Donald Trump has announced his plans to attend the reopening of the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris this weekend, marking his first foreign trip since his election victory.
In a statement on Truth Social, the president-elect called it “an honor” to join the celebrations in Paris.
The announcement came among a series of other posts where he threatened “all hell to pay” if the remaining hostages in Gaza are not released before his inauguration and vowed to block the sale of U.S. Steel to Japanese firm Nippon Steel.
The president-elect also announced that he has chosen billionaire donor Warren Stephens to serve as US ambassador to the UK in his next administration.
This comes as Washington remains rattled by President Joe Biden’s decision to pardon his son, Hunter Biden, days before he was due to be sentenced on tax and federal gun charges.
Biden previously insisted he would not pardon his son. The move has divided lawmakers, with some Democrats also slamming the president.
On Monday, Special counsel David Weiss – who led the prosecution of Hunter in both cases – denied Biden’s claims that his son was selectively prosecuted and also pushed back against dismissing the charges.
Key Points
- Trump threatens ‘all hell to pay’ in Middle East if hostages not released before inauguration
- Trump announces plans to attend Notre Dame Cathedral reopening in Paris
- Biden ducks questions on his decision to pardon his son Hunter
- Miller dodges when asked if Trump would try to pardon himself
- Judge terminates Hunter Biden gun case
Senate Democrats unanimously re-elect Chuck Schumer and leadership team for 119th Congress
16:25 , Oliver O'Connell
Senate Democrats have unanimously elected their leadership this morning, including reelecting Senator Chuck Schumer and Senator Dick Durbin as Senate Democratic Leader and Chair of the Conference and Democratic Whip, respectively — the top two positions.
Senators Amy Klobuchar and Cory Booker take the third and fourth slots as Chair of Steering and Policy Committee and Chair of Strategic Communications Committee.
The Senate Democratic Leadership for the 119th Congress: pic.twitter.com/aJoOJuos3d
— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) December 3, 2024
Said Schumer: “I am honored and humbled to be chosen by my colleagues to continue leading Senate Democrats during this crucial period for our country.
“Our caucus has led the way in passing historic legislation that has improved the lives of millions of Americans and we remain laser focused on addressing the most pressing challenges facing our country.
“As I have long said, our preference is to secure bipartisan solutions wherever possible and look for ways to collaborate with our Republican colleagues to help working families.
“However, our Republican colleagues should make no mistake about it, we will always stand up for our values.
“We have a lot of work ahead—in the Senate and as a country—and in this upcoming Congress, our caucus will continue to fight for what’s best for America’s working class.
“Senate Democrats are ready to get to work for you, the American people.”
Moskowitz becomes first Democrat to join bipartisan DOGE caucus
16:21 , Oliver O'ConnellFlorida Rep Jared Moskowitz has become the first Democratic congressman to join the bipartisan Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) Caucus. Specifically, he wants to take a look at streamlining the Department of Homeland Security by removing FEMA and the Secret Service from its remit.
Moskowitz released the following statement:
Today. I will join the Congressional DOGE Caucus, because I believe that streamlining government processes and reducing ineffective government spending should not be a partisan issue. I've been clear that there are ways we can reorganize our government to make it work better for the American people. Specifically, the Department of Homeland Security, while very necessary, has gotten too big. The Caucus should look at the bureaucracy that DHS has become and include recommendations to make Secret Service and FEMA independent federal agencies with a direct report to the White House. It's not practical to have 22 agencies under this one department. I look forward to working in a bipartisan manner with my colleagues to remove FEMA and Secret Service from DHS.
Judge terminates Hunter Biden gun case
16:19 , Alex WoodwardThe judge overseeing Hunter Biden’s gun case has officially terminated it following the pardon by his father, President Joe Biden.
ORAL ORDER: Having reviewed the parties’ submissions … and in the absence of binding precedent, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that pursuant to the Executive Grant of Clemency signed by President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. on December 1, 2024, Defendant Robert Hunter Biden has been pardoned for, inter alia, the offenses for which a jury rendered a verdict in this case … As such, all proceedings in this case are hereby terminated. ORDERED by Judge Maryellen Noreika on 12/3/2024.
Trump’s highest compliments, tracked
16:00 , Oliver O'ConnellDonald Trump completed his slate of cabinet secretaries last week in rolling announcements — and hidden in his big reveals could be a message of who he appreciates most.
The president-elect relied on six compliments when broadcasting picks for his next administration. Sometimes he was “proud,” other times he was “thrilled,” and, most of the time, he was “pleased.” Perhaps these different phrases provide some insight into Trump’s thinking.
Penta Group partnered with Axios to track how many times Trump used certain terms to introduce his Cabinet and staff picks.
“There is one final decider and as his statements come out, you can see slight nuances in the language,” Penta CEO Matt McDonald told Axios. “It kind of reminds meof the old Kremlinology of the Cold War, where people were parsing whatever public indicators there were to tell who was up or who was out.”
Here is a breakdown of his compliments:
Great honor vs pleased: Trump’s highest compliments, tracked
UK PM praises Trump as he rejects calls to choose EU over US
15:40 , Oliver O'ConnellSir Keir Starmer has rejected demands that he make a choice between a trade deal with the US and closer relations with the EU in the wake of the re-election of Donald Trump to the White House.
The prime minister has been posed a Brexit conundrum amid fears that Mr Trump’s plans to introduce tariffs and instigate a trade war will force Britain to choose between striking a trade deal with the incoming US president and continuing to pursue closer ties with the EU in a planned reset of Britain’s relationship with the bloc.
David Maddox reports from London.
Starmer praises Trump as he rejects calls to choose EU over US
Biden ducks questions on his decision to pardon his son Hunter
15:21 , AP
President Joe Biden on Tuesday ducked questions on his decision to break his word and pardon his son Hunter, ignoring calls for him to explain his reversal as he was making his first presidential trip to Angola.
