Rep. Nancy Mace Introduces Transgender Bathroom Ban

    This Monday, Republican Rep. Nancy Mace of South Carolina, has introduced a new piece of legislation: a ban on transgender individuals using bathrooms that align with their gender identity. This resolution is gaining a lot of traction and sparking debates on transgender and women’s rights. 

    While this resolution is new, the issue of transgender rights and the “bathroom debate” has circulated the media for years. This debate often pits transgender rights and equality against the rights to privacy and safety. On one side, not being able to use the bathroom that aligns with one’s gender identity can cause serious mental distress. However, those who support restrictions on bathroom access, often claim that the presence of transgender people increases the risk of harassment. 

    According to Rep. Mace, the resolution is part of a larger effort to address concerns related to privacy and safety in public restrooms. She claims that the presence of transgender individuals using the bathroom of their choice could result in others feeling uncomfortable and uneasy. Her bill is fairly straightforward–it seeks to amend the rules of the U.S. House of Representatives in order to prevent transgender individuals from using bathrooms that correspond with their gender identity. This bill would mandate people to use bathrooms by their birth-assigned sex no matter their gender identity. Mace stated, “The sanctity of protecting women and standing up against the Left’s systematic erasure of biological women starts here in the nation’s Capitol.” Rep. Mace has become a very vocal member of Congress, taking a firm stance against what she sees as a growing movement to “erase” biological sex in favor of gender identity. If her bill is unsuccessful, Mace plans to pursue a “privileged motion,” which would allow her to bypass standard procedure by making her motion urgent, therefore being considered immediately.

    The timing of this proposal coincides with Rep.-elect Sara McBride making history as the first openly transgender person elected to Congress. In response to Mace’s bill, McBride posted on X: “This is a blatant attempt from far right-wing extremists to distract from the fact that they have no real solutions to what Americans are facing. We should be focused on bringing down the cost of housing, health care, and child care, not manufacturing culture wars.”

    Instead of dividing the public, we should be striving for solutions that foster understanding, respect, and inclusivity. Education, public awareness campaigns, and open dialogues about transgender experiences can go a long way in reducing fear and misunderstanding. We must also recognize that bathroom access is not the issue itself, but a symptom of a larger societal challenge — how we create a world where all people, regardless of gender identity, feel safe and valued. For many transgender individuals, using the bathroom is a basic human need, not a political or cultural statement.

    Rep. Mace’s resolution will undoubtedly continue to be a flashpoint in the ongoing debate about transgender rights. Regardless of the outcome, it’s clear that this issue will remain at the forefront of the conversation about equality, civil rights, and how we as a society choose to respect the dignity and identity of every individual.

https://abcnews.go.com/US/republican-introduce-bathroom-bill-banning-transgender/story?id=115989977

https://thehill.com/homenews/house/4997024-mace-introduces-bill-transgender/

https://www.abc3340.com/news/nation-world/mace-introduces-bathroom-resolution-after-first-transgender-woman-elected-to-congress-wciv-abc-news-4-nancy-mace-representative-congress

https://www.newsnationnow.com/politics/nancy-mace-bathroom-bill-restrictions/

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/transgender-women-banned-from-capitol-hill-female-bathrooms-under-new-house-gop-proposal

Trump Policies Likely to Worsen Climate Change

        Over the past three years, the world has not progressed in reducing carbon emissions as much as we would have hoped. Under the 2015 Paris Agreement, the United States (among other countries) promised to hold global warming to a rise of about 1.5 degrees Celsius, certainly below 2 degrees. However, over the past few years our progress towards minimizing carbon emissions and global warming has been rather stagnant — we aren’t doing enough to reverse climate change. On Thursday, a report from the Climate Action Tracker was published, indicating that we need to do much more to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. And while electric vehicles and clean energy investments have made large advances in the past few years, funding for fossil fuel projects is still at a record high. With our climate change situation not looking any more hopeful than in 2021, our goal of 1.5 degrees is looking incredibly unrealistic.

