Ted Eytan from Washington, DC, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
On Wednesday, Republicans voted to elect Sen. John Thune to succeed Mitch McConnell as Senate Majority Leader.
Sources told Fox News Digital that no candidate reached a majority on the first secret ballot. Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) received the least amount of votes and was knocked out of the race. The second secret ballot was between only Thune and Cornyn.
The senator received at least 27 votes from the 53-member conference during a secret ballot in the old Senate chamber on Wednesday morning.
John Thune is Senate Majority Leader.
He has a short window to show us he will support President Trump, fill his cabinet, confirm his judges, and pass his agenda.
Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) won the election to become Senate majority whip on Wednesday, cementing him as the No. 2 leader in the Republican conference for the foreseeable future.
Barrasso was uncontested for the post, having served for six years as Senate GOP conference chairman and in control of the Republican message. He won the role by acclamation, according to a source with knowledge.
He can serve upwards of six years in the role.
This is a breaking news story. Please check back for updates.
Gage Skidmore from Surprise, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
Goodbye and good riddance…
Special counsel Jack Smith will finish up his work and resign from his position before President-elect Trump is sworn in.
Smith is aiming to bring to an end his cases against Trump and step down before the presidential inauguration as a way to get ahead of the Republican’s promise to fire him “within two seconds.”
Trump has pointed to a Supreme Court immunity ruling from this summer that broadened the criteria for official presidential conduct ineligible for prosecution even after a president is no longer in office.
Smith has been evaluating how to wind down both the 2020 election interference case and the separate classified documents case before Trump takes office, Fox News reported last week.
Longstanding Justice Department policy says sitting presidents cannot be prosecuted while in office.
Smith on Friday filed a motion to vacate all deadlines in the 2020 election interference case against Trump in Washington, D.C., a widely expected move, but one that stops short of dropping the case against him completely.
Smith is required under DOJ regulations to submit a report of his findings and an explanation of the charges the prosecutor considered and ultimately filed – even though neither case made it to trial.
However, it’s not clear whether Attorney General Merrick Garland would make that report public before the end of President Biden’s term or defer to the incoming Trump administration, according to the Times.
Sources close to the matter told the Times that Smith has no intention of dragging his feet, and has informed career prosecutors and FBI agents on his team not directly involved in preparing the report that they can plan their exits in the coming weeks.
Billionaire Elon Musk has no plan to back away from politics anytime soon.
SpaceX owner Elon Musk vowed to keep up his political activities in a social media post on Tuesday, saying he would take an active role in the GOP primaries ahead of the 2026 midterms.
“Normally, PACs go somewhat dormant after a big election,” Musk wrote on X, adding:
@America PAC is going to do the opposite and keep grinding, increasing Republican registrations in key districts around the country, in preparation for special elections and the midterms.
“And, of course, play a significant role in primaries,” Musk added.
Normally, PACs go somewhat dormant after a big election.@America PAC is going to do the opposite and keep grinding, increasing Republican registrations in key districts around the country, in preparation for special elections and the midterms.
Musk’s PAC reportedly spent some $200 million to help get Trump reelected in recent months. Musk himself, the world’s richest man, donated some $120 million to aid in Trump’s reelection bid – making him Trump’s second biggest backer after billionaire Timothy Mellon.
Musk’s pledge to stay active in GOP politics is the first sign his interest in the party extends far beyond Trump as activism.
On Tuesday, President-elect Trump announced former Governor of Arkansas, Mike Huckabee, has been nominated to be The United States Ambassador to Israel.
“Mike has been a great public servant, Governor, and Leader in Faith for many years,” Trump said in a statement. “He loves Israel, and the people of Israel, and likewise, the people of Israel love him. Mike will work tirelessly to bring about Peace in the Middle East!”
Huckabee served as governor of Arkansas from 1996-2007, winning two full terms after taking over for former Gov. Jim Guy Tucker (R), who resigned.
Trump’s ambassador to Israel during his first term was David Friedman, who worked on brokering the Abraham Accords, which aimed to normalize relations between Israel and Arab nations.
This is a breaking news story. Please check back for updates.
