Trump names Stephen Miller, Dan Scavino to senior White House staff
Trump 2024 campaign senior advisors Dan Scavino and Stephen Miller are among four new cabinet picks announced by the Trump-Vance transition team on Wednesday as the president-elect continues to fill up his incoming administration at breakneck speed. Scavino will return to the White House as an assistant to the president and deputy chief of staff. He was the director of social media for the Trump 2016 presidential campaign and has worked alongside the president-elect ever since, including serving as the White House’s director of social media in Trump’s first term in office. Scavino “remains one of President Trump’s longest serving and most trusted aides,” a statement released by the Trump-Vance transition team. Scavino was also held in contempt of Congress in 2022 after a month-long refusal to comply with a subpoena from the House committee’s investigation into the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. He claimed executive privilege and the Department of Justice refused to prosecute him. FORMER ICE DIRECTOR TOM HOMAN ‘HONORED’ TO BE APPOINTED TRUMP’S BORDER CZAR: ‘WE HAVE TO FIX IT’ Miller has been named as the deputy chief of staff for policy and Homeland Security advisor. Miller previously served in the Trump White House as senior advisor to the president for policy, where he helped craft many of Trump’s hard-line speeches and plans on immigration. Since Trump left office, Miller has served as the president of America First Legal, an organization of former Trump advisors fashioned as a conservative version of the American Civil Liberties Union, challenging the Biden administration, media companies, universities and others over issues such as freedom of speech, religious freedom, and national security. Miller has advocated for mass deportations during a second Trump term, during which he will serve as an assistant to the president. WHO IS SUSIE WILES, TRUMP’S WHITE HOUSE CHIEF OF STAFF? 5 THINGS TO KNOW The announcement came shortly before President-elect Trump met with President Biden at the White House. Meanwhile, James Blair will be the president and deputy chief of staff for legislative, political and public affairs. Blair was the political director for both the Trump 2024 campaign and the Republican National Committee, managing hundreds of staff and overseeing a wide portfolio of political operations and programs, per the statement. Blair was key to Trump’s economic messaging during his winning White House comeback campaign this year, a driving force behind the candidate’s “Trump can fix it” slogan and his query to audiences this fall if they were better off than four years ago. Taylor Budowich will serve as the president-elect’s deputy chief of staff for communications and personnel. Prior to joining the Trump 2024 campaign, Budowich served in a senior role in the Save America, Trump’s leadership political action committee (PAC) , and as CEO of the pro-Trump Super PAC, MAGA Inc. Like Scavino and Miller, Blair and Budowich will also serve as assistants to the president-elect. “Dan, Stephen, James, and Taylor were ‘best in class’ advisors on my winning campaign and I know they will honorably serve the American people in the White House,” President-elect Trump said via the statement. “They will continue to work hard to Make America Great Again in their respective new roles.” Fox News’ Danielle Wallace and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
Democratic governors form resistance group against Trump
As Democrats prepare to contend with the coming administration of President-elect Donald Trump, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Colorado Gov. Jared Polis are co-chairing a new coalition called Governors Safeguarding Democracy. While the initiative’s website describes it as “a nonpartisan alliance of governors” aiming to bolster “American democracy,” both co-chairs are Democrats. “There’s been outreach to Republican governors,” Pritzker said, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. “Good conversations, I might add, and there is continued interest by lots of governors. But I’m not going to name the ones that we’ve talked to.” BLUE STATE GOVERNORS SCORNED AFTER SENDING WARNINGS TO TRUMP: ‘THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE DONE WITH’ THIS The website names “fast-moving disinformation campaigns” and “cyberthreats” as examples of “threats to our democracy.” “Donald Trump is going to bring people into his administration who are absolute loyalists to his cult of personality and not necessarily to the law,” Pritzker said, according to the New York Times. “Last time, he didn’t really know where the levers of government were. I think he probably does now. And so I think that the threat remains great.” Trump, who decisively won the 2024 presidential election, will take office on Jan. 20, 2025, next year. “There’s not an overnight erosion that occurs on Jan. 20,” Polis said, according to the New York Times. “There’s a threat of an ongoing erosion over the future administration, and we want to prevent that from occurring.” HERE ARE THE DEMOCRATS WHO MAY EVENTUALLY RUN FOR PRESIDENT IN 2028 During an appearance on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” Polis said of Trump, “we’re gonna work with him and his administration however we can for our state.” He said that it is important to protect democratic institutions, ensuring that elections, court decisions, and the rule of law persist across Republican and Democratic administrations. Pritzker, who also appeared on the