We can see the effects of climate change in real time — this week a “bomb cyclone,” or a strongly progressing storm that changes pressure rapidly, will hit Northern California. Since Earth’s oceans have such high temperatures, more storms are expected to hit the Northwest, along with more changes occurring in the number of atmospheric rivers in the Pacific Ocean. Our worries for greenhouse gas emissions are manifesting in the present.
And so what will Donald Trump do to alleviate the climate crisis once he enters office? In short, nothing. But he WILL take steps to contradict the climate and energy acts put in place. Having called climate change a “scam,” Trump intends to reduce laws alleviating greenhouse gas emissions and supporting clean energy. Additionally, in recent years the U.S. has put the Inflation Reduction Act into place, which grants hundreds of billions of dollars to clean energy technologies. Donald Trump has expressed enthusiasm in how he will “kill” this act.
Upon entering office in 2016, Trump ripped out more than 100 environmental regulations, and withdrew the U.S. from the Paris Climate Accord. It can very definitively be predicted that Trump will withdraw the U.S. from the Paris Climate Accord again, after Biden reentered during his term. Additionally, Trump’s support of increased oil drilling and more burning of gas would add up to four billion tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere — likely tipping us farther away from being able to combat climate change.

It is also important to note that Trump’s environmental policies will have an economic effect as well. According to Michael Oppenheimer, a professor at Princeton University, “If Trump blows up Biden’s climate change regime, and we don’t get global climate under control, the prospect of a robust economic future with growth and economic opportunity for everyone — all of that shrivels away and becomes less and less likely.”

        Last week, Trump nominated Lee Zeldin to run the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Zeldin has established his value of “protecting access to clean air and water," but also supports rollbacks on environmental regulations in order “to unleash the power of American businesses.” Additionally, Zeldin voted against a large amount of environmental legislation in his time in Congress. As for more potential changes to the EPA under Trump and Zeldin, Matthew Daly of the Associated Press argues that the “Environmental Protection Agency is probably going to lose a lot of staff. That's what happened under the first term.” 

        Yet even with a Republican-driven Congress and Cabinet, there will be some limitations to the regulations Trump can slash. Many states have enacted their own clean energy policies, and even in Republican states there are a lot of clean manufacturing jobs that citizens wish to protect. Additionally, about 80% of the money from the Inflation Reduction Act has gone towards Republican congressional districts — possibly influencing Republican Congresspeople to limit their support of extremely radical environmental policies. While the 1.5 degree Celsius temperature increase may not be feasible anymore, we shouldn’t give up hope; we can still enact valuable clean energy legislation at local and state levels.

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/19/weather/bomb-cyclone-atmospheric-river-storm-west-coast.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/14/climate/climate-action-tracker-temperatures-emissions.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare

https://climateactiontracker.org/documents/1277/CAT_2024-11-14_GlobalUpdate_COP29.pdf

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/06/climate/trump-climate-change.html

https://www.carbonbrief.org/analysis-trump-election-win-could-add-4bn-tonnes-to-us-emissions-by-2030/

https://www.npr.org/2024/11/11/nx-s1-5187039/trump-lee-zeldin-epa-environment

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/what-to-expect-from-the-new-trump-administration-on-climate-and-environmental-policy

What is the 4B movement and why is it gaining traction in the U.S.?

    Although likely influenced by the ancient Greek play Lysistrata which follows as women swear off sex to protest the Peloponnesian War, the 4B movement began in South Korea in the late 2010s. In a country with one of the largest gender pay gaps and, at a time, when gender-based violence was making headlines, South Korean women adopted this radical feminist campaign as a protest to the treatment they were facing. The four Bs stand for bi-hon (no marriage), bi-yeonae (no dating), bi-chulsan (no birthing), and bi-sex (no sex). Now, in light of the recent election, the movement has made its way to the U.S.