Dismissing shouted questions with a laugh during a meeting with Angolan President João Lourenço at the presidential palace, Biden said to the Angolan delegation “welcome to America.” Biden was not scheduled to take questions from the press during his trip to Africa, press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters on Monday, and he has largely avoided any interaction with reporters since President-elect Donald Trump’s victory last month.
Biden’s decision to offer his son a blanket pardon for actions over the past 11 years has sparked a political uproar in Washington, after the president repeatedly told the public he would not use his extraordinary powers for the benefit of his family members. And Biden claimed that his own Justice Department had presided over a “miscarriage of justice” in prosecuting his son.
The reversal drew criticism from many Democrats, who are working to calibrate their approach to Trump as he prepares to take over the Oval Office in seven weeks, as they fear the pardon — and Biden’s claims that his son was prosecuted for political reasons — will erode their ability to push back on the incoming president’s legal moves. And it threatened to cloud Biden’s legacy as he prepares to leave office on Jan. 20.
Miller dodges when asked if Trump would try to pardon himself
15:14 , Oliver O'ConnellJason Miller, one of Donald Trump’s top advisers, was asked on CNN this morning if the president-elect would pardon himself of federal charges he faced, once he takes office on January 20, 2025.
Trump was indicted twice for federal cases last year for allegedly trying to overturn the 2020 election, and for taking classified documents with him when he left office and refusing to give them back.
Special counsel Jack Smith has dropped the charges in both cases but kept the possibility that they could be reinstated in the future open.
Theoretically, once he returns to office, Trump could pardon himself — though that would require an admission of wrongdoing.
Said Miller to CNN’s Kasie Hunt: “That would never be something that I would weigh in on. That would be something for the legal team to discuss. And again, President Trump did nothing wrong.”
Later in their discussion, Miller said that Trump would be sticking by his nominee for defense secretary Pete Hegseth, who has been mired in scandal almost since his nomination was announced.
He called the most recent damaging allegations about Hegseth regarding intoxication and financial mismanagement of a non-profit as “innuendo and gossip”.
Jon Stewart says it’s ‘OK’ Joe Biden pardoned son Hunter – for one reason
14:46 , Oliver O'ConnellJon Stewart has explained why he’s “OK” with Joe Biden pardoning his son Hunter Biden over criminal convictions.
The outgoing US president, who has just under two months left in office before Donald Trump takes over, has granted his son clemency for felony gun and tax crimes – despite vowing he wouldn’t
Jacob Stolworthy reports.
Jon Stewart says it’s ‘OK’ Joe Biden pardoned son Hunter – for one reason
Why a second Trump’ presidency poses a new global threat to women’s health
14:27 , Oliver O'ConnellRachel Schraer writes:
Immediately after Donald Trump clinched a second term in the White House, mail orders of abortion pills spiked across the U.S. Meanwhile, Planned Parenthood, the country’s biggest provider of reproductive health services, saw an eightfold increase in appointments for long-acting contraceptive devices known as IUDs.
The reality of another Trump presidency appears to have stoked fears among many Americans that their access to abortion and contraception could be further restricted. But the issue stretches beyond U.S. borders. Around the world, hundreds of millions of women who had no say in Trump’s election could lose vital health services because of his decisions.
Continue reading...
Why Trump’s next presidency poses a new global threat to women’s health
WATCH: Most controversial presidential pardons in history
14:00 , Rachel SharpCan Trump pardon himself once he is back in office?
13:40 , Rachel SharpGustaf Kilander takes a closer look...
Can Trump pardon himself now he has won the presidency again?
WATCH: All the times Joe Biden has said he won’t pardon son Hunter
13:20 , Rachel SharpTrump joked Canada could avoid tariffs by becoming 51st US state, says report
13:00 , Rachel SharpDonald Trump joked that Canada could become the 51st US state if it wants to avoid hefty tariffs he plans to impose on the nation, according to sources.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau joined Trump for dinner at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida, on Friday, for what Trump called a “very productive” three-hour dinner between the two leaders.
The meeting came days after the president-elect threatened a blanket 25 percent tariff on “all products” entering the US from Canada and Mexico – and an additional 10 percent tariff on Chinese goods.
Read the full story:
Trump joked Canada could avoid tariffs by becoming 51st US state, says report
RFK Jr used to hawk bottles of water with high levels of fluoride. Now he wants to ban it
12:48 , Rachel SharpAs Donald Trump’s Health and Human Services director pick, Robert F Kennedy Jr has vowed to ban flouride from drinking water.
But, it has emerged that, the Kennedy dynasty heir actually used to hawk bottles of drinking water with a higher concentration of fluoride than most tap water in the US.
In 2009, RFK Jr co-founded Keeper Springs bottled water in a bid to support his environmental organization the Waterkeeper Alliance, a network of groups dedicated to cleaning up polluted waterways.
Read on...
RFK Jr used to hawk water with high levels of fluoride. Now he wants to ban it
Analysis: I covered the 2024 election cycle as a political reporter. Here are the predictions I got wrong
12:20 , Rachel SharpEric Garcia explains what he saw coming, what he got wrong — and what that taught him about future elections
As a political reporter who covered the 2024 election cycle, here’s what I got wrong
WATCH: First Lady Jill Biden offers holiday wishes from the First Family for the last time
12:00 , Rachel SharpCalifornia launches plot to Trump-proof state laws
11:40 , Rachel SharpA California senator has said that the state won’t aid the incoming Trump administration in its mass deportation efforts because it would be legally unable to.
Sen. Alex Padilla of the Golden State appeared on CBS’s Face the Nation on Sunday, saying that he would work to block state resources from boosting deportation efforts by pushing for the government to follow the constitutional requirement that it’s up to the federal government to control the border.
“There’s an important distinction here. No state’s government, not Texas, not California, not any state in the nation, has a constitutional authority to impose federal immigration law,” the Democrat said. “That is the responsibility of the federal government.”
