Trump reassigns Mike Waltz to a new post following Signal scandal



President Donald Trump announced that he will be nominating Mike Waltz, who currently serves as his national security adviser, to instead be the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio will serve as the interim national security adviser until the president appoints a new candidate to permanently fill the role. The announcement to reassign Waltz came just hours after multiple reports began to surface about his rumored firing from the administration for his role in the now infamous Signal chat leaks.

Given his responsibility in 'SignalGate,' we can expect to see senators apply significant pressure on the nominee during his confirmation hearing.

"I am pleased to announce that I will be nominating Mike Waltz to be the next United States Ambassador to the United Nations," Trump said in a Truth Social post Thursday. "From his time in uniform on the battlefield, in Congress and, as my National Security Advisor, Mike Waltz has worked hard to put our Nation's interests first. I know he will do the same in his new role."

"In the interim, Secretary of State Marco Rubio will serve as National Security Advisor, while continuing his strong leadership at the State Department," Trump added. "Together, we will continue to fight tirelessly to Make America, and the World, SAFE AGAIN."

Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik of New York was originally set to serve as U.N. ambassador and even began to go through the Senate confirmation process. Her nomination was eventually rescinded after Speaker Mike Johnson brought up the House Republican's historically narrow majority.

Another vacancy in the House GOP would shrink their majority even further, making it nearly impossible to pass meaningful legislation, especially during the ongoing reconciliation fight.

Notably, Waltz was nominated to a role requiring Senate confirmation. Given his responsibility in "SignalGate," we can expect to see senators apply significant pressure on the nominee during his confirmation hearing.

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There’s Absolutely Nothing But Politics To The Time-Wasting Signal Chat Hullabaloo

The chat should not have included a journalist, but the error pales in comparison to other egregious acts from Washington's elected leaders.

Former Trump administration official latest to have security detail revoked, report says



President Donald Trump revoked security protection for former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, according to the New York Times.

Although Pompeo's security detail was recently renewed by the Biden administration due to persistent threats from Iran, Trump has reportedly rescinded his detail. Trump also allegedly revoked the security for his former top aide, Brian Hook, who was similarly afforded protections due to Iranian threats. Their security details were reportedly revoked on Tuesday.

'The American people can judge for themselves which President made the right call.'

This decision came the day after Trump also rescinded the U.S. Secret Service detail for John Bolton, who served as Trump's national security adviser in his first administration.

"I am disappointed but not surprised that President Trump has decided to terminate the protection previously provided by the United States Secret Service," Bolton said in a statement Tuesday. "Notwithstanding my criticisms of President Biden's national-security policies, he nonetheless made the decision to extend that protection to me in 2021."

"The Justice Department filed criminal charges against an Iranian Revolutionary Guard official in 2022 for attempting to hire a hit man to target me," Bolton added. "That threat remains today, as also demonstrated by the recent arrest of someone trying to arrange for President Trump's own assassination. The American people can judge for themselves which President made the right call."

Notably, senior U.S. officials are not automatically granted security details, apart from former presidents and their spouses. Security details are left to the discretion of the current administration.

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3 House races that still have not yet been called



Although it has been over three weeks since Election Day, there are three House races that are still up in the air.

Republicans have secured their slim House majority of 219 seats while the Democrats have won 213 seats. While the GOP is expected to hold onto yet another narrow majority, several Republicans have been tapped by President-elect Donald Trump to serve in the upcoming administration. With potential House vacancies on the horizon, every race remains crucial for Republicans.

While Republicans have secured a majority in the upcoming 119th Congress, the narrow advantage is shrinking.

In California's 13th congressional district, Republican incumbent Rep. John Duarte is hoping to fend off Democratic challenger and former Rep. Adam Gray. The two candidates are currently less than 200 votes apart, with Gray inching ahead of Duarte.

Gray previously represented California's 13th congressional district from 2012 to 2022 when Duarte unseated the Democrat. Duarte defeated the then-incumbent by just 564 votes, making him the first Republican to win the district since 1974.

The district has historically been held by Democrats, and Gray is still within striking distance of Duarte, making this one of the closest House races to date.

Further south in California's 14th congressional district, Republican incumbent Rep. Michelle Steel is falling behind Democratic challenger Derek Tran. Tran has pulled ahead of Steel with an approximate 600-vote margin.

Steel was first elected to represent California's 45th congressional district in 2022. The seat was previously held for three terms by Democratic Rep. Katie Porter, who has since represented California's 47th congressional district after the state redistricted in 2021.

