Voters in seven states approved ballot measures to expand abortion access, while some of them simultaneously backed President-elect Trump and Republicans who could help instate a federal ban come next year.
The big picture: The president-elect, who has repeatedly taken credit for overturning federal abortion protections, has flip-flopped on the issue but insisted he would not sign a national ban into law.
President-elect Trump is taking a very different approach to staffing his second administration:
He's putting a premium (so far) on picking people who are both experienced and MAGA loyalists, transition insiders tell us.
Why it matters: In Trump's first term, many of the top players were either experts or true believers — but rarely both.
The result was a dysfunctional, chaotic administration that, officials recognize in retrospect, could have accomplished a lot more. Trump is determined to fix that, we're told.
A wind-driven wildfire in Southern California that's prompted thousands to evacuate has injured 10 people, destroyed 132 structures and damaged another 88 in less than two days of critical fire weather, officials said Thursday.
The big picture: California Gov. Gavin Newsom proclaimed a state of emergency in Ventura County Thursday due to the climate change-related Mountain Fire that's razed some 20,400 acres and was 5% contained Thursday evening. Several county schools will remain shut Friday and a red flag warning was in effect through 11am that day.
