Clicky

Kamala Harris Caught on Hot Mic with Gov. Whitmer: ‘S**t!’
Connect with us
Citizen Frank

Published

on

Vice President Kamala Harris got caught on a hot mic while chatting with campaign surrogate and Governor Gretchen Whitmer (D-MI) — and then tried to laugh it off after she appeared to admit that her team was struggling to reach male voters.

Harris, who was catapulted to the top of the Democratic Party’s 2024 ticket after President Joe Biden was effectively forced out of the race, has continued to poll poorly among male voters despite a series of targeted efforts to mitigate that weakness. Sitting down with Whitmer at a bar, Harris seemed to acknowledge that shortcoming before she realized that there were eyes and ears — and cameras and microphones — everywhere.

Watch:

Harris, sitting down with the Michigan Governor for a beer, appeared to tell Whitmer that “we need to move ground with men” before turning to see a camera on her.

“Oh, we have microphones in here just listening to everything,” Harris said as she and Whitmer looked around the room. “I didn’t realize that.”

Harris laughed and added, “So … now you tell us.”

“You’ll bleep my f-words,” Whitmer joked.

“We just told all the family secrets,” Harris said, still laughing. “S**t!”

Harris turned back to Whitmer and said, “Anyway, it’s good to see you …”

Harris’ hot mic revelation followed a number of polls indicating that her campaign is flagging among male voters. In the final weeks of the presidential contest, Harris’ team has made a series of efforts to reach out to male voters. Vice presidential nominee and Governor Tim Walz (D-MN) participated in a pheasant hunt and appeared on a Twitch-stream alongside Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY). Former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama have also hit the campaign trail, speaking to men directly at times in their efforts to push Harris across the finish line.

But as CNN Republican commentator Scott Jennings noted, the Obama-method of scolding men to get them to comply might not move the needle as much as they might hope.

“I don’t think it’s helpful to insult a group of people who are already not enthusiastic about your campaign, but I think that’s what he did today,” Jennings said. “The story tonight is they’re struggling with men, Obama’s insulting men, and they’re out saying, ‘Let’s fix it by sending Tim Walz out and hiring Mitt Romney, it’s crazy to me!”

Advertisement
Click to comment

Top picks for you

News

Republicans Win House, Delivering Trump a Trifecta

Republicans are projected to keep control of the House of Representatives, handing the party total control of Washington with President-elect Trump back in the White House in January.

Decision Desk HQ projected the GOP would hold the House by winning its 218th seat on Monday, the number needed for a majority in the lower chamber.

The result is a major win for Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), who skyrocketed up from obscurity to lead the House GOP not only legislatively, but also in a large role in its campaign infrastructure.

Republicans saved some of their most vulnerable incumbents, like Reps. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) and David Valadao (R-Calif.), while defeating several vulnerable Democratic incumbents. State Rep. Ryan Mackenzie (R-Pa.) unseated Rep. Susan Wild (D-Pa.), while businessman Rob Bresnahan defeated Rep. Matt Cartwright (D-Pa.).

Those results made up for some GOP losses. Three first-term New York Republicans — Reps. Anthony D’Esposito, Marc Molinaro and Brandon Williams — lost their reelection bids, as did Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer (R-Ore.).

The final House breakdown is uncertain, with ballots still being counted for several races in California. But Republicans are expected to have another slim majority heading into the new Congress.

Those exact numbers will matter a lot for Johnson’s political future, for which policies Republicans can enact, and how the lower chamber will function — or not function.

Trump gave the Speaker a shoutout in his victory speech from Palm Beach, Fla., in the early hours of Wednesday: “It also looks like we’ll be keeping control of the House of Representatives. And I want to thank Mike Johnson. I think he’s doing a terrific job.”

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) and House GOP Chair Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) also joined Trump at Mar-a-Lago to celebrate his victory, in an indication of the House GOP’s strong commitment to backing the Trump administration.

Top House Republicans have been working with Senate Republicans for months on legislative plans that they can swiftly send to Trump in the first 100 days of total Republican control. Those include extending the tax cuts passed in Trump’s first term, boosting border wall funding, repealing climate initiatives and promoting school choice.

But there are likely to be plenty of obstacles for Republicans’ ambitious agenda. The last two years of the historically slim House GOP majority was marked by intraparty disputes that, at times, brought legislative activity to a halt. That chaos was headlined by the historic ouster of former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.).

Uncertainty about Republicans’ margin also raises immediate questions about Johnson’s future.

The Speaker has been explicit about his intention to seek the gavel again if Republicans win unified control of government. But he has faced opposition from a few hard-line conservatives and already survived one attempt to remove him earlier this year, led by Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) and Thomas Massie (R-Ky.). House Democrats helped halt that attempt.

To keep the gavel, Johnson will need to secure a majority vote on the House floor when it convenes on Jan. 3, 2025, requiring near-unanimous Republican support.

Johnson told The Hill in an interview on the campaign trail in October that he intends “to have my party’s support for Speaker” on the House floor.

The GOP victory also notably denies House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) the opportunity to rise to be the first Black Speaker of the House.

The battle for the House was considered nearly as close as the race for the White House, with battleground districts stretching from coast to coast, the bulk of which were in states that were not competitive in the presidential election. Democrats would have needed a net gain of at least four seats to win control of the House and had hoped to get a boost from voters concerned about the Republicans’ position on reproductive rights.

In an interview on Election Day, National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) Chair Richard Hudson (R-N.C.) — who is seeking another term in the position — pointed to several areas of focus for the House GOP campaign arm that gave him confidence about the election.

Splitting the cost of television ads with candidates in a way that allowed them to take advantage of lower candidate rates allowed them to make each dollar go farther, Hudson said. And he also pointed to the NRCC opening more than 40 field offices, or “battle stations.”

“I feel like the last couple cycles, national parties have gotten away from ground game, and we made a major investment in our ground game this time around,” Hudson said.

The electoral result is likely to influence the legislative fights that remain in the final weeks of the 118th Congress. Hard-line conservatives will be eager to delay consideration of must-pass proposals until the new year, when a Republican Senate and White House could result in more conservative policies and lower spending levels.

The House will have to take action on a number of items in the lame-duck period. Government funding, for instance, runs out on Dec. 20.

Go deeper ( 3 min. read ) ➝

News

Trump Picks Florida Rep. Michael Waltz as National Security Adviser

President-elect Donald Trump has tapped Rep. Mike Waltz to be his national security adviser, according to two people familiar with the matter.

By picking Waltz, Trump is tapping a Green Beret combat vet to oversee what promises to be a realignment of U.S. posture around the globe, including a nearly three-year-old war in Ukraine and a broadening conflict in the Middle East.

Waltz didn’t play a central role in Trump’s day-to-day campaign, but he has been close with the president-elect and his team since their first term. During this summer’s Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Waltz delivered a podium-pounding, red-meat speech extolling Trump’s fitness as commander-in-chief while shredding President Joe Biden’s “woke” legacy at the Pentagon and the bloody, confused withdrawal from Afghanistan.