Duncan Lock, Dflock, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
In a significant setback for former Trump administration Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, the Supreme Court has denied his request to transfer his election subversion case from Georgia state court to federal court. Tuesday’s ruling means Meadows will face charges in Fulton County, where the case was brought by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis. Since presidential pardons apply only to federal offenses, Meadows is now ineligible for a potential pardon, should one ever be considered.
Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis (D) charged Meadows, President-elect Trump and more than a dozen others over accusations they unlawfully attempted to overturn President Biden’s 2020 victory in Georgia.
Refusing to hear Meadows’s bid to move courts marks a win for Willis, who has attempted to keep the defendants together for a singular trial in state court.
Trump’s election as president Tuesday has complicated that goal, however. His attorneys are expected to argue the Constitution prohibits Trump’s charges from moving forward while he is in the White House.
It remains unclear how any pause would impact the Trump allies charged alongside him. The trial proceedings already are on indefinite pause amid an appeal by some defendants seeking to remove Willis over her once-romantic relationship with a top prosecutor on the case who has since stepped aside.
What Does This Mean for Meadows?
Gage Skidmore from Surprise, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
With this decision, Meadows has exhausted his options for moving the case to federal court. The implications are significant:
-Ineligibility for Presidential Pardon: Since his case remains in state court, a federal pardon would not apply.
– Advertisement –
-Focus on State Jurisdiction: The case will proceed under Georgia’s judicial system, potentially influencing how other co-defendants approach their defense strategies.
What’s Next in the Georgia Election Case?
Meadows isn’t alone in seeking relief from the legal proceedings. Other co-defendants, also charged with alleged election interference, are challenging District Attorney Willis’ authority in the case. A critical hearing is scheduled for Dec. 5 in the Georgia Court of Appeals, where arguments will be heard regarding the removal of Willis as the lead prosecutor.
Trump’s victory will likely put the Georgia election interference case against him on hold, at least until he leaves office. However, attorneys for his co-defendants told Law360 that this is unlikely to apply to their clients.
Key Points to Watch:
-Outcome of Dec. 5 Hearing: If Willis is removed, it could reshape the prosecutorial strategy and impact case proceedings for Meadows and others.
-Potential Legal Precedents: The rulings in this case could set important precedents for how state-level cases involving federal officials are handled in the future.
Article Published With The Permission of American Liberty News.
Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman (D) announced on Tuesday he plans to vote to confirm President-elect Donald Trump’s choice for Secretary of State.
Trump has tapped Florida Sen. Marco Rubio (R) to be the next Secretary of State.
“Unsurprisingly, the other team’s pick will have political differences than my own,” Fetterman wrote in a post on X. “That being said, my colleague @SenMarcoRubio is a strong choice and I look forward to voting for his confirmation.”
Rep. Greg Steube (R-Fla.) has called Rubio “an outstanding choice.”
“Senator Rubio has a proven record of promoting freedom, defending American interests on the global stage, and standing firm against threats from the CCP. His leadership will be invaluable in advancing our nation’s values and priorities abroad,” Steube said in a tweet.
Rep. Carlos Giménez (R-Fla.) said in a statement that, “President Trump has made a truly historic and brilliant choice in selecting Senator Marco Rubio as our nation’s Secretary of State.”
Rubio has served in the Senate since 2011.
This is a breaking news story. Please check back for updates.
(Miami - Flórida, 09/03/2020) Presidente da República Jair Bolsonaro durante encontro com o Senador Marco Rubio..Foto: Alan Santos/PR
One of President-elect Trump’s most consequential decisions for his administration is nearly done.
President-elect Donald Trump is expected to select South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem to fill the role of Homeland Security secretary, multiple sources confirm to Fox News Digital.
The Department of Homeland Security oversees U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Secret Service and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
If selected, Noem would work with Tom Homan, who was announced as Trump’s “border czar” on Sunday, and Stephen Miller, who was announced as the White House deputy of staff for policy on Monday.
In an interview last week on Fox News’ “Your World,” Noem told host Neil Cavuto that Trump “has told me several times now, a couple of times just since Election Day, about how focused he is on doing big things…he knows he only has four years and he wants to hit the ground running. And he said anybody that I want around me needs to be thinking big, too.”
