Donald Trump has kept his promise to Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. Yesterday he announced that Kennedy would become Secretary of Health and Human Services in the second Trump administration. This might not seem a significant appointment, given that Anthony S. Fauci, M.D. saw Secretaries of Health – and Presidents, and even Directors of the National Institutes of Health – come and go, and did whatever he pleased in his long tenure as Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease. But in fact the Health Secretary is as close to a Health Czar as the federal government has. Even better, it is a Senate-confirmed department headship. Whoever holds that post has authority to make a lasting difference to Americans’ health – if he can use it.

Kennedy shocks everyone

Christina Laila of The Gateway Pundit broke the news in an obviously celebratory way. She cited Politico.com, who themselves quoted a leaker who still hasn’t blown his cover. But obviously the best confirmation comes from Trump himself:

I am thrilled to announce Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as The United States Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS). For too long, Americans have been crushed by the industrial food complex and drug companies who have engaged in deception, misinformation, and disinformation when it comes to Public Health. The Safety and Health of all Americans is the most important role of any Administration, and HHS will play a big role in helping ensure that everybody will be protected from harmful chemicals, pollutants, pesticides, pharmaceutical products, and food additives that have contributed to the overwhelming Health Crisis in this Country. Mr. Kennedy will restore these Agencies to the traditions of Gold Standard Scientific Research, and beacons of Transparency, to end the Chronic Disease epidemic, and to Make America Great and Healthy Again!

https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/113483366471340943

Philip Wegmann at RealClearPolitics chronicled the lack of anticipation of the decision, and the shock and surprise that greeted it. Shortly before the election, Howard Lutnick, co-chair of the Trump transition committee, denied that Kennedy would get “a job for HHS.” But he did.

Pharmaceutical stocks stumbled. Democrats on Capitol Hill were aghast. Republicans were mostly silent. Asked for reaction, South Dakota Sen. John Thune, whom Republicans elected to serve as Senate majority leader in the next Congress, told reporters, “I don’t have one at this point.”

The legacy media gasped, and seemed to shuffle on their stages in a collective daze. Van Jones spoke of termites released onto the pillars of society. A former White House health policy adviser was at a loss for words. How could this happen? How could someone who questions the very notion of vaccines take charge of the country’s health establishment? Oh, the humanity! Cue the meat wagons rolling down the main street, bullhorns blaring “Bring out your dead!”

Actually, the world’s pharmaceutical companies likely anticipated this appointment, even if their investors didn’t. The day after the election, the CEOs of the five largest drug companies held an emergency teleconference. New Jersey Assemblyman Jamal Holley, a friend of Kennedy, boasted about that.

Sources tell me top five CEOs of pharmaceutical companies are holding an emergency teleconference at 1 PM. A lawyer has confirmed that everyone is in a state of panic!

https://x.com/jamelholley/status/1854184692402061588

And likely for good reason. Even before the election, Kennedy was announcing a sweeping change:

On January 20, the Trump White House will advise all U.S​. water systems to remove fluoride from public water. Fluoride is an industrial waste associated with arthritis, bone fractures, bone cancer, IQ loss, neurodevelopmental disorders, and thyroid disease. President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump want to Make America Healthy Again. [Mentions Michael P. Connett, lead counsel for plaintiffs in Food and Water Watch v. EPA, and links to this Highwire video in which Mr. Connett describes flouride’s harms.]

On October 4 ,an Obama appointed Federal Judge held against EPA after reviewing thousands of scientific studies and weeks of expert testimony ruling that the agency had improperly approved this dangerous neurotoxin.

https://x.com/RobertKennedyJr/status/1852907832884285708

What kind of change is forthcoming?

The day after the election, Kennedy said, in an MSNBC interview, that he would see to three objectives:

President Trump has asked me to do three things:

1. Clean up the corruption in our government health agencies.

2. Return those agencies to their rich tradition of gold-standard, evidence-based science.

3. Make America Healthy Again by ending the chronic disease epidemic.

Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.

https://x.com/RobertKennedyJr/status/1854281809464529384

In fact the Department of Health and Human Services oversees – and budgets for – almost every agency that affects human health. These agencies fall under the Public Health Service, which also hosts the Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, under the Surgeon General. The list includes:

• National Institutes of Health (NIH)

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

• Indian Health Service (IHS)

• Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

• Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR)

• Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)

• Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)

• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)

• Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR)

• Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H)

The Department also includes these agencies not under the Public Health Service:

• Administration for Children and Families (ACF)

• Administration for Community Living (ACL)

• Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)

Now the full scope of Kennedy’s authority becomes apparent. The NIH, the CDC, and the FDA especially are the source for most government medical direction in America. The “corporate capture” of which Trump and Kennedy have both spoken, involves the FDA more than any other agency.

