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Commentary: Christmas is coming, and California is still counting ballots. Is that a problem?

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Commentary: Christmas is coming, and California is still counting ballots. Is that a problem?

Some Californians were carving Halloween pumpkins and taking their kids trick-or-treating when they cast their ballots in this year’s election. Now they’re putting up Christmas trees while officials are still tallying votes in some places.

With the vast majority of ballots counted, most of the races have been called by media organizations anyway, including some very close ones. In Orange County, Democrat Derek Tran was declared the winner in his race against incumbent Michelle Steel last week.

With that and a race in Iowa called the same week, California now claims the distinction of being home to the last congressional race in the country that has yet to be called. That’s in the Central Valley’s 13th District, where, with an estimated 99% of the votes counted as of Monday afternoon, Democratic challenger Adam Gray was leading Republican Rep. John Duarte by 143 votes.

That doesn’t mean everyone should keep hating on California for taking so long. First of all, we have more people than any other state. Second, every voter in the state is automatically mailed a ballot starting about a month before election day. In Los Angeles County, more than 70% of voters mailed in ballots or dropped them off, said Mike Sanchez, a spokesperson for the county registrar-recorder. According to the office of the California secretary of state, nearly 90% of voters cast their ballots by mail in the 2022 midterm.

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Californians are also allowed to register and vote by provisional ballot on election day. It takes more time to process those ballots.

California ballots had to be postmarked by Nov. 5 to be counted but could be received by election officials up to seven days later. All those mailed ballots have to be checked to see whether the signatures match the ones on the voter rolls. And if they don’t, voters are contacted and told they can correct — or “cure” — the ballot with a signature.

The state’s voters had until Dec. 1 to fix their ballots. And so we still have votes being counted even as Christmas shopping is in full swing.

L.A. County workers have been processing and counting ballots every day since Nov. 6, the day after election day, except for Thanksgiving, according to Sanchez. In fact, the week after the election, the county had shifts processing ballots around the clock.

Could some counties process and count ballots faster? Maybe. Some state legislators are interested in finding ways to expedite the process.

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But what’s more important is that the slow pace has gone hand in hand with allowing voters ample time and a few ways to get their ballots in — and then to fix issues that might prevent them from being counted. The painstaking process of collecting and checking these ballots speaks both to election integrity and to giving voters access and opportunities to vote.

That makes it worth waiting for a few races that seemed to take forever to call.

Closure is coming. All counties are required to submit their results for statewide elections by Friday. (And, as far as state officials know, no county has ever missed the deadline.) And the secretary of state is expected to certify statewide election results on Dec.13 — still weeks before any of the winners’ terms begin.

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DOGE chief Musk bashes massive government spending on illegal immigrants: ‘Boggles the mind!’

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DOGE chief Musk bashes massive government spending on illegal immigrants: ‘Boggles the mind!’

Entrepreneurs Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has signaled that funding for services for illegal immigrants is on the chopping block as the agency prepares to hack away at government spending.

The department, which is not an official part of the government, is expected to be empowered by President-elect Trump to audit and implement sweeping changes within government agencies.

DOGE called out U.S. spending on illegal immigration in an X post by saying it cost taxpayers $150.7 billion “in 2023 alone.” 

DOGE noted that when adjusted for inflation, U.S. spending on illegal immigration in a single year is comparable to government spending during the entirety of World War I ($334 billion), the Apollo space program ($257 billion) and significantly more than what was spent on the Manhattan Project ($30 billion), the Panama Canal ($15.2 billion) and the Hoover Dam ($1 billion).

COLORADO REPUBLICANS SOUND OFF ON IMPACT OF MIGRANT SURGE ON CITIZENS: ‘THEIR SOULS ARE CRUSHED’

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Elon Musk, left, and Vivek Ramaswamy are leading the Department of Government Efficiency. (Getty Images/File)

Musk also weighed in, posting on X that “the scale of spending on illegal immigration boggles the mind!”

The data referenced by DOGE is from a 2023 study by the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR). FAIR’s latest report, published in March 2023, estimated that the net cost of illegal immigration – including federal, state and local spending – was “at least” $150.7 billion, amounting to $1,156 per taxpayer. This was up by nearly $35 billion since 2017 when it was $116 billion.

FAIR said it landed on this number by “subtracting the tax revenue paid by illegal aliens – just under $32 billion – from the gross negative economic impact of illegal immigration, $182 billion.” By its estimates, the federal government spent $66 billion while state and local expenditures amounted to well over $115 billion.

