Trump team looks to roll back student debt relief in latest move targeting American pocketbooks: Live

In the wake of Vice President Harris’s loss to Trump, many liberal voters and leaders in the Democratic Party have racked their brains trying to understand what went wrong and looking for a scapegoat to blame – but some say it’s a collective problem.

Political analysts, commentators and even voters have tried attributing Democrats losing both the executive and legislative branches to President Joe Biden staying in the race until July, Harris saying the wrong thing on the campaign trail, Democrats being too soft on Trump and other excuses.

But rather than play the blame game, Adam Schiff says the Democrats failed to listen to voters.

Here’s more from Ariana Baio.

California GOP Representative Darrell Issa has written a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken after the State Department reportedly held “therapy and listening sessions” for employees following President-elect Donald Trump’s November victory, with Issa expressing his concern about “catering” to the political bias of officials.

Katie Hawkinson has more.

Donald Trump’s picks for a second term cabinet were supposed to illuminate what a MAGA presidency free of guardrails would look like.

Many of his picks have been surprising, some controversial.

His initial announcements were giveaways to his base – Matt Gaetz, then Pam Bondi for attorney general; Tulsi Gabbard for director of national intelligence; RFK Jr at Health and Human Services.

But as the process continues, one familiar theme has emerged: the willingness of the incoming president to spurn committed right-wing ideologues within his party.

Here’s John Bowden on why that is and what might be the consequences for Trump.

A number of Republican senators are “privately hoping” that other controversial Trump cabinet nominees will follow Matt Gaetz’s lead and drop out of the running, according to a report.

The likes of Pete Hegseth, Robert F Kennedy Jr and Linda McMahon are all likely to face tricky confirmation hearings in the Senate. with questions about past allegations against them all but certain to come up, placing GOP members under pressure to show loyalty to Trump in a difficult spot.

Rhian Lubin has more.

Olivia Troye, ex-national security adviser to Trump’s first VP Mike Pence, has issued a stark warning for women entering the incoming administration.

“TheTrump White House’s chauvinistic male-dominated culture will be exacerbated by the presence of Elon Musk, JD Vance, Donald Trump Jr, Matt Gaetz, Pete Hegseth and other ‘bros’ in positions of authority or influence,” Troye wrote on her Substack.

“It will be an intimidating environment, but stay true to your values, even when it is uncomfortable or unpopular. Remember, you have only yourself to face in the mirror every day.”

Josh Marcus has more.

The vice president has told her aides to keep her options open in case she decides to run for president again in 2028, according to reports.

Sources close to the Harris family told Politico that she has vowed to “stay in the fight” and may even run to be governor of California in 2026.

Here’s more from Io Dodds.

Donald Trump’s transition team is already grappling with its own internal politics after one of his most loyal advisers was accused of running a pay-to-play scheme.

The president-elect’s legal team launched an internal investigation – which was not criminal – into longtime Trump attorney and adviser Boris Epshteyn following claims he has been profiting personally from his proximity to the president-elect.

The review, conducted by the transition team’s top lawyer David Warrington, recommended that aides close to Trump limit Epshteyn’s access to the president-elect, The Washington Post reports.

Here’s more from Rhian Lubin.