Although the GOP may have lost its footing in two key California seats, Republican incumbent Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks has held a narrow lead in the race for Iowa's 1st congressional district. Miller-Meeks is roughly 800 votes ahead of Democratic challenger Christina Bohannan, with just 900 votes estimated to be remaining.

Miller-Meeks was first elected to represent Iowa's 1st congressional district in 2022, defeating Bohannan by nearly seven points. Although the race is much closer this time around, Miller-Meeks still has a shot at holding onto her seat.

While Republicans have secured a majority in the upcoming 119th Congress, the narrow advantage is shrinking.

Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida most recently resigned from Congress after Trump nominated him for attorney general. Gaetz later withdrew from his Cabinet bid but reaffirmed that he had no intentions of returning to Congress, leaving the seat vacant.

Fellow Floridian and Republican Rep. Mike Waltz was also tapped by Trump to serve as national security adviser in the upcoming administration. Waltz has confirmed that he intends to resign the day Trump is inaugurated on January 20.

Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik of New York was also recruited by Trump to serve in the next administration as U.N. ambassador. Although she has not yet indicated when she intends to resign, the GOP is anticipating her vacancy.

With the two Florida seats scheduled for special elections on April 1, House Republicans are bracing themselves for an estimated one-seat majority for the first two months of the 119th Congress.

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Trump-endorsed Floridian launches bid to replace Mike Waltz following administration nomination



On Tuesday, Republican state Sen. Randy Fine of Florida announced his bid to replace Republican Rep. Mike Waltz after securing an endorsement from President-elect Donald Trump.

Fine is running to replace Waltz after Trump tapped the outgoing congressman to serve as national security adviser in the upcoming administration. Waltz confirmed Monday that he would resign from his post on Inauguration Day.

'It is my belief that President Trump is our nation's last, best chance to right the ship.'

“I’m proud to announce that I’m going to be running for the 6th Congressional District of the state of Florida,” Fine told Fox News on Tuesday. “Whether it’s fighting inflation to make America affordable again, closing the border to make America safe again, or standing up for Israel and standing up to China, I’m ready to go.”

Trump also endorsed Fine on Monday ahead of his official announcement, noting his allegiance to the MAGA movement.

"A Harvard Educated, Successful Businessman, and Highly Respected State Legislator, Randy has been an incredible Voice for MAGA, and the Great People of Florida," Trump said. "In Congress, Randy will be an INCREDIBLE Fighter who will work tirelessly with me to Stop Inflation, Grow our Economy, Secure the Border, Champion our Military/Vets, Restore American Energy DOMINANCE, Protect our always under siege Second Amendment, and Restore PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH."

In response, Fine praised the president-elect and pledged to work alongside him.

"Clearly Mom wasted no time once she made it upstairs," Fine said. "Mr. President, G-d saved you on that day in Butler so that you could save the world. It would be the honor of my life to be one of your footsoldiers."

Fine resigned from his state Senate seat on Tuesday amid his campaign launch, just one month into his term. His resignation will go into effect beginning March 31.

"It is my belief that President Trump is our nation's last, best chance to right the ship," Fine said in his resignation letter. "And with his statement this weekend, he believes I can help. I owe it to those same children that I entered office to serve to join that fight. While I am sorry that my service in the Senate will be abbreviated, it seems that my path will return me to a People's House where I will fight for Floridians under the familiar title of Representative."

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Russia Collusion Hoaxer Jake Sullivan Can’t Be Trusted To Evaluate Threats After Fabricating Them For Political Gain

Americans can't trust a liar like Jake Sullivan to be honest about the threats facing the nation when he's guilty of fabricating them.

Fox News: Biden's national security adviser Jake Sullivan is the 'foreign policy advisor' mentioned in Durham probe indictment



White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan has been identified as the "foreign policy advisor" referred to in the indictment of former Hillary Clinton presidential campaign lawyer Michael Sussmann, Fox News reports.

Back in September, Sussmann, a prominent cybersecurity lawyer with deep ties to the Democratic Party, was indicted on charges of lying to the FBI in a meeting with senior officials in 2016. Sussmann had reportedly brought evidence to the FBI he claimed connected the Trump Organization to the Kremlin-connected Alfa Bank.

The indictment accuses Sussman of presenting himself as a simple concerned citizen without disclosing his connection to Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign. Sussmann has pleaded not guilty to one count of making a false statement to a federal agent.

"On or about September 15, 2016, Campaign Lawyer-1 exchanged emails with the Clinton Campaign's campaign manager, communications director, and foreign policy advisor concerning the Russian Bank-1 allegations that SUSSMANN had recently shared with Reporter 1," the indictment states.

According to Fox News, Sullivan is the foreign policy adviser referred to, a fact that was first reported by the Washington Examiner. Clinton's campaign manager was Robby Mook, and her communications director was Jennifer Palmieri.

