The Conversation -- November 15, 2024

Julie Tsirkin & Rebecca Shabad of NBC News: “House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said Friday that he would 'strongly request' that the House Ethics Committee not release a report detailing its investigation into former Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla.... There is precedent for releasing ethics reports after or on the same day that a lawmaker resigns from Congress.... Johnson returned to Washington, D.C., early Friday morning after meeting with Trump at Mar-a-Lago on Thursday. Johnson declined to say whether he spoke to Trump about the Ethics report. The bipartisan, 10-member Ethics panel had been scheduled to meet Friday to discuss the report on Gaetz and whether to release it to the public, but a source with direct knowledge had said on Thursday that the meeting was canceled.” ~~~

     ~~~ Marie: Maybe the reason Trump doesn't like dogs is that he finds it so much easier to teach human pets to lie down & roll over.

It Didn't Take Long for a Judge to Put Out My One Tiny Candle. Laura Wagner of the Washington Post: “A federal bankruptcy judge has paused the Onion’s acquisition of Alex Jones’s Infowars pending a court review of the auction process, after lawyers for Jones and the company affiliated with him complained that the satirical news site had put in a bid of $3.5 million.... Judge Christopher Lopez said Thursday that he had concerns about how the bidding process played out and ordered a hearing for next week to review how the auction was conducted.”

M. Gessen of the New York Times makes some observations and predictions about what Trump is up to, based largely on her knowledge of what Viktor Orban & Vladmir Putin have done as well as by Trump's actions during his first term.

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Well, America – I hope you like measles. -- Jake Tapper of CNN ~~~

~~~ Of Crackpots & Crooks, Ctd. Dan Diamond, et al., of the Washington Post: “... Donald Trump on Thursday selected Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a longtime vaccine skeptic, to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, the sprawling agency responsible for administering millions of Americans’ health insurance, approving drugs and medical supplies, regulating food, and responding to infectious-disease outbreaks.... The decision, which public health experts and many Democrats characterized as alarming and unprecedented, means that one of America’s most prominent vaccine skeptics could soon oversee an agency responsible for the safety of vaccines.” (Also linked yesterday.) Politico's story is here. ~~~

     ~~~ John Daley of Colorado Public Radio News: “Colorado Gov. Jared Polis [D] seemed to endorse ... Donald Trump’s pick for Health and Human Services Secretary in a post on X Thursday. 'I’m excited by the news that the President-Elect will appoint Robert Kennedy Jr. to Health and Human Services,' Polis said. 'He helped us defeat vaccine mandates in Colorado in 2019 and will help make America healthy again by shaking up HHS and FDA.'” MB: When RAS linked this story yesterday, I thought it was a joke or a misunderstanding. Apparently not.

Lisa Friedman & Michael Gold of the New York Times: “... Donald J. Trump has tapped Gov. Doug Burgum of North Dakota to run the Interior Department, leading the new administration’s plans to open federal lands and waters to oil and gas drilling. Governor Burgum, 68, has longstanding ties to fossil fuel companies and acted as a liaison between the Trump campaign and the oil executives who have donated heavily to it.... The governor and [his friend billionaire oilman Harold] Hamm have been working on Mr. Trump’s transition.... Mr. Trump made the announcement during a gala for the America First Policy Institute that was held Thursday evening at his Mar-a-Lago estate. Mr. Burgum was in attendance.... The governor has been a cheerleader for drilling, a posture that fits in well with Mr. Trump’s promises of unfettered access for energy companies to the oil.... Scientists have said that the United States and other major economies must stop developing new oil and gas projects to avert the most catastrophic effects of global warming.” Politico's report is here. ~~~

     ~~~ Marie: How refreshing! A nominee who is not crazy. He's merely a danger to us and our descendants for as long as Earth may exist.

Devlin Barrett of the New York Times: “... Donald J. Trump said on Thursday that he would name Todd Blanche, a lawyer who oversaw his defense against multiple indictments, to become the No. 2 official at the Justice Department. The selection of Mr. Blanche, a former prosecutor in Manhattan, as the deputy attorney general serves as an extraordinary rebuke to the criminal cases against Mr. Trump.... More than a year ago, [Mr. Blanche] was a registered Democrat in New York and a partner at a prestigious law firm on Wall Street.... Others on Mr. Trump’s legal team are also in line to receive top assignments: Emil Bove as principal associate deputy attorney general, and D. John Sauer, who represented Mr. Trump before the Supreme Court in arguing that the former president was entitled to broad immunity, as solicitor general.”

Ben Leonard of Politico: “... Donald Trump has nominated one of his previous attorneys and former GOP House member Doug Collins to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs. Collins, 58, a staunch Trump supporter and frequent Fox News guest, served in Congress representing a Georgia district from 2013 to 2021. Collins is an Air Force Reserve chaplain and served in Iraq.... Collins helped defend Trump in his first House impeachment over Ukraine aid.”

Maggie Haberman & Jonathan Swan of the New York Times: Donald Trump's “decision [to name Matt Gaetz attorney general] came together over the course of [a] roughly two-hour flight [Wednesday afternoon], according to a person briefed on what happened.... Mr. Gaetz’s name first came up on the flight up to Washington. It came up again on the flight home, after Mr. Trump found all of his various options — including a state attorney general from Missouri and two top corporate lawyers — to be lacking, according to two people briefed on the matter.”

Colby Itkowitz of the Washington Post: “As Donald Trump moves to fill his administration with polarizing figures like former Florida congressman Matt Gaetz and onetime presidential rival Robert F. Kennedy Jr., he may need Congress to heed his demand to allow him to bypass the traditional confirmation process and appoint his picks without Senate approval. [Trump] has insisted that ... the GOP-led Senate should take extended breaks that would allow him to make recess appointments.... If the Senate agreed to adjourn for the purpose of Trump filling his government without congressional input, it would be 'an absolute abdication of their constitutional power,' said Sarah Binder, a political science professor at George Washington University. 'It’s saying, “Look, we are so loyal to President Trump ... that we’re going to choose him over our rights and our responsibilities as senators,’” she said. 'It doesn’t get more stark than that.'...

“[Soon-to-be Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.)] said [while running for leader that] he was open to recess appointments if needed to get Trump’s nominees in place quickly. On Thursday, Thune expressed a preference for using 'the regular process to get these nominees through' and said his 'intention is to get these folks going and get voting.' But he also noted that there are procedures in place for using recess appointments.”

Ryan Nobles, et al., of NBC News: “Republican senators are preparing for a robust vetting of Matt Gaetz, ... Donald Trump's pick to lead the Justice Department, with a keen interest in details from a House Ethics Committee investigation into the former congressman from Florida.... The House Ethics Committee was scheduled to meet Friday, three sources familiar with the meeting told NBC News, and one of those sources said that releasing the Gaetz report was expected to be among the topics on the agenda. ~~~

     ~~~ Marie: This is a fake story, allowing GOP senators to posture about their "seriousness" even as they may be planning a series of hearings that Michelle Goldberg (linked below) says would be "a popcorn-worthy carnival of scandal and backbiting."

Will Steakin of ABC News: "The woman who was at the center of a yearslong Justice Department investigation into sex trafficking allegations surrounding Rep. Matt Gaetz testified to the House Ethics Committee that the now-former Florida congressman had sex with her when she was 17 years old, sources familiar with the investigation told ABC News.... Over the course of its investigation, the House Ethics Committee conducted interviews with at least half a dozen women who allegedly attended parties where the Florida congressman was also present, and who were paid by [Joel] Greenberg, Gaetz's one-time close friend, sources told ABC News.... Some witnesses were shown Venmo payments they allegedly received from Gaetz, sources said.... One woman who said she attended a party with ... Gaetz in 2017..., told the committee that a payment from Gaetz was for sex...."

None of This Is Surprising. Katie Hawkinson of the Independent: “Pete Hegseth, Donald Trump’s pick for Secretary of Defense, previously faced accusations of sexual misconduct that were investigated by police, according to a report. Trump’s newly-appointed White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles was briefed on Wednesday evening about an allegation that Hegseth engaged in sexual misconduct in Monterey, California seven years ago, according to Vanity Fair. Wiles and Trump’s lawyers spoke to Hegseth after learning about the alleged incident, Vanity Fair added. The Fox News host reportedly said the incident was consensual. 'This allegation was already investigated by the Monterey Police Department and they found no evidence for it,' Hegseth’s attorney told the outlet.”

Michelle Goldberg of the New York Times: “While Trump’s choice of Gaetz to lead the Justice Department is a clear sign that his second administration will be catastrophically chaotic, vengeful and corrupt, that should never have been in doubt. Trump made no secret during his campaign ... [that a]nyone he chose as attorney general would share his interest in turning the justice system into the enforcement arm of the MAGA movement. The selection of Gaetz just rips the mask off. With it, Trump is trolling not just his defeated opponents but many of his craven establishment supporters.... Of all the people Trump was considering for A.G., Gaetz is unique mainly for how much he is hated by other Republicans.... Gaetz is not, by any normal standards, even a tiny bit qualified to be attorney general.... His chief credential is not his mastery of the law but his contempt for it.... The best we can hope for is that our new rulers will be stymied by incompetence, infighting and self-sabotage. In that respect, Gaetz may be just the man for the job.” Emphasis added.

Amanda Marcotte of Salon: “The goal [in Trump's choosing Hegseth, Gaetz & Gabbard] seems to be finding people who are uniquely unfit for these jobs, both to rile up liberals and to flush out any Republicans with remaining loyalties to the concept of responsible governance. But while being handsome and totally unqualified got Hegseth the job, it's unfair to say those are the only things he brings to the table. He also embodies the type of masculinity Trump and the MAGA movement loves: One that desperately wants to appear strong, but reveals itself to be weak and brittle given a moment's investigation. Hegseth is the ultimate in cubic zirconia manhood. Reporting suggests that Trump was especially enamored with Hegseth's skill at whining, and especially about how easily threatened he is by women, people who are different, and any demands that he learn stuff or reckon with new ideas.” (Also linked yesterday.)

Eugene Robinson of the Washington Post: “As was the case during his first term, Trump does not so much assemble a Cabinet as cast a reality show. He wants the members of his team to have a certain look, a certain backstory, a certain persona.... The Senate has a duty to reject nominees who are obviously and dangerously unfit — such as Gaetz, Gabbard, Hegseth and, of course, Kennedy. Trump is daring Sen. John Thune of South Dakota, the next majority leader, to defy him. For the sake of the country, Thune needs to call Trump’s bluff.” MB: Fat chance. See Chait. ~~~

