Trump, Johnson, House, Senate, Congress, Biden, Gaetz, Hurricane, Traditional Women: Daily Briefing

The Republicans won both the House of Representatives and the Senate. Another storm could hit Florida as a Category 3 hurricane by the middle of next week. How traditional women on social media could be one of the reasons women voters are turning red.

I am Nicole Fallert, Author of the daily briefing. Peanut the squirrel’s owner is still looking for answers.

A GOP trifecta

The Republican Party winning key seats in New York, California and other swing districts sets up a Republican trifecta in Washington for the next two years, laying the groundwork for President-elect Donald Trump and the party to advance their priorities without major resistance to be implemented.

As we look ahead to the next two years, Trump and Congress can expect major policy battles over U.S. support for ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine, whether to renew or change the 2017 tax policy introduced during Trump’s first term, how to needs to be funded and more. These are the policy changes Republicans want to make.

Attorney General Gaetz?

Like Trump, Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz in the spotlight of a criminal investigation. Gaetz was the subject of a federal sex trafficking investigation that ended without charges against the congressman, although a once-close political ally pleaded guilty.

And now Gaetz is Trump’s pick for attorney general, the position that heads the Justice Department. The choice led to some of the initial criticism of Trump’s Cabinet selections, as senators questioned whether the Florida Republican would be a serious choice to become the nation’s top law enforcement official.

The investigation into Gaetz is not over yet: The House Ethics Committee is investigating Gaetz and said in June it was expanding the investigation to include additional allegations that Gaetz engaged in sexual misconduct and illegal drug use, accepted “inappropriate gifts” and gave out special favors. But that action would end with his departure from the House if the Senate confirms his nomination. Gaetz has denied the allegations.
Would Gaetz get Senate confirmation?? Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., who currently heads the Judiciary Committee, said Gaetz’s selection made clear that Trump “intends to use the Justice Department to retaliate against his political enemies.”
Investigation against Trump: Meanwhile, special counsel Jack Smith is reducing two charges against Trump.

More news to know now

What is the weather today? Check your local forecast here.

Could Sara become a hurricane that hits Florida?

A storm system is forecast to become Tropical Storm Sara on Thursday. Forecast models say the system will reach winds of more than 110 mph and bring catastrophic flooding and storms to Central America this weekend. The Gulf Coast has already had five hurricane landfalls in a hurricane season that has claimed at least 326 lives and caused $120 billion in damage. Follow Sara.

Yes, Congress met yesterday to discuss aliens

Congressional leaders continue to seriously consider the possibility that not only are unexplained objects violating U.S. airspace, but that the military has been secretly recovering the device for decades to bolster its own technology. On Wednesday, a new set of witnesses provided new testimony on exactly these concerns during a joint hearing by subcommittees of the House Oversight Committee. The more than two-hour hearing, titled “Unidentified Anomalous Phenomenon: Exposing the Truth,” represented Congress’s latest foray into the topic of UFOs. Here’s a look at some of the most compelling testimonials.

Today’s talkers

Could traditional women have caused the red wave among female voters?

On platforms like TikTok and Instagram, a subculture of housewives had quickly grown in popularity. Now that creators like Nara Smith and Hannah Neeleman, better known as Ballerina Farm, have millions of followers, their content feels inescapable. In a divided political landscape, many creators have chosen to remain silent about their ideologies. But while traditional content creators don’t necessarily align themselves with a political ideology, they present a certain lifestyle and family unit that Trump and JD Vance promote.

Photo of the day: Political enemies meet

President-elect Donald Trump and outgoing President Joe Biden met for nearly two hours at the White House on Wednesday, marking a peaceful transfer of power four years after Trump left in protest following his loss to Biden in the 2020 election. This is what they were talking about.

Nicole Fallert is a newsletter writer at USA TODAY, sign up for the email here. Would you like to send Nicole a message? Send her an email at [email protected].