That kind of movement between policy and politics, coupled with the ability to make the case for Trumpism in a plain-spoken manner, is the kind of one-two punch that eluded some of Trump’s past national security advisers in his first term in office, including H.R. McMaster and John Bolton.

Both of the individuals who confirmed Waltz as the pick were granted anonymity to discuss internal developments.

The Wall Street Journal previously reported that Waltz was Trump’s choice.

Waltz will enter a White House that on day one will be handed the ongoing war in Ukraine, dozens of nervous allies in Europe to deal with, Trump’s promised plan to end the war on his first day back in office, and an ally in Israel fighting a war on several fronts including directly — for the first time — with Iran.

As a longtime China hawk, the 50-year-old retired Army Green Beret and National Guard colonel will also lead the charge for formulating plans for confronting China’s massive military buildup, something Trump and his team have made a central part of the election campaign.

Waltz, who has spent time as a Pentagon and White House policy official, has also been front and center in the military culture wars and in slamming Biden’s foreign policies from his perch on the House Armed Services and Foreign Affairs committees.

As a member of Congress, Waltz was a frequent visitor to the White House during Trump’s first term, advising him on national security issues behind the scenes, quietly becoming one of the then-president’s closest advisers on defense issues. Before being tapped as national security adviser, he was also a top contender to be Trump’s defense secretary.

“He’s the Trump defense policy whisperer, period,” said Mackenzie Eaglen, a former Pentagon and congressional staffer now at the American Enterprise Institute.

Since national security adviser is not a Senate-confirmed position, Waltz will be able to start shaping Trump’s policy directly after he takes office.

The national security adviser is traditionally one of the president’s closest advisers and confidantes. Trump had high-profile falling outs with his past national security advisers from his first term, including McMaster and Bolton — but Waltz is much closer with the former president.

In recent years, under both Republican and Democratic administrations, the National Security Council has subsumed more authority over foreign policy from the State Department. That trend is likely to continue in the Trump administration given the president’s distrust of the U.S. diplomatic corps, meaning Waltz would play an outsized role in defining Trump’s approach to global affairs.

Like a number of prominent Republicans, Waltz has rejected sending more U.S. military aid to Ukraine while demanding Europe step up support, and while backing a peace plan that will allow Ukraine to pull closer to the West and further isolate Vladimir Putin.

That view isn’t uniform within the party however. Many Senate Republicans continue to back more aid for Ukraine, along with the majority of Democrats in both houses of Congress.

He has also echoed Trump’s call to “let Israel finish the job” in defeating Hamas, and to bring back a maximum pressure campaign against Iran to damage its proxies across the Middle East and ensure it does not build nuclear weapons.

While Waltz has been a solidly Republican member of the House, he has reached across the aisle on a number of legislative issues, and flashed a more personal style in inviting members from both parties to do things like wash the Vietnam memorial and parachute into France on the latest D-Day commemoration.

Waltz has a long record of opposing Biden’s policies regarding Iran and Ukraine, hewing to Trump’s complaints about being overstretched militarily with little benefit to the American people.

In a recent interview on C-SPAN about his new book outlining the leadership lessons he took from his time in combat in Afghanistan, Waltz tried to sand down some of Trump’s rougher edges, comparing him to tech moguls (and Trump supporters) who might not always say popular things but get the job done.

He rejected complaints that Trump is too brash, saying “we like these policies, the new NAFTA, all of these deals that he got done or even minority opportunity zones that he also got done, but we don’t like the leader.”

“Well, that’s like saying, OK, we want SpaceX, but we don’t like Elon. We like Apple and everything that they did, but we don’t like Steve Jobs.’ Well, oftentimes, disruptors aren’t the nicest of guys and I think you get someone who is willing, and as a businessman has the capability to disrupt the same old same old in Washington, D.C., that a lot of Americans feel like is not serving them.”

Waltz has also favored the U.S. military taking a more active role in border security and battling Mexican criminal cartels, saying in that interview that the U.S. has capabilities to weaken the gangs that it hasn’t used yet.

He said that would not entail “putting the Marines in Mexico City,” but as with the U.S. military’s assistance to the Colombian government disrupting the operations of cartels there, “with a very small footprint you can bring in offensive cyber, you can start jamming their communications…and putting them on their back foot.”

In an op-ed in The Economist published days before the election with Matthew Kroenig from the Atlantic Council — who worked in the Pentagon during the Bush, Obama and Trump administrations — Waltz listed priorities for the use of American power globally, demanding that the U.S. shift its focus from the Middle East to the Indo-Pacific and specifically, China.

Go deeper ( 4 min. read ) ➝

News

Trump Picks Lee Zeldin to Lead EPA

Former Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-N.Y.) will join the second administration of President-elect Donald Trump as head of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Trump announced on Nov. 11.

“Lee, with a very strong legal background, has been a true fighter for America First policies,” Trump told The Epoch Times in an emailed statement. “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.”

“It is an honor to join President Trump’s Cabinet as EPA Administrator,” Zeldin wrote on the social media platform 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.”

The EPA administrator with the longest tenure during Trump’s first term was Andrew Wheeler. He served until President Joe Biden took office in January 2021. The current administrator is Michael Regan, who was appointed by Biden and has been in office since March 2021.

Zeldin’s appointment will need to be approved by the U.S. Senate, which will be controlled by Republicans starting in January 2025, before he becomes administrator.

Zeldin, 44, represented New York’s 1st Congressional District, which includes most of Long Island, in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2015 to 2023. Zeldin opted against running for another term and instead ran for governor of New York in 2022. He won the GOP primary but lost to Gov. Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, by about 378,000 votes out of 5.9 million cast, including a majority of the vote outside New York City.

Rep. Nick LaLota (R-N.Y.), who now represents the district, said on X: “Lee Zeldin’s vision for the EPA focuses on economic growth while protecting our environment. His plan to restore energy dominance, create jobs, and protect clean air & water makes him an ideal choice to lead the EPA.”
More recently, Zeldin has chaired the China Policy Initiative and Pathway to 2025 at the America First Policy Institute.

Prior to his time in Congress, Zeldin was in the U.S. Army and deployed to Iraq. He then served in the state Senate before becoming a congressman.

Zeldin’s votes on climate proposals include, in addition to all other House Republicans, voting against the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act, which included funding for improving the supply of water in western states.

Zeldin has a 14 percent score from the League of Conservation Voters, an advocacy group, due to his voting record.

The group in the past criticized Trump’s first administration over its positions on the environment and climate, and poured $115 million into the effort to elect Vice President Kamala Harris.

Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance have been announcing various appointments since they won the election. They have announced that Susie Wiles will be White House chief of staff, Stephen Miller will be deputy chief of policy, and Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) will be the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.

Go deeper ( 2 min. read ) ➝

News

Trump Expected to Name Marco Rubio as Secretary of State

President-elect Trump is expected to nominate Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) to serve as secretary of State, according to multiple reports and one source familiar with the matter who spoke to The Hill.

Rubio’s selection to serve as Trump’s top diplomat completes a drastic turnaround from 2016, when the two were fierce rivals in a GOP presidential primary. Earlier this year, Trump nearly chose Rubio as his running mate before selecting Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio).

The New York Times first reported Trump planned to nominate Rubio.

Multiple lawmakers and Trump allies took to social media to congratulate the senator.

“He will restore American leadership around the world, especially in Latin America, as he represents the United States with dignity and courage!” Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) posted on X. “It’s been an honor to serve the people of Florida alongside him and look forward to continuing our work together.”

The Florida senator is seen as a foreign policy hawk who is tough on China and Iran. In a September interview with NBC, Rubio said it was apparent the war between Ukraine and Russia would end “with a negotiated settlement.”

Trump has vowed to quickly restore his “America First” foreign policy vision upon taking office. He has expressed skepticism about continued U.S. support for Ukraine in its war against Russia and called for European allies to do more to aid Kyiv and to support their own defense through the NATO alliance.

Rubio’s selection comes as Trump has rapidly rolled out his national security team after winning last week’s election. He has chosen Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) as his ambassador to the United Nations and tapped Rep. Mike Waltz (R-Fla.) to serve as his national security adviser.

Rubio is expected to be confirmed by his colleague. His departure will narrow an expected GOP majority in the Senate. The party has secured 52 seats, with David McCormick (R) leading in Pennsylvania in a race that is still too close to call.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) will appoint a replacement for Rubio to fill the seat until the next statewide election.

Go deeper ( 2 min. read ) ➝

News

History of Veterans Day

President Joe Biden laid a wreath at Arlington National Cemetery on Monday for Veterans Day as thousands marched through the streets of New York. Smaller parades were held across the nation to honor Americans who have served in the U.S. military.

The Veterans Day holiday began more than a century ago, albeit under a different name, as a celebration of the end of World War I. Over time its name and purpose evolved into a day of recognition for U.S. veterans of all wars as well as those currently serving in uniform.

It’s also day off for U.S. postal workers and other federal government employees, as well as many schoolchildren. Numerous stores and businesses offer giveaways and discounts.

Here’s a look at how the United States celebrates Veterans Day and how it started:

What’s the history behind Veterans Day?

It began as Armistice Day to celebrate the agreement between the Allied nations and Germany to cease all fighting during World War I that took effect at 11 a.m. on Nov. 11, 1918.

The U.S. marked its first Armistice Day under President Woodrow Wilson in 1919. Congress made Nov. 11 an official federal holiday in 1938.

A holiday dedicated to those who fought in what had been known as “the war to end all wars” got a reevaluation after World War II. In 1954, Congress changed the name to Veterans Day, reflecting a broader purpose to honor veterans of all wars.

Other changes weren’t so well received, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ website. Federal Veterans Day observances were moved to Mondays in the early 1970s, causing confusion as some states stuck with the Nov. 11 date.

In 1975, President Gerald Ford signed a law moving federal observances back to Nov. 11. The U.S. has celebrated Veterans Day on that date ever since.

How is Veterans Day commemorated?

Communities around the U.S. have held parades celebrating war veterans on Nov. 11 dating back to the first Armistice Day in 1919.

The nation’s largest Veterans Day parade is held in New York with a procession along Fifth Avenue in Manhattan. According to the United War Veterans Council, which organizes the parade, an estimated 20,000 marchers were taking part in 2024.

U.S. presidents lay a wreath during a ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery outside Washington. In remarks at the cemetery’s memorial amphitheater Monday, Biden said it had been his life’s honor to serve as commander in chief of “the finest fighting force in the history of the world.”

Other countries including the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia also honor veterans on or near Nov. 11. They call their day of commemoration Remembrance Day.

How does Veterans Day differ from Memorial Day?

While Veterans Day events tend to focus on giving thanks to all U.S. military veterans, both living and dead, Memorial Day observances traditionally have been about memorializing those killed during wars.

Memorial Day got its start after the Civil War, with the first national observance of what was then called Decoration Day on May 30, 1868. An organization of Union Army veterans called for decorating war graves with flowers.

Since 1971, the U.S. has marked Memorial Day on the last Monday in May rather than on May 30. The resulting three-day weekend has led to some complaints that the day’s true purpose of somber remembrance has been undermined by its more leisurely recognition as the unofficial start of summer.

What’s open and what’s closed on Veterans Day?

Because it’s a federal holiday, the U.S. Postal Service doesn’t deliver the mail on Veterans Day. Federal courts and other government offices are closed as well.

Most banks in the U.S. take the day off, as do many public schools.

The New York Stock Exchange and the Nasdaq remain open, though bond markets are closed.

Though some private businesses observe Veterans Day, most retailers remain open, with many offering special deals. Many restaurants offer free meals to veterans and current members of the military, who also benefit from Veterans Day discounts from retailers. Some zoos and museums waive admission, while certain shops give away haircuts and automobile oil changes, according to a list compiled by the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Go deeper ( 3 min. read ) ➝

News

Chris Wallace Leaving CNN

CNN host Chris Wallace is leaving the cable television network to work on an independent platform in a shocking move that was reported Monday.

The 77-year-old broadcaster revealed his future plans in an interview with the Daily Beast after spending the past three years at CNN.

He said he wants to pivot to streaming or podcasting, claiming that’s “where the action seems to be,” according to the outlet.

The transition for Wallace comes at the end of a three-year contract with CNN. He had previously spent nearly 20 years working at Fox News.

“This is the first time in 55 years I‘ve been between jobs,” he reportedly said.

“I am actually excited and liberated by that.”

CNN bosses wanted to keep Wallace, the son of famed newsman Mike Wallace, but he decided to take the plunge before contact talks got underway.

“I have nothing but positive things to say. CNN has been very good to me,” he told the Daily Beast.

“Chris Wallace is one of the most respected political journalists in the news business with a unique track record across radio, print, broadcast television, cable television and streaming,” CNN CEO and Chairman Mark Thompson said in a statement to the outlet.

“We want to thank him for the dedication and wisdom he’s brought to all his work at CNN and to wish him the very best for the future.”

Wallace, who started out at a local Chicago station in the early 1970s, said he doesn’t have plans to be either “a hard-right or hard-left advocate.”

“It’s just absent from my DNA,” he reportedly said, adding he’s still figuring out what streaming or podcast format he’ll put together.

Wallace was quick to point out early into election night that Vice President Kamala Harris would need a miracle to beat Donald Trump as early exit polls trickled out.

Go deeper ( 2 min. read ) ➝

News

Nick Fuentes Doxxed Following ‘Your Body, My Choice’ Tweet

The address of a Chicago-area home that appears to belong to Nick Fuentes was posted on X after the right-wing influencer celebrated Trump’s election victory by mocking women on abortion.

“Your body, my choice. Forever.” Fuentes posted on X.

Social media users unhappy about the 26-year-old internet troll’s remarks responded by posting photos and property records showing where Fuentes appears to live. Images posted online indicate Fuentes’ critics have begun harassing him at home.

“Nick Fuentes has been fully doxed and it’s being shared to millions of women across every social media platform,” an account associated with the hacker collective Anonymous posted over the weekend.

One woman claims she was pepper sprayed when she rang his doorbell.