Limits to his authority

Such would be Kennedy’s direct authority. But that might not give him full authority over everything that affects human health. The depletion of farm soils, and the slow poisoning due to pesticides, is a matter for the Department of Agriculture. But as a fellow Secretary, Kennedy would sit in on meetings and could directly reach the Secretary of Agriculture. A few words in his ear might go a long way. He would also have the ear of the President – and considering their new-found friendship, that counts for a lot.

Constitutionalist Darrell L. Castle thought highly enough of Kennedy to endorse his independent Presidential candidacy last year. The “brief” of the Secretary of Health and Human Services covers almost everything he sought to affect, and gives him a powerful voice to affect the rest. If half the leftist voices squawking about his appointment would think a little more carefully, they might welcome it. They might even begin to welcome it, after the first day passes with no direct-to-patient drug advertising on radio, television, or video platforms.

Beyond that, the limits of his effectiveness could depend strictly on his imagination. Makers of herbal remedies, and traditional diet advocates, might want to start drafting “white papers” to send him. That could be the means of the most important and salutary change he could make.

Link to:

The article:

https://cnav.news/2024/11/15/foundation/constitution/kennedy-become-health-secretary/

Video:

Resources:

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2024/11/breaking-president-trump-taps-rfk-jr-human-health/

https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/113483366471340943

https://cnav.news/2024/11/15/news/transition-trump-call-shots/

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2024/11/panic-mode-top-five-big-pharma-ceos-hold/

https://thehighwire.com/ark-videos/expert-attorney-exposes-decades-of-fluoride-harms/

https://x.com/RobertKennedyJr/status/1852907832884285708

https://x.com/RobertKennedyJr/status/1854281809464529384

https://cnav.news/2023/06/09/editorial/guest/robert-f-kennedy-jr-struggle-liberty/

Declarations of Truth X feed:

https://x.com/DecTruth

Declarations of Truth Locals Community:

https://declarationsoftruth.locals.com/

Conservative News and Views:

https://cnav.news/

Clixnet Media

https://clixnet.com/

Former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) is now taking on the greatest challenge of his life. President-elect Donald J. Trump nominated him yesterday to become Attorney General of the United States. Every warmonger, enemy of American liberty, and servant of (or shill for) the Deep State is making hay over false allegations of inappropriate relations with a minor girl – allegations that even Merrick Garland’s Department of Political Justice found they could never substantiate. (Let no one say that the case would come before Judge Aileen Cannon, who would dismiss it out of hand. She’s in the Southern District of Florida; Gaetz’ district is in the Northern.) Herewith a review, not so much of the allegations as of their coverage, by media outlets of varying reliability.

Matt Gaetz in the political spotlight

Matt Gaetz represents Florida’s First District, which is the extreme western end of the Florida Panhandle. He won reelection 2-1 over his Democratic opponent.

Matt Gaetz has been in the House of Representatives since 2017, and throughout his tenure he has been a troublemaker. He once cosponsored a bill to forbid Members of Congress to trade common stock and other securities. Among the other sponsors: Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.). But the subject matter, not the lead sponsor, incurred his colleagues’ rage. Many Republicans are just as guilty of profiting through insider trading as, say, Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), the Poster Lady.

After the Midterms in which Republicans barely captured the House, Gaetz filed the Motion to Vacate the Chair. It carried, and that is why Kevin McCarthy is not even a member of the House of Representatives anymore. (When they told him he couldn’t be captain anymore, he gathered up his marbles and slunk home.) Rep. Mike Johnson (R-La.) became Speaker after a series of contentious votes.

More recently, Gaetz wrote a scathing critique of a “pep rally” at the Justice Department after the Trump-Harris debate. In it he accused the Attorney General of multiple violations of law, not only in the prosecutions of Trump but in DOJ’s treatment of its own staff. But Gaetz said nothing about the shameful way the DOJ, and the House Ethics Committee, has treated him.

What about that 17-year-old girl?

