Politics and Government News

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Sen. Smith: Trump cabinet picks are concerning, but I will give each a fair hearing
Minnesota U.S. Sen. Tina Smith shared she will look closely at each nomination ahead of a hearing. But Trump wants the new Senate leader to allow him to make appointments when the chamber is on recess, bypassing confirmation votes altogether.
Suicides in the U.S. military increased in 2023, continuing a long-term trend
Senior defense officials say suicides in the U.S. military increased in 2023, continuing a long-term trend that the Pentagon has struggled to abate. The increase is a setback after the deaths dipped slightly the previous year.
Satire slinger The Onion buys Alex Jones' Infowars at auction with help from Sandy Hook families
The satirical news publication The Onion won the bidding for Alex Jones’ Infowars at a bankruptcy auction, backed by families of Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting victims whom Jones owes more than $1 billion in defamation judgments for calling the massacre a hoax, the families announced Thursday.
Speaker Mike Johnson wins GOP nomination to remain in job, faces full House vote in new year
Rep. Mike Johnson has won the Republican nomination to remain as House speaker, on track to keep the gavel after a morning endorsement from President-elect Donald Trump ahead of a full House vote in the new year. 
'I was shocked': Lawmakers react to Gaetz pick to be Trump's attorney general
Trump intends to nominate Rep. Matt Gaetz as attorney general and former Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard as director of national intelligence, surprising many lawmakers who will have to confirm them.
Trump says he will nominate Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida to be attorney general
President-elect Donald Trump says he will nominate Republican Matt Gaetz of Florida to serve as his attorney general, putting a loyalist in the role of the nation’s top prosecutor.
Trump picks ex-Rep. Tulsi Gabbard as director of national intelligence, Rubio for Secretary of State
President-elect Donald Trump has chosen Tulsi Gabbard, a former Democratic member of Congress and presidential candidate, to serve as director of national intelligence and named Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida as his nominee for secretary of state.
Minneapolis City Council to vote on labor standards board
The Minneapolis City Council will vote Thursday on whether to create a labor standards board, after years of advocacy from labor groups and harsh criticism from some business owners. The advisory board could recommend new labor policy to the council for consideration.