Donald Trump’s Cabinet choices are putting his power over Senate Republicans to the test. Why, after Roe v. Wade was overruled, the number of abortions did not decline as precipitously as expected. Mario Andretti, a former racing champion, also discusses his initial plans for his new Formula 1 team.
What to know today is as follows.
Trump’s Cabinet nominees test his sway with Senate Republicans
Republicans reclaimed the Senate majority after Donald Trump won the presidency, raising concerns about whether his supporters and party members would support his choices or oppose them.
The answer was no for former Representative Matt Gaetz. Gaetz reportedly withdrew from consideration of the president-elect’s choice to head the Justice Department because of substantial resistance from Senate Republicans. Another issue now arises: Will Trump’s future Cabinet choices encounter the same level of criticism or scrutiny?
After a short break over Thanksgiving, senators will be back in Washington the following week to discuss the president-elect’s other choices. Particularly, three have sparked concern.
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Trump’s choice for director of national intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, has come under fire for meeting with the president of Syria and making complimentary remarks about Russia. Trump’s choice for defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, is under investigation for alleged sexual assault in 2017. Additionally, Trump’s nominee for secretary of health and human services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has made a number of inaccurate or deceptive statements regarding raw milk, fluoride, vaccines, and other topics.
Republicans can only afford three GOP defections on any vote to confirm a nominee because they will hold 53 members in the new Senate. Vice President-elect JD Vance will be on their side to break the tie.
Go here to read the entire story.
When the nominations are voted on next month, certain senators have already established themselves as personalities to watch due to their outspokenness. Maine senator Susan Collins, a centrist Republican with five terms, has occasionally been prepared to defy her party. The next Senate majority leader, Sen. John Thune of South Dakota, will have to balance supporting Trump’s agenda with adhering to the institutionalist inclinations that have won him support from both parties. And what will Sen. Mitch McConnell do with his influence now that he is no longer the Senate Republican leader?
To learn more about these senators and others to watch throughout the confirmation process, click here.
More Trump transition and politics coverage:
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Trump said he wants to
impose a 25% tariff
on products imported from Mexico and Canada, as well as additional tariffs on China.
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Dave Weldon, a former congressman and physician who is Trump s choice to lead the CDC,
could be an anti-vaccine ally
if Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is confirmed as health secretary.
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A judge
agreed to drop all federal charges
against Donald Trump over his effort to overturn the 2020 presidential election.
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Trump is
hoping for fewer protests
and less divisiveness at his inauguration, unlike eight years ago.
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The federal prosecutor who has overseen the convictions of Sen. Robert Menendez, Jeffery Epstein s accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell and disgraced crypto mogul Sam Bankman-Fried
said he will step down
as U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York next month.
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Many immigrants who hope to take advantage of H-1B or high-skill visa program, to which Trump, his allies and Cabinet picks have promised to make cuts
are in a state of panic
over what will happen when Trump takes office.
Why abortions rose after Roe v. Wade was overturned
Abortion rates were expected to decline after Roe v. Wade was reversed in 2022. Rather, the reverse occurred. According to the Guttmacher Institute, over 1 million abortions were performed in the United States in 2023, the most in a decade. As of current year, abortion rates have stayed around the same as they were in the final half of 2023. What, then, prevented the decline in abortion rates?
Aria Bendix, a health reporter, talked with important figures from all sides of the abortion rights movement, spent a day at an Illinois Planned Parenthood clinic, and met with a Dutch doctor whose work was essential to maintaining access to abortion pills in the United States. It turns out that a large portion of the story is around a small group of medical manufacturers who figured out how to prescribe and distribute abortion pills across the nation from states where they are still allowed.
Mario Andretti s plans for his new Formula 1 team
Two new drivers and a new team are joining Formula 1.Yesterday, the organization declared that it had authorized Cadillac and GM to join as a new team, effective 2026. After a year filled with intrigue and acrimonious tensions between Formula One and Andretti Global, managed by former world champion Mario Andretti, the highly anticipated decision has finally been made.
Mario Andretti had an exclusive conversation with Sahil Kapur, a senior politics correspondent for NBC News and an F1 fan, regarding his goals for the new organization. He outlines the benefits for both the sport and GM, the automaker:
You reported on the controversy involving F1’s objections to the Andretti team. Why was this new team permitted?One thing is difficult to identify. With the Justice Department opening an investigation, this turned from a contentious ruling to a heated dispute to a high-stakes political drama. Andretti’s supporters on Capitol Hill accused Formula One of engaging in cartel-like tactics to shield the predominantly European teams from American competition during the almost year-long conflict. The animosity was genuine.
Two factors ultimately assisted in breaking the impasse: the investor Dan Towriss acquired Andretti Global’s activities, so excluding Mario’s son Michael Andretti from this initiative. (Mario informed me that everyone is pleased, and Michael posted a pleasant tweet with the news.) Additionally, GM strengthened its dedication to the initiative.
How important is the addition of a new team to the Formula One grid?It’s significant for a number of reasons. First, allowing a well-known American automaker to enter opens doors to the rapidly expanding American market, which is F1’s top business goal. This might be advantageous for all parties because of the significant brand value upside for GM, which is why Michigan lawmakers became engaged.
Additionally, there hasn’t been much for Americans to support at home. Although it employs an Italian engine, isn’t well-known or successful, and primarily operates in Europe, the Haas team is actually owned by the United States. Logan Sargeant, the only full-time American driver in almost 20 years, was let go earlier this year.
Cadillac-Andretti, however, has the power to alter that. Mario informed me that he wants at least one of the team’s two seats to be occupied by an American driver. Another important point is that an eleventh team increases the number of drivers on the grid from 20 to 22. That’s fantastic news for gifted young Formula One drivers who have had difficulty breaking into the sport despite their aptitude.
With Andretti on their side, what benefits does this new squad have?Andretti Global is a master in creating swift race cars! In addition to winning four IndyCar titles and a Formula E championship, the organization has produced six Indy 500 winners. We will see how they perform in this sport, as Formula 1 is undoubtedly the pinnacle of racing. Building an F1 team is the one thing Mario, the last former F1 champion from America, hasn’t done. He has spent a lot of time getting ready for this moment.
Learn more about Mario Andretti’s exclusive chat with Sahil.
Read All About It
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Two major storm systems and potential worker shortages at airports could disrupt what s expected to be
the busiest holiday travel period ever
.
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A senior Russian commander who was responsible for troops fighting in eastern Ukraine
was removed from his position
after allegedly making false claims about battlefield successes.
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Susan Louise Lorincz, a 60-year-old white Florida woman who fatally shot her Black neighbor through a locked door,
was sentenced to 25 years in prison
for the completely unnecessary gunfire.
-
As Cuba struggles with nationwide blackouts, Americans with family on the island and tourists have taken it upon themselves
to provide much-needed supplies
to residents.
Staff Pick:
Work goes on among the devastation in Lebanon s ancient groves
Despite the disruptions caused by bombs dropping on all sides, farmers on Lebanon’s old olive groves must continue to harvest in time.
Speaking with farmers and laborers whose livelihoods and means of subsistence are under jeopardy because to Israel’s ongoing war with Hezbollah, NBC News revealed another effect of the strife engulfing the area.
Platforms editor Annie Hill
NBC Select: Online Shopping, Simplified
Gifts that people will truly use are the finest. Take a look at this list of useful holiday presents. Plus, thesehand warmerswill help you stay warm while doing activities outside this winter.
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