On Politics

Wed Nov 27 2024

Rebecca Morin | Senior National News Reporter

@RebeccaMorin_

Happy Thanksgiving Eve! It's Rebecca Morin, senior national news reporter at USA TODAY. I'll be running my first 5K Turkey Trot tomorrow morning. Hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving holiday! A reminder: I will not be sending an On Politics newsletter on Thursday.

American consumers say they're struggling. Tariffs will make inflation much worse.

A majority of Americans are tired of high prices. It's one of the reasons why Donald Trump won the 2024 election in the first place. Trump's promise to impose tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China will raise prices on many everyday goods. It could erode the purchasing power of the average American household by $1,200, one expert said. Read more.

•	Tomatoes, wiring, peppers and grapes: Proposed Trump tariffs could hit Arizona imports
•	Watch: As Trump names trade chief, fear mounts for Mexican firms

Correction: While we're on the topic of tariffs, I wrote in Tuesday's On Politics that Trump promised a 10% tariff on goods from China. But the president-elect actually said he would impose an additional 10% to existing tariffs on China. I regret the error.

FBI says several of Donald Trump's cabinet nominees targeted with 'violent' threats

Multiple of President-elect Donald Trump's Cabinet nominees were targeted with violent threats – including bomb threats and swatting – on Tuesday night and Wednesday morning. An FBI official told USA TODAY that the bureau is actively investigating the incidents. Read more.

•	What is swatting? What to know after threats made to Donald Trump's Cabinet nominees

In case you missed it: Biden honors service members during 'Friendsgiving'

President Joe Biden serves food during a dinner with U.S. service members and their families ahead of Thanksgiving at U.S. Coast Guard Sector New York on Staten Island, New York, U.S., November 25, 2024.

Nathan Howard, REUTERS

A politics pit stop

•	Biden hopes to expand weight loss drug coverage. What's the true cost?
•	Watch: This is the one district in Manhattan that Donald Trump won
•	Biden wants to cover weight loss meds. RFK Jr. would rather we just eat better.
•	US brokers release of three Americans it says were wrongly detained in China

How to talk politics over Thanksgiving turkey?

To say it's been a tense election season would be an understatement. If your family is anything like mine, politics is bound to come up. TV personality Alexander Heffner, who specializes in food and politics, offers some tips on how to address the topic, whether it could offer healing and what he's learned from sitting with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle. Read more.

If you want to avoid politics altogether… maybe talk about your pet

Ok, maybe you want to avoid the topic of politics or the presidential election. Why not talk about a topic that will likely bring the family together: your pet. We're looking for the best pets in America. Your pet could be featured in USA TODAY and you even have a chance to win some prizes.

Got a burning question, or comment, for On Politics? You can submit them here or send me an email at rdmorin@usatoday.com.