It’s Thursday. Do you want the good news or the bad news about Inauguration Day? The good news is that it’ll be sunny! 🌞 The bad news is that the low on Monday could be 6 degrees anddddd there may be a polar vortex. 🥶 *immediately searches for hand warmers on Amazon* Here’s what’s happening today:
- DeSantis taps Florida’s AG to fill Marco Rubio’s Senate seat.
- Trump 2.0 is radically different and could be more potent.
- More Trump Cabinet confirmation hearings.
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FDA bans red dye No. 3. Keep reading for a list of affected foods and drugs.
I’m Cate Martel with a quick recap of the morning and what’s coming up. Send tips, commentary, feedback and cookie recipes to cmartel@thehill.com. Did someone forward this newsletter to you? Sign up here. |
Nancy Pelosi is skipping the inauguration: |
Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) will not be attending President-elect Trump’s inauguration.
Is this surprising?: It is typical for senior leaders to attend regardless of the president, though Trump skipped President Biden’s inauguration in 2021.
Keep in mind: Pelosi returned to Washington earlier this month after undergoing hip replacement surgery.
FWIW: Former first lady Michelle Obama also won’t attend (though former President Obama will.)
Wow, she’s been to how many inaugurations??: “Attending 11 inaugurations so far, Pelosi has rubbed elbows with presidents at their inauguration dating back to her high school days when John F. Kennedy was sworn into office in 1961.” (ABC News) |
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) has appointed state Republican Attorney General Ashley Moody to the U.S. Senate, filling Sen. Marco Rubio’s (R-Fla.) seat when he heads to the Trump administration. Was this a surprising pick?: Not really. Moody emerged as a front-runner in recent weeks. How long will she fill the seat?: Through 2026. At that point, she could run to keep the seat, but it’s unclear whether she will.
What to know about Moody: She’s a staunch Trump ally. She backed his 2020 Texas v. Pennsylvania lawsuit to overturn the presidential election results.
Fun fact: “Moody has not always been a vocal Trump supporter. She accused the president-elect of fraud related to a real estate deal in a 2009 federal lawsuit. However, after backing Trump, she said in 2017 that the matter had no bearing on her support for him.” (h/t Julia Manchester)
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👂 Happening on Capitol Hill |
The Cabinet confirmation hearing conveyor belt: |
More of President-elect Trump’s Cabinet picks are in the hot seat today.
💡 How are they going?: Nothing particularly spicy so far. None of Trump’s more controversial picks are testifying today.
One interesting dynamic to watch: The New York Times notes that Trump’s pick to head the Environmental Protection Agency, former Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-N.Y.), “is short on environmental experience.” If confirmed, he “would be charged with dismantling climate rules and perhaps the agency itself.”
🗨️ Follow today’s live blog for updates |
Trump’s EPA nominee acknowledges climate change: Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) asked Lee Zeldin rapid-fire questions about climate change. Zeldin acknowledged the problem but said he’s not a scientist. |
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Treasury secretary: Scott Bessent testifies before the Senate Finance Committee. 💻 Livestream
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Environmental Protection Agency director: Lee Zeldin testifies before the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. 💻 Livestream
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Housing and Urban Development secretary: Eric Turner testifies before the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee. 💻 Livestream
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Interior secretary: Doug Burgum testifies before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. 💻 Livestream
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Attorney general: Pam Bondi testifies for a second day before the Senate Judiciary Committee. 💻 Livestream
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President Biden gave his closing address to America on Wednesday evening, not just to conclude his administration but for his five-decade career in politics. He celebrated his achievements, but his remarks came with some dark messages: -
Power is being concentrated among a few wealthy individuals and corporations.
- Misinformation and disinformation are top issues facing the American public.
- Artificial intelligence warnings.
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Support for a congressional stock trading ban.
In Biden’s words: “Today, an oligarchy is taking shape in America of extreme wealth, power and influence that literally threatens our entire democracy, our basic rights and freedoms and a fair shot for everyone to get ahead.”
Did Biden bash Trump at all?: Biden never mentioned Trump by name.
Read Alex Gangitano and Brett Samuels’s reporting: ‘Biden warns of oligarchy forming in US during White House farewell speech’ |
“Google searches for ‘oligarchy’ SPIKED last night when Biden warned that ‘an oligarchy is taking shape in America.’ The top search was simply ‘what is an oligarchy,’ and many of the other searches were also asking for definitions.” (From CNN’s Brian Stelter) |
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What does a Trump 2.0 look like?: |
“The President-elect Trump who will take the oath of office on Monday is a radically different figure from the one who shook up Washington eight years ago,” reports The Hill’s Brett Samuels.
