President-elect Donald Trump indicated on Wednesday that anyone who’s worked for former Vice President Mike Pence, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley or any other of his Republican critics need not apply for open jobs in his new administration.

Trump, 78, touted in a Truth Social post that he’s already hired “over 1,000 people” for roles in his incoming administration that are “outstanding in every way” before shedding light on the sort of individuals he doesn’t plan on extending job offers to.

“In order to save time, money, and effort, it would be helpful if you would not send, or recommend to us, people who worked with, or are endorsed by, Americans for No Prosperity (headed by Charles Koch), ‘Dumb as a Rock’ John Bolton, ‘Birdbrain’ Nikki Haley, Mike Pence, disloyal Warmongers Dick Cheney, and his Psycho daughter, Liz, Mitt Romney, Paul Ryan, General(?) Mark Milley, James Mattis, Mark Yesper, or any of the other people suffering from Trump Derangement Syndrome, more commonly known as TDS,” the president-elect wrote.

“Thank you for your attention to this matter!” he added.

Haley and Pence both ran failed campaigns against Trump in the 2024 Republican presidential primaries.

Pence refused to endorse Trump once he became the GOP nominee.

Meanwhile, Haley, who ended her White House bid last March, waited until late May to back Trump and didn’t release her delegates until July – just days before the Republican National Convention.

Americans for Prosperity Action, a super PAC funded by billionaire Charles Koch, had endorsed Haley in the GOP primaries.

Former Republican Vice President Dick Cheney and his daughter, former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.), both endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 race and Liz frequently appeared on the campaign trail with the Democratic nominee.

Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) and former House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) – the top and bottom of the 2012 GOP presidential ticket – also indicated ahead of Election Day 2024 that they would not be voting for Trump.

Bolton, Milley, Mattis and Mark Esper are all former members of the first Trump administration who have been critical of the president-elect.

Trump will be sworn in as the 47th president of the United States on Monday.

The FBI has closed its DEI office.

“In recent weeks, the FBI took steps to close the Office of Diversity and Inclusion (ODI), effective by December 2024,” the agency told Fox News Digital on Thursday.

The agency didn’t specify why it had closed the office, although many Republicans have been critical of it prioritizing diversity, equity and inclusion, saying that had overshadowed national security.

Earlier this month, Republican Sen. Marsha Blackburn sent a letter to FBI Director Christopher Wray claiming that “radical” DEI practices had “endangered” Americans following the New Year’s Day terrorist attack in New Orleans.

“I am deeply concerned that—under your leadership—the Bureau has prioritized Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives over its core mission of protecting the American people,” Balckburn wrote in the Jan. 3 letter after referencing the attack.

After the announcement, Blackburn said in a post on X: “The question is why were they allowed to be focused on DEI in the first place? The FBI should be focused on catching criminals, not winning participation trophies.”

The FBI page on diversity and inclusion – that was still on its website as of Thursday – says the agency is “committed to cultivating a diverse and inclusive workforce. In 2015, the FBI added diversity as one of the organization’s core values.

It continued: “We believe that differences in thought and belief, in race and religion, in orientation, and in ability contribute to more effective decision making, drive innovation, and enhance the employee experience. We know that a more diverse workforce allows us to connect with and maintain the trust of the American people. We also understand we have work to do. We stand committed, as today’s FBI, to fostering a culture of inclusivity and diversity.”

Former FBI special agent and Fox News contributor Nicole Parker told Fox News Digital: “I appreciate all forms of diversity. Make no mistake of that. What I do not appreciate is when there is a constant push for social justice weaponization at the FBI whose top priorities are to protect the American people and uphold the Constitution.”

She added that FBI Director Christopher Wray has made it clear that threats across and against the nation are “at an all-time high. ‘Flashing red lights,’ as he has stated in congressional testimony. There is no time for clubs, groups, or social agendas that divert time, attention and resources away from the mission of the FBI to protect the American people.”

“DEI is a dangerous distraction,” she continued. “I have no issue in celebrating whatever you would like regarding your heritage or gender or religion. But that should be done on your own time and not with the U.S. taxpayers’ dollars while on official Bureau time.”

Parker added, “The FBI needs to focus on hiring the best and brightest based solely on meritocracy. Americans deserve the best. I have never been on an operation or heard of a civilian calling into the FBI and requesting an individual of a certain race or gender provide them with assistance in solving their problem or stopping a crime they’ve fallen victim to. Americans simply want to be safe.”

“The FBI should be focused on being one in fighting crime, not various groups and divisions that divide,” she said.

Parker also noted that there are numerous other groups within the FBI aside from the DEI office, including the American Indian and Alaska Native Advisory Committee, Asian Pacific American Advisory Committee, Black Affairs Diversity Committee, Bureau Equality, Hispanic Advisory Board, Near and Middle East Advisory Committee, Persons with Disabilities Advisory Committee, Veterans Affairs Advisory Committee, and the Women’s Advisory Committee.

She said the bureau also has numerous resource groups, including Blacks in Government, FBI African American Millennials, FBI Family, FBI Jewish Americans, FBI Latinos for Empowerment Advancement and Development, FBI Pride, Federal Asian Pacific American Counsel, Federally Employed Women, From Boots to Suits and the Toastmasters Club.

Wray announced in December that he planned to resign with nearly three years left in his term, citing Trump’s desire for a change in leadership at the agency.

This is President Biden’s last week in office. President-elect Trump will take office on Monday.

The FBI’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion was created in 2012 during the Obama administration with its goal to provide “guidance and implement programs that promote a diverse and inclusive workplace that allows all employees to succeed and advance.”

In 2021, after Biden took office, Scott McMillion became the FBI’s first chief diversity officer, saying that he planned to spearhead a “cultural shift” at the agency.

Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody will take Marco Rubio’s seat in the U.S. Senate, Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Thursday, making Moody only the second woman to represent Florida in the chamber.

Moody, 49, elected as the state’s top law enforcement officer in 2018, campaigned on a pledge to voters that she’d be a prosecutor, not a politician.

Along with DeSantis, Moody boosted her political profile during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, calling on the federal government to “hold China responsible” for the outbreak.

Before running for statewide office, Moody worked as a federal prosecutor. In 2006, she was elected to the post of circuit judge in Hillsborough County, home to Tampa.

As the state’s attorney general, Moody has been instrumental in defending DeSantis’ conservative agenda in court and has joined other Republican-led states in challenging the Biden administration’s policies, suing over changes to immigration enforcement, student loan forgiveness and vaccine mandates for federal contractors.

“I’m happy to say we’ve had an Attorney General that is somebody that has acted time and time again to support the values that we all share,” DeSantis said.

Under Florida law, it’s up to the Republican governor to pick Rubio’s replacement, after President-elect Donald Trump picked the three-term senator to be his next Secretary of State. Moody will serve in the Senate until the next general election in 2026, when the seat will be back on the ballot.

Moody fought unsuccessfully to keep an abortion rights measure off the ballot in Florida in 2024, saying proponents were waging “a war” to protect the procedure. The measure did go before voters but ultimately failed to get the 60% approval needed to pass.

She was also among the state attorneys general to sign on to the lawsuit backed by Trump aimed at overturning Joe Biden’s election victory in 2020.

Republican state Sen. Joe Gruters, a key Trump ally in the state, was among those who had pushed the president-elect’s daughter-in-law Lara Trump as their top pick for the Senate seat. Lara Trump removed herself from consideration in December.

Still, Gruters praised Moody, calling her “a winner here in Florida.”

“She’s very popular. And I think people see the job that she does and they appreciate her work and her effort at trying to … keep Florida safe,” Gruters said before the announcement.

Moody’s appointment opens up a key vacancy in Florida’s Cabinet, giving DeSantis another shot at expanding his influence in the state. DeSantis will also get to pick a replacement for outgoing Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis, who’s leaving his post to run for former Rep. Matt Gaetz’s open seat in Congress.