~~~ Jonathan Chait, now of the Atlantic: “Old-guard Republicans appear to be in the middle stage of a familiar Trump-era progression. It begins He’d never do it before moving on to We’ll stop him if he tries and finally settling on There was nothing we could have done anyway. As they advance through these stages, they will cede Trump more and more power, which will only vindicate their ultimate fatalism. How could they ever have stood up to somebody so strong?” Thanks to laura h. for the gift link. If it doesn't work here, her link -- posted near the end of yesterday's Comments -- does work.

Here is a gift link from laura h. to Tom Nichols' essay in the Atlantic in which he assails Tulsi Gabbard as being "stunningly unqualified" to be director of national intelligence. "Her appointment would be a threat to the security of the United States," Nichols writes. (Also linked yesterday.) In yesterday's Comments, laura also has given us links to two other, related, Atlantic articles.

Patrick Marley, et al., of the Washington Post: “Two Republican Senate candidates are refusing to concede after losing, and their allies are raising questions about how the election was conducted in a pair of swing states Donald Trump won. In Wisconsin, Eric Hovde said he was considering seeking a recount in his loss to Democratic Sen. Tammy Baldwin and cast doubt on election patterns that experts called ordinary. In Arizona, Kari Lake has not conceded to Democratic Rep. Ruben Gallego, just as she refused to concede when she lost the 2022 race for governor. Her campaign called it 'hard to believe' that Lake lost to Gallego, but Lake appeared to acknowledge she had come up short in a video message released Wednesday night.”

Alex Griffing of Mediaite: “Former Trump White House advisor Steve Bannon told MSNBC’s Ari Melber and 'all you hosts' and producers at the network that they had better 'lawyer up' because Matt Gaetz’s Justice Department would soon be coming for them. [Bannon also named frequenty MSNBC guest Andrew Weissmann.] Bannon made the threat while gleefully addressing his War Room podcast audience on Wednesday after President-elect Donald Trump had officially nominated Rep. Gaetz (R-FL) to be his attorney general.... Bannon made headlines in December of 2023 when he and former Trump Pentagon official Kash Patel threatened MSNBC hosts with revenge in the form of 'prosecutions and accountability.'”

Isaac Stanle-Becker & Ellen Nakashima of the Washington Post: “Some prominent critics of Donald Trump, and those he has vilified as 'deep state' saboteurs, are taking seriously his vow of retribution.... Following the selection of Gaetz to lead the Justice Department, many are watching whether Kash Patel, a Trump loyalist who appended a 'deep state' list to his 2023 book..., lands a senior role at a top agency such as the FBI. People on Patel’s list and other inventories of Trump antagonists have taken precautions ranging from the dramatic to the mundane. They include determining whether they’re eligible for foreign citizenship, examining the possibility of purchasing property abroad and considering whether to move money into overseas banks.... Retribution could include criminal investigations and prosecutions but also less theatrical penalties. Retired government officials could lose their security clearances, often important to private sector work, or confront burdensome tax audits.”