Fox News also confirmed on Monday night that the president-elect is expected to choose Republican Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida as Secretary of State.
An official announcement from Trump’s transition team on either Rubio or Noem had not been made yet.
This is a breaking news story. Click refresh for the latest updates.
President-elect Donald Trump tapped New York Congressman Lee Zeldin to lead the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Trump confirmed the news in a statement Monday afternoon, writing in part:
“Lee, with a very strong legal background, has been a true fighter for America First policies. He will ensure fair and swift deregulatory decisions that will be enacted in a way to unleash the power of American businesses, while at the same time maintaining the highest environmental standards, including the cleanest air and water on the planet. He will set new standards on environmental review and maintenance, that will allow the United States to grow in a healthy and well-structured way.”
Trump said Zeldin has “brilliantly” handled some “extremely difficult and complex situations.” He said he is sure Zeldin will “quickly prove to be a great contributor!”
“It is an honor to join President Trump’s Cabinet as EPA Administrator,” Zeldin wrote on X. “We will restore US energy dominance, revitalize our auto industry to bring back American jobs, and make the US the global leader of AI. We will do so while protecting access to clean air and water.”
This is a breaking news story. Click refresh for the latest updates.
President-elect Donald Trump revealed what candidates for Senate Majority Leader will have to do if they hope to gain his endorsement.
Trump released a statement on X on Sunday where he claimed that any candidate seeking the position must agree to recess appointments so that his appointments can be approved in a “timely manner.”
“Any Republican Senator seeking the coveted LEADERSHIP position in the United States Senate must agree to Recess Appointments (in the Senate!), without which we will not be able to get people confirmed in a timely manner. Sometimes the votes can take two years, or more,” Trump wrote to his followers.
Any Republican Senator seeking the coveted LEADERSHIP position in the United States Senate must agree to Recess Appointments (in the Senate!), without which we will not be able to get people confirmed in a timely manner. Sometimes the votes can take two years, or more. This is…
He added, “This is what they did four years ago, and we cannot let it happen again. We need positions filled IMMEDIATELY! Additionally, no Judges should be approved during this period of time because the Democrats are looking to ram through their Judges as the Republicans fight over Leadership. THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. THANK YOU!”
Recess appointments sidestep the Senate’s confirmation process and could be used to temporarily install unpopular or unqualified nominees.
Florida Senator Rick Scott responded to Trump’s request just minutes later via X, where he vowed to push through his nominee’s “as quickly as possible.”
100% agree. I will do whatever it takes to get your nominations through as quickly as possible. https://t.co/GlrHx2zJXh
President-elect Donald Trump has reportedly tapped immigration adviser Stephen Miller to take on the role of White House Deputy Chief of Staff for policy.
Two sources with knowledge of the plans told CNN that Miller — a prominent figure during Trump’s first term and in his campaign team, and an advocate for hardline immigration policies — is now expected to hold an expanded role as the administration returns to power.
In Trump’s second term, the sources say Miller will push for a significant increase in deportations, with a reported target of over one million deportations per year—a tenfold increase from the current figures. He has been instrumental in shaping policies that align with this objective, reinforcing Trump’s broader vision of a heavily enforced immigration system.
“President-elect Trump will begin making decisions on who will serve in his second administration soon. Those decisions will be announced when they are made,” Trump spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt told CNN.
Meanwhile, Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.) is no longer in the running to become the next attorney general in President-elect Trump’s incoming administration.
The former Missouri attorney general will instead refocus his attention on the judiciary by helping Trump shepherd judges through the upper chamber and work to enact his agenda.
“I ran for the U.S. Senate to represent the people of the Show Me State and I’m just getting started,” Schmitt wrote on X. “The American people have given President @realDonaldTrump a mandate. A mandate to secure our border, make America energy dominant and fight for the forgotten men and women of this country.”
“We need America First fighters who don’t just say they support the agenda but who are willing to stand in the breach and actually fight for it and for the hopes and dreams of the American people,” Schmitt continued. “I’m ready to roll up my sleeves and be a champion for President Trump in the Senate.”
This is a breaking news story. Please check back for updates.