program, said the effort is “about responding to concerns that governors will have about dealing with what … seems to be an onslaught from the new administration.” GOV. JARED POLIS BLASTS TRUMP AS ‘APPROACHING 80,’ CAN’T ‘GET A SENTENCE OUT,’ AFTER BIDEN DROPS OUT The Governors Safeguarding Democracy website includes a donations page with an optional pronouns field where donors can select from various choices such as “Ve/Ver/Vis,” “Xe/Xem/Xyrs,” and more. “Governors Safeguarding Democracy is supported by Governors Action Alliance. Governors Action Alliance (GovAct) is a fiscally sponsored project of Global Impact, a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization,” the donation page notes. Fox News Digital reached out to request comments from Polis and Pritzker, and in both cases press secretaries for the governors responded by providing the press release about the initiative. The press release never mentions President-elect Trump. “At this critical moment in our history, we must unite to protect the foundations of our democracy and ensure our institutions withstand threats and persevere in their mission to improve the lives of our people,” Pritzker said, according to the press release. “Governors Safeguarding Democracy will serve as a powerful force in state-level efforts to ensure that our democracy lives up to our ideals and thrives for generations to come.” “In this moment, protecting democracy has never been more relevant or important, and doing so demands strong leadership at the state level,” Polis said, according to the press release. “Governors Safeguarding Democracy shows our shared dedication to defending the democratic principles upon which our country is built.”
Delhi becomes world’s most polluted city, overtakes Pakistan’s Lahore, AQI recorded at…
At 9 am on Wednesday, the air quality was ‘very poor’ with a reading of 366 which later rose to 418.
Former Solicitor General Theodore Olson, conservative lawyer who argued Bush 2000 recount case, dead at 84
Theodore Olson, the former conservative lawyer who argued the 2000 Florida vote-recount case on behalf of President George W. Bush, has died at the age of 84, his firm announced Wednesday. There was no immediate cause of death given for the former solicitor general, who is also remembered for teaming up with David Boies – his opponent in Bush v. Gore – to help overturn California’s Proposition 8 banning same-sex marriages. “Ted was a titan of the legal profession and one of the most extraordinary and eloquent advocates of our time,” Barbara Becker, chair and managing partner of Gibson Dunn, said in a statement. “He was creative, principled, and fearless — a trailblazing advocate who cared about all people. We mourn his loss profoundly and send our condolences to his wife Lady, a cherished member of our firm family, and to all of Ted’s loved ones.” The firm said Olson, over his career, “argued 65 cases in the Supreme Court, including the two Bush v. Gore cases arising out of the 2000 presidential election; Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission; Hollingsworth v. Perry, the case upholding the overturning of California’s Proposition 8 banning same-sex marriages; and U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security v. Regents of the University of California, successfully challenging the Trump Administration’s rescission of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.” FLASHBACK: OLSON’S LATE WIFE BARBARA CALLED HIM DURING 9/11 HIJACKING “Ted’s Supreme Court arguments included cases involving separation of powers; federalism; voting rights; the First Amendment; the Equal Protection and Due Process Clauses; patents and copyrights; antitrust; taxation; property rights; punitive damages; the Commerce Clause; immigration; criminal law; securities; telecommunications; the internet; and other federal constitutional and statutory questions,” the firm also said. Olson served as the Justice Department’s assistant attorney general in charge of the Office of Legal Counsel between 1981 and 1984. He later was solicitor general of the U.S. between 2001 and 2004, during Bush’s first administration, according to Gibson Dunn. In addition to those federal roles, Olson acted as private counsel to Bush and former President Ronald Reagan. Since 2009, Olson served on the Board of Trustees for the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute. GEORGE W. BUSH OFFERS NO ENDORSEMENT IN 2024 ELECTION “His wisdom, candor, and willingness to help – no matter how busy he was – made him an invaluable member of the Foundation and Institute’s Board of Trustees,” Fred Ryan, the chairman of the board, said in a statement obtained Wednesday by Fox News Digital. “Ted Olson wasn’t just President Reagan’s attorney – he was his friend and confidant, and that friendship and bond only grew stronger after Ronald Reagan left office,” Ryan also said. “The President often credited him for keeping his spirits up when times were tough and President and Mrs. Reagan tried to return the favor when Mr. Olson lost his [former] wife, Barbara, who was onboard the hijacked airplane that crashed into the Pentagon on September 11, 2001.” Gibson Dunn added that Olson “was twice awarded the U.S. Department of Justice’s Edmund J. Randolph Award, its highest award for public service and leadership, and also received the Department of Defense’s Distinguished Service Award, its highest civilian award, for his advocacy in the courts of the United States, including the Supreme Court.” Gibson died at a hospital in Falls Church, Virginia, according to The Washington Post.