Fuentes shared a post from fellow right-wing influencer Tristan Tate showing support.

“If a man turned up at a ‘pro choice’ woman’s house to confront her about her views she could literally shoot him dead and nobody would care,” Tate wrote. “I’d also totally agree with her and her right to defend her home. Nobody should be turning up at any bodies house uninvited. Harassment.”

On Friday, in the midst of the harassment against him, Fuentes joked online that his provocative tweet drew more views than defeated Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris got votes. More than 90 million people saw his message, according to X metrics. Harris is estimated to have received around 72 million votes, though the final count is pending.

The house believed to be Fuentes’s place of residence has been blurred on Google Maps.

Go deeper ( 2 min. read ) ➝

News

‘Cancer Jews’: Trams Set Alight, Violence Erupts in Amsterdam in Second Wave of Violence

Violence erupted on the streets of Amsterdam on Monday night in the second wave of antisemitic attacks to hit the Dutch capital over the last week, according to local media reports.

Watch:

One of the city’s famous trams was set alight by rioters dressed in black and armed with fireworks, according to De Telegraaf. The rioters threw debris and shouted “Kanker Joden” (cancer Jews), but it is used to mean “f*** the Jews.”

Rioters reportedly burned a tram in the city’s western suburbs and clashed with police earlier in the day.

A police spokesman said a tram at the ’40-’45 Square in the west part of Amsterdam had caught fire, likely caused by fireworks thrown at it. The windows of the tram were shattered.

No one was injured in the incident, as the tram had been empty, the spokesman said.

Masked men reportedly roamed the streets yelling “Free Palestine.” De Telegraaf reported that journalists witnessed a bystander being ripped from his bike and beaten by the rioters.

It was later reported that private vehicles and bikes were destroyed.

The young rioters reportedly actively sought to confront officers.

Geert Wilders, leader of the PVV, responded to the events by saying, “After the Jew-hunt, the Intifada.”

Wilders has been a strong defender of Israel and the Netherlands’s Jewish population while being deeply critical of Dutch immigration and integration policy.

Wilders heads the Dutch Parliament’s largest party, the Party for Freedom (PVV); however, due to being an extremely controversial figure within Dutch politics, he was blocked from becoming Prime Minister or even a minister.

Instead, Wilders helped organize the ruling bloc and assisted in steering policies, in effect being the de facto Prime Minister.

Amsterdam pogrom

Amsterdam was rocked by a pogrom that targeted Jews and Israelis in the city immediately after the soccer match between Maccabi Tel Aviv and the Dutch team Ajax.

Pro-Palestine protestors had clashed with riot police on Monday at Amsterdam’s central Dam Square, leading to over 50 arrests, according to Deutsche Welle.

Following the attack, the city announced a three-day ban on all demonstrations to maintain public order. Furthermore, the government had announced it would hold stricter border control until December 9.

Hundreds of people defied the ban, which had been upheld by a local court earlier in the day.

They chanted “Free Palestine” and “Shame on you” and called for an end to the war in Gaza.

Go deeper ( 2 min. read ) ➝

News

Trump’s New ‘Border Czar’ Tom Homan Issues Warning to Illegal Immigrants

Former acting ICE Director Tom Homan is “honored” to be tapped as the “border czar” for the incoming second Trump administration, and he’s prepared to do what it takes to get the crisis under control.

“I’ve been on this network for years complaining about what this administration did to this border. I’ve been yelling and screaming about it and what they need to do to fix it. So when the president asked me, ‘Would you come back and fix it?’ Of course. I’d be a hypocrite if I didn’t. I’m honored the president asked me to come back and help solve this national security crisis, so I’m looking forward to it,” he told “Fox & Friends” Monday in his first interview since being tapped for the role.

“I think the calling is clear,” he continued, “I’ve got to go back and help because every morning… I’m pissed off with what this [Biden] administration did to the most secure border in my lifetime, so I’m going to go back and do what I can to fix it.”

Illegal border crossings surged under the Biden administration, with nearly 3 million in fiscal year 2024, according to Homeland Security’s website.

There have been more than 10.8 million illegal encounters since FY 2021.

Trump has made illegal immigration an issue integral to his campaign messaging since 2016.

This election cycle, as illegal migrants flooded communities across the U.S. and sidelined major cities like New York City, he offered an alternative vision to that of the Biden-Harris administration, focusing on calls for mass deportation and border wall construction as well as reinstating since-rescinded executive orders from his previous term.

Homan said this tough border stance would mean prioritizing illegal immigrants who pose public safety or national security threats. He specifically mentioned drug cartels and sex trafficking.

“I know exactly what I’m doing, and this is the second time I’ve come out of retirement for this president, because it matters. I was a Border Patrol agent, I wore that uniform, and I’m proud that I wore that uniform. I was an ICE agent. I was the first ICE director that came up through the ranks, so the 20,000 men and women that worked for me, I didn’t ask them to do anything I wouldn’t do myself, because I was one of them,” he said.

Since Friday, Homan has been inundated with calls, texts and emails amid rumors he was returning. Many came from ICE agents that he said are excited about his return.

“But more importantly, thousands of retired agents, retired military [have called] that want to come in and volunteer to help this president secure the border and do this deportation operation,” Homan added.

Death threats have also surfaced, however, but he remains determined not to give in to the pressure.

“That’s something we’re going to deal with. They’re not going to shut me up. They’re not going to make me go away. This is the biggest national security vulnerability this nation has seen since 9/11. We have to fix it.”

Go deeper ( 2 min. read ) ➝

News

Trump: Senate GOP Leader Candidates Must Agree to Recess Appointments

President-elect Trump demanded Sunday that the next Senate GOP leader allow him to make recess appointments, which would effectively let him fast-track his nominees and appointments without needing Senate approval.

Recess appointments, which are intended for emergencies, can last for up to two years, without the Senate ever giving their advice and consent. Trump on Sunday suggested using the practice as a way to avoid facing opposition in the Senate to his picks.

“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,” Trump wrote in a post on the social platform X.

“Sometimes the votes can take two years, or more. This is what they did four years ago, and we cannot let it happen again. We need positions filled IMMEDIATELY!”

Trump’s post comes as attention centers on the three-way race to succeed Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.).

The race is set between Senate Republican Whip John Thune (R-S.D.), Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) and Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), who served as Senate GOP whip during Trump’s first two years in the White House.

Scott, whose bid to replace the outgoing Senate leader has long been seen as a long shot, has gained momentum in recent days among some allies of Trump’s, after his victory helped boost GOP chances in the upper chamber.

Scott immediately embraced Trump’s view on recess appointments, writing on X, “100% agree. I will do whatever it takes to get your nominations through as quickly as possible.”

Thune and Cornyn took a more measured approach but still stressed the importance of getting Trump’s picks confirmed and installed in their offices.

“We must act quickly and decisively to get the president’s nominees in place as soon as possible, & all options are on the table to make that happen, including recess appointments. We cannot let Schumer and Senate Dems block the will of the American people,” Thune wrote on X.