Rudy Giuliani reached a deal Thursday with two Georgia women who won a $148 million defamation verdict against him that allows him to keep all of his property in exchange for a payment of unknown size — plus a promise to never again defame them.

The settlement saves Giuliani, the former New York City mayor, from the brink of losing both of his homes, as well as countless other pieces of valuable property.

The women, Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss, have spent months in court seeking to force Giuliani to turn over his possessions to them to help satisfy the massive judgment.

Freeman and Moss, who are former election workers in Georgia, won the defamation judgment in 2023 when a jury found that Giuliani accused them of election fraud after the 2020 election. The women, who are mother and daughter, said in a statement they had agreed “to allow Mr. Giuliani to retain his property in exchange for compensation.”

“The past four years have been a living nightmare,” Freeman and Moss said. “We have fought to clear our names, restore our reputations, and prove that we did nothing wrong. Today is a major milestone in our journey. We have reached an agreement and we can now move forward with our lives.”

In a court filing, lawyers for the women and Giuliani said the settlement “would result in the conclusion of all litigation currently pending between and among the Parties.”

The amount of the compensation was not disclosed. In remarks to reporters outside Manhattan federal court Thursday, a lawyer for Giuliani, Joseph Cammarata, declined to say whether a third party was funding the payment, saying he wouldn’t discuss the “material terms” of the agreement.

Cammarata said the settlement allows Giuliani to keep his Upper East Side apartment and his condo in Palm Beach, Florida, as well as “all his personal belongings.”

Those belongings include property a judge already ordered Giuliani to turn over to the women, including watches, a ring, sports memorabilia and a vintage Mercedes-Benz convertible.

In a statement posted to social media, Giuliani said: “I am satisfied with and have no grievances relating to the result we have reached.”

He added: “No one deserves to be subjected to threats, harassment, or intimidation. This litigation has taken its toll on all parties. This whole episode was unfortunate. I and the Plaintiffs have agreed not to ever talk about each other in any defamatory manner, and I urge others to do the same.”

The announcement of the settlement came five hours after Giuliani was set to start a trial over whether he could shield his Florida condo from being seized by creditors and whether he had given World Series rings to his son, a step that might have also made them off-limits.

Giuliani appeared poised to lose the Palm Beach property in the trial, particularly after U.S. District Judge Lewis Liman found him in civil contempt of court twice and, as punishment, declared that Giuliani would be barred from presenting the central legal defense that could have helped him retain the condo.

Georgia state Sen. Colton Moore (R) was arrested and transported to the Fulton County Jail on Thursday for attempting to enter the House Chamber to hear Gov. Brian Kemp’s (R) state address after being banned from the area last year.

“It has gone too far. I have an obligation to be in that room,” Moore told a group of law enforcement officers preventing him from entering.

“I represent 200,000 people in northwest Georgia who duly elected me to be here today,” he said after being thrown to the ground.

Pro-Trump and anti-Brian Kemp State Sen. Colton Moore is thrown to the ground and arrested today after the GA House Speaker would not allow him to attend Kemp’s State of the State speech. pic.twitter.com/SXrKclsSnd

— Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) January 16, 2025

BREAKING: Senator @realColtonMoore, who serves as the Vice-Chair of the @FreedomCaucusGA was just unconstitutionality arrested by Speaker @JonBurnsGA for simply trying to attend the State of the State joint session.

This is what tyranny looks like, folks. pic.twitter.com/Zhf2J7HU53

— Dustin Grage (@GrageDustin) January 16, 2025

He blamed the interaction on his continued crusade against District Attorney Fani Willis, who presided over President-elect Trump’s election interference case.

She was recently disqualified from the case after an affair with one of the top prosecutors.

Moore was suspended from the GOP caucus in 2023 for demanding an “impossible” probe of Willis during a special session.

“Senator Colton Moore, who exposed and defeated corrupt District Attorney Fani Willis last year, has been arrested by the Anti-Trump Speaker of the Georgia House,” Moore’s team wrote in a statement on social platform X.

“Colton is being held in the same Atlanta jail as President Trump. We are working to ensure his expedient release.”

Bruce LeVell, a former senior adviser to Trump, commended Moore for his actions.

“Colton Moore, a loyal, hardworking, pro-Trump Georgia State Senator, was handcuffed and arrested by the House Speaker after attempting to attend the State of the State session to fulfill his duties,” LeVell wrote in a Thursday statement on X.

Moore was released from the jail hours after the incident on Thursday and shared an update to note that he’s receiving medical treatment at Emory University Hospital Midtown located in Atlanta.

Police are on a manhunt for a serial arsonist who started a fire next to a sleeping subway passenger in New York City.

This comes after an illegal immigrant burned a woman alive just weeks ago on the New York subway.

According to the New York Post, a masked suspect was first seen on video lighting a cop car on fire at approximately 2:20 am right in front of 254 Broadway on January 10. Only minutes afterward, the suspect was seen again on more surveillance footage lighting a car on fire near 14 Murray St.

The third time the suspect was seen in the act, he lit a paper cup on fire before throwing it into a garbage can near the Brooklyn Bridge-City Hall station.

The fourth instance is when the suspect lit a pile of garbage on fire next to the dozing passenger at around 3:40 am on a northbound J train inside the Woodhaven Avenue Station, police said.

Watch:

A manhunt is underway as the NYPD searches for an arson suspect that lit a fire next to a sleeping subway passenger. pic.twitter.com/uMMd8tjhLm

— The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) January 16, 2025

Video of the incident was caught on camera and the masked suspect can be seen lurking over the sleeping passenger before lighting the garbage on fire.

The suspect was then seen walking off the train. A police search for the suspect was underway as of Thursday and are offering a reward of $3,500 for information on the incident.

The fire lit on the subway next to the passenger comes weeks after illegal immigrant Sebastian Zapeta-Calil, 33, allegedly burned 57-year-old Debrina Kawam of New Jersey to death. Zapeta was previously deported under the first Trump administration and police could not identify Kawam for days due to the severity of the burns.

A Democrat operative who worked for the Biden White House personnel office, as a political appointee to the Department of Labor, and for the Kamala Harris transition team, has been hired by the Department of Labor in a role that will continue in the Trump administration using a loophole, The Daily Wire has reported.

Elizabeth Peña was a Biden political appointee to the Labor Department’s Bureau of International Labor Affairs, where she worked from October 2021 to October 2024, first as a Special Assistant and then as Policy Advisor, according to her LinkedIn.

From October to December 2024, she served as senior manager of vetting for the Harris transition team. Then in January, she returned to the Labor Department — this time as International Relations Officer, not a political appointee.

In a LinkedIn post announcing her new position on Monday, she said she planned to use it to promote “equity,” a left-wing policy opposed by the incoming president.

“I’m thrilled to announce that I have returned to the Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB) as an International Relations Officer! This new role marks a continuation of my journey to protect and promote labor rights globally. Over the past few years, I’ve had the privilege of working on issues that matter deeply to me and at ILAB, I look forward to collaborating with partners at home and abroad to uphold the principles of dignity, equity, and justice in the workplace,” she wrote.

Peña knows the importance of having people with the right political leanings in the right jobs — and the rules around it — because placing Democrats in key posts has been a large part of her career in politics. From September 2020 to January 2021, she worked on the Biden transition team as it selected Democrats to fill top jobs. From January to September 2021, she worked in the White House’s influential Presidential Personnel Office, which does the same thing.

Prior to that, she worked for Beto O’Rourke’s presidential campaign, where she “authored over 500 vetting reports analyzing employees,” according to her LinkedIn.

