- All articles

All articles

- Day 1420: "Can’t guarantee anything."

- Day 1416: "Government does almost nothing well."

- Day 1415: "They’re coming after you."

- Day 1414: "Competing constitutional interests."

MATT@WHATTHEFUCKJUSTHAPPENEDTODAY.COM (MATT KISER) | DEC 9, 2024, 4:57 PM EST | VIEW ON WEBSITE

Day 1420: "Can’t guarantee anything."

1/ Trump “can’t guarantee anything” when asked whether his promised tariffs would increase prices for Americans, in an NBC interview. “I think tariffs are the most beautiful word. I think they’re beautiful. It’s going to make us rich,” Trump said. Economists, however, have argued that Trump’s proposal to impose a 25% tariff on imports from Mexico and Canada, along with a 10% tariff on Chinese goods, would raise prices for U.S. consumers since tariffs are paid by American companies importing the products and not by the exporting countries. When informed that economists agree that Americans would pay higher prices as a result of his plan, Trump dismissed the claim, saying, “I don’t believe that.” And when asked to guarantee American families wouldn’t pay more, Trump replied: “I can’t guarantee anything. I can’t guarantee tomorrow.” (Politico / CBS News / Associated Press / NPR)

- Trump details sweeping changes he’ll carry out on day one and beyond in an exclusive interview. “Trump vowed to launch a mass deportation effort, impose tariffs and pardon many convicted in the Jan. 6 attack.” (NBC News)

- READ: The full transcript of Trump’s interview with “Meet the Press” moderator Kristen Welker

2/ Trump confirmed that he will “most likely” pardon his supporters involved in the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol. “I’m going to be acting very quickly […] First day,” Trump said. “They’ve been in there for years, and they’re in a filthy, disgusting place that shouldn’t even be allowed to be open.” Trump said there “may be some exceptions” to his pardons “if somebody was radical, crazy,” but didn’t rule out pardoning people who had pleaded guilty “because they had no choice.” On Jan. 6, 2021, Trump tried to overturn his 2020 election loss by encouraging his followers to march to the Capitol and “fight like hell” to stop Congress from certifying Biden as president. “You have to show strength and you have to be strong,” Trump said. In response, House Democrats introduced an article of impeachment against Trump for “incitement of insurrection” for his role in the riots at the Capitol that left five people dead. Seven days after the attack, Trump was impeached for a second time, with 10 Republicans joining Democrats in the vote. Trump is the only U.S. President to have been impeached twice. The Senate then voted to acquit Trump for the second time in 13 months. Trump also said that members of the Jan. 6 committee “should go to jail” for investigating him. The bipartisan committee voted unanimously to subpoena Trump. Their final report concluded that Trump criminally engaged in a “multi-part conspiracy” to overturn the 2020 presidential election, failed to act to stop his supporters from attacking the Capitol, and unanimously voted to refer the crimes to the Justice Department for prosecution. (NBC News / Washington Post / New York Times / The Hill / HuffPost)

3/ Trump suggested he’ll end birthright citizenship, saying “you have to” deport everyone who is in the country illegally. Trump also suggested that mixed immigration status families should be deported together, claiming he has “no choice” but to deport everyone, including U.S. citizens with undocumented family members. “I don’t want to be breaking up families, so the only way you don’t break up the family is you keep them together and you have to send them all back,” Trump said. About 4.7 million households in the U.S. are defined as mixed status, with at least one undocumented resident, and an estimated 48% of the 2.8 million households with undocumented residents include at least one U.S.-born child. Trump previously called birthright citizenship “frankly ridiculous” because someone can “have a baby on our land, you walk over the border, have a baby — congratulations, the baby is now a U.S. citizen.” Birthright citizenship is enshrined in the 14th Amendment of the Constitution and states: “All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States.” (NBC News / Politico / Axios / New York Times)

4/ Trump plans to have Robert F. Kennedy Jr. investigate the repeatedly debunked conspiracy theory that vaccines cause autism. “I think somebody has to find out,” Trump said. “I mean, something is going on. I don’t know if it’s vaccines. Maybe it’s chlorine in the water, right? You know, people are looking at a lot of different things.” The theory that vaccines cause autism started in 1998 paper in the Lancet arguing that measles, mumps, and rubella vaccines were causing autism. The article has since been retracted and the author has been stripped of his medical license. Hundreds of studies have repeatedly found childhood vaccines to be safe, and the CDC estimates that between 1994 and 2023, childhood vaccines prevented 1.3 million premature deaths and 32 million hospitalizations. The World Health Organization has also ruled out a connection between autism and the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine. The rise in autism diagnoses is attributed to increased screening and awareness. Nevertheless Trump said he was “open to anything.” Trump has tapped Kennedy, the founder of a prominent anti-vaccine activist group, to run Health and Human Services. (New York Times / NBC News / STAT / The Guardian)

