Dec 03 Trump transition team signs agreement to allow official background checks on nominees, staff By Zeke Miller, Associated Press The step lets Trump transition aides and future administration staffers obtain security clearances before Inauguration Day to access classified information about ongoing government programs. Continue reading
Dec 03 Donald Trump's lawyers ask judge to toss hush money conviction citing 'disruption' to presidency By Associated Press Trump's lawyers told Manhattan Judge Juan M. Merchan in court papers Monday that dismissal is warranted because of the extraordinary circumstances of his impending return to the White House. Continue reading
Dec 03 Senate Democrats stick with Schumer as leader, strategy for countering Trump uncertain By Mary Clare Jalonick, Associated Press Senate Democrats reelected Chuck Schumer as party leader on Tuesday as the party moves into a deeply uncertain time, with no real consensus on a strategy. Continue reading
Dec 03 What Trump's FBI director pick says he wants to do to reshape the bureau By Eric Tucker, Associated Press Kash Patel has been well-known for years within Donald Trump’s orbit as a loyal supporter who shares the president-elect’s skepticism of the FBI and intelligence community. Continue reading
Dec 03 Democrats' outgoing chair says Trump's win should force the party to better sell its priorities By Bill Barrow, Associated Press Harrison acknowledged that Democrats must do a better job of selling the party's priorities and accomplishments for the working class. Continue reading
Dec 03 China bans exports to U.S. of key high-tech materials in response to chip sanctions By Elaine Kurtenbach, Associated Press The 140 companies newly included in the U.S. so-called "entity list" subject to export controls are nearly all based in China. Continue reading
Dec 02 Watch 6:18 Trump's defense secretary pick under spotlight amid fresh concerns about his past By Amna Nawaz, Kyle Midura Former Fox News host and defense secretary-delegate Pete Hegseth visited lawmakers on Capitol Hill to discuss his future in the next Trump administration. It comes as new reporting raises fresh concerns about his past. Amna Nawaz discussed the latest with… Continue watching
Dec 02 Biden broke a promise pardoning his son Hunter, raising questions about his legacy By Colleen Long, Zeke Miller, Associated Press Biden has held himself up as placing his respect for the American judicial system and rule of law over his own personal concerns. Now, both his broken promise and his act of clemency are a political lightning rod. Continue reading
Dec 01 What happens next after Trump chooses FBI critic Kash Patel to remake the agency By Eric Tucker, Associated Press Patel is likely to face deep skepticism during his confirmation hearings over his stated plans to rid the government of “conspirators” against Trump, and his claims that he would shut down the FBI’s headquarters in the nation’s capital and send… Continue reading
Nov 30 Trump names loyalist Kash Patel as FBI director to help with effort to upend law enforcement By Eric Tucker, Alan Suderman, Associated Press The selection is in keeping with Trump's view that the government's law enforcement and intelligence agencies require a radical transformation and his stated desire for retribution against supposed adversaries. Continue reading