Podcasters or journalists: Who will ask questions in Trump’s press briefings?
The White House briefing room, a space where journalists gather daily to ask questions, may soon look different under the incoming Trump administration. Karoline Leavitt, President-elect Trump’s pick for press secretary, suggested this week that the briefing room could be restructured.
Leavitt said the Trump administration has possible plans to make room for more nontraditional media voices, such as podcasters, influencers and internet personalities. She argued the room should reflect the media habits of Americans in 2024, not the 1980s.
“President Trump won this election by utilizing nontraditional, non-legacy media voices outside of the Beltway,” Leavitt told Fox News. “That is clearly who the American people are listening to and digesting their news. I think it would be irresponsible of us not to include some of those voices in the media room.”
The suggestion has sparked pushback from some members of the White House press corps. One anonymous reporter told The Hill that the move could create chaos.
“It would be a total mess. I would expect people would probably boycott the briefings, though that would put certain outlets in a tough spot,” the reporter said.
Traditionally, the briefing room has been reserved for major networks. Typically, mainstream media, NBC, CBS, ABC, and Fox, along with wire services like The Associated Press, Reuters and CNN have front-row seats. The New York Times, The Washington Post and NPR, are typically seated in the second row.
The White House communications office determines which reporters are granted credentials to attend briefings.
Leavitt, who would oversee the press briefings, is not the only one hinting at a shakeup.
Donald Trump Jr., the president-elect’s son, suggested the makeup of journalists allowed into the White House could change as well.
“We’ve had the conversation about opening up the press room to independent journalists,” Trump Jr. said during a “Triggered” podcast episode. “If The New York Times has lied, they’re the functioning arm of the Democratic Party. Why not open it up to people with larger viewerships? We’ve had that conversation, they said great idea, Don, and so that may be in the works. That’s going to blow up some heads, so we’ll see.”
South Korean president faces impeachment calls after martial law order
Political unrest grows in South Korea after the president’s short-lived martial law order. And U.S. officials urge Americans to use encrypted messaging apps after a massive cyberattack. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024.
Push to impeach South Korea’s president after martial law declaration
It may have been short-lived, but the South Korean president’s declaration of martial law could have implications for months to come as six opposition parties have moved to impeach Yoon Suk Yeol.
Martial law grants the military temporary rule during an emergency, which the president can legally declare. Yoon sent heavily armed forces into the streets of Seoul Tuesday, Dec. 3, after suddenly and unexpectedly putting the country under martial law — vowing to eliminate “anti-state” forces he claimed were planning a rebellion.
Action was swift, with protesters surrounding South Korea’s parliament building. Lawmakers climbed walls to get back into the building and used fire extinguishers to hold soldiers off so they could unanimously vote to cancel the martial law declaration just hours after it was put in place.
Impeaching Yoon requires the support of two-thirds of the National Assembly and at least six of the country’s nine constitutional court justices. The liberal opposition Democratic Party holds a majority in the 300-seat parliament and has called for Yoon’s resignation.
WATCH: Soldiers arrive at South Korea's parliament after president declares martial law pic.twitter.com/cZX4vsM34y
One Democratic Party lawmaker said an impeachment vote could come as early as Friday, Dec. 5.
Martial law is a sensitive subject in South Korea, which has only been a democracy since the 1980s. Before that, in the wake of the Korean War which ended in 1953, multiple dictatorships emerged with leaders often declaring martial law to prevent antigovernmental protests.
South Korea is considered a key ally of the United States and White House officials said they are “monitoring the situation closely.” The U.S. has about 28,000 troops stationed in South Korea.
Trump’s nominees to lead DEA, FBI, DOD making headlines
Three of President-elect Donald Trump’s picks for his incoming administration made headlines Tuesday. One nominee dropped out, another was the target of a possible cyberattack, and the third could be replaced.
Trump had nominated Hillsborough County, Florida Sheriff Chad Chronister to lead the Drug Enforcement Agency. On Tuesday, Chronister took his name out of the running, saying in a post on X to have been nominated was “an honor of a lifetime” but “as the gravity of this very responsibility set in” he concluded that he must “respectfully withdraw from consideration.”
