Donald Trump is in Texas with Elon Musk to watch this evening’s SpaceX launch as his proposed administration continues to take shape.
On Tuesday, the president-elect named Cantor Fitzgerald CEO Howard Lutnick as commerce secretary. Lutnick was under consideration for treasury secretary, with reports that there is a “free for all” and a “mad dash to find someone pro-tariff” to take up the role.
Trump also tapped Dr Mehmet Oz as Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator — working closely with Robert F Kennedy Jr.
On Capitol Hill, the controversial choice of Matt Gaetz as potential attorney general continues to cause a stir, with reports that a hacker has accessed a file of damaging testimony about the former congressman from an ethics investigation.
In other developments, Trump confirmed his intention to deploy the military to carry out his mass deportation plan in a Truth Social post, and on Fox News, his incoming border czar Tom Homan threatened prosecution for anyone who hides migrants.
Finally, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg has told Judge Juan Merchan he will not oppose postponing Trump’s sentencing in his hush-money case but rejects attempts by the defense to throw out the conviction.
Key Points
- Manhattan prosecutors reject Trump’s attempts to derail hush money conviction
- Hacker reportedly accessed file with damaging testimony about Matt Gaetz
- Trump names Lutnick as his choice for commerce secretary
- Watch: Incoming Trump border czar threatens to prosecute people who hide migrants
- Trump demands GOP senators block Biden judicial appointments
- Trump taps Dr Oz to run Medicare and Medicaid
‘Morning Joe’ defends Trump meeting
21:10
Oliver O'Connell
Morning Joe host Joe Scarborough has responded to backlash over his meeting with President-elect Donald Trump alongside Mika Brzezinski, his co-host and wife.
Scarborough said the backlash on social media to the meeting demonstrated a “massive disconnect” between the internet sphere and the real world.
Katie Hawkinson reports.
Could the stock market be last guardrails to corral Trump’s wildest whims?
21:00
Oliver O'Connell
Donald Trump has so far chosen only the most loyal supporters to join his cabinet, signaling that he intends to surround himself with officials who will carry out his agenda without question.
But there is one force that could keep some of his plans at bay — the stock market.
Rhian Lubin explains.
Trump taps Dr OZ to run Medicare and Medicaid
20:54
Oliver O'Connell
President-elect Donald Trump released the following statement:
I am very pleased to nominate Dr. Mehmet Oz to serve as the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator. America is facing a Healthcare Crisis, and there may be no Physician more qualified and capable than Dr. Oz to Make America Healthy Again. He is an eminent Physician, Heart Surgeon, Inventor, and World-Class Communicator, who has been at the forefront of healthy living for decades. Dr. Oz will work closely with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to take on the illness industrial complex, and all the horrible chronic diseases left in its wake.
Our broken Healthcare System harms everyday Americans, and crushes our Country’s budget. Dr. Oz will be a leader in incentivizing Disease Prevention, so we get the best results in the World for every dollar we spend on Healthcare in our Great Country. He will also cut waste and fraud within our Country’s most expensive Government Agency, which is a third of our Nation’s Healthcare spend, and a quarter of our entire National Budget.
Watch: When Trump ax falls, Rand Paul says some departments would be gone and you would not know it
20:37
Oliver O'Connell
Rand Paul: "There are some departments that would be gone and you would not know it. The Department of Education." pic.twitter.com/2PzzQEDzII
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) November 19, 2024
FEMA administrator supports investigation of alleged Trump bias in relief efforts
20:30
AP
The head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency told lawmakers Tuesday she has encouraged the agency’s inspector general to review whether an employee was acting alone when directing workers helping hurricane victims not to go to homes with yards signs supporting President-elect Donald Trump
FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell said a critical function of the agency is to go door-to-door and meet with survivors to make them aware of federal resources available. The employee, she said, wrote to about 11 staffers under her supervision that they should “avoid homes advertising Trump.”
Criswell said her senior leadership team provided her with evidence and recommended that the employee be terminated. She concurred.
