Comment on Hill bargainers: Student loan deal seems near

“President-elect Donald Trump is considering shaking up the leadership at the FBI by firing the director and installing an experienced former agent and MAGA loyalist in the top two roles,” CNN reports. “Trump has planned for months to fire Christopher Wray if he was elected, but in recent days has struggled to find a compromise of selecting a new director who can carry out his agenda while also being Senate confirmed.

President-elect Donald Trump named Pam Bondi as his new attorney general pick, NBC News reports. In 2013, while she was Florida Attorney General, Bondi received a $25,000 donation from Trump — while Bondi was deciding whether to take legal action against Trump University. Bondi eventually decided not to pursue the matter.

Sen. Bob Casey, a three-term Pennsylvania Democrat, on Thursday conceded to his Republican rival, David McCormick, amid a recount in their marquee Senate contest, the New York Times reports.

Oliver Darcy: “Morning Joe saw its ratings continue to decline Wednesday, as viewers protest the hosts warming up to Trump. The show averaged just 647K total viewers, with only 51K in the advertiser-coveted 25-54 demo. That means the show was down a staggering 60% in the demo versus its Q3 2024 average and down 43% in total viewers.”

The Bulwark: “Eight days after making the snap decision to nominate Matt Gaetz to be the nation’s next attorney general, Trump phoned him Thursday morning to tell him he wouldn’t get confirmed, according to a source briefed on the conversation. The president-elect explained that Republican senators were too troubled by the sex scandals and investigations surrounding Gaetz and that the constant and salacious distractions had doomed him.” Said Trump: “You don’t have the votes.