In March of 2021 – the first year of the Biden-Harris administration – Matt Gaetz suddenly faced a fearsome allegation. Allegedly, he once met a 17-year-old girl, paid her for sex, and even arranged for her to cross State lines. That, if it happened, would constitute sex trafficking under federal law.

The report came from The New York Times. Apparently the congressman’s name turned up in the investigation of another person: Florida tax collector Joel Greenberg. Greenberg has faced trial on solicitation and sex-with-underage-girls charges of his own, according to The Hill.

For more than a year, Gaetz was subject to a federal investigation. He has consistently denied any such wrongdoing, and suggested someone tried to extort $25 million from him and his family. The New Republic filed its own breathless story about Gaetz. But even they had to admit that they couldn’t prove that Gaetz was about to come under indictment.

Ultimately the Justice Department dropped the case. CNN reports why: they couldn’t be sure their witness could convince a jury that she was telling the truth. The history of Merrick Garland’s Justice Department is one of repeated political prosecutions that would make Lavrentiy Beria envious.

Show me the man and I’ll show you the crime.

So if they dropped the case, they had none and couldn’t even fabricate one.

Matt Gaetz still a target

And Gaetz remains a target. Cassidy Hutchinson, of “Trump grabbing the wheel” fame, accused Gaetz of sexual harassment during a 2020 Camp David trip. More recently, someone accused him of being at a “drug-fueled sex party” that a 17-year-old girl also attended. That came out allegedly in a court filing that NOTUS reported last September. But everyone but the fringe leftist media forgot about that at the time. A little matter of two hurricanes that struck Florida and other States distracted the public’s attention. But evidently the House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct – the Ethics Committee – opened an investigation into that wild-party rumor.

On Tuesday (November 12), rumors circulated that someone – no one would say who – would nominate a challenger to Speaker Johnson in the Republican House Leadership elections. Nothing came of that, especially after Trump resoundingly endorsed Johnson’s staying on as Speaker. Then yesterday, Trump nominated Matt Gaetz to be his Attorney General.

That evening, Gaetz resigned from Congress, effective immediately. He explained to Speaker Johnson that the Republican Conference couldn’t afford “too many vacancies.” And he’s right; Rep. Michelle Steel (R-Calif.) is hanging onto her seat by a 300-vote thread. By resigning now, Gaetz gives Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-Fla.) time to call a special election to fill his seat. If he can’t do it by January 3, he can at least do it by January 20, when three other House seats would fall vacant by reason of Presidential appointments.

Detractors – and exculpatory evidence

Donald Trump’s announcement of his nomination of Matt Gaetz has electrified the right – and horrified the left. CNN’s Jake Tapper cried out that this was “Trump without the guardrails.” He then saw fit to try Gaetz’ House Ethics case on his show:

Gaetz is currently facing a House Ethics Committee investigation over whether he may have — and I should note, before I even outline the charges, Gaetz denies at all — but the House Ethics Committee in a statement earlier this year said they’re looking into whether he may have, quote, “engaged in sexual misconduct and illicit drug use, accepted improper gifts, dispensed special privileges and favors to individuals with whom he had a personal relationship and sought to obstruct government investigations of his conduct,” unquote. Again, Gaetz denies at all.

By resigning when and as he did, Gaetz removes himself from the personal jurisdiction of the Ethics Committee. So anything the Ethics Committee was going to release, they must keep under seal. Jake Tapper violates ethical canons of his own by mentioning anything that, otherwise, might never see the light of day.

Geraldo Rivera used a literally nauseating metaphor to describe his own reaction to the nomination. The Gateway Pundit’s Cassandra MacDonald provided a transcript of his interview with NewsNation’s Leland Vittert – which, suitably Bowdlerized, follows:

Rivera: I think it is a horrible, creepy choice. I have no idea why he did it.

Vittert: The fact that all Democrats are doing, yourself included, is talking about how terrible Matt Gaetz is means they’re not talking about the things that actually the American people told us in this election they care about.

Rivera: Well, as I understand it, President Trump, President-elect Trump, was absolutely keen on ending the weaponization of the Justice Department. That guy is the weapon that Trump will use to destroy his enemies in the DOJ, wreck its independence.

Vittert: Hold on. Hold on. I have not heard him say once that he is going to use the Department of Justice or that he believes the Department of Justice should go after the enemies of Donald Trump.