5/ Trump confirmed that he has no plans to remove Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. “I don’t see it,” Trump said, acknowledging the legal and practical barriers to removing Powell, who was originally appointed by Trump in 2017. Powell’s term expires in 2026. “I think if I told him to, he would,” Trump added. “But if I asked him to, he probably wouldn’t.” After Trump appointed Powell, he repeatedly criticized Powell for not moving quickly enough to lower interest rates, and instead explored whether he could fire or demote him after the Fed raised interest rates a number of times. When Powell was asked recently whether he would resign if Trump pressured him to leave, he replied simply: “No.” (Bloomberg / New York Times / NBC News)

6/ Elon Musk spent over $250 million supporting Trump’s reelection, including $20 million to a super PAC that was named after Ruth Bader Ginsburg, which framed Trump’s abortion stance as moderate to attract swing voters. Musk donated $20.5 million to the RBG PAC, which attempted to argue that Trump and Ginsburg agreed on abortion. Trump, however, has repeatedly took credit for the Supreme Court’s overturning Roe v. Wade, which came after three Trump-appointed justices voted to eliminate the constitutional right to an abortion after 49 years. After Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg died – less than two months before 2020 the presidential election – Trump and Senate Republicans confirmed Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court. Ginsburg’s granddaughter, Clara Spera, said the family condemned the use of her grandmother’s name and that doing so to “support Donald Trump’s re-election campaign, and specifically to suggest that she would approve of his position on abortion, is nothing short of appalling.” The RBG PAC “has no connection to the Ginsburg family and is an affront to my late grandmother’s legacy.” Since the election, Trump selected Musk to advise him on cutting spending across the federal government as a co-chair of his “Department of Government Efficiency” initiative. (Associated Press / NBC News / New York Times / Washington Post)

7/ Lara Trump resigned as co-chair of the Republican National Committee amid speculation that Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis will appoint her to fill the Senate seat vacated by Marco Rubio, who Trump tapped for secretary of state. “It is something I would seriously consider,” Lara Trump said. “If I’m being completely transparent, I don’t know exactly what that would look like. And I certainly want to get all of the information possible if that is something that’s real for me. But yeah, I would 100% consider it.” DeSantis is also rumored to be Trump’s top choice for defense secretary if his current choice, Pete Hegseth, fails to be confirmed. Hegseth is facing allegations of sexual misconduct, financial mismanagement, and alcohol abuse. Lara Trump is married to Eric Trump. (Associated Press / Axios / NBC News / ABC News / New York Times)

8/ Trump appointed venture capitalist and podcaster David Sacks as “White House A.I. and Crypto Czar” to guide policies on artificial intelligence, cryptocurrency, and online free speech. Sacks, a longtime ally of Elon Musk and JD Vance, has supported Trump through fundraising and public endorsements despite initially criticizing him after Jan. 6. Sacks will also lead the Presidential Council of Advisors for Science and Technology. The appointment reflects Trump’s alignment with tech entrepreneurs and his goal of positioning the U.S. as a global leader in AI and cryptocurrency. (CNBC / ABC News / Bloomberg)

- Trump selected Rodney Scott, a key architect of restrictive immigration policies like Title 42, as CBP Commissioner. Trump also tapped Caleb Vitello and Tony Salisbury for leadership roles in ICE and Homeland Security. Brandon Judd, head of the National Border Patrol Council, was nominated as ambassador to Chile. Trump’s immigration plans include large-scale deportations and a return to policies such as the Remain in Mexico program, spearheaded by advisors Tom Homan and Stephen Miller, signaling a return to hardline approaches. (Politico)

- Trump appointed his personal criminal defense lawyer Alina Habba as Counselor to the President. Habba’s legal career has been marked by contentious courtroom tactics, public criticism, and rebukes from judges for frivolous litigation. (Rolling Stone)

poll/ 62% of Americans think it’s the federal government’s responsibility to make sure all Americans have healthcare coverage. In 2017, Trump and Republicans attempted to repeal the Affordable Care Act. Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski, and John McCain joined with all 48 Senate Democrats to rejected the bill that would have increased the number of people who are uninsured by 15 million. (Gallup)

poll/ 44% Americans say the quality of their healthcare is excellent (11%) or good (33%) – down 10 percentage points since 2020. 28% say their healthcare coverage is excellent or good – four points lower than the average since 2001. (Gallup)

✏️ Notables.