Trump has insisted that he will declare a national emergency and utilize the military to conduct the mass deportations, a proposed effort that has faced criticism from both Democrats and some Republicans.
Read on...
California won’t aid Trump’s deportation plans because it legally can’t, says senator
Jimmy Kimmel defends Biden’s 180 on Hunter pardon – because there’s ‘a good chance he doesn’t remember’
11:20 , Rachel SharpJimmy Kimmel has defended President Joe Biden’s decision to pardon his son Hunter Biden joking that there’s a “very good chance” the president “doesn’t remember” previously saying he wouldn’t.
Alarm bells sounded on both sides of the political aisle on Sunday when Biden granted his son clemency for federal crimes committed between January 1, 2014 through December 1, 2024 – claiming the 54-year-old was “selectively, and unfairly, prosecuted” by the Department of Justice.
Biden had previously ruled out pardoning his son and so the sudden change of heart prompted backlash from Republicans as well as some Democrats.
The Jimmy Kimmel Live host weighed in on the saga on Monday night’s show, conceding that the president did indeed vow not to pardon Hunter.
But Kimmel joked that Biden, who culled his re-election campaign in July amid speculation around his mental acuity, may not “remember saying that.”
Read on...
Jimmy Kimmel jokes that Biden ‘doesn’t remember’ his past promises on Hunter pardon
Trump’s highest compliments, tracked
11:00 , Oliver O'ConnellDonald Trump completed his slate of cabinet secretaries last week in rolling announcements — and hidden in his big reveals could be a message of who he appreciates most.
The president-elect relied on six compliments when broadcasting picks for his next administration. Sometimes he was “proud,” other times he was “thrilled,” and, most of the time, he was “pleased.” Perhaps these different phrases provide some insight into Trump’s thinking.
Penta Group partnered with Axios to track how many times Trump used certain terms to introduce his Cabinet and staff picks.
“There is one final decider and as his statements come out, you can see slight nuances in the language,” Penta CEO Matt McDonald told Axios. “It kind of reminds me of the old Kremlinology of the Cold War, where people were parsing whatever public indicators there were to tell who was up or who was out.”
Here is a breakdown of his compliments:
Great honor vs pleased: Trump’s highest compliments, tracked
CNN panelist lists all the other times presidents have pardoned family members
10:40 , Rachel SharpPhillip: Biden is also not the first person to pardon a family member, Hunter Biden, Charles Kushner, Roger Clinton, Emilie Todd Helm, Abraham Lincoln's wife's half sister, was pardoned pic.twitter.com/F9iry1ajZZ
— Acyn (@Acyn) December 3, 2024
Trump-pardoned filmmaker Dinesh D’Souza flamed for attacking Biden for pardoning son
10:20 , Rachel SharpSocial media users piled on conservative filmmaker Dinesh D’Souza on Monday, accusing the conspiracy theorist of hypocrisy for criticizing Joe Biden’s pardon of his son Hunter, as D’Souza received a presidential pardon of his own from Donald Trump in 2018.
The jokes began when D’Souza posted about the pardon on X, writing, “No one is above the law—except my son Hunter!” Elsewhere on his feed, D’Souza called the Bidens a “crime family” and Hunter Biden a “degenerate gangster.”
The comments quickly generated a storm of links and mockery pointing to D’Souza’s own 2018 pardon for campaign finance violations.
In addition to a dreaded community note under D’Souza’s post, many individual users also pointed to the Trump administration pardon.
Read the full story:
Trump-pardoned filmmaker Dinesh D’Souza flamed for attacking Biden for pardoning son
Trump joked to Trudeau that Canada could become 51st state
10:00 , Rachel SharpDonald Trump reportedly joked during his meeting with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau last week that Canada can become the US’s 51st state if it wants to avoid his controversial tariff plans.
Trudeau joined Trump for dinner at Mar-a-Lago on Friday, days after the president-elect threatened to impose a 25 percent tariff on goods coming from Canada.
Sources told Fox News that, during the meeting, the PM told Trump his plans would “kill” Canada’s economy.
In response, the president-elect quipped that Canada could become the US’s 51st state and Trudeau could become its governor, the sources said.
The comments reportedly sparked nervous laughter from the Canadian officials gathered round the table.
Trump warns there’ll be ‘ALL HELL TO PAY’ if Israeli hostages aren’t released before he takes office
09:40 , Rachel SharpPresident-elect Donald Trump is demanding the immediate release of Israeli hostages still being held in Gaza, saying that if they are not freed before he is sworn into office for a second term there will be “HELL TO PAY.”
“Please let this TRUTH serve to represent that if the hostages are not released prior to January 20, 2025, the date that I proudly assume Office as President of the United States, there will be ALL HELL TO PAY in the Middle East, and for those in charge who perpetrated these atrocities against Humanity,” Trump wrote in a post on his Truth Social site.
He added that: “Those responsible will be hit harder than anybody has been hit in the long and storied History of the United States of America. RELEASE THE HOSTAGES NOW!”
It was not immediately clear whether Trump was threatening to directly involve the U.S. military in Israel’s ongoing campaign against Hamas in Gaza. Trump allies have said he hopes there will be a ceasefire and hostage release deal before he returns to office early next year.
Read the story here:
Trump warns ‘ALL HELL TO PAY’ if hostages aren’t released before he takes office
Trump again vows to block sale of U.S. Steel to Japanese firm Nippon Steel
09:20 , Rachel SharpDonald Trump has once again vowed to block the sale of U.S. Steel to Japanese firm Nippon Steel.
“I am totally against the once great and powerful U.S. Steel being bought by a foreign company, in this case Nippon Steel of Japan,” he wrote on Truth Social on Monday night.
“Through a series of Tax Incentives and Tariffs, we will make U.S. Steel Strong and Great Again, and it will happen FAST! As President, I will block this deal from happening. Buyer Beware!!!”
Nippon Steel, the biggest steel producer in Japan and fourth largest in the world, reached a deal to acquire US Steel for $15 billion in December 2023.