Federal ethics rules frown on “burrowing,” as the effort to embed political appointees into the next administration is known. According to a report from the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service, a political appointee can only be converted to a permanent position with special permission from the Office of Personnel Management.

The Congressional Research Service said that’s because of concerns about whether the person was hired because they were close to top leaders instead of being the best-qualified, that it takes a job away from an existing civil servant who may have wanted a promotion, and “that the individual who is converted to a career position may seek to undermine the work of the new Administration.” All of that, the Congressional Research Service says, “may increase the tension between political and career staff.”

Democrats have lashed out at Trump’s suggestion that government employees are often liberals who may seek to thwart him — a suggestion that the Biden PPO alum’s appointment makes harder to dispute.

Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-VA), the incoming ranking member of the House Oversight Committee, previously condemned the idea of political operatives moving into the federal workforce, saying he was “committed to protecting the civil service from partisan attacks and attempts to replace qualified experts with political loyalists.”

The Labor Department appears to have used a loophole to avoid Peña showing up on a list of “burrowed” employees, which under the law must be furnished to Congress. A Labor Department spokesperson told The Daily Wire “Peña was hired as a Term employee at the Bureau of International Labor Affairs. A Term employee is a time-limited position that does not confer career status, distinguishing it from both political appointee roles and permanent career positions.”

An International Relations Officer job with “term” status was posted from November 26 through December 3. It showed a salary of $117,962 to $153,354 and a term of three years, meaning she would serve for the bulk of the Trump administration.

Also in November, a permanent International Relations Officer job was posted, then cancelled. The Labor Department did not answer a question about whether the term-limited job was created for Peña and displaced a standard permanent position. A Daily Wire review of federal job ads showed that the bureau listed International Relations Officer jobs more than 80 times since 2019, and none of them were “term” jobs.

The job ad tracks closely with Peña’s resume, saying the successful applicant must have experience “developing labor-related policy or program recommendations for senior leadership” and speak Spanish.

The Labor Department spokesperson indicated that the “term” classification sidestepped typical anti-burrowing procedures, saying “If Ms. Peña applies for and is selected to transition into a career position in the future… her application will undergo the Office of Personnel Management’s (OPM) review process required for all former political appointees.”

The Biden administration has taken other personnel measures that could make it more difficult for Trump to identify and remove partisan operatives from the workforce. That includes hiring permanent employees to work on DEI initiatives — roles Trump is likely to abolish. Federal agencies may change their titles in an attempt to hide the target.

A source close to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) said that the agency has taken steps to change the title of its Chief Equity Officer, Dia D. Harris, to Senior Adviser.

The Chief Equity Officer job is not listed in the Plum Book, implying it is a career position. Yet employees originally hired to do DEI are likely partisan in ways that directly contradict Trump’s agenda, and are likely to remain that way regardless of title.

Harris’s LinkedIn says “I allow, permit, & encourage U 2 b as authentic as possible… I authentically live as an Unapologetically Blackity Black Black Man!”

As Chief Equity Officer “I direct the implementation of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) initiatives, assist in the establishment of DEIA goals, and execute agency-wide action plans,” his LinkedIn says, adding that he was previously a self-employed “Inclusion Equality & Diversity Consultant.”

The seventh test flight of SpaceX’s Starship had some serious highs and lows.

The company launched its Starship megarocket for the seventh time ever today (Jan. 16), sending the 403.5-foot-tall (123 meters) reusable vehicle aloft from its Starbase site in South Texas at 5:37 p.m. EST (2237 GMT; 4:37 p.m. local time).

One of the goals of this ambitious test flight was to catch Starship’s giant first-stage booster, known as Super Heavy, back at Starbase’s launch tower, using the structure’s “chopstick” arms. SpaceX pulled this off for the first time on Starship Flight 5 in October — and did so again today.

Holy fuck, Super Heavy has been caught for the second time, go SpaceX! pic.twitter.com/mGzs00tmlA

— Teslaconomics (@Teslaconomics) January 16, 2025

The 33-engine booster nestled softly into the tower’s arms about seven minutes after liftoff today, showcasing the time-saving recovery strategy that SpaceX intends to use for both Super Heavy and Ship, Starship’s 171-foot-tall (52-meter-tall) upper stage.

But not everything went to plan today. SpaceX lost contact with Ship around 8.5 minutes into flight, apparently after the vehicle suffered some kind of anomaly.

All six of Ship’s Raptor engines fired up during the stage’s ascent burn, “but as we were getting to the end of that ascent burn, we saw engines dropping out on telemetry, and we have since lost contact with the Ship,” Dan Huot, of SpaceX’s communications team, said during the company’s launch webcast.

Huot and fellow webcast host Kate Tice later confirmed that Ship had been lost. The reasons were not immediately clear, the duo said.

Ship was supposed to fly much of the way around the world, then splash down softly in the Indian Ocean off the west coast of Australia about 66 minutes after liftoff, as it did on the three previous Starship launches.

Flight 7 was supposed to feature something new for Ship as well: About 17.5 minutes after liftoff, the upper stage was to deploy 10 mock satellites similar in size and weight to the next-gen version of SpaceX’s Starlink broadband spacecraft. Ship didn’t make it that far into flight, however.

The deployment would have been useful practice. SpaceX is counting on Starship to finish building out its Starlink megaconstellation, which currently consists of nearly 7,000 satellites in low Earth orbit but could eventually harbor more than 40,000 craft.

The dummy satellites were to follow Ship’s suborbital trajectory, ultimately splashing down in the Indian Ocean, SpaceX wrote in a Flight 7 mission description.

As Huot and Tice noted, the Ship upper stage flying today was a new iteration that sported a suite of upgrades and modifications.

“The vehicle’s forward flaps have been reduced in size and shifted towards the vehicle tip and away from the heat shield, significantly reducing their exposure to reentry heating while simplifying the underlying mechanisms and protective tiling,” SpaceX wrote in the mission description.

“Redesigns to the propulsion system, including a 25% increase in propellant volume, the vacuum jacketing of feedlines, a new fuel feedline system for the vehicle’s Raptor vacuum engines, and an improved propulsion avionics module controlling vehicle valves and reading sensors, all add additional vehicle performance and the ability to fly longer missions,” the company added.

These modifications added about 6.5 feet to the vehicle’s length, according to SpaceX.

The Super Heavy that flew today was largely the same as recent boosters, but it did have one novel feature. In a Super Heavy first, it employed used hardware — a Raptor engine that also flew on Flight 5.

Starship’s previous six test flights occurred in April and November of 2023 and March, June, October and November of last year. SpaceX aimed to conduct a chopsticks catch of Super Heavy on Flight 6 as well, but a communication issue with the launch tower nixed that try, and the booster diverted for a Gulf of Mexico splashdown.

SpaceX is developing Starship, the biggest and most powerful rocket ever built, to help humanity settle the moon and Mars, among other feats. And we should expect to see more than a mere handful of Starship test flights this year; the company aims to make serious progress on the vehicle in 2025.

“This new year will be transformational for Starship, with the goal of bringing reuse of the entire system online and flying increasingly ambitious missions as we iterate towards being able to send humans and cargo to Earth orbit, the moon and Mars,” SpaceX wrote in the Flight 7 mission description.

Vivek Ramaswamy, the biotech entrepreneur positioned to help oversee President-elect Donald Trump’s effort to cut government spending, is in discussions about filling Vice President-elect JD Vance’s Senate seat in Ohio, two people briefed on the process told NBC News.

The development is a reversal for Ramaswamy, who in November said his work alongside billionaire Elon Musk at Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency would remove him from consideration for the Senate job.

But Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, who will appoint an interim successor to take over Vance’s seat, chatted with Ramaswamy about the Senate vacancy in a meeting last weekend at the Governor’s Mansion in Columbus, according to a source familiar with the talks. The source, who was granted anonymity to share details about private conversations, also said Trump has encouraged Ramaswamy to accept the appointment if DeWine offers it.

