Daily Briefing: Trump's dream scenario
Republicans have won both the House and the Senate. A new storm could hit Florida by the middle of next week as a Category 3 hurricane. How social media trad wives could be among the reasons for women voters going red.
🙋🏼♀️ I'm Nicole Fallert, Daily Briefing author. Peanut the squirrel’s owner is still looking for answers.
A GOP trifecta
The GOP winning key seats in New York, California and other swing districts sets up a Republican trifecta in Washington for the next two years, laying the groundwork for President-elect Donald Trump and the party to implement their priorities without major resistance.
Looking ahead to the next two years, Trump and Congress can expect big policy fights over U.S. support for ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine, whether to renew or change the 2017 tax policies enacted during Trump's first term, how to fund the government and more. Here's the policy changes Republicans are looking to make.
Read more from USA TODAY about changes on Capitol Hill:
Ultimately, the Democrats' ability to check GOP power will be limited.
Can Trump really close the Department of Education?
John Thune, a former Trump GOP critic, won the Senate majority leader post.
House Republicans endorsed Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana to return as their leader next year.
Attorney General Gaetz?
Like Trump, Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz has been under the limelight of a criminal investigation. Gaetz was the subject of a federal sex-trafficking probe that ended without charges against the congressman, although a once-close political ally pleaded guilty.
And now Gaetz is Trump's pick for the attorney general role, the position that leads the Department of Justice. The choice sparked some of the first criticism of Trump's cabinet selections, as senators questioned whether the Florida Republican would be a serious choice to become the country's top law enforcement official.
Investigations into Gaetz aren't over: The House Ethics Committee is investigating Gaetz and said in June it was expanding the probe to include additional allegations that Gaetz engaged in sexual misconduct and illegal drug use, accepted “improper gifts” and gave out special favors. But that action would end with his departure from the chamber if the Senate confirms his appointment. Gaetz has denied the allegations.
Would Gaetz get through a Senate confirmation? Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., who currently heads the Judiciary Committee, said the selection of Gaetz made clear that Trump "plans to use the Justice Department to seek revenge on his political enemies."
Investigations against Trump: Meanwhile, special counsel Jack Smith is in the process of winding down two indictments against Trump.
More news to know now
Louisville officials mourn victims of "unthinkable" plant explosion.
A CIA official was charged with leaking classified documents about an Israeli strike on Iran.
The Jennings Creek fire in the Northeast is now 50% contained.
"Wanted" posters plastered around University of Rochester targeted Jewish faculty members.
Trump pardons for Jan. 6 rioters could reinvigorate America's far-right extremism.
What's the weather today? Check your local forecast here.
Could Sara become a hurricane that hits Florida?
A storm system is forecast to become Tropical Storm Sara on Thursday. Forecast models say the system will hit wind speeds of more than 111 mph and bring catastrophic flooding and storm watches to Central America by this weekend. The Gulf Coast has already had five hurricane landfalls in a hurricane season that's claimed at least 326 lives and caused $120 billion in damage. Track Sara.
Yes, Congress met yesterday to talk about aliens
Congressional leaders continue to pay serious heed to the possibility that not only are unexplained objects violating U.S. airspace, but that the military has spent decades covertly recovering the craft to bolster its own technology. On Wednesday, a new slate of witnesses provided fresh testimony on precisely these concerns during a joint hearing by subcommittees of the House Oversight Committee. The over two-hour hearing titled “Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Exposing the Truth" represented Congress' latest foray into the topic of UFOs. Here's a look at some of the most compelling testimony.
Today's talkers
He failed as a service dog. But that didn't stop him from joining the police force.
Tesla issued the 6th Cybertruck recall this year.
Yes, we want the Taylor Swift "Reputation" Christmas sweater.
The makers of the new Legend of Zelda game told USA TODAY their favorites of Echoes of Wisdom.
Watch out, Shein and Temu: Amazon Haul is coming.
Could trad wives have sparked the red wave among women voters?
On platforms like TikTok and Instagram, a subculture of housewives had been rapidly growing in popularity. Now, with creators like Nara Smith and Hannah Neeleman, better known as Ballerina Farm, boasting millions of followers, their content feels inescapable. In a divisive political landscape, many creators have chosen to stay silent on their ideologies. But while trad wife content creators aren’t necessarily aligning themselves with a political ideology, they are presenting a certain lifestyle and family unit that Trump and JD Vance are promoting.
Photo of the day: Political foes meet
President-elect Donald Trump and outgoing President Joe Biden met at the White House for nearly two hours Wednesday, signifying a peaceful transfer of power four years after Trump left in protest following his loss to Biden in the 2020 election. Here's what they talked about.
Nicole Fallert is a newsletter writer at USA TODAY, sign up for the email here. Want to send Nicole a note? Shoot her an email at NFallert@usatoday.com.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump, Johnson, House, Senate, Congress, Biden, Gaetz, hurricane, trad wives: Daily Briefing
