Washington Today

Final meeting of House Task Force on Attempted Assassination of Donald Trump with testimony from Secret Service Acting Director Ronald Rowe; House Ethics Committee meets on whether to release its report on former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL); Defense Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth on misconduct accusations against him; DOGE co-leaders Elon Musk & Vivek Ramaswamy meet with House & Senate Republicans; Veterans Department officials testify on budget shortfall; Justice Department concludes Memphis Police Department uses excessive force and discriminates against Blacks.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Hill's Zach Schoenfeld on Supreme Court case challenging Tennessee law banning transgender medical care for minors (1); House coronavirus subcommittee approves its final report; airline executives testify before a Senate subcommittee about seat & baggage fees; GOP chair of House immigration subcommittee says USCIS director's lack of answers at today's hearing is a 'dereliction of duty'; President Biden tours port in Angola where cross-continent railroad will start.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President Biden in Angola speaks of the brutal history of the slave trade and promise of a brighter future based on investment and equality. We'll talk with Reuters White House Correspondent Trevor Hunnicutt traveling with the president (7); South Korean President declares martial law, then says he will lift it; Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer (NY) reelected; Michael Bloomberg calls RFK, Jr.'s nomination for Health Secretary 'beyond dangerous'; Speaker Johnson lights the Capitol Christmas Tree.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"The president took an action because of how politically infected these cases were." The words of White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre as she answered questions about President Biden's pardon of his son Hunter.

And reaction has been swift from both sides of the aisle.

House Oversight Chair James Comer said in a statement QUOTE Joe Biden has lied from the start". Incoming Senate Judiciary Chair Chuck Grassley said in part QUOTE I'm shocked.

Meanwhile, House Oversight Democrat Greg Stanton saying QUOTE I respect President Biden, but I think he got this one wrong.

Congress is back this week following their Thanksgiving break. The Senate gaveled in today at 3pm. They'll work on more of the President's judicial nominations. The House is back tomorrow. On their agenda—a possible vote on whether to release the Ethics Committee's report of former Florida Republican Congressman Matt Gaetz. And of course, we are just 18 days away from the next government funding deadline when Congress must pass a new federal spending bill to avert a shutdown.

The Supreme Court heard a case today on whether the Food and Drug Administration unlawfully blocked the sale of some vaping products. The agency has denied more than a million applications of candy or fruit flavored products as part of wider crackdown saying they appeal too much to kids. But vaping companies say the FDA unfairly disregarded arguments that those flavors can help adults quit smoking without increased risk to kids.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this weekend's episode, three segments from this past week's Washington Journal. First, a discussion with Mark Zandi – senior economist for Moody's Analytics – about the state of the economy – and the potential impact of President-elect Trump's economic plans. Then, documentary producer, director, and correspondent Martin Smith discusses his recent PBS Frontline film "China, The U.S. & The Rise of Xi Jinping." Plus, Ed Whelan from the Ethics and Public Policy Center Senior discusses President-elect Trump potentially using recess appointments to fill Cabinet positions and other key administration positions.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

First day of Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire, several Donald Trump Cabinet nominees receive bomb threats or are swatted, Vice President Harris tells party activists the fight for values continues despite her presidential election loss, incoming Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Susan Collins (R-ME) on federal spending and avoiding government shutdown, The Hill's Zack Budryk on chance of a Farm Bill reauthorization agreement this year. (31)

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Israel agrees to a ceasefire agreement with Hezbollah in Lebanon; Biden Admin. working to get $50 billion in frozen Russian assets to Ukraine; China, Mexico & Canada react to President-elect Trump's threat of tariffs over illegal immigration & drug trafficking; Incoming Border Czar Tom Homan visits border in Eagle Pass, TX; Sen. Blumenthal (D-CT) on new report on airline fees.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A federal judge has dismissed the election interference case against President-elect Trump…The move comes after Special Counsel Jack Smith filed a motion to dismiss all four felony charges…In his motion, the special counsel said he fully stood behind the allegations but recognized that Justice Department policy prohibits prosecuting a sitting president….In a separate motion, Jack Smith asked a federal appeals court in Georgia to drop Donald Trump as a co-defendant in the case over Trump’s alleged mishandling of classified documents….

Axios is reporting that Israel and Lebanon have agreed to a ceasefire that could end the Israel-Hezbollah conflict…and according to Reuters, Israel's cabinet will meet tomorrow to approve the deal… The UN Security Council also met today to talk about the conflict…And at that meeting, a senior UN official renewed calls for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza…saying the region is QUOTE on the brink of collapse…

 We are just 56 days away until Inauguration Day 2025…and the second Trump administration has taken shape…as the President-elect rounded out his nominees for all 15 cabinet posts… Meanwhile, two powerful Democrats are criticizing his choices for Director of National Intelligence and to lead the Pentagon and Office of Management and Budget…And we'll hear from a senior researcher at George Mason University about what could be ahead for the Trump administration's Department of Government Efficiency…

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

First, a closer look at the goals of the new "Department of Government Efficiency" with Jon Hart – CEO of the federal budget watchdog group "Open the Books. Then, Eric Katz -- correspondent at the news site Government Executive -- discusses how a second Trump Administration could impact the size and scope of the federal workforce. Plus, Wall Street Journal reporter Lara Seligman gives us a preview of potential changes to defense and national security policy under a second Trump Administration.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Matt Gaetz says he will not return to Congress after withdrawing as Attorney General nominee, Sen. Casey (D-PA) concedes his reelection race, Sens. Risch (R-ID) and Shaheen (D-NH) at Halifax International Security Forum in Canada, White House says costs for Thanksgiving meal and car trip are lower, U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree arrives in DC from Alaska.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices