Clinton, In Saudi Arabia, Explores Syria Crisis

Weeks before the election, President-elect Trump privately dismissed Sen. Rick Scott’s (R-FL) leadership bid, telling allies it is “not serious,” Axios reports.

Tara Palmeri: “There were many historic aspects of Kamala Harris’s candidacy: her gender, her race, her midsummer anointment. But perhaps most jaw-dropping was the incredible success of her fundraising machine, which amassed more than $1 billion in donations, an unprecedented sum that was tangible, undeniable proof of her campaign’s momentum and enthusiasm.” “But within 24 hours of her landslide loss, as anyone who received an election night text from ‘Barack Obama’ probably sussed out, the campaign was in the red.

Donald Trump announced Thursday that Susie Wiles, who as his de facto campaign manager is credited with imposing a measure of discipline that helped him win on Tuesday, will serve as his chief of staff. Wiles has earned a reputation as a smart, pragmatic, and effective campaign operative. For critics of Trump’s agenda—which includes deporting millions of immigrants, imposing tariffs likely to increase inflation, firing vast swaths of civil servants and using the Justice Department to prosecute critics—her appointment is bad news. “Susie is tough, smart, innovative, and is universally admired and respected,” Trump said in a statement Thursday.

Republican Dave McCormick defeated incumbent Democratic Sen. Bob Casey in Pennsylvania’s pivotal Senate race, the Associated Press projected Thursday evening, delivering the GOP yet another win after it regained control of the Senate. [time-brightcove not-tgx=”true”] McCormick’s projected victory marks a pivotal moment for the Republican Party, solidifying their gains in what was one of the nation’s most expensive Senate races and giving them a significant foothold in Pennsylvania, a state that has long been a key battleground in national elections. But with an estimated 91,000 votes still being counted, Casey’s campaign said it would not concede yet.

President-elect Donald Trump has named Susie Wiles, the defacto manager of his victorious campaign, as his White House chief of staff, the first woman to hold the influential role. Wiles is widely credited within and outside Trump’s inner circle for running what was, by far, his most disciplined and well-executed campaign, and was seen as the leading contender for the position.