To have been nominated by President-Elect @realDonaldTrump to serve as Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration is the honor of a lifetime. Over the past several days, as the gravity of this very important responsibility set in, I’ve concluded that I must respectfully… pic.twitter.com/bvNF8m9Bh4
The nomination came under fire from some Trump supporters over Chronister’s enforcement of COVID-19 restrictions during the pandemic. This marks the second Trump nominee to withdraw his name after former Congressman Matt Gaetz said he would not continue his bid to become attorney general.
Meanwhile, reports say Trump’s nominee for FBI director, Kash Patel, was the target of a possible Iran-backed cyberattack. Sources familiar with the situation told multiple outlets, including ABC News and CBS News, the alleged hackers targeted Patel’s communications, but it was not clear how much data they were able to view.
Patel held various roles during Trump’s first term including chief of staff to the secretary of defense.
Finally, there might be a change when it comes to the next defense secretary. The Wall Street Journal and other outlets reported Wednesday morning, Dec. 4, that Trump’s pick of former Fox News anchor and military veteran Pete Hegseth’s is in doubt.
Since his nomination, Hegseth has been the subject of reports on allegations about his personal life, including claims of sexual misconduct, repeated intoxication and rampant womanizing. Hegseth has denied those allegations.
The Wall Street Journal and New York Post both reported Trump is considering Florida governor and former GOP presidential candidate Ron DeSantis as a possible replacement for Hegseth. Desantis served in the U.S. Navy before becoming governor.
Both Trump and DeSantis attended a memorial service Tuesday for fallen law enforcement officers in Palm Beach County, Florida.
Hegseth has been meeting with Senate Republicans at the Capitol this week to try to rally support ahead of confirmation hearings. People close to the president-elect’s team said talks of a replacement are in the early stages and the next 48 hours are crucial to Hegseth’s fate.
Trump’s lawyers ask judge to toss conviction, cite Biden’s pardon
President-elect Trump’s lawyers have officially asked a judge to throw out his criminal conviction in his so-called “hush money” case.
In May, a jury found Trump guilty of 34 charges in a scheme to illegally influence the 2016 election through a payment to a porn actor who claimed she and trump had sex. Trump has long denied that.
In a filing made public Tuesday, Trump’s lawyers said continuing the case would present “disruptions to the institution of the presidency” and undermine the transition of power as he prepares to take back the Oval Office next month.
Lawyers also pointed to President Joe Biden’s recent move to pardon his son Hunter of his convictions on tax fraud and gun charges where the president said Hunter was “unfairly prosecuted” as a reason Trump’s case should be dismissed. Trump’s lawyers called his prosecution “political theater.”
Prosecutors have until Monday, Dec. 9 to respond. In the past, they said they would fight efforts to dismiss the case but indicated a willingness to delay the sentencing until after Trump’s second term ends in January 2029.
Americans urged to use encrypted messaging apps after cyberattack
U.S. officials are recommending Americans use encrypted messaging apps amid a cyberattack on telecommunications companies like AT&T and Verizon. Cybersecurity experts advise you to encrypt your text messages and voice communication, if possible.
Threat actors affiliated with the Chinese government have compromised telecom provider networks to conduct a cyber espionage campaign. Network defenders should read new guidance from the #FBI and our partners to harden their systems against this activity: https://t.co/yzh7NedOAepic.twitter.com/GXsN7lbB0f
Officials said China is behind the attack in an attempt to spy on Americans. Chinese officials have not addressed the accusations.
Cyber Monday pulls in record $13.3 billion in sales
Your chances to get some of the deepest discounts of the holiday shopping season have passed with Cyber Monday now in the books. Consumers took full advantage, collectively spending a record $13.3 billion online during Cyber Monday.
Adobe Analytics said that’s up 7.3% from last year and surpassed projections of $13.2 billion in sales. The company said between the peak hours of 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. Alone, people spent a combined $15.8 million every 60 seconds.