Thune wins secret ballot to become new Senate GOP leader, succeeding McConnell
Senate Minority Whip John Thune will be the new Republican Senate leader and the majority leader of the upper chamber in the new Congress. In January, he will succeed Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., who is the longest-serving party leader in Senate history. Sources told Fox News Digital that no candidate reached a majority during the first secret ballot in the old Senate chamber on Wednesday morning. Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., received the least amount of votes and was knocked out of the race. The second secret ballot was between only Thune and Cornyn. Thune received 29 votes and Cornyn got 24 on the second ballot, according to Thune’s office. REPUBLICANS TO HUDDLE BEHIND CLOSED DOORS TO ELECT MCCONNELL’S SUCCESSOR WEDNESDAY Each of the candidates made a final pitch to their fellow Republican senators late Tuesday night during a forum held by Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah. Scott walked out of the meeting with two new public endorsements from both Lee and Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn. A source familiar told Fox News Digital that Blackburn had asked multiple questions during the discussion, including “how they would give conservatives a more meaningful voice in the Senate and for specific details as to how they would immediately implement President Trump’s mass deportation operation.” RICK SCOTT GAINS NEW SENATE ENDORSEMENTS OUT OF CANDIDATE FORUM ON EVE OF LEADER ELECTION Despite this, one source with knowledge told Fox News Digital that Scott’s pitch didn’t convince everyone. “Scott’s remarks didn’t do much to impress or sway members,” they said. “He focused more on his time as a businessman instead of priorities for the Senate.” JOHN THUNE SNAGS 2 MORE ENDORSEMENTS IN COMPETITIVE GOP LEADER RACE TO SUCCEED MCCONNELL Prior to the elections, Thune had received public endorsements from Sens. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., Mike Rounds, R-S.D., Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., John Hoeven, R-N.D., and a source confirmed to Fox News Digital that National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) Chairman Steve Daines, R-Mont., was privately encouraging other senators to support Thune. Scott had the most public support, with Sens. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, Ron Johnson, R-Wis., Bill Hagerty, R-Tenn., Rand Paul, R-Ky., Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., and Marco Rubio, R-Fla., also backing him. DEM REP RUBEN GALLEGO BEATS KARI LAKE IN BATTLE FOR ARIZONA SENATE SEAT Cornyn had only received one public endorsement from Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo. The majority of GOP senators did not disclose ahead of time who they were casting their ballots for. Rubio and Hagerty gave the two nominating speeches for Scott, while Daines and Rounds did so for Thune. It’s unclear who gave nominating speeches for Cornyn. The new leader will assume the role in January.
Biden admin says climate change poses national security risks, sends delegation to address them
The White House released a fact-sheet about the Biden administration’s work at the U.N. Global Climate Change Summit being held this week, detailing the work the U.S. delegation will undergo while in attendance. The U.S. delegation, according to the fact sheet, will focus on three main pillars while at the climate conference in Azerbaijan, one of which is to address the national security “risks” that climate change poses. “At COP29, the U.S. delegation will promote U.S. efforts to seize the economic opportunities of the clean energy transition, address the risks climate change poses to our national security, and accelerate climate action in this decisive decade,” the fact sheet stated. BIDEN ADMIN TOUTS JOB WELL DONE REPLENISHING OIL RESERVES DESPITE DEPLETING THEM BY HALF OVER LAST 4 YEARS The document pointed to nuclear energy production and clean energy capacity as two main components the climate delegation would focus on pertaining to national security. TRUMP TO INSTALL ‘ENERGY CZAR’ TO DISMANTLE BIDEN CLIMATE RULES: REPORT Meanwhile, in September, the Biden administration released a “U.S. Framework for Climate Resilience and Security,” which posited that the U.S. national security community “has long understood” the threat that climate change poses to “existing security threats and vulnerabilities.” The framework cited increased flooding and severe storms impacting military bases, extreme heat that “costs lives, reduces productivity and damages critical infrastructure,” decreased food security as the result of droughts and air pollution. It also pointed to the need for the military to respond to increased disasters caused by climate change, which the framework said works to drain its resources. “The devastating impacts of the climate crisis increasingly are themselves the new direct threats from which we must protect our communities,” the framework stated. It was signed by John Podesta, senior advisor to the president for International Climate Policy, and Jake Sullivan, assistant to the president for National Security Affairs. During President Biden’s first few days in office, he signed a series of executive orders that made “climate central to foreign policy planning, to diplomacy and to national security preparedness,” according to John Kerry, Biden’s former climate envoy. Biden was the first president in U.S. history to direct U.S. intelligence agencies to study the national security risks that climate change poses.