But the deal stalled, following fierce opposition from labor union United Steelworkers as well as the Biden administration.
Trump made previous statements to block the controbversial deal during the 2024 campaign trail.
Jon Stewart says it’s ‘OK’ Joe Biden pardoned son Hunter – for one reason
09:00 , Rachel SharpJon Stewart has explained why he’s “OK” with Joe Biden pardoning his son Hunter Biden over criminal convictions..
The outgoing US president, who has just under two months left in office before Donald Trump takes over, has granted his son clemency for felony gun and tax crimes – despite vowing he wouldn’t
In June, Hunter, 54, was convicted of three federal gun charges related to his purchase of a firearm in 2018. Three months later, he pleaded guilty to nine federal tax charges in September.
While Whoopi Goldberg has defended Biden over the move, arguing that presidents often make questionable pardons, many are particularly frustrated with the president due to his previous claims he wouldn’t.
Stewart addressed the subject on The Daily Show, stating on Monday (2 December): “Motherf***er, we were so close. But you know what? Good, OK, fine, it’s good, it’s right, it’s his right. He’s an 82-year-old man, doesn’t want to spend the rest of his life visiting his son in prison.”
Read the full story:
Jon Stewart says it’s ‘OK’ Joe Biden pardoned son Hunter – for one reason
Trump calls Hunter Biden’s pardon ‘an abuse and miscarriage of Justice’
08:40 , Oliver O'ConnellDonald Trump was quick to react to news of Hunter Biden’s presidential pardon on Sunday night, blasting the decision as “an abuse and miscarriage of Justice.”
In a short post to his social media platform less than an hour after the official announcement, the president mused over pardons for those convicted in the violent insurrection on January 6 2021.
Mike Bedigan reports.
Trump slams Hunter Biden’s presidential pardon as ‘abuse and miscarriage of Justice’
Trump announces plans to attend Notre Dame Cathedral reopening in Paris
08:20 , Rachel SharpDonald Trump has announced his plans to attend he reopening of the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris this weekend.
In a statement on Truth Social, the president-elect wrote: “It is an honor to announce that I will be traveling to Paris, France, on Saturday to attend the re-opening of the Magnificent and Historic Notre Dame Cathedral, which has been fully restored after a devastating fire five years ago.
“President Emmanuel Macron has done a wonderful job ensuring that Notre Dame has been restored to its full level of glory, and even more so. It will be a very special day for all!”
His attendance will mark his first foreign trip since his election victory.
Hunter Biden is latest in history of controversial presidential pardons
08:00 , Ariana BaioPresidential pardons have always been a point of controversy in the United States but some president’s decisions, like Joe Biden pardoning his son Hunter, have led to more criticisms than others.
During their final weeks in office, the sitting U.S. president will, traditionally, utilize their power to grant pardons for federal crimes and issue clemency to those they believe deserve it.
Some believe the president should not have the power to grant pardons because it can be abused and is often seen as a political act rather than judicial correction.
Over the years, presidents like Andrew Johnson Gerald Ford, Bill Clinton, Donald Trump have stirred the pot by granting sweeping pardons or to those close to them.
Here’s a look at the most controversial.
From Hunter Biden to Nixon: Most controversial presidential pardons in history
Trump meets Netanyahu’s wife as he seeks Israel-Hamas ceasefire
07:30 , Oliver O'ConnellDonald Trump dined with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s wife as he reportedly works toward securing an Israel-Hamas ceasefire.
The president-elect and Sara Netanyahu shared a meal at the Trump International Golf Course near his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida on Sunday night, his deputy director of communications shared on X. The two met after Republican Senator Lindsey Graham told Axios the president-elect hopes to broker a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict before taking office on January 20.
Sara Netanyahu later shared a photo of the meeting on Instagram, noting that the two had a “warm and friendly” dinner.
Katie Hawkinson has the story.
Trump meets Netanyahu’s wife as he seeks Israel-Hamas ceasefire
A frontrunner has emerged to lead the DNC — but the big names have yet to enter the race
06:30 , Oliver O'ConnellSince losing control of the White House, the Senate and the House, Democrats are looking for new leadership to tackle the nation’s problems with the additional challenge of confronting four more years of a Trump presidency.
Though multiple candidates have already announced themselves as throwing their hats into the ring, one is already emerging as a frontrunner: Ken Martin.
Mike Bedigan reports on who he is...
A frontrunner has emerged to lead the DNC, but the big names haven’t entered the race
Dinesh D'Souza apologizes for false claims in election conspiracy theory film ‘2000 Mules’
05:30 , Oliver O'ConnellFar-right provocateur and pardoned felon Dinesh D’Souza has issued an apology over false accusations he made in his 2022 election conspiracy theory movie 2000 Mules, acknowledging that his claims about illegal “ballot trafficking” during the 2020 presidential election were misleading and inaccurate.
In a lengthy statement posted to his website on Sunday, D’Souza said that his movie — which asserts that “mules” were paid to fraudulently deposit harvested ballots in swing states — had relied on “cell phone geolocation data” provided by conservative non-profit group True the Vote. That data, D’Souza noted, had turned out to be false.
Justin Barangoa has the full story.
Pardoned felon Dinesh D'Souza apologizes for election conspiracy movie
Trump appoints Tiffany’s father-in-law as Middle East adviser
04:30 , Oliver O'ConnellDonald Trump has announced he will appoint daughter Tiffany’s father-in-law, Massad Boulos, to serve as his senior adviser on Arab and Middle Eastern affairs.
Boulos, a billionaire from Lebanon, is the second father of one of Trump’s sons-in-law to be selected for a position in the forthcoming administration, following the nomination of Charles Kushner – father of Jared Kushner, on Saturday.
Mike Bedigan reports.
Trump appoints Tiffany’s father-in-law as Middle East adviser
Will Trump use Kash Patel to attack critics and First Amendment?