    Trends show a huge spike in the number of searches surrounding this topic, including the 500,000 search inquiries for “4B movement” that were made on Google over the span of 48 hours last week. It has become a top trending topic on many search engines. Along with the TikTok videos that have gained millions of views, one particular post on X encouraging women to “bite back” has over 21,000 shares and 21.3 million views. Now, with its popularity on social media, many young women are pledging to support the 4B movement.  But why, now, is this movement gaining momentum in the states?

    “Young women don’t want to be intimate with men who don’t fight for women’s rights; it’s showing they don’t respect us.” says Michaela Thomas when interviewed by the Washington Post.  Women’s Agenda expresses a similar belief: “When millions of people vote for a misogynist and an alleged rapist over a woman, it was a slap in the face for women.” There’s no denying that gender and women’s rights was a major topic in the 2024 election.  The outcome of the election left many women (especially those from marginalized communities) fearful and disappointed. On the social media platform X, an increased number of posts containing “your body, my choice” reflects the concerns many women hold following Trump’s win. Whether or not this movement will continue to grow, it is evident the vulnerability and fear it reflects. The media has brought to light the strong range of emotions expressed by women across the nation. In addition, it mirrors the extremity of political socialization our country faces.  With many liberal women in favor of the movement's goals, while conservatives feel it's a threat to their traditional family values.

    The possible effects this movement could have remains a mystery.  Many suspect, if the movement continues to grow in the U.S. it could mirror the effects it has had on South Korea. Studies suggest that both men and women in South Korea have reported increased feelings of loneliness, though this is likely influenced by various societal factors. Some observers believe that the movement could have contributed to South Korea's low birth rates, but with the number of other factors that claim is hard to support. What many infer from this movement is an increased gender divide in politics. Politicians could take advantage of the divide for their own gains which in some cases would only worsen the issues this movement is meant to combat. 

    Arguably, the 4B movement might be too radical for the U.S. Still, it illustrates a growing demand for systemic change. 

For more information:

https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2024/11/16/4b-movement-america-political-protest-00189314 

https://womensagenda.com.au/latest/no-sex-dating-or-marriage-how-trumps-win-is-leading-women-to-the-4b-movement/ 

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/nov/16/4b-movement-trump-women-media 

https://www.detroitnews.com/story/life/2024/11/18/what-is-the-south-korean-4b-movement-and-why-are-american-women-claiming-to-embrace-it/76390512007/ 

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/no-sex-no-dating-no-marriage-no-children-interest-grows-in-4b-movement-to-swear-off-men 

https://www.cnn.com/2024/11/09/us/4b-movement-trump-south-korea-wellness-cec/index.html 

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/4b-movement-south-korea-inspires-american-women-trump-reelection-rcna179143 

https://www.foxnews.com/media/mom-living-alopecia-reacts-liberal-women-shaving-heads-unattractive-donald-trumps-win 

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/08/style/4b-movement.html 

Mass Deportation: How Will This Effect Us?

In response to his recent win in the presidential election, Donald Trump has started planning more seriously for his term in office. One of his most prominent campaign promises was that he would begin deporting more immigrants from the U.S., mentioning mass deportation. While many are happy with this plan, a large part of the nation is in opposition to it for a number of reasons. 

Trump confirmed today that he would be focusing on these deportations, responding to a conservative activist who said that he heard this with the word “TRUE!”. Trump plans to start cracking down on immigration as soon as his first day in office. He will likely end the paroles put in place by the Biden administration, which were given to immigrants from Haiti, Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua. He is also likely to undo policies that give more leeway to people that are not deemed to be dangerous to the public. One of the largest concerns with this plan of mass deportation is not the ethics (though still important) of the situation, but how much it will cost U.S. taxpayers.