Yes, yes, almost everything is terrible beyond our worst nightmares. But here comes a glimmer: ~~~

~~~ Benjamin Mullin of the New York Times: “The Onion, a satirical publication that skewers newsmakers and current events, said on Thursday that it had won a bankruptcy auction to acquire Infowars, a website founded and operated by the conspiracy theorist Alex Jones. The Onion said that the bid was sanctioned by the families of the victims of the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School, who in 2022 won a $1.4 billion defamation lawsuit against Mr. Jones and his company, Free Speech Systems. Everytown for Gun Safety, a nonprofit dedicated to ending gun violence that was founded in the aftermath of the Sandy Hook shooting, will advertise on a relaunched version of the site under The Onion. The publication plans to reintroduce Infowars in January as a parody of itself, mocking 'weird internet personalities' like Mr. Jones who traffic in misinformation and health supplements, Ben Collins, the chief executive of The Onion’s parent company, Global Tetrahedron, said in an interview.” (Also linked yesterday.) ~~~

     ~~~ Anna Merlan of Mother Jones: “On Thursday morning, Jones broadcast a flabbergasted and defiant monologue, calling the news 'insane' saying he wouldn’t go off air until someone came in and forced him out with a court order. 'They’re in the control room,' Jones said on air. 'Imperial Troops are through the glass.' 'It is a distinct honor to be here in defiance of the tyrants,' Jones declared at one point.” Apparently a team from the Onion entered the studio during the broadcast, & an Infowars producer told Jones these people were “shutting it down momentarily.” “Jones then called Steve Bannon on speakerphone, who released a string of audible profanity before Jones cut him off. Bannon implored Jones’ crew to film the supposed raid.” (Also linked yesterday.)

Andrew Jeong of the Washington Post: “An estimated 10.3 million cases of measles occurred worldwide last year, up 20 percent from 2022, primarily because of inadequate immunization coverage, the World Health Organization and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Thursday. The disease resulted in 107,500 deaths last year, mostly killing children younger than 5, the two agencies said. Although that number was an 8 percent decrease from 2022, the reduction in fatalities was primarily because the increase in cases occurred in countries with better nutritional and health services, the WHO and CDC said. But this concerning trend can be reversed with increased vaccination, they added....

“In 2019, a deadly outbreak hit Samoa.... Health officials have blamed inadequate vaccine coverage. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the health secretary nominee widely known for his anti-vaccine views, questioned whether problems with the measles vaccine caused the Samoan outbreak, rather than insufficient vaccine coverage. Kennedy’s own family members have said he is spreading dangerous misinformation about vaccine doses.” MB: Gene Robinson (linked above) wrote, “If his conspiracy-theory distrust of vaccines ever becomes policy, children will die.” Yes, they will.

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Patrick Kingsley & Ronen Bergman of the New York Times: “On the morning that Hamas raided Israel last year, a top Israeli general called his prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, to tell him that hundreds of militants appeared to be preparing to invade. Now, aides to the prime minister are under investigation for altering details about that call in the official record of Mr. Netanyahu’s activities that day, according to four officials.... The investigation is seen as deeply sensitive in Israel, where the question of what Mr. Netanyahu knew in advance of Hamas’s invasion, and when he was told, could prove crucial to his political future.... While Mr. Netanyahu himself is not a subject of a police inquiry, officials in his office are under investigation for trying to bolster his reputation throughout Israel’s war with Hamas by leaking classified military documents, altering official transcripts of his conversations and intimidating people who controlled access to those records.” (Also linked yesterday.) 

The Conversation -- November 14, 2024

Crackpots & Crooks, Ctd. Dan Diamond, et al., of the Washington Post: "... Donald Trump on Thursday selected Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a longtime vaccine skeptic, to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, the sprawling agency responsible for administering millions of Americans' health insurance, approving drugs and medical supplies, regulating food, and responding to infectious-disease outbreaks.... The decision, which public health experts and many Democrats characterized as alarming and unprecedented, means that one of America's most prominent vaccine skeptics could soon oversee an agency responsible for the safety of vaccines."

Yes, almost everything is terrible beyond our worst nightmares. But comes a glimmer: ~~~

~~~ Benjamin Mullin of the New York Times: "The Onion, a satirical publication that skewers newsmakers and current events, said on Thursday that it had won a bankruptcy auction to acquire Infowars, a website founded and operated by the conspiracy theorist Alex Jones. The Onion said that the bid was sanctioned by the families of the victims of the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School, who in 2022 won a $1.4 billion defamation lawsuit against Mr. Jones and his company, Free Speech Systems. Everytown for Gun Safety, a nonprofit dedicated to ending gun violence that was founded in the aftermath of the Sandy Hook shooting, will advertise on a relaunched version of the site under The Onion. The publication plans to reintroduce Infowars in January as a parody of itself, mocking 'weird internet personalities' like Mr. Jones who traffic in misinformation and health supplements, Ben Collins, the chief executive of The Onion's parent company, Global Tetrahedron, said in an interview." ~~~

     ~~~ Anna Merlan of Mother Jones: "On Thursday morning, Jones broadcast a flabbergasted and defiant monologue, calling the news 'insane' saying he wouldn't go off air until someone came in and forced him out with a court order. 'They're in the control room,' Jones said on air. 'Imperial Troops are through the glass.' 'It is a distinct honor to be here in defiance of the tyrants,' Jones declared at one point." Apparently a team from the Onion entered the studio during the broadcast, & an Infowars producer told Jones these people were "shutting it down momentarily." "Jones then called Steve Bannon on speakerphone, who released a string of audible profanity before Jones cut him off. Bannon implored Jones' crew to film the supposed raid."

Amanda Marcotte of Salon: “The goal [in choosing Hegseth, Gaetz & Gabbard] seems to be finding people who are uniquely unfit for these jobs, both to rile up liberals and to flush out any Republicans with remaining loyalties to the concept of responsible governance. But while being handsome and totally unqualified got Hegseth the job, it's unfair to say those are the only things he brings to the table. He also embodies the type of masculinity Trump and the MAGA movement loves: One that desperately wants to appear strong, but reveals itself to be weak and brittle given a moment's investigation. Hegseth is the ultimate in cubic zirconia manhood. Reporting suggests that Trump was especially enamored with Hegseth's skill at whining, and especially about how easily threatened he is by women, people who are different, and any demands that he learn stuff or reckon with new ideas."

Patrick Kingsley & Ronen Bergman of the New York Times: "On the morning that Hamas raided Israel last year, a top Israeli general called his prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, to tell him that hundreds of militants appeared to be preparing to invade. Now, aides to the prime minister are under investigation for altering details about that call in the official record of Mr. Netanyahu's activities that day, according to four officials.... The investigation is seen as deeply sensitive in Israel, where the question of what Mr. Netanyahu knew in advance of Hamas's invasion, and when he was told, could prove crucial to his political future.... While Mr. Netanyahu himself is not a subject of a police inquiry, officials in his office are under investigation for trying to bolster his reputation throughout Israel's war with Hamas by leaking classified military documents, altering official transcripts of his conversations and intimidating people who controlled access to those records."

Here is a gift link from laura h. to Tom Nichols' essay in the Atlantic in which he assails Tulsi Gabbard as being "stunningly unqualified" to be director of national intelligence. "Her appointment would be a threat to the security of the United States," Nichols writes. In today's Comments, laura also has give us links to two other, related, Atlantic articles.

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We are living in a dystopian nation.

Matt Viser & Isaac Arnsdorf of the Washington Post: "President Joe Biden and ... Donald Trump met face-to-face on Wednesday morning in the Oval Office, an extraordinary moment for two men who have repeatedly expressed public disdain for one another as they go through one of the most unusual transfers of power in American history.... For Biden, the meeting meant welcoming and legitimizing a man he has condemned as an authoritarian and an existential threat to American democracy." (Also linked yesterday.) ~~~

     ~~~ Michael Shear of the New York Times: "Politics always involves a measure of performance. And on that score, few moments rival the one on Wednesday morning at the White House, when President Biden and ... Donald J. Trump pretended in public to like and respect each other -- for a total of 29 seconds.... It was a remarkable half minute, followed by a closed-door meeting of the two men, along with their chiefs of staff, that lasted almost two hours.... Following the meeting, Karine Jean-Pierre, the White House press secretary, said the discussion between the two men had been 'cordial,' 'gracious' and 'substantive.' She said a number of topics had been discussed, including national security and domestic policy. She said Mr. Trump had come with a detailed set of questions for Mr. Biden.... [Mr. Trump later told the New York Post] that 'we got to know each other again' while discussing issues like the war in Ukraine. 'I wanted -- I asked for his views and he gave them to me,' Mr. Trump said, according to The Post. 'Also, we talked very much about the Middle East, likewise. I wanted to know his views on where we are and what he thinks. And he gave them to me, he was very gracious.'"

Everything Bad You Imagined Could Happen Is Beginning to Happen.