1. The U.S. announced an additional $988 million in military aid to Ukraine as part of a broader effort to bolster Kyiv before a potential shift in policy under Trump. The latest package adds to $725 million in recently announced aid drawn from Pentagon stockpiles, as part of the over $62 billion in military aid provided since Russia’s invasion in 2022. (Associated Press / ABC News)

2. The Air Force deferred the decision on the future of its next-generation jet fighter to Trump. The delay shifts the multibillion-dollar decision on whether to prioritize piloted jets like the F-35 or unmanned drones to Trump as Elon Musk and his allies have pushed for replacing piloted aircraft with drones. (Wall Street Journal)

3. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez launched her candidacy for ranking member of the House Oversight Committee, aiming to lead Democratic oversight efforts against the incoming Trump administration. AOC, currently vice-ranking member of the committee, would become the youngest Democratic committee leader if elected. The Oversight Committee’s leadership will be critical for Democrats in confronting Trump’s policies and preparing for potential subpoena powers if they regain the House majority in 2026. (NBC News / Politico / Axios)

4. A U.S. appeals court has upheld a federal law banning TikTok due to national security concerns, citing the potential for Chinese government access to user data and influence over platform content. The court ruled that Congress acted within its authority to protect U.S. interests by banning TikTok unless its Chinese ownership is severed, dismissing First Amendment challenges brought by TikTok and its users. (Wall Street Journal / New York Times)

5. The EPA banned two cancer-causing chemicals – trichloroethylene and perchloroethylene – commonly used in dry cleaning and other industries. The ban, finalized under the Biden administration, aims to eliminate trichloroethylene and restrict perchloroethylene use to certain industrial applications with strict safety measures. Both chemicals are linked to cancers and organ damage. The bans, however, face potential challenges under the Congressional Review Act and the incoming Trump administration. (New York Times)

6. The USDA mandated nationwide testing of raw milk for bird flu, requiring farms and dairy processors to comply and report positive samples to federal authorities. The new rules aim to address the virus’s rapid spread in dairy herds, and identify transmission risks to humans through exposure to raw milk. Experts criticized earlier voluntary guidelines as inadequate and emphasized the potential for the virus to evolve into a strain transmissible among humans. The testing program will begin on Dec. 16 and expand beyond six initial states, with uncertainty about its continuation under the incoming Trump administration. (New York Times / NBC News)

7. Trump announced his new line of perfumes and colognes called “Fight, Fight, Fight,” using a photo of himself with Jill Biden. The caption read: “A FRAGRANCE YOUR ENEMIES CAN’T RESIST!” (Axios / CBS News)

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This article was downloaded from https://whatthefuckjusthappenedtoday.com/2024/12/09/day-1420/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=daily_update at Dec 9, 2024 at 6:24 PM EST.

MATT@WHATTHEFUCKJUSTHAPPENEDTODAY.COM (MATT KISER) | DEC 5, 2024, 6:40 PM EST | VIEW ON WEBSITE

Day 1416: "Government does almost nothing well."

1/ The Biden administration is in the process of extending contracts for private immigration detention centers, expanding capacity ahead of Trump’s promised “largest deportation operation in American history.” Despite Biden’s campaign promises to end for-profit detention centers, his administration has or is renewing contracts to add at least 4,850 additional detention beds, increasing the capacity beyond the approximately 39,000 individuals already in federal immigration custody. The incoming Trump administration, meanwhile, is preparing to deport migrants to third-party countries, where they have no cultural, linguistic, or familial ties, when their home countries refuse to accept them. (The Guardian / NBC News)

2/ Biden and his staff have discussed whether to grant preemptive pardons to current and former public officials who could be targeted by Kash Patel and the incoming Trump administration. Patel has publicly vowed to pursue retribution against Trump’s adversaries and critics. Among those being considered for potential pardons include Anthony Fauci, retired Gen. Mark Milley, Adam Schiff, and Liz Cheney. At this same time in 2020, Trump and his team discussed but didn’t grant preemptive pardons to Trump Jr., Eric Trump, Ivanka Trump, Jared Kushner, and Rudy Giuliani. The consideration follows Biden’s full pardon for his son, Hunter Biden. (Politico / ABC News / Washington Post / CNN)

3/ Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy met with House and Senate Republicans about Trump’s plans to “dismantle” the federal government. Trump tapped the two to head his “Department of Government Efficiency,” tasked with firing federal workers, cutting government programs and spending, and paring back federal regulations. The group is dubbed the “Department of Government Efficiency” because it’s not an actual government department. Nevertheless, Musk and Ramaswamy believe they can achieve a 75% reduction in the federal workforce, a $2 trillion cut to federal spending, and the elimination of entire agencies. They have not provided specific details about these policy proposals. “We have long lamented the size and scope of the government, that it has grown too large. And let me be frank about this: Government is too big. It does too many things and it does almost nothing well,” House Speaker Mike Johnson said. (NPR / Associated Press / Wall Street Journal / Bloomberg / CBS News)

