Top Items:

Musk calls Thune “top choice of Democrats” for GOP leader … - President-elect Trump frequently battled GOP Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) during his first term and could decide to put his thumb on the scale to get someone sure to do his bidding this time around.
Discussion:
Washington Examiner, The Hill and Twitchy
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Trump presses next GOP Senate leader to allow ‘recess appointments’ — It comes as Rick Scott has racked up support from prominent conservative backers, including Elon Musk. — President-elect Donald Trump on Sunday said Senate Republicans' next leader must embrace so-called “recess appointments …
Discussion:
Axios, Fox News, Bloomberg, Rolling Stone, CNBC, New York Post and Florida Politics

Scoop: Tom Cotton locks down the votes for Senate GOP's #3 job
Discussion:
Washington Examiner
Stef W. Kight / Axios:
Rubio throws weight behind Rick Scott for GOP leader
Rubio throws weight behind Rick Scott for GOP leader
Discussion:
The Hill, Fox News, Washington Examiner, RedState, Townhall and Florida Politics

Two Elections: “The rules were that you guys weren't going to fact-check” — I want to elaborate on something I said on Nicole Sandler's show on Friday. There were really two elections last Tuesday. — In one, politics worked. — In the other, propaganda worked far better.
Discussion:
The Federalist and Balloon Juice
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The Democrats Need an Honest Conversation on Gender Identity
Discussion:
Instapundit, Fox News and USA Today
Don Moynihan / Can We Still Govern?:
Who is allowed to practice identity politics?
Who is allowed to practice identity politics?
Discussion:
Power Line
Ben Davis / The Guardian:
None of the conventional explanations for Trump's victory stand up to scrutiny
None of the conventional explanations for Trump's victory stand up to scrutiny
Discussion:
Raw Story, NBC News, Las Vegas Review-Journal, New York Times, The Dispatch and CNN

Trump talked to Putin, told Russian leader not to escalate in Ukraine — President-elect Donald Trump spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday and discussed the war in Ukraine, according to people familiar with the call. — President-elect Donald Trump spoke …
Discussion:
The Guardian, Telegraph, Reuters, Bloomberg, RedState, New York Post, UnHerd and New York Times
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Can Trump Be the New Reagan? — A clear victory gives the president-elect a strength …
Discussion:
Raw Story
Lauren Irwin / The Hill:
White House says Biden will continue push for Ukraine aid, cease-fire
White House says Biden will continue push for Ukraine aid, cease-fire
Discussion:
CBS News, Politico, Al Jazeera, Bloomberg and HuffPost

2024's other big loser? The mainstream media. Is there any path forward? — The American mainstream media, and its vital watchdog role that once made it a trusted, major institution in a flawed yet functioning democracy, imploded in 2024, and it happened in two ways …

Trump Won, So Jim Jordan Is No Longer Worried About Election Fraud — The Republican congressman admitted the 2024 election was “free and fair.” But what changed between 2020 and now? — Rep. Jim Jordan was a key figure in Jan. 6 and the attempt to overturn the results of the 2020 election …
Discussion:
HuffPost, Washington Examiner, The Hill, Raw Story, The Independent, Washington Times, Breitbart and Mediaite
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Former Georgia senator Kelly Loeffler to serve on Trump's inaugural committee
Discussion:
Florida Politics, Associated Press, Washington Examiner and The Hill

The Dream of the Raised Arm — Born in 1907 in Forst, Germany, a town near the Polish border, Charlotte Beradt was a young journalist who reported on women's issues and other aspects of German social and political life for the weekly journal Die Weltbühne.

Bernie vs. Nancy: Dems' working-class reckoning … - “While the Democratic leadership defends the status quo, the American people are angry and want change. … - “Will the big money interests and well-paid consultants who control the Democratic Party learn any real lessons from this disastrous campaign?”
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Trump on Day 1: Begin deportation push, pardon Jan. 6 rioters and make his criminal cases vanish — Donald Trump has said he wouldn't be a dictator — “except for Day 1.” According to his own statements, he's got a lot to do on that first day in the White House.
Discussion:
KOIN.com

Democrats' $1.9 trillion bet that blew up — Nearly four years ago, the Biden administration and Congressional Democrats made a $1.9 trillion bet in the form of the American Rescue Plan. They lost, as it contributed to a surge in inflation that fueled massive voter discontent and Donald Trump's return to the White House.

Justice Sonia Sotomayor Is Expected to Remain on Supreme Court — Some liberal activists have called for the 70-year-old Obama appointee to retire before Trump can fill her seat — WASHINGTON—Despite calls from some liberal activists for Justice Sonia Sotomayor to step down while Democrats …
Discussion:
Washington Examiner, New York Post, Axios, The Gateway Pundit and Mediaite
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Alexandra Marquez / NBC News:
Sen. Bernie Sanders says he does not support urging Justice Sonia Sotomayor to step down
Sen. Bernie Sanders says he does not support urging Justice Sonia Sotomayor to step down
Discussion:
USA Today, The Hill and The Guardian

Many in government are worried about Trump's return. At DOJ, they're terrified. — Trump blames DOJ for much of his torment over the past four years. Lawyers there fear what's next. — A collective sense of dread has taken hold at the Department of Justice, which drew Donald Trump's rage …
Discussion:
Raw Story

Dearborn's Arab Americans feel vindicated by Harris' loss — Dearborn residents swung toward Trump. It was a protest vote against Harris and Biden. — DEARBORN, Michigan — Arab American leaders for months warned Vice President Kamala Harris that she needed to separate herself …
Discussion:
The Forward, NBC News and The Guardian

For legal disputes, Elon Musk's X picked a venue far from Texas HQ — By changing his company's terms of service, Elon Musk has ensured that lawsuits against X will be heard in courthouses that are a hub for conservative judges. — Tech billionaire Elon Musk has chosen a sprawling federal court district …

House Fast Tracks Bill That Would Give Trump Power to Target Nonprofits — The legislation would let the Treasury Department revoke tax-exempt status for any “terrorist supporting organization” — Donald Trump hasn't even taken office, and Congress is already moving to advance legislation to expand his ability to target his enemies.
Discussion:
The Intercept

A new era dawns. America's tech bros now strut their stuff in the corridors of power — The era that began with the Great Disruptor's first term is over. Beware the emerging elite — In hindsight, 2016 was the beginning of the beginning. And 2024 is the end of that beginning and the start of something much, much worse.

Trump Is Expected to Upend Biden Labor Policies Favoring Unions — After gains by organized labor under President Biden, a second Trump administration is likely to change course on regulation and enforcement. — Joseph R. Biden Jr. promised to be the most pro-labor president in history.
Discussion:
Marginal REVOLUTION
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