The United States of America has an estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants, which Trump says he wants lower significantly. The problem is that conducting arrests, detaining, processing, and removing immigrants is projected to cost around $315 billion dollars. This substantial amount of money would also lead to inflation, making it far harder to afford anything in the coming years. Putting the costs aside, the U.S. deports an estimated 250,000 immigrants per year which Trump says that he wants to quadruple. ICE employs 7000 officers who conduct deportations, making this amount of people being made to left the country unfeasible. America currently just does not have the resources to accommodate the escalation of deportation that Donald Trump has suggested.

Immigration interest groups (much like the ones we have learned about in class) such as the American Immigration Council are also unhappy with the proposed mass deportations. This group supports the rights of immigrants, and talks more specifically about the moral concerns with mass deportation, citing that about “5.1 million U.S. citizen children live with an undocumented family member”. The amount of people that Trump wants to deport would undoubtedly lead to thousands of families becoming separated, causing people to lose loved ones and have extremely traumatic experiences. Despite this, Trump’s team is already thinking about ways to resist arguments from immigrant’s rights groups. With Trump appointing over two hundred federal judges including three in the Supreme Court, it will be much easier for him to avoid any legal issues, giving him more control over how deportations are carried out.

Trump’s immigration crackdown is expected to start on Day 1

Trump confirms plans to use military for mass deportations

Trump again vows to deport millions of migrants. Could he really do it?

Trump confirms plan to declare national emergency, use military for mass deportations

Mass Deportation: Devastating Costs to America, Its Budget and Economy

Kamala Harris's Campaign Financing: From 1 Billion Dollars to 1 Billion Questions

 

    Over the course of the past few months, Kamala Harris has raised over 1 billion dollars towards her Presidential Campaign. Her primary financial ally, Future Forward, raised an additional 900 million dollars, much more money than an outside group has ever contributed to a campaign. The large quantity of donations brought in by her campaign contrasted with her loss of the election is leaving Americans wondering how efficient her spending campaign actually was.

The campaign spent the majority of the money it raised, around 680 million dollars,  on its media campaign — amassing a wide range of television ads and social media marketing. The campaign also needed to pay off the large number of people working for it: about 45 million dollars was spent paying campaign and event staff. Additionally, more than 50 million dollars were put towards travel costs for Harris’s extensive rally schedule, and polling for the campaign cost more than 12 million dollars from July to October. In total, the campaign averaged a spending value of about 100 million dollars per week.

Harris’s extravagant performances constituted a large cost in her budget as well. With drone shows, celebrity concerts at rallies and on election-eve, and a payment to Oprah’s production firm to stage a live-stream in Detroit, Democrats have started to wonder whether these expenses actually had a positive impact on Harris’s campaign, especially considering that Donald Trump won the election with raising and spending only a third of the amount.

As we discussed in class this past week, many interest groups strive to gain candidate support by donating money, benefitting the groups by pushing their endorsed politicians into office and giving them more leverage through new connections. With all of the money donated to the Harris campaign, many groups and individuals are disappointed at their lack of representation seen in the government now that she has lost, as well as frustrated from not being able to receive any desired legislature or support in return for their donations. In fact, Trump’s policies oppose those of many of these interest groups, so their contributions may be seen as entirely futile.

However, executives close to Harris have stated that the high level of campaign spending and the contributions of all of her donors did in fact have an impact on the election. Bakari Sellers emphasized that “There is not a single expenditure in a different spot that would have changed the outcome of the race,” while Future Forward leaders argue that Trump’s performance in battleground states that the Harris campaign invested in was not wildly better than in the 2020 election.

After the election, the Harris campaign is up to quite the peculiar shenanigans. Unsurprisingly, the campaign has had to lay off hundreds of workers, cutting payroll by about 70 percent. However, the campaign is still asking for money — while not exposing the intention as to cover debts, Democrats are increasingly suspicious that the campaign is trying to make back money lost its spending spree over the past few months. Adrian Hemond, a Democratic strategist, says, “The Harris campaign certainly spent more than they raised and is now busy trying to fundraise.” The Harris Campaign has held a fair amount of secrecy regarding its current financial situation. However, Patrick Stauffer, the CFO for Harris’s Presidential Campaign, mentioned that on election day the campaign didn’t have any overdue debts, and there “will be no debt” when the Harris Campaign’s and DNC’s financial information is shared in December. 