“It is unacceptable for Senate Ds to blockade President @realDonaldTrump‘s cabinet appointments. If they do, we will stay in session, including weekends, until they relent. Additionally, the Constitution expressly confers the power on the President to make recess appointments,” Cornyn wrote on X, citing the section of the Constitution granting the president to fill vacancies while Congress is in recess.

Trump also called for Republicans to try to block judges appointments for the remainder of the year, until Republicans retake control of the White House and Senate.

“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!” Trump wrote.

Go deeper ( 2 min. read ) ➝

News

Schumer Won’t Allow McCormick at Senate Orientation

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., is not allowing Senator-elect Dave McCormick of Pennsylvania to attend Senate orientation in the coming week, pointing to outstanding ballots in the state, even though the race has already been called.

Two sources with knowledge confirmed to Fox News Digital that McCormick was not invited to orientation, despite having been projected by the Associated Press to win the Pennsylvania Senate race.

When reached by Fox News Digital, a Schumer spokesperson said in a statement, “With over 100,000 ballots left to be counted in Pennsylvania, the race has not been decided. As is custom, we will invite the winner once the votes are counted.”

Several Republican senators took to X on Sunday to slam Schumer for not inviting McCormick. “@AP declared @DaveMcCormickPA winner of #PASen 3 days ago. Denying legit election results & blocking @DaveMcCormickPA from participating in Sen. orientation this week is outrageous & a disservice PA & the country. Casey should concede. He has no path to overturn these results,” wrote National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) Chairman Steve Daines, R-Mont.

Senate Minority Whip John Thune, R-S.D., who is also running for GOP leader this week, added, “Dave McCormick is the new senator for Pennsylvania. The idea that Schumer would not allow him to participate in Senate orientation is beyond unacceptable. The voters of Pennsylvania have spoken. Looking forward to having Dave’s strong voice in the Senate Republican Conference.”

“Schumer and Senate Democrats are denying the election results in #PASen. Trying to block @DaveMcCormickPA from attending Senate orientation this week is an outrage. Casey must concede immediately or Senate Democrats face consequences,” said Senate Republican conference Chairman John Barrasso, R-Wyo.

The Pennsylvania Senate race was called by the AP on Nov. 7, two days after Election Day. McCormick currently leads his incumbent opponent by more than 30,000 votes in the state.

On Saturday, a spokesperson for Casey said in a statement, “Each day, counties across the Commonwealth are confirming there are more ballots that need to be counted. We know there are more than 100,000 ballots left to be counted including tens of thousands of provisional ballots in counties favorable to Senator Casey, and the McCormick campaign has acknowledged these provisional ballots could impact the outcome of the election while pursuing unsuccessful lawsuits to get them thrown out. Pennsylvanians deserve to have their voices heard, and as state officials have made clear, counties across Pennsylvania need more time to tabulate remaining votes.”

In a Thursday statement, Pennsylvania Secretary of State Al Schmidt said, “Throughout the day, the Department has communicated with counties who continue to conduct a secure election where every eligible vote is counted. We estimate there are at least 100,000 ballots remaining to be adjudicated, including provisional, military, overseas, and Election Day votes. We urge patience as election workers continue to do this important work, especially in contests where the margins are very close.”

However, critics have cast doubt on Casey’s ability to make up the difference with the current outstanding votes.

Pennsylvania Republican strategist Mark Harris claimed on Saturday that, “The votes for Casey to win are just not there,” citing Republicans’ record with the type of ballots that are still being counted.

Schumer’s office shared with Fox News Digital that Rep. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., has not been invited to orientation either. The Arizona Senate race is still ongoing and has not been called by the AP.

A spokesperson for the majority leader also noted that Sen. Al Franken did not attend orientation in 2008 due to the close nature of his election. However, Franken’s election was won by only a few hundred votes, while McCormick is leading by tens of thousands.

Notably, even a member of Schumer’s caucus referred to McCormick as the senator-elect on Sunday. “While we are losing a good person and colleague in Senator Bob Casey, I believe the Senate will be gaining another good man in Senator-Elect David McCormick,” wrote outgoing Sen. Joe Manchin, I-W.Va., in a post to X.

Manchin has been known to occasionally go against the Democrat caucus during his tenure.

Several current GOP senators offered to escort McCormick to the Capitol on Tuesday so that he could attend, despite not being invited.

In a post on X on Monday, McCormick said, “Looking forward to joining the Senate freshman class of 2025 for orientation this week! I’m honored to represent the people of Pennsylvania, and will fight hard to make sure their voices are heard in Washington. Let’s get to work!”

Go deeper ( 3 min. read ) ➝

News

Trump to Tap Stephen Miller as Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy

President-elect Donald Trump is expected to announce in the coming days that Stephen Miller, his top immigration adviser, will serve as White House deputy chief of staff for policy, two sources familiar with the plans told CNN.

Miller, who served as a senior adviser to Trump and was his lead speechwriter during his first administration, has been a leading advocate for a more restrictive immigration policy and is expected to take on an expanded role in the president-elect’s second term.

He’s been closely involved in Trump’s transition process and will have a key role in future staffing decisions. During the campaign, he frequently traveled to rallies with Trump on his private plane and was increasingly visible as a speaker at events in recent months.

Miller is also a lead architect of the president-elect’s plans for mass deportations of undocumented immigrants. He has said that a second Trump administration would seek a tenfold increase in the number of deportations to more than 1 million per year. In an interview on Fox News last week, Miller expressed eagerness at the prospect of beginning mass deportations as soon as possible.

“They begin on Inauguration Day, as soon as he takes the oath of office,” he said.

Asked about the expected announcement, Trump spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt told CNN, “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.”

A longtime hardliner on immigration, Miller was instrumental in setting up immigration restrictions during the first Trump administration, advocating for child separation in migrant detention facilities and a travel ban targeting people from majority-Muslim countries.

After Trump left office, Miller started an advisory group called America First Legal, which went on to contribute to Project 2025, the sweeping conservative blueprint for the next Republican president created by the Heritage Foundation. On the campaign trail, Trump repeatedly distanced himself from Project 2025, claiming that he had no idea who was behind it, despite its close ties to Miller and other crucial figures in Trump’s orbit.

In an interview with The New York Times last year, Miller said that under a second Trump term, the military would build detention centers to house immigrants who have been arrested and are facing deportation. The new camps would likely be built “on open land in Texas near the border,” he told The Times.

Miller told The Times that Trump’s immigration plans are being designed to avoid having to create new substantial legislation.

During Trump’s first term, he relied heavily on executive orders to implement immigration policy. Many of those moves were challenged in the courts, something Miller acknowledged would likely happen again in a second Trump term.

In his comments last year, Miller was up-front about his belief that Trump would not hesitate to implement harsh immigration measures in a second term.

“Any activists who doubt President Trump’s resolve in the slightest are making a drastic error: Trump will unleash the vast arsenal of federal powers to implement the most spectacular migration crackdown,” Miller said at the time.

Go deeper ( 2 min. read ) ➝

News

Trump Picks Rep. Elise Stefanik for UN Ambassador

New York Rep. Elise Stefanik has accepted President-elect Donald Trump’s offer to be his enforcer as United Nations ambassador.

