Dems reportedly renewing calls for Justice Sotomayor to resign ahead of Trump term
Democrats are reportedly discussing whether to call on Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor to immediately resign in an effort to avoid her replacement potentially being made under the President-elect Donald Trump, Politico reports.
Democrats lost their Senate majority to Republicans in the 2024 election, which, according to one Democratic senator, prompted discussion over whether to initiate an immediate replacement of Sotomayor, 70, during their remaining two months in control of the chamber.
The concerns stem from the possibility of Trump filling her seat if it happens to become vacant during his presidency – but with the former president taking office in just two months, any proponents of a quick turnaround replacement have a short window to act.
“She can sort of resign conditionally on someone being appointed to replace her,” a Democratic senator told Politico Playbook. “But she can’t resign conditioned on a specific person. What happens if she resigns and the nominee to replace her isn’t confirmed, and the next president fills the vacancy?”
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The Democrat also told the outlet that there remain two top concerns about the idea: confirming a new justice under Congress’ already packed schedule and whether any members would be willing to go on the record against Sotomayor.
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Proponents of the idea would have to guarantee enough Senate votes to ensure a quick confirmation before Trump takes office, which one source told Playbook, could face a potential roadblock from members such as retiring Sen. Joe Manchin, I-W.Va., if they do not support the replacement.
Those discussing a potential replacement for Sotomayor are already eyeing D.C. Circuit Judge J. Michelle Childs, who was appointed by former President Barack Obama in 2009.
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The Democrats are also considering focusing their remaining time in leadership on the appointment of lower-court judges waiting to be confirmed.
Popular shoe retailer begins moving production out of China hours after Trump’s victory
As President-elect Donald Trump’s proposed tariffs loom over the U.S. economy, one popular shoe company is already planning to move production out of China.
Steve Madden’s CEO announced on a post-earnings call Thursday – less than 48 hours after Trump’s victory – that the retailer has put a “plan into motion” that cuts Chinese sourcing up to 45%.
“You should expect to see the percentage of goods that we source from China to begin to come down more rapidly going forward,” CEO Edward Rosenfeld said.
The trendy shoe retailer also noted it would focus more of its operations at factory bases in Brazil, Mexico, Vietnam and Cambodia.
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“Just under half of our current business would be potentially subject to tariffs on Chinese imports (if Trump decides to impose tariffs when he takes office in January),” another company executive said, according to Reuters.
“Our goal over the next year is to reduce the percentage of goods we source from China by approximately 40% to 45%,” the executive added.
Since February, Trump has honed in on using tariffs as a strategic negotiation policy. The former president has floated a tariff of 20% on goods from other countries and 60% on imports from China. During a sit-down interview with Bartiromo, Trump confirmed that his tariff plan would be used as a leveraging tool, and suggested imposing a 200% tax on vehicles from Mexico.
“I think Trump will pursue this more as a bargaining chip than as a cudgel to necessarily broadly punish different countries,” The Lonski Group President and founder John Lonski said in reaction on “Mornings with Maria” Friday.
“He’s going to go to China and say, ‘Listen, unless you make some changes in your trade practices, unless you become less belligerent, you are going to be facing higher tariffs.’ And why not use tariffs as a bargaining chip? I see no reason not to do so,” he continued.
Lonski expanded on the macroeconomic impact: “As far as the United States economy is concerned, it’s absolutely madness if we don’t take steps to protect industries that are vital to national security. This isn’t only a defense, but it’s also [for] some of the pharmaceutical industries, the production of drugs. We can’t become overly reliant on foreign supplies.”
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New Jersey governor declares war on second Trump administration
In a Q&A following President-elect Trump’s victory, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy warned he will “fight to the death” against the administration if he detects behavior “contrary to our values.”
“[A]s we respect the peaceful transition of power, if there is any attack on the Garden State or any of its communities from Washington, I will fight back with every fiber of my being,” Murphy said.
“If there’s an opportunity for common ground, we will seize that as fast as anybody,” he conversely added.
State Assembly Minority Leader John DiMaio, R-Hackettstown, told Fox News Digital that Murphy is “missing the message” voters sent Tuesday with the initial rhetoric.
“It’s time for the governor to recognize that his values may not reflect the values of New Jerseyans as widely as he assumes,” he said.
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“While Murphy is prepared to spend resources on political battles with Trump, it’s hard to see how that aligns with the priorities of struggling families, working taxpayers and business owners who want more focus on their needs,” DiMaio said.
Murphy, who will begin his final year in Trenton after Trump is inaugurated, credited Trump with his “uncanny ability to connect with people, even if it’s not in their own interests,” after the Republican came proverbially close to taking the blue bastion.