All the Best People:

⭐No, This is Not the Onion. This Is Real. Glenn Thrush & Devlin Barrett of the New York Times: "... Donald J. Trump on Wednesday named Representative Matt Gaetz, the firebrand Republican from Florida, as his nominee for attorney general, a provocative move to install a compliant ally at the helm of the Justice Department as he seeks retribution against those who prosecuted him. The pick reflected Mr. Trump's determination to choose as the nation's top law enforcement official a fierce defender who would not resist his directives or question his claims.... If Mr. Gaetz is confirmed by the Senate -- no sure thing given the widespread bipartisan animosity toward him -- his ascension to a powerful cabinet post would represent a remarkable turnabout that mirrors Mr. Trump's own whipsaw political comeback. Mr. Gaetz, 42, was the focus of a three-year federal sex-trafficking investigation that ended in 2023 when the Justice Department under President Biden declined to bring charges. He was the subject of a House Ethics Committee inquiry into his conduct until he resigned from his seat late Wednesday, effectively ending the investigation." an ABC News story is here. ~~~

     ~~~ Marie: No, fellas, this is "what reflects" a short, fat middle finger to the nation, a declaration of lawlessness. ~~~

     ~~~ Olivia Beavers & Jordain Carney of Politico look at the ramifications of Gaetz's resignation from the House: why he suddenly quit, whether or not Gov. Ron DeSantis can name a replacement before January 3, etc. ~~~

     ~~~ Marc Caputo of the Bulwark: "As Trump began formulating the type of individual he wanted atop the DOJ, he was drawn ... to the idea that Gaetz would help him investigate the investigators. 'The hunters have become the hunted,' a Gaetz confidant said. 'This is not your grandfather's party. This is MAGA.'... Sources ... say that Gaetz was among the Trump advisers who advocated for him to pressure those vying to be Senate majority leader into agreeing to allow recess appointments for Trump's picks.... 'Gaetz is a tough son of a bitch. He's my son of a bitch,' Trump recently told a confidant." ~~~

I don't think it's a serious nomination for the attorney general. -- Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) ~~~

     ~~~ Robert Draper, et al., of the New York Times: "The House Ethics Committee, which has been investigating allegations that Representative Matt Gaetz engaged in sexual misconduct and illicit drug use, was prepared to vote to release a highly critical report about Mr. Gaetz on Friday, according to a Republican official familiar with the matter. The release would have come two days after ... Donald J. Trump selected Mr. Gaetz to be attorney general. Mr. Gaetz, a Florida Republican, abruptly resigned from his House seat late Wednesday, effectively ending the ethics investigation that has hung over his head for years. Mr. Gaetz, the official said, had repeatedly offered combative replies to questions posed by the committee, effectively delaying the fact-finding process for months. The publication of the committee's findings was additionally delayed, the official said, because of a House rule that forbids releasing a negative report close to an election.... Now, with Mr. Gaetz's departure from Congress, the committee no longer has jurisdiction to investigate him. It was not immediately clear whether it would still release its findings." ~~~

     ~~~ Ryan Reilly, et al., of NBC News: "... Donald Trump's choice of Matt Gaetz ... to be the next attorney general of the United States sent shock waves through the Justice Department on Wednesday. 'OMG,' a current senior Justice Department official said. A second department official called the selection 'truly stunning,' and a third labeled it 'insane.'... 'What the f--- is happening?!' asked a senior Justice Department official.... Said another former senior Justice Department official: 'He is the least qualified person ever nominated for a position in the Department of Justice.'... Within ... Justice Department headquarters .... on Wednesday, the mood was somber, as some employees sat and processed what impact Gaetz might have on the institution, which has operated under a set of post-Watergate norms designed to prevent political bias from affecting criminal investigations....

"On the night of Jan. 6, after the mob had been cleared from the building, Gaetz spread the conspiracy theory on the House floor that the attack had actually been orchestrated by the left-leaning group antifa. In the years after the attack, he spread conspiracy theories about Ray Epps, a Trump supporter and Jan. 6 defendant who was falsely portrayed as a government agent, as well as about the pipe bombs that were left outside the Republican National Committee and the Democratic National Committee on the eve of the attack."

Karoon Demirjian of the New York Times: "Senate Republicans reacted with alarm and dismay to ... Donald J. Trump's decision to nominate Representative Matt Gaetz, Republican of Florida, for attorney general, and several said they were skeptical that he would be able to secure enough votes for confirmation. 'He's got his work really cut out for him,' Senator Joni Ernst, Republican of Iowa, said, chuckling as she spoke.... 'I was shocked by the announcement -- that shows why the advice and consent process is so important,' said Senator Susan Collins, a Maine Republican.... 'I'm sure that there will be a lot of questions raised at his hearing.'... Mr. Gaetz, who was just re-elected to a fifth term, remains under ethics investigation for his conduct, which includes allegations of sexual misconduct and illicit drug use; sharing inappropriate images or videos on the House floor; misusing state identification records; converting campaign funds to personal use; and accepting impermissible gifts under House rules. Mr. Gaetz has denied the allegations as political payback and said they are built on lies." ~~~

     ~~~ Marie: Yes, Susan Collins has amped up her usual "concern" to "shock." However, as Marc Caputo of the Bulwark notes in the piece linked above: "But in the Trump era, immediate shock and awe often has a way of morphing into awkwardly-rationalized acceptance by Republicans."

Demanding Senate Republicans back Gaetz as attorney general and Hegseth as Defense Secretary is the 2024 version of forcing Sean Spicer to say it was the largest inauguration crowd ever. These aren't just appointments. They're loyalty tests. The absurdity is the point. -- Ezra Klein of the New York Times, in a tweet ~~~

     ~~~ Ian Millhiser of Vox: "Gaetz is a reckless pick, even by Trump standards.... Gaetz would have enormous authority over who is prosecuted, who is allowed to get away with committing federal crimes, and who might be targeted for politically motivated prosecutions in an authoritarian administration. Trump has repeatedly promised 'retribution' against his Democratic rivals. And his fellow Republicans on the Supreme Court ruled last July that he can order the Justice Department to bring politically motivated prosecutions without consequence." ~~~

     ~~~ Andrew Solender, et al., of Axios: "Republican reaction to even Trump's most controversial nominations has been muted so far, but placing the scandal-prone right-winger in the nation's highest law enforcement role is a step too far for many.... Trump's announcement was met with audible gasps by House Republicans during a conference meeting on Wednesday afternoon, multiple sources in the room told Axios. One House Republican in the meeting described the conference's response as 'stunned and disgusted.'... 'We wanted him out of the House ... this isn't what we were thinking,' quipped one House Republican.... 'Gaetz has a better shot at having dinner with Queen Elizabeth II than being confirmed by the senate,' said Rep. Max Miller (R-Ohio), referring to the British monarch who died in 2022." ~~~

     ~~~ Marie: I see some contributors picked up on Gaetz's appointment last night when I was watching something on PBS & pretending all was right with the world. See the comments at the end of yesterday's thread.

Kelsey Walsh of ABC News: "Tulsi Gabbard -- a military veteran and honorary co-chair of ... Donald Trump's transition team -- has been chosen by Trump to be his director of national intelligence. Gabbard left the Democratic Party in 2022 after representing Hawaii in Congress for eight years and running for the party's 2020 presidential nomination. She was seen as an unusual ally with the Trump campaign, emerging as an adviser during his prep for his debate with Vice President Kamala Harris, who Gabbard had debated in 2020 Democratic primaries." MB: What with the tight House majority, Marjorie Taylor Greene was not available. ~~~

     ~~~ Dan De Luce of NBC News: "... Donald Trump's pick for director of national intelligence, former Democratic lawmaker Tulsi Gabbard, has been accused of amplifying Russian propaganda and would come to the job having never worked in the intelligence world or served on a congressional intelligence committee. Gabbard ... has long criticized U.S. foreign policy as imperial and heavy-handed. She also has sharply criticized Trump in the past over his approach to the Middle East during his first presidential term, portraying him as dangerous.... In her public statements, Gabbard has often been at odds with the U.S. intelligence community's assessments.... Outraged lawmakers accused Gabbard two years ago of echoing Russian propaganda after Gabbard posted a video on social media asserting 'the undeniable fact' of purported bio labs funded by the U.S. across Ukraine. Ukraine's government, the U.S. government, news organizations and independent researchers have all said there is no evidence for the claim, which originated from Moscow. Then-Rep. Adam Kinzinger, R-Ill., said Gabbard had embraced 'actual Russian propaganda' and called it 'traitorous.' Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, said Gabbard was 'parroting fake Russian propaganda.'" ~~~

