Republicans

Axios reports: The Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee cleared Kristi Noem to lead Department of Homeland Security with a vote of 13-2. It also approved Russell Vought for director of the Office of Management and Budget 8-7. The Intelligence panel voted 14-3 in favor of John Ratcliffe’s nomination to lead the CIA. Ratcliffe, a Trump loyalist, has faced accusations …

CNN reports: The Senate voted on Monday to confirm Marco Rubio as President Donald Trump’s secretary of state, the first high-level Cabinet official for the new administration to be approved by the chamber. The confirmation vote took place just hours after Trump was sworn in as president. Rubio has served as a Republican senator from Florida since 2011, and his …

NBC News reports: The Senate voted Monday to pass an immigration crackdown bill, the first piece of legislation congressional Republicans are hoping to send newly sworn-in President Donald Trump for a signature. The vote for final passage of the Laken Riley Act was 64-35, with 12 Democrats joining Republicans to approve it. The bill, which was amended in the Senate …

The Hill reports: The Senate Armed Services Committee on Monday voted to advance Pete Hegseth, President Trump’s nominee to serve as secretary of Defense, to the floor. The 14-13 vote was strictly along party lines. The strong opposition to Hegseth expressed by Democrats on the Armed Services panel signals they will use many of the procedural tools at their disposal …

Fox News reports: Republican lawmakers are reacting furiously to President Biden’s 11th-hour decision to pardon several allies who President-elect Trump and his circle have threatened retribution against, made hours before ceding power to the new commander in chief. “Implication is that they needed the pardons,” Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, wrote on X, formerly Twitter. “So, let’s call them all before …

“When Americans see deportations or repatriations happen, they’re gonna be like ‘Thank you.’ When they see the border close, they’re gonna say ‘This is what I voted for. When they see peace starting to break out again around the world, they’re gonna be like ‘This is the stability that we were asking for.’ Daddy’s back, and that’s what you’re gonna …

Just in from Sen. Tom Cotton: Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas), Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, and Senator Pete Ricketts (R-Nebraska) issued the following statement in response to the news that Amazon, Apple, Google, and Microsoft were among the U.S. companies to remove TikTok from their app stores in accordance with the bipartisan law passed by Congress. “We …

“I think it’s gonna be shock and awe. He’s going to parade down Pennsylvania Avenue, swing those doors open at the Oval Office, and sign 100 or more executive orders that overturn the damage of the last four years. “I don’t think he’s changed at all, but I think he learned a lot of lessons. He’s making it very clear …

The Fond du Lac Reporter reports: A 19-year-old man accused of setting fire to a building in Fond du Lac early Sunday that included Republican U.S. Rep. Glenn Grothman’s office cited the TikTok ban as a motive in the incident, according to authorities. The Fond du Lac Police Department said the Menasha man was arrested after being found near a …

The Orlando Sentinel reports: Gov. Ron DeSantis wants the power to suspend or criminally charge local officials who don’t train at least 10% of their law enforcement staff to detain and deport undocumented immigrants or follow other tough new immigration rules he’s proposed. In a four-page memo to legislative leaders, DeSantis said he wants to make it mandatory for all …

Mediaite reports: Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) got testy with CBS Face the Nation moderator Margaret Brennan — accusing her of a bias against President-elect Donald Trump. “He’s got a list he’s published, Kash Patel,” Brennan said. “He published it in a book of enemies Do you take him at his word here that these are an enemies list, and you’re …

Politico reports: Vivek Ramaswamy could withdraw from working with the Department of Government Efficiency ahead of his bid for Ohio governor, which he intends to formally announce by the last week in January, according to a person close to the matter. Ramaswamy’s potential exit could upend DOGE, which aims to reduce government spending by up to $2 trillion by July …

Nashville’s NBC reports: A new bill in Tennessee was filed on Friday that could change the name of the Nashville International Airport. It was filed by Rep. Todd Warner (R-Chapel Hill), ahead of President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration on Monday, Jan. 20. HB 0217 applies to international airports operated by metropolitan airport authorities in counties with more than 500,000 residents (which …

“On the floor of the United States House of Representatives, there should only be one flag on display: ours. We make serious decisions on behalf of the American people and their taxpayer dollars on the House floor. “This business should be carried out beneath no other banner than our stars and stripes to remind us of who we represent and …

Orlando’s ABC affiliate reports: Months after being voted out of office, former State Representative Carolina Amesty (R-Windermere) has been charged with federal crimes related to a pandemic-era relief program. According to the filing, Amesty and a relative received more than $500,000 across 15 COVID-19 disaster loans. The loans Amesty received or was approved for included $150,000 to her family’s school, …

The New York Times reports: Former Vice President Mike Pence is planning to attend President-elect Donald J. Trump’s inauguration on Monday, according to two people with knowledge of the planning. Mr. Pence was invited by the congressional committee overseeing the event, as is the custom for all former presidents and vice presidents, according to one of the people with knowledge …

Reuters reports: Donald Trump’s incoming presidential administration plans to launch a large immigration raid in Chicago the day after he takes office, the Wall Street Journal reported on Friday, citing four people familiar with planning. The raid, expected to start on Tuesday, would last all week, the newspaper said, adding that US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Ice) would send between …

The Washington Post reports: Biotech entrepreneur and former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy plans to run for Ohio governor, according to two people familiar with his plans who say that the co-leader of President-elect Donald Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency initiative will announce his bid shortly. A person inside Ramaswamy’s political apparatus who spoke to Ramaswamy this week said that Ramaswamy …

CBS News reports: Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine is expected to name Lt. Gov. Jon Husted to fill the Senate seat that Vice President-elect JD Vance is vacating, multiple sources tell CBS News. DeWine is expected to announce his selection at a 1 p.m. press conference Friday. The announcement will end months of speculation and jockeying for the seat Vance held …

Florida Politics reports: Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody hasn’t been sworn into the Senate yet, but she’s already eyeing her first federal election next year. Moody, whom Gov. Ron DeSantis announced as the replacement for future Secretary of State Marco Rubio, will be buoyed by the eponymous Moody for Florida committee, according to Federal Election Commission records. However, Moody may …