Wednesday, December 4, 2024

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1/ Trump is considering replacing his choice for defense secretary with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. Pete Hegseth, who is facing allegations of sexual misconduct, financial mismanagement, and alcohol abuse, insisted “there’s no reason to back down” and that Trump told him “I got your back. It’s a fight. They’re coming after you.” At least six Senate Republicans have said they’re uncomfortable voting to confirm the former Fox News host. Hegseth’s mother, who wrote in an email that her son “belittles, lies, cheats, sleeps around,” also told Fox News that “Pete is a new person.” DeSantis, meanwhile, is reportedly weighing whether to appoint Trump’s daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, to fill Marco Rubio’s Senate seat, who Trump nominated to be secretary of state. DeSantis’s term as governor ends in January 2027 and he can’t run again because of term limits. (New York Times / The Bulwark / Wall Street Journal / Associated Press / Politico / Washington Post / NBC News / Bloomberg / ABC News)

2/ Trump selected Peter Navarro to serve as his senior counselor for trade and manufacturing. Navarro, who served as director of the White House National Trade Council in Trump’s first administration, spent four months in federal prison earlier this year for refusing to cooperate with the congressional investigation into the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol. “I am pleased to announce that Peter Navarro,” Trump said, “a man who was treated horribly by the Deep State, or whatever else you would like to call it, will serve as my Senior Counselor for Trade and Manufacturing.” (CNBC / Axios / Politico / Washington Post / Associated Press / Wall Street Journal)

3/ Trump tapped an outspoken critic of the Securities and Exchange Commission to run the agency. Paul...

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