Adobe said “buy now, pay later” plans were quite popular, accounting for more than $991 million worth of Cyber Monday spending.
Beyoncé tops Billboard’s list of the greatest pop stars of 21st century
The music charting site said the choice is based on Beyoncé’s “full 25 years of influence, impact, [and] evolution.” Billboard added when talking about greatness in the 21st century, nobody else has a longer or fuller track record.
President-elect Trump, Hunter Biden react to President Biden’s pardon
Saying it is clear that his son was treated differently and singled out by the justice system, President Joe Biden has pardoned his son of his felony conviction. And winter weather moved in on the first weekend in December, bringing feet of lake-effect snow to parts of the Northeast. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Monday, Dec. 2, 2024.
President-elect Trump, Hunter Biden react to President Biden’s pardon
Reaction is coming in after President Joe Biden’s decision late Sunday night, Dec. 1, to pardon his son Hunter. With his time in office ending in a matter of weeks, the president reversed previous statements he made when he said he would not use his power to keep his son from facing prison time due to felony convictions.
Hunter Biden faced sentencing later this month related to two separate criminal cases. In September, he pleaded guilty to nine tax charges, and last June, a jury found him guilty of lying on a gun purchase form.
Hunter faced up to 17 years in prison for the tax charges and 25 years in the gun case.
The president said he decided to issue the pardon because he believes his son was “selectively, and unfairly, prosecuted” and that the prosecution of Hunter’s arrests led to a “miscarriage of justice.”
President Biden said the charges in his son’s cases came to be after several of his “political opponents in Congress instigated them” to attack the president and oppose his election.
The president’s move is a reversal from last month when White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said there would be no pardon and over the summer when President Biden said the same at another press briefing and during an interview with ABC News.
Hunter Biden issued his own statement Sunday saying in part he has admitted and taken responsibility for mistakes he made during his addiction. He added, “I will never take the clemency I have been given today for granted and will devote the life I have rebuilt to helping those who are still sick and suffering.”
President-elect Donald Trump also issued a statement on his Truth Social platform asking if President Biden’s pardon also includes those arrested in connection to the Jan. 6 riots. Trump used Biden’s own words – saying this is “a miscarriage of justice.”
— Donald J. Trump Posts From His Truth Social (@TrumpDailyPosts) December 2, 2024
President Biden’s pardon covers any potential federal crimes Hunter committed from Jan. 1, 2014 through Dec.1, 2024 — including his time on the board of Ukrainian gas company Burisma. Hunter Biden faced criticism for his foreign business transactions and lofty salary despite having a lack of energy experience.
This official grant of clemency cannot be rescinded by President-elect Trump.
Canada’s prime minister to up border security after meeting with Trump
Canadian officials are stepping up security at the country’s border with the United States after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met with President-elect Trump in Florida for dinner on Friday, Nov. 29. That’s according to a top Canadian government official who was there for the talks.
Trump announced Monday, Nov. 25, he would levy 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico if they did not stop undocumented people and drugs from crossing their respective borders into the U.S.
Thanks for dinner last night, President Trump. I look forward to the work we can do together, again. pic.twitter.com/lAWFMTtQt7
Canada’s ambassador to the U.S. said Trudeau was successful in getting the president-elect to understand that lumping the flow of migrants and drugs into the U.S. from Canada, with those from Mexico is unfair. Still, Trudeau has promised to increase northern border security in a “visible and muscular way.”
After their meeting, Trump posted on social media that it was “productive” and Trudeau had “made a commitment to work with us.”
Millions face winter weather warning as lake-effect snow blankets northeast
Cold temperatures are sweeping across a large part of the U.S., combined with record-warm temperatures in the Great Lakes, equaling lake-effect snow — and lots of it.
Some parts of the Northeast have already received a few feet of snow, and it’s not expected to stop until Wednesday, Dec. 4, with up to two more feet of snow expected to blanket the area through Tuesday, Dec. 3.
More than two feet of snow was on the ground when the Buffalo Bills put out the call on Sunday, Dec. 1, for fans to volunteer to shovel snow ahead of their game against the San Francisco 49ers. Lots of fans turned out for $20 an hour, warm refreshments and a ticket to the game.