Rivera: Matt Gaetz is the epitome of everything that is rotten in Washington. He is someone who is a privileged, entitled, backstabbing. There’s no way the Republicans in the Senate will confirm this man. He’ll make the Clarence Thomas confirmation hearing look like a walk in the park. They will dig up everything about him.

In fact, at about the time of the “court filing” about the “drug-fueled party,” Gaetz dropped a five-post thread embedding photographs of his last letter to the Committee, and evidence he shared with them – evidence that the other person of interest, Joel Greenberg, had taken part in a plot to frame the congressman. Herewith the most relevant texts from the thread:

The Committee’s star witness, Joel Greenberg, is a felonious liar who involves others in his lies.

On July 10, 2024, I provided the Committee dispositive evidence of my innocence by producing a “smoking gun” contemporaneous, jailhouse writing, documenting the plot to frame me, which includes both Joel Greenberg and his victim. This was authenticated by two former federal agents who interviewed the jailhouse informant who revealed the plot against me.

This wasn’t the first - or even second - time Greenberg coordinated false smears of others in this manner.

Greenberg was initially indicted for attempting to falsely smear a teacher at a local high school as a pedophile. Thereafter, he was separately found by federal law enforcement to have possessed child pornography that he intended to use to frame his OWN attorney.

Greenberg had arranged for his victim to meet with an attorney of Greenberg’s choosing to orchestrate the plan to get Greenberg’s victim to lie about me. Greenberg texted another person that he was paying for his victim’s attorneys.

After the text messages admitting Greenberg was paying for his victim’s attorneys, he confessed his lies to a jailhouse informant, who he was sharing a holding cell with in 2021. This jailhouse informant sent a letter to my attorneys confirming Greenberg:

· ADMITTED authorities found records that he gave money to a 17-year-old on AND that he was charged with sex trafficking a minor.

· ADMITTED to fabricating NUMEROUS EVENTS that he told investigators, including claiming that he arranged for a minor to “hook up” with other people.

· Said investigators leaked the charges to the media.

· Wanted to “help the feds” to get his time reduced.

However, NONE of this has been enough for the Committee. It seems the fix is in. Their investigation exists to do what the voters of my district won’t - remove me from office. Therefore, I will no longer voluntarily participate in this regrettable abuse of the Committee.

https://x.com/RepMattGaetz/status/1839341409582846196

https://x.com/RepMattGaetz/status/1839341417950490987

https://x.com/RepMattGaetz/status/1839341424149721178

This, then, is why he resigned, in addition to giving Gov. DeSantis a pretext to call a special election immediately.

More of the silly season

Erick-Woods Erickson spun a wild theory that Trump can appear to be rewarding Matt Gaetz, knowing the Senate will never confirm him. He named six Senators whom he confidently expects to vote against confirming Gaetz:

• Susan Collins (RINO-Maine),

• Lisa Murkowski (RINO-Alaska),

• Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.),

• Tom Tillis (R-N.C.),

• Bill Cassidy (R-La.), and

• Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.)

In fact, Senators Collins and Murkowski already said they would vote no. Jim Hoft noted that all six (except Markwayne Mullin, who is new) voted to confirm Merrick Garland. Confirming Gaetz would be the only way to wipe that stain off their respective escutcheons.

Dr. Steve Turley suggested that Trump has dared those Senators to vote against his nominee. The key: recess appointments were Trump’s price for staying out of yesterday’s Senate Leadership elections.

https://rumble.com/embed/v5n1wvn/?pub=4teej

Indeed, Speaker Johnson gave a ringing endorsement of Gaetz today.

Matt and I were classmates. We came to Congress at the same time in the 115th Congress in January 2017. And alphabetically, we’re seated right next to one another in Judiciary Committee. We serve there together for seven years. Some of you all who cover Judiciary know those are long meetings. So I got to know Matt very well.

I’ll say this. Everyone who has served with him will tell you he’s one of the most intelligent members of Congress. He’s an accomplished attorney. He’s very concerned about the lawfare that has been occurring in the Department of Justice under the Biden administration, and the fact that the American people have lost their faith in our institutions of justice because of everything that you’ve seen. He’s a reformer in his mind and heart, and I think that he’ll bring a lot to the table on that.

I think out of deference to us, he issued his resignation letter effective immediately of Congress. That caught us by surprise a little bit, but I asked him what the reasoning was, and he said, Well, you can’t have too many absences. So under Florida state law, there’s about an eight-week period to select and fill a vacant seat.