Nonetheless, daily emails from the campaign and Democratic Party are sent to possible donors each day, aiming at previous contributors who gave hundreds of dollars or less. These emails appeal to donations for the “Harris Fight Fund” (formerly the “Harris Victory Fund”), supporting potential recounts for Democrats in tight congressional races. These emails are also rousing fear, warning recipients of Trump’s agenda and potential threats to Democracy. As the campaign rebuilds from “the most expensive loss on record,” the Democratic party sets to continue its fundraising efforts in preparation for the 2026 midterm elections.

https://apnews.com/article/harris-postelection-fundraising-dnc-gaetz-trump-donors-806eeb3b92eced3242aeb29a964ca259 

https://www.bbc.com/news/videos/c3e80x71x0ko

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/kamala-harris-fundraising-campaign-appeals/

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/17/us/politics/harris-campaign-finances.html?login=email&auth=login-email

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/15/us/politics/harris-future-forward.html?login=email&auth=login-email

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/kamala-harris/clashes-confusion-secrecy-consume-harris-campaign-finances-rcna179654

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead the Department of Health and Human Services

On Thursday, Donald Trump announced that he would nominate RFK Jr. to lead the United States Department of Health and Human Services during his presidency, adding to his list of controversial cabinet picks. Robert F. Kennedy Junior., part of the long politically involved Kennedy family, had a traumatic upbringing. His uncle, John F. Kennedy, was assassinated when RFK Jr. was nine, and when he was fourteen, his father, Ronald F. Kennedy, was also assassinated. To cope with this, RFK Jr. turned to drugs, eventually being convicted and pleading guilty to possession of heroin. 

This year, RFK attempted to run for president in the Republican party, before abandoning his campaign to endorse Trump. Despite Kennedy’s upbringing, the policies he seeks to implement are not in the best interests of U.S. citizens. The motion of Kennedy leading a part of government has led to much debate and skepticism from public health officials, as Kennedy has repeatedly expressed his anti-vaccination beliefs to the public despite scientific evidence, along with conspiracy theories, (including, but not limited to, how Wi-Fi causes cancer and school shootings are derivable from antidepressants).

RFK Jr. has willingly embraced his new role. He has already started sharing his plans to overhaul American public health, specifically blaming corruption in the health and food industries for America’s poor health. Kennedy told MSNBC that he wanted to see “entire departments” in the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), especially nutrition specialists in the department, released. The FDA is responsible for public health, ensuring the safety of drugs, medical devices, and the nation’s food supply. In the case that many of the department’s nutritionists are let go, America could see much more instability in diseases such as diabetes and obesity, and regulations for healthy eating. In addition to his threats to the FDA, Kennedy is also attempting to go against vaccines, famously known for spreading the debunked fact that vaccines can cause autism. Vaccine requirements are decided at the state level for children, but the federal government can mandate which vaccines are given, so some lawmakers are concerned about Kennedy's supposed role in the system. Kennedy would likely attempt to decrease the amount of vaccines that are available to the public, which could snowball into a more serious health crisis than the US currently has.

A more specific controversy that Kennedy has caused is his campaign to remove fluoride from our water. Fluoride, one of the main ingredients used in toothpaste, is also used in the water supply. As a result, tooth decay has been reduced by around 25%, saving billions of dollars in dental expenses for patients. This has been considered one of the best public health achievements of the 20th century and proved to be beneficial to medical professionals around the US. 

Overall, Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s plans for the future of health in the United States should be a cause of great concern to everyone living in America. His main sources of information come from falsified sources and conspiracy theorists, and there should be more experienced candidates who would be more beneficial to the future of the United States as a whole.

Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

How RFK Jr. could cause an earthquake for American public health

Trump picks RFK Jr. to oversee the Department of Health and Human Services

No more fluoride in the water? RFK Jr. wants that and Trump says it 'sounds OK'

Trump Picks R.F.K. Jr. to Be Head of Health and Human Services Dept.

Harmful Texts Spread Across the Nation: Is the Election to Blame?

 Last week it was black college students, now it’s expanded to a larger audience. A series of harmful text messages have been sent to minorities nationwide.

November 6th not only marked former President Donald Trump's victory over Vice President Kamala Harris, it marked the start of a racist text campaign. Dozens of Black American students from Clemson University, the University of Alabama, Ohio State, and more universities across the nation have reportedly received racist messages following the election. While the wording differs slightly, they all uncoincidentally followed the same parameters: stating the student had been “selected” to pick cotton at “the nearest plantation.” As if weaponizing America’s dark history of slavery wasn’t fear evoking enough, each student was addressed by name, making the attacks all that more personal. 

This week, the number of victims have only increased. Now there have been reports of Latinos, LGBTQIA+ members, and high-schoolers receiving similar dehumanizing messages. Latinos received messages claiming they were selected for deportation, and for LGBTQIA+ individuals, their messages stated they are required to report to a re-education camp.

Some of these texts were sent through TextNow, a messaging service. The company has now informed the public they have since disabled the accounts believed to be connected to the texts and announced their further cooperating with law enforcement. Additionally,  the FBI has released a statement: “Although we have not received reports of violent acts stemming from these offensive messages, we are evaluating all reported incidents and engaging with the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division. We are also sharing information with our law enforcement partners and community, academia, and faith leaders.” 

Is it a coincidence these messages appear directly following the election outcomes? Many think not. Some claimed these messages have come from “a Trump supporter," but that has yet to be verified. Regardless, the intensified emotions following the election is likely the cause of this hate crime. “Alarming increase in vile and abhorrent rhetoric from racist groups across the country, who now feel emboldened to spread hate and stoke the flames of fear that many of us are feeling after Tuesday’s election results,” says NAACP President Derrick Johnson. Seeing that many critics of Trump argue he ignores the issue of systemic racism, many are fearful that these messages are a glimpse of the hardships minorities will face in these coming four years. 

Whether or not Donald Trump influenced the situation, some blame him for a political culture in which this kind of hate is normalized. Many, as expressed by Johnson, believe that in light of Trump’s win, some individuals may feel empowered to express such hate.  This reflects the growing concerns among many minority groups that such hate will be embedded into political socialization, increasing similar behavior. Regardless of the suspected motives behind these messages, it is troubling that an election could serve as a catalyst of hate. Yet, also a reminder of the unity and equality our country must aim to uphold. 

For more information:

https://www.fbi.gov/news/press-releases/fbi-statement-regarding-offensive-text-messages 

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/offensive-racist-texts-now-sent-high-schoolers-latinos-lgbtq-community-rcna180415 

https://abcnews.go.com/US/text-service-shut-accounts-allegedly-racist-texts/story?id=115619141 

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2024/11/15/hispanic-lgbt-offensive-texts-fbi/76341947007/

Biden Meets With American Hostage Families: What Comes Next with a Trump Administration?

    Earlier this week, President Joe Biden met with the families of Americans being held captive by Hamas. During this emotional

meeting, President Biden offered support and discussed his continued efforts to secure the safe return of every hostage.

Currently, 4 out of the 7 American hostages are believed to be alive and 3 have died in Gaza. 

    The Biden-Harris Administration has been trying for months to get a ceasefire and hostage deal in the Israel-Hamas war.

During Wednesday's White House Briefing, national security adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters that Biden will keep working

tirelessly to bring the hostages home for the rest of his time in office. In light of the recent election, Sullivan went on to say,

"Yes, of course we're prepared to work with the incoming team in common cause, on a bipartisan basis, to do everything in our

collective American power to secure the release of the hostages, both living and deceased." 