Continue reading...
How could Trump circumvent Congress and slash spending?
20:00
Oliver O'Connell
President-elect Donald Trump is determined to cut federal spending significantly using whatever method he can and that may include impoundment – a little-known power once given to the president to reject Congressional-appropriated funds.
Falling largely in line with his recent threat to use recess appointments to evade Senate approval for cabinet positions, Trump has a backup plan to circumvent federal spending should Congress continue to allocate money to projects, agencies or departments he does not support.
Ariana Baio has the details.
19:48
Oliver O'Connell
And if you were wondering what that JD Vance tweet was all about, it was just the vice president-elect calling Grace Chong, the CFO of Steve Bannon’s War Room, a “mouth breathing imbecile” over her criticism of Republican senators who missed judicial votes allowing Biden nominations to pass.
JD Vance responds to Steve Bannon’s War Room CFO’s criticism of him for missing a vote on a crucial judicial appointment last night, calling her “a mouth breathing imbecile.” pic.twitter.com/PYJiSmL1Pe
— Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) November 19, 2024
Trump demands Republican senators block all Biden judicial confirmations... but not everyone’s in town for votes
19:43
Oliver O'Connell
Donald Trump is demanding that Republican senators block all of President Joe Biden’s judicial confirmations ahead of his own inauguration on January 20, 2025.
In the November 2020 to January 2021 period after Trump lost that presidential election, 14 of his judges were confirmed by the Senate.
Not all Republican senators are in town today as Andrew Desiderio of Punchbowl News notes.
A few GOP senators are traveling with Trump to Brownsville, TX today, so full attendance isn’t in the cards… https://t.co/x3L3q7rBc7
— Andrew Desiderio (@AndrewDesiderio) November 19, 2024
This apparently boiled over during a closed-door Senate GOP lunch today...
News — During closed-door Senate GOP lunch, lots of anger at Vance & Rubio for missing votes on Biden judicial nominees who could’ve otherwise been defeated with a mix of Dem absences, Manchin as wild card & VP Harris being in Hawaii.
— Andrew Desiderio (@AndrewDesiderio) November 19, 2024
But other GOP senators were also absent…
Still, there’s a belief that Republicans should be doing everything possible to slow-walk/possibly defeat Biden’s judicial nominees in the lame-duck.
— Andrew Desiderio (@AndrewDesiderio) November 19, 2024
The message at lunch was: We’ll lose each one w/o full attendance, and we have a chance to w/ full attendance.
Trump makes Lutnick Commerce appointment official
19:37
Oliver O'Connell
Donald Trump has officially confirmed Howard Lutnick as his choice for Secretary of Commerce in his administration. The CEO of Cantor Fitzgerald is the co-chair of the Trump transition team and was reportedly also under consideration for treasury secretary.
Here’s what the president-elect wrote on Truth Social today:
I am thrilled to announce that Howard Lutnick, Chairman & CEO of Cantor Fitzgerald, will join my Administration as the United States Secretary of Commerce. He will lead our Tariff and Trade agenda, with additional direct responsibility for the Office of the United States Trade Representative.
In his role as Co-Chair of the Trump-Vance Transition Team, Howard has created the most sophisticated process and system to assist us in creating the greatest Administration America has ever seen.
— Donald J. Trump Posts From His Truth Social (@TrumpDailyPosts) November 19, 2024
Report: Trump admits the odds don’t favor Matt Gaetz’s AG confirmation
19:30
Oliver O'Connell
President-elect Donald Trump has reportedly privately acknowledged that his controversial choice for attorney general, Matt Gaetz, may not pass Senate confirmation given the outgoing congressman’s reputation.
In private conversations with confidants, Trump has admitted that his choice will take some convincing of senators and he has begun making phone calls to pressure them, the New York Times reported.
Ariana Baio has the story.