4/ Tulsi Gabbard, Trump’s choice for director of national intelligence, regularly read and shared Russian propaganda. Three of her former staffers said Gabbard continued to read and share articles from RT (formerly Russia Today) even after being advised that RT was a state-run media outlet and not a credible source of information. The U.S. intelligence community characterized RT as “the Kremlin’s principal international propaganda outlet” in 2017 – three years after Gabbard was elected to Congress. In 2017, Gabbard accused the U.S. and NATO of provoking Russian aggression and criticized what she described as America’s “hostility towards Putin.” When Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Gabbard shifted blame to Ukraine’s bid to join NATO, echoing a narrative often promoted by Moscow. Earlier, in 2020, Gabbard denounced U.S. involvement in Syria’s civil war, labeling it a “regime change war” targeting Russia-backed Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. (ABC News / New Republic / The Guardian / Daily Beast / Rolling Stone)

5/ The Heritage Foundation – the architect of Project 2025 – is spending $1 million to pressure Republican senators to confirm Pete Hegseth as secretary of defense amid allegations that he committed sexual assault, drank to excess, sexually pursued female subordinates, and mismanaged two nonprofits. Heritage Foundation President Kevin Roberts argued that criticism of Hegseth’s behavior was being driven by “the establishment.” Hegseth, meanwhile, met with at least six senators and pledged he’ll be “standing here in this fight” for “as long as Donald Trump wants me here.” (Associated Press / New York Times / Politico)

6/ The House Republicans blocked the release of an Ethics Committee report on allegations against Matt Gaetz. Shortly after Ethics Committee members met behind closed doors about whether to make public the report detailing allegations that Gaetz engaged in illicit drug use and sexual misconduct with a 17-year-old girl, the House voted 206-198 to return the matter to the House Ethics Committee. Gaetz resigned from Congress last month, shortly after being named by Trump as his pick for attorney general, but before the bipartisan committee was set to vote on releasing its findings. The resignation immediately ended the investigation, based on committee rules. (Politico / NBC News / Washington Post / CNN / Axios)

- 📌 Day 1402: Matt Gaetz withdrew his name from consideration for attorney general following scrutiny over allegations of sex trafficking an underage girl and drug use that threatened his confirmation.

- 📌 Day 1401: The House Ethics Committee voted against releasing its report into allegations of sex trafficking, corruption, and drug use by Matt Gaetz. The House Ethics Committee reportedly obtained records, including a check and Venmo payments, that show Gaetz paid more than $10,000 to two women who later testified before the committee that some of the payments were for sex. The committee also heard from a woman who testified that Gaetz had sex with her when she was 17 years old.

- 📌 Day 1395: Matt Gaetz resigned from Congress two days before the House Ethics Committee was scheduled to release a “highly damaging” report detailing allegations against Gaetz, including sex trafficking involving underage girls, illicit drug use, and accepting bribes.

poll/ 88% of voters believe elections were well-run in 2024 – up from 59% in 2020. 93% of Trump voters said the 2024 elections were run and administered at least somewhat well, compared to 21% in 2020. 84% of Harris voters said this year’s elections were run well. (Pew Research Center)

- Who’s in Trump’s new administration so far:

- Marco Rubio, Secretary of State

Scott Bessent, Treasury

Michael Faulkender, Treasury deputy

Billy Long, IRS

Frank Bisignano, Social Security

Pete Hegseth, Defense

Matt Gaetz, Attorney General

Pam Bondi, Attorney General

Todd Blanche, Deputy Attorney General

D. John Sauer, Solicitor General

Doug Burgum, Interior

Brooke Rollings, Agriculture

Howard Lutnick, Commerce

Lori Chavez DeRemer, Labor

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Health and Human Services

Scott Turner, Housing and Urban Development

Sean Duffy, Transportation

Peter Navarro, Senior Counselor for Trade and Manufacturing

Martin Makary, FDA

Chad Chronister, DEA

Chris Wright, Energy

Linda McMahon, Education

Dough Collins, Veterans Affairs

Kristi Noem, Homeland Security

Mike Waltz, National Security

Alex Wong, Deputy National Security

Sebastian Gorka, Deputy Assistant to the President

Lee Zeldin, EPA

Elise Stefanik, UN Ambassador

Kelly Loeffler, SBA Administrator

Jamieson Greer, US Trade Representative

Jay Bhattacharya, National Institutes of Health

John Phelan, Navy

Jim O’Neill, Health deputy

Susie Wiles, Chief of Staff

Dan Scavino, Deputy Chief of Staff

Stephen Miller, Deputy Chief of Staff

James Blair, Deputy Chief of Staff

Elon Musk, “Department” of Government Efficiency

Vivek Ramaswamy, “Department” of Government Efficiency

Russell Vought, Office of Management and Budget

James Braid, Legislative affairs

Matt Brasseaux, Political affairs

Vince Haley, Domestic policy

Alex Latcham, Public liaison

Kevin Hassett, White House National Economic Council

Tulsi Gabbard, National Intelligence

John Ratcliffe, CIA director

Kash Patel, FBI director

Jared Isaacman, NASA

Adam Boehler, Hostage affairs envoy

Daniel Driscoll, Army secretary

Paul Atkins, SEC

Brendan Carr, FCC

Charles Kushner, Ambassador to France

Matt Whitaker, Ambassador to NATO

Mike Huckabee, Ambassador to Israel

Steve Witkoff, Special Envoy to the Middle East

Keith Kellogg, Ukraine and Russian envoy

Dr. Janette Nesheiwat, Surgeon General

Dr. Mehmet Oz, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services

Dr. Dave Weldon, CDC

Bill McGinley, White House Counsel

David Warrington, White House Counsel

Bill McGinley, Government Efficiency Counsel

Tom Homan, Border Czar

Massad Boulos, Senior adviser

Steven Cheung, Communications director

Karoline Leavitt, Press secretary

Will Scharf, Staff secretary

Sergio Gor, Personnel

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This article was downloaded from https://whatthefuckjusthappenedtoday.com/2024/12/05/day-1416/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=daily_update at Dec 9, 2024 at 6:24 PM EST.

MATT@WHATTHEFUCKJUSTHAPPENEDTODAY.COM (MATT KISER) | DEC 4, 2024, 5:41 PM EST | VIEW ON WEBSITE

Day 1415: "They’re coming after you."

1/ Trump is considering replacing his choice for defense secretary with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. Pete Hegseth, who is facing allegations of sexual misconduct, financial mismanagement, and alcohol abuse, insisted “there’s no reason to back down” and that Trump told him “I got your back. It’s a fight. They’re coming after you.” At least six Senate Republicans have said they’re uncomfortable voting to confirm the former Fox News host. Hegseth’s mother, who wrote in an email that her son “belittles, lies, cheats, sleeps around,” also told Fox News that “Pete is a new person.” DeSantis, meanwhile, is reportedly weighing whether to appoint Trump’s daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, to fill Marco Rubio’s Senate seat, who Trump nominated to be secretary of state. DeSantis’s term as governor ends in January 2027 and he can’t run again because of term limits. (New York Times / The Bulwark / Wall Street Journal / Associated Press / Politico / Washington Post / NBC News / Bloomberg / ABC News)

2/ Trump selected Peter Navarro to serve as his senior counselor for trade and manufacturing. Navarro, who served as director of the White House National Trade Council in Trump’s first administration, spent four months in federal prison earlier this year for refusing to cooperate with the congressional investigation into the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol. “I am pleased to announce that Peter Navarro,” Trump said, “a man who was treated horribly by the Deep State, or whatever else you would like to call it, will serve as my Senior Counselor for Trade and Manufacturing.” (CNBC / Axios / Politico / Washington Post / Associated Press / Wall Street Journal)

3/ Trump tapped an outspoken critic of the Securities and Exchange Commission to run the agency. Paul Atkins, a former Wall Street regulator, currently advises financial firms and cryptocurrency companies, suggesting a shift toward more lenient regulatory policies. Under outgoing Chair Gary Gensler, the SEC adopted an aggressive approach to cryptocurrencies, treating many digital assets as securities and initiating numerous enforcement actions against crypto exchanges for dealing illegal assets without regulatory supervision. (Bloomberg / Wall Street Journal / Politico / Washington Post / New York Times)

4/ Trump picked a billionaire with extensive financial ties to Elon Musk’s SpaceX to be the next administrator of NASA. Jared Isaacman’s company, Shift4 Payments, has invested $27.5 million dollars in SpaceX as of 2021 and processes payments for Starlink, Musk’s satellite internet provider. Isaacman has also spent an undisclosed sum of his own money on two private SpaceX missions. (Bloomberg / NPR / Associated Press / Reuters / New York Times)

5/ Trump already replaced his White House counsel 48 days before taking office. Three weeks after giving the job to William McGinley, Trump changed his mind and instead tapped his top campaign lawyer, David Warrington, for the job. Trump said McGinley would instead work with Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy on their Department of Government Efficiency project. (The Hill / New York Times / Bloomberg / Politico)