The U.S. government does not appear to have any recent estimates on how many taxpayer dollars are being spent on illegal immigrants.

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Jessica Baxter, a representative for the U.S. Government Accountability Office, told Fox News Digital that the office “does not have any recent work addressing the federal government’s overall cost estimate on immigration-related efforts.”

‘THEY ARE FED UP’: DEM MAYOR’S OFFICE DEMANDS SOLUTION ON KEY ISSUE VOTERS SENT ‘RESOUNDING MESSAGE’

Border Arizona migrants

Migrants are shown at the southern border in Arizona. (U.S. Border Patrol)

“We have a few reports that provide information on costs associated with specific border security or immigration-related efforts, such as estimates of costs for incarceration of noncitizens, but these do not provide overall estimates,” she said. “The two reports I’m referring to are from 2018 and 2011, so the data is somewhat dated. Our team is currently working on an update to the 2018 report, but the work is underway, and the report isn’t expected to issue any time soon.”

Julie Kirchner, FAIR’s executive director, told Fox News Digital that the $150.7 billion number is actually a “very conservative estimate” and is likely much higher now that the undocumented migrant population has continued to rise.

The population we cited in the study was 15.5 million. We now estimate that it’s over 16.8 million, and we’re in the process right now of doing another estimate on the illegal alien population, and I’m sure it will be higher,” she explained. “So, we know the costs are going to go up.”

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She also said the 2023 study did not even include state and local spending on sheltering migrants. Though DOGE’s focus is primarily on the federal government, she said state and local spending – including on education, health care and incarceration – accounts for the largest share of government spending on illegal immigrants.

BERNIE SANDERS ADMITS ‘ELON MUSK IS RIGHT’ TO SLASH PENTAGON WITH DOGE: ‘LOST TRACK OF BILLIONS’

Migrants in NYC

Hundreds of asylum seekers line up outside the Jacob K. Javits Federal Building in New York City on June 6, 2023. (David Dee Delgado/Getty Images)

 

Though exact numbers are hard to come by on the local level, America’s cities are carrying a large part of the burden. New York, the country’s biggest city by population, estimates that with nearly 100,000 asylum seekers having entered the city and “with no end in sight,” it will spend more than $12 billion through fiscal 2025. Chicago, meanwhile, has reportedly spent $400 million on migrant services in the last two years.  

“There are more and more states using state taxpayer dollars to subsidize illegal immigration,” she said. What we are seeing is state and locals are being forced to absorb all of these costs.” 

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She believes that once Trump retakes office, DOGE and the administration should immediately work to end government health care plans for illegals and close the loophole allowing illegal migrants to get income tax and child tax credits. By doing this, she believes DOGE can save taxpayers around the country “billions and billions of dollars each year.”

“There is a lot we can do,” she said. “They are taking our own tax dollars and giving illegal aliens benefits and encouraging more illegal immigration. It is a crazy, crazy scenario where we’re seeing people welcome lawlessness, and it’s got to stop, and we’re hopeful that the DOGE will.”

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Column: President Biden's pardon of his son Hunter is understandable. It's also unforgivable

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Column: President Biden's pardon of his son Hunter is understandable. It's also unforgivable

It came as a surprise that President Biden unconditionally pardoned his son Hunter, a convicted felon, after repeatedly vowing that he would not. For the past few months, each time Biden or his press secretary was asked whether a pardon was in the cards, they both emphatically said no.

So much for one of the president’s favorite lines, “I give you my word as a Biden.”

Hunter, who was facing a potential sentence of years in prison for tax evasion and lying on a federal firearms application, is now free to pursue his career as a middling painter of overpriced art.

I admit that when I first heard the pardon news, I thought, “Good for you, Joe! Why should you follow the rules when no one on Planet Trump does? Let the people who voted to return a sex-offending, defaming, defrauding felon to the White House get a tiny taste of their own medicine.”

On second thought, however, it’s more complicated than that.

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How can any of us be outraged at the way Trump and those in his circle seem immune from the consequences of their malign actions if we applaud Biden’s pardon of his son for crimes he has either been convicted of or pleaded guilty to?

How can we be outraged that Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner received $2 billion from the murderous Saudis if we think it’s perfectly fine for Hunter Biden to be paid millions of dollars for sitting on the board of Burisma, the Ukrainian energy company that was under investigation for corruption while his father was vice president and overseeing White House policy on Ukraine?

The real outrage is the general lack of accountability for the illegal, unethical or immoral behavior of children born into wealth and privilege whose only “talents” are their ability to exploit their proximity to powerful people. Nepo babies gonna nepo baby.