Christian Pulisic defends ‘Trump dance’ celebration after scoring for USMNT
19:00
Oliver O'Connell
Soccer star Christian Pulisic has been forced to respond to criticism after he celebrated scoring a goal for the US Men’s National Team (USMNT) by doing the so-called “Trump dance.”
The USMNT captain, who also plays midfield for AC Milan, scored in the 14th minute of his side’s Concacaf Nations League quarter-final second leg clash against Jamaica at the CITYPARK arena in St Louis, Missouri, on Monday.
It was the first goal of the game, with Pulisic’s side going on to clinch a 4-2 win.
Joe Sommerlad has the story.
Trump team reacts to hush money conviction sentencing postponement
18:50
Oliver O'Connell
This is a total and definitive victory for President Trump and the American People who elected him in a landslide. The Manhattan DA has conceded that this Witch Hunt cannot continue. The lawless case is now stayed, and President Trump’s legal team is moving to get it dismissed once and for all.
Nancy Mace’s controversial trans bathroom ban in Congress get support from MTG
18:45
Oliver O'Connell
Representative Nancy Mace of South Carolina introduced legislation that would ban transgender women from using women’s restrooms on Capitol Hill just as the first transgender woman is about to be sworn into Congress.
Mace, a Republican serving in her second term, introduced the legislation on Monday evening. The bill would prohibit members of Congress, officers and employees of the House of Representatives from “using single-sex facilities other than those corresponding to their biological sex.”
Eric Garcia reports.
Watch: Sen. Grassley says release of Gaetz report would mean 'speedy consideration’
18:35
Oliver O'Connell
Sen. Grassley tells @mkraju that the Senate could move quicker on Matt Gaetz's nomination if the House Ethics Committee releases its report:
— Republican Voters Against Trump (@AccountableGOP) November 19, 2024
“I would suggest if they want a speedy consideration of this…They would make as much available as they can.” pic.twitter.com/zL2GofKbSu
UK PM urged to recruit Nigel Farage to help woo Donald Trump and Elon Musk
18:30
Oliver O'Connell
Lord Peter Mandelson has urged Sir Keir Starmer to use Nigel Farage as a bridge between Donald Trump’s incoming administration and the UK.
The Labour peer, who is the favorite to be named as the next British ambassador to the UK, also warned that his party needs to end its feud with Trump ally and X (formerly Twitter) boss Elon Musk.
It comes after Mr Musk continued his social media assault on Sir Keir’s government this week by backing protesting farmers and likening Britain to a Stalinist state. He has previously attacked the Labour government over free speech and backed far-right rioters over the summer.
David Maddox reports from London.
Full story: Manhattan prosecutors reject Trump’s attempts to derail hush money conviction
18:18
Oliver O'Connell
Manhattan prosecutors are urging the judge overseeing Donald Trump’s criminal hush money trial to reject his attempts to derail his conviction and sentencing.
But District Attorney Alvin Bragg and his team have asked the judge to continue to delay the proceedings so they can address Trump’s upcoming arguments to dismiss the case, according to a letter to New York Justice Juan Merchan on Tuesday.
Trump’s sentencing was initially scheduled for next week, on November 26.
Alex Woodward reports.
What happened with Trump’s hush money case today?
18:14
Oliver O'Connell
Here’s Anna Bower, senior editor of Lawfare, to explain why there was online confusion regarding Donald Trump’s hush money case this morning.
She posted on X:
Some reports suggested that Justice Merchan abruptly delayed Trump’s sentencing this morning. Those reports are not accurate and reflect a misinterpretation of an automatic reminder sent by the court’s electronic docket tracker. The Nov. 26 sentencing date still stands for now.
