Politics

The Associated Press reports: Sen. Joni Ernst made her most expansive comments yet on Pete Hegseth, telling a largely GOP audience at a California security conference Saturday that she needs to hear more from President-elect Donald Trump’s embattled defense secretary pick on key issues before she decides whether to support him. ”I am a survivor of sexual assault,” said Ernst …

“Within the party Ronald Reagan once led so capably, it is increasingly fashionable to suggest that the sort of global leadership he modeled is no longer America’s place. But let’s be absolutely clear: America will not be made great again by those who are content to manage our decline. “At both ends of our politics, a dangerous fiction is taking …

The New York Times reports: President Bashar al-Assad has resigned and left Syria, Russia’s foreign ministry said on Sunday, hours after rebels stormed the Syrian capital without encountering any significant resistance from government forces. It did not offer details on Mr. al-Assad’s exact whereabouts, saying only that he had held talks with “several parties of the armed conflict.” There was …

Via press release: The National Police Association proudly expresses our full support for Kash Patel’s nomination to serve as the next Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Kash Patel’s extensive career in national security, law enforcement, and public service has demonstrated his unwavering commitment to upholding the rule of law, defending justice, and protecting the American people. Throughout his …

The Guardian reports: Donald Trump announced on Thursday that he was nominating podcaster and former PayPal chief operating officer David Sacks to be his White House artificial intelligence and crypto czar, continuing a pattern of rewarding big donors with political power. Sacks, a venture capitalist and Silicon Valley insider, hosted big spenders at his San Francisco mansion in June to …

Florida Politics reports: Eleven candidates have already qualified to run in a Special Election to succeed former U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz. More are expected to enter the running before a noon deadline on Friday. Jimmy Patronis [photo], Florida’s Chief Financial Officer, already landed a critical endorsement from President-elect Donald Trump, and now has qualified for the ballot. Patronis already resigned …

Florence, South Carolina’s CBS affiliate reports: Darlington Mayor Curtis Boyd used an anti-gay slur during the public comment portion of Tuesday’s city council meeting. During public comments, a man tells Boyd he should not be the mayor of Darlington because he does not live within city limits. Boyd responds to the man, saying he could come home with him and …

Politico reports: Sen. Joni Ernst isn’t ready to throw her weight behind Pete Hegseth’s bid to lead the Pentagon, she said Thursday on Fox News. Ernst (R-Iowa), who had a “frank and thorough” conversation with the Defense Department pick on Wednesday, was asked on “America’s Newsroom” if she’s not ready to vote yes on Hegseth amid allegations of sexual misconduct …

Axios reports: Vivek Ramaswamy told Axios’ Mike Allen at the Aspen Security Forum on Wednesday that he’s “hopeful” that slashing the federal workforce could be “good for many of the individuals who make a transition from government service back to the private sector.” Ramaswamy believes that cutting the workforce will improve the “productivity” of the U.S. economy, “because I don’t …

EuroNews reports: Michel Barnier on Wednesday became the French Fifth Republic’s shortest-serving prime minister after the leftist New Popular Front (NFP) alliance and the far-right National Rally (RN) party joined forces to bring him down during a no-confidence vote. Barnier’s government was toppled with 331 votes backing the motion of censure. A majority of 288 votes was required. The 73-year-old …

The BBC reports: South Korean MPs have begun impeachment proceedings against President Yoon Suk Yeol after thwarting his shock move to impose martial law. The president had said martial law was needed to protect the country from “North Korea’s communist forces” and to “eliminate anti-state elements.” Though he cited North Korea, President Yoon’s decision was seen as a response to …

The New York Times reports: The Supreme Court will hear arguments on Wednesday over whether a Tennessee law denying some kinds of medical care to transgender youth runs afoul of the Constitution. Twenty-three other states have similar laws. The court’s decision, expected by June, will almost certainly yield a major statement on transgender rights against the backdrop of a fierce …

The Hill reports: Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) vented his displeasure Monday after two Democratic-appointed federal judges reversed their decisions to retire in what appear to be efforts to stop President-elect Trump from nominating their successors. McConnell called the unusual decisions to forgo retirement following Trump’s sweeping victory last month a “partisan” gambit that would undermine the integrity of …

The Washington Examiner reports: Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-FL) said he would join the House DOGE Caucus next year, becoming the first Democrat to align himself with GOP-led efforts to crack down on government efficiency and slash federal agencies. Moskowitz announced the move Tuesday, arguing that efforts to streamline governmental processes and reorganize the federal government should not be partisan. The …

CBS News reports: South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared an “emergency martial law” on Tuesday, accusing the country’s opposition of controlling the parliament, sympathizing with North Korea and paralyzing the government with anti-state activities. “To safeguard a liberal South Korea from the threats posed by North Korea’s communist forces and to eliminate anti-state elements… I hereby declare emergency martial …

Politico reports: Donald Trump says he will attend the reopening of Notre Dame in Paris on Saturday. The visit will be his first major outing since winning the election. “President Emmanuel Macron has done a wonderful job ensuring that Notre Dame has been restored to its full level of glory, and even more so. It will be a very special …

“As a father, I don’t know a father that wouldn’t have done the same thing. What I would have done differently. My recommendations to the counsel would have been, ‘why don’t you go ahead and pardon Donald Trump for all his charges and make it, you know, it’d have gone down a lot more balanced, if you will. I’m just …

Axios reports: A staffer for House Administration Committee ranking member Joe Morelle (D-N.Y.) is no longer employed after he was arrested Monday morning on suspicion of bringing ammunition into a U.S. House office building. A Capitol Police spokesperson identified the staffer as 38-year-old Michael Hopkins, Morelle’s communications director. Capitol Police searched Hopkins’ bag after it went through an X-ray machine …

The Raleigh News & Observer reports: The North Carolina Senate voted to override a veto from Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper on Monday amid protests, the latest example of Republicans using their supermajority power after election results indicated they will lose it next month. There was no debate. Just before the vote was called, someone shouted from the packed gallery above …

NBC News reports: A former Israeli defense minister has accused his country of committing war crimes and ethnic cleansing in the Gaza Strip, in a rare criticism from Israel’s own security community about military operations in the Palestinian enclave. Moshe Yaalon said the Israeli government was putting the lives of Israel Defense Forces soldiers in danger and exposing them to …