Hunter Biden was charged with lying on a gun purchase form, having claimed on penalty of perjury that he was not using drugs when, as he recounts in his memoir, he was a raging coke and meth addict. He was also charged with evading more than $1 million in taxes, which he has since paid, along with penalties and interest.

Was he unfairly singled out? Maybe, but he still broke the law.

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As President Biden stated in announcing the pardon, “Without aggravating factors like use in a crime, multiple purchases, or buying a weapon as a straw purchaser, people are almost never brought to trial on felony charges solely for how they filled out a gun form. Those who were late paying their taxes because of serious addictions, but paid them back subsequently with interest and penalties, are typically given non-criminal resolutions.”

All true, which is why the government originally offered Hunter a deal that would have allowed him to avoid prison. He was to plead guilty to two misdemeanor counts of failing to pay his 2017 and 2018 taxes on time, and to agree to a diversion program that would allow him to avoid prosecution on the charge that he lied when he bought a handgun in 2018.

But a federal judge put the plea deal on hold last year, saying she did not want to “rubber stamp” an unorthodox and complex agreement that was reached without her input. Republicans piled on, filing an amicus brief complaining that the deal was too lenient and that the investigation was tainted by political interference from the Biden administration.

At that point, with the plea deal in tatters, Atty. Gen. Merrick Garland appointed a special counsel to the case. A month later, in September 2023, then-House Speaker Kevin McCarthy opened his sham impeachment investigation of the president, claiming Biden lied about his knowledge of his son’s business affairs.

The House’s eventual report basically found that Hunter used his daddy’s name to enrich himself. Yawn.

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Last summer, after a salacious trial that, as the New York Times put it, “made painfully public Mr. Biden’s crack addiction, reckless behavior and ruinous spending,” a federal jury found Hunter guilty of three felony counts related to the gun application. In September, Hunter Biden avoided tormenting his family with another trial by pleading guilty to nine federal tax charges.

“There has been an effort to break Hunter — who has been five and a half years sober, even in the face of unrelenting attacks and selective prosecution,” President Biden’s statement said. “In trying to break Hunter, they’ve tried to break me — and there’s no reason to believe it will stop here. Enough is enough.”

Hunter may have been singled out for prosecution, but Hunter did in fact screw up. And President Biden, who has often said that Americans in the Trump era are engaged in a “battle to save the soul of the nation,” has shown that he, too, will warp justice for his own ends. I thought he was better than that.

Bluesky: @rabcarian.bsky.social. Threads: @rabcarian

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What Trump's New Cabinet and Administration Picks Have in Common

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What Trump's New Cabinet and Administration Picks Have in Common

A number of patterns have emerged among the people President-elect Donald J. Trump has indicated he wants to fill his cabinet and other senior-level positions in his administration.

Some points of commonality are historically typical among senior White House and cabinet officials — Harvard, Yale and Princeton are well represented among his selections’ alma maters, for instance. Other uniting factors are unprecedented: Many on the list have denied or questioned the results of the 2020 presidential election, often a prerequisite for gaining Mr. Trump’s favor. And some lack the traditional qualifications shared by their predecessors.

Indeed, it appears that the most important qualifier in Mr. Trump’s mind has been fealty to him, which many of his picks have demonstrated in various ways over the past few years.

See some of the links between more than 60 potential members (in some cases pending confirmation) of the incoming administration, below.


At least 5 are billionaires.

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Mr. Trump has picked two billionaires to lead key economic departments, raising questions about whether his administration will follow through on promises to boost the working class.

Scott Bessent, his choice for treasury secretary, is a hedge fund manager who invested money for George Soros, a liberal philanthropist, for more than a decade. Howard Lutnick, his pick for commerce secretary, is a Wall Street executive. Both Mr. Bessent and Mr. Lutnick have been vocal in their support for Mr. Trump’s plan to impose tariffs on imports, although they may prefer a more targeted approach.

Billionaire entrepreneurs Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy will lead what Mr. Trump is calling the Department of Government Efficiency. Mr. Trump has said the new initiative would operate outside of the government and offer input to federal officials.


At least 8 have been major Trump donors.

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The president-elect has also selected major campaign donors for key positions, including four to lead cabinet agencies: Mr. Lutnick and Mr. Bessent, as well as Chris Wright to lead the Energy Department and Linda McMahon to lead the Education Department. (Ms. McMahon and Mr. Lutnick are also co-chairs of the Trump transition.) As of the last federal filing, their contributions to support Mr. Trump during the 2024 election cycle ranged from $350,000 to $20 million.