Here's the reminder that caused the confusion. The "hearing type" is listed as "adjournment," which Laura Loomer and several news outlets took to mean that the sentencing had been delayed. But that just means the hearing was adjourned *to* Nov. 26 (from previous date, Sept. 6) pic.twitter.com/0pk3voeL3c
— Anna Bower (@AnnaBower) November 19, 2024
Shortly before 1 p.m. a letter from Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg to Judge Juan Merchan was published. It reads in part:
As a result of the election held on November 5, 2024, Defendant’s inauguration as President will occur on January 20, 2025. In light of that development, Defendant asked the District Attorney by letter dated November 8 to dismiss this prosecution and consent to a stay of these proceedings pending consideration of his dismissal request. Ex. 1. The People requested a brief adjournment to evaluate this request, which the Court granted on November 10. Ex. 2. In doing so, the Court ordered the People to provide, by 10:00 a.m. on November 19, 2024, our view of the appropriate steps going forward.
For the reasons more fully explained below, the People believe that the Court should set a motion schedule for Defendant’s forthcoming motion to dismiss, which the People intend to oppose. Assuming Defendant is permitted by the Court to file a motion to dismiss and does so promptly, the People ask that their response to Defendant’s motion be due on Monday, December 9. The People believe that further proceedings before this Court should be adjourned to permit litigation of Defendant’s forthcoming motion to dismiss and, therefore, the People would not oppose a defense motion for a stay of further proceedings before this Court while Defendant’s motion is adjudicated.
Stay tuned for more.
Hacker reportedly accessed file with damaging testimony about Matt Gaetz
18:00
Oliver O'Connell
A hacker reportedly gained access to a computer file that contained damaging testimony made about Donald Trump’s controversial attorney general candidateMatt Gaetz.
The file is said to include testimony from a woman who claimed that she had sex with Gaetz in 2017 when she was 17, as well as corroborating testimony by a second woman who said that she witnessed the incident, a source told The New York Times.
It comes amid ongoing concerns over the former Florida congressman’s nomination. Gaetz, 42, previously faced a Justice Department’s investigation into allegations he sex trafficked a minor, but this has since been closed.
A House Ethics Committee also investigated allegations of sexual misconduct with a minor brought against Gaetz, with pressure now mounting for its report to be released ahead of Senate confirmation hearings.
Mike Bedigan reports.
‘Free for all’ to get Treasury nomination, report says
17:50
Oliver O'Connell
Fox News reporter Paul Steinhauser has been told that “it’s a free for all for Treasury secretary” and there’s a “mad dash to find someone pro-tariff.”
The same source adds that Cantor Fitzgerald CEO Howard Lutnick was offered an ambassadorship but rejected the offer.
He is now expected to become secretary of commerce.
A source familiar tells @steinhauserNH1 that “it’s a free for all for Treasury secretary” and that it’s “a mad dash to find someone pro-tariff.”
— Aishah Hasnie (@aishahhasnie) November 19, 2024
The source adds LUTNICK was offered an ambassadorship, but rejected that offer. https://t.co/ab6vDrD1bN
Voices: I moved abroad after a US election. It didn’t go exactly as planned
17:45
Oliver O'Connell
Barbara Dessart writes:
The day after Donald Trump was declared the winner of the 2024 election, several MAGA faithful took to social media to encourage “friends” to relocate to another part of the world. They recommended moving companies, storage units, one-way tickets to Siberia – and saying goodbye with a GFY.
These were tongue-in-cheek responses, of course, but they were responding to serious suggestions. Many of those who had voted for Kamala Harris and were disappointed by the outcome had made comments that they would leave the States if Trump were elected. Rumblings of politically motivated departures were also made by celebrities such as Travis and Taylor, Barbra Streisand, Cher and America Ferrera.
I know how they feel.
Continue reading...
Watch: Trump heads to Texas for SpaceX launch
17:38
Oliver O'Connell
President @realDonaldTrump en route to @SpaceX!!! pic.twitter.com/gNARfMTAGk
— Margo Martin (@margomartin) November 19, 2024
As Trump threatens to deploy military, polls show growing support for mass deportation
17:30
Oliver O'Connell
Donald Trump has confirmed the military could be used to carry out mass deportations, just as a new review of polling revealed growing support for his approach to tackling illegal immigration.