The 40-year-old upstate Republican, who helped force out two Ivy League presidents with her sharp questioning on campus antisemitism, will the lead Trump’s “America first” and pro-Israel message in Turtle Bay.

“I am honored to nominate Chairwoman Elise Stefanik to serve in my Cabinet as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. Elise is an incredibly strong, tough, and smart America First fighter,” Trump, 78, said in a statement to The Post Sunday night.

Stefanik, the No. 4 House Republican, has been a close Trump ally, including serving on his ceremonial defense team in 2020 during his first impeachment trial for pressuring Ukraine to investigate alleged Biden family corruption.

The Harvard grad worked to turn the tables on what she called the “Biden Crime Family” and has regularly appeared on TV to drive home the Republican positions on issues — setting up a likely a contrast from the outgoing UN ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield, who rarely courted media attention.

“I am truly honored to earn President Trump’s nomination to serve in his Cabinet as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations,” Stefanik said in a statement confirming her acceptance of the role.

“During my conversation with President Trump, I shared how deeply humbled I am to accept his nomination and that I look forward to earning the support of my colleagues in the United States Senate.”

“President Trump’s historic landslide election has given hope to the American people and is a reminder that brighter days are ahead — both at home and abroad,” she told The Post.

“America continues to be the beacon of the world, but we expect and must demand that our friends and allies be strong partners in the peace we seek.”

Stefanik will come on as the UN has faced conservative criticism, including over the fact that the world’s dictatorships — such as China and Cuba — serve as reps on the Human Rights Council, while the General Assembly routinely passes measures critical of Israel by lopsided margins.

More recently, the UN has come under fire for its response to the Israel-Hamas war and has faced accusations that members of its organizations actively took part in Hamas attacks against Israel.

In his first term, Trump ordered the US to withdraw from the UN’s World Health Organization and end the annual $450 million US contribution over the WHO failing to effectively investigate the origins in China of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Retiring President Biden later rejoined.

The nomination was one of the first major staffing decisions from Trump after he completed a stunning political comeback with his Tuesday election sweep of swing states against Vice President Kamala Harris.

Trump previously announced his campaign chairwoman Susie Wiles as his White House chief of staff, but he has not yet announced any other members of his Cabinet or other senior White House roles.

“The work ahead is immense as we see antisemitism skyrocketing coupled with four years of catastrophically weak U.S. leadership that significantly weakened our national security and diminished our standing in the eyes of both allies and adversaries,” Stefanik said in her statement.

“I stand ready to advance President Donald J. Trump’s restoration of America First peace through strength leadership on the world stage on Day One at the United Nations. “

Stefanik’s departure from the House would temporarily reduce Republicans’ already slim majority.

Gov. Kathy Hochul (D-NY) by law must call a special election within 10 days of the seat’s vacancy to be held within another 70-80 days. The Republican nominee in that election will be chosen by county GOP chairs rather than by a primary.

Stefanik was re-elected Tuesday with more than 63% of the vote.

A source familiar with the looming special election campaign called the district “ruby red” and solidly “pro-Trump,” adding that “the seat will not remain vacant for long.”

Go deeper ( 3 min. read ) ➝

News

Oprah Winfrey Was Paid $1 Million to ‘Endorse’ Kamala

Vice President Kamala Harris paid Oprah Winfrey’s Harpo Productions $1 million, just one example of millions the campaign spent on various entertainers during the vice president’s failed bid for president.

The Harris campaign paid $1 million to Winfrey’s company on October 15, according to a report in the Washington Examiner, coming after a star-studded town hall that Winfrey hosted for the vice president in September.

Winfrey also appeared at Harris’ final rally in Philadelphia on the eve of Election Day, with the talk-show star offering a rare endorsement of a presidential candidate.

“We’re voting for values and integrity,” Winfrey said at the rally. “We’re voting for healing over hate.”

But Winfrey wasn’t the only star the Harris campaign spent big money on, with the Washington Examiner report also revealing that the campaign spent big on the “Call Her Daddy” podcast.

“A source familiar with the matter told the Washington Examiner that the Harris campaign spent six figures on building a set for Harris’s appearance on the popular Call Her Daddy podcast with host Alex Cooper,” the Examiner wrote. “The interview came out in October and was reportedly filmed in a hotel room in Washington, D.C.”

The campaign also spent up to $20 million on swing state concerns on the eve of the election, according to a report in the New York Post, a sum that could have been more if a planned performance by Alanis Morissette had not been scrapped.

The campaign had seven swing-state concerts on Monday, the report noted, including performances by Jon Bon Jovi in Detroit, Christina Aguilera in Las Vegas, Katy Perry in Pittsburgh and Lady Gaga in Philadelphia, and a 2 Chainz performance at a rally three days before the election in Atlanta.

“Money can’t buy you love or a good candidate,” Republican political strategist Brad Todd told the Examiner, with regard to the massive spending.

“Advertising is a pretty important source of information for swing voters,” Todd said. “It no doubt matters, but it’s not enough. It doesn’t matter if you have the wrong message and it’s not delivered in a compelling way. What her campaign was missing was any effort to break with the unpopular administration she has been a part of.”

Go deeper ( 2 min. read ) ➝

News

Arrest Made in Shooting at Alabama’s Tuskegee University That Killed 1, Injured 16

An arrest has been made after a shooting on the campus of Tuskegee University left one person dead and 16 others injured, according to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency.

Tuskegee University President Dr. Mark A. Brown is expected to provide updates on campus procedures at a 2 p.m. news conference Monday. WSFA 12 News will carry it live on air and online.

Jaquez Myrick, 25, of Montgomery, has been arrested and charged federally with possession of a machine gun.

Authorities say Myrick was found in possession of a handgun with a machine gun conversion device.

He is not charged for firing or using the gun in the shooting.

Law enforcement officers found him leaving the scene of the shooting, ALEA confirmed Sunday afternoon. Myrick is being held at the Montgomery County Detention Facility for another agency, a sheriff’s office spokesperson said.

Macon County Sheriff André Brunson said he believes there are multiple suspects in the shooting.

“If you‘ve seen some of the videos, there was shooting all over the place. So, I think there will be multiple suspects,” he said. “We’re going to deal with it and try to get every last one of them.”

Agents with ALEA’s State Bureau of Investigation were notified of the shooting around 1:40 a.m. Sunday.

Officials say an 18-year-old was confirmed dead at the scene. Macon County authorities have identified him as Latavion Johnson. He was a graduate of Charles Henderson High School in Troy. University officials said Johnson was not a student at Tuskegee University.

A total of 16 other people were injured in the incident. 12 were shot and taken to hospitals in Montgomery and Opelika. Four other people sustained injuries that were not related to gunfire.

Tuskegee University announced that all classes on Monday and Tuesday will be canceled for mental health days and to allow law enforcement to continue processing the scene. Grief counselors will be available virtually and in-person in the chapel.

“As we navigate this challenge as a family, keep your classmates in mind as some work to heal physically and mentally from this event. The same applies to faculty and staff. The university experienced an exceptional Homecoming weekend, and this event has tarnished it. Asking for help is a sign of strength and not weakness. Standing strong together is also the Tuskegee Way.”