There is a state of emergency in effect Monday morning in parts of New York state. Meanwhile, millions of people are under winter weather warnings from the East Coast to Ohio.
The cold is expected to last well into this week with nearly 70% of the continental U.S. set to feel temperatures below freezing. Some cities, like New York, Chicago, Atlanta, Minneapolis and Cincinnati, will experience below-average temperatures for the entire week.
Big Ten fines Ohio State, Michigan $100,000 each for post-game brawl
A college football rivalry game over the weekend ended with both teams fined $100,000 each. The Big Ten issued the fines Sunday against Michigan and Ohio State due to a post-game brawl between players, that saw police officers using pepper spray to break up the fighting.
It began after players from Michigan planted their flag in mid-field at Ohio Stadium, known as the “Horseshoe,” following the Wolverines’ 13-10 upset victory over the No. 2 Buckeyes. After five minutes, the melee ended with some players and coaches bloodied.
The Big Ten said both teams violated the league’s sportsmanship policy, but it does not plan to suspend any player for the incident.
Black Friday sees record $10.8 billion in online sales
Cyber Monday is here, but it looks like shoppers couldn’t wait. Black Friday saw record spending in the U.S. this year, with many shoppers chose to forgo the mall crowds and instead opting to buy online.
Shoppers spent a record $10.8 billion online Friday, according to Adobe Analytics. That’s over 10% — or $1 billion — more than they did last year. It’s also more than double what consumers spent in 2017.
Adobe said online shoppers shelled out roughly $1.3 million per minute between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Friday.
Friday’s in-store shopper traffic was down more than 8% compared to 2023, according to Sensormatic Solutions, which tracks retail store foot traffic.
‘Moana 2’ breaks Thanksgiving box office record with $221M
It seems getting full on turkey and stuffing were not the only plan for Americans over the holiday weekend. Many also went to the movies to see the latest from Disney.
“Moana 2” broke a Thanksgiving box office record. The animated sequel took in $221 million over the five-day holiday period from Wednesday, Nov. 27, to Sunday, Dec. 1.
This topped “Frozen 2’s” Thanksgiving earnings of $125 million in 2019. “Moana 2” also overtook last year’s “The Super Mario Brothers” movie to have the biggest five-day debut in history.
Combined with blockbusters “Wicked” and “Gladiator II,” the three films brought in $420 million, making it the highest-grossing Thanksgiving weekend ever at the box office.
No credible threats to Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade: Report
With Thanksgiving less than a week away, New Yorkers are gearing up for the annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. The famous parade will feature 22 large character balloons, 34 floats, 11 marching bands, 28 performers and more than 10,000 participants.
Each year, the parade attracts millions of spectators lining the streets of New York City. That means it could be a target for foreign and domestic terrorists seeking to commit acts of violence.
However, law enforcement officials said there’s no “specific, actionable threat,” according to a report obtained by ABC News New York.
The document notes the most significant threat “stems from lone offenders and small groups of individuals seeking to commit acts of violence.”
One particular concern, law enforcement says, is vehicle ramming, in which a threat actor targets crowds of pedestrians. ABC News reports law enforcement plans to have trucks posted along the parade route as a precaution.
Last year, dozens of pro-Palestinian protesters were arrested for disrupting the parade when they attempted to glue their hands to the pavement. Police say the protesters were arrested and investigated for vandalism.
This year, the bulletin warns law enforcement remains concerned about malicious actors attempting to disrupt public safety, including blocking roads and key transportation hubs.
Disney cruise ship saves 4 boaters from sinking Catamaran
Four stranded boaters are safe thanks to a Disney cruise ship joining the U.S. Coast Guard on a rescue mission. It happened Sunday, Nov. 10, when the Catamaran started sinking about 265 miles off the coast of Bermuda.
The escape hatch blew a gasket causing the boat to take on water.
Coast Guard officials put out a call for help and the Disney Treasure was the closest ship.
