What to know about Trump's transition
- South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, President-elect Donald Trump's pick to lead the Department of Homeland Security, faced questions today at her confirmation hearing before the Senate homeland security committee about Trump's planned border and immigration crackdown and whether she would allow politics to influence federal disaster relief efforts.
- During her testimony, Noem falsely stated that the Trump administration "never had a family separation policy" — an initiative the previous administration instituted after Trump took office that resulted in hundreds of children never being reunited with their parents.
- Trump's inauguration ceremony on Monday is moving indoors to the Capitol Rotunda because of a frigid weather forecast in the nation's capital.
Rebuffed by Biden, former Sen. Bob Menendez seeks a pardon from Trump
Allies of former Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., have approached the White House on his behalf multiple times since the fall to see if President Joe Biden might be willing to pardon him, according to four people familiar with the discussions. Left with the impression that he won’t receive a pardon from Biden, Menendez has now shifted his focus to Trump, three people familiar with the discussions said.
Menendez told people close to him even before the November election that he might have a better chance of securing clemency from Trump, two people with direct knowledge of his comments said. And in recent weeks, he has discussed with people close to him whether he might be more successful with Trump if he sought a sentence commutation rather than a full pardon, three people familiar with the discussions said.
Menendez is facing potentially years in prison after he was convicted on federal corruption charges in July, with federal prosecutors last week recommending a sentence of at least 15 years.
TikTok says it will go dark on Sunday unless given ‘definitive’ assurances by the Biden administration
TikTok confirmed that it plans to go dark on Sunday unless the company is given more clarity from the Biden administration and Justice Department regarding the ban that is scheduled to go into effect.
“The statements issued today by both the Biden White House and the Department of Justice have failed to provide the necessary clarity and assurance to the service providers that are integral to maintaining TikTok’s availability to over 170 million Americans,” the company said tonight in a post on X.
“Unless the Biden Administration immediately provides a definitive statement to satisfy the most critical service providers assuring non-enforcement, unfortunately TikTok will be forced to go dark on January 19,” the statement continued.
Biden is expected to issue more pardons before leaving office on Monday
President Joe Biden is expected to make further use of his clemency power before leaving office next week, potentially extending pre-emptive pardons to individuals who could be targeted for retribution by the incoming Trump administration, according to a senior White House official and a person familiar with the discussions.
Biden has not made a final decision on any pardons for people in that group, the White House official said today.
The timing for the clemency actions, should Biden decide to grant them, is likely to be during his final hours in office — on Sunday or before noon on Monday, the two sources said, though timing is subject to change.
Louisiana governor says he will fly MAGA flag on Jan. 20
Gov. Jeff Landry, R-La., said in a press release that he would fly a MAGA flag at the governor's mansion on Jan. 20 to celebrate Trump's inauguration.
He encouraged other Louisianans to do the same.
"Today, under President Trump, begins a renaissance in this Nation," Landry said in a statement released today. "One where America and her people will always come first. In Louisiana, we think that is worthy of celebrating!”
Noem pens 'farewell' letter to the people of South Dakota
South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem wrote in a letter following today's hearing that if confirmed to lead the Department of Homeland Security, she will need to say "farewell" to the people of South Dakota.
"But South Dakota will be in good hands," she wrote, arguing Lt. Gov. Larry Rhoden has been "an adviser, a source of wisdom, and (this is sometimes more important) a source of laughter."
"I trust Larry and our leaders in the legislature to knock it out of the park — because that is the trust that the people have bestowed in them," she added.
Noem wrote in closing that "South Dakota has always been my home — and it is still my home," thanking the people of the state
Biden administration says it will leave TikTok ban enforcement for Trump
President Joe Biden’s administration said it will be up to President-elect Donald Trump to implement the ban on TikTok, which is set to take effect in two days, after the Supreme Court upheld the law Friday.
“Given the sheer fact of timing, this Administration recognizes that actions to implement the law simply must fall to the next Administration, which takes office on Monday,” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement.
Workers prepare for indoor inauguration
Workers for the Architect of the Capitol unload part of the alternate stage for President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration, which will now take place into the Capitol rotunda due to the cold weather forecasted for Monday.
Democrats push for inaugural oversight as Trump committee rakes in cash
Senate Democrats are pushing for more transparency from presidential inaugural committees, as a wave of cash from corporations and their billionaire leaders floods Washington, D.C., before President-elect Donald Trump takes office.
“The American people deserve to know how these funds are being spent and exactly who they come from,” said Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., in a statement to CNBC after reintroducing legislation to strengthen oversight of the committees.
Biden doesn't plan to speak to Trump again before the inauguration
During a stop at St. John's Church in Washington this afternoon, Biden said that he doesn't plan to speak with Trump before Monday's inauguration.
“No, it’s coming up really quick, I’ll see him at the inauguration,” Biden told reporters who asked if he planned to speak with the president-elect in the next two days.
The two men met at the White House about a week after Election Day and both attended President Jimmy Carter's state funeral in Washington last week.
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine appoints Lt. Gov. Jon Husted to Vance’s Senate seat
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine has appointed his lieutenant governor, Jon Husted, to the Senate seat recently vacated by Vice President-elect JD Vance.
“I have worked with him, I have seen him. I know his knowledge of Ohio. I know his heart. I know what he cares about. I know his skills,” DeWine said at a Friday news conference from the Ohio Statehouse in Columbus. “All of that tells me he is the right person for this job.”