John Phelan, Mr. Trump’s pick for Navy secretary, and his wife, Amy, donated more than $1 million to Mr. Trump’s joint fund-raising campaign committee.

Steven Witkoff, a billionaire real estate mogul who has given nearly $2 million to Mr. Trump’s political causes over the past decade, was named special envoy to the Middle East. He was on the golf course with Mr. Trump in September during a second assassination attempt.

Mr. Musk poured at least $75 million into a new pro-Trump super PAC and promised on Oct. 19 to award one voter $1 million every day through Election Day. The Justice Department warned Mr. Musk that the giveaway might be illegal, but a judge in Philadelphia refused to halt the sweepstakes.

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Charles Kushner, Mr. Trump’s pick for ambassador to France, is a real estate executive who gave at least $2 million to support Mr. Trump.


At least 12 hosted or co-hosted events at Mar-a-Lago.

After Mr. Trump left the White House, Mar-a-Lago became the headquarters of the MAGA movement. Events hosted by right-wing organizations and politicians there largely replaced traditional Palm Beach society galas on the resort’s calendar, as a visit became an essential rite for many Republican candidates.

Many of Mr. Trump’s recent picks were regular fixtures at Mar-a-Lago during this time. Some did more than visit, choosing to host expensive receptions on the property. As Mar-a-Lago’s owner, Mr. Trump is the beneficiary of its profits.

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Several of the proposed officials have held campaign fund-raisers or served on the host committee to support another candidate’s event. Others hosted or co-hosted larger events for organizations they lead or champion.


At least 13 made appearances at Trump’s criminal trial in New York.

Mr. Trump’s criminal trial in Manhattan was a staging ground for allies to prove their loyalty. Several of his recent picks traveled to New York in the spring to show support. Some were there in a professional context. Todd Blanche, Mr. Trump’s choice for deputy attorney general, was one of his trial lawyers, and Susie Wiles, Mr. Trump’s incoming chief of staff, was co-chair of his 2024 presidential campaign.

Others, like Vice President-elect JD Vance and Doug Burgum, Mr. Trump’s pick for interior secretary, attended the trial as spectators and attacked members of the presiding judge’s family on behalf of Mr. Trump, who was under a rule of silence. Both were considered potential running mates at the time.

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At least 17 are associated with the America First Policy Institute or Project 2025.

Mr. Trump spent much of the campaign distancing himself from Project 2025, a sprawling initiative spearheaded by the Heritage Foundation that included a “blueprint” document for a new conservative administration that was authored in part by former Trump staffers. But since winning the election, Mr. Trump has picked at least seven people with ties to the controversial conservative policy initiative to serve in his administration.

Project 2025 also includes a database of Heritage-vetted personnel intended to help a Republican president build rank-and-file staff. It remains to be seen to what extent those candidates will be hired in the new administration.

The America First Policy Institute, which like the Heritage Foundation is a pro-Trump think tank, is also heavily represented in his picks so far. At least 11 of the people among his picks have ties to the upstart policy group. Much like Project 2025, the think tank has prepared staffing plans and a policy agenda, and it reportedly has drafted nearly 300 executive orders ready for Mr. Trump’s signature.

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At least 11 are or have been Fox hosts or contributors.

Some of Mr. Trump’s appointees are closely linked to Fox as either hosts, former hosts or contributors. Pete Hegseth was a host on “Fox & Friends” until he became Mr. Trump’s pick for defense secretary. Mr. Hegseth’s co-host was Rachel Campos-Duffy, who is married to Sean Duffy, Mr. Trump’s cabinet pick for transportation secretary. Mr. Duffy also co-hosted a show on Fox Business.

Mr. Trump’s choice for ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, hosted a show on Fox for seven years. More recently, Mr. Ramaswamy was tapped to host a five-part series on Fox Nation.

Many more figures in Mr. Trump’s orbit are frequent guests on Fox News, and several not counted here have contributed digital columns to the Fox News website. Mr. Wright caught Mr. Trump’s attention in part through his appearances on Fox News.

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At least 9 are or have been registered lobbyists.

The revolving door between lobbying and government is a tradition in Washington — and one of the practices Mr. Trump pledged to eliminate when he said he would “drain the swamp.” But some of the people Mr. Trump has tapped for his administration have deep ties to that very swamp.