6/ Trump’s selection to lead the Drug Enforcement Administration withdrew his name from consideration three days after he was nominated. “Over the past several days, as the gravity of this very important responsibility set in,” Chad Chronister said. “I’ve concluded that I must respectfully withdraw from consideration.” Trump, however, said Chronister “didn’t pull out, I pulled him out, because I did not like what he said to my pastors and other supporters.” Chronister is the second of Trump’s administration picks to withdraw, after Matt Gaetz dropped his bid to become attorney general last month. (New York Times / NBC News / CNN / ABC News)

7/ Democrats won the final uncalled U.S. House race in California, leaving Republicans with a one seat margin. Republicans will officially have 220 seats to Democrats’ 215 when the 119th Congress is sworn in on Jan. 3. However, Trump selected Elise Stefanik as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations and Mike Waltz as national security adviser, plus Matt Gaetz already resigned and will not return for the 119th Congress. That means Speaker Mike Johnson will only have a 217-215 advantage. If a vote ends in a tie, the legislation doesn’t pass. (NBC News / Axios / Politico / New York Times)

8/ Jerry Nadler will step down as the top Demcorat on the House Judiciary Committee. He endorsed Jamie Raskin to succeed him. (New York Times / Axios)

9/ Kash Patel, Trump’s nominee to run the FBI, was recently hacked by Iran. Hackers reportedly accessed at least some of Patel’s communications. In September, three Iranians were charged in connection with a hack targeting Trump’s 2024 campaign. (CNN / Axios / ABC News)

10/ The Supreme Court’s conservative majority seemed ready to uphold Tennessee’s ban on gender-affirming care for minors. The state measure bars gender transition surgery for minors as well as puberty blockers and hormone therapy, even though medical authorities in the U.S. largely agree that the treatments are safe. Chief Justice John Roberts said the justices are “not the best situated to address issues like that,” adding that “the Constitution leaves that question to the people’s representatives, rather than to nine people, none of whom is a doctor.” It’s the first time the court has considered a state law targeting transgender people. The court’s decision is expected by June. (NBC News / ABC News / Axios / New York Times / Wall Street Journal / Washington Post)

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MATT@WHATTHEFUCKJUSTHAPPENEDTODAY.COM (MATT KISER) | DEC 3, 2024, 5:49 PM EST | VIEW ON WEBSITE

Day 1414: "Competing constitutional interests."

1/ Trump – citing the language Biden used to pardoned his son – urged a judge to dismiss his 34 felony convictions of orchestrating an illegal conspiracy to influence the 2016 presidential election by falsifying business records. “As President Biden put it yesterday, ‘Enough is enough.’ This case, which should never have been brought, must now be dismissed,” Trump’s lawyers wrote. “Biden asserted that his son was ‘selectively, and unfairly, prosecuted,’ and ‘treated differently’ […] ‘raw politics has infected this process and it led to a miscarriage of justice.’” The filing formally demands that New York Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan throw out Trump’s criminal case and nullify a unanimous jury’s conclusion that Trump committed 34 felonies. Trump’s attorneys also argued that his prosecution disrupts the president-elect’s transition and “threatens the functioning of the federal government.” Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, meanwhile, suggested postponing Trump’s sentencing until after he completes his second term in 2029, “to balance competing constitutional interests” of Trump’s conviction and his presidential duties. (NBC News / Washington Post / ABC News / CBS News)

- 🎓 WTF is a Presidential Pardon? A presidential pardon is one of the most powerful and controversial tools at the disposal of the President of the United States. Rooted in the U.S. Constitution, it enables the president to forgive individuals for federal crimes, potentially restoring their rights and mitigating the consequences of their actions. This legal mechanism has significant implications for justice, politics, and society.

- 🧩 What’s at stake? At stake is the integrity of the justice system and its ability to prosecute powerful individuals without political bias. A dismissal could embolden future leaders to claim political immunity, eroding judicial independence. Conversely, proceeding with sentencing risks intensifying political polarization and debates over the limits of prosecutorial discretion. The court’s decision will likely have lasting implications for legal norms and the balance of power in American democracy. Ensuring transparency and fairness in this high-profile case is crucial to maintaining public confidence. Future developments will test how the justice system navigates politically charged prosecutions and the separation of powers.

