Ryan Mueller

House Speaker Mike Johnson indicated openness to considering recess appointments to facilitate confirmations for President-elect Donald Trump's Cabinet nominees, a move that could bypass the traditional Senate approval process.

President Joe Biden has approved the lifting of restrictions on Ukraine's use of U.S.-supplied long-range weapons, a decision that will enable Kyiv to strike targets within Russian territory, according to a U.S. official who confirmed the policy change to CBS News on Sunday. This development marks a major shift in U.S. policy during the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia, as Ukraine seeks to counter increasing pressure from Moscow's forces.

President-elect Donald Trump announced on Sunday that Brendan Carr, the senior Republican member of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), will be appointed as the agency's new chairman. Carr, a prominent critic of regulatory policies that emphasize Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), signaled that the FCC's focus on DEI initiatives will come to an end next year.

President Joe Biden missed the traditional "family photo" with world leaders at the Group of 20 summit on Monday, marking a notable absence in his final appearance at the gathering of the world's most powerful economies. The White House cited "logistical issues" as the reason behind Biden's absence, emphasizing that it was not a deliberate move to avoid posing with international rivals.

President-elect Donald Trump is poised to nominate Howard Lutnick, CEO of Cantor Fitzgerald, as the next Secretary of Commerce, multiple sources familiar with the matter confirmed. The decision, anticipated to be announced shortly, reflects Lutnick's influence within Trump's transition team, which he has co-chaired since August.

The House Ethics Committee voted Wednesday against releasing its report on former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), fueling political controversy as he awaits confirmation as President-elect Donald Trump's nominee for attorney general. The decision, split along party lines, has drawn sharp criticism and raised questions about the allegations of misconduct against Gaetz.

The United States vetoed a United Nations Security Council resolution on Wednesday that called for an immediate, unconditional ceasefire in Gaza. The U.S. decision, which has sparked widespread criticism, was based on the resolution's failure to explicitly tie a ceasefire to the release of hostages held by Hamas.

President-elect Donald Trump's team is developing a sweeping strategy to implement large-scale deportations, focusing heavily on Latin America to facilitate the return of undocumented immigrants. Sources familiar with the transition plan indicate that the approach is more prepared and forceful than during Trump's first term, incorporating diplomatic leverage and economic pressure to ensure regional compliance.

Matt Gaetz, former Florida representative and one of Donald Trump's more controversial appointees, announced Thursday that he is withdrawing from consideration for attorney general. Gaetz cited his confirmation process as a "distraction" to the incoming administration, marking a significant development in Trump's efforts to finalize his cabinet ahead of his second term.

President-elect Donald Trump, who previously dismissed The Heritage Foundation's Project 2025 as "absolutely ridiculous and abysmal," has now drawn heavily from its contributors to fill key roles in his upcoming administration. In recent weeks, Trump has appointed at least five figures connected to the project, signaling a dramatic shift in his stance.