– Statement from Tuskegee University

ALEA is asking for the public’s help in the case. Anyone with information is asked to submit tips at 1-800-CALL-FBI and upload any digital files regarding the incident online at fbi.gov/tuskegeeshooting24.

The following agencies are assisting ALEA in the investigation: Tuskegee University Police Department, Tuskegee Police Department, Macon County Sheriff’s Office, Federal Bureau of Investigation Mobile Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Fifth Judicial Circuit and the Alabama Attorney General’s Office.

The private university, located in Macon County, about 40 miles from Alabama’s capital city, celebrated its 100th homecoming on Saturday.

Go deeper ( 2 min. read ) ➝

News

Sickening Videos: Hamas Torturing Innocent Palestinians

Hamas operatives hung Palestinian civilians from ceilings with chains, put their heads in sacks and beat their feet with sticks in a series of CCTV videos recently uncovered by the Israel Defense Force, Jewish officials said Sunday.

The harrowing clips, which were recovered from northern Gaza, revealed the brutal tactics that the Palestinian terrorists employed between 2018 to 2020 at the former Outpost 17 base in Jabalia, where IDF troops continue to fight Hamas, Israel said.

“The materials uncovered, expose Hamas’s brutal methods for interrogating civilians, violating human rights, and systematically oppressing residents suspected of opposing the organization’s rule,” the IDF said in a statement.

The nearly 47-minute video compilation that the IDF uploaded to X on Sunday shows how Hamas interrogators chained suspects by their wrists and feet to the ceiling and put sacks over their heads during the questioning inside an office room.

Some of the victims struggle to stand on one foot when the Hamas operatives decide to chain one of their legs.

Others were chained up by their ankles and hung upside down by the interrogators, who beat their soles with a long stick.

Some civilians were also shown being held in similar positions inside a dark and dirty tiled room.

Often times the Hamas interrogators could be seen chatting amongst themselves or completing paperwork as the suspects struggled just inches away from them.

Before publishing the clips, the IDF handed the footage over to the Daily Mail, which noted that the videos could not be independently verified.

There was also no context provided as to why the men in the videos were arrested by Hamas.

The Hamas terror group has long been accused of detaining and torturing civilians when the targeted people are suspected of collaborating with Israel.

The UN Watch Lobby also found that in 2022, two years after the incidents recorded in the tapes, Hamas regularly subjected human rights activists, women, LGBTQ people and political opponents to brutal punishments.

The tapes appear to match one man’s description of the repeated torture he endured in Gaza around that timeframe when Hamas agents discovered he was gay.

“They would torture me so badly,” he told i24News in 2022. “Sometimes, they would tie my feet up and beat them with a stick. After that, every few years, they would arrest me and torture me in the same way.

“They wouldn’t let me sleep or go to the bathroom inside. There was no food,” he added. “They made me swear on the Quran that I won’t be gay again.”

Go deeper ( 2 min. read ) ➝

News

Report: Republican Internal Whip-Count for Leadership Vote on Wednesday Is Leaked

The temperature is rising in the battle to lead Senate Republicans, with Sens. John Thune (S.D.) and John Cornyn (Texas) facing a one-week sprint to win the top spot after the GOP clinched control of the upper chamber.

According to multiple senators and aides, Thune and Cornyn, along with their allies, have been burning up the phones of members in search of support ahead of next week’s election to replace outgoing Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.).

Thune, the Senate GOP whip, has been considered a slight favorite to replace the Kentucky Republican. He is the top vote-counter on the GOP side and has proven an able fundraiser and campaigner.

But few are counting out Cornyn, a former whip and top ally to the outgoing leader who is considered to have strong ties with more conservative segments of the conference.

“It’s Thune’s to lose, but Cornyn’s going to make it close,” one GOP aide familiar with leadership dynamics told The Hill. “It’s going to be bloody and rough, and money is going to matter.”

Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) is also once again running for the post but is not expected to survive past the first ballot in what will be a secret tally Wednesday. The vote will only include the members who will be in office once the 119th Congress convenes next year.

The outcome of Tuesday’s election will likely play a key role in who succeeds McConnell.

Thune was consistently on the road in support of Senate GOP candidates throughout October, appearing for all of those in competitive races — save for Kari Lake in Arizona — during the final month, according to a source familiar with the South Dakotan’s operation.

He also raised more than $33 million across his accounts, the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) and the party’s fleet of candidates, the source added.

Cornyn also posted strong figures, having raked in $26 million, including nearly $12 million for the NRSC, as of late September, while traveling to key battleground states to stump and fundraise in Michigan, Nevada and Indiana, among others.

His team has also noted he has raised $406 million overall since he became a senator in 2002.

But President-elect Trump, who scored a decisive victory in the White House race, remains the biggest X factor heading into next week. Neither Thune nor Cornyn has been a dyed-in-the-wool MAGA backer, but both have sought to repair their relationships with him since the beginning of the year.

Thune has had more work to do on that end than Cornyn after he backed Sen. Tim Scott’s (R-S.C.) presidential campaign and Trump called for him to receive a primary challenge in the Mount Rushmore State. None materialized, and Thune ultimately cruised to a fourth term.

But Thune has appeared determined to be on good terms with the president-elect. According to the same source, the two met at Mar-a-Lago in March and have spoken several times since, including Wednesday.

Another feather in Thune’s cap is that two of his top supporters are Sen. Steve Daines (R-Mont.), the outgoing chair of the Senate GOP campaign arm, and Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), a member of Thune’s whip team. Both are key allies of Trump who have been in frequent contact with him throughout the 2024 cycle.

“John Thune’s worked pretty hard at … making sure that he and Trump are on the same page,” Mullin told The Hill in an interview. “He’s done a good job staying relevant to the president, calling him and checking in on him. I think it’s good.”

As for Cornyn, he came out earlier for Trump this cycle and has also maintained a presence with the president-elect, having seen him recently when Trump visited Texas in late October and earlier in the month in Nevada.

Thune indicated to Fox News on Wednesday that he has urged Trump avoid getting involved in the leadership race but noted that it is certainly his “prerogative” if he wants to.

“The president obviously has tremendous influence, and if he chooses to use it, I think, in in the leadership elections, particularly in the Senate … it is a very sort of inside baseball thin,” Thune said. “And the president, if he chooses to, it’s his prerogative to weigh in on that. Frankly, I think if he lets it play out, we’ll get the right person.”

However, Mullin expressed supreme confidence that Thune will take over atop the conference and argued that he already has the votes.

“The way it’s playing out, it’s 100 percent Thune’s at this point. It’s just a formality. I don’t see how Cornyn gets there, and I don’t see how Rick Scott gets there. They’re both good guys, I just don’t see how they get there,” Mullin said. “This leadership election has been going on a long time. … Now, it’s a closing argument and making sure your vote stays where it’s at [and] following up.”

On Sunday, a whip-count memo was allegedly leaked by a GOP Senate source for the upcoming leadership vote.

