It's Tuesday. I learned this morning that season 3 of HBO's "The White Lotus" will be airing in February! This is the best news all week. Here's what else is happening: - Matt Gaetz is joining One America News to host a weekday show.
- Pete Hegseth's nomination seems to be in better shape.
- Lawmakers haggle with 10 days left to fund the government.
- A suspect has been arrested in the UnitedHealthcare CEO shooting.
- The 2024 D.C. Michelin Star restaurants have been announced.
I'm Cate Martel with a quick recap of the morning and what's coming up. Send tips, commentary, feedback and cookie recipes to cmartel@thehill.com. Did someone forward this newsletter to you? Sign up here. |
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🎖️ Tracking the Transition |
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FWIW, Pete Hegseth is weathering the storm: |
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A week ago, Pete Hegseth's nomination to be Defense secretary was hanging on for dear life. Controversies surrounding an alleged 2017 sexual misconduct incident and reported excess drinking fueled talk of a potential withdrawal, and speculation about Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) replacing Hegseth was gaining sea legs. But Hegseth is weathering the storm. He has continued meeting with Republican senators — Sen. Joni Ernst (Iowa) said on Monday that she had an "encouraging" meeting with the Pentagon nominee. Hegseth appeared on Fox News last night to defend himself. He relayed a message from President-elect Trump, who he says encouraged him to "keep on fighting," despite the stream of negative headlines. He also walked back earlier comments where he suggested women should not be in combat roles, telling Sean Hannity that "some of our greatest warriors … are women." |
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- Politico: Trump allies adopt new strategy for nominees: Make the doubters pay
- The Daily Beast: Why Team Trump Went to the Wall for Pete Hegseth
- Op-ed in The Hill: Pete Hegseth's nomination shows we must make whistleblowing easier
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- Trump selected Mark Paoletta as Office of Management and Budget (OMB) general counsel.
- Trump tapped Harmeet Dhillon for assistant attorney general of the DOJ's Civil Rights Division.
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Matt Gaetz found his next gig:
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Former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) is joining One America News in January as a host for its weekday 9 p.m. hour. What to know about One America News: "One America News first rose to prominence in the weeks following the 2020 election as it was championed by Trump over its coverage of his allegations of voter fraud but has in recent years been dropped by a number of major cable and satellite providers." How Gaetz got here: "Gaetz was nominated by President-elect Trump to serve as attorney general but days later withdrew from consideration amid signs that he would not secure enough Senate votes to be confirmed. The Republican firebrand lawmaker was the subject of a House Ethics Committee investigation in connection with allegations of sexual misconduct and other violations, all of which he has denied." |
The New York AG won't drop Trump's fraud case: |
"The New York attorney general's office said Tuesday it will not drop its multimillion-dollar civil fraud case against President-elect Trump, despite his request," reports The Hill's Ella Lee. "Deputy Solicitor General Judith Vale wrote in a letter to Trump attorney D. John Sauer that his call for New York Attorney General Letitia James to toss the case presented 'no basis' for the office to do so." (The Hill) |
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This is what happens when you procrastinate: |
Congress is barreling toward yet another government shutdown deadline in 10 days. Lawmakers have until Dec. 20 to extend the funding deadline and possibly include other priorities, such as disaster relief. The disaster relief component: President Biden has requested tens of billions of dollars for recent hurricanes Helene and Milton. Disaster relief is fairly bipartisan following the storms. The House Freedom Caucus opposes the White House's request, but has proposed funding only what is "absolutely necessary" for victims. Plus: "Republicans have singled out funding requests for the departments of State and Education, as well as the Environmental Protection Agency, tucked into the disaster funding request." Read more on how this could play out: 'Congress races toward fast-approaching government shutdown deadline' |
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Jan. 6 investigators are fighting back:
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"Members of the special committee that investigated the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol are hitting back at President-elect Trump after he called for their imprisonment, saying the criminal conduct surrounding the rampage was committed by Trump and his supporters, not those who probed the tragedy afterward," report The Hill's Mike Lillis and Mychael Schnell. Their argument: If Trump jails anyone holding him to account, that would make him a dangerous tyrant. "With Trump heading back to the White House next month, his critics say the threat is also designed to scare off any future investigations into his conduct over the next four years." A looming question: Would President Biden preemptively pardon the panel to protect them from Trump? That possibility is under discussion, but it could set a bad precedent. |
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Where was Susan Wild, you ask? Not at the Ethics Committee meeting: |
"Rep. Susan Wild (Pa.), the top Democrat on the House Ethics Committee, was absent from the panel's meeting last week after being traced as the source of leaks to the press regarding the investigation into former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), sources told The Hill." Hmm: "It remains unclear if Wild voluntarily skipped the Thursday gathering or was asked not to attend, what information she leaked and to whom, and how the panel tracked her back as being the leaker. Two sources said Wild ultimately acknowledged to the panel that she had leaked information." Read Mychael Schnell's reporting: 'Susan Wild absent from Ethics Committee meeting after Gaetz leaks to press' |
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🏥 UnitedHealthcare CEO Shooting |
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A suspect has been arrested:
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Luigi Mangione, 26, was arrested Monday as a suspect in the fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. What to know about Mangione: He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 2020 and had Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees. He was his high school valedictorian. (CBS News) Related, via The New York Times: 'Suspect in C.E.O. Killing Withdrew From a Life of Privilege and Promise' Plus, via The Wall Street Journal: 'Suspect in UnitedHealth Killing Was Ivy Leaguer With Anticapitalist Leanings' He had a handwritten note: The three-page, 262-word note included criticism of corporate America, according to NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny. "I do apologize for any strife or traumas but it had to be done. Frankly, these parasites simply had it coming," he wrote, according to The Associated Press. How he was apprehended: He was arrested at a McDonald's in Altoona, Pa., roughly 280 miles west of New York City. An employee recognized him and called the police. He was carrying a gun, silencer and a fake ID that was used to check into a hostel on Nov. 24. Police also found clothing and a mask "consistent with those worn by our wanted individual." 📸 See his mugshot here Related, via The Washington Post: 'What is a ghost gun? UnitedHealthcare suspect's gun may have been 3D-printed.' Keep in mind: Mangione was arrested on charges of murder, illegal gun possession and possessing a forged instrument. Also on Monday: The private funeral for Brian Thompson was held on Monday. |
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🍺 Celebrate: Today is National Lager Day! 🍽️ D.C.'s best restaurants: The District's 2024 Michelin star restaurants have been announced. Here's the list 💵 Wanna move?: Some U.S. cities will pay you to move there. Here's the list, with city stats |
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The House and Senate are in. President Biden and Vice President Harris are in Washington. (all times Eastern) |
- 12:15 p.m.: Biden delivers remarks at the Brookings Institution. 💻 Livestream
- 1:30 p.m.: First House votes. Last votes are expected around 4:30 p.m. 📆 Today's agenda
- 2 p.m.: White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre briefs reporters. 💻 Livestream
- 2 p.m.: A House hearing on threats posed by drones. 💻 Livestream
- 7 p.m.: Biden speaks at a Christmas for All dinner in celebration of unity, America and Special Olympics. 💻 Livestream
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