National News

Texas offers Trump land for migrant ‘deportation facilities’  BBC.comTom Homan says Trump admin will ‘absolutely’ use gifted Texas land for deportation program  The HillTexas offers thousands of acres to Trump for ‘deportation facilities’  The Guardian USTexas offers Trump land on US-Mexico border for potential mass deportations  The Associated PressTexas offers 1,400-acre ranch to Trump to use as part of mass deportation plan  USA TODAY

Scoop: House Republicans may block Trump from Gaetz recess appointment  AxiosOpinion: Why recess appointments are a bad idea  Yahoo! VoicesTillis: Recess appointments for Cabinet picks ‘should be absolutely off the table’ | CNN Politics  CNNTrump team ‘confident’ Senate Republicans will approve cabinet selections  Fox NewsWhat Are ‘Recess Appointments’ and How Might Trump Try to Leverage Them?  The New York Times

Begich Defeats Peltola in Alaska, Flipping House Seat for Republicans  The New York TimesTrump-district House Democrat loses Alaska seat to political scion  Fox NewsRanked choice tabulation is set for 5 p.m. today. Watch it live here.  KTOOTrump-backed Republican Nick Begich beats Democratic Rep. Mary Peltola for Alaska’s only House seat  The Seattle TimesAlaska chooses to keep ranked choice voting, Begich defeats Peltola, unofficial results show  Alaska Beacon

Trump Transition Live Updates: News on Matt Gaetz and House Ethics Committee  The New York TimesRepublicans on ethics panel vote to block Gaetz report  CNNThursday Briefing  The New York TimesHouse panel was told Gaetz paid two women $10,000, in part for sex  The Washington PostGaetz sent over $10K in Venmo payments to 2 women who testified in House probe, records suggest  ABC News

Republicans in North Carolina pass sweeping changes to consolidate power  The Washington PostNorth Carolina Republicans Push to Seize Power From Top Democrats  The New York TimesNorth Carolina GOP lawmakers vote to strip incoming Democratic leaders’ powers  NBC NewsPower shifts: How NC Republicans fast-tracked post-election changes drafted in secret  Raleigh News & ObserverThe North Carolina GOP snuck an outrageous antidemocratic power grab into a hurricane relief bill  Mother Jones

The FBI arrested a man who’s been charged with planning an attack on the New York Stock Exchange  The Associated PressWho is Harun Abdul-Malik Yener? Florida man arrested over bomb threat to New York Stock Exchange  Hindustan TimesFBI charges man with alleged plot to bomb New York Stock Exchange  BBC.comFlorida suspect arrested for allegedly planning to bomb NYSE: ‘I feel like Bin Laden’  Fox NewsUS arrests homeless man in New York Stock Exchange bomb plot  Reuters

Senate defeats effort led by Bernie Sanders to block planned US arms sales to Israel  CNNDemocrats Split as Senate Rejects Bills to Block Weapons Transfers to Israel  The New York TimesSenate rejects Bernie Sanders’ effort to block U.S. weapons sales to Israel  Yahoo! VoicesSenate Democrats force Israel weapons vote, citing Biden inaction  The Washington PostRoughly 1/3 of Senate Democrats back failed motions to block US arms sales to Israel  The Times of Israel

360K without power, at least 2 dead after ‘bomb cyclone’ wreaks havoc across region  KOMO NewsNew threat emerges as atmospheric river combines with once-in-a-decade bomb cyclone on the West Coast  CNNSatellite captures ‘incredible’ view of bomb cyclone battering Pacific Northwest  The Times of IndiaStrong Atmospheric River A West Flood Danger  The Weather ChannelPower Outages Affect 600,000 in Washington State as Storm Kills at Least 1  The New York Times

