President-elect Donald Trump announced that Alina Habba, Michael Needham, and Michael Anton will join the White House team. Trump also nominated Christopher Landau for Deputy Secretary of State.
In an interview on NBC's Meet the Press, former President Donald Trump suggested that President Joe Biden might consider issuing preemptive pardons to prominent Democrats and members of the January 6 Committee, including Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Liz Cheney, Adam Kinzinger, and Bennie Thompson (D-MS). The remarks came amid ongoing scrutiny of the committee's handling of evidence and its perceived partisanship.
While former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI) faced criticism for meeting Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad in 2017, prominent Democratic leaders, including then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), had also met with Assad in the past. Pelosi’s 2007 visit to Damascus, where she conveyed a peace message from Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, drew backlash from the Bush administration.
The Biden administration has announced yet another significant aid package for Ukraine, totaling $988 million, as part of its ongoing support against Russian aggression.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) has formally announced her bid to become the top Democrat on the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability for the 119th Congress.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has expressed surprise at the outcome of the 2024 presidential election, where he and Vice President Kamala Harris failed to secure the White House. In an interview with Minnesota news outlet KSTP on Thursday, Walz reflected on the campaign, its challenges, and his feelings following the loss.
Texas state Rep. Dade Phelan (R-Beaumont) announced on Friday that he will not seek reelection as Speaker of the Texas House. Phelan’s decision comes after claiming last month that he had enough support to defeat both Republican and Democratic challengers.