| | | | | Mentioned in this edition: John Thune, Mike Johnson, Chad Chronister, Pete Hegseth, Kash Patel, David Sacks, Charlie Kirk, David Perdue, Joni Ernst, Sean O'Brien, Lori Chavez-DeRemer, Kathy Hochul, Eric Adams, preemptive pardons, Trump's NY trial, the PRO Act, and more. | | Have tips? Send them to me at ari@upward.news |
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| | | WHAT WE'RE WATCHING | | 🥅 Sen. John Thune laid out his legislative goals. The soon-to-be Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) told his colleagues that he wants to pass a major bill that would fund Donald Trump's border wall, provide more money for immigration enforcement, and expand funding for energy and defense. Thune is also seeking to pass a reconciliation tax bill, meaning it could bypass the Senate filibuster. | 🙅♂️ Some House Republicans are opposed Thune's plan. Though House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) supports Thune's idea, some Republicans in the House prefer to combine border security and tax measures — such as lowering the corporate income tax — into one package. Only having a slight majority, Republican leaders cannot afford to lose a single vote. | 💊 Trump's pick to lead the DEA withdrew from consideration. Florida Sheriff Chad Chronister did not publicly say why he was turning down Trump's offer to lead the Drug Enforcement Administration. However, conservatives had reacted negatively to the pick, pointing to Chronister's 2020 arrest of a church pastor for violating COVID rules and statements saying that his office does not "target individuals based on their immigration status." | 🪖 Pete Hegseth's defense secretary nomination is in trouble. Amid new reporting on Hegseth's alleged history of alcoholism (which has been pushed back on by his coworkers), formerly supportive GOP senators — such as South Carolina's Lindsey Graham and Wyoming's Cynthia Lummis — have started sounding more skeptical. One, Joni Ernst, said that she was not ready to vote yes after meeting with Hegseth. |
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| | | 🦅 THE EXECUTIVE | Elbridge Colby, along with Ron DeSantis, is reportedly being considered for secretary of defense if Pete Hegseth withdraws or is rejected by the Senate. Kash Patel, Trump's pick for FBI director, was hacked, allegedly by agents of the Iranian government. Trump picked pro-cryptocurrency Paul Atkins as chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission and investor David Sacks as his White House AI and crypto czar. Former Sen. Kelly Loeffler (R-GA) was selected by Trump to head the Small Business Administration. Trump also chose former Georgia Sen. David Perdue (R) as his ambassador to China.
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| | | 🏛️ CONGRESS | House Democrats are unseating multiple ranking committee members, a rarity for a party that often pays heed to seniority. Sen. Thune (R-SD) said Congress might need to "put the brakes" on some aspects of President-elect Trump's agenda. Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA), who is reportedly lukewarm toward Pete Hegseth, said she had a "frank and thorough conversation" with Trump's defense secretary pick. Elon Musk and Charlie Kirk are threatening to primary any Senate Republican who votes against Trump's cabinet nominees.
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| | | 🗓️ WHAT'S AHEAD | 🔒 This section is for members only | |
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| | | Some Democrats quietly back Trump's immigration plan | | President-elect Donald Trump and state-level Democrats fought throughout his first term over immigration. His administration sued California over their sanctuary policies — meaning local officials would not hand illegal migrants over to ICE — and a coalition of state attorneys general sued Trump over his attempt to build a border wall… | 🔒 This article is for members only | |
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| | | How Trump could revolutionize GOP labor policy | | President-elect Donald Trump invited the head of the Teamsters union, Sean O'Brien, to speak at the Republican National Convention in July. In his speech, O'Brien said Trump had the "backbone" to invite him, and expressed hope that, if Trump was elected, he would take the Republican Party on a more pro-labor course than it had taken in past years… | 🔒 This article is for members only | |
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