Trump selected Gaetz for his loyalty and his willingness to push for reforms and root out corruption within the Justice Department, aligning with Trump's campaign of retribution against perceived political enemies.
Gaetz is a controversial figure with minimal legal experience and a history of ethical probes, leading to skepticism from both Democrats and some Republicans, including Senators Susan Collins and Lindsey Graham.
The Attorney General oversees an institution with over 100,000 employees, prosecutes crimes, defends civil rights laws, fights drug trafficking, and manages the FBI, requiring strong judgment and respect for the law.
Blue state governors and attorneys general are forming coalitions like Governors Safeguarding Democracy to push back against perceived threats to democracy and constitutional norms, with plans to increase legal resources to challenge federal policies in court.
California Governor Gavin Newsom has called a special legislative session to bolster legal resources for protecting civil rights, reproductive freedom, climate action, and immigrant families, while other states like Arizona, Minnesota, and Washington are also preparing legal challenges.
The match is high-risk due to concerns about anti-Semitic and anti-Arab violence, following similar incidents in Amsterdam, and potential hooliganism from Israeli fans.
France is deploying 4,000 police officers, four times the usual number, with double layers of security inside and outside the stadium, and has ordered nearby bars and restaurants to close during the match.
French officials are wary of the conflict being imported to French streets, and anti-Semitic acts are on the rise, with some French Jews feeling blamed for the war, leading to demonstrations calling for a ceasefire and a two-state solution.
President-elect Donald Trump taps Matt Gaetz as Attorney General, sparking questions about Senate approval for the controversial nominee. Democratic-led states are organizing coalitions to push back against policies they expect from the incoming administration. And, Paris police deploy thousands of officers for a tense soccer match between France and Israel, amid fears of violence following unrest after a match in the Netherlands.*Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter).*Today's episode of Up First was edited by Anna Yukhananov, Larry Kaplow, Ryland Barton, Mohamad ElBardicy, and Alice Woelfle.It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Nia Dumas and Julie Depenbrock.We get engineering support from Robert Rodriguez. And our technical director is Zac Coleman.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices)NPR Privacy Policy)