“Once the cruise ship was within radio contact they worked directly with the sailing vessel and they were super helpful and super willing to do whatever they could to help these people,” Lt. Commander Michael Rauch told ABC News.
The crew on the ship launched a life boat to successfully rescue all four passengers on the Catamaran.
Captain Marco Nogara of the Disney Treasure said in a statement, “We are pleased that the Disney Treasure was able to provide aid to the boat passengers in peril. Our crew members worked together on the rescue, skillfully demonstrating their training and commitment to safety.”
The Treasure is sailing from the Netherlands to its new home in Port Canaveral, Florida.
Vice President Kamala Harris concedes the election to former President Donald Trump. And President Joe Biden speaks to Trump to invite him to a meeting at the White House. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024.
Harris concedes presidential election to Trump
Donald Trump is once again president-elect, with more media outlets calling the election on Wednesday, Nov. 6. The former (and future) president not only won the Electoral College but the popular vote as well.
As of early Thursday morning, Nov. 7, Decision Desk HQ had Trump standing at 312 electoral votes, surpassing the 270 needed to win. His opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris earned 226. Trump also led in the popular vote at close to 73 million, with Harris getting just over 68 million.
We heard from Trump celebrating his victory in the wee hours of Wednesday morning. Harris chose not to speak at that time.
Instead, the vice president waited until the afternoon to address a crowd of supporters at Howard University, where she conceded the election.
“The outcome of this election is not what we wanted, not what we fought for, not what we voted for,” she said, “but hear me when I say, hear me when I say, the light of America’s promise will always burn bright as long as we never give up and as long as we keep fighting.”
Harris said she spoke with Trump on the phone to congratulate him. She also told her supporters it is important to accept the election results and engage in a peaceful transfer of power, calling it “a fundamental principle of American democracy.”
“At the same time, in our nation, we owe loyalty not to a president or a party, but to the Constitution of the United States, and loyalty to our conscience and to our god,” she said. “My allegiance to all three is why I am here to say, while I concede this election, I do not concede the fight that fueled this campaign.”
Harris also told the crowd, they might “feel dark times are ahead” but she hopes that’s not the case and added that “sometimes the fight takes a while.”
Harris, as the sitting vice president, will be the one overseeing Congress’ ceremonial certification of the election in January.
Meanwhile, there is speculation Trump could soon begin announcing appointments to key positions in his cabinet, in just a matter of days. Some prospective nominees reportedly canceled their flights out of south Florida Wednesday after election night celebrations, in order to remain close to Trump.
Biden congratulates Trump on win, invites him to White House
President Joe Biden also reached out to President-elect Trump over the phone on Wednesday. During that call, he invited Trump to a meeting at the White House and offered his congratulations.
The White House released a statement saying, “President Biden expressed his commitment to ensuring a smooth transition and emphasized the importance of working to bring the country together.”
A Trump campaign spokesperson confirmed the call, and that Biden invited the president-elect to the White House to “ensure a smooth transition between the current administration and the incoming administration.” The Trump campaign said the White House meeting would take place shortly and Trump very much appreciated the call from Biden.
Biden also spoke to Vice President Harris on the phone Wednesday. He released a statement following her concession speech saying in part, “Under extraordinary circumstances, she stepped up and led a historic campaign that embodied what’s possible when guided by a strong moral compass and a clear vision for a nation.”
President Biden added that selecting Harris as his vice president was “the best decision” he made.
The president is expected to address the nation Thursday on the election and the transition of power.
This morning at 11 AM ET, I’ll address the nation to discuss the election results and the transition.
Special counsel, DOJ reportedly in talks to end Trump prosecutions
Now that former President Trump is once again president-elect, Special Counsel Jack Smith is reportedly in talks with Department of Justice leadership to figure out how to end the criminal cases against Trump. That’s what sources familiar with the matter have told several media outlets.
The DOJ has had a longstanding policy against prosecuting a sitting president and Justice Department regulations say a special counsel must consult DOJ leaders — possibly even Attorney General Merrick Garland — on major decisions in an investigation.
