The Democrats’ Senate Nightmare Is Just Beginning

Transgender youth in the United States have been flooding crisis hotlines since the election of Donald Trump, who made anti-transgender themes central to his campaign. Many teens worry about how their lives could change once he takes office. During his presidential bid, Trump pledged to impose wide-ranging restrictions and roll back civil rights protections for transgender students.

WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald Trump stunned the Pentagon and the broader defense world by nominating Fox News host Pete Hegseth to serve as his defense secretary, tapping someone largely inexperienced and untested on the global stage to take over the world’s largest and most powerful military. The news was met with bewilderment and worry among many in Washington as Trump passed on a number of established national security heavy-hitters and chose an Army National Guard captain well known in conservative circles as a co-host of Fox News Channel’s “Fox & Friends Weekend.” RELATED: What Trump’s second term means for Colorado immigrants, public lands, abortion access and Space Command While some Republican lawmakers had a muted response to the announcement, others called his combat experience an asset or said he was “tremendously capable.” Hegseth’s choice could bring sweeping changes to the military.

This story was originally published by Grist and is reproduced here as part of the Climate Desk collaboration. As dozens of heads of state arrived in Azerbaijan for the annual United Nations climate talks this week, one absent world leader’s name was on everyone’s lips. At press conference after press conference, questions arose about the election of Donald Trump.

A week after former President Donald Trump won a return to the White House, Colorado Gov. Jared Polis has joined with Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker to announce a new effort “pushing back against increasing threats of autocracy,” as Pritzker described it. But both Democratic governors shied away from pointing the initiative directly at the incoming Republican administration. The new effort, dubbed Governors Safeguarding Democracy, stands apart from the longstanding National Governors Association — which Polis now chairs — and the party-aligned Republican and Democratic governors associations.

Don’t allow yourself to become upset with the talking heads in mass media. Feel sorry for them.

Not if Mitch McConnell’s parting wishes are granted.