On Politics

Wed Dec 4 2024

Rebecca Morin | Senior National News Reporter

@RebeccaMorin_

How's it going, folks? It's Rebecca Morin, senior national news reporter at USA TODAY. I'm taking a break from the news cycle to see my Spotify Wrapped top artist, Riley!, in D.C. tonight.

Trump considering DeSantis to replace Hegseth for defense secretary post

Controversy is swirling around another cabinet pick for President-elect Donald Trump. Former Fox News host Pete Hegseth was nominated for defense secretary. But after allegations of sexual assault and a damning New Yorker article, Trump is considering a new option: his 2024 primary opponent, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. Read more.

•	A DeSantis departure for Trump's Cabinet would scramble top of Florida government
•	Watch: Four Trump administration picks have faced past sexual misconduct allegations

Hegseth, however, is fighting to keep his role. He's been meeting with lawmakers on Capitol Hill. His mom, Penelope Hegseth, even went on "Fox and Friends" on Wednesday morning to address an email that she reportedly sent where she called her son an "abuser of women," according to the New York Times.

Republican senators are hoping to do further vetting and get to know Trump's controversial picks like Hegseth and Kash Patel, who was selected for FBI director, ahead of confirmation hearings next year in the new Congress.

Capitol Christmas tree lights up

An 80-foot Sitka Spruce from Tongass National Forest in Alaska was lighted during the annual Capitol Christmas tree lighting was held Tuesday evening. Take a look at the photos here.

The US Capitol Christmas Tree is lighted on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, on December 3, 2024. The tree which was harvested in the Tongass National Forest in Alaska was shipped from Wrangell, Alaska, to the West Lawn of the US Capitol building.

ROBERTO SCHMIDT, AFP via Getty Images

A politics pit stop

•	People with disabilities make less than minimum wage. The Biden administration wants to change it.
•	Democrat Adam Gray defeats Republican Rep. John Duarte in California
•	Martial law caused a crisis in South Korea. Could it happen in the US?
•	California man accused of shipping guns, ammunition and military devices to North Korea
•	Who was Brian Thompson? CEO of UnitedHealthcare fatally shot in Manhattan

Trump wants hush money case tossed due to election win, points to Hunter Biden pardon

Trump argued that his New York criminal hush money case should be completely dismissed based on his November election victory, according to a court filing made public on Tuesday. Trump was initially scheduled to be sentenced in July, but he has now had several sentencing dates wiped from the calendar as he tries to get his 34 felony convictions tossed out. Read more.

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