While Murphy rejected a reporter’s query about New Jersey being in play in the future, he commented that Trump only lost it by 4%, compared to 16% in 2020.
“I do not believe we are a swing state,” he said, adding that outside of Rep. Tom Kean Jr.’s victory along the Route 22 corridor, he was happy with the down-ballot results. Kean is a Republican.
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He pointed to Republicans’ success in messaging on the immigration crisis, adding the caveat that their winning rhetoric may not have matched the facts on the ground.
Trump won Passaic County, an ethnically diverse New York City suburb, but down-ballot races skewed Democrat. Murphy pointed to that as an example of voters selecting Trump personally rather than Republicans writ large.
He suggested the same was true in North Carolina, noting Trump won the state but Democrat Attorney General Joshua Stein was elected governor.
“Just as it is our responsibility to continue to stand up against any threat to our state or to our people, it is also our responsibility to take any opportunity that presents itself to work with [Trump] to protect and uplift the people of our state because that is what responsible leaders do,” Murphy added.
He also credited Trump with quickly approving the new Portal North Railroad Bridge in Secaucus and assisting during the coronavirus pandemic.
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As for responding to Trump’s governance, Murphy said that during the last administration, when Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was reportedly conducting raids in search of illegal immigrants, he took an inventive tack.
“There was a time when ICE was just randomly showing up on street corners and apprehending … brothers and sisters from the immigrant community,” Murphy said.
The governor, who lives in Middletown Township near Sandy Hook, said he heard an “area near where I live was at-risk.”
“I just went there one night with my [security] detail and just hung out there,” he said, noting ICE then didn’t show.
“Whether that scared them off or not I don’t know, but it’s an example of a small step that we’re willing to try anything if it’s contrary to our values.”
As the 2025 gubernatorial race to replace him is about to heat up, Murphy said his three-point win in 2021 may have been “the canary in the coalmine” for Democrats in the state to assess the political landscape.
Critics rip elite school for giving students milk and cookies to help cope with Trump’s win
Reports that several universities across the nation canceled classes and provided safe spaces for students to recover from the presidential election prompted a wave of criticism that these schools aren’t preparing students for the “real world.”
Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., drew mockery on social media after news broke the college invited students to a “self-care suite” on Wednesday to recover from the stress of the 2024 presidential election.
Students at Georgetown’s McCourt School of Public Policy were reportedly offered treats like “milk and cookies” and “hot cocoa” as well as “Lego” toys and “Coloring and Mindfulness Exercises” to get their minds off the election results.
“Seriously, @Georgetown? We all know that it’s not conservative students who want the daycare experience. Stop coddling leftists who can’t handle reality,” Defense of Freedom Institute spokesperson Angela Morabito wrote on X.
ELITE DC UNIVERSITY REPORTEDLY PROVIDING ‘SELF-CARE SUITE’ FOR STUDENTS STRESSED ABOUT ELECTION RESULTS
Another elite school reportedly canceled classes and lessened course requirements on Wednesday in response to President-elect Trump’s victory.
The Harvard Crimson reported that several courses in the Sociology, Math and General Education Departments at Harvard University canceled classes that day, made attendance optional or extended assignment deadlines.
Economics lecturer Maxim Boycko reportedly told students during his “Intermediate Microeconomics” course that in-class quizzes would be optional on Wednesday and that students could take time off if they needed to process the election results.
“As we recover from the eventful election night and process the implications of Trump’s victory, please know that class will proceed as usual today, except that classroom quizzes will not be for credit,” Boycko wrote in an email obtained by the Crimson. “Feel free to take time off if needed.”
The student newspaper noted that several professors postponed exams or lightened students’ assignments after Trump’s win in 2016 as well.
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The school’s reaction prompted fierce criticism from academics and Harvard graduates on social media.
“Fellow academics: This is nuts. Stop doing this. It makes you look like an out-of-touch crazy person. It further erodes respect for higher ed and trust in academic research. And it’s not good for your students,” William J. Luther, Associate Professor of Economics at Florida Atlantic University, wrote on X.
“Do you know how many classes Harvard cancelled after October 7th? Zero,” Harvard graduate Shabbos Kestenbaum wrote on X. “Ivy League universities are incubators of antisemitism, radicalism, and intellectual and moral bankruptcy. Tax the endowments. End federal funding. Abolish DEI.”
On the other side of the country, in Tacoma, Washington, The University of Puget Sound announced a full week of “self-care” election activities to stressed students.