Ms. Wiles was registered as a lobbyist until early this year. Pam Bondi, Mr. Trump’s choice for attorney general, joined a lobbying firm run by a prominent Florida fund-raiser after she finished her second term as Florida attorney general. Mr. Duffy lobbied for a coalition of airlines in 2020.

Some of Mr. Trump’s selections not shown here have acted as lobbyists without officially registering — another longstanding custom in the nation’s capital. Russell T. Vought, Mr. Trump’s choice to lead the Office of Management and Budget, noted in paperwork for his 2017 Senate confirmation hearing that he had “engaged in grassroots lobbying.”

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At least 28 served in or advised the previous Trump administration.

More than two dozen of Mr. Trump’s cabinet and other senior-level picks also served in some capacity in his first administration.

Some have been chosen for roles related to their previous jobs. Thomas Homan was the acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement during Mr. Trump’s first term and has been named the border czar, a position that does not require Senate confirmation, for the coming term.

Others have been tapped for roles less related to their previous positions. Ms. McMahon was the administrator of the Small Business Administration from 2017 to 2019, and she is now Mr. Trump’s choice for education secretary.

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Several on this list did not have official, full-time jobs during Mr. Trump’s last term, but they were chosen by him to sit on advisory boards. Those people include Mr. Witkoff, Mr. Huckabee and Mr. Musk.


Explore the members of Mr. Trump’s proposed senior staff below.

Scott Bessent
Potential role

Treasury secretary

Role in
first term

Billionare
Yes
Major donor
Yes
Hosted M.A.L.
event(s)
Attended
N.Y. trial
Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI
Ties
to Fox
Lobbyist
Jay Bhattacharya
Potential role

National Institutes of Health director

Role in
first term

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Billionare
Major donor
Hosted M.A.L.
event(s)
Attended
N.Y. trial
Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI
Ties
to Fox
Lobbyist
James Blair
Potential role

White House deputy chief of staff

Role in
first term

Billionare
Major donor
Hosted M.A.L.
event(s)
Attended
N.Y. trial
Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI
Ties
to Fox
Lobbyist
Todd Blanche
Potential role

Deputy attorney general

Role in
first term

Billionare
Major donor
Hosted M.A.L.
event(s)
Attended
N.Y. trial
Yes
Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI
Ties
to Fox
Lobbyist
Pam Bondi
Potential role

Attorney general

Role in
first term

Member of board of trustees of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts

Billionare
Major donor
Hosted M.A.L.
event(s)
Attended
N.Y. trial
Yes
Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI
Yes
Ties
to Fox
Lobbyist
Yes
Massad Boulos
Potential role

Senior adviser for Arab and Middle Eastern affairs

Role in
first term

Billionare
Major donor
Hosted M.A.L.
event(s)
Attended
N.Y. trial
Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI
Ties
to Fox
Lobbyist
James Braid
Potential role

White House legislative affairs director

Role in
first term

Deputy to the associate director for
legislative affairs

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Billionare
Major donor
Hosted M.A.L.
event(s)
Attended
N.Y. trial
Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI
Yes
Ties
to Fox
Lobbyist
Yes
Taylor Budowich
Potential role

White House deputy chief of staff

Role in
first term

Billionare
Major donor
Hosted M.A.L.
event(s)
Attended
N.Y. trial
Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI
Ties
to Fox
Lobbyist
Doug Burgum
Potential role

Interior secretary

Role in
first term

Billionare
Major donor
Hosted M.A.L.
event(s)
Attended
N.Y. trial
Yes
Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI
Ties
to Fox
Lobbyist
Brendan Carr
Potential role

F.C.C. chairman

Role in
first term

F.C.C. commissioner

Billionare
Major donor
Hosted M.A.L.
event(s)
Attended
N.Y. trial
Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI
Yes
Ties
to Fox
Lobbyist
Lori Chavez-DeRemer
Potential role

Labor secretary

Role in
first term

Billionare
Major donor
Hosted M.A.L.
event(s)
Attended
N.Y. trial
Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI
Ties
to Fox
Lobbyist
Steven Cheung
Potential role

White House communications director

Role in
first term

White House director of strategic response

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Billionare
Major donor
Hosted M.A.L.
event(s)
Attended
N.Y. trial
Yes
Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI
Ties
to Fox
Lobbyist
Doug Collins
Potential role

Veterans affairs secretary

Role in
first term

Billionare
Major donor
Hosted M.A.L.
event(s)
Yes
Attended
N.Y. trial
Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI
Yes
Ties
to Fox
Lobbyist
Yes
Sean Duffy
Potential role