Last year, Smith charged Trump with plotting to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election and illegally keeping classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. Those latter charges were dismissed by a judge earlier this year, but Smith has appealed that ruling. Trump has pleaded not guilty in both cases.
Biden admin rushing billions in assistance to Ukraine: Reports
The Biden administration plans to rush billions of dollars in aid to Ukraine before President Biden leaves office in January, according to multiple reports. The goal is to make sure Ukraine’s government is in a good place when President-elect Trump takes office.
Trump has been critical of the scale of the U.S. military and financial support for Ukraine in its war with Vladimir Putin and Russia.
I had an excellent call with President @realDonaldTrump and congratulated him on his historic landslide victory—his tremendous campaign made this result possible. I praised his family and team for their great work.
We agreed to maintain close dialogue and advance our…
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) November 6, 2024
In April, the Republican-controlled House approved more aid for Ukraine, including an allocation for weapons. However, more than $6 billion in aid that has been set aside for Ukraine has not made it there yet.
Trump has vowed to end the war between Russia and Ukraine quickly but has not specified how.
Cuba’s power grid collapses after Hurricane Rafael makes landfall
Hurricane Rafael weakened after making landfall in Cuba as a powerful Category 3 storm, but not before causing the island’s electrical grid to collapse.
While the storm is expected to stay in the southern part of the Gulf of Mexico, heavy rain will be seen in Florida and neighboring parts of the southeast. One to three inches of rain are expected for parts of the Florida Keys.
Rafael is the fifth major hurricane of the year in the Atlantic and the strongest to hit this late in the year since 2020.
Fox News wins election ratings, overall viewership falls from 2020
Fox News once again led the pack, getting the most viewers on election night. During primetime hours between 8 p.m. and 11 p.m. ET, 9.8 million viewers tuned into Fox News. However, that is down from the nearly 14 million viewers who watched in 2020.
On the broadcast side, ABC News came in No. 1 in primetime with 5.6 million viewers.
Overall, Nielsen said across 18 cable and broadcast networks, 42 .3 million people tuned into coverage. That’s down more than 25% from 2020, when election coverage drew nearly 57 million viewers.
*Corrections to Wednesday’s “Unbiased Updates”: We would like to correct that North Carolina did not ‘flip’ blue as the current governor, Roy Cooper, is a Democrat.And, in our final story, history was made in three states on Election Day as two of the elections we mentioned took place in Delaware.
Trump speaks of ‘incredible’ win after projected to be next US president
Donald Trump is poised to win the presidency again. How Georgia, North Carolina and Pennsylvania helped put him over the top. And while Republicans have picked up seats in the Senate, will they also take the House? A look at where things stand. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024.
Trump speaks of ‘incredible’ win after projected to be next U.S. president
Former President Donald Trump declared victory while addressing supporters in Florida early Wednesday morning, Nov. 6, as his lead over Vice President Kamala Harris grew. He picked up critical wins in key battleground states Pennsylvania, Georgia, and North Carolina.
“We overcame obstacles that nobody thought possible, and it is now clear that we’ve achieved the most incredible political thing,” Trump said. “Look what happened — is this crazy? But it’s a political victory that our country has never seen before, nothing like this. I want to thank the American people for the extraordinary honor of being elected your 47th president and your 45th president.”
Harris’ path to the 270 electoral votes has become less of a possibility, with most media outlets projecting Trump as the winner Wednesday morning. As of the time this article was published, Fox News, ABC, NBC, CBS, the Associated Press and Decision Desk HQ, a forecasting and analysis organization, have projected him to be the winner.
Donald Trump wins presidency for second time, completing improbable comeback https://t.co/VGPT8X5I88
Trump, who survived two assassination attempts during the campaign, was surrounded by family, Republican leaders, and his running mate Ohio Sen. JD Vance as he addressed the crowd inside the Palm Beach Convention Center around 2:30 a.m. ET Wednesday.
“America has given us an unprecedented and powerful mandate,” he told supporters. “Many people have told me that God spared my life for a reason and that reason was to save our country and to restore America to greatness and now we are going to fulfill that mission together.”