     ~~~ Isaac Arnsdorf & Josh Dawsey of the Washington Post: "Trump's decision to choose Gabbard, Gaetz and Hegseth stunned senators and some of his own advisers, setting up multiple uphill confirmation battles that will test the incoming president's political clout in the Senate, where his party is expected to hold 53 seats.... The president-elect conveyed his expectation for unchallenged command by insisting the next Senate majority leader agree to fast-track his nominees through recess appointments, which would allow his picks to bypass the usual Senate hearings and vote -- a path that might await Gaetz." ~~~

     ~~~ Matthew Chapman of the Raw Story: "Anti-Trump conservative and former Naval War College professor Tom Nichols urged the Senate to reject Donald Trump's pick of former Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard for director of national intelligence in a scathing article for The Atlantic. Gabbard ... has no qualification for the role, he warned -- and has radical anti-American views that would completely undermine the intelligence community. 'Gabbard is stunningly unqualified for almost any Cabinet post ... but especially for ODNI,' wrote Nichols. 'She has no qualifications as an intelligence professional -- literally none.... She has no significant experience directing or managing much of anything.'"

Matt Shuham of the Huffington Post: "The Fox News host who ... Donald Trump just announced would be his nominee for secretary of defense was not allowed to work security at President Joe Biden's 2021 inauguration, supposedly because of a tattoo that military higher-ups believed might have been an extremist symbol. According to Pete Hegseth, the 'Fox & Friends Weekend' host and potential future defense secretary, the tattoo was a large Jerusalem cross on his chest. The Jerusalem cross originated with the Christian Crusades nearly a millennium ago. These days, it can be a simple marker of Christian beliefs ― or, in some settings, a symbol for the conquest and domination of Muslims or non-white minorities." Hegseth was a member of a National Guard unit in Washington, D.C. ~~~

     ~~~ Marie: Curious? Here are shots of Hegseth's naked torso. Scroll down the page a bit.

Catie Edmondson of the New York Times: "... Donald J. Trump addressed jubilant House Republicans on Wednesday morning, delivering triumphant remarks centered around his own electoral victory and drawing laughter when he hinted that they could pave the way for him to serve a third term in office.... 'I suspect I won't be running again unless you say, "He's so good we've got to figure something else out."' (The Constitution limits presidents to two terms, though Mr. Trump has mused before about circumventing that restriction.)" MB: Trump is not "drawing my laughter." If he isn't comatose in January 2029, he will not voluntarily leave the White House. (Also linked yesterday.) ~~~

     ~~~ Marie: In the selection of Gaetz as attorney general, you see a new & stunning example of why Trump is not "drawing my laughter."

Rhian Lubin of the Independent: "Melania Trump is likely to spend most of her time away from the White House as first lady -- but she is still 'a constant voice' in her husband's ear. Instead, Melania will spend most of her time between New York City, where 18-year-old Barron is studying at NYU, and Palm Beach, Florida, sources familiar with her plans told CNN.... On Wednesday she snubbed tea with Jill Biden while the president-elect and President Joe Biden met in the Oval Office to discuss the transition schedule." (The CNN story is firewalled.) MB: So I guess this means she'll be farming out the Christmas-decorating chores. What a shame. (Also linked yesterday.)

Alanna Richer of the AP: "Special counsel Jack Smith asked a court Wednesday to pause prosecutors' appeal seeking to revive the classified documents case against ... Donald Trump in light of the Republican's presidential victory.... Prosecutors asked the 11th Circuit in a court filing Wednesday to pause the appeal to 'afford the Government time to assess this unprecedented circumstance and determine the appropriate course going forward consistent with Department of Justice policy.' Smith's team said it would 'inform the Court of the result of its deliberations' no later than Dec. 2.'" ~~~

~~~ Devlin Barrett & Glenn Thrush of the New York Times: "Jack Smith, the special counsel who pursued two federal prosecutions of Donald J. Trump, plans to finish his work and resign along with other members of his team before Mr. Trump takes office in January, people familiar with his plans said. Mr. Smith's goal, they said, is to not leave any significant part of his work for others to complete and to get ahead of the president-elect's promise to fire him within 'two seconds' of being sworn in.... Department regulations call for him to file a report summarizing his investigation and decisions -- a document that may stand as the final accounting from a prosecutor who filed extensive charges against a former president but never got his cases to trial." An NBC News story is here. (Also linked yesterday.)

Jeff Stein, et al., of the Washington Post: "... Donald Trump's aides are readying unconventional strategies to implement at least some recommendations from a new government spending commission with or without congressional approval, according to two people with knowledge of the matter.... Although changes to government spending typically require an act of Congress, Trump aides are exploring plans to challenge a 1974 budget law in a way that would give the White House the power to unilaterally adopt the Musk[-Ramaswamy] commission's proposals, one of the people said. It is unclear if Trump will ask Congress to approve changes to the budget law or first appeal to the courts to do so.... Ramaswamy, a former pharmaceutical executive who has said he would 'stop funding agencies that waste money' and don't operate on meritocratic principles, has publicly called on Congress to repeal the law and has suggested workarounds if it is not repealed." ~~~

     ~~~ Marie: "Readying unconventional strategies" is a turn of phrase the journalists use here to whitewash reality: "planning to flout the law."

The AP has caught up with the Hill's prediction: ~~~

⭐~~~ Stephen Groves & Lisa Mascaro of the AP: "Republicans have won enough seats to control the U.S. House, completing the party's sweep into power and securing their hold on U.S. government alongside ... Donald Trump. A House Republican victory in Arizona, alongside a win in slow-counting California earlier Wednesday, gave the GOP the 218 House victories that make up the majority. Republicans earlier gained control of the Senate from Democrats. With hard-fought yet thin majorities, Republican leaders are envisioning a mandate to upend the federal government and swiftly implement Trump's vision for the country.... When he returns to the White House, Trump will be working with a Republican Party that has been completely transformed by his 'Make America Great Again' movement and a Supreme Court dominated by conservative justices, including three that he appointed." Ditto the NBC News projection, which is here. ~~~

~~~ No Price for Failure. Annie Karni of the New York Times: "For almost two years, House Republicans have barely been able to overcome their own intraparty feuding to keep the government functioning. But despite it all, they emerged on Wednesday night, when The Associated Press declared that Republicans had effectively won control of the House, with a wafer-thin majority almost identical to the one they have now. The apparent success of their battle to keep control of the House of Representatives suggests that they paid little political price for the chaos and dysfunction they presided over, a period when Congress struggled to carry out even the basics of governing. And it suggests that members of both parties overestimated how much voters would judge them by their job performance."

Annie Karni of the New York Times: "When ... Donald J. Trump met with House Republicans on Wednesday morning, he suggested he might need their help to try to circumvent the Constitution and run for a third term in the future.... Representative Dan Goldman of New York [D] plans on Thursday to introduce a resolution clarifying that the Constitution's two-term limit for presidents applies even if the terms are not consecutive. It asserts that the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution, which states that a person who has been elected president twice cannot run again, 'applies to two terms in the aggregate' and leaves no loophole.... There is little chance that Speaker Mike Johnson, Republican of Louisiana, would bring such a resolution to the floor for a vote."

Alice Herman of the Guardian: "A bill that would have allowed the government to strip tax-exempt status from any non-profit it deemed to be supporting 'terrorism' was narrowly blocked in the House of Representatives on Tuesday evening. The bill was widely feared as a tool that Donald Trump could use to punish dissent, and critics argued the measure could have disproportionately targeted groups that criticize Israel and support Palestinian causes -- and that it was designed to do just that. The vote failed with 145 votes against it, falling short of the two-thirds required to circumvent regular House rules. Fifty-two Democrats voted in support of the bill. The bill, called Stop Terror-Financing and Tax Penalties on American Hostages Act, or HR 9495, joined two measures together -- one allowing the treasury department to withhold tax-exempt status from any non-profit it decides is a 'terrorist-supporting organization' and another, less controversial measure, which would offer tax relief to Americans imprisoned unjustly abroad or held by terrorist groups."