Transportation secretary

Role in
first term

Billionare
Major donor
Hosted M.A.L.
event(s)
Attended
N.Y. trial
Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI
Ties
to Fox
Yes
Lobbyist
Yes
Tulsi Gabbard
Potential role

Director of national intelligence

Role in
first term

Billionare
Major donor
Hosted M.A.L.
event(s)
Attended
N.Y. trial
Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI
Ties
to Fox
Yes
Lobbyist
Sergio Gor
Potential role

White House director of personnel

Role in
first term

Billionare
Major donor
Hosted M.A.L.
event(s)
Attended
N.Y. trial
Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI
Ties
to Fox
Lobbyist
Sebastian Gorka
Potential role

Deputy assistant to the president and senior director for counterterrorism

Role in
first term

Deputy assistant to the president and strategist

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Billionare
Major donor
Hosted M.A.L.
event(s)
Yes
Attended
N.Y. trial
Yes
Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI
Ties
to Fox
Yes
Lobbyist
Jamieson Greer
Potential role

U.S. trade representative

Role in
first term

Chief of staff to trade representative

Billionare
Major donor
Hosted M.A.L.
event(s)
Attended
N.Y. trial
Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI
Ties
to Fox
Lobbyist
Vince Haley
Potential role

Director of the Domestic Policy Council

Role in
first term

Deputy assistant to the president

Billionare
Major donor
Hosted M.A.L.
event(s)
Attended
N.Y. trial
Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI
Ties
to Fox
Lobbyist
Kevin Hassett
Potential role

Director of White House National Economic Council

Role in
first term

Chair of the Council of Economic Advisers

Billionare
Major donor
Hosted M.A.L.
event(s)
Attended
N.Y. trial
Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI
Yes
Ties
to Fox
Lobbyist
Pete Hegseth
Potential role

Defense secretary

Role in
first term

Billionare
Major donor
Hosted M.A.L.
event(s)
Attended
N.Y. trial
Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI
Ties
to Fox
Yes
Lobbyist
Pete Hoekstra
Potential role

Ambassador to Canada

Role in
first term

Ambassador to the Netherlands

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Billionare
Major donor
Hosted M.A.L.
event(s)
Attended
N.Y. trial
Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI
Yes
Ties
to Fox
Lobbyist
Yes
Thomas Homan
Potential role

Border czar

Role in
first term

Acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement

Billionare
Major donor
Hosted M.A.L.
event(s)
Yes
Attended
N.Y. trial
Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI
Yes
Ties
to Fox
Yes
Lobbyist
Mike Huckabee
Potential role

Ambassador to Israel

Role in
first term

Member of board of trustees of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts

Billionare
Major donor
Hosted M.A.L.
event(s)
Attended
N.Y. trial
Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI
Ties
to Fox
Yes
Lobbyist
Keith Kellogg
Potential role

Special envoy to Ukraine and Russia

Role in
first term

National security adviser to the vice president

Billionare
Major donor
Hosted M.A.L.
event(s)
Attended
N.Y. trial
Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI
Yes
Ties
to Fox
Yes
Lobbyist
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Potential role

Health and human services secretary

Role in
first term

Billionare
Major donor
Hosted M.A.L.
event(s)
Attended
N.Y. trial
Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI
Ties
to Fox
Lobbyist
Charles Kushner
Potential role

Ambassador to France

Role in
first term

Advertisement
Billionare
Major donor
Yes
Hosted M.A.L.
event(s)
Attended
N.Y. trial
Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI
Ties
to Fox
Lobbyist
Alex Latcham
Potential role

White House public liaison director

Role in
first term

Special assistant to the president

Billionare
Major donor
Hosted M.A.L.
event(s)
Attended
N.Y. trial
Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI
Ties
to Fox
Lobbyist
Karoline Leavitt
Potential role

White House press secretary

Role in
first term

Assistant White House press secretary

Billionare
Major donor
Hosted M.A.L.
event(s)
Attended
N.Y. trial
Yes
Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI
Yes
Ties
to Fox
Lobbyist
Howard Lutnick
Potential role

Commerce secretary

Role in
first term

Billionare
Yes
Major donor
Yes
Hosted M.A.L.
event(s)
Attended
N.Y. trial
Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI
Ties
to Fox
Lobbyist
Martin A. Makary
Potential role

F.D.A. commissioner

Role in
first term

Billionare
Major donor
Hosted M.A.L.
event(s)
Attended
N.Y. trial
Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI
Ties
to Fox
Yes
Lobbyist
Bill McGinley
Potential role