Vice President Harris, who picked up wins in California and New York, did not speak Tuesday night, Nov. 5, but earlier in the evening campaign co-chair Cedric Richmond spoke to supporters at Howard University. He said the vice president was not giving up the fight despite how the numbers were going.
“We will continue overnight to fight to make sure that every vote is counted, that every voice has spoken, so you won’t hear from the vice president tonight, but you will hear from her tomorrow,” he said. ”She will be back here tomorrow to address not only the HU family, not only to address our supporters, but to address the nation.”
Multiple news networks have confirmed Harris is slated to speak Wednesday morning. However, it is worth noting there reportedly has been no concession call yet from Harris to Trump.
Ray Bogan recaps election night from Washington
Washington is going to look a lot different in January.
Donald Trump made an extraordinary comeback. He lost the electoral and popular votes in 2020 after stinging defeats in Georgia, Arizona and Pennsylvania. This time around Trump won back both Georgia and Pennsylvania. He also took Wisconsin.
Republicans also won a majority in the Senate, with key victories in Ohio and West Virginia pushing them over the top. This will give them a key advantage as they work to confirm Trump’s cabinet picks and judicial nominations.
It’s important to remember that the majorities in Congress are razor-thin and nowhere near filibuster-proof in the Senate. So passing legislation will require bipartisanship.
The big question now is – who will be the Senate majority leader? The three candidates are John Thune from South Dakota, John Cornyn from Texas and Rick Scott from Florida.
Balance of power in Congress shifts, GOP retakes control of Senate
As Ray mentioned, the balance of power is shifting in Congress. Republicans will retake control of the Senate for the first time in four years.
The GOP flipped seats in West Virginia and Ohio, giving Republicans at least a 51-seat majority in the Senate.
In West Virginia, Republican Gov. Jim Justice is slated to replace the outgoing Sen. Joe Manchin, an independent who caucused with Democrats. In Ohio, Republican Bernie Moreno is projected by multiple outlets to defeat incumbent Democrat Sen. Sherrod Brown.
How the House of Representatives will play out remains to be seen. Republicans are hoping to retain control of the chamber.
They currently hold a slim majority, yet there are still over 100 races yet to be determined as of the time of publishing. Going into the night, Democrats needed to flip four seats to gain.
Stein wins in NC governor’s race, Republicans see victory in other states
Voters in 11 states also chose their next governors. While Republicans won big, Democrats did manage to retain power in several states.
North Carolina remained blue after the state’s Democratic attorney general, Josh Stein, beat out controversial Republican Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson. Robinson — who made history as the first Black lieutenant governor in the state — was already trailing in the polls, but his numbers took a dive in mid-September after CNN released a report detailing comments he allegedly made on a pornography website message board more than a decade ago on race, gender and abortion.
Thank you, North Carolina! I am honored to serve as your next governor. Tonight, we came together to resoundingly embrace a vision that is optimistic, forward-looking, and welcoming. I couldn't have done this without each of you. pic.twitter.com/3eeGGTVHed
In Delaware, Democrat Matt Meyer wins the race for governor. Meyer defeated Republican Mike Ramone and will take over from two-term Democratic Gov. John Carney.
Washington state will stay blue after Attorney General Bob Ferguson beat out Republican challenger Dave Reichert for the job. The seat was up for grabs after Democratic Gov. Jay Inslee said he would not be running again after serving three terms.
Indiana went from blue to red, with Republican Mike Braun defeating Democrat Jennifer McCormick. McCormick is a former Republican who split with the party after serving as the state’s schools superintendent.
Meanwhile, Republican Missouri remained red. The state’s Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe is set to replace term-limited Republican Gov. Mike Parson.
North Dakota stayed red, as well. Kelly Armstrong is projected to succeed Gov. Doug Burgum, who also chose not to run again after serving three terms. It is possible Burgum will get a place in the Trump administration.
Republicans will now have governors in 27 states; Democrats in 23.
*Editor’s Note: This story has been updated since our recording to correct that North Carolina did not flip blue as the current governor, Roy Cooper, is a Democrat.