    As President-elect Donald Trump prepares to take office, some of the hostage families are looking to his reputation as a "dealmaker" to see if he can accomplish what the Biden administration has yet to. Ruby Chen, whose 19-year-old son was tragically murdered by Hamas on October 7, 2023, expressed hope that Trump’s “America First” stance might lead to tangible results. Chen said, “[Trump] cares about the topic of American hostages, and now it’s time to see his recommitment to the topic, and have American hostages come out before January 20.” However, Chen and other hostage families have not yet met with Trump or Senator JD Vance, despite their repeated visits to Washington, D.C., advocating for their loved ones.

    In a recent PBS interview, Nick Schifrin spoke with Dalia Cusnir, a relative of a hostage, who expressed cautious optimism that the transition in U.S. leadership could spark progress. Cusnir noted that Trump has said that any hope for a ceasefire and an end to the conflict must begin with the release of hostages. Still, she acknowledged that both the Biden and Trump administrations must work together to bring about a resolution quickly. She emphasized, “For us, the family of hostages, of course, first, we need to see our loved ones, but we also want to bring a time of healing for the Palestinians in Gaza. They are also being held by Hamas.”

    As the U.S. transitions to a new administration, the question remains: Can both political parties unite to secure the release of hostages and bring an end to this crisis? While the situation is complex and fraught with political and diplomatic challenges, one thing is clear— the lives of these hostages should remain a top priority for any administration, and the families are hoping for results, no matter the political landscape.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/biden-meeting-with-families-of-american-hostages-held-by-hamas/?intcid=CNR-02-0623

https://www.cnn.com/2024/11/12/politics/hostage-families-israel-hamas-trump/index.html

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/change-might-bring-something-good-family-of-gaza-hostages-says-amid-political-shakeups

https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2024/11/13/readout-of-president-bidens-meeting-with-families-of-americans-taken-hostage-by-hamas/

Donald Trump's New Cabinet

Every President, when entering office, is required to select a cabinet, 15 government department heads that serve as the President’s closest confidants. These positions include the Secretaries of State and Defense, which like all cabinet appointments have to be approved by the Senate (passing requires a majority vote) in order to be officially confirmed for the position. This process includes background checks of the candidates and several hearings and questionnaires. It was put in place by the Founding Fathers to check the president’s power and prevent them from promoting their own cronies to high-level positions to serve their own interests. Other positions that hold similar levels of power as cabinet members, but don’t have to be confirmed by the Senate, include the Chief of Staff and the White House Counsel. 

Less than 24 hours after winning the election, President-Elect Donald Trump began announcing the people that will accompany him to the White House, starting with his Chief of Staff Susie Wiles.

Chief of Staff - Susie Wiles

After graduating from the University of Maryland, Wiles worked for Ronald Reagan's presidential campaign (1980), and then turned to work in Florida politics. As a political consultant, she helped Sen. Rick Scott and Governor Ron DeSantis win their elections. Aftwards, working on and off with the Trump campaign from 2016 to 2020, Susie Wiles became the co-chair for Trump’s 2024 election campaign. Describing her as “tough, smart, [and] innovative,” Trump credited Wiles with helping him win both the 2016 and 2024 elections. Notably, she will also be the first female Chief of Staff.

Attorney General - Matt Gaetz

One of the most controversial picks for his cabinet so far, Trump chose former Representative Matt Gaetz as his Attorney General. The job, which serves as a counselor to state government agencies and legislatures, is also responsible for representing the United States in court and overseeing federal criminal prosecutions. Ironically, Matt Gaetz has been investigated by both the FBI and the Congressional Committee of Ethics for sexual misconduct (trafficking a minor across state lines), illicit drug use, using campaign funds for personal use, and accepting a bribe. He has not been charged for any of these crimes. In choosing Gaetz, Trump is ignoring concerns about the Congressman’s ability to be confirmed by the Senate due to his history. Unfortunately, as Gaetz resigned from Congress on Wednesday, Nov 14, it might prevent the Ethics Committee from releasing the report of their investigation, although the Senate could request it as part of their standard background check.