By doing so today, that allows me… I’ve already placed a call to Governor DeSantis in Florida and said, “Let’s start the clock.” He’s in Italy at the moment, and so we’re going to talk first thing in the morning about this. If we start the clock now, if you do the math, we may be able to fill that seat as early as January 3rd when we take the new oath of office for the new Congress.

Matt would have done us a great service by making that decision as he did on the fly. We’re grateful for that. So we move forward.

Look, I’ll say this… People have asked me all day long, President Trump is poaching all of your talent. Yes, we have an embarrassment of riches here. The Republican Conference is full of talented people who are extraordinary leaders and have great expertise. Everyone in this conference could serve in a leadership position in the administration.

Erickson insists that Florida can’t make the January 3 date. But considering how little he knows how people (other than himself) feel about anything, we can discount that misgiving.

The debate on Gaetz’ nomination – and those of three other Republicans in the House – will not take place until January. By then, all members of the Senate Republican Conference will have had time to digest the implications of the nominations. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), incoming Senate Majority Leader, has pledged the swiftest possible confirmation process. Time will tell as to whether he means what he says.

Link to:

The article:

https://cnav.news/2024/11/14/news/matt-gaetz-getting-trump-treatment/

Video:

Matt Gaetz in the spotlight:

https://cnav.news/2023/05/03/news/matt-gaetz-aoc-team-up-to-stop-congressional-stock-trading/

https://cnav.news/2022/11/09/foundation/constitution/red-wave-meets-blue-seawalls/

https://cnav.news/2023/10/03/news/gaetz-files-motion-vacate-chair/

https://cnav.news/2023/10/26/editorial/talk/mike-johnson-speaker-how/

https://cnav.news/2024/09/13/accountability/executive/trump-won-debate-merrick-garland-pep-rally/

https://cnav.news/2024/09/11/news/trump-played-harris-draw/

Allegations about the 17-year-old girl:

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/30/us/politics/matt-gaetz-sex-trafficking-investigation.html

https://thehill.com/homenews/house/545648-matt-gaetz-under-investigation-for-alleged-sexual-relations-with-17-year-old/

https://newrepublic.com/article/161876/matt-gaetzs-trumpian-defense-allegations-sex-trafficking

https://www.cnn.com/2023/02/15/politics/matt-gaetz-justice-department/index.html

https://www.oxfordeagle.com/2018/05/09/show-me-the-man-and-ill-show-you-the-crime/

Still a target:

https://www.notus.org/florida/new-court-filings-matt-gaetz-dorworth-sex-party

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2024/11/conservatives-planning-nominate-challenger-house-speaker-mike-johnson/

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2024/11/breaking-president-trump-announces-nomination-gop-rep-matt/

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2024/11/matt-gaetz-resigns-congress-after-trump-taps-him/

Detractors – and exculpatory evidence:

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2024/11/stunned-jake-tapper-responds-trump-nominating-gaetz-ag/

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2024/11/unhinged-geraldo-rivera-says-he-threw-up-his/

https://x.com/RepMattGaetz/status/1839341409582846196

https://x.com/RepMattGaetz/status/1839341417950490987

https://x.com/RepMattGaetz/status/1839341424149721178

More carping – and endorsements:

https://ewerickson.substack.com/p/matt-gaetz-is-a-terrific-pick?publication_id=27843&post_id=151625509&isFreemail=true&r=it00v&triedRedirect=true

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2024/11/here-we-go-rino-senators-murkowski-collins-say/

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2024/11/must-see-house-speaker-mike-johnson-delivers-gracious/

Declarations of Truth X feed:

https://x.com/DecTruth

Declarations of Truth Locals Community:

https://declarationsoftruth.locals.com/

Conservative News and Views:

https://cnav.news/

Clixnet Media

https://clixnet.com/

This week, the federal government has begun to shape itself for next January, and at least the next two years. President-elect Donald J. Trump will have half a loaf. But that half loaf has already brought positive changes, in the United States and throughout the world. Furthermore, the American people must realize that they really do get the government for which they vote. That applies equally to the composition of Congress – especially the Senate – as to the identity of the President.