Liz Goodwin, et al., of the Washington Post: "Senate Republicans chose Sen. John Thune of South Dakota to be their new leader, rejecting an outside pressure campaign from Donald Trump's allies to break with the establishment in the secret-ballot election, according to two people familiar with the vote. Thune, a close ally of retiring leader Mitch McConnell (Kentucky), has been critical of Trump in the past but has worked to repair that relationship in recent months. He reassured senators in a closed-door meeting that he would work hand in glove with the new administration and would not butt heads with Trump even on issues such as continuing U.S. aid for Ukraine, which Trump opposes, senators said.... Trump himself avoided weighing in on the race directly so far, despite his allies going all in on Scott." The NBC News story is here. (Also linked yesterday.)

Mark Levy of the AP: "The U.S. Senate election in Pennsylvania between Democratic incumbent Sen. Bob Casey and Republican David McCormick is headed for a statewide recount, as counties continued Wednesday to sort through outstanding ballots and the campaigns jousted over which ones should count. The Associated Press called the race for McCormick last week, concluding that not enough ballots remained to be counted in areas Casey was winning for him to take the lead. A noon deadline passed Wednesday for Casey to waive his right to a statewide recount and Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro's top election official, Secretary of State Al Schmidt, a Republican, announced that preliminary results had triggered a legally required statewide recount. As of Wednesday, McCormick led by about 28,000 votes out of more than 6.9 million ballots counted -- inside the 0.5% margin threshold to trigger an automatic statewide recount under Pennsylvania law."

Adam Goldman & Seamus Hughes of the New York Times: "A C.I.A. official has been charged with disclosing classified documents that appeared to show Israel's plans to retaliate against Iran for a missile attack earlier this year, according to court documents and people familiar with the matter. The official, Asif W. Rahman, was indicted last week in federal court in Virginia with two counts of willful retention and transmission of national defense information. He was arrested by the F.B.I. on Tuesday in Cambodia and brought to federal court in Guam to face charges." (Also linked yesterday.)

Shia Kapos of Politico: "Two blue state governors are behind a new organization working to fend off efforts to dismantle or undermine state government agencies, elections and state courts. Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and Colorado Gov. Jared Polis will lead the Governors Safeguarding Democracy initiative in response to Donald Trump's reelection -- though they didn't mention him by name as they announced the effort. 'What we're doing is pushing back against increasing threats of autocracy and fortifying the institutions of democracy that our country and our states depend upon,' Pritzker said in a press briefing."

Guardian: "We wanted to let readers know that we will no longer post on any official Guardian editorial accounts on the social media site X.... We think that the benefits of being on X are now outweighed by the negatives and that resources could be better used promoting our journalism elsewhere. This is something we have been considering for a while given the often disturbing content promoted or found on the platform, including far-right conspiracy theories and racism. The US presidential election campaign served only to underline what we have considered for a long time: that X is a toxic media platform and that its owner, Elon Musk, has been able to use its influence to shape political discourse. X users will still be able to share our articles, and the nature of live news reporting means we will still occasionally embed content from X within our article pages." (Also linked yesterday.)

Clay Risen of the New York Times: "Theodore B. Olson, a leading Supreme Court litigator who built a sturdy reputation as a conservative power lawyer during the 1980s and '90s, and then surprised colleagues and foes alike when he took up traditionally liberal causes like gay marriage and the children of undocumented immigrants, died on Wednesday in Fairfax, Va. He was 84."

~~~~~~~~~~

Israel/Palestine, et al.

Marie: Several weeks back, Akhilleus & I agreed that Bibi was holding back on agreeing to the Biden administration's months of efforts to end the war(s) in order to affect the outcome of the U.S. presidential election. I'll admit our discussion smacked a bit of daffy conspiracy theory. But no, it's daffy only if it's false. ~~~

~~~ Friends Like This. Look What Country Interfered in the U.S. Presidential Election. Shira Rubin, et al., of the Washington Post: "A close aide to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Donald Trump and Jared Kushner this week that Israel is rushing to advance a cease-fire deal in Lebanon, according to three current and former Israeli officials briefed on the meeting, with the aim of delivering an early foreign policy win to the president-elect.... 'There is an understanding that Israel would gift something to Trump ... that in January there will be an understanding about Lebanon,' an Israeli official said.... Ron Dermer, Netanyahu's minister of strategic affairs, made Mar-a-Lago the first stop on his U.S. tour Sunday before traveling to the White House to update Biden administration officials on the state of Lebanon talks, a sign of how swiftly America's political center of gravity has shifted after Trump's electoral victory."

The Conversation -- November 13, 2024

Matt Viser & Isaac Arnsdorf of the Washington Post: "President Joe Biden and ... Donald Trump met face-to-face on Wednesday morning in the Oval Office, an extraordinary moment for two men who have repeatedly expressed public disdain for one another as they go through one of the most unusual transfers of power in American history.... For Biden, the meeting meant welcoming and legitimizing a man he has condemned as an authoritarian and an existential threat to American democracy."

Catie Edmondson of the New York Times: ... Donald J. Trump addressed jubilant House Republicans on Wednesday morning, delivering triumphant remarks centered around his own electoral victory and drawing laughter when he hinted that they could pave the way for him to serve a third term in office.... 'I suspect I won't be running again unless you say, "He's so good we've got to figure something else out."' (The Constitution limits presidents to two terms, though Mr. Trump has mused before about circumventing that restriction.)" MB: Trump is not "drawing my laughter." If he isn't comatose in January 2029, he will not voluntarily leave the White House.

Liz Goodwin, et al., of the Washington Post: "Senate Republicans chose Sen. John Thune of South Dakota to be their new leader, rejecting an outside pressure campaign from Donald Trump's allies to break with the establishment in the secret-ballot election, according to two people familiar with the vote. Thune, a close ally of retiring leader Mitch McConnell (Kentucky), has been critical of Trump in the past but has worked to repair that relationship in recent months. He reassured senators in a closed-door meeting that he would work hand in glove with the new administration and would not butt heads with Trump even on issues such as continuing U.S. aid for Ukraine, which Trump opposes, senators said.... Trump himself avoided weighing in on the race directly so far, despite his allies going all in on Scott.? The NBC News story is here.

Rhian Lubin of the Independent: "Melania Trump is likely to spend most of her time away from the White House as first lady -- but she is still 'a constant voice' in her husband's ear. Instead, Melania will spend most of her time between New York City, where 18-year-old Barron is studying at NYU, and Palm Beach, Florida, sources familiar with her plans told CNN.... On Wednesday she snubbed tea with Jill Biden while the president-elect and President Joe Biden met in the Oval Office to discuss the transition schedule." (The CNN story is firewalled.) MB: So I guess this means she'll be farming out the Christmas-decorating chores. What a shame.

Guardian: "We wanted to let readers know that we will no longer post on any official Guardian editorial accounts on the social media site X.... We think that the benefits of being on X are now outweighed by the negatives and that resources could be better used promoting our journalism elsewhere. This is something we have been considering for a while given the often disturbing content promoted or found on the platform, including far-right conspiracy theories and racism. The US presidential election campaign served only to underline what we have considered for a long time: that X is a toxic media platform and that its owner, Elon Musk, has been able to use its influence to shape political discourse. X users will still be able to share our articles, and the nature of live news reporting means we will still occasionally embed content from X within our article pages.