The president-elect also suggested a national emergency could be declared on the issue once he is in power, when he responded to a supporter’s post on his Truth Social platform on Monday morning.
Alex Woodward reports.
Former reality TV star turned Fox presenter named as Trump’s transportation pick
17:00
Oliver O'Connell
Donald Trump has now named his choice for transportation secretary – former reality TV star turned Fox presenter Sean Duffy.
The president-elect announced his pick in a post on Truth Social on Monday, saying that Duffy, a 53-year-old former Wisconsin congressman, is a “tremendous and well-liked public servant” who is “admired across the aisle” for his work with Democrats on expanding US infrastructure.
“He will prioritize Excellence, Competence, Competitiveness, and Beauty when rebuilding America’s highways, tunnels, bridges, and airports,” said Trump.
Io Dodds reports.
‘Let’s dance’: Marjorie Taylor Greene wants GOP to release all ‘sexual misconduct claims’ in wake of Gaetz ethics report
16:43
Oliver O'Connell
For my Republican colleagues in the House and Senate,
— Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (@RepMTG) November 19, 2024
If we are going to release ethics reports and rip apart our own that Trump has appointed, then put it ALL out there for the American people to see.
Yes..
all the ethics reports and claims including the one I filed
all…
Picturesque Italian village offers $1 homes to Americans hoping to flee US after Trump victory
16:40
Oliver O'Connell
An Italian village is offering a special deal to Americans looking for an escape after former US president Donald Trump was re-elected for a second term.
Ollolai – located in central Sardinia – is one of the many rural Italian towns offering homes for just one euro ($1.06) in a bid to revitalize their economies.
Amber Raiken has the details.
Watch: Incoming Trump border czar threatens to prosecute people who hide migrants
16:30
Oliver O'Connell
incoming Trump border czar Tom Homan threatens people in blue states with prosecution if they hide migrants from ICE pic.twitter.com/VenTqWTKdv
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) November 19, 2024
Trump says he’s not looking for ‘retribution’ against the press... but only if he is treated 'fairly’
16:20
Oliver O'Connell
After agreeing to take meetings with journalists, President-elect Donald Trump says he’s “not looking for retribution” against the press, but warns if they don’t treat him fairly, “that will end.”
Despite calling for two networks’ broadcast licenses to be revoked and wanting a third to be investigated for treason on the campaign trail, now that he has been re-elected, Trump assured he has no plans to exact revenge on the media.
“I am not looking for retribution, grandstanding or to destroy people who treated me very unfairly, or even badly beyond comprehension,” he told Fox News Digital. But he also acknowledged that he “obviously” has “the upper hand at this moment.”
Kelly Rissman reports.
Trump to name Cantor Fitzgerald CEO Howard Lutnick to Commerce
16:05
Oliver O'Connell
Donald Trump is expected to name Cantor Fitzgerald CEO Howard Lutnick to be his secretary of Commerce.
Lutnick acted as transition co-chair with former WWE CEO Linda McMahon, who was also in the running for the role. In the first Trump administration, she led the Small Business Administration.
Another name mentioned as a potential Commerce secretary was Robert Lightizer, who served as US Trade Representative for Trump during his first term.
This is accurate. Lutnick edges out Robert Lighthizer and Linda McMahon, who had both been vying for the Commerce role. McMahon co-chaired the transition with Lutnick. https://t.co/G3TJp5PNTB
— Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) November 19, 2024
Jon Stewart has a message for ‘Morning Joe’ hosts
16:00
Oliver O'Connell
Jon Stewart has joined the backlash against Morning Joe hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski over their meeting with Donald Trump, schooling them as to why he thinks it was a bad idea.
On Monday, the MSNBC anchors announced that they visited Mar-a-Lago on Friday to meet the president-elect in person for the first time in seven years in a bid to “restart communications.”
Following Scarborough and Brzenzinski’s “interesting announcement,” Stewart shared his disapproval on Monday’s The Daily Show.
James Liddell has the story.
