What we’re watching: Trump’s not happy with Johnson
Here’s what we’re watching in transition world today:
????️ What we're watching
- Despite avoiding a government shutdown last week, Speaker Mike Johnson is in hot water with President-elect Donald Trump, Rachael Bade reports this morning. Without Trump’s explicit support, it’s unlikely that Johnson could maintain the speaker’s gavel in the next Congress.
- California Democrats are figuring out their approach to Trump, as well as changes to their own political landscape, David Siders writes.
- Trump is sparring with the president of Panama after the president-elect suggested during a speech he wanted the U.S. to once again control the Panama Canal. Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino said, “Every square meter of the Panama Canal and its adjoining zone is Panama’s and will remain so.”
????What’s up with the nominees?
- The House Ethics report into Trump's former pick for attorney general, Matt Gaetz, is out with some explosive allegations. The report, obtained by POLITICO, found “substantial evidence” that Gaetz “violated House Rules and other standards of conduct prohibiting prostitution, statutory rape, illicit drug use, impermissible gifts, special favors or privileges, and obstruction of Congress.”
????ICYMI: Here are the latest Cabinet picks
- Katie Miller is joining the so-called Department of Government Efficiency, Trump said on Truth Social Sunday night.
- Trump announced Michael Kratsios and Lynne Parker to key tech roles Sunday.
- Trump announced a number of State Department picks over the weekend, including Mauricio Claver-Carone as the Special Envoy for Latin America, Callista L. Gingrich as ambassador to Switzerland, Ken Howery as ambassador to Denmark, Tilman Fertitta as ambassador to Italy, Mark Burnett as the special envoy to the United Kingdom and Brian Burch as the next ambassador to the Holy See.
- Scott Kupor will be director of the Office of Personnel Management.
- Stephen Alexander Vaden is Trump’s pick for deputy secretary of the Department of Agriculture.
- David Fink, a fifth generation Railroader, is Trump’s pick to lead the Federal Railroad Administration.
- Trump will nominate Stephen Miran as chair of the Council of Economic Advisers.