Here is where the race stands now:

  1. John Thune (24 votes)
  2. John Cornyn (18 votes)
  3. Rick Scott (11 votes)
  • Banks – Thune
  • Barrasso – Thune
  • Blackburn – Thune
  • Boozman – Cornyn
  • Britt – Cornyn
  • Budd – Cornyn
  • Capito – Cornyn
  • Cassidy – Thune
  • Collins – Thune
  • Cornyn – Cornyn
  • Cotton – Thune
  • Cramer – Thune
  • Crapo – Cornyn
  • Cruz – Thune
  • Curtis – Thune
  • Daines – Thune
  • Ernst – Cornyn
  • Fischer – Cornyn
  • Graham – Cornyn
  • Grassley – Cornyn
  • Hagerty – Scott
  • Hawley – Cornyn
  • Hoeven – Thune
  • Hyde-Smith – Cornyn
  • Johnson – Scott
  • Justice – Thune
  • Kennedy – Cornyn
  • Lankford – Cornyn
  • Lee – Scott
  • Lummis – Thune
  • Marshall – Scott
  • McConnell – Thune
  • McCormick – Cornyn
  • Moran – Cornyn
  • Moreno – Scott
  • Mullin – Thune
  • Murkowski – Thune
  • Paul – Scott
  • Ricketts – Cornyn
  • Risch – Cornyn
  • Rounds – Thune
  • Rubio – Scott
  • Schmitt – Scott
  • Scott (FL) – Scott
  • Scott (SC) – Thune
  • Sheehy – Thune
  • Sullivan – Thune
  • Tillis – Thune
  • Thune – Cornyn
  • Tuberville – Scott
  • Vance – Scott
  • Wicker – Thune
  • Young – Thune
Go deeper ( 4 min. read ) ➝

News

Musk Endorses Rick Scott for Senate Majority Leader

SpaceX CEO Elon Musk on Sunday endorsed lawmaker Rick Scott for Senate majority leader, joining a growing list of MAGA figures who are throwing their support behind the Florida Republican.

“Rick Scott for Senate Majority Leader!” Musk wrote in a post on X Sunday afternoon, days after Republicans won back control of the Senate on Election Day.

Musk’s post came in response to a post from Scott, who was responding to President-elect Trump’s demand that “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.”

“100% agree,” Scott responded. “I will do whatever it takes to get your nominations through as quickly as possible.”

Musk is the latest Trump-ally calling for Scott to be the Senate GOP leader.

Scott’s senate Republican colleagues, including Sens. Marco Rubio of Florida, Bill Hagerty of Tennessee, Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, and Rand Paul of Kentucky have each pledged to vote for Scott.

Scott, whose bid for the position is seen as a long shot by some observers, is up against fellow Republican Sens. John Cornyn of Texas, and John Thune of South Dakota for the job McConnell has held since 2007.

Scott has expressed hope that Trump will publicly endorse his bid for the top job, though some reports have indicated the president-elect has been hesitant to weigh in on the race.

Go deeper ( < 1 min. read ) ➝

News

Trump Names Ex-ICE Head Tom Homan as US ‘Border Czar’

President-elect Donald Trump will tap his former head of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Tom Homan, to be the “border czar” in his administration.

Trump announced late Sunday evening that he would make Homan responsible for the southern border, northern border, coastal and air borders. Homan was under consideration to lead the entire Department of Homeland Security, a Senate-confirmed Cabinet position.

“I am pleased to announce that the Former ICE Director, and stalwart on Border Control, Tom Homan, will be joining the Trump Administration, in charge of our Nation’s Borders (“The Border Czar”), including, but not limited to, the Southern Border, the Northern Border, all Maritime, and Aviation Security,” Trump posted on Truth Social.

“I’ve known Tom for a long time, and there is nobody better at policing and controlling our Borders,” Trump said. “Likewise, Tom Homan will be in charge of all Deportation of Illegal Aliens back to their Country of Origin. Congratulations to Tom. I have no doubt he will do a fantastic, and long awaited for, job.”

Trump’s selection of Homan comes less than a week after he won the presidential election, including the popular vote and all seven swing states.

Trump promised to carry out the largest deportation in U.S. history, vowing to remove the 20 million to 25 million illegal immigrants that he claimed were in the country.

Homan said in an interview on Fox News’s Sunday Morning Futures that Trump planned to first target illegal immigrants with criminal histories for deportation.

“It’s going to be the worst first,” said Homan, adding that he hasn’t advocated for military involvement.

“It will be a humane operation, but it’s a necessary mass deportation operation.”

Homan’s appointment means he will not need to get Senate confirmation, avoiding an ugly and potentially difficult process given Homan’s loyalty to Trump through the years. As a “czar,” Homan will advise the president on border issues and be the point person on related matters.

Trump attacked Vice President Kamala Harris throughout his campaign as being an ineffective “border czar.” Harris was technically never appointed border czar, but had been tapped by President Joe Biden early on in 2021 to take action that would stop the flow of immigrants illegally entering the country from Central America.

Under Biden, more than 10 million immigrants have been encountered at the nation’s borders, more than any two-term White House administration.

Go deeper ( 2 min. read ) ➝

News

Republican Gabe Evans Flips Colorado’s 8th District Red – GOP One Seat Away from Winning House

Rep. Yadira Caraveo (D-CO) conceded to her Republican challenger Gabe Evans in the House race for Colorado‘s 8th Congressional District Sunday, a key flip that helps the GOP’s hopes of keeping its majority in the House of Representatives.

The Republican challenger has yet to be projected as the winner by the Associated Press, but Evans leads Caraveo 49%-48.2%, with an estimated 92% of the vote counted. The current margin shows 2,596 votes separating the two leading candidates.

Caraveo conceded defeat in a statement Sunday, calling her past two years representing the district “the honor of a lifetime.”

“While this isn’t the outcome we hoped for, the work is not over,” Caraveo said. “I look forward to returning to Washington to finish out this term and will continue to be an independent voice for the people of this district.”

Evans celebrated the victory in a statement Sunday, in which he thanked Caraveo for her service and “gracious concession” and stated that he looked “forward to working with her and her team to transition this office over the next few months.”

“I am incredibly humbled to be chosen as the next Congressman for Colorado’s 8th. It is an honor to be entrusted with the job of representing you and your families, and I am ready to fight back for a better direction for all Coloradans,” Evans said.

The seat in the Centennial State was viewed as one of the most vulnerable for Democrats, with the Cook Political Report giving the district an “even” partisan voting index and rating the race as a “toss up.”

Caraveo won the seat in 2022, narrowly defeating Republican Barbara Kirkmeyer 48.4%-47.7%, and in 2020, the district voted for then-candidate Joe Biden over former President Donald Trump by 4.7%.

The seat was listed as a target for pickup by the National Republican Congressional Committee, and was part of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee’s front-line program. Polls ahead of the election showed a tight race within the margin of error of various surveys.

The district has the largest Hispanic community of any of the state’s congressional districts, a demographic Republicans have gained ground with nationwide in recent elections.

Go deeper ( 2 min. read ) ➝

Trending Today