Devlin Barrett & Glenn Thrush of the New York Times: "Jack Smith, the special counsel who pursued two federal prosecutions of Donald J. Trump, plans to finish his work and resign along with other members of his team before Mr. Trump takes office in January, people familiar with his plans said. Mr. Smith's goal, they said, is to not leave any significant part of his work for others to complete and to get ahead of the president-elect's promise to fire him within 'two seconds' of being sworn in.... Department regulations call for him to file a report summarizing his investigation and decisions -- a document that may stand as the final accounting from a prosecutor who filed extensive charges against a former president but never got his cases to trial." An NBC News story is here.

Adam Goldman & Seamus Hughes of the New York Times: "A C.I.A. official has been charged with disclosing classified documents that appeared to show Israel's plans to retaliate against Iran for a missile attack earlier this year, according to court documents and people familiar with the matter. The official, Asif W. Rahman, was indicted last week in federal court in Virginia with two counts of willful retention and transmission of national defense information. He was arrested by the F.B.I. on Tuesday in Cambodia and brought to federal court in Guam to face charges."

~~~~~~~~~~

Everything Bad You Thought Could Happen Is Beginning to Happen.

All the Best People:

The Nazification of the U.S. Is Underway. Michael Shear & Eric Lipton of the New York Times: "Mr. Trump said on Tuesday that Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy will lead what he called the Department of Government Efficiency. It will ... driv[e] 'drastic change' throughout the government with major cuts and new efficiencies in bloated agencies.... The statement left unanswered all kinds of major questions about an initiative that is uncertain in seriousness but potentially vast in scope.... The statement by Mr. Trump also did not address how Mr. Musk in particular would handle this task, without creating conflicts of interest, given that SpaceX has secured more than $10 billion worth of federal contracts over the last decade.... Ccompanies Mr. Musk created ... have ... been targeted recently in at least 20 different investigations or lawsuits by federal agencies. That means Mr. Musk will somehow be watching over agencies that police his companies." The Huffington Post's story is here. ~~~

     ~~~ Marie: The Times reporters note that the "Department of Government Efficiency" -- i.e., "DOGE" -- "appeared to be a play on ... one of Mr. Musk’s many investments: the cryptocurrency Dogecoin...." Okay, fine. But it's such a Nazi thing that the whole enterprise would be farcical if it weren't something that is likely to happen until the principals give up on it. Also, the Times writers themselves are just plain quaint in their expressed concern about the ethics of it all. Ha! The idea that Trump and his "government efficiency" czars would have any ethical standards (or feel a need to comply with legal ones) is preposterous. These people are going to do what they want and everybody will do his best to hide under Miss Trumpy's Supreme-stitched immunity skirt. ~~~

     ~~~ Update. Colleen Long & Jill Colvin of the AP explain more about this little venture: "... Donald Trump on Tuesday said Elon Musk and former GOP presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy will lead a new 'Department of Government Efficiency' -- which is not, despite the name, a government agency.... Trump said in a statement that Musk and Ramaswamy will work from outside the government to offer the White House 'advice and guidance' and will partner with the Office of Management and Budget.... Federal employees are generally required to disclose their assets and entanglements to ward off any potential conflicts of interest, and to divest significant holdings relating to their work. Because Musk and Ramaswamy would not be formal federal workers, they would not face those requirements or ethical limitations."

It's Creepy Celebrity Apprentice Time at the Pentagon. Helene Cooper & Maggie Haberman of the New York Times: "... Donald J. Trump on Tuesday chose Pete Hegseth, a Fox News host and veteran of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, to be his next defense secretary, elevating a television ally to run the Pentagon and lead 1.3 million active-duty troops. The choice of Mr. Hegseth was outside the norm of the traditional defense secretary. But he was a dedicated supporter of Mr. Trump during his first term, defending his interactions with the North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, embracing his 'America First' agenda of trying to withdraw U.S. troops from abroad and energetically taking up the cause of combat veterans accused of war crimes.... Mr. Hegseth is a co-host of 'Fox & Friends.' He joined the network as a contributor in 2014 and has been the host of Fox's New Year's coverage for years." Marie: We're into "Dr. Strangelove" territory here. ~~~

     ~~~ Lolita Baldor & Tara Copp of the AP: "... Donald Trump stunned the Pentagon and the broader defense world by nominating Fox News host Pete Hegseth to serve as his defense secretary, tapping someone largely inexperienced and untested on the global stage to take over the world's largest and most powerful military. The news was met with bewilderment and wide-eyed worry among many in Washington.... Hegseth's choice could bring sweeping changes to the military, as he has made it clear on his show and in interviews that, like Trump, he is stridently opposed to 'woke' programs that promote equity and inclusion. He's also questioned the role of women in combat and advocated pardoning service members charged with war crimes." ~~~

     ~~~ Joe Gould, et al., of Politico: "... even grading on [a] curve, [national security officials and defense analysts] say the announcement of ... Pete Hegseth caught them totally off-guard.... 'Who the fuck is this guy?' said a defense industry lobbyist.... Hegseth's selection drew immediate backlash from veterans group leaders who opposed him when he was floated for Veterans Affairs secretary during Trump's first term. He is a former executive director for Vets for Freedom and former CEO of Concerned Veterans for America -- a group advocating for outsourcing of health care for veterans that was funded by the Koch brothers. 'Hegseth is undoubtedly the least qualified nominee for SecDef in American history. And the most overtly political. Brace yourself, America,' Paul Rieckhoff, founder of Independent Veterans of America, said in a post on X Tuesday night.... 'Wow. Trump picking Pete Hegseth is the most hilariously predictably stupid thing,' former GOP Rep. Adam Kinzinger, a frequent Trump critic, posted on social media."

     ~~~ Paul Campos in LG&$: "I mean I guess it could have been Vince McMahon or Ted Nugent." ~~~

~~~ Missy Ryan, et al., of the Washington Post: "Hegseth's nomination suggests a coming battle over social and personnel issues within the armed forces, historically one of the nation's most diverse institutions.... Throughout his campaign, Trump made a distinction between fighting generals and 'woke' generals, vowing to fire the latter. Asked in a podcast interview ... published last week what he would do, Hegseth ... [said,] 'First of all, you've got to fire the chairman of the Joint Chiefs,' ... referring to Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr. 'Any general, any admiral, whatever,' who was involved in diversity, equity and inclusion programs or 'woke s---' has 'got to go,' Hegseth said.... The breakneck speed of the Hegseth nomination also underscores the value Trump places on TV personalities who have used their platform to promote his agenda." ~~~

     ~~~ Ellen Mitchell of the Hill: "The transition team for ... Trump is working on an executive order that would speed up the firing of top military brass if signed, The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday. The draft executive order would set up a 'warrior board' of retired generals and noncommissioned officers given power to review three- and four-star officers and to recommend anyone 'lacking in requisite leadership qualities,' according to the document, reviewed by the Journal. If signed by Trump once he takes office, it could allow the quick removal of generals and admirals and purge the ranks of those the future commander-in-chief takes issue with for whatever reason." See also Akhilleus' commentary at the top of today's thread.

