned from K-12 schools throughout the state in the last academic year. The list grew by almost 400 books from the one released a year ago. (via Central Florida Public Radio)
- Shaboozey’s hit “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” has been No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for 17 nonconsecutive weeks, becoming the longest-running chart-topper of the decade.
This newsletter was edited by Suzanne Nuyen.
Maryland mother of newborn girl dies after being ejected from golf cart: police
A Maryland mother of a newborn daughter died on Monday after suffering fatal injuries in an incident involving a golf cart over the weekend, authorities said.
Mary Beth Blasetti, 32, was a passenger in an E-Z-GO golf cart driving on the 600 block of Maid Marion Hill in Annapolis on Saturday when she was thrown from the cart, suffering life-threatening injuries, the Anne Arundel County Police Department said.Â
Blasetti was airlifted to the University of Maryland R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center, where she died two days later, police said.
Blasetti appeared to have been ejected from the golf cart after hitting “some sort of a dip,” police spokesman Justin Mulcahy told WJZ-TV.
TEXAS COUPLE ACCUSED OF MURDERING MAN THEY SHARED CONDO WITH, COVERING HIS BODY WITH RUGS
Mary Beth Blasetti, 32, died of fatal injuries after an incident involving a golf cart, police said. (Facebook/Mary Beth Blasetti)
“This is an extremely tragic, unfortunate situation,” Mulcahy told the station. “Our hearts go out to everyone impacted and we’re going to continue investigating it with the State’s Attorney’s Office just to determine what exactly happened here.”Â
The driver of the golf cart was identified as a 32-year-old woman from Crownsville, Maryland. No further information about the driver was immediately provided.
WIFE OF MURDERED MINNESOTA PASTOR HIRED 3 MEN TO KILLS HUSBAND AFTER AFFAIR: POLICE
Blasetti and her husband recently purchased their first home in Annapolis, and welcomed their 2-month-old daughter in September, friends wrote on an online donation page for the family.Â
Friends remembered Blasetti as a “devoted wife, mother, daughter, sister and friend, and her absence will be deeply felt by all who knew her.”
“Mary Beth brought joy to so many and had a wide community of friends and family who are devastated by her sudden passing,” the post read.
Police said the incident remains under investigation.
Trump intends to nominate Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz as attorney general
President-elect Trump announced he intends to nominate Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz as attorney general, putting a fierce critic of federal law enforcement in charge of the Justice Department.