Trump announces Matthew Whitaker as his pick to be US ambassador to NATO  CNNTrump taps former acting AG Matthew Whitaker as NATO ambassador  Fox NewsTrump’s Latest Cabinet Pick Is His Crappiest Yet (Literally)  The New RepublicTrump taps Matthew Whitaker, former acting attorney general, for NATO ambassador  The Washington PostTrump taps former acting AG Matthew Whitaker for ambassador to NATO  POLITICO

Bryan Kohbherger can face death penalty if convicted in trial of slain Idaho college students, judge rules  CBS NewsIdaho college murders: Prosecutors can seek death penalty against man charged with killing 4 students  NBC NewsBryan Kohberger can face death penalty if convicted in Idaho college slayings  Fox NewsIdaho college killings to remain a death penalty case  ABC NewsJudge denies 12 defense motions, keeps death penalty on table for Kohberger case  Idaho News

Ex-student pleads guilty to fatally shooting 3 University of Virginia football players in 2022  CNNMan pleads guilty to murder of three UVA players  ESPNUVa shooter pleads guilty to murder  The Daily ProgressFormer UVA student pleads guilty in 2022 mass shooting that killed 3, wounded 2  NBC WashingtonUVA shooter enters plea deal  CBS19 News

Bill Nye: RFK Jr. has ‘lost his way’  POLITICORFK Jr’s abortion ‘issue’: Senate GOP plans to scrutinize Trump HHS pick’s position  Fox NewsHow Science Lost America’s Trust and Surrendered Health Policy to Skeptics  The Wall Street JournalCaroline Kennedy says RFK Jr. holds ‘dangerous’ views on vaccines  NBC NewsGOP senators say RFK Jr. must explain vaccine criticism, other views  The Washington Post

JD Vance Courts Senators With Matt Gaetz, Controversial Cabinet Pick  The New York TimesStephen A. Smith: Trump may have ulterior motive for Gaetz pick  NewsNation NowSenate Republicans deliver a message to Trump: Gaetz’s confirmation is in jeopardy  Yahoo! VoicesGaetz is quietly lobbying Republican senators ‘to give him a shot’ as Trump’s attorney general  CNNMatt Gaetz Breaks Silence on AG Nomination While Courting Senate Votes  Newsweek

Jury awards $98 million to family of Dallas man shot in his home by ex-police officer  NBC NewsFormer Dallas police officer Amber Guyger ordered to pay nearly $100 million in civil trial  CBS NewsBotham Jean’s family awarded nearly $100M in civil wrongful death case  FOX 4 News Dallas-Fort WorthEx-Dallas officer ordered to pay Botham Jean’s family $98M after 2018 fatal shooting  USA TODAYAmber Guyger civil trial: $100 million in damages awarded to family of Botham Jean  The Dallas Morning News

‘What’s left for Bob?’ Lutnick pick raises questions about Lighthizer’s future influence  POLITICOLutnick’s China ties draw fire after Trump taps him to lead US in trade, tariffs  ReutersTrump’s Commerce secretary pick is a crypto booster with ties to one of the industry’s most controversial players  CNNTrump’s Treasury Search Gains Steam With Fresh Meetings  BloombergApollo Global Stock Falls as CEO Marc Rowan Considered for Trump Treasury Job  Barron’s

Speaker Johnson declares support for banning Sarah McBride’s access to women’s restrooms  The Associated PressSpeaker Mike Johnson Says He Will Ban Transgender Women From Capitol Bathrooms  The New York TimesI love living rent free in AOC’s ‘tiny little brain’, says Rep. Nancy Mace  Fox NewsTrans congresswoman Sarah McBride responds to Capitol Hill bathroom ban  The Guardian USOpinion | The GOP is setting a trap on trans rights. Sarah McBride has an answer.  The Washington Post

Trump rages as absent Senate Republicans help confirm Biden judges  AxiosAbsences by Trump’s Senate pals help Democrats confirm Biden judges  CNNTrump rages at Republicans over Biden’s successful judicial confirmations  MSNBCRepublicans fume as GOP absences help Democrats move judicial nominees  The HillOpinion | Biden’s Judicial Nominees and Absentee Republicans  The Wall Street Journal