It was confirmed (and not just by me) that Jake Sullivan was the unnamed \u201cForeign Policy Advisor\u201d in John Durham\u2019s indictment against Michael Sussmann way back in September when the indictment was first made public.\n\nhttps://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/jake-sullivan-promoted-alfa-bank-story-center-durham-indictment\u00a0\u2026 https://twitter.com/foxnews/status/1458150729340887042\u00a0\u2026pic.twitter.com/2WFjvVxeEs

— Jerry Christmas \ud83c\udf84\ud83c\udf85\ud83c\udffd (@JerryDunleavy) 1636488965

Sussman's indictment came out of special counsel John Durham's probe into the origins of the Russia investigation. Sullivan is not a target of the Durham probe, and the indictment only describes him as a recipient of information.

When asked for comment, White House deputy press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told Fox News, "I don't know anything about what you're just mentioning. So I have to talk to our team."

The allegations of a connection between the Trump campaign and Alfa Bank, brought to the FBI by Sussmann, became an issue in the final days of the 2016 presidential campaign. Then-candidate Clinton tweeted about the allegations just days before she lost to Donald Trump.

"Computer scientists have apparently uncovered a covert server linking the Trump Organization to a Russian-based bank," Clinton tweeted, linking to a campaign statement from Sullivan that detailed the accusations.

Another recent indictment from the Durham probe has linked the 2016 Clinton campaign to false information that purported to show a link between Trump and Russia.

Last week, U.S.-based Russian analyst Igor Danchenko was indicted on five counts of lying to the FBI. Danchenko was the "primary researcher" for the Steele dossier — a discredited report that compiled various allegations and rumors accusing Trump's campaign of colluding with the Russian government to defeat Clinton.

The indictment claims Danchenko made false statements to federal investigators in 2017 by denying a relationship with a public relations executive and longtime Democratic operative who had close ties to Bill and Hillary Clinton. The PR executive was one of his sources for research that was included in the dossier.

Over the weekend, former Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe said he expects "many indictments" to come from Durham's probe and suggested everyone who had a hand in creating the Steele dossier is in "jeopardy."

"What happened with the Steele dossier, a grand jury is saying, was criminal in nature and I expect that all of the folks that are involved with creating it and peddling it falsely would be in jeopardy," Ratcliffe told Fox News, "and I know that that's what John Durham is looking at, and as I talked about, this goes to the highest levels of our government and government agencies involved."

National security adviser says 'fair amount' of US defense materials given to Afghanistan are now in Taliban hands



National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said Tuesday that a "fair amount" of the defense materials that the U.S. supplied to Afghanistan have fallen under the Taliban's control.

"We don't have a complete picture, obviously, of where every article of defense materials has gone. But certainly a fair amount of it has fallen into the hands of the Taliban," he said, "and obviously we don't have a sense that they are going to readily hand it over to us at the airport."

Asked what is expected to happen to weaponry U.S. gave Afghan military, NSA Jake Sullivan says, "Certainly a fair a… https://t.co/KfDinKzk7E
— ABC News (@ABC) 1629225782.0

The world has been witnessing the Taliban's swift takeover of Afghanistan as the U.S. seeks to pull out of the country. And while seizing control, the Taliban has also procured military equipment supplied to Afghanistan by the U.S.

"A U.S. defense official on Monday confirmed the Taliban's sudden accumulation of U.S.-supplied Afghan equipment is enormous. The official was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly and so spoke on condition of anonymity," the Associated Press has reported.

Helicopters have been among the equipment that has been obtained by the Taliban, according to the AP.

USA Today reported that the Taliban has released photos of U.S. Black Hawk helicopters that the U.S. supplied to the Afghan army.

Sullivan explained Tuesday that Black Hawks had been supplied to the Afghan National Security Forces at the request of Afghan President Ashraf Ghani who "came to the Oval Office and asked for additional air capability, among other things."

Sullivan said that President Biden faced a decision.

"He could not give it to them ... Or he could give it to them with the hope that they could deploy it in service of defending their country. Both of those options had risks. He had to choose," Sullivan said.

Ghani recently fled amid the Taliban's takeover of the country.

Brett Bruen, who served as director of global engagement at the Obama White House, has argued in an opinion piece for USA Today that Sullivan and others should be fired over America's "botched" Afghanistan withdrawal.

"President Biden needs to fire his national security adviser and several other senior leaders who oversaw the botched execution of our withdrawal from Afghanistan. He has to restructure how and with whom he is making major foreign policy decisions, allowing for more input from career experts," Bruen wrote.