48 minutes ago Five actions Biden can take to protect civil liberties before Trump’s presidency

From confirming judges to closing detention centers, six experts address how the president can limit Trump’s impactIn less than two months, Donald Trump will take office, threatening several areas of American life and international policy. The president-elect has pledged to take aim at LGBTQ+ rights, specifically for transgender and gender-non-conforming people. He has promised to conduct mass deportations and raids as a part of a far-right approach to US immigration. And he is expected to roll back data collection practices on police misconduct and stifle any hope of passing police reform in Congress – specifically the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act.Trump will largely be able to roll out his agenda, outlined in the 900-plus-page Project 2025 document, as Republicans took control ...

Politics

1 hour ago Trump’s pick of Pam Bondi for attorney general doesn’t end transition drama – live updates

Trump’s contentious choice of Pam Bondi came after Matt Gaetz withdrew his nomination; attention remains on Pete Hegseth as controversies come to lightHegseth wrote of military taking sides in ‘civil war’Profile: Who is Pam Bondi?Trump’s cabinet and White House picks – so farIf confirmed by the Senate, Pam Bondi will assume the nation’s highest law enforcement role under Donald Trump’s administration as attorney general. The Guardian’s Abené Clayton reports on Bondi’s background:The Senate will not vote on four of Joe Biden’s appellate court nominees in order to hasten the processes of other nominations.Former health secretary Tom Price says he expects Trump to implement block grants for Medicaid. Continue reading...

Politics

2 hours ago Beyond evangelicals, Trump and his allies courted smaller faith groups, from the Amish to Chabad

Donald Trump’s lock on the white evangelical vote is legendary, but he didn't focus exclusively on large religious voter blocs

Politics

2 hours ago California prepares to fortify state’s abortion access: ‘Fight for what’s right’

Lawmaker Mia Bonta outlines new bills package to protect reproductive rights in interview with the GuardianAs Donald Trump returns to the White House, anti-abortion groups are hoping this is their moment.With Republicans controlling both chambers of Congress and the US supreme court governed by a conservative supermajority, activists are pushing an extreme agenda, including a nationwide abortion ban, a prohibition on abortion pills, a “fetal personhood” doctrine that could restrict in vitro fertilization and attacks on contraception. Continue reading...

Politics

2 hours ago Hats off to Jaguar’s ‘inclusive’ new branding: now people of all backgrounds won’t buy its cars | Marina Hyde

In the aftermath of Trump’s victory, the ad already looks like a period piece. But aside from that – I mean, seriously?There are many eve-of-the-offensive conversations I would love to have been a fly on the wall for. Inside the Trojan horse, say, with that Ancient Greek SAS unit bantering the day away, before busting out for their daring small-hours raid. Or inside the Jaguar marketing department, on the night before their new rebrand, as these crack experiential troops prepared to release this week’s new ad on an unsuspecting luxury car market. Picture the champagne corks popping as the socials are timed to post the video at the appointed hour. “I hope the pre-order guys are ready for an onslaught – because we’ve got eight capital-D diverse models in category-five tulle busting out of...

Economics

3 hours ago Digested week: Trump’s Star Wars cantina cabinet and No Consequences for Old Men

Plus Heartwarming: the worst person you know just had another bad thing happen to themTrump’s cabinet picks have been compared to a “battalion of bozos” (Jimmy Kimmel), “beyond insane” (Rep. Jim McGovern), “feral lunatics” (the American Prospect) and “the bar in Star Wars” (everyone). This week, joining a lineup that, until he dropped out on Thursday, included alleged sex offender Matt Gaetz for attorney general, alleged sex offender RFK Jr for health secretary, and alleged sex offender Pete Hegseth at defence, came two further picks that are unlikely to calm America’s nerves: for education secretary, Linda McMahon, a sometime educator with more years in the saddle as chief executive of World Wrestling Entertainment. And the TV doctor and promoter of crank weightloss products Mehmet “Dr...

Politics

4 hours ago Who is in Donald Trump's new top team? Pam Bondi replaces Matt Gaetz alongside Elon Musk and Robert F Kennedy

President-elect shuffles his pack ahead of January inauguration

Politics

4 hours ago Rental home investors poised to benefit as mortgage rates, high home prices sideline buyers in 2025

Elevated mortgage rates, rising home prices and other U.S. housing market trends that have kept many would-be homebuyers on the sidelines are likely to remain hurdles next year, driving solid demand for single-family rental houses, analysts say

Economics

4 hours ago Elon Musk has cozied into Trump’s White House. How long will this bromance last? | Katrina vanden Heuvel

The absurd Musk-Trump pact might have a silver lining: their relationship, like Trump’s coalition at large, is fragileIt’s deja vu all over again, again. In the wake of Donald Trump’s decisive re-election, his transition team has moved to pack his cabinet and adviser positions with figures straight out of the Star Wars cantina – some of the most dangerous and bizarre sideshows from every corner of his chaotic galaxy.In the Trump Cinematic Universe, loyalty usurps qualification. That’s why Pete Hegseth, a Fox News host who wants to eliminate “woke” officials from the military, got tapped to oversee our national defense. And it’s why Matt Gaetz was asked to helm the very Department of Justice that was investigating him for alleged sex trafficking, before his abrupt withdrawal from conside...

Politics

4 hours ago Trump’s Pentagon pick Hegseth wrote of US military taking sides in ‘civil war’

Defense secretary pick said in 2020 that should Democrats win election the military ‘will be forced to make a choice’Pete Hegseth, Donald Trump’s pick for defense secretary, has written in a book that he could imagine a scenario in which the US armed forces would be used violently in American domestic politics.Hegseth, a former elite soldier turned rightwing Fox television personality, is Trump’s choice to lead the Pentagon which controls the gigantic American military – by far the largest armed force in the world. Continue reading...

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