The other federal institutions

Per the Daily Wire Election Hub, Republicans will command the Senate and the House of Representatives. Republicans will definitely hold 52 seats and might have 53. Sen. Robert P. Casey Jr. (D-Pa.) refuses to concede his race. But every outlet except Decision Desk has called it for his opponent, David McCormick. Marc Elias apparently is trying to force a recount, with 28,000 votes (0.4 percent) separating McCormick and Casey. But most rate his chances either of getting the recount or of finding enough votes to reelect Casey, vanishingly small. Sen. Charles M. Schumer (D-N.Y.), future Minority Leader, relented today and let Mr. McCormick attend orientation for new Senators-elect.

Speaking of leadership, Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) became Republican Floor Leader today, in a secret vote. Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.), who had sought the post, received only 13 votes on the first ballot. The other candidate, Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), received 24 votes on second round; Thune received 29.

The Senate Conference chose the following other Senators for its leadership:

• John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Whip

• Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Chair of the Republican Conference

• Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Chair of the Republican Policy Conference

• James Lankford (R-Okla.), Vice-Chair of the Republican Conference

• Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee (the campaign arm).

Republicans will hold at least 219 House seats. Five more seats remain to decide. Of these, Republicans lead in the Alaska At-large race and two California races; Democrats lead in two more California races.

At the Supreme Court

Shortly after the calling of the election for President-elect Trump, several Democrats called on Justice Sonia Sotomayor to resign. Justice Sotomayor suffers from diabetes – presumably Type Two, easier to control. Democrats clearly fear that she might die during Trump’s term, allowing him to reduce the Liberal Bloc yet again after Ruth Bader Ginsburg died during Trump’s first term. Democrats had hoped to give President Joe Biden one more chance to shore up the Liberal Bloc.

No joy. First, Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) definitely said the Senate wouldn’t allow it.

This is not happening. No way, no how. The Senate will not confirm any last-minute Dem Supreme Court nominee between now and January. The next SCOTUS justice will be nominated by Donald J. Trump.

Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.)

https://x.com/HawleyMO/status/1854995381978828863

Second, the Justice has definitely refused. Sources – maybe her clerks – say she “has no plans to retire from the Supreme Court.”

Sonia Sotomayor is not the senior member of Court. Two Justices – Clarence Thomas and Samuel A. Alito – are older than she and have served longer. True, Justice Thomas is not nearly at the level of admitted decrepitude of his predecessor, Thurgood Marshall.

I’m old! I’m falling apart!

Justice Thurgood Marshall, announcing his retirement

Nevertheless he has served 33 years, longer than any of his colleagues. Moreover, he would like to retire, if the sitting President would appoint someone who shares his judicial philosophy. Justice Alito might feel the same way. But few people are talking about that now.

The second Trump administration

The past few days have also seen rapid-fire developments concerning the shape of the second Trump administration. Next year will also see the most special elections of Senators and Representatives in recent memory. This could be dangerous, if Reps. John Duarte and Michelle Steel (R-Calif.) and Nick Begich III (R-Alaska) fail to win or keep their seats. That Trump would take so many chances, reflects supreme confidence – and certainty that his nominees are the right ones for their respective jobs.

Concerning the diplomatic, intelligence, and defense apparatus, Trump announced his appointment of Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) as Secretary of State. Of course, Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-Fla.) can immediately appoint an Interim Senator. But State governors are not allowed to appoint Interim Representatives. Instead they must call special elections to fill vacant House seats.

Trump’s appointments, from the House to his administration, include:

• Michael Walz (R-Fla.) as National Security Adviser to the President,

• Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) as Ambassador to the United Nations,

• Lee Zeldin (R-N.Y.) as Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, and just in today:

• Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) as Attorney General.

That would cut the Republican contingent in the House to 215, and the number needed for a majority to 216. If Mary Peltola (D-Alaska) keeps her seat by reason of Alaska’s Ranked Choice Voting regimen, and Californians John Duarte and Michelle Steel both lose, Democrats pick up the House. Otherwise, Republicans keep the House until special elections return “fresh” Republicans – as they surely would, because those seats are “safe.”

Other executive federal appointments

Trump began the weekend by announcing two persons who would not receive appointments in his administration. They were former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley.

Other appointments he has made, other than from the House and Senate, include:

• Tom Homan, former Director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), as Border Czar,

• Gov. Kristi Noem (R-S.D.) as Secretary of Homeland Security,

• Former Gov. Mike Huckabee (R-Ark.) as Ambassador to Israel,

• John Ratcliffe, former Director of National Intelligence, as Director of Central Intelligence (i.e., head of the CIA),

• Fox News host (and Army veteran) Pete Hegseth as Secretary of Defense, and

• Former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii) (and former Democrat, now turned Republican) as incoming Director of National Intelligence.

