APPOINTMENTS

Dec 09 2024POLITICS

Government Makeover: Catching Up With REGO

Back in the late 1800s, presidents had been promising to fix the government bureaucracy for over a century. One of the biggest changes came after James Garfield's death in 1881, when a disgruntled job seeker shot him. This tragic event led to the creation of a professional, merit-based bureaucracy t

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Dec 05 2024POLITICS

House Republicans Face a Tight Majority

The final seat in the 2024 elections has been called, with Democrat Adam Gray winning in California's 13th District. This leaves Republicans with a narrow 220-215 majority in the House. With President-elect Trump's agenda on the line, Speaker Mike Johnson can only afford to lose two votes if Democra

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Nov 25 2024POLITICS

Trump's Public Health Picks: What's at Stake?

Health has gotten a lot better in the U. S. Over the last 50 years, life expectancy has increased by nearly 10 years. We're seeing fewer deaths from heart disease and cancer. Even the latest health threats, like opioids and COVID-19, are on track to cause fewer deaths. But change is coming. Presiden

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Nov 24 2024HEALTH

Former Top Doc Warns of Health Threats Surge

Dr. Jerome Adams, former U. S. surgeon general, took to social media to alert the incoming administration about a rise in infectious diseases. Adams, who worked with President Trump, expressed concern over the increase in whooping cough, measles, and bird flu cases. He emphasized the need for a stro

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Nov 24 2024POLITICS

Russell Vought's Think Tank Pushes for Senate Bypass

Russell Vought, the man behind Project 2025 and Donald Trump's pick for the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), is pushing for a controversial way to get Trump's nominees approved. He wants the Senate to go on recess, so Trump can make "recess appointments. " This means Trump could fill top jobs

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Nov 23 2024POLITICS

Trump's Late-Night Cabinet Picks: A Closer Look

On a Friday night, President-elect Donald Trump announced several key nominations for his administration. Among the notable picks were hedge fund manager Scott Bessent for Treasury Secretary, outgoing Representative Lori Chavez-DeRemer (R-OR) for Labor Secretary, and former Texas state Representativ

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Nov 23 2024POLITICS

Trump's TV Talents: From Fox to Cabinet

President-elect Donald Trump is assembling a Cabinet that reads more like a TV guide than a list of policy heavyweights. He's picked several faces from Fox News, including Sean Duffy for Treasury secretary and Pete Hegseth for the Pentagon. There's also Dr. Mehmet Oz, known for his health show, at t

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Nov 17 2024POLITICS

Senator Mullin Stands By RFK Jr. , Questions Vaccine Link to Autism

Okay, let’s chat about what Senator Markwayne Mullin from Oklahoma had to say recently. He’s been defending Robert F. Kennedy Jr. , who’s been chosen to lead the Department of Health and Human Services by Donald Trump. Kennedy is known for questioning vaccines, and Mullin thinks he’s really smart on

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Nov 15 2024POLITICS

What's the Deal with Recess Appointments?

Imagine you're the president, and you really want someone to fill a big job in your team, like the attorney general. Normally, you'd need the Senate's okay, but there's a trick called recess appointments. This is like a special power presidents have to fill jobs when the Senate isn't working. Donald

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Nov 13 2024POLITICS

Race Against Time: Democrats Aim to Confirm Biden's Judges Before Power Shift

Senate Democrats are rushed off their feet. They are trying to confirm numerous federal judges chosen by President Joe Biden in a short timeframe. The clock's ticking, as they only have seven weeks before the new Congress is sworn in, and control of the Senate shifts to the Republicans. This whirlwi

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