Voters in four states chose whether to enshrine abortion as a constitutional right. The measure did not pass in Florida, Nebraska or South Dakota, but did in Colorado and Nevada.
Nebraska voters actually had two abortion-related measures on their ballot. While the constitutional right to an abortion failed, the other measure, which would prohibit abortions after the first trimester, passed.
Five other states were deciding on the right to an abortion. The measures passed in Arizona, Maryland, Missouri, and New York and is expected to make it through in Montana.
3 newly elected senators, 1 congresswoman making history
History was made in three states on Election Day.
In Delaware, Lisa Blunt Rochester — who already made history as the first woman and first Black person to represent the state in Congress — will now become the first Black woman to represent Delaware in the U.S. Senate.
Maryland Democrat Angela Alsobrooks will be the first Black candidate to represent her state in the Senate.
We just won our Senate race! As a son of immigrants, a public school kid, I never could’ve imagined I’d get to serve as a US Senator. I’m deeply humbled and grateful to NJ and for everyone who got us here. I promise I’ll serve with honor and integrity as a public servant for all. pic.twitter.com/qpuobm9Vf3
New Jersey Democrat Andy Kim will become the first Korean-American ever elected to the Senate. At 42 years old, he’ll also be the Senate’s third youngest member.
Finally, Sarah McBride, who won Delaware’s only open House seat, will be the first openly transgender person to be elected to Congress.
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TV networks, streaming services add features to win election night
TV networks, streaming services and newspapers are all bringing out the latest technological advancements to win election night coverage. From virtual reality sets to election integrity teams, outlets are pulling out all stops to be the destination for American voters looking for the latest results and analysis.
MSNBC will present a virtual reality set for its election night coverage. That will see reporters appearing to stand near the White House, while in reality, they’ll be inside the 30 Rock studios in New York City.
Its sister network, NBC News also will unveil a VR set where its anchors will appear to be delivering news from outside the studio. NBC’s streaming service Peacock will debut its multiview experience for the first time beyond a sporting event.
It will give viewers three livestreams at once including the Kornacki Cam. The Kornacki Cam is a feed on correspondent Steve Kornacki analyzing the latest results.
ABC News is touting its 72 hours plus of election coverage which includes its “ballot watch” desk overseen by the ABC News Investigative Unit. ABC says it will be “monitoring all storylines related to election integrity.”
Fox News says it will debut new immersive graphics technology as part of its special coverage of the 2024 election. This includes a 3D “Path to 270 Map” showing the candidates’ options at reaching the critical number of electoral votes.
The network was the most-watched cable network last election night in 2020 setting a record with 13.7 million viewers.
Over at NewsNation, the channel will be covering its first presidential election since becoming a full-time 24-hour national news network earlier this year. Former CNN anchor Chris Cuomo will be at the anchor desk covering the election.
The CW network will simulcast part of NewsNation’s coverage.
Former NBC News anchor Brian Williams leads Amazon Prime Video’s entry into election night coverage.
Comedy Central will have a special edition of “The Daily Show” with Jon Stewart.
CNBC will focus on the economy during its special programming from the floor of the New York Stock Exchange.
CNN is adding its Magic Wall experience to its app. CBS News, not to be outdone by NBC, will also be debuting its new AR-VR presidential election center.
Beyond TV and streaming, The Associated Press will be using its “state-of-the-art analytics tools” as well as its AP VoteCast. The VoteCast surveys American voters across the country as the polls close in its reporting.
The Washington Post is unveiling a slate of new features to its coverage including an election dashboard that provides live updates from key swing states.
The New York Times will have its famous needle as election results come in.
As for Straight Arrow News, we’ll be bringing you updates throughout election night and viewers will get a full recap of the evening’s events on Wednesday, Nov. 6, during SAN’s morning show “Unbiased Updates.”
According to Nielsen, an estimated 56.9 million people tuned in to watch primetime coverage of the 2020 U.S. presidential election. That was down from 71 million viewers in 2016.
It will be interesting to see not just now how many people show up at the polls this election, but how many show up to watch the results