2/ Fox News has avoided reporting on recent allegations of financial mismanagement, sexism, sexual misconduct, and alcohol abuse against Pete Hegseth, Trump’s nominee for defense secretary. Hegseth, an Army veteran but with no Pentagon experience, worked at Fox News for a decade and nearly all of the recent mentions of Hegseth on Fox have been supportive or sympathetic, insulating its conservative audience from two recent reports: Hegseth’s own mother accused her son of being “an abuser of women” who “belittles, lies, cheats, sleeps around, and uses women for his own power and ego.” Penelope Hegseth sent the 2018 email while Hegseth was divorcing his second wife after having an affair with a Fox News executive producer. And a previously undisclosed whistleblower complaint said Hegseth was forced out of the two nonprofit advocacy groups that he ran for financial mismanagement, sexual misconduct, and for being intoxicated on the job. At least 10 current and former Fox employees said Hegseth drank in ways that concerned his co-workers. While no Republican senator has outright opposed his nomination, he is seen as the most vulnerable among Trump’s Cabinet picks. Republican senators have voiced support for adhering to traditional vetting and confirmation procedures for Trump’s nominees, including Hegseth, though discrepancies remain over requiring FBI background checks. Key figures like John Thune and Roger Wicker acknowledged the historical value of FBI checks, but left room for alternative methods. Trump’s transition team, meanwhile, said it had belatedly signed an agreement with the Justice Department to allow the FBI to conduct background checks on people Trump intends to nominate as senior officials in his administration. (CNN / ABC News / Wall Street Journal / NBC News)

- Trump’s Cabinet picks highlight double standards on sexual misconduct allegations. Trump’s nominations for top administration roles include individuals accused of sexual misconduct or enabling abuse, highlighting a stark contrast between Republican indifference to such allegations and their weaponization of baseless accusations against marginalized groups. This double standard reinforces the party’s broader strategy of targeting scapegoats to distract from systemic issues. The indifference toward allegations against conservatives underscores a moral inconsistency central to Trump-era politics, where accusations are seen as politically motivated unless directed at ideological opponents. (The Atlantic)

- Pete Hegseth faces allegations of misconduct, sexual impropriety, and abuse. Trump’s nominee for secretary of defense is facing multiple allegations, including mismanagement of veteran organizations, excessive drinking, and inappropriate behavior, as well as a rape accusation and claims from his mother about abusive behavior toward women. Despite these controversies, Hegseth’s nomination aligns with Trump’s pattern of overlooking personal scandals in favor of loyalty, raising concerns about his fitness to lead the Department of Defense. (Mother Jones)

- Trump offered billionaire investor Stephen Feinberg the role of deputy defense secretary. The decision, pending Senate confirmation, is part of Trump’s effort to build a capable administration amidst concerns that Pete Hegseth, his defense secretary nominee, lacks significant Pentagon experience. Feinberg’s ties to the defense industry, however, could lead to conflicts of interest. (Washington Post)

3/ Senate Republicans are prepared to allow Trump to fire FBI Director Christopher Wray before his 10-year term expires and replace him with loyalist Kash Patel. Patel has promised to purge the FBI of the “deep state,” people he sees as unloyal to Trump. Incoming Majority Leader John Thune said Patel would get a thorough and fair process like all nominees, which includes vetting, confirmation hearing, and one-on-one meetings. Patel served in Trump’s first administration as a staffer for the National Security Council, and was also a senior staffer for Devin Nunes, who repeatedly attempted to discredit the Russia investigation as chairman of the House Intelligence Committee. Patel will need nearly every Senate Republican vote in order to be confirmed. (Politico / Axios / Semafor / Bloomberg)

- Kash Patel has a list of 60 individuals he accuses of being part of a “Deep State” conspiracy against Trump, detailed in his book Government Gangsters. The list includes Democrats, media figures, and even former Trump officials, drawing comparisons to Nixon’s enemies list and raising questions about Patel’s impartiality and fitness for the role. Critics warn his extreme loyalty to Trump, controversial rhetoric, and plans to strip civil service protections signal potential misuse of federal law enforcement for partisan purposes. (Mother Jones / New Republic)

4/ Trump “joked” to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau that Canada should become the 51st U.S. state if it can’t handle the economic consequences of his 25% tariff on all goods. During their meeting at Mar-a-Lago, Trudeau told Trump that the new levies would “kill” Canada’s economy. Trump responded that Canada has failed the U.S. by not fixing the border issues and trade deficit. Trump added that if Trudeau’s country “can’t survive unless it’s ripping off the U.S.,” then Canada should become the 51st state with Trudeau as governor. The U.S. trade deficit with Canada was about $80 billion last year, largely related to crude oil. The U.S. imported more than 1.6 billion barrels last year from Canada – about 60% of U.S. crude oil imports are from Canada. (Associated Press / CBC / Globe and Mail / Fox News / New York Post)

- 💡 Why should I care? As neighbors and significant trade partners, U.S.-Canada relations directly impact industries, jobs, and prices on both sides of the border. Disruptions from tariffs could lead to increased costs for U.S. consumers, particularly in energy and goods sourced from Canada. Additionally, such rhetoric sets a concerning tone for how international disputes are handled, potentially affecting global perceptions of the U.S. and its allies.