“Neither Governor DeWine nor our office has commented on any possible candidates for the pending appointment,” DeWine spokesperson Dan Tierney wrote in a text message.

The Washington Post first reported Trump’s encouragement of Ramaswamy. Politico first reported the meeting with DeWine.

Though Ramaswamy initially took himself out of the running for the Senate, he has been a constant factor in DeWine’s deliberations over who should replace Vance, who resigned last week in advance of his swearing-in as vice president.

Ramaswamy, a Cincinnati native who now lives in the Columbus area, is widely believed to be interested in running to succeed DeWine, who is term-limited, as governor next year. But so is DeWine’s preferred successor, Lt. Gov. Jon Husted.

A bruising GOP primary featuring Husted, Ramaswamy and others could dent DeWine’s legacy. Without any clear signal about Ramaswamy’s intentions in 2026, DeWine has considered appointing Husted, a close ally, to the Senate vacancy to better solidify his political future. Whoever DeWine picks would have to win a special election in 2026 to serve the remaining two years of Vance’s term.

But Husted, who for two weeks has been viewed as the leading candidate for the appointment, has resisted past overtures to run for the Senate, and he has been aggressively preparing his campaign for governor. Ohio Republicans wired into the process have said he has reservations about accepting the Senate appointment.

DeWine has said he plans to reveal his choice “probably” this week. Other possibilities include former state GOP chair Jane Timken and former state Rep. Jay Edwards.

It’s not clear why Ramaswamy would be willing to leave Trump’s government efficiency team, known as DOGE, before its work even starts, nor is it clear whether or why Trump would be eager for him to go. But some of Ramaswamy’s recent posts on X, Musk’s social media site, have created a rift within Trump’s MAGA movement.

Wading into a debate over H-1B temporary worker visas, a carve-out for high-skilled workers who some on the political right say are taking American jobs, Ramaswamy criticized an American culture that he said “venerated mediocrity over excellence.”

A source who speaks with Trump said the notion that Trump might be keen on Ramaswamy’s taking the Senate seat was not surprising.

“DJT is tired of him,” the source said, referring to Trump by his initials. “Wants him in a new role.”

Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., has informed Rep. Mike Turner, R-Ohio, that he will no longer be chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, according to a GOP leadership source and a Republican lawmaker familiar with the matter.

The lawmaker said Turner told him Wednesday that he would not be staying on as head of the critical panel that conducts oversight of the U.S. intelligence community. The House Intelligence Committee chair is also a member of the so-called “Gang of Eight” congressional leaders who receive some of the most sensitive, classified briefings from the intelligence community.

Johnson confirmed the news later Wednesday but downplayed the change as he offered praise for Turner.

“It’s a new Congress. We just need fresh horses in some of these places. But I’m a Mike Turner fan,” Johnson told reporters in the Capitol. “He’s done a great job. He performed valiantly in a difficult time under difficult circumstances. So I have nothing but positive things to say about my friend and colleague.”

“This is not a President Trump decision; this is a House decision,” the speaker added, referring to speculation that politics may have led to the change. “And this is no slight whatsoever to our … outgoing chairman.”

The top post on the Intelligence Committee is one of the few positions directly chosen by the speaker of the House at the start of a new Congress. Johnson said he would make an announcement about Turner’s replacement on Thursday.

In a statement Wednesday night, Turner, a staunch NATO supporter who has aggressively pushed for U.S. aid for Ukraine, said he was “proud” of his time serving on and leading the committee. His office said Turner would only be serving on the Armed Services and Oversight and Government Reform committees in the new Congress, meaning he will no longer have a seat on the Intelligence panel.

“Under my leadership, we restored the integrity of the Committee and returned its mission to its core focus of national security. The threat from our adversaries is real and requires serious deliberations,” Turner said.

“As a senior member of the House Armed Services Committee, I have been and will continue to be a strong advocate for the military and our national defense,” he continued. “My work to expand missions and capabilities at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base continues. Furthermore, I look forward to welcoming the NATO Parliamentary Assembly to Dayton in the coming months.”

House Republican sources said they did not know who Johnson would choose to replace Turner. Some senior Republicans on the panel are Reps. Rick Crawford of Arkansas, Trent Kelly of Mississippi, and Darin LaHood of Illinois.

Last year, Johnson raised eyebrows in the intelligence community and around Capitol Hill when he appointed two Donald Trump loyalists, Reps. Scott Perry, R-Pa., and Ronny Jackson, R-Texas, to the Intelligence Committee.

The decision to replace Turner stunned lawmakers in both parties given that Turner, a defense hawk, is well-respected on both sides of the aisle.

Then-House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., had tapped Turner to serve as the top Republican on the panel starting in January 2022. After Republicans took back the majority that fall, McCarthy kept him on as chairman of the Intelligence committee for the 118th Congress, a term that started January 2023.

When McCarthy was ousted and Johnson succeeded him as speaker in October 2023, Johnson decided to keep Turner in place as Intelligence chairman.

Now, after winning his first full term as speaker earlier this month, Johnson appears to be putting his own mark on this position and others. On Tuesday, Johnson appointed Rep. Virginia Foxx, R-N.C., the former Education and Workforce Committee chair, as the new Rules Committee chair.

Democrats on the Intelligence Committee said they did not get any warning that Turner was being removed.

“I’m enormously concerned because I think you’d be hard-pressed to find somebody as fair-minded,” said Rep. Jim Himes of Connecticut, the top Democrat on the Intelligence panel.

He added that Turner “and I had our disagreements, but, you know, I had confidence in him.”

With Trump days away from returning to the White House, Democrats have been sounding the alarm that top intelligence and national security posts are being influenced by presidential politics.

Earlier Wednesday, Senate Democrats pressed former Rep. John Ratcliffe, R-Texas, Trump’s pick to lead the Central Intelligence Agency, asking him if he would push back against efforts requiring CIA employees to demonstrate “loyalty to a political figure above loyalty to country.”

Ratcliffe, a former House Intelligence Committee member who served as Trump’s director of national intelligence, responded that he would not impose a political litmus test on his employees.

“If you look at my record and my record as DNI, that never took place. That is never something anyone alleged,” he said. “It’s something that I would never do.”

President Joe Biden warned of the dangers of “misplaced power” Wednesday in a grim farewell address that compared the nation’s tech CEOs to oligarchs.

“Today, an oligarchy is taking shape in America of extreme wealth, power, and influence that literally threatens our entire democracy, our basic rights and freedoms, and a fair shot for everyone to get ahead,” Biden said in a prime-time speech to the nation in the White House‘s Oval Office.

Tech titans such as X CEO Elon Musk and, more recently, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg have been attempting to curry favor with President-elect Donald Trump as he prepares to be inaugurated for a second term.

Biden, seated behind the Resolute Desk, compared his warnings to the alarm President Dwight Eisenhower expressed decades earlier about the nation’s growing military-industrial complex.

“Americans are being buried under an avalanche of misinformation and disinformation, enabling the abuse of power,” Biden said, referring to social media websites. “The truth is smothered by lies told for power and for profit. We must hold the social platform accountable to protect our children, our families, and our very democracy from the abuse of power.”

Biden also called for tax reform, for the United States to assert its dominance in the artificial intelligence space, new ethics standards for Congress and the Supreme Court, and an amendment to the Constitution “to make clear that no president, no president, is immune from crimes that he or she commits while in office.”

“In a democracy, there’s another danger to the concentration of power and wealth,” Biden said. “It erodes a sense of unity and common purpose. It causes distrust and division. Participating in our democracy becomes exhausting and even disillusioning. … We have to stay engaged in the process.”