Joby Warrick & Ellen Nakashima of the Washington Post: "John Ratcliffe, a fierce Donald Trump loyalist and a director of national intelligence during the first Trump term, was named Tuesday as the president-elect's choice to head the CIA. Trump's choice of Ratcliffe puts the former Texas congressman and noted China hawk in line to head an agency that he helped oversee in the final months of the Trump White House, at times drawing criticism from Democrats who accused him of using intelligence to gain political advantage.... Ratcliffe's eight-month term as director of national intelligence was beset by controversy over his decision to declassify unvetted Russian intelligence documents that purported to show Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton approving a scheme to create a scandal falsely tying Trump to Moscow." ~~~

     ~~~ Dan De Luce & Zoe Richards of NBC News: "Ratcliffe, who was the U.S. representative for Texas' 4th District from 2015 to 2020, was a controversial pick for director of national intelligence in Trump;s first term -- so much so that the first attempt to install him, in 2019, failed. Ratcliffe had been a federal prosecutor in Texas, and he boasted on his website about having 'put terrorists in prison.' NBC News and other news organizations found no evidence that he had ever prosecuted a terrorism case. He also misrepresented his involvement in the U.S. v. Holy Land Foundation terrorism financing case, NBC News previously reported. In the wake of those stories, Trump announcedthat Ratcliffe had removed himself from consideration.... As director of national intelligence, Ratcliffe appeared to go out of his way to help Trump politically, but he was said to have balked after the election when Trump and his aides were seeking to overturn the results of the 2020 election."

Katherine Doyle of NBC News: "... Donald Trump said he intends to nominate former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee to be the U.S. ambassador to Israel.... During his 2016 presidential run, Huckabee staked out an arch-conservative position on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, rejecting the notion of an 'occupied' West Bank. Instead, he referred to the area using the biblical term 'Judea and Samaria.'... Top Israeli officials celebrated the news later Tuesday.... In a separate statement Tuesday, Trump announced he would appoint businessman Steve Witkoff ... to be his special envoy to the Middle East. Witkoff, who spoke at the Republican National Convention in July, is a longtime friend and political donor of Trump's." ~~~

     ~~~ Adriana Licon of the AP: "Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee..., Donald Trump's pick to be ambassador to Israel, has long rejected a Palestinian state in territory previously seized by Israel and has repeatedly signaled his staunch support for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Huckabee, a former TV host and Baptist preacher, frequently visits Israel and once said he wanted to buy a holiday home there. He has maintained throughout the years that the West Bank belongs to Israel, and recently said 'the title deed was given by God to Abraham and to his heirs.'... His argument for a so-called 'one-state solution' contradicts longstanding official U.S. support for the eventual establishment of a Palestinian state.... Here are some things Huckabee has said over the years about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict." ~~~

     ~~~ Marie: Okay, all you Arab-Americans who voted for Trump because Gaza, are you happy now? Maybe you're waiting for the Muslim ban???

What I Said. Charlie Savage of the New York Times: "... Donald J. Trump's demand that Senate Republicans surrender their role in vetting his nominees poses an early test of whether his second term will be more radical than his first. Over the weekend, Mr. Trump insisted on social media that Republicans select a new Senate majority leader willing to call recesses during which he could unilaterally appoint personnel, a process that would allow him to sidestep the confirmation process. His allies immediately applauded the idea, intensifying pressure on G.O.P. lawmakers to acquiesce. The demand to weaken checks and balances and take for himself some of the legislative branch's usual power underscored Mr. Trump's authoritarian impulses. While there is no obvious legal obstacle to Mr. Trump's request, it would be an extraordinary violation of constitutional norms. There is no historical precedent for a deliberate and wholesale abandonment by the Senate of its function of deciding whether to confirm or reject the president's choices to bestow with government power." Emphasis added.

Julia Ainsley, et al., of NBC News: "The incoming Trump administration is considering locations and talking to private prison companies about drastically expanding immigrant detention centers that would hold immigrants before they are deported as part of President-elect Donald Trump's promised mass deportation plan, two sources familiar with the planning told NBC News. The goal is to double the number of Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention beds -- 41,000 are now allocated by Congress -- to hold vast numbers of migrants for short periods of time while they await deportation after their arrests inside the U.S., the sources said. The plan would also include restarting the policy of detaining parents with their children, known as family detention, which immigration advocates have criticized and the Biden administration stopped in 2021, the sources said." See also Akhilleus's comment on this in today's thread.

Kyle Cheney & Betsy Swan of Politico: "The judge overseeing the criminal case in Arizona against some of Donald Trump's top allies recused himself from the case on Tuesday after defense lawyers accused him of anti-Trump bias. The allegations against Judge Bruce Cohen stemmed from a revelation that he had implored white male colleagues to speak out against attacks on Kamala Harris' race and gender. Cohen also invoked resistance to the Nazis to describe the current political moment.... One of the defendants [Jake Hoffman] -- represented by a lawyer who also worked on the Trump campaign -- said the comments warranted Cohen's removal from the case.... In the court document announcing his decision, Cohen defended his comments. But he conceded they could create concerns about his fairness."

digby: “Our mediaecosystem is in deep, deep trouble and regardless of the macro political influences, we are going to be under threat of this fascist movement.... In fact, I think Trump isn't even a political figure at all. He's a celebrity cult leader. And the right wing media is what makes him accessible to the fan base.... Trump and MAGA are creatures of the rightwing media ecosystem not the other way around. It's not that there's some super talented 'messaging' team that understands exactly how to reach all those Trump voters with what they want to hear. Their right wing media (and their audiences) are telling them what they want to hear.... Terrifyingly, they are just getting started. They are hoovering up newspapers everywhere with their eyes on the last of our papers of record. They want total dominance and they have the money to buy it. Just look at what Musk has done with twitter." Digby cites Michael Tomasky of the New Republic, who backs up her theory. ~~~

~~~ Callie Holtermann of the New York Times: "Bluesky, [a social media platform] which began in 2019 as a project by the Twitter founder Jack Dorsey, is among several challengers that have each experienced bursts of momentum since [Elon] Musk's acquisition of Twitter in 2022 and subsequent rebranding of it.... It now has 14.7 million users, the company said.... The accounts created on Bluesky this week, many of which are left-leaning, shared cat videos alongside their hopes that the platform might offer a reprieve from the misinformation and hateful speech that have swirled on X since Mr. Musk's takeover. That is still far fewer than Threads, Meta's competitor to X, which this month reported that it had reached 275 million monthly active users."

Maya Schwayder & Eileen Sullivan of the New York Times: "Jack Teixeira, a Massachusetts Air National Guardsman accused of sharing classified government records online, was sentenced on Tuesday to 15 years in prison for one of the most damaging national security leaks in history.... The sentencing brings to an end a case that raised questions over how easily a relatively low-level member of the guard had obtained a top-secret clearance that gave him access to some of the country's most sensitive secrets." The AP report is here.

Rick Rojas of the New York Times: "A federal judge in Louisiana blocked a state law on Tuesday that would have required the display of the Ten Commandments in every public school classroom.... The decision was a setback for supporters of the measure, but not an unexpected one: Proponents have braced themselves for pushback and, in many ways, have invited a lengthy legal fight, as part of a larger effort by conservative Christian groups to amplify public expressions of faith. John W. deGravelles, a U.S. District Court judge appointed to the bench by President Barack Obama, found that the law, which was scheduled to take effect on Jan. 1, was unconstitutional. He forbade the state from enforcing it.... Attorney General Liz Murrill of Louisiana, a Republican, said in a statement that she ... would immediately appeal [the decision]. Supporters of the bill expect a friendlier reception from the appeals court, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, which is considered to be one of the nation's most conservative courts." ~~~

     ~~~ Marie: You know this case will end up in the Supreme Court. Sam Alito must have had an anticipatory orgasm just reading the opinion. "Oh God, oh God oh God, bring it on!"

~~~~~~~~~~

New York. Karen Matthews of the AP: "Former U.S. Rep. Michael Grimm, a New York Republican who resigned from Congress following a tax fraud conviction, is paralyzed from the chest down after being thrown from a horse during a polo tournament, according to friends who are raising funds to pay for the ex-lawmaker's medical care. Grimm, 54, suffered the devastating injury in September and is now being treated at the Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation in New Jersey, where the late actor Christopher Reeve was treated after a similar equestrian accident in 1995, according to Vincent Ignizio, a friend of Grimm's who is a former New York City Council member."