Donald Trump’s high-profile choice for attorney general takes some federal officials by surprise. An indictment reveals how local officials in Mississippi’s largest city became ensnared in an FBI bribery investigation. And restaurant menu prices are finally stabilizing.

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Justice Department officials and Republican senators were baffled by Trump’s choice of attorney general

The announcement of newly elected President Donald Trump Representative Matt Gaetz as his pick for attorney general has sent shockwaves through Washington DC among Justice Department officials and senators, who will vote early next year on whether to confirm the Florida congressman.

If Gaetz is confirmed to the nation’s top law enforcement position, he would oversee departments like the FBI and the Justice Department, both of which Trump has relentlessly attacked for years. Gaetz, a Trump loyalist known as a rabble-rouser in Congress, earned a law degree and briefly worked as a lawyer in Florida before entering politics, but never worked as a prosecutor.

Gaetz was also the subject of a federal investigation in allegations of sex trafficking of a 17-year-old girl, allegations Gaetz has long denied. The investigation ultimately resulted in no criminal charges.

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Gaetz tendered his resignation from the House after the pick was announced, Speaker Mike Johnson said, but it has not yet gone into effect because it has not yet been announced on the House floor. There will eventually be a special election in Florida to fill Gaetz’s seat.

The reaction to Trump’s choice was swift. One Justice Department official called the selection “truly stunning,” while another called it “insane.”

“I have trouble finding words. And look, he has a unique qualification,” another DOJ employee joked. “How many other potential attorneys general had prior experience as the subject of a criminal investigation?” Read more about the reaction among current and former Justice Department officials.

Some Senate Republicans foresee a difficult confirmation process. Sen. Lisa Murkowski said Gaetz’s selection was “not on my bingo card.”

“I don’t think it’s a serious nomination for attorney general. That is Lisa Murkowski’s opinion,” she said.

Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa said Gaetz “has his work cut out for him.” Senate Democrats were also shocked, with Sen. Chris Coons saying he was “speechless” and Sen. John Fetterman calling the selection “God-level trolls.” Read more about senators’ reactions.

More coverage:

• ➡️Republicans will retain control of the House of Representatives by the smallest margin, giving Trump and his party all the instruments of power in Washington. In closed-door meetings, House Speaker Mike Johnson said was nominated for the role for his first full term, and Republican senators Selected Senator John Thune to be their next leader.
• ➡️ A small and ‘chaotic’ majority in the Republican House poses challenges in the new Trump era.
• ➡️Trump thanked President Joe Biden for a smooth transition of power during their meeting at the White House.
• ➡️ Tulsi Gabbard is Trump’s choice for director of national intelligence. Gabbard, a former House of Representatives Democrat who became a prominent Trump supporter, is in conflict with the US intelligence community in the past.
• ➡️ Trump’s pick for Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, has a history of eyebrow-raising commentaryincluding that he believes women should not serve in combat.
• ➡️ By choosing Gaetz, Gabbard, Hegseth and others for his next administration, Trump shows that he will be relying on people he largely knows and likes this time.
• ➡️ House Democrats plan to introduce a resolution that would reaffirm the 22nd Amendmentsetting term limits for the president.
• ➡️ A distrust of leadership and anger over a lack of transparency about finances envelops Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign.
• ➡️The narrow Pennsylvania Senate race between Republican Dave McCormick and Democratic Senator Bob Casey is headed for a recount.

X is seeing its biggest exodus yet under Elon Musk

On Election Day, X received the most traffic all year. But the next day, 115,414 accounts were deactivated, the most since Elon Musk became owner of the social media platform, according to research from Zekereweb, which tracks social media analytics. Meanwhile, daily traffic to competitors Bluesky and Threads has skyrocketed since early October.

High-profile brands and users, including The Guardian and Don Lemon, said they would stop posting as Musk becomes more involved in Trump’s transition to the White House.

Reporters Kat Tenbarge and Kevin Collier spoke to six people who joined or committed to using Threads and Bluesky instead of X because of Musk after the election. They cited growing problems on X, including bots, partisan ads and harassment, all of which they said reached a tipping point when Trump won the election. For one user who left X, there was a noticeable shift in what she saw on election night compared to the next day was her ‘last straw’.

How an FBI bribery operation unfolded in Mississippi’s largest city

When out-of-state developers approached local leaders in Jackson, Mississippi, about a hotel deal, they offered cash and a few perks in exchange for the deal.

It turns out the deal was fake. And the “developers” were actually FBI agents who carried out an operation that lasted about eight months and included travel on private jets, meetings on yachts, shopping trips and lots of money.

Now, three city and county officials have been named in a federal indictment on conspiracy and bribery charges. All have pleaded not guilty. A fourth person resigned in August and pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bribery.

The allegations in the federal indictment paint a picture of people entrusted with public office receiving more than $100,000 in “bribes” while 26% of Jackson residents live in poverty. The scandal is just the latest in a series of challenges the city has faced in recent years. Read the full story here.

Read all about it

• New Jersey residents were urged to reduce their water use and Governor Phil Murphy has issued a drought warning amid a record drought that has sparked a staggering number of wildfires.
• The Brazilian Supreme Court was evacuated after two nearby explosionsraising security concerns ahead of the country hosting the G20 summit.
• Republican Representative Michael McCaul, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, was held for a short time for appearing drunk at Dulles International Airport in Washington DC.
• An eighth-grade transgender boy, who was reportedly threatened with expulsion for using the boys’ restroom, is suing his South Carolina school district.
• Four people in California were accused of insurance fraud after claiming their cars were vandalized by a bear, which was actually someone in a bear costume.

Personnel choice: Menu prices are finally stabilizing

Several restaurant surveys showed this, and this week the consumer price index confirmed it: eating out is becoming cheaper. While the Federal Reserve deserves credit for its efforts to curb inflation, consumers can get some of it, too. Their spending cuts sparked a reckoning among restaurants, with fast-food brands like McDonald’s focusing on value menus and full-service chains like Red Lobster embarking on ambitious makeovers. However, the question that still looms on the minds of many in the food industry is how two major variables will play a role in food prices. Here’s a hint: they both start with the letter T. — JJ McCorveyreporter of business and economics

NBC Select: Online shopping, simplified

With holiday travel on the horizon, NBC Select editors share their picks for the best bags:

• These lightweight luggage options are ideal for transporting your belongings through airports with ease.
• No time to shop in person? These highly rated duffelsrolling bags and backpacks are all on Amazon.
• Pack light? These backpacks have been tested and approved by editors and travel bloggers.

Register with De Selection newsletter for practical product reviews, expert shopping tips and a weekly overview of the best offers and sales.

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