Flanked by pictures of his family, including first lady Jill Biden and son Hunter, Joe Biden not only reflected on the four years of his one and only term as president but also his eight years as Barack Obama‘s vice president and 36 years representing Delaware in the Senate.

He also had special praise for Vice President Kamala Harris, who replaced him as the 2024 Democratic nominee amid concerns about his age and mental acuity.

“My eternal thanks to you, the American people,” the president said. “After 50 years of public service, I give you my word: I still believe in the idea for which this nation stands, a nation where the strengths of our institutions, the character of our people, matter and must endure. Now, it’s your turn to stand guard. May you all be the keeper of the flame. May you keep the faith.”

In his address, Joe Biden leaned into the theme of protecting democracy at the center of his presidential campaign. On the trail, he and Trump accused one another of representing a threat to the Constitution, with the president citing Jan. 6 and Trump pointing to the federal investigations against him.

“After 50 years at the center of all of this, I know that believing in the idea of America means respecting the institutions that govern a free society, the presidency, the Congress, the courts, a free and independent press, institutions,” Joe Biden said Wednesday. “Our system of separation of powers, checks and balances, may not be perfect, but it’s maintained our democracy for nearly 250 years, longer than any other nation in history that’s ever tried such a bold experiment.”

Despite the president’s arguments, he will depart the White House on Monday will dismal approval ratings, among the lowest of his presidency. A CNN poll published this week found only 37% of respondents approved of his administration, compared to 63% who did not. His average approval rating is net negative 17 percentage points, according to RealClearPolitics.

His farewell address coincided with his announcement earlier Wednesday that Israel and Hamas had agreed to a ceasefire and hostage deal 15 months after the terrorist organization attacked its Jewish neighbor.

“This plan was developed and negotiated by my team, and will be largely implemented by the incoming administration,” Biden said. “That’s why I told my team to keep the incoming administration fully informed because that’s how it should be, working together as Americans.”

Biden previewed his remarks in an open letter released Wednesday morning that served to remind the public that he inherited a country emerging from a pandemic that became “stronger, more prosperous, and more secure” than before it.

“Today, we have the strongest economy in the world and have created a record 16.6 million new jobs. Wages are up. Inflation continues to come down,” the president wrote. “The racial wealth gap is the lowest it’s been in 20 years. We’re rebuilding our entire nation.”

Outgoing first lady Jill Biden has admitted that it was “disappointing” that Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) was the one whose decisive intervention pushed President Biden out of the 2024 campaign.

“We were friends for 50 years,” Jill, 73, told the Washington Post in an interview published Wednesday that was billed as her final sit-down while in the White House.

“It was disappointing.”

The Bidens have largely bitten their tongues when discussing the internal revolt following the president’s disastrous showing in his one debate against Republican Donald Trump on June 27.

While Joe Biden, 82, had initially insisted that he would carry on in the race, pressure from top Democrats — led by Pelosi, the former House speaker — forced him to announce his withdrawal on July 21.

“Let’s just say I was disappointed with how it unfolded,” the first lady reiterated to the Washington Post.

“I don’t know. I learned a lot about human nature,” she said, adding, “I think that’s all I’m going to say.”

At the time, The Post reported that Pelosi had played the “bad cop” to Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer’s “good cop” in convincing the president to bow out.

Other outlets reported that Pelosi threatened to release internal polling showing that Biden had no chance against Trump if the president insisted on carrying on.

Pelosi then endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris for the nomination rather than advocating for an open primary — only to later blame Biden for not exiting the race quicker.

“Had the president gotten out sooner, there may have been other candidates in the race,” she told the New York Times in an interview published Nov 8.

Weeks earlier, Pelosi had defended her actions in an interview with the Guardian, saying she thought Biden was “one of the great consequential presidents of our country.”

“I think his legacy had to be protected,” she added. “I didn’t see that happening in the course that it was on, the election was on.”

The Bidens and Pelosi are not believed to have made up since the drama.

Last week, Biden claimed in an interview with USA Today that he could have won re-election over Trump if he had not quit the campaign.

“It’s presumptuous to say that, but I think yes,” he said of his chances.

Meanwhile, Jill Biden was spotted enjoying a friendly chat with Trump when both attended the reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris last month.

“Joe and I respect our institutions, our traditions,” the first lady told the Washington Post of that interaction, “and it’s very important to me that they continue and we — What would be the point of nastiness?”

When asked about her husband’s legacy, Jill said: “I hope that they remember Joe as a strong, empathetic president with integrity and character.”

“I mean, character really is everything, isn’t it?”

President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration portrait has been unveiled just days away from his official swearing-in ceremony.

Trump and vice president-elect JD Vance, whose portrait was also revealed on social media by chief photographer Daniel Torok, will become the next leaders of the United States on January 20.

First look at 47’s official inaugural portrait! @TeamTrump pic.twitter.com/7m6otmDQJw

— Daniel Torok (@dto_rok) January 15, 2025

A video of the inauguration invitation was circulated on X by conservative accounts with many supporters of the to-be 47th president marvelling at the portrait as an indication of what is in store for Trump’s second term.

“Trump looks very serious and ready to get things done,” one person said.

“He looks very presidential,” another wrote.

A third said: “He looks like he means business!”

It did not take long for people to compare Trump’s portrait to his mug shot from August 2023, when the Republican leader turned himself in at the Fulton County Jail in Atlanta, Georgia, after he was indicted by a grand jury on racketeering charges.

Trump went on to raise $US7.1 million in merchandise emblazoned with his ultra viral mug shot.

Mr Trump’s former adviser Stephen Miller told Fox News host Jesse Waters the mugshot is the “most powerful image” he’s seen.

“One man and his two eyes looked straight into the hearts of the American people and said, ‘I will not give up … I will not surrender’.”

Social media users said the inauguration portrait was “oddly similar” to the mugshot, and wondered if it was intentional.

Others simply wished Trump used the mugshot as the portrait.

“Should have used the mugshot,” one of many social media users said.

The atmosphere in Washington is sure to be electric as supporters and detractors alike prepare for the next phase of Trump’s presidency.

The swearing-in will take place early morning Australian time, followed by a historic inaugural address, which Trump has promised to be unifying.

Inauguration Day will begin with the swearing-in ceremony at noon (local time), where Trump will be administered the oath of office by US Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts.

Following the ceremony, Trump will proceed in a motorcade from the US Capitol to the White House, accompanied by military regiments, bands and citizens’ groups.

A trove of nearly 200 artworks by Hunter Biden has been destroyed — one of the casualties of the wildfires ravaging Los Angeles, The Post has reported.

The controversial art had been in storage near the Pacific Palisades home of Hunter’s Hollywood attorney Kevin Morris and is valued at “millions of dollars,” a source close to the Biden family said.

Morris, who loaned the first son nearly $5 million to help pay a tax bill and has been financing a documentary on him, lives in a sprawling five-bedroom, six-bathroom home which is among the few houses still intact in the posh neighborhood, The Post can confirm.

Last week, as the fires began to rage, President Biden said his son’s home in nearby Malibu may still be intact. “Today, it appears that it’s still standing. They’re not sure.”

A Soho gallerist who represented the first son’s work and had organized solo shows of his paintings in Los Angeles and New York from 2021 said he broke ties with Hunter last year.

“I don’t know what’s happening with the art,” said gallery owner Georges Berges. “I have some of his work on canvas, some metal pieces at the gallery.”

Hunter’s art pieces have been priced as high as $500,000 each, although Berges told The Post the average price was closer to $85,000.

Morris bought $875,000 worth of Hunter’s artworks via Berges, many of them of flowers on Japanese paper, he said.

Berges told a congressional panel investigating the Biden family’s assets last year that Hunter knew the people who bought most of his art, despite assurances from the White House that buyers would be kept secret to avoid a conflict of interest with the president.