Watch: Trump FCC nominee suggests action against CBS over ‘60 Minutes’ interview with Kamala Harris
15:57
Oliver O'Connell
Trump's nominee for FCC Chairman Brendan Carr suggests that the FCC will go after CBS for editing their 60 Minutes interview with Kamala Harris.
— Republican Voters Against Trump (@AccountableGOP) November 19, 2024
Trump called for 60 Minutes to be taken off the air numerous times during his campaign because of this interview. pic.twitter.com/xGOS2svIqp
Trump and Cruz to join Musk at SpaceX launch this evening, report says
15:50
Oliver O'Connell
Donald Trump and Ted Cruz will join Elon Musk this evening for the latest SpaceX launch in Texas this evening, CNN reports.
The three of them will fly there from West Palm Beach.
Ted Cruz will join Trump and Elon Musk for the SpaceX launch in Texas this evening, a source familiar with the plans told CNN.
— Alayna Treene (@alaynatreene) November 19, 2024
Cruz will fly with them from West Palm Beach to Texas
Ruben Gallego begs Democrats to ditch ‘Ivy League’ advisers
15:40
Oliver O'Connell
Kamala Harris’s defeat to Donald Trump was caused by many factors, and one of them was a surge of Latino support for the GOP ticket even as Democrats were confident that warnings about Trump’s mass deportation plan would prevent that from happening.
Now, one of the Democrats who won on November 5 despite the underperformance of the top of his party’s ticket is warning members of his party to actually listen to Latino voters if they want to win them back for future election cycles.
John Bowden reports.
MTG calls for a ‘national divorce’ from Americans not on board with Trump’s agenda
15:20
Oliver O'Connell
Marjorie Taylor Greene has revived her calls for “a national divorce” from Americans who are not on board with Donald Trump’s agenda.
The Georgia Representative and fierce Trump ally pushed for a national divide between blue and red states because of the so-called “threat” Democratic governors pose to the president-elect’s agenda.
Rhian Lubin reports.
How Trump’s family will influence politics outside the White House
15:00
Joe Sommerlad
There may be fewer Trumps milling around the Oval Office this time around but ethical questions and party influence will continue to swirl around the famous family, writes Josh Marcus.
Trump’s promises to overhaul health agencies with RFK met with some optimism and widespread dismay
14:48
Oliver O'Connell
Donald Trump’s plans to drastically shake up the nation’s public scientific and health apparatus have been met with enthusiasm from certain corners even as scientific and medical experts warn they could prove highly dangerous to the federal government’s public health work and scientific credibility.
Josh Marcus reports.
Watch: Trump’s share of popular vote drops below 50%
14:39
Oliver O'Connell
Trump's mandate? It's very shallow. Trump's now under 50% in the popular vote. His margin ranks 44 of 51 since 1824.
— (((Harry Enten))) (@ForecasterEnten) November 18, 2024
Weak coattails: 4 Dems won for Senate in states Trump won. (It was 0 in 2016 & 2020.)
The GOP is on track for smallest House majority since there were 50 states. pic.twitter.com/FaE80nk4T6
Sarah Palin miffed Trump isn’t nominating her for a cabinet post
14:20
Joe Sommerlad
As Trump continues to unveil his picks for his new administration, the 2008 Republican vice presidential nominee and ex-governor of Alaska has been busy posting screenshots from her fans expressing their frustration that she hasn’t been chosen for a cabinet role – seemingly suggesting she shares their annoyance.
Kelly Rissman has this on the forgotten woman of American populism.
USMNT captain Christian Pulisic joins ‘Trump Dance’ craze
14:00
Joe Sommerlad
The AC Milan midfielder scored in his country’s 4-2 victory over Jamaica yesterday and became the latest sportsman to celebrate by mimicking the president-elect’s ludicrous rally dance.
Christian Pulisic just did the Trump dance after scoring a goal pic.twitter.com/N1mlGPs9o5
— FearBuck (@FearedBuck)Related News & Content