Please explain, Brett: “This Trump knows more about how Washington works. Trump 1.0 wanted to change Washington, but Trump 2.0 is set up better to succeed, and the president-elect is equipped with a highly capable chief of staff in Susie Wiles, who has infused more discipline into his operation.”
It’s not a total revamp: “Trump’s team retains its outsider appeal, and the frenzy that was a defining element of Trump’s first term is unlikely to disappear. But it’s also a team with more insiders who can reach into the halls of American power. One of Trump’s top allies now is tech entrepreneur Elon Musk, the richest man in the world.” Read Samuels’s reporting: ‘Trump 2.0 is radically different, and could be more potent’ |
➤ TIDBIT FROM TRUMP’S HIRING PROCESS:
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NBC News reports that Trump’s first campaign manager, Corey Lewandowski, has been involved in hiring for positions within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). One source called his involvement “outsized” and “abnormal.”
Oh, and he’s reportedly using his Gmail account to email candidates. Why Lewandowski?: He’s a longtime ally of Trump’s DHS nominee Kristi Noem. FWIW: “A lawyer for Lewandowski said that he is not ‘handling the hiring process for DHS’ and that he has a professional relationship with Noem.” Read NBC’s reporting: ‘Kristi Noem is Trump’s pick to run DHS. But that doesn’t mean she'd be in charge of one of its most important jobs.’ |
➤ ANOTHER DYNAMIC TO WATCH:
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What else am I going to do with my free time?:
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*panic sets in* The Supreme Court still hasn’t weighed in on the upcoming TikTok ban. Time is *Tiking*.
There is a glimmer of hope for TikTok users: NBC News reports that the Biden administration is looking at options to prevent TikTok from going dark on Sunday if the ban goes into effect. An administration official told NBC: “Americans shouldn’t expect to see TikTok suddenly banned on Sunday.”
💡 Why the Biden administration is motivated to fix this: More than 170 million Americans are on the app and do not want it to go dark. The ban is scheduled to take effect on President Biden’s last day in office. That would give President-elect Trump an opening to come in on his first day in office and potentially temporarily save TikTok. That’s not something the Biden administration would want.
If Biden doesn’t intervene, what happens Sunday?: There are a few scenarios: -
It could go dark for users.
- It could be taken out of the app store but remain usable for current users. If that’s the case, it will slowly get glitchy due to lack of software updates.
- Users could try using virtual private networks to hide their location.
^ The Hill’s Miranda Nazzaro spoke with cyber experts to explain these scenarios. |
TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew is planning to attend Trump’s inauguration next week, the day after the app’s ban is set to take effect. Keep in mind: A number of tech executives are reportedly planning to attend, including Trump ally and Tesla CEO Elon Musk, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos. |
Red dye No. 3 has been banned: |
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is banning a controversial red dye from food and ingested drugs because it has been linked to cancer in animals. Tell me more about this dye: It’s used in foods, particularly candy, to give it a bright red color. Think maraschino cherries, Trolli Sour Crunchy Crawlers Candy, Dubble Bubble Original Twist Bubble Gum, McCormick red food coloring, some cough syrups and gummy vitamins. 📝 List of foods with the red dye When will this happen?: Food manufacturers have until Jan. 15, 2027, to remove the dye from their products. Drug manufacturers have until Jan. 18, 2028.
What will food and drug manufacturers use instead?: There are several natural alternatives, including beet juice and pomegranate juice, which can be more expensive. (NBC News) Keep in mind: Red dye No. 3 has been banned from cosmetics for more than 30 years.
A side rant: I really wish drug manufacturers would take all coloring out of children’s medications. It makes such a mess. 😅 |
🍪 Celebrate: Today is National Fig Newton Day!
🌸 What will D.C. look like over the next four years?: Washingtonian lays out questions that Washington area residents have — and some scenarios for the changes to the city. |
The House and Senate are in. President Biden and Vice President Harris are in Washington. (all times Eastern)
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2 p.m.: Biden delivers remarks at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall. Harris, first lady Jill Biden and second gentleman Doug Emhoff 💻 Livestream
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4:15 p.m.: Harris adds her signature to the drawer of her desk. 💻 Livestream
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