In addition to Morris, Elizabeth Hirsh Naftali was named as another buyer. She obtained works before and after scoring a prestigious presidential appointment, according to reports.

Hunter Biden was issued a controversial pardon by his father on gun and tax evasion crimes last month.

UnitedHealth Group is charging patients a markup for key life-saving drugs that could easily exceed their cost by a factor of ten or more, according to findings from the Federal Trade Commission.

The report, which levels the same allegations at CVS and Cigna, is the latest indictment of America’s broken healthcare system and comes on the heels of last month’s shocking murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.

The U.S. is notorious for incurring the highest costs per capita of any wealthy nation, yet failing to achieve an even remotely equivalent improvement in patient outcomes versus Europe’s social market-based economies.

Critics argue that is due largely to the highly opaque manner in which needless markups are hidden to conceal inefficiencies that serve various vested interests. These include, but are not limited to, the big three drug middlemen known as pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs).

According to the FTC report, UnitedHealth’s OptumRx, along with Cigna’s Express Scripts and CVS Caremark Rx, were able to collectively pocket $7.3 billion in added revenue above cost during the five year period of the study through 2022.

“The Big 3 PBMs marked up numerous specialty generic drugs dispensed at their affiliated pharmacies by thousands of percent, and many others by hundreds of percent,” it concluded.

A thousand percent increase in the price of a drug that costs $10 wholesale would result in a retail price of $110.

This markup rate applied to 22% of the specialty therapies examined, including Imatinib, a generic used to treat leukemia, or non-oncological Tadalafil for pulmonary hypertension. Others such as Lamivudine needed by HIV-positive patients were nearly quadruple the price of their acquisition cost.

Independent Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders has been conducting Congressional hearings in an attempt to shed light on the problems posed by these drug middlemen as well as drugmakers themselves.

UnitedHealth Group in headlines for all the wrong reasons

The accused killer of Brian Thompson cited the industry’s failures as his motive for assassinating the UnitedHealth executive on the streets of New York. Luigi Mangione ended up receiving an outpouring of support on social media from Americans furious how the Minnesota-based company mistreated their loved ones.

The business that was managed by Thompson, the group’s insurance arm United Healthcare, had denied twice as many claims as the industry average, according to figures from comparison site ValuePenguin.

Just this month, surgeon Elisabeth Potter recounted how she was in the midst of operating on a breast cancer patient when an urgent call came in from United Healthcare demanding proof the procedure was in fact justified.

“It’s out of control,” she said in a video uploaded to TikTok, “insurance is out of control.”

The findings levelled at the three big PBMs stem from a report carried out under the leadership of outgoing FTC chair Lina Khan. She has been a frequent target of criticism due to her robust approach to investigating monopolies and waging battle with Big Tech, earning her the ire of major figures in Silicon Valley on both sides of the political divide.

Importantly, all five FTC commissioners signed off on the release of the report. This includes Andrew Ferguson, Khan’s designated replacement under Trump, as well as his fellow Republican, Melissa Holyoak.

Cherry picking data to push an ‘anti-PBM’ narrative

UnitedHealth’s OptumRx told Fortune it is still reviewing the specifics of the report, but the PBM said it helped eligible patients save $1.3 billion in costs, estimating the median out-of-pocket payment to be $5.

“Optum is lowering the cost of specialty medications, which comprises half of all drug expenditures, and providing clinical expertise, programs and support for patients with complex and rare conditions,” it said.

CVS Caremark, by comparison, argued the FTC was guilty of “cherry picking” its analysis by focusing on generics, which represent a tiny fraction of client spending over branded specialty drugs in an attempt to mislead. It, too, said it was saving clients money: out-of-pocket costs have dropped seven straight years for a total reduction of 29% since 2016.

“If we’re going to have an investigation like this, the American people deserve to see the complete story based on all the facts and not just those that support a predetermined narrative,” it countered in a statement to Fortune. “The ‘anti-PBM’ policies the FTC is currently pursuing would only increase U.S. drug costs for American patients, employers, unions, and taxpayers.”

Branded drugs, however, bear substantial risk as they are unproven and highly risky endeavors that can take years of experimental trials before they can achieve a return on investment—assuming they ever do at all. By comparison, generic versions of off-patent drugs only cost the materials needed to produce them and enjoy an already built-in market with regulatory approval.

Outgoing US President Joe Biden’s administration on Wednesday announced a ban on Red Dye No 3, a controversial food and drug coloring long known to cause cancer in animals.

Decades after scientific evidence first raised alarm, Red 3, as it is also called, is currently used in nearly 3,000 food products in the United States, according to the nonprofit Environmental Working Group.

“FDA is revoking the authorized uses in food and ingested drugs of FD&C Red No 3 in the color additive regulations,” said a document from the Department of Health and Human Services, published in the Federal Register on Wednesday.

The decision follows a petition filed in November 2022 by the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) and other advocacy groups, which cited the “Delaney Clause” — a provision mandating the prohibition of any color additive shown to cause cancer in humans or animals.

Notably, the FDA determined as early as 1990 that Red 3 should be banned in cosmetics because of its link to thyroid cancer in lab rats.

However, the additive continued to be used in foods, largely due to resistance from the food industry. Manufacturers of maraschino cherries, for example, relied on Red 3 to maintain the iconic red hue of their products.

It’s also present in thousands of candies, snacks and fruit products.

The United States is one of the last major economies to take action on the dye. The European Union prohibited its use in 1994, with similar bans implemented in Japan, China, the UK, Australia and New Zealand.

CSPI hailed the decision as overdue and expressed hope it would lead to further action against other potentially harmful chemicals in food.

“They don’t add any nutritional value, they don’t preserve the food — they’re just there to make food look pretty,” Thomas Galligan, a scientist with CSPI, told AFP.

“There’s growing discussion across the political spectrum about food additives and chemicals, which reflects ongoing failures by the FDA.”

President Joe Biden touted a ceasefire agreement Wednesday between Israel and Hamas, a goal his administration has been working toward for more than a year now with less than a week before he leaves the Oval Office.

This deal, which will not commence until Sunday and could still fall apart before then, is the culmination of negotiations facilitated by the United States, Qatar, and Egypt. It’s unclear exactly why the deal came together now, though President-elect Donald Trump has repeatedly warned Hamas that there would be “hell to pay” if the hostages were not released by his inauguration, which is set for next Monday.

Who gets credit? Biden or Trump?

“I’d also note, this deal was developed and negotiated under my administration but its terms will be implemented, for the most part, by the next administration,” Biden said during brief remarks laying out the deal. “For these past few days, we’ve been speaking as one team.”

Biden acknowledged in his remarks that the deal Israel and Hamas have agreed to is similar to the proposal he publicly described last May, but he didn’t specify why both sides have made the necessary concessions to get the deal done now.

When asked by a reporter whether he or Trump deserved credit following his remarks, Biden said, “Is that a joke?” before walking away.

Despite the comment, Trump’s incoming special envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, became involved in the negotiations in recent weeks following the election. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Witkoff’s addition to the U.S. side has been important for getting the deal done because it ensured the incoming administration would support the agreement.

“I think Steve Witkoff has been a terrific partner in this, and also President-elect Trump in making clear that he wants to see this deal go forward, and go forward before Jan. 20. And of course, everyone wants to know — and it’s very useful as well to have Steve a part of this — they want to make sure that the deal that the President’s put on the table and that we’ve negotiated, the Trump administration will continue to back,” Blinken said.

The Trump team’s participation in the negotiations indicated to relevant parties that it would support the deal once the inauguration occurs next week.

State Department spokesman Matthew Miller acknowledged Wednesday that the Trump team “has been absolutely critical in getting this deal over the line” in light of the impending conclusion of the Biden administration.

He also argued that Hamas finally agreed to a ceasefire after it realized there would be no larger regional war and none of Iran or its proxies would be coming to its defense.

