🗞️ Trudeau is Out

GREETINGS!

🔔 In today’s email:

🙀 Trudeau Resigns
🙅 Incoming Chief of Staff Vows “No Drama”
🟠 Congress Certifies Trump
🔫 LGBTQ Gun Ownership Surges

Sponsored by Hillsdale College

KEY STORY

Canadian PM Justin Trudeau Resigns as Liberal Party Leader

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Monday that he will resign as leader of the Liberal Party but remain prime minister until a new leader is chosen, likely by March 2024.

• Citing internal party struggles and declining public support, Trudeau said, “It has become clear to me that if I'm having to fight internal battles, I cannot be the best option” for the next election.

• The announcement follows a series of challenges for Trudeau, including resignations from key Cabinet members and public dissatisfaction over rising inflation and immigration concerns.

Dive In

• Recent polls show the Liberal Party at just 16% support, with the opposition Conservatives poised for a significant victory in the next election.

• Trudeau’s resignation mirrors that of his father, Pierre Elliott Trudeau, who stepped down as prime minister in 1984.

• The incoming party leader will face immediate challenges, including strained U.S.-Canada relations and tariff threats from President-elect Donald Trump.

Join the Discord to talk about it!

KEY STORY

Incoming WH Chief of Staff Vows “No Drama” for Trump 2nd Term

Susie Wiles, set to become the first female White House Chief of Staff, has pledged to maintain a “no-drama” culture in the Trump 47 administration.

• Known as “The Ice Maiden,” Wiles was credited with the discipline and efficiency of Trump’s 2024 campaign and plans to bring that approach to Washington.

• Wiles emphasized loyalty, teamwork, and avoiding internal discord, saying she will not tolerate “backbiting” or “solo stars” in the West Wing.

Zoom In

• Trump has personally interviewed and selected Cabinet members to ensure competence and alignment with his priorities.

• With Republicans controlling Congress, Wiles views the next two years as critical to fulfilling Trump’s promises, including energy production, tax cuts, deregulation, and immigration enforcement.

• She stressed the need for urgency, saying, “We are cognizant of a turning clock — much to do.”

Join the Discord to talk about it!

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KEY STORY

Congress Certifies Donald Trump as 2024 Election Winner

Congress officially certified Donald Trump as the winner of the 2024 presidential election on Monday, ensuring his return to the White House on January 20.

• Trump celebrated on Truth Social, calling it a “big moment in history” for his “great election victory.”

• Trump won 312 electoral votes to Kamala Harris’s 226, with Republicans also gaining control of the Senate and holding a narrow House majority.

A Closer Look

• This alignment positions Trump to advance his agenda, including tax cuts and stricter immigration policies.

• Heightened security surrounded the Capitol for the certification, with metal fencing, ID checkpoints, and police convoys ensuring order.

• The process followed new 2022 legislation that tightened certification rules, requiring greater congressional support to challenge state results.

Join the Discord to talk about it!

KEY STORY

LGBTQ Gun Ownership Surges Amid Fears of Second Trump Administration

LGBTQ individuals are increasingly arming themselves, citing fears of persecution under a potential second Trump administration.

• Groups like the Liberal Gun Club, Socialist Rifle Association, and Pink Pistols have reported surges in membership and firearms training requests, with some organizations surpassing 2023 totals in just weeks.

• Motivations include self-defense against hate crimes and terrorist attacks, with many recalling the 2016 Pulse nightclub shooting, the deadliest attack on the LGBTQ community in U.S. history.

More Details

• Pink Pistols, which uses the slogan “Armed Gays Don’t Get Bashed,” says it has been inundated with training inquiries.

• Gun ownership among minority groups, including LGBTQ individuals, has grown since 2020, fueled by social unrest and safety concerns.

• However, while gun ownership among Democratic men has declined, it has risen sharply among Republican women, according to Gallup.

Join the Discord to talk about it!

QUICK BITES

Quick Stories for Office Small Talk…

🚘 New York City launched its first-in-America congestion pricing on Sunday, charging drivers $9 to enter Manhattan during peak hours. The measure aims to reduce gridlock, improve air quality, and fund $15 billion in transit upgrades. In 2023, New York had the world’s worst traffic, with drivers losing 101 hours to congestion.

👩‍🏫 New Jersey no longer requires aspiring teachers to pass the state’s basic skills exam for certification, under a new law addressing teacher shortages. Signed by Governor Phil Murphy as part of the 2025 budget, the law eliminates the Praxis Core Test requirement for reading, writing, and math. Advocates, supported the move, calling the test an "unnecessary barrier" to entering the profession.

🟠 President-elect Trump aims to fast-track his policy goals by consolidating tax cuts, tariffs, and border security into a single omnibus bill. Trump urged Republicans on X to "quickly deliver" his agenda, with Speaker Mike Johnson now backing the plan to pass the legislation within the administration's first 100 days. The move seeks to ensure early results and sustain momentum with GOP control of Congress.

🤳 Shark Tank star Kevin O’Leary announced he's close to a deal to purchase TikTok’s U.S. operations, potentially saving the app from a January 19 ban. O’Leary, teaming up with former Dodgers owner Frank McCourt, said he’ll seek help from President-elect Donald Trump to finalize the deal. The ban hinges on TikTok’s Beijing-based parent company, ByteDance, failing to secure a U.S. buyer for its American business.

FROM THE EDITOR

You’re a special kind of person if you reached the end of the road here. :)

-Mike