Tuesday, December 2 | By Cate Martel |
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It's Tuesday. What a gross, dreary day it is in the DMV. If you're getting snow instead of this cold rain, please send me your photos so I can live vicariously through you. 😉 |
It's the Pete Hegseth show today: |
President Trump has assembled his Cabinet this morning. He kicked it off by rattling off changes in consumer prices, blaming former President Biden for inflation and touting his drug pricing negotiations. What's on everyone's mind?: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is in hot water over reportedly authorizing a follow-up boat strike in the Caribbean to kill the two remaining survivors of an initial hit on their boat. 💻 Watch the Cabinet meeting live How the White House has handled the criticism: White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt read a scripted statement to the press on Monday, defending the strike. Hegseth is seeking to distance himself from the controversy by pointing to Adm. Frank M. Bradley, who oversaw the mission. There's growing concern Bradley will be the White House's scapegoat, though Hegseth posted his support of the admiral on Monday night. Bradley will brief lawmakers on Thursday. Why the boat strike is such a big deal: Experts and lawmakers in both parties have condemned the second strike as a war crime or even murder. Legal experts say killing survivors of an attack is illegal. The White House has defended the second attack as "self-defense." However, the two survivors were reportedly "clinging to the smoldering wreck." The Hill's Ellen Mitchell reports that fears are growing within the military that they might be asked to carry out an illegal order. 💬 Follow today's live blog |
➤ OTHER HIGHIGHTS FROM TRUMP'S CABINET MEETING: |
On his health: "I took my physical. I got all A's. They asked if I wanted to take a cognitive test. I said, 'is it hard?'" Trump said to laughter from his Cabinet. "They said yes. I said, 'well, I'm a very smart person.'" He went on to say he "aced it." Trump's next Fed chair: Trump indicated he would likely announce his pick for the next chair of the Federal Reserve "early next year." He noted he asked Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent if he wants the job, "but he doesn't want it." On affordability: Trump called the word "affordability" a "Democrat scam." On income tax: "At some point in the not-too-distant future, you won't even have income tax to pay because the money we're taking in is so great, so enormous, that you're not going to have income tax to pay." |
Russian President Vladimir Putin is meeting with President Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner in Moscow to negotiate an end to the war in Ukraine. Putin is expected to review the U.S.-backed peace plan that was altered during negotiations with Ukraine. |
➤ WE'RE LEARNING MORE ABOUT TRUMP'S MRI: |
After mounting questions over the president's health, including a recent MRI, the White House released a statement from his doctor. His doctor says the imaging procedure was preventive to evaluate his "cardiovascular and abdominal health." The results were "perfectly normal," according to his doctor. |
An election where the margins matter just as much as the result: |
Keep an eye on the Tennessee special election today when voters will replace former Rep. Mark Green (R). This is a deep red district that President Trump won by around 22 points last year. That means even if the Republican by, let's say, 10 points, it will send a shiver down the GOP's spine. This is one of the last predictors of voter satisfaction before the 2026 midterms. Who's running?: Republican Matt Van Epps, a former commissioner of the Tennessee Department of General Services, is running against Democratic state Rep. Aftyn Behn. How you know this race is meaningful: "The race has attracted big names to the state, including former Vice President Kamala Harris, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and the chairs of both national parties. Trump, who has endorsed Van Epps, on Monday hosted a telerally for Van Epps." (The Hill) 📝 5 things to watch tonight, via The Hill's Caroline Vakil |
A major change may be coming to childhood vaccines: |
Advisers to Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. are meeting on Thursday and Friday — and they may alter when or how childhood vaccines are given. Specifically — hepatitis B: "The committee is likely to decide that a vaccine to prevent hepatitis B — a highly contagious disease that can severely damage the liver — should no longer be administered routinely at birth and perhaps should not be offered to children at all." Keep in mind if they make this change: "Decisions by the group are not legally binding, but they have profound implications for whether private insurance and government assistance programs are required to cover the vaccines." Read The New York Times's reporting on what to expect: 'Vaccine Committee May Make Significant Changes to Childhood Schedule' |
— A democratic socialist is running for mayor in Washington, D.C., to succeed retiring Mayor Muriel Bowser (D). Could she be the next Zohran Mamdani? — Billionaires Michael and Susan Dell plan to put $250 in the investment accounts of 25 million children (!) That donation amounts to $6.25 billion. This is on top of the Trump administration's expected children's investment announcement. — The Trump administration is planning to take a $150 million stake in a chip startup. — Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio) introduced a bill to eliminate dual citizenship. Those with dual citizenship would have to renounce their foreign citizenship. — FBI sources criticize FBI Director Kash Patel in a new leaked report, according to the New York Post. |
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The House and Senate are in. President Trump is in Washington. (All times EST) |
1:30 P.M.: First and last House votes. 📆 Today's agenda 2 P.M.: Trump makes an announcement on federal savings accounts for children. 💻 Livestream 5 P.M.: The U.S. Capitol Christmas tree lighting ceremony. 💻 Livestream |
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