What we’re watching: Trump’s busy weekend in Washington

Here’s what we’re watching in transition world today: 🗓️ What we’re watching President-elect Donald Trump’s transition, which kicked off at an expeditious pace with his naming of top Cabinet positions, comes to a close on Monday, when Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance will be sworn in during a frigid ceremony at the Capitol.  Speaker […]

China will dispatch an envoy to Trump’s inauguration

China will send an envoy, Vice President Han Zheng, to Donald Trump’s inauguration as president, the country’s foreign ministry said in a news release. Karoline Leavitt, who will serve as press secretary in Trump’s new administration, confirmed last month that Chinese President Xi Jinping was invited to the event. Han’s presence at the inauguration comes […]

Energy and Commerce readies first hearings

The House Energy and Commerce Committee has settled on the themes for its first hearings of the new Congress, focusing on bolstering U.S. innovations and advancements in domestic wireless technology and chemical production. The topics send a signal about the panel’s priorities in the new Republican governing trifecta — and what political message it wants […]

Former Trump HHS official Paul Mango dies

Paul Mango, a former Pennsylvania gubernatorial candidate and senior health official during President-elect Donald Trump’s first term who was advising on the current transition, has died. Mango’s death was confirmed Thursday afternoon by his current employer, the Paragon Health Institute. “Paul was a mentor and friend who dedicated his life to serving his country, who […]

Energy and Commerce GOP meets on reconciliation plans

House Energy and Commerce Republicans met Thursday to shape their strategy for energy portions of the GOP’s budget reconciliation bill — including clawing back climate spending approved by Democrats. Panel leaders previewed a “menu” of programs in the Inflation Reduction Act and other Biden administration climate spending that could be rescinded, lawmakers familiar with the […]

Trump nominates special envoys to… Hollywood 🎬

President-elect Donald Trump on Thursday tapped three new special ambassadors — but not to a foreign nation or policy area. Actors Jon Voight, Mel Gibson and Sylvester Stallone will serve as “Special Ambassadors to a great but very troubled place, Hollywood, California,” Trump said in a post on Truth Social, with the aim of boosting […]

Get ready for a 🥶🥶🥶 Inauguration Day

Prepare to freeze at Donald Trump’s inauguration. It’s forecasted to be the coldest Inauguration Day since President Ronald Reagan’s second swearing-in ceremony in 1985 (temperature: A cool 7 degrees). The weather is expected to peak in the mid-20s (very cold!) and dip as low as 10 degrees (very very cold!) at night. The good news: […]

Trump selects private equity CEO Pulte as top housing regulator

President-elect Donald Trump has selected private equity CEO and philanthropist Bill Pulte to lead the Federal Housing Finance Agency. If confirmed, Pulte would become the country’s top housing regulator. FHFA oversees Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the government-controlled mortgage giants standing behind roughly half of the U.S. residential mortgage market. Pulte founded Pulte Capital Partners […]