Bar Owners and Alders Oppose Chicago’s Alcohol Tax Hike Proposal  Eater ChicagoBar and restaurant owners sound alarm on Mayor Johnson’s 35% alcohol tax hike plan  Chicago Tribune’Furious’ Chicago residents tear into Mayor Brandon Johnson before proposed property tax hike shot down  Fox NewsMayor’s liquor tax hike proposal a bitter shot for restaurant, tavern owners  WGN TV Chicago‘Time to grow up:’ Brandon Johnson unveils new budget ideas amid tough fight  NBC Chicago

Could changes be coming to Medicare, Medicaid with Dr. Oz leading CMS?  ABC NewsFetterman would be willing to confirm Dr. Oz — on one condition  Fox NewsDr. Oz Has a Checkered Health Care Record: What to Know About Key Issues  The New York TimesWho has Trump picked for his Cabinet so far? Dr. Mehmet Oz among latest picks  USA TODAYHow Dr. Oz could change Medicare under President Trump  Fortune

Trump wants to use the military for mass deportations. Can he actually do that?  Vox.comTrump deportation plan could target as many as 1.1 million people in Florida  Tallahassee DemocratTrump’s mass deportations would bring economic disaster  MSNBCKiller Mom Susan Smith Bursts Into Tears as She’s Denied Parole  The Daily BeastRand Paul breaks with Trump on using military for mass deportations: ‘Huge mistake’  POLITICO

Linda McMahon, Trump’s Education Secretary Pick, Has a Short Résumé Related to Schools  The New York TimesBetsy DeVos praises Linda McMahon as ‘great appointment’ to lead Trump’s Education Department  Fox NewsTrump’s pick for Education Secretary raises hopes, concerns for K-12 future  Detroit NewsWhat to know about Linda McMahon, Trump’s pick for Education secretary  The Associated PressWhat Linda McMahon is likely to prioritize as education secretary under Trump  PBS NewsHour

Massachusetts Institute of Technology to waive tuition for families making less than $200K  ABC NewsUndergraduates with family income below $200,000 can expect to attend MIT tuition-free starting in 2025  MIT NewsBrandeis University to offer free tuition for families making under 75K  MassLive.comThese Mass. colleges are offering free tuition for eligible families  NBC BostonMIT will make tuition free for families earning less than $200,000 a year  CBS Boston

Donald Trump’s Second Presidency And The LGBTQIA+ Community : 1A  NPRTransgender Americans share concerns about Trump’s threats to rollback rights  PBS NewsHourLGBTQ+ Americans bracing for Trump’s takeover  AxiosAfter election, here’s what crisis hotlines in Washington saw  The Seattle TimesHere’s how same-sex married couples in Illinois are preparing for Donald Trump’s second term  Chicago Sun-Times

Musk, Ramaswamy float ‘large-scale firings,’ ending remote work for federal employees  NBC NewsOpinion | Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy: The DOGE Plan to Reform Government  The Wall Street JournalRemote work crackdown: How Trump’s DOGE could push federal workers to quit  CNN’DOGE’ meets Congress: GOP lawmaker launches caucus to help Musk take on ‘Crazytown’  Fox NewsMusk, Ramaswamy lay out plans for ‘mass’ federal layoffs, rule rollbacks under Trump  The Hill

Lawmakers are concerned about background checks of Trump’s Cabinet picks as red flags surface  The Associated PressSenators Set to Clash With Trump on FBI Checks for Gaetz, Others  BloombergHow Biden can get the upper hand on Trump’s Cabinet picks  MSNBCDems propose bill to ensure FBI role in vetting White House security clearances  POLITICODonald Trump’s Transition Team Skips Ethics Pledges and FBI Background Checks  Vanity Fair