What is the future of Hamas?

Israel has decimated Hamas’s senior leadership and its ranks, but the U.S.-designated terrorist organization has continued its attempts to reconstitute, particularly in northern Gaza. Israeli forces have killed Hamas’s top officials, including Yahya Sinwar, Mohammed Deif, and Ismail Haniyeh.

Biden administration officials have said Hamas does not pose the same threat to Israel’s national security that it did prior to the war, but the group’s efforts and attacks on Israeli forces have continued.

Biden, in his public remarks Wednesday, raised eyebrows by declaring that with the ceasefire deal, Palestinians in Gaza could now look to a future free from Hamas, but the initial contours of the ceasefire deal do not actually address the status of Hamas.

Israel has maintained that it will not allow Hamas to retake governing control of Gaza, and the U.S. agrees with its position, but it’s unclear who will lead the next government of the enclave.

Blinken also said the Palestinian Authority, which governs the West Bank, “should invite international partners to help establish and run an interim administration with responsibility for key civil sectors in Gaza like banking, water, energy, health, civil coordination with Israel.”

“The international community would provide funding, technical support, and oversight,” he added. “The interim administration would include Palestinians from Gaza and representatives from the PA — selected following meaningful consultation with communities in Gaza — and would hand over complete responsibility to a fully reformed PA administration as soon as it’s feasible.”

Hamas’s true strength is unknown, but in a Tuesday speech at the Atlantic Council, Blinken said Hamas has largely recuperated its losses from Israeli strikes with new recruits after Oct. 7.

Blinken’s assessment is a stark recognition of the situation facing both Israel and Gaza and whether this effort will finally secure a lasting peace between them.

Israel has sought to destroy Hamas, a terrorist organization that intentionally embeds itself within and underneath civilian infrastructure in order to shield itself, and in doing so, has risked the lives of many civilians, destroyed much of the enclave, and displaced nearly the entire population. The death toll is north of 45,000 people, which includes civilians and combatants, raising the question of whether an unintended consequence of the war was creating a new generation of Palestinians who have been radicalized against Israel due to the military’s operations.

What is the timeline of the ceasefire and the different stages?

The ceasefire will be implemented in three stages, the first of which will take six weeks and begin this weekend.

Hamas will release 33 hostages in exchange for hundreds of Palestinians being held in Israeli prisons, including those given life sentences and 1,000 taken prisoner after Oct. 7. No prisoners who took part in the Oct. 7 attacks will be part of the exchange. Many of the prisoners that could be released have ties with Hamas.

Israeli troops will withdraw from most of Gaza, with soldiers only allowed within a 700-meter-deep buffer zone within the strip, except for corridors along the Egyptian border and through the center of Gaza.

Israel will allow displaced Palestinians, nearly the entire population, to return to what is left of their homes. A flood of humanitarian aid will be let in, and those needing medical treatment will be allowed out of the Gaza Strip.

If the conditions of Phase 1 are met, Phase 2 will see all remaining living hostages released in exchange for more Palestinian prisoners. The current document holds that Israel will then initiate a “complete withdrawal,” though Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office disputed this.

Netanyahu has been adamant over the course of the war that Israel would not agree to a permanent deal that could allow Hamas to reconstitute. It’s unclear whether the two sides will be able to come together to get to the second phase or whether Israel will resume its operations in Gaza.

Though the details of Phase 3 are unclear, it would involve the transfer of the remains of the remaining hostages in exchange for a 3- to 5-year internationally-assisted reconstruction plan for Gaza.

According to a draft viewed by the Wall Street Journal, Hamas accepted verbal guarantees from the U.S., Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey that Israel would continue negotiations for a permanent ceasefire.

After 16 days, talks will focus on whether to extend the ceasefire into a permanent end to hostilities.

How many hostages are believed to be alive?

According to a Washington Post tracker, Israel believes around 60 hostages are still alive. However, the Wall Street Journal reported that privately, Israeli and U.S. officials believe the true number is much higher.

Of the seven remaining American hostages, only three are believed to be alive, with the remaining four dead, according to Miller.

Of the 251 hostages taken on Oct. 7, 117 have been freed or rescued, and 74 have been confirmed killed. The rest, dead or alive, are still in captivity, with 33 of them set to be released over the next six weeks. Seven Americans are among the roughly 100 hostages who are still being held.

At least two Americans, Keith Siegel and Sagui Dekel-Chen, are expected to be released during the first phase of the ceasefire, according to a senior administration official.

Six of President-elect Donald Trump’s big-office nominees faced Senate confirmation hearings Wednesday, previewing a parade of policy and political fights that will define his second term.

The picks — Pam Bondi for attorney general, Marco Rubio for secretary of state, Sean Duffy for transportation secretary, John Ratcliffe for CIA director, Chris Wright for energy secretary and Russell Vought for director of the White House Office of Management and Budget — largely avoided the kind of fireworks that can sink confirmation chances.

At the same time, they collectively laid out visions for the agencies they hope to lead that comport with Trump’s campaign promises and political grievances.

Here are the takeaways from the hearings.

Pam Bondi (Attorney General)

Independence and Political Allegiance: Pam Bondi, nominated for Attorney General, emphasized her commitment to not politicizing the Justice Department. She stated, “I will never have enemies within the Department of Justice,” but faced skepticism from Democrats regarding her ability to remain independent from Trump’s influence, especially concerning potential investigations into his critics.

Election Integrity Responses: Throughout the hearing, Bondi repeatedly avoided directly acknowledging that Trump lost the 2020 election. When pressed by senators, she only affirmed that “Joe Biden is the president of the United States” without confirming the election results, which raised concerns among Democrats about her commitment to upholding electoral integrity.

Handling of Investigations: Bondi suggested that she would evaluate any requests to investigate political adversaries on a case-by-case basis but did not rule out such actions entirely. This has led to fears that she might misuse her position to target individuals based on political affiliations.

Civil Rights Concerns: Critics expressed alarm over Bondi’s previous stances on civil rights issues and her failure to provide assurances that she would protect voting rights for all Americans. Her responses during the hearing did not alleviate concerns about her commitment to enforcing civil rights laws impartially.

Marco Rubio (Secretary of State)

Foreign Policy Focus: Marco Rubio, nominated for Secretary of State, highlighted the need for a shift in U.S. foreign policy to prioritize American interests and reduce reliance on China. He emphasized that Washington must change its approach to global challenges.

Commitment to Allies: Rubio assured senators of his dedication to strengthening alliances and partnerships, indicating that he would work towards rebuilding trust with allies that may have been strained during previous administrations.

Addressing Global Threats: He discussed various global threats, including those posed by authoritarian regimes, and stressed the importance of a strong U.S. presence in international affairs to counter these challenges effectively.

Bipartisan Support: Rubio’s nomination appears to have garnered bipartisan support, with many senators expressing confidence in his ability to navigate complex international relationships and uphold U.S. values abroad.

John Ratcliffe (CIA Director)

Commitment to Non-Politicization: John Ratcliffe, nominated for CIA Director, repeatedly assured senators that he would not impose political litmus tests on CIA employees and would maintain the agency’s independence from political influence. He emphasized the importance of speaking truth to power and protecting the integrity of intelligence assessments.

Support for Surveillance Powers: Ratcliffe expressed strong support for Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), describing it as an “indispensable national security tool.” He acknowledged concerns about civil liberties but argued that the program is critical for obtaining actionable intelligence.

Focus on Emerging Technologies: He highlighted the need for the CIA to enhance its capabilities in emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence and quantum computing, to stay ahead of adversaries. Ratcliffe also emphasized the importance of strengthening human intelligence efforts and addressing transnational criminal organizations.

