Congress Paid Out $15 Million In Settlements. Here's Why We Know So Little About That Money.

“There are a small number of people who I have told, ‘Look, you should take a vacation outside of the country around the time of inauguration, just to see what happens. Just go on a routine vacation and see what plays out come Jan. 20, 21st, 22nd.’ By that time, we’ll know who’s going to be in senior administration roles and whether they will be more fundamentalist about this issue than the general politician who’s appointed into a position that requires Senate confirmation.” — National security attorney Mark Zaid, quoted by Politico.

Greg Sargent: “It’s often said that Trump campaigned expressly on a platform of authoritarian rule, but this also applies to corruption: He didn’t disguise his promises to govern in the direct interests of some of the wealthiest executives and investors in the country—and he won anyway. Trump and his allies will likely interpret this as a green light to engage in an extraordinary spree of unrestrained malfeasance.”

Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) called on the House of Representatives to share an unreleased ethics report into alleged sexual misconduct involving a 17-year-old girl by Matt Gaetz, Reuters reports.

President-elect Donald Trump said that in order to “Make America Great Again,” it is “vital” to have a “free, fair and open media,” telling Fox News that he feels he has “an obligation” to the American people to work with the press, even those who had treated him “badly beyond comprehension.” However, The Guardian notes Trump “has been waging lawfare by a flurry of lawsuits against media companies and publishers that have been critical of him.”

“Donald Trump’s political revival was fueled by a populist economic message that hit home with an electorate weary of Biden-era high prices and interest rates. Now the president-elect is having a hard time picking a quarterback to run his economic game plan,” Politico reports. “Nearly two weeks after Election Day — and after a flurry of high-profile Cabinet picks that blindsided Washington policymakers and industry leaders — Trump has yet to name his pick for who will lead the Treasury Department.

Donald Trump is unlikely to make as big of an imprint on the federal judiciary as he did in his first term, the Washington Post reports. If the Senate confirms President Biden’s remaining nominees, Trump will enter office with just 36 judicial vacancies left to fill.