Rick Scott knocked out of Senate leader race on first ballot as Thune and Cornyn advance
Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., was knocked out of the Senate leader race after the first secret ballot on Wednesday morning, during which none of the three candidates received a majority of the votes. Sources told Fox News that Scott received the least amount of votes during the first ballot. The senators advanced to a second secret ballot between only Senate Minority Whip John Thune, R-S.D., and Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas. Thune received the most votes on the first ballot with 23, but fell short of a majority, needing four more. Cornyn posted 15 votes, despite having only one public endorsement beforehand. Scott received 13 votes in the ballot before being knocked out of the race. A candidate must receive 27 votes, a majority of the 53-member conference, in order to win.
Trump thanks Biden for ‘smooth transition’ during White House meeting
WASHINGTON – President-elect Trump and President Biden both pledged a smooth transition between administrations, as they met at the White House on Wednesday morning. “I look forward…to having a smooth transition. We’ll do everything we can to make sure you’re accommodated, what you need,” President Biden said as cameras and reporters were briefly allowed in the Oval Office for the meeting. Speaking second, Trump emphasized that “politics is tough and in many cases it’s not a very nice world, but it is a nice world today. “I appreciate very much the transition that’s so smooth. It will be as smooth as it can get, and I very much appreciate that, the former and future president added. LOYALTY MATTERS: TRUMP PICKS ALLIES AND SUPPORTERS TO FILL OUT HIS SECOND ADMINISTRATION Trump returned to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue just over a week after his sweeping election victory, as he made his first stop back at the White House in nearly four years. He arrived at the White House at the invitation of Biden, the politician he knocked out of the 2024 presidential race. For Biden – who ended his own re-election bid in July, a month after his disastrous debate performance against Trump reignited questions over whether the 81-year-old president was physically and mentally up for another four years in the White House and sparked calls for him to drop out of the race – the meeting with his predecessor and now successor was likely awkward. HERE ARE THE DEMOCRATS WHO MAY RUN FOR THE WHITE HOUSE IN 2028 Trump spent years verbally eviscerating Biden and his performance in the White House. And even after Biden ended his re-election bid, Trump continued to slam the president and his successor atop the Democrats’ 2024 ticket – Vice President Kamala Harris. And Biden, for a couple of years, has labeled Trump a threat to the nation’s democracy. But Biden, a traditionalist, wants to ensure a smooth transition between administrations. Biden’s offer to Trump to visit the White House was an invitation he himself was never accorded. Four years ago, in the wake of his election defeat at the hands of Biden, Trump refused to concede and tried unsuccessfully to overturn the results. VANCE IS THE FRONT-RUNNER, BUT HERE’S WHO ELSE MAY RUN FOR THE 2028 GOP PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATION Breaking with longstanding tradition, Trump didn’t invite Biden to the White House. And two weeks after the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol by Trump supporters aiming to upend congressional certification of Biden’s Electoral College victory, Trump left Washington ahead of the presidential inauguration of his successor, becoming the first sitting president in a century and a half to skip out on a successor’s inauguration. According to sources, incoming White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles and current White House Chief of Staff Jeff Zients were in attendance on Wednesday as Trump and Biden met behind closed doors. “President Biden’s decision to welcome President-elect Trump to the White House is a tribute to normalcy in the presidential transition process. What was denied to Joe Biden following his election, is being restored to Biden’s credit,” veteran political scientist Wayne Lesperance told Fox News. Lesperance, the president of New Hampshire-based New England College, called the invitation by Biden ” a remarkable gesture in that it legitimizes Trump’s return to power by the nation’s leading Democrat and, hopefully, will be met with a commitment to orderly transitions in the future.” The meeting will be the first between Biden and Trump since they faced off on June 27 in Atlanta, Georgia, in their one and only debate. The two presidents – along with Harris and Trump’s running mate and now vice president-elect, Sen. JD Vance – stood next to each other on Sept. 11 in New York City’s Lower Manhattan, at ceremonies for the 23rd anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. This was Trump’s second meeting at the White House with a departing president. Eight years ago, after defeating Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, Trump sat down at the White House with President Barack Obama, who was finishing up his second term steering the nation. “We now are going to want to do everything we can to help you succeed. Because, if you succeed, then the country succeeds,” Obama told Trump at the time. While a tradition, the meeting between the incoming and outgoing presidents is not mandated.