Trump also announced a dual appointment. Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy will jointly head a new Department of Government Efficiency. Doubtless at Musk’s request, Trump chose the name for its acronym: DOGE, from the name of a cryptocurrency Musk sponsors. This Department apparently will be temporary, and Trump set a deadline for its mission: July 4, 2026.

https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/113472884874740859

A rumor circulated earlier today that Trump had appointed Tucker Carlson as his White House Press Secretary. But no such announcement appeared on Truth Social or from either Tucker Carlson’s or Donald Trump’s X account. This post, from the head of American Conservative Magazine, denounced the rumor.

Am told this statement circulating around online saying Tucker Carlson is White House Press Secretary is FAKE… likely adding to the confusion is that his network did send out a playful, but boilerplate message with that subject line last night…

https://x.com/CurtMills/status/1856736098002612746

Summary

The President-elect also announced more White House staff appointments. Last week, of course, he appointed his campaign manager, Susie Wiles, as White House Chief of Staff. That makes her the first woman ever to hold that position. Today he announced more senior staff appointments:

• Dan Scavino as Deputy Chief of Staff,

• Stephen Miller (of America First Legal) as Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy, and Homeland Security Adviser,

• James Blair as Deputy Chief of Staff for Legislative, Political, and Public Affairs, and

• Taylor Budowich as Deputy Chief of Staff for Communications and Personnel.

All four worked on Trump’s campaign.

The carping at some of these appointments, particularly at Matt Gaetz as Attorney General, underscores their importance. More to the point, with this team, Trump will return the federal government to fulfilling its Article IV Section 4 obligations to the States. In addition, Rubio and Waltz’ appointments seem to send a signal to China that Trump means business.

Not everything satisfies Trump supporters today. They much preferred to have Rick Scott as Senate Majority Leader. But that aside, Trump’s appointments already promise a federal government friendly to its people, and not threatening.

Link to:

The article:

https://cnav.news/2024/11/13/news/federal-government-taking-shape-next-year/

Video:

Election Hub:

https://election.dailywire.com/

Senate leadership elections:

https://www.wnd.com/2024/11/new-senate-majority-leader-chosen-its-not-trumper-rick-scott/?_bhlid=606a7329a8b659b5a27684bb3c06800930389ab3

Supreme Court speculation:

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2024/11/report-desperate-democrats-want-force-liberal-justice-sonia/

https://x.com/HawleyMO/status/1854995381978828863

https://www.wsj.com/us-news/law/justice-sonia-sotomayor-is-expected-to-remain-on-supreme-court-2aaf62e0

The Second Administration:

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2024/11/breaking-president-trump-announces-nomination-senator-marco-rubio/

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2024/11/president-trump-selects-florida-congressman-michael-waltz-as/

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2024/11/trump-offers-elise-stefanik-top-role-as-u/

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2024/11/just-president-trump-chooses-lee-zeldin-run-environmental/

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2024/11/breaking-president-trump-announces-nomination-gop-rep-matt/

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2024/11/fabulous-news-mike-pompeo-nikki-haley-will-not/

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2024/11/president-trump-appoints-former-ice-director-tom-homan/

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2024/11/trump-taps-south-dakota-gov-kristi-noem-as/

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2024/11/president-trump-taps-former-arkansas-governor-mike-huckabee/

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2024/11/breaking-president-trump-nominates-pete-hegseth-secretary-defense/

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2024/11/breaking-president-trump-announces-tulsi-gabbard-as-director/

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2024/11/breaking-trump-announces-elon-musk-vivek-ramaswamy-will/

https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/113472884874740859

https://dnyuz.com/2024/11/13/fact-check-is-tucker-carlson-going-to-be-trumps-press-secretary/

https://x.com/CurtMills/status/1856736098002612746

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2024/11/just-susie-wiles-serve-as-trumps-chief-staff/

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2024/11/breaking-trump-announces-senior-white-house-staff-all/

Declarations of Truth X feed:

https://x.com/DecTruth

Declarations of Truth Locals Community:

https://declarationsoftruth.locals.com/

Conservative News and Views:

https://cnav.news/

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