White House counsel

Role in
first term

White House cabinet secretary

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Billionare
Major donor
Hosted M.A.L.
event(s)
Attended
N.Y. trial
Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI
Ties
to Fox
Lobbyist
Yes
Linda McMahon
Potential role

Education secretary

Role in
first term

Small business administrator

Billionare
Major donor
Yes
Hosted M.A.L.
event(s)
Yes
Attended
N.Y. trial
Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI
Yes
Ties
to Fox
Lobbyist
Stephen Miller
Potential role

White House deputy chief of staff

Role in
first term

Senior adviser

Billionare
Major donor
Hosted M.A.L.
event(s)
Attended
N.Y. trial
Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI
Ties
to Fox
Lobbyist
Elon Musk
Potential role

Co-lead, government efficiency

Role in
first term

Member of Great American Economic Revival industry group

Billionare
Yes
Major donor
Yes
Hosted M.A.L.
event(s)
Attended
N.Y. trial
Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI
Ties
to Fox
Lobbyist
Janette Nesheiwat
Potential role

U.S. surgeon general

Role in
first term

Billionare
Major donor
Hosted M.A.L.
event(s)
Attended
N.Y. trial
Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI
Ties
to Fox
Yes
Lobbyist
Kristi Noem
Potential role

Homeland security secretary

Role in
first term

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Billionare
Major donor
Hosted M.A.L.
event(s)
Yes
Attended
N.Y. trial
Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI
Ties
to Fox
Lobbyist
Jim O’Neill
Potential role

Deputy secretary of health and human services

Role in
first term

Billionare
Major donor
Hosted M.A.L.
event(s)
Attended
N.Y. trial
Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI
Ties
to Fox
Lobbyist
Mehmet Oz
Potential role

Medicare and Medicaid administrator

Role in
first term

Member of president’s council on sports, fitness and nutrition

Billionare
Major donor
Hosted M.A.L.
event(s)
Attended
N.Y. trial
Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI
Ties
to Fox
Lobbyist
Kash Patel
Potential role

F.B.I. director

Role in
first term

Chief of staff to acting defense secretary

Billionare
Major donor
Hosted M.A.L.
event(s)
Attended
N.Y. trial
Yes
Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI
Yes
Ties
to Fox
Lobbyist
John Phelan
Potential role

Navy secretary

Role in
first term

Billionare
Major donor
Yes
Hosted M.A.L.
event(s)
Attended
N.Y. trial
Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI
Ties
to Fox
Lobbyist
Matt Brasseaux
Potential role

White House political affairs director

Role in
first term

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Billionare
Major donor
Hosted M.A.L.
event(s)
Attended
N.Y. trial
Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI
Ties
to Fox
Lobbyist
Vivek Ramaswamy
Potential role

Co-lead, government efficiency

Role in
first term

Billionare
Yes
Major donor
Hosted M.A.L.
event(s)
Yes
Attended
N.Y. trial
Yes
Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI
Ties
to Fox
Yes
Lobbyist
John Ratcliffe
Potential role

C.I.A. director

Role in
first term

Director of national intelligence

Billionare
Major donor
Hosted M.A.L.
event(s)
Attended
N.Y. trial
Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI
Yes
Ties
to Fox
Lobbyist
Brooke Rollins
Potential role

Agriculture secretary

Role in
first term

Acting domestic policy adviser

Billionare
Major donor
Hosted M.A.L.
event(s)
Yes
Attended
N.Y. trial
Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI
Yes
Ties
to Fox
Lobbyist
Marco Rubio
Potential role

Secretary of state

Role in
first term

Billionare
Major donor
Hosted M.A.L.
event(s)
Yes
Attended
N.Y. trial
Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI
Ties
to Fox
Lobbyist
D. John Sauer
Potential role

U.S. solicitor general

Role in
first term

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Billionare
Major donor
Hosted M.A.L.
event(s)
Attended
N.Y. trial
Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI
Ties
to Fox
Lobbyist
Dan Scavino
Potential role

White House deputy chief of staff

Role in
first term

White House deputy chief of staff

Billionare
Major donor
Hosted M.A.L.
event(s)
Attended
N.Y. trial
Yes
Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI
Ties
to Fox
Lobbyist
Will Scharf
Potential role

White House staff secretary

Role in
first term

Billionare
Major donor
Hosted M.A.L.
event(s)
Attended
N.Y. trial
Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI
Ties
to Fox
Lobbyist
Elise Stefanik
Potential role

U.N. ambassador

Role in
first term

Billionare
Major donor
Hosted M.A.L.
event(s)
Yes
Attended
N.Y. trial
Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI
Ties
to Fox
Lobbyist
Scott Turner
Potential role