03:30 , Oliver O'ConnellThe nomination of Kash Patel to serve as America’s next FBI director is a warning shot across the bow for journalists — as Donald Trump’s threats to attack the First Amendement intensifies.
Patel, a longtime Trump loyalist, served in the previous administration in a political appointment at the Pentagon. Now, he’ll be in charge of the nation’s largest law enforcement agency, pending approval by the Senate.
John Bowden reports from Washington, DC.
Will Donald Trump use Kash Patel at the FBI to go after his critics?
DACA immigrants worry their protection from deportation won’t last under Trump
02:30 , Oliver O'ConnellReyna Montoya was 10 when she and her family fled violence in Tijuana and illegally immigrated to the U.S. Growing up in Arizona, she worried even a minor traffic violation could lead to her deportation.
She didn’t feel relief until 11 years later in 2012, when she received a letter confirming she had been accepted to a new program for immigrants who came to the country illegally as children.
“All of the sudden, all these possibilities opened up,” Montoya said, fighting back tears. The Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program granted her and hundreds of thousands of others two-year, renewable permits to live and work in the U.S. legally.
But as President-elect Donald Trump prepares to return to the White House, after an unsuccessful bid to end DACA in his first term, the roughly 535,000 current recipients are bracing yet again for a whirlwind of uncertainty.
Continue reading...
DACA recipients worry their protection from deportation won’t last another Trump term
Watch: Kash Patel says he wants to turn FBI HQ into ‘museum of deep state'
01:30 , Oliver O'Connell
Trump’s FBI pick says he wants to make HQ ‘museum of deep state’
Can Trump pardon himself now he has won the presidency again?
00:30 , Oliver O'ConnellGustaf Kilander takes a look at whether Trump can make history with another presidential first...
Can Trump pardon himself now he has won the presidency again?
ANALYSIS: I’m not surprised at all that Biden pardoned Hunter. It fits a disappointing pattern
Monday 2 December 2024 23:30 , Oliver O'ConnellEric Garcia writes:
President Joe Biden sent shockwaves on Sunday evening when he announced that he would pardon Hunter, his often-beleaguered son who was found guilty on three counts related to possession of a firearm. The younger Biden was set to be sentenced in two weeks for those crimes, and also faced sentencing after he pled guilty for federal tax evasion charges. Accordingly, his father’s pardon will account for all of these misdeeds.
The move is particularly surprising and — let’s not mince words here — fundamentally dishonest because of the fact that the president explicitly ruled out pardoning his son on a number of occasions. Democrats ran on being the party that respects the courts in order to create a contrast with Donald Trump, so it smells of rank hypocrisy.
Continue reading...
I’m not surprised that Biden pardoned Hunter. It fits a disappointing pattern
RFK Jr shares bizarre shirtless workout video joking he’s training for his confirmation hearing
Monday 2 December 2024 23:00 , Oliver O'ConnellRobert F Kennedy Jr, nominee for Health and Human Services Secretary, has flexed his own health and fitness regime in a bizarre shirtless workout video.
The video, posted Sunday on X, captures a ripped RFK Jr pulling himself up before performing a flip over an exercise machine to the beat of Survivor’s “Eye of the Tiger.” The 70-year-old completes the pull-up-rollover without knocking into another shirtless man, in sweatpants and a hat, doing a headstand on the machine above him.
Kelly Rissman has the story.
RFK Jr posts workout video claiming he’s ‘practicing moves for confirmation hearing’
Watch: Manchin suggests Biden pardons Trump
Monday 2 December 2024 22:40 , Oliver O'ConnellManchin: What I would have done differently, and my recommendations.. would have been, why don't you go ahead and pardon Donald Trump for all his charges.. pic.twitter.com/kbfaB2438A
— Acyn (@Acyn) December 2, 2024
Hunter Biden responds to special counsel asking judge not to dismiss gun case
Monday 2 December 2024 22:37 , Oliver O'ConnellHunter Biden’s response to special counsel David Weiss, who earlier today pushed back on “baseless” claims that Hunter’s prosecution was politically motivated and urged a judge not to dismiss the gun case:
The Special Counsel repeats the very argument that the government made in Bannon, that the Court should administratively terminate the case, rather than dismiss the Indictment. But the Special Counsel acknowledges that the Bannon court rejected that argument and dismissed the indictment as to him. This Court should reject that same argument and dismiss the Indictment as well. As in Bannon, the pardon here comes before sentencing and before any judgment in the case based on the Indictment (as opposed to pardons being issued post judgment, often years later). The appropriate course, in this procedural context, is to dismiss the Indictment.
The Special Counsel’s argument in opposing the dismissal of the Indictment rests on the non sequitur that the pardon “does not mean the grand jury’s decision to charge him, based on a finding of probable cause, should be wiped away as if it never occurred.” … The fact that Mr. Biden has been indicted will remain true even with a dismissal of the Indictment, just as it would remain true even if Mr. Biden had been acquitted at trial. It is not wiped away as if it never occurred. Neither a dismissal nor an acquittal eliminates the fact of indictment; they merely reflect that an indictment has been resolved. The pardon here before sentencing prevents this case from running its course based on the Indictment that was filed. The Court should reflect that by dismissing the Indictment and indicating—accurately—that is due to the pardon.
MTG was mocked for weather-control claims. Now Florida has a new bill to ban ‘weather modification’
Monday 2 December 2024 22:30 , Oliver O'ConnellGeorgia Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene has repeatedly and bizarrely claimed that the government can control the weather based on outlandish conspiracy theories.
And now a bill has been introduced in the Florida state senate to ban “weather modification activities.” The legislation was introduced last month by state Senator Ileana Garcia, Newsweek reported.
The bill states that “the injection, release, or dispersion, by any means, of a chemical, a chemical compound, a substance, or an apparatus into the atmosphere within the borders of this state for the express purpose of affecting the temperature, the weather, or the intensity of sunlight is prohibited.”
Gustaf Kilander reports.