Top Democrat officials worried tens of millions in Harris campaign debt could be their problem: report
Top Democratic Party officials are concerned that the Harris-Walz campaign crossed the finish line with tens of millions of dollars in debt that could now be the party’s problem. Party officials are now scrutinizing how the campaign spent its funds, having raised over $1 billion before Election Day. FEC filings already show shocking payments to celebrities like Oprah Winfrey and tens of millions in event spending and social media influence. “How do you raise a historic amount of money and not win a single swing state?” one Harris aide told Axios. “The honest answer is: I don’t know. It seems we lost the national narrative, and that’s what we need to diagnose.” Reports say the Harris campaign expected a delayed result on Election Day, and officials were planning to continue fundraising as votes were counted in the following days. HARRIS CAMPAIGN REPORTEDLY SPENT 6 FIGURES ON ‘CALL HER DADDY’ PODCAST WITH FEWER THAN 1 MILLION YOUTUBE VIEWS That reality never materialized, however, as it quickly became apparent that President-elect Trump ran away with the victory. FEC filings show the Harris campaign made two $500,000 payments to Oprah Winfrey’s production company, Harpo, on Oct. 15, a month after Winfrey appeared with Harris at a town hall event and weeks before Oprah was on stage with Harris at a Philadelphia rally before Election Day. HARRIS CAMPAIGN AND ALLIES SPENT MORE THAN $1.4B ON POLITICAL ADS IN LOSING RACE AGAINST TRUMP While Winfrey herself denied accepting any payment, Harpo claimed the payments were meant to cover production costs for the surrounding event. The campaign also gave $4 million to Village Marketing Agency, a company that connects clients with social media influencers. The long list of celebrities that joined Harris on the campaign trail included Beyoncé, Bon Jovi, Ricky Martin, Jennifer Lopez and Bruce Springsteen. The Washington Examiner also reported that the Harris campaign spent over $12 million on digital media consultants and “spent six figures on building a set for Harris’s appearance on the popular Call Her Daddy podcast with host Alex Cooper.” The campaign spent at least $15 million on “event production,” FEC records show, with many payments lining up with high profile events and concerts with celebrity attendees or performers. “The truth is this is just an epic disaster, this is a $1 billion disaster,” Lindy Li, Harris surrogate and DNC National Finance Committee member, told “Fox & Friends Weekend” on Saturday. Fox News’ Andrew Mark Miller contributed to this report.
Ted Cruz gets behind Rick Scott for leader, in blow to fellow Texan John Cornyn
Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, announced his endorsement of Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., on Wednesday morning ahead of the 9:30 a.m. leadership elections. “This morning, I’ll be voting for Rick Scott for GOP Leader, as I did two years ago. In 2022, I helped lead the charge for Rick against McConnell & I’m proud to stand with him again. “For 12 yrs, I’ve been unequivocal that we need to change GOP Leadership—and now we finally will,” he wrote on X. The last minute endorsement comes as a blow to Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, who is from Cruz’s home state and also running for leader. REPUBLICANS TO HUDDLE BEHIND CLOSED DOORS TO ELECT MCCONNELL’S SUCCESSOR WEDNESDAY Cornyn’s office did not provide comment to Fox News Digital in time for publication. On Tuesday night, after a leader candidate forum led by Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, Cruz told reporters, “We had a robust and very substantive conversation.” However, he would not say whether he was decided on his vote or if he was planning to support Cornyn. REPUBLICANS 2 SEATS AWAY FROM HOUSE MAJORITY, GIVING TRUMP LEEWAY TO IMPLEMENT AGENDA Senate Minority Whip John Thune, R-S.D., is also running for leader, alongside Cornyn and Scott. Both Thune and Scott were endorsed by their home state counterparts, Sens. Mike Rounds, R-S.D., and Marco Rubio, R-Fla., respectively. Scott is also publicly endorsed by Sens. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., Mike Lee, R-Utah, Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., Bill Hagerty, R-Tenn., Rand Paul, R-Ky., and Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala. Thune has the support of Rounds, Sens. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., John Hoeven, R-N.D., and Steve Daines, R-Mont. Cornyn has been publicly backed by Sen. Josh Hawley. With three candidates vying for a 27-vote majority in the 53 member conference, it’s possible that the secret ballot election could advance to a second ballot. If one of the candidates is knocked out on the first ballot, it is very likely that some candidates, even those who have endorsed others, will choose to back a different candidate.