5/ The Democratic-led Senate and Republican-controlled House face a Dec. 20 deadline to prevent a government shutdown. Congress is preparing a short-term continuing resolution to push the funding deadline into March 2025, which risks consuming time needed for confirming Trump’s nominees and advancing policy goals, such as tax cuts and border security. Congress also faces a Jan. 1 deadline to raise the federal government’s debt ceiling. The new Congress will be sworn in on Jan. 3. (NBC News / CBS News / Reuters)

✏️ Notables.

1. Incoming Senate Majority Leader John Thune plans to introduce a sweeping bill on border security, defense, and energy within the first 30 days of Trump’s presidency. Thune plans to expedite passage using budget reconciliation, which bypasses the Senate filibuster. A second reconciliation package focusing on taxes and other Trump administration priorities is also planned. (Politico)

2. Michael Bloomberg urged Senate Republicans to reject Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s nomination for health secretary. Bloomberg condemned Kennedy’s history of promoting vaccine skepticism and conspiracy theories, citing his opposition to measles vaccinations in Samoa and false claims about COVID-19 vaccines. (New York Times)

3. A House Democrat introduced a resolution to force the release of the Ethics Committee’s report on Matt Gaetz. Sean Casten’s motion faces slim chances due to Republican opposition. (Politico)

4. The Biden administration announced a $725 million military aid package to put “Ukrainian forces in the strongest possible position” before Biden’s term ends. This aid includes artillery, rockets, air defense systems, Stinger missiles, and anti-personnel landmines. (CNN / Associated Press)

5. Trump won 49.97% share of the popular vote – short of a majority. Although it was his highest popular vote percentage across three presidential runs, the popular vote total was the second-closest since 1968. Voter turnout remained historically high at 63.8%, though slightly below 2020 levels. (NPR)

⚖️ Dept. of Hunter Biden.

1. Biden issued a full pardon to his son Hunter Biden, citing the need to end politically charged prosecutions and protect his son’s sobriety and mental health amid looming federal sentencing. Biden’s decision marks a reversal of his earlier vow not to interfere in Hunter’s legal troubles, driven by family pressures and concerns about the retributive tone of the incoming Trump administration. While the move reflects Biden’s deep paternal love, it has drawn criticism for tarnishing his political legacy and raising questions about impartiality and political influence in the justice system. (New York Times)

2. Hunter Biden’s pardon ignites debate as media focus shifts from Trump’s controversial actions. Critics accuse Biden of undermining the rule of law, while others argue the pardon was a necessary safeguard against potential abuses under Trump. Media coverage of the pardon has overshadowed critical stories, including Trump’s nomination of controversial figures for key positions, reflecting a partisan narrative imbalance that distorts public understanding of modern politics. (Heather Cox Richardson)

3. Biden’s Hunter pardon draws criticism as a betrayal of rule-of-law promises. Biden’s pardon of his son Hunter Biden has sparked backlash, with critics calling it a betrayal of his pledge to uphold the rule of law. The pardon, which covers over a decade of potential federal offenses, is seen as a self-serving act that undermines Biden’s credibility and sets a precedent for misuse of presidential power. Defenders argue it counters politically motivated prosecutions, but detractors warn it normalizes further abuses, particularly under the incoming Trump administration. (New Republic)

4. Biden’s pardon of Hunter sparks challenges and opportunities for Democrats. Biden’s sweeping pardon of Hunter Biden has created political backlash, amplifying accusations of hypocrisy and undermining Democrats’ criticism of Trump’s misuse of power. While the move complicates Democratic messaging, it presents an opportunity for the party to distance itself from Biden’s unpopular administration. Critics suggest Democrats can leverage the controversy to rebuild their brand by condemning the pardon and refocusing on broader ideals. On a broader scale, reforms to limit presidential pardon powers may emerge as a necessary safeguard to prevent further erosion of public trust. For citizens, this is a moment to demand stronger checks on power and advocate for nonpartisan principles of justice. (Vox)

5. Joe Manchin proposed that Biden pardon Trump to create a “more balanced” resolution. “As a father, I don’t know of a father that wouldn’t have done the same thing,” Manchin said. “What I would have done differently, my recommendations as a counsel would have been, why don’t you go ahead and pardon Donald Trump for all his charges? I’m just saying wipe them out.” Manchin’s comments reflect his pragmatic approach to diffusing political tensions, even as Trump’s legal troubles largely abated after his election victory. While Biden defended his pardon for Hunter as addressing selective prosecution, Manchin’s suggestion underscores concerns over the broader perception of fairness and the potential for escalating partisan conflicts. (Rolling Stone)

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Table of Contents

WTF Just Happened Today: 2024 Dec 9

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Day 1420: "Can’t guarantee anything."

Day 1416: "Government does almost nothing well."

Day 1415: "They’re coming after you."

Day 1414: "Competing constitutional interests."