Trump taps billionaire Warren Stephens as ambassador to UK
Monday 2 December 2024 22:05 , Oliver O'ConnellDonald Trump has named his choice of US ambassador to the UK — billionaire Warren A Stephens
The president-elect made the announcement on Truth Social a short time ago.
I am pleased to announce that Warren A. Stephens, one of the most successful businessmen in the Country, has been nominated to serve as the United States Ambassador to the Court of St. James’s, a role in which he will act as our Representative to the United Kingdom. Over the last 38 years, while serving as the President, Chairman, and CEO of his company, Stephens Inc., Warren has built a wonderful financial services firm, while selflessly giving back to his community as a philanthropist.
Warren has always dreamed of serving the United States full time. I am thrilled that he will now have that opportunity as the top Diplomat, representing the U.S.A. to one of America’s most cherished and beloved Allies.
Congratulations to Warren, his wife, Harriet, their three children, Miles, John, and Laura, and their six grandchildren!
Stephens was a major donor to Trump-supporting Super PACs during the election campaign.
‘Morning Joe’ plays Kash Patel’s vow to ‘come after’ media on repeat
Monday 2 December 2024 22:00 , Oliver O'ConnellThe hosts of MSNBC’s Morning Joe sounded the alarm on Monday over President-elect Donald Trump’s choice to install MAGA loyalist Kash Patel as the director of the Federal Bureau of Investigations, focusing much of their attention on Patel’s promise to “come after” the media.
In fact, Joe Scarborough repeatedly aired a 2023 clip of Patel touting Trump’s plan to seek retribution against his opponents if elected, noting that Trump “apologists” on Capitol Hill should be “deeply disturbed by this” and vow to block Patel’s nomination.
Justin Barangoa reports.
‘Morning Joe’ plays MAG loyalist Kash Patel’s vow to ‘come after’ journalists
Nepo baby Meghan McCain complains about ‘nepo baby’ Hunter Biden’s pardon
Monday 2 December 2024 21:42 , Oliver O'ConnellPodcaster and former The View host Meghan McCain — who has never missed an opportunity to invoke her famous father, the late Republican Sen. John McCain — blasted Hunter Biden as a “nepo baby” after he received a pardon from his dad, President Joe Biden.
The irony of McCain’s comments wasn’t lost on her liberals and progressive critics, who mocked the conservative pundit for her apparent lack of self-awareness.
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Nepo baby Meghan McCain complains about ‘nepo baby’ Hunter Biden’s pardon
Watch: Jill Biden voices support for son Hunter Biden’s pardon
Monday 2 December 2024 21:30 , Oliver O'Connell
First Lady Jill Biden voices support for son Hunter Biden’s pardon
Trump’s highest compliments, tracked
Monday 2 December 2024 21:20 , Kelly RissmanDonald Trump completed his slate of cabinet secretaries last week in rolling announcements — and hidden in his big reveals could be a message of who he appreciates most.
The president-elect relied on six compliments when broadcasting picks for his next administration. Sometimes he was “proud,” other times he was “thrilled,” and, most of the time, he was “pleased.” Perhaps these different phrases provide some insight into Trump’s thinking.
Penta Group partnered with Axios to track how many times Trump used certain terms to introduce his Cabinet and staff picks.
“There is one final decider and as his statements come out, you can see slight nuances in the language,” Penta CEO Matt McDonald told Axios. “It kind of reminds me of the old Kremlinology of the Cold War, where people were parsing whatever public indicators there were to tell who was up or who was out.”
Here is a breakdown of his compliments:
Great honor vs pleased: Trump’s highest compliments, tracked
Some White House staffers are frustrated that they may not get their goodbye photos with President Joe Biden.
While his presidency isn’t set to end how he and hundreds of staffers had hoped it would – by handing off to Vice President Kamala Harris – some traditions are nevertheless expected to endure in his last few weeks in office.
Gustaf Kilander reports.
White House staffers angry they might not get farewell photo with Biden
Whoopi Goldberg calls out ‘pearl clutching’ Republicans over Hunter Biden pardon
Monday 2 December 2024 20:52 , Oliver O'ConnellThe View co-host Whoopi Goldberg has defended President Joe Biden’s decision to pardon his son, Hunter Biden, over felony gun and tax convictions.
“That’s what presidents do every time,” said Goldberg, 69, who pointed out that President-elect Donald Trump has previously handed out a long list of pardons to the likes of Michael Flynn and Roger Stone.
Kevin E G Perry reports.
Whoopi Goldberg calls out ‘pearl clutching’ Republicans over Hunter Biden pardon
Manchin says Biden should pardon Trump
Monday 2 December 2024 20:48 , Oliver O'ConnellSenator Joe Manchin, Independent of West Virginia, is calling on President Joe Biden to pardon President-elect Donald Trump: “I am just saying, wipe them out”
“Why don't you go ahead and pardon Donald Trump for all his charges and make it you know, it would have gone down a lot more balanced, if you will,” he told CNN’s Manu Raju.
Sen Manchin is calling on Pres Biden to pardon President-elect Trump
— haleytalbotcnn (@haleytalbotcnn) December 2, 2024
“I am just saying, wipe them out”
“Why don't you go ahead and pardon Donald Trump for all his charges and make it you know, it would have gone down a lot more balanced, if you will,” he told @mkraju
“Rather than going through all these court cases and getting, you know, the President has to be the president for the next four years, fighting all these criminal and all this other stuff's coming after him, just clean that slate up.“
Manchin adds that Biden’s pardoning of his son Hunter makes his legacy “difficult.”
When pressed by Raju on how the pardon impacts Biden’s legacy, Machin said: “I don't know, from that standpoint, it makes it difficult.”
Manchin also says Biden’s pardoning of his son Hunter makes his legacy “difficult.”
— haleytalbotcnn (@haleytalbotcnn) December 2, 2024
When pressed by Raju on how the Hunter pardon impacts Biden’s legacy, Machin said, “I don't know, from that standpoint, it makes it difficult.”