Housing and urban development secretary

Role in
first term

Executive director of White House opportunity and revitalization council

Billionare
Major donor
Hosted M.A.L.
event(s)
Attended
N.Y. trial
Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI
Yes
Ties
to Fox
Lobbyist
JD Vance
Potential role

Vice president

Role in
first term

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Billionare
Major donor
Hosted M.A.L.
event(s)
Attended
N.Y. trial
Yes
Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI
Ties
to Fox
Lobbyist
Russell T. Vought
Potential role

Office of Management and Budget director

Role in
first term

Office of Management and Budget director

Billionare
Major donor
Hosted M.A.L.
event(s)
Attended
N.Y. trial
Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI
Yes
Ties
to Fox
Lobbyist
Michael Waltz
Potential role

National security adviser

Role in
first term

Billionare
Major donor
Hosted M.A.L.
event(s)
Yes
Attended
N.Y. trial
Yes
Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI
Ties
to Fox
Yes
Lobbyist
Dave Weldon
Potential role

C.D.C. director

Role in
first term

Billionare
Major donor
Hosted M.A.L.
event(s)
Attended
N.Y. trial
Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI
Ties
to Fox
Lobbyist
Matthew Whitaker
Potential role

NATO ambassador

Role in
first term

Acting attorney general

Billionare
Major donor
Hosted M.A.L.
event(s)
Yes
Attended
N.Y. trial
Yes
Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI
Yes
Ties
to Fox
Lobbyist
Yes
Susie Wiles
Potential role

White House chief of staff

Role in
first term

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Billionare
Major donor
Hosted M.A.L.
event(s)
Attended
N.Y. trial
Yes
Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI
Ties
to Fox
Lobbyist
Yes
Steven Witkoff
Potential role

Middle East envoy

Role in
first term

Member of Great American Economic Revival industry group

Billionare
Yes
Major donor
Yes
Hosted M.A.L.
event(s)
Attended
N.Y. trial
Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI
Ties
to Fox
Lobbyist
Alex Wong
Potential role

Assistant to the president and principal deputy national security adviser

Role in
first term

Deputy special representative for North Korea

Billionare
Major donor
Hosted M.A.L.
event(s)
Attended
N.Y. trial
Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI
Ties
to Fox
Lobbyist
Yes
Chris Wright
Potential role

Energy secretary

Role in
first term

Billionare
Major donor
Yes
Hosted M.A.L.
event(s)
Attended
N.Y. trial
Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI
Ties
to Fox
Lobbyist
Lee Zeldin
Potential role

E.P.A. administrator

Role in
first term

Billionare
Major donor
Hosted M.A.L.
event(s)
Yes
Attended
N.Y. trial
Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI
Yes
Ties
to Fox
Lobbyist

Methodology

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This list reflects 61 cabinet and senior-level position picks that Mr. Trump had announced as of noon Eastern on Dec. 2.

To determine ties to Project 2025, The Times checked Mr. Trump’s proposed staff members against the authors, editors and contributors to the Project 2025 playbook, as well as the instructor lists in Project 2025’s training programs. Ties to the America First Policy Institute were determined by whether an individual had a listed role on the conservative group’s website or has served as a fellow for the group.

To determine ties to Fox News, The Times searched for each staff pick on Fox’s website, which lists individuals’ affiliations with Fox News. In instances where a biographical page was not available for a nominee, The Times attempted a further search on the Internet Archive and consulted news articles that described other relationships between the potential nominees and appointees and Fox News. In many cases, nominees had a presence on the Fox News website in the form of submitted opinion articles, but were not described as Fox contributors, so The Times did not classify them as being tied to Fox directly.

Accounts by Times reporters and photographers who covered Mr. Trump’s trial in New York were used to determine whether one of Mr. Trump’s picks attended the trial.

Those labeled billionaires have been referred to as such in other Times coverage.

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Major donors include people who gave at least $250,000 to support Mr. Trump during the 2024 election cycle.

The Times used congressional lobbying disclosure databases to determine whether an individual is or has ever been a registered lobbyist.

To determine whether one of Mr. Trump’s picks hosted or co-hosted an event at Mar-a-Lago, The Times used permits from the town of Palm Beach; federal, state and county campaign finance records; tax records; social media posts; and promotional materials from organizations that held events.

The Times used the official White House archive from the first Trump administration to determine whether people selected for the second administration also served in the first. Some held multiple positions during the course of the administration. In most cases, the chart reflects the last position they held.

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