It's Wednesday. Happy 82nd Birthday, President Biden! He has a light schedule today to celebrate. Here's what else is going on:

• Today, Vance is driving Gaetz around the Senate.
• President Trump's cabinet appointments tell us two things.
• The House Ethics Committee will meet today to decide what to do with the Gaetz report.
  

I kate martel A quick summary of this morning and what's to come. Send tips, explanations, feedback, and cookie recipes to cmartel@thehill.com. Did someone forward this newsletter to you?Sign up here.

^ “How I Met Your Mother” fans, this is for you 😉

Vice President Vance A former lawmaker is the driver.matt gatesHe hopes to mollify Vance's soon-to-be former colleagues enough to vote Gates into the powerful role of attorney general.

Why Vance?: He is the key liaison between the Trump transition team and Republican senators.

📸 Vance, Gates, and Rubio enter the Capitol I saw this photo shared across X.

Sen. Lindsey Graham (RS.C.) said he had a good meeting with Gaetz. “I am concerned that the process surrounding Mr. Gaetz's nomination has become an angry mob, with unverified allegations being treated as if they were true,” he said in a statement. Read the full statement.

just now:The Hillsemily brooks  I noticedGates comes out of the speaker mike johnson's(R-LA) Office. 👀

stay tuned! : in tonight evening report , The Hills Jonathan Easley A summary of Gates' journey across Capitol Hill. Click here to sign up and receive it in your inbox.

The House Ethics Committee will meet this afternoon to decide what to do with the now-defunct report on Gaetz. report Reportedly contains 'Very damaging' findings.

It's a no-win situation for Republicans on the committee, The Hills writes. michael schnelland emily brooks . Democrats on the committee and some Republicans in Congress say it's important to make it public to ensure transparency. But the speaker mike johnson(R-Louisiana) does not want this case to see the light of day because Gaetz is no longer a sitting member of Congress.

Hello, Rock! 👋 Hello, it's a tough place! 👋

Learn more about internal dynamics here. “Republicans on Ethics Committee consider 'enviable' Gaetz report decision”

Even if you don't see this report : Some details of Gaetz's case are beginning to emerge. ABC News obtained documents showing that Gates “paid more than $10,000 to two women who later became witnesses in sexual misconduct investigations conducted by both the House of Representatives and the Justice Department.”

The House Ethics Committee obtained related checks and Venmo records. 📸 see check

People lined up outside the Senate to take photos with the outgoing senators. John Tester(D-Mont). (h/t Politicokatherine talley mcmanus)📸 photograph

speakermike johnson(R-Louisiana) announced a policy Wednesday that would prohibit transgender women from using the U.S. Capitol bathroom that matches their gender identity.michael schnellI scooped it up.

How this started: This has been a hot topic on Capitol Hill in recent days, depending on what the incoming congressman has said.sarah mcbride(D-Delaware) is the first openly transgender person elected to Congress. Member of Parliament Nancy Mace(RS.C.) introduced a bill that would prohibit transgender women from using the Capitol restroom that matches their gender identity.

please remember: The announcement was made on Transgender Day of Remembrance, which is observed annually to remember transgender people who have lost their lives to anti-trans violence.

What we know about the new policy

president-elect trumpHe has made two things clear about the incoming administration. That means we value loyalty and camera responsiveness.

Last time, Trump was an outsider. Appointing all government officials was foreign to him. he It took me more time to decide He passed through a number of nominations after giving his opinion on ministerial roles and not having a personal opinion. (Remember that there were *four White House chiefs of staff?)

Not this time: He knows exactly what he wants. He spent the past four years on the sidelines pondering what could have happened. As soon as he won the election earlier this month, he hit the ground running. Instead of choosing traditionally qualified experts in the field, he now chooses people with whom he is more familiar. And it definitely doesn't hurt if they're familiar faces on TV!

celebrity elements :

A famous TV doctor runs CMS — Dr. Mehmet Oz

Secretary of Transportation’s “Real World” reality TV star — Sean Duffy

Fox News hosts run the Pentagon — pete hegseth

Former WWE executive at the Department of Education — Linda McMahon

nbc Chuck ToddClaims that President Trump's motive for serving in the Cabinet is “revenge.” read: “Chuck Todd: Trump is burning through his political capital fast.”

The president-elect has nominated a former acting attorney general. Matthew G. Whitaker as the next NATO ambassador.

The Hills Rafael Bernal and Rebecca BeitschUnraveling the key issues pressing regarding the incoming administration's border and immigration policies.

For example, who will be targeted?: “While previous administrations have primarily focused on people who have recently entered the country, as well as those who pose a threat to public safety, President Trump has made it clear that anyone living in this country without legal permission But he also made it clear that he could face deportation, a large group estimated at 12 million people, and one that governments have traditionally signaled they don't have the resources to prioritize. Many have lived, worked, and paid taxes in the United States for decades.”

read more: “President Trump's grand immigration strategy is far-reaching.''

• the hill:The pharmaceutical industry moves cautiously after RFK Jr.'s stunning nomination.
• new york times: Voting Doesn't Matter — Guest Essay fromNate Silver
• vox: Trump loves tariffs. Will the rest of America do the same?
• wall street journal: How science lost America's trust and handed over health policy to skeptics
• washington post: Trump's tariffs could spark trade war and 'Europe's worst economic nightmare'

” president-elect trumpHis lawyers have asked the New York judge who oversaw his hush-money case for a month to launch a formal effort to have his criminal conviction dismissed following the White House victory. , that timeline was slower than prosecutors have suggested. ”

what to expect : “lawyer Todd Blanche and Emile BovetTrump's picks for the second and third-ranking positions at the Justice Department, respectively, asked for permission to wait until Dec. 20 to file the motion, just one month before Trump takes office. If Trump becomes president, it is expected that his lawsuits will be frozen or thrown out entirely. ”

read more: “President Trump is trying to delay removal from office on conviction before Inauguration Day.”

🎯 Target stock plummets: “Target stock plummets 20% due to discounters' price cut expectations, marking the worst profit decline in the past two years” CNBC reported.

🩹 Jay Leno fell down:Former late night host Jay Leno he says he fell Last weekend I went down a 60 foot hill. I've been wearing an eyepatch since autumn. 📸 his eyepatch

🥜 celebrate:Today is National Peanut Butter Fudge Daynot to be confused with the broader “National Fudge Day” in June.

🦃 this is interesting : New York Times Eric KimI wrote: “The secret to the best turkey comes from our readers.”

🕷️ Worst thing I've read today : CNN jack guy report “Peruvian police arrested a man who was attempting to leave the country with 320 tarantulas, 110 centipedes and nine bullet ants strapped to his body.''

It contains the House of Representatives and the Senate. president biden I'm in Washington, vice president harrisI'm in Hawaii. (always eastern)

• 1:15 p.m. : State Department Spokesperson matthew millerWe will hold a press conference. 💻 live stream
• 3pm: The Senate votes on judicial confirmation. 📆 Today's topic
• 4:45pm: First and last House vote. 📆 Today's topic
• 6:30pm :NBC Courtney Kube Interview with the outgoing Secretary of DefenseLloyd austinIn “Nightly News”.

Let's end on a lighter note. Have you seen it? giraffe parade?

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