Tomorrow at 4:30 p.m., Senator Manchin will deliver his final speech as a United States Senator on the US Senate floor.
Thousands cheer Biden's arrival in Angola
Monday 2 December 2024 20:40 , APPresident Joe Biden arrived for his long-awaited first presidential visit to sub-Saharan Africa on Monday to the cheers of thousands in Angola, where he will highlight an ambitious U.S.-backed railway project meant to counter China’s influence on the continent of over 1.4 billion people.
Biden’s three-day visit to Angola will focus largely on the Lobito Corridor railway redevelopment in Zambia, Congo and Angola. It aims to advance the U.S. presence in a region rich in the critical minerals used in batteries for electric vehicles, electronic devices and clean energy technologies.
Biden’s trip comes weeks before Republican Donald Trump takes office on Jan. 20, finally delivering on Biden’s pledge to visit sub-Saharan Africa. On his way to Angola, he stopped in the Atlantic Ocean island nation of Cape Verde for a brief, closed-door meeting with Prime Minister Ulisses Correia e Silva.
Biden plans to meet with Angolan President João Lourenço in the capital, Luanda, where crowds lined the streets for his arrival, and visit the National Slavery Museum. He also will travel to the Atlantic port city of Lobito for a look at the rail project. He will announce new developments on health, agribusiness and security, White House officials said.
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Thousands cheer Biden's arrival in Angola for his long-promised sub-Saharan Africa visit
Watch: Rep Dan Goldman says Trump picks will weaponize federal government against adversaries
Monday 2 December 2024 20:35 , Oliver O'ConnellRep. Dan Goldman: "Matt Gaetz, Pam Bondi, Kash Patel, Tulsi Gabbard -- these are not people who are going to implement the rule of law. They have been picked to weaponize the federal government against Donald Trump's enemies and adversaries. That is the risk to the rule of law." pic.twitter.com/0yk2ppg9hs
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) December 2, 2024
Who else could Biden pardon?
Monday 2 December 2024 20:30 , Oliver O'ConnellIn the final stretch of his presidency, President Joe Biden issued a pardon to his son Hunter Biden, who was convicted on federal gun charges.
But Sunday’s pardon has sparked controversy. Biden repeatedly insisted he would not grant clemency to Hunter, prompting members of Congress and advocates to criticize the president’s U-turn, accusing him of putting his family before the country or pointing to his clemency record.
Hunter marks the 26th person that the president has pardoned since he entered the White House in 2021, records show.
A host of members of Congress have urged Biden to pardon certain groups and people in his last 50 days in office.
The White House Press has said more pardons can be expected before Inauguration Day, as Kelly Rissman reports.
Another Democrat comes out against Biden pardon
Monday 2 December 2024 20:24 , Oliver O'ConnellDemocratic Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, who represents Washington’s 3rd District in the southwest of the state, is the latest to speak out against President Joe Biden’s decision to pardon his son Hunter Biden.
She posted on X: “President Biden’s pardon of his son confirms a common belief I hear in Southwest Washington: that well-connected people are often gifted special treatment by a two-tier justice system.
“The President made the wrong decision. No family should be above the law.”
President Biden’s pardon of his son confirms a common belief I hear in Southwest Washington: that well-connected people are often gifted special treatment by a two-tier justice system.
— Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (@RepMGP) December 2, 2024
The President made the wrong decision. No family should be above the law.
White House claps back at NBC report Biden discussed pardon as early as June
Monday 2 December 2024 20:20 , Oliver O'ConnellThe White House has clapped back at an NBC News report that President Joe Biden had privately been considering a pardon for his son Hunter since as early as June.
Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre replied to a tweet from Audrey Fahlberg, a political reporter for The National Review, who flagged the story.
“That is false. As the President said last night, he made the decision this weekend.”
That is false. As the President said last night, he made the decision this weekend. https://t.co/CMifyPeKaC
— Karine Jean-Pierre (@PressSec) December 2, 2024
The most controversial presidential pardons in history
Monday 2 December 2024 20:15 , Ariana BaioPresidential pardons have always been a point of controversy in the United States but some president’s decisions, like Joe Biden pardoning his son Hunter, have led to more criticisms than others.
During their final weeks in office, the sitting U.S. president will, traditionally, utilize their power to grant pardons for federal crimes and issue clemency to those they believe deserve it.
Some believe the president should not have the power to grant pardons because it can be abused and is often seen as a political act rather than judicial correction.
Over the years, presidents like Andrew Johnson Gerald Ford, Bill Clinton, Donald Trump have stirred the pot by granting sweeping pardons or to those close to them.
Here’s a look at the most controversial.
From Hunter Biden to Nixon: Most controversial presidential pardons in history
Trump meets with Netanyahu’s wife as he seeks Israel-Hamas ceasefire
Monday 2 December 2024 20:00 , Oliver O'ConnellDonald Trump dined with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s wife as the president-elect reportedly works toward securing an Israel-Hamas ceasefire.
The president-elect and Sara Netanyahu shared a meal at the Trump International Golf Course near his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida on Sunday night, his deputy director of communications shared on X. The two met after Republican Senator Lindsey Graham told Axios the president-elect hopes to broker a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict before taking office on January 20.
Sara Netanyahu later shared a photo of the meeting on Instagram, noting that the two had a “warm and friendly” dinner, and emphasized the “friendship between Israel and the United States and the importance of continuing to nurture the unique bond between our nations.”
Katie Hawkinson reports.
Trump meets Netanyahu’s wife as he seeks Israel-Hamas ceasefire
Watch: Jill Biden offers holiday wishes from the First Family for the last time
Monday 2 December 2024 19:52 , Oliver O'ConnellAnother Democrat senator scolds Biden’s pardon decision
Monday 2 December 2024 19:46 , Oliver O'ConnellMichigan Democratic Senator Gary Peters, who chairs the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, calls President Joe Biden's pardon of his son Hunter “wrong” and “an improper use of power.”
