TRUMP ADDRESS: President Trump took his case directly to the American people Wednesday night when he promoted his accomplishments as his first year back in office is almost over.
Speaking from the Diplomatic Reception Room at the White House, Trump argued he inherited a poor economy from former President Biden and has turned it around over the past 11 months, lowering costs and stopping the flow of migrants and drugs in the U.S.
The 18-minute speech marked a continuation of the president's attempt to tie the country's problems to his predecessor while portraying his own administration as turning things around. He pointed to the cost of eggs, gasoline, airfare and hotel rates coming down, investments from foreign trade deals and revenue coming in because of his wide-ranging tariffs.
Trump also announced his administration would send “Warrior Divided” checks worth $1,776 to more than 1.4 million U.S. service members and hinted at rolling out major housing reform initiatives next year.
But polls have continued to show most Americans don’t approve of his handling of the economy and believe he is more to blame for its status than Biden.
A PBS News/NPR/Marist poll released Wednesday showed only 36 percent of respondents said they approve of his handling of the issue, the lowest percentage recorded in either of his two terms.
▪ The Hill: Five takeaways from Trump's speech.
HOUSE PASSES TRANS BILL: The House has narrowly passed a bill sponsored by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) that would criminalize gender-affirming care for minors.
The chamber approved the legislation Wednesday in a mostly party-line vote, with all but four Republicans voting in favor and all but three Democrats voting against. The vote came after Greene reached a deal with House Republican leadership last week to bring her bill to the floor in exchange for her supporting a vote to advance the NDAA.
"We need to let kids grow up without manipulation from adults to make life altering decisions! Congress must protect America’s children!!!" Greene wrote on X before the vote.
The bill has almost no chance of advancing in the Senate, where it would need Democratic support to pass.
GRANT FUNDING CUT: The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has terminated seven grants worth millions of dollars for the American Academy of Pediatrics, citing its use of "identity-based language," The Washington Post reported.
The Post reported the decision surprised professionals at the organization, which has been among the sharpest critics of HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s changes to federal vaccine recommendations.
A spokesperson for the department told the outlet the grants were cut for the organization, along with others, because they "no longer align" with HHS's mission or priorities.
The academy warned the withdrawal of the funds could harm infants, youth and their families across the country.
HEADING TOWARD THE EXIT: FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino plans to step down from his role in January after less than a year on the job.
Bongino announced his decision Wednesday in a post on the social platform X, thanking Trump, Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel for the opportunity to serve.
Trump had indicated earlier that Bongino was interested in returning to being a conservative commentator, the role he held for years before becoming the second-highest-ranking official in the FBI. Bongino developed a major following during Trump’s first term through his radio show, podcast and appearances on Fox News.
But he reportedly clashed with Bondi over the release of the Epstein files and had misgivings about the job. He was reported to have mulled about leaving months ago, and speculation about his potential exit picked up again in August, when Trump tapped then-Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey as co-deputy director.
FCC INDEPENDENCE: Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chair Brendan Carr suggested the agency he leads isn’t independent from Trump’s administration during an intense back-and-forth with lawmakers on Capitol Hill.
New Mexico Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D) pressed Carr about the agency’s responsibility to conduct oversight of major media companies without considering how members of the administration, including the president, feel about their content.
Luján noted the FCC website called the agency “independent.” But Carr argued the Communications Act of 1934, which established the FCC, didn’t include protections for commissioners to only be relieved of their position for cause.
“So formally speaking, the FCC is not independent,” he said.
The website later removed the word “independent” from its “About” section after Carr’s testimony.
The chair’s comments came as part of a grilling he received from Senate Democrats who accused him of trying to coerce local affiliate broadcasters to scrutinize content critical of Trump.
They also slammed him over the brief suspension of late-night host Jimmy Kimmel, who was taken off the air on ABC in September over comments he made regarding the assassination of Charlie Kirk. Carr had suggested local affiliates should refuse to air Kimmel’s show before the suspension was enacted.
Kimmel’s suspension was criticized by members across the aisle, and Carr caught heat from some Republicans for his role, including Sen. Ted Cruz (Texas), the chair of the Senate Commerce Committee.
Carr defended himself, arguing local affiliates are “obligated” to scrutinize news and entertainment content that doesn’t “serve the public interest.”
▪ Fox News: Dem says Carr is head of ‘Federal Censorship Commission.’
▪ The Hill: Jack Smith stands by work on Trump probes in deposition.
NASA ADMINISTRATOR CONFIRMED: The Senate confirmed Jared Isaacman to lead the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) after a roller-coaster road for him.
Isaacman’s confirmation passed comfortably in a 67-to-30 vote, but it came after his initial nomination was pulled and he was renominated last month. Trump withdrew the nomination for Isaacman, a billionaire entrepreneur and close ally of Elon Musk, in May amid the president’s feud with the Tesla CEO.
Isaacman will take over leadership of NASA for Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, who had been serving as interim administrator since July.
Trump has set a goal for NASA to return humans to the moon before China does. Isaacman has proposed a plan of increasing competition among private-sector entities as part of the effort.
▪ Florida Today: What to expect as Isaacman becomes NASA head.
NEW PROFILE PIC: Secretary of State Marco Rubio has embraced a photo of himself from a Vanity Fair article, which shows him looking down while standing in a corner.
Rubio made it his profile picture on X after accusing the outlet of having "deliberately manipulated" photos and content in its story.
