🗓️ What we’re watching
House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune are quick to praise each other, but when it comes to fundamental questions of legislative strategy for passing President-elect Donald Trump’s agenda, they remain at loggerheads, Rachael Bade writes this morning.
The Senate Judiciary Committee is holding its second hearing with would-be Attorney General Pam Bondi. Also appearing before Senate panels on Thursday are Treasury pick Scott Bessent, Interior pick Doug Burgum, EPA pick Lee Zeldin and HUD pick Eric Scott Turner.
Former Biden-Harris officials will launch a new legal response center on Inauguration Day to bolster the fight against Trump’s impending executive orders.
👀 What’s Trump up to?
The president-elect’s inaugural committee is raking in cash from industries that his administration will soon oversee.
Trump is quickly taking credit for the cease-fire struck between Israel and Hamas on Wednesday, and even some progressives agree with him. “This EPIC ceasefire agreement could have only happened as a result of our Historic Victory in November,” Trump posted Wednesday to Truth Social.
Google CEO Sundar Pichai will join the growing list of tech executives sitting on the dais as Trump is sworn into office Monday.
🚨What’s up with the nominees?
Russell Vought, Trump’s nominee for White House budget director, wouldn’t commit to having the federal government spend all the money Congress approves.
Secretary of State pick Marco Rubio had a pretty easy hearing yesterday.
Bondi’s first hearing included a lot of questions about FBI pick Kash Patel. And she wouldn’t say if she would investigate special counsel Jack Smith.
Former Vice President Mike Pence’s organization is advocating against Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s confirmation over his stance on abortion.
Vice President-elect JD Vance hosted a $250,000-a-plate fundraiser in Palm Beach on Wednesday.
Co-head of the so-called Department of Government Efficiency Vivek Ramaswamy is being considered to fill Vance’s Ohio Senate seat.