Students were invited to stroll in a “walkable labyrinth” with “calming lighting and music;” “recharge” their mental health in an arts and crafts corner; or make a collage in a “supportive space for election processing.” Other events on the week’s schedule included “support spaces” exclusively for LGBTQ students and students of color to talk about their election anxiety.
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At the University of Oregon, “Quacktavious the Therapy Duck,” baby therapy goats and therapy dogs were brought to campus “to promote well-being and lessen anxiety” for students, according to the school’s event calendar and first reported by Campus Reform.
Students at Virginia Tech could play with therapy dogs, do arts and crafts or join a “guided stretching” class as part of the school’s Election Day activities organized by the counseling center.
A full day of “self-care” activities, including yoga classes, “restorative dialogue,” and therapy dog “pawfice” hours was offered to process the election results on Wednesday at the college.
The University of Michigan School of Social Work invited students to attend various post-election events, including an “empowering art therapy workshop” to “process the emotions stirred up by the election season.”
At Michigan State University, an “MSU” professor went viral after canceling her class to “grieve” about the election.
“I am cancelling class today to grieve the presidential election results,” Borah wrote in a notice later shared on social media. “As a queer, immigrant woman of color, I cannot, in good conscience, go on about my day like everything is alright.”
“This is a major historical event that we are witnessing,” she continued. “I hope you take this time to take care of yourself.” The professor also promised not to discriminate against any of her students for their political beliefs.
The professor’s page was taken down from the university website. MSU told Fox News Digital they were aware and were addressing the incident internally.
Campus Reform correspondent Emily Sturge told Fox News Digital that these schools were not equipping students for the “real world.”
“Democratic elections are not traumatic, they are a privilege that not all countries allow. We’re headed down a very problematic path: universities are producing a generation that can’t face the uncertainties and challenges of life,” Sturge told Fox News Digital.
“These activities belong at a day care, not an institution of higher learning. Life is hard. It’s full of hard work, hurt feelings, sadness, and tragedy. Our great-grandparents fought through WWII with sacrifice and grit – not with coloring books or puppy petting. They faced obstacles and opposition head on. Universities need to return to preparing the next generation to not only survive in the real world, but to thrive,” she continued.
Some university officials are defending the election activities, arguing we are living in an unprecedented time of division.
“I do think the rhetoric that goes around [during] the elections, with the past few election cycles, is really different from what I grew up with… we’re constantly hearing messages that are ‘If you don’t do it this way, everything is over,’” Kelly Brown, the director of counseling, health and wellness services at the University of Puget Sound, told Inside Higher Ed.
“I don’t think of it as coddling. I think of it as paying attention to the environment around us,” she added.
It’s not just colleges who have come under fire for their post-election practices.
Students at the pre-K to 12th grade private school, the Ethical Culture Fieldston School in New York, who felt too emotionally distressed the day after the election were excused from classes, the New York Times reported. Excused absences were permitted on Wednesday for students who felt unable to “fully engage in classes.”
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In addition, no homework would be assigned on Election Day, no student assessments would be given on Wednesday, and psychologists would be available to provide counseling, the New York Times reported ahead of Election Day.
Comedian Jerry Seinfeld, whose two sons once attended the elite school, accused the institution of coddling students.
“This is why the kids hated it,” Seinfeld told The New York Times. “What kind of lives have these people led that makes them think that this is the right way to handle young people? To encourage them to buckle. This is the lesson they are providing, for ungodly sums of money.”
Melania Trump also made history election night, becoming the second presidential spouse to serve two non-consecutive terms as first lady. She was already the second first lady born outside the United States. While President-elect Donald Trump works to put together the senior members of his administration, Mrs. Trump is doing the same for the East Wing with great intentionality.
She told “Fox & Friends,” “I have much more experience, much more knowledge. I was in the White House before. So when you go in, you know exactly what to expect. You know what kind of people you need to get.” As stated in her best-selling memoir, “Melania,” she has a “strong sense of duty to use [her] platform as First Lady for good.” Her recent interviews all signal a secure, comfortable, and deliberate first lady who knows what she wants to achieve and understands the significance of legacy, with the advantage of having served four years before.
Our incoming first lady is notably demure and mindful of the importance of her role despite the lack of positive media attention she received compared to many of her recent predecessors. Her bold support of children through her BE BEST initiative took her to dozens of events all over the U.S. and abroad, including several African countries, and a trip to the southern border to see the impact our immigration system has on children and families firsthand.
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She often used the hashtag #powerofthefirstlady to highlight important causes like the negative impact of opioids, which continues to be a major crisis today. Mrs. Trump has made it clear that focusing on the current and future needs of America’s children will be at the center of her second-term platform.