President Biden’s decision to pardon his son was wrong. A president's family and allies shouldn't get special treatment. This was an improper use of power, it erodes trust in our government, and it emboldens others to bend justice to suit their interests.
— Senator Gary Peters (@SenGaryPeters) December 2, 2024
Trump threatens ‘all hell to pay’ in Middle East if hostages not released before inauguration
Monday 2 December 2024 19:41 , Oliver O'ConnellDonald Trump has threatened there will be “ALL HELL TO PAY” in the Middle East if the hostages held by Hamas are no released before his inauguration on January 20, 2025.
The president-elect wrote on Truth Social:
Everybody is talking about the hostages who are being held so violently, inhumanely, and against the will of the entire World, in the Middle East - But it’s all talk, and no action! Please let this TRUTH serve to represent that if the hostages are not released prior to January 20, 2025, the date that I proudly assume Office as President of the United States, there will be ALL HELL TO PAY in the Middle East, and for those in charge who perpetrated these atrocities against Humanity. Those responsible will be hit harder than anybody has been hit in the long and storied History of the United States of America. RELEASE THE HOSTAGES NOW!
Grassley meets Bondi
Monday 2 December 2024 19:38 , Oliver O'ConnellIncoming Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Chuck Grassley (R-IA) met today in his Capitol Hill office with Pam Bondi, President-elect Trump’s pick to be the next Attorney General, ahead of her confirmation hearing before his committee next year. pic.twitter.com/2Okv8wD2tv
— Craig Caplan (@CraigCaplan) December 2, 2024
Hunter Biden moves to dismiss cases against him
Monday 2 December 2024 19:35 , Oliver O'ConnellIn a new court filing, federal prosecutors are resisting Hunter Biden's attempt to completely dismiss the cases for which he has been pardoned by his father.
Special counsel David Weiss responds to the attempt to dismiss his tax case, writing: “As a matter of past-practice in this district, courts do not dismiss indictments when pardons are granted. … Rather, in each of the most recent cases where pardons have been granted by former President Obama and former President Trump, the United States District Court for the Central District of California has not dismissed the indictment. Instead, it has been the practice of this court that once an Executive Grant of Clemency has been filed on the docket, the docket is marked closed, the disposition entry is updated to reflect the executive grant of clemency, and no further action is taken by the Court.”
Blinken heads to final NATO foreign ministers meeting of Biden administration
Monday 2 December 2024 19:30 , Oliver O'ConnellSecretary of State Antony Blinken is heading back to Europe on Monday for what will likely be the last high-level NATO meeting before the Biden administration leaves office next month.
Shoring up allied support for Ukraine ahead of President-elect Donald Trump ‘s return to the White House in January will top the agenda at NATO foreign ministers meetings in Brussels on Tuesday and Wednesday, according to the State Department.
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Blinken heads to final NATO foreign ministers meeting of Biden administration with Ukraine in focus
Colorado Democratic congressman calls Biden’s pardon of Hunter ‘a mistake'
Monday 2 December 2024 19:23 , Oliver O'ConnellColorado Democratic congressman Jason Crow calls President Joe Biden’s pardon of his son Hunter Biden “a mistake.”
The Hunter Biden pardon was a mistake. I sympathize with a father's love, especially in a family that has experienced so much personal tragedy. I also understand the legal arguments in favor of a pardon.
— Rep. Jason Crow (@RepJasonCrow) December 2, 2024
But Presidential pardons are never judged solely on the merits of the case,…
He posted on X: “The Hunter Biden pardon was a mistake. I sympathize with a father's love, especially in a family that has experienced so much personal tragedy. I also understand the legal arguments in favor of a pardon.
“But Presidential pardons are never judged solely on the merits of the case, particularly when it involves a family member.
“Presidents hold enormous power and responsibility and must be held to a higher standard. They must instill trust and promote the American people's faith in their democracy.
“And right now, upholding the fabric of our democracy is one of our most important tasks.”
Trump defense pick Pete Hegseth accused of chanting ‘kill all Muslims’ on a drunken night out
Monday 2 December 2024 19:15 , Oliver O'ConnellPete Hegseth, the former Fox News host who is currently President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the Department of Defense, once drunkenly shouted “kill all Muslims!” in the middle of a bar while serving as the president of a veterans’ group, The New Yorker reports.
This is just one of many jaw-dropping allegations included in Jane Mayer’s deep-dive investigation into Hegseth’s unprofessional and lewd behavior while leading two separate non-profit advocacy organizations, which includes claims of constant intoxication, financial mismanagement and inappropriate sexual conduct that prompted both groups to eventually boot him from leadership.
Justin Barangoa has the details.
Pete Hegseth accused of chanting 'kill all Muslims' on a drunken night out
What happened to Trump’s border wall?
Monday 2 December 2024 19:00 , Oliver O'ConnellJosh Marcus writes:
Donald Trump doesn’t really talk about the border wall anymore.
After making the wall the central part of his 2016 campaign, shutting down the government for weeks in an unsuccessful bid to secure its funding, and spending billions to build it anyway, the president-elect’s immigration politics have shifted to an even more aggressive place this time around.
Instead of a wall, paid for by Mexico, Trump now wants a “bloody” mass deportation operation immediately removing millions of people, including by potentially reviving family separation.
But the federal border wall, spanning more than 450 miles across four states, remains. It continues to deeply impact the people, environment, and politics of the border and beyond.
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What ever happened to the border wall Trump promised 8 years ago?
Trump’s press secretary pick deleted posts praising Pence and Capitol cop on Jan. 6
Monday 2 December 2024 18:45 , Oliver O'ConnellKaroline Leavitt, the longtime Donald Trump aide who will become his White House press secretary when his second term begins in January, removed a pair of social media posts in which she reposted praise of former Vice President Mike Pence for certifying the 2020 election.
Andrew Feinberg reports.
Trump’s press secretary pick deleted posts praising Pence and Capitol cop on Jan. 6