Secretary of State - Marco Rubio

A rival of Trump in the 2016 election, Florida Senator Marco Rubio is slated to become the first Latino to be the Secretary of State. Currently, he serves as the top Republican on the Senate Intelligence Committee, and has extensive foreign policy experience. Some of his views on current foreign policy include support for Israel’s war in Gaza, a desire to treat Iran as a more dangerous adversary, and considers China the “the largest, most advanced adversary America has ever faced.”

Defense Secretary - Pete Hegseth

Deviating from his usual pick of politicians, Trump chose Hegseth, a Fox News host to lead the Department of Defense. A co-host of "Fox & Friends Weekends”, Hegseth is an army veteran who served in the National Guard and toured Iraq, Afghanistan, and Guantanamo Bay, reaching the rank of Major in the National Guard and earning several medals. While lengthy, his 19 year experience pales in comparison with the current Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, who served in the Army for 41 years, served as the Commanding General of United States Forces, overseeing all operations in Iraq and reached the rank of a 4 star general. Hegseth is also the author of "The War on Warriors: Behind the Betrayal of the Men Who Keep Us Free," which rails against what he calls the "warped, woke, and caustic policies of our current military." Another role required to be confirmed by the Senate, Hegseth is sure to be under pressure in the weeks to come. In addition to being probed about his lack of managerial experience, he will be asked about his white supremacist tattoos.

Health and Human Services Secretary - Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

President-Elect Trump picked Kennedy, a vaccine skeptic and conspiracy theorist, to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, saying that he will take on "industrial food complex and drug companies who have engaged in deception, misinformation, and disinformation." Kennedy ran as an independent in the 2024 presidential election, but dropped out in August and endorsed Trump. As the HHS oversees major health agencies such as the CDC, the FDA and the Centers for Medicare, he will have the opportunity to promote his own version of public health, at contrast with mainstream health and science. Kennedy also believes that large drug and food companies are to blame for an epidemic of chronic diseases prevalent in the United States. A telling sign of his potential impact, major pharmaceuticals such as Roche and Pfizer saw their stock prices drop over 10% since Trump won the presidency, and since Kennedy was announced on Thursday, by another 2% - 4%.

Department Of Government Efficiency - Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy

Musk, CEO of Twitter, SpaceX, and Tesla, and Ramaswamy, entrepreneur and former Republican primary candidate, have been chosen by Trump to jointly head the brand new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). The department will not be a federal agency, but will provide guidance to “dismantle Government Bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure Federal Agencies,” as Trump said in a statement. This follows his, and the general GOP party’s policy of reducing government size to promote free markets. While their department will only exist for 1 and a half years, they will wield a large amount of power, influencing which departments receive funding and which are downsized. 

While these are only a small portion of his new cabinet, Trump is set to revolutionize who and how they run the government. Indeed, he is already trying to pass his cabinet members through Congress without a vote, but explaining the intricacies of that will require another full blog.

After Mike Pence’s ‘betrayal’ of Trump during the January 6th insurrection, he has looked for one quality above all in his selection for cabinet posts: loyalty. With a new government, and a Republican held Senate and House, it is impossible to predict what Trump will do once he gets into office but one thing is for sure, it will be interesting.

You can see the full list of Trump’s cabinet picks here.

https://www.npr.org/2024/11/12/g-s1-33773/trump-cabinet-advisers-administration

https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/tracking-trump-named-serve-cabinet-administration/story?id=115777302

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/who-might-be-in-donald-trump-cabinet/

https://www.cnn.com/2024/11/14/politics/trump-controversial-cabinet-picks/index.html

https://www.npr.org/2024/11/13/nx-s1-5186739/how-the-senate-confirmation-process-works-and-how-trump-wants-to-change-it

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-susie-wiles-chief-of-staff/

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/11/13/trump-marco-rubio-secretary-state-foreign-policy/