It’s Monday. It’s the holiday season, the holiday season! So, hoop-dee-doo and dickory dock. 🎅 Here’s what’s happening today: -
Trump held a sweeping press conference from Mar-a-Lago.
- Congressional negotiators are behind on finalizing government funding text.
- Those mysterious drones have been spotted in six states.
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RFK Jr. is meeting with Republican senators this week.
- Plus: Wirecutter published a gift guide that is actually pretty helpful.
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.
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Trump has a lot to say today: |
President-elect Trump has been holding a long, wide-ranging press conference from his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Fla. He made a lot of news. Here are the highlights: On the mysterious drones: “The government knows what is happening. Look, our military knows where they took off from,” Trump told reporters, speculating that “our president knows.”
On the upcoming TikTok ban: "I have a warm spot in my heart for TikTok because I won youth by 34 points, and there are those that say TikTok had something to do with that." 📹 Watch the clip
On the polio vaccine: "I'm a big believer in it,” Trump said amid concerns that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. could try to revoke it. 📹 Watch the clip
Trump on UHC shooting suspect: "I think it’s a terrible thing. I think it’s really terrible that some people seem to admire him, like him," Trump said of online users seemingly glorifying the suspect in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. On American journalism: “Our press is very corrupt, almost as corrupt as our elections,” Trump told reporters, saying he planned to file a lawsuit against the Des Moines Register over a pre-election poll showing him trailing in Iowa.
On his conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu: "I'll be very available on Jan. 20 ... I gave warning that if these hostages aren't back home by that date, all hell's going to break out." 📹 Watch the clip
Trump said he would consider pardoning New York City Mayor Eric Adams (D): "Yeah, I would. I think that he was treated pretty unfairly. Now I haven't seen the gravity of it all... I'd have to see it because I don't know the facts … I would certainly look at it."
Why Trump held the press conference: Trump was joined by SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son to announce its $100 billion investment in the U.S. over the next four years. But that announcement took a back seat to all of the news he made when answering reporter questions.
💻 Watch the press conference
🗨️ More highlights |
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Congressional negotiators have just four days to pass a government funding extension to avoid a shutdown Friday — but they are struggling to even come up with the text. How we know negotiators are struggling: The package was supposed to be unveiled Sunday. *crickets* What we know about the funding plan: - It would extend government funding at current levels to buy them some extra time to pass a full funding package.
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It may also include disaster funding to provide assistance to areas devastated from recent hurricanes and a one-year extension to the farm bill.
What’s the holdup?: There are several add-ons that are part of the discussions. Apparently, the last-minute sticking point is whether to include economic assistance for farmers.
⏱️ Not to stress everyone out, but: Yes, lawmakers have until Friday to pass the bill, but they can’t wait much longer to unveil the text. The House has a rule that bills must be released at least 72 hours before the vote. Plus, the Senate must vote on it. Read more of what we know about the funding negotiations
🗨️ Live blog of funding deal updates |
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You get what you paid for:
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Soon-to-be-retired Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) appeared Sunday on CNN’s “State of the Union” to reflect on his tenure and where the country stands.
The line that’s getting traction: Romney argues that Americans “can’t complain” about what President-elect Trump does because they chose him.
In Romney’s words: “Donald Trump won. He won overwhelmingly. He said what he was going to do, and that’s what he’s doing,” Romney said. “I mean, people are saying, ‘Oh, I don’t like this appointment or this policy that he’s talking about,’ but those are the things he said he was going to do when he ran.” 📹 Watch the clip
Romney also acknowledged the decadelong shift in the GOP: Romney recognizes the grip that Trump has on the Republican Party, which he once led. “MAGA is the Republican Party and Donald Trump is the Republican Party today,” Romney told CNN’s Jake Tapper.
Jan. 6 came up: Romney described it as a “very dark day in American history and it'll be recorded as such, despite all the effort politically to try and paper over.” Trump has shifted the narrative of the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol and has said he will pardon those involved. 📹 Watch the clip
💻 Watch the full interview |
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Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President-elect Trump’s pick to lead the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), is beginning his hunt this week for 50+ votes for his Senate confirmation. His goal this week is to start meeting with Republican lawmakers and to ease any skepticism over his confirmation.
Will he have a hard time getting confirmed?: He is considered one of the most controversial Cabinet picks for the upcoming Trump administration, but GOP sources think he will still receive enough votes. Read Nathaniel Weixel and Al Weaver’s reporting on what to expect: ‘RFK Jr. seeks to win over Senate GOP skeptics as he begins HHS meetings’
What is RFK Jr.’s battle plan?: He “intends to play down vaccine skepticism, pro-abortion stances,” reports The Wall Street Journal. |
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A sunset on the late sunset?: |
© GIPHY/PBS Digital Studio |
President-elect Trump is pushing to eliminate daylight saving time when he returns to the White House. Why?: In a recent Truth Social post, Trump slammed the practice as “costly” and “inconvenient.” What isn’t clear: Whether Trump would prefer to keep standard or daylight saving time permanent. The good: If daylight saving time is permanent, it allows for more light in the evening so people can spend more time outdoors. If standard time is permanent, it allows for more light earlier in the day. The bad: Permanent daylight saving time would equate to a later sunrise, meaning children may go to school and wait for buses in the dark. Permanent standard time would mean it would get dark earlier at night in the summer. Nexstar’s Addy Bink points out that most of the U.S. has observed daylight saving time since the 1960s, but it was first introduced in 1918. |
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It’s no longer just New Jersey …: |
© Brian Glenn/TMX via AP, File |
Mysterious, unidentified drones sparked confusion and concern last week after being spotted in the sky in New Jersey.
Well, there have been drone sightings in at least six states, according to CNN. Those states include New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Ohio. Plus, arrests have been made over drones in Massachusetts and California.
Be careful when checking out photos: PolitiFact traced the origins of two photos that have been circulating around the internet. Neither of the photos are from the mysterious drones seen in New Jersey. |
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🍫 Celebrate: Today is National Chocolate-Covered Anything Day!
🚕 The new Uber/Lyft alternative on the block: The New York Times’s Eli Tan writes how the Empower app has been racking up more than $100 million in unpaid fines but does roughly 100,000 rides a week in Washington, D.C. Read: ‘A Ride-Hailing Start-Up in Washington Tries to “Out-Uber Uber”’
🎁 How is everyone feeling about their holiday shopping?: If you’re still stumped on what to get some people, I suggest checking out Wirecutter’s gift guide. |
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The House and Senate are in. President Biden and Vice President Harris are in Washington. (all times Eastern) |
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Late this morning: President-elect Trump spoke to reporters from Palm Beach, Fla. 💻 Watch
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12:15 p.m.: Biden joins acting Labor Secretary Julie Su for an event to honor the U.S.’s labor history and the administration’s work to strengthen America’s workforce. 💻 Livestream
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5:30 p.m.: The Senate holds a vote related to the National Defense Authorization Act. 📆 Today’s agenda
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6:30 p.m.: First lady Jill Biden host a virtual event for educators with the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) and the National Education Association (NEA). 💻 Livestream
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6:30 p.m.: First and last House votes. 📆 Today’s agenda
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7:45 p.m.: The Bidens host a Hanukkah reception. Second gentleman Doug Emhoff will attend. 💻 Livestream
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