Bipartisan Support: Despite his close ties to Trump, Ratcliffe received some bipartisan support during the hearing, with senators expressing confidence in his ability to navigate complex national security challenges while maintaining the agency’s integrity.

Russell Vought (OMB Director)

Fiscal Discipline: Russell Vought, nominated for Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), focused on the need for fiscal responsibility and reducing government spending. He indicated that he would prioritize budgetary discipline in his role.

Support for Trump’s Agenda: Vought reiterated his commitment to advancing President Trump’s policy priorities, including tax cuts and deregulation, which align with his previous work as OMB acting director during Trump’s administration.

Emphasis on Efficiency: He stressed the importance of making government operations more efficient and effective, aiming to streamline processes within federal agencies to better serve taxpayers.

Sean Duffy (Transportation Secretary)

Infrastructure Investment: Sean Duffy, nominated for Transportation Secretary, highlighted the need for significant investment in U.S. infrastructure, focusing on modernizing transportation systems to improve safety and efficiency.

Bipartisan Collaboration: Duffy emphasized his willingness to work across party lines to address transportation challenges, seeking input from both Democrats and Republicans to create comprehensive solutions.

Focus on Rural Communities: He expressed a commitment to addressing transportation needs in rural areas, ensuring that infrastructure development benefits all regions of the country.

Chris Wright (Energy Secretary)

Energy Independence: Chris Wright, nominated as Energy Secretary, underscored the importance of achieving energy independence for the United States through increased domestic production and innovation in energy technologies.

Support for Fossil Fuels and Renewables: Wright indicated a balanced approach that supports both fossil fuels and renewable energy sources, aiming to create a diverse energy portfolio while addressing climate change concerns.

Regulatory Reform: He called for regulatory reforms to facilitate energy development and reduce bureaucratic hurdles that hinder progress in energy projects.

President-elect Trump’s Inauguration Day is less than a week away, and he’s begun to plan who will attend various events in Washington to mark his return to the White House.

Trump has invited many other people, including Chinese President Xi Jinping and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, but it’s not known if they will come to the U.S. to welcome Trump back to office.

Here’s who is confirmed to attend Trump’s inauguration so far:

President Biden

President Biden announced last month he would attend Trump’s inauguration.

He said, “of course” he would attend, noting the only outgoing president not to attend the ceremony was Trump himself, when he lost to Biden in 2020. Former first lady Melania Trump also did not attend.

Former President Obama

Former President Obama will attend the Jan. 20 ceremony, but his wife, former first lady Michelle Obama, will not. In a statement, the Obama family said the former president would be attending Trump’s second inauguration.

The statement did not provide an explanation for Michelle Obama’s absence. Her decision not to attend Trump’s inauguration breaks the tradition among most former presidents and their wives, besides the Trumps in 2020.

Former President Obama recently sat next to Trump at former President Carter’s funeral last week. The two noticeably shared a laugh and conversation at the ceremony.

Former President Bush and former first lady Laura Bush

Former President Bush and former first lady Laura Bush will attend, according to a Bush spokesperson.

Former President Clinton and former first lady Hillary Clinton

Former President Clinton and former first lady Hillary Clinton will also attend the ceremony next week.

Hillary Clinton, Obama’s secretary of State, notably attended Trump’s first inauguration in 2017 after she lost the 2016 presidential election to him.

Elon Musk

Elon Musk, who has been tapped to co-lead Trump’s “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE), will be in Washington to attend the inauguration.

Musk donated millions to Trump’s campaign and has become a close ally of the president-elect’s. There’s concern about Musk’s influence over Trump as the tech billionaire continues to engage politically with him ahead of the inauguration.

Jeff Bezos

Amazon owner Jeff Bezos will also be in attendance, The Washington Post reported.

Bezos also owns the aerospace company Blue Origin and recently expressed optimism about the new Trump administration’s space policy.

Mark Zuckerberg

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg will attend the inauguration, seated next to Bezos and Musk.

The tech trio are expected to be seated near the other former presidents, Trump’s family, lawmakers, and his Cabinet picks, the Post reported, a prominent seat for the group.

A contractor embedded in one of the Pentagon’s highest offices has been terminated from his firm, Booz Allen Hamilton, after boasting to an undercover journalist that he worked with retired generals to try to stop Donald Trump, who he viewed as a “sociopathic narcissist,” from winning the presidency.

O’Keefe Media Group caught Jamie Mannina boasting to a young woman that he worked for Hillary Clinton in the Senate and the State Department before joining the FBI to hunt Russian spies because he believed Russia was to blame for Trump winning the 2016 election. From there, he joined government contractor Booz Allen, and the Pentagon embedded the contractor into its inner sanctum.

Mannina, who appeared to believe he was on a date with a younger woman, said if Kamala Harris had won the presidency, he would have been given a “pretty big job.”

Even though Trump won, he said he would “be fine” and continue serving as a “special advisor to the Joint Chiefs of Staff at the Pentagon.”

“Over most of the year, since this spring, I was working with these retired generals, retired ambassadors, in this organization, this nonprofit called National Security Leaders for America. And what we were doing was we were trying to explain to the American people the national security consequences of another Trump presidency” and “defeat Donald Trump,” he said.

Watch:

BREAKING VIDEO: Top Pentagon Advisor Reveals On Hidden Camera Conversation “with a Couple of Retired Generals to Explore What We Can Do” to ‘Protect People from Trump’

Confirms Secret Meetings regarding AI: “That is sensitive information… We’re going to have to keep it between… pic.twitter.com/Ry2zAMW3rn

— James O’Keefe (@JamesOKeefeIII) January 15, 2025

He said he ghost-wrote more than 100 anti-Trump op-eds for the retired generals. ”I was literally working day and night, nonstop. So ultimately when he won I was really sad, really depressed, not only in terms of mission failure but of course i was hoping to advance my career. Had [Harris] won I would have gotten a pretty big job,” he said.

Mannina also disparaged Pete Hegseth, Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Defense, and said he was continuing to work with retired generals to restrict Trump’s actions as president. “I’m having a meeting in fact tomorrow about it,” he said.

On one date with the undercover journalist, Mannina said that the next day he would be personally presenting to the chiefs of the Army, the Navy, and the Air Force, in a meeting led by General CQ Brown, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He said the topic was artificial intelligence and the need to share information with other countries “because we need to fight together.”

Mannina also told the journalist “I predict Trump will probably entertain publicly the idea of staying in office, changing the laws, which he’s not allowed to do by the Constitution.” Ironically, it was Mannina who seemed determined to thwart the will of voters and continue on in government after his side’s time was up.

According to Mannina’s LinkedIn, he worked as a Special Assistant to Hillary Clinton in the Senate, then as a Special Assistant at the State Department, then a Desk Officer and Foreign Affairs advisor there. After that, he worked as a Mission Manager at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence during the Trump administration.

In 2019, he became an FBI agent, and in 2020, took the job at Booz Allen.

Hours after James O’Keefe published the video, Joint Staff spokesman Joseph R. Holstead told OMG that he had been sent back to Booz Allen.

“Jamie Mannina is not an advisor to the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the Joint Chiefs, nor has he interacted with the Chairman or the Joint Chiefs. We can confirm Mannina was a Booz Allen Hamilton contracted employee with the Joint Staff J6 Command, Control, Communications and Computers/Cyber Directorate. The alleged comments by Mannina do not reflect the positions of the Chairman or the Joint Staff. Furthermore, the Chairman looks forward to working as President-elect Donald J. Trump’s principal military advisor in the next administration,” wrote Holstead.

Partisan embedded government contractors, who are not beholden to typical government hiring rules, could be an obstacle for Trump to navigate.

Someone with the title of “special advisor” and a history of working for a senator would typically be a political appointee and would be replaced by an incoming administration, but his status as a contractor meant that — had the video not come out — he could have continued on.