Mrs. Trump proved her mastery of social diplomacy and imagery multiple times during her previous tenure in the White House, including her flawless execution of state visits. She made history by standing with President Trump on stage with the visiting heads of state and inviting their spouses to do the same during arrival ceremonies, something only previously choreographed by the Carter administration that has not happened since.
Traditionally, presidential spouses are escorted to the side of the stage as the two heads of state address the crowd. This subtle yet meaningful change to a ceremony, which originated during the Kennedy administration, signaled to the world the importance and value placed on spouses and, notably, first ladies.
While First Lady Melania Trump was not afraid to place her mark on entertaining at the White House, she ensured each event was meaningful and steeped in American history and tradition. Relationships with world leaders foster dialogue, understanding, respect and peace. Therefore, we should anticipate soft diplomacy through entertaining to continue and increase in a second Trump term. A royal state visit for King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain could be one of the first state visits President and Mrs. Trump hold during their second term, as the royals’ first planned visit to the U.S. was canceled due to COVID-19.
Mrs. Trump will have the honor of serving as America’s hostess for the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Like First Lady Betty Ford, who acted as hostess for events commemorating the American Bicentennial, 50 years ago, this significant anniversary of our relatively young nation, will come with much fanfare.
So many heads of state came to pay tribute to America during the bicentennial, that a tent was erected on the South Lawn to ensure that tours of the White House were not curtailed. It would be a fitting tribute to the late Queen Elizabeth II, who was honored with a state dinner during the bicentennial, and to our special relationship with England for President and Mrs. Trump to invite King Charles II to attend a state dinner for his first state visit as king during our Semiquincentennial.
As first lady, Mrs. Trump consistently and purposely showed her support for our armed forces with thoughtful gestures, such as selecting U.S. military musicians for entertainment at White House events, saying, “supporting our military is a fundamental belief of mine.” The state dinner in honor of Australia included the largest gathering of premier military musicians for a state dinner at the executive residence, with over 150 members surrounding the guests in the Rose Garden of the White House.
In 2018, Mrs. Trump also traveled into a war zone visiting the troops over the Christmas holiday. One can be certain that her continued support of the United States military is something that will be highlighted.
Any careful review of First Lady Melania Trump’s first term would also include her immense pride in our nation and her appreciation for preserving the Executive Mansion. Mrs. Trump said it was her testament to preserving history, “contributing something lasting and beautiful to the American people, transcending politics and partisanship.”
This preservation work included projects such as the renovation of the White House Rose Garden, the Queen’s Bedroom, the redesign of the rug in the Diplomatic Reception room (now on display for public tours thanks to Dr. Jill Biden) and replacing the historic Red Room’s Scalamandre silk wallpaper (that had faded to pink). Additionally, Mrs. Trump’s projects included things not regularly seen by the public, such as updating bathrooms, the doors of the private residence, the bowling alley and the total restoration of the White House Tennis Pavilion to name just a few.
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Mrs. Trump did not yet have the opportunity to design a Trump china service, which is a custom most two-term first ladies proudly continue at no cost to the taxpayer. She often preferred the Clinton China, the 200th Anniversary of President John Adams moving into the White House, gold-trimmed china, which has a White House motif for her entertaining. She could also create a 250th Anniversary crystal set to further commemorate the Semiquincentennial, since it is well known that the White House needs new crystal.
The one constant for both Mrs. Trump and America is the White House itself, due in large part to the amazing Executive Residence staff that takes care of the President’s House and every first family that inhabits it. First Lady Frances Cleveland reportedly told the president’s footman, “Now, Jerry, I want you to take good care of all the furniture and ornaments in the house, and not let any of them get lost or broken, for I want to find everything just as it is now, when we come back again.”
As first lady, Mrs. Trump consistently and purposely showed her support for our armed forces with thoughtful gestures such as selecting U.S. military musicians for entertainment at White House events, saying, “supporting our military is a fundamental belief of mine.”
For First Lady Melania Trump’s return, many things will look the same; however, some things will be very different personally. Her beloved mother, who passed away earlier this year, will not be there with her. First son Barron Trump is now 18 years old and will be attending college and living in New York City.
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First Lady Lady Bird Johnson eloquently said, “This house is only on loan to its tenants, that we are temporary occupants, linked to a continuity of presidents who have come before us and who will succeed us.” Like other United States first ladies, Mrs. Trump understands and appreciates the continuity of history, the importance of tradition, the value of preservation, and the power of the Office of the First Lady to be a positive, unifying office for good.
It will be up to incoming First Lady Melania Trump to create the term and legacy she wants for herself, and every indication given shows she is fully prepared to make the Office of the First Lady exactly as she wants it to be.
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