President-elect Trump names Susie Wiles as chief of staff, first woman in the post

WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump has named Susie Wiles, the manager of his victorious campaign, as his White House chief of staff. She would be the first woman to hold the influential role. Wiles is widely credited within and outside Trump’s inner circle for running what was, by far, his most disciplined and well-executed campaign. She largely avoided the spotlight, even refusing to take the mic to speak as Trump celebrated his victory early Wednesday morning.

GOP picks up more key House seats while Democrats insist they still have a path to a majority

WASHINGTON (AP) — House Republican leaders are projecting confidence that they will keep control of the U.S. House. More more races are being decided their way, but Democrats insist they still see a path to the House majority. Republicans picked up two more hard-fought seats Thursday in Pennsylvania, which became a stark battlefield of Democratic losses up and down the ticket. Democrats notched another win in New York, defeating a third GOP incumbent in that state. Both parties in the House huddled privately on morning conference calls as Congress prepares to return next week to a changed Washington, where a sweep of MAGA-infused GOP power is within reach for President-elect Donald Trump.

Biden gets blamed by Harris allies for the vice president’s resounding loss to Trump

WASHINGTON (AP) — Joe Biden’s name wasn’t on the ballot, but history will likely remember Vice President Kamala Harris’ resounding defeat as his loss, too. As Democrats pick up the pieces following President-elect Donald Trump’s decisive victory, some Harris backers are expressing frustration with Biden’s decision to remain in the race until this past summer, despite voter concerns about his age and unease about post-pandemic inflation. His decision to wait until just 107 days before Election Day is a move that his Democratic critics say all but sealed his party’s surrender of the White House.

132 structures destroyed in Southern California wildfire as fierce winds expected to subside

CAMARILLO, Calif. (AP) — A Southern California wildfire has destroyed 132 structures in less than two days. That’s according to the Ventura County Fire Department. Fire officials said 88 other structures were damaged but did not specify whether they had been burned or affected by water or smoke damage. The fire started Wednesday morning and has grown to about 32 square miles. Some 10,000 people remained under evacuation orders Thursday as the Mountain Fire continued to threaten some 3,500 structures in suburban neighborhoods, ranches and agricultural areas around Camarillo in Ventura County. The fire’s cause has not been determined.

Racist text messages referencing slavery raise alarms in multiple states and prompt investigations

WASHINGTON (AP) — Racist text messages invoking slavery raised alarm across the country this week after they were sent to Black men, women and students, including middle schoolers, prompting inquiries by the FBI and other agencies. The messages, sent anonymously, were reported in several states, including New York, Alabama, California, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Tennessee. They generally used a similar tone but varied in wording. Some said the recipient was going to a “plantation” and instructed them to show up at an address at a particular time “with your belongings.” It wasn’t yet clear who was behind the messages and there was no comprehensive list of where they were sent, but high school and college students were among the recipients.

Federal Reserve cuts its key interest rate by a quarter-point amid postelection uncertainty

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Reserve cut its key rate by a quarter-point in response to the steady decline in the once-high inflation that had angered Americans and helped drive Donald Trump’s presidential election victory this week. The rate cut follows a larger half-point reduction in September, and it reflects the Fed’s renewed focus on supporting the job market as well as fighting inflation, which now barely exceeds the central bank’s 2% target. Annual inflation has since fallen from a 9.1% peak in 2022 to a 3 1/2-year low of 2.4%. Asked how Trump’s election might affect the Fed’s policymaking, Chair Jerome Powell said that “in the near term, the election will have no effects on our [interest rate] decisions.”

Argentine prosecutors charge 3 people linked to the death of former One Direction star Liam Payne

BUENOS AIRES (AP) — Argentine prosecutors say that three people have been charged in connection with the death of Liam Payne, a former member of musical group One Direction, who died after falling from the balcony of his hotel room in Buenos Aires last month. Prosecutor Andrés Madrea charged the three suspects, whose identities were not revealed, with the crimes of “abandonment of a person followed by death” and “supplying and facilitating the use of narcotics,” the prosecutor’s office said. Madrea also requested their arrest to judge Laura Bruniard, who ruled the three cannot leave the country.

Canada’s Trudeau revives a Cabinet-level panel to address concerns about a Trump presidency

TORONTO (AP) — Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he is re-establishing a special Cabinet committee on Canada-U.S. relations to address his administration’s concerns about another Donald Trump presidency. Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland, who is also the country’s finance minister, will chair the committee, which also will include other top officials. Canada is one of the most trade-dependent countries in the world, and 75% of Canada’s exports go to the U.S. During Trump’s first time, his move to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement, or NAFTA, and reports that he was considering a 25% tariff on the auto sector were considered an existential threat in Canada at the time.

Cuba left reeling after Category 3 hurricane ravages island and knocks out power grid

HAVANA (AP) — Cuba has been left reeling after a fierce Category 3 hurricane ripped across western portions of the island, knocking out the country’s power grid, downing trees and damaging infrastructure. No fatalities have immediately been reported. Some 50,000 people took shelter in Havana, with thousands more doing the same in regions south and just west of the capital since they lived in flood zones or in flimsy homes. The main road from Havana to the southern coastal city of Batabanó was strewn with dozens of utility poles and wires. As Hurricane Rafael plowed across Cuba late Wednesday, it slowed to a Category 2 hurricane as it chugged into the Gulf of Mexico before heading toward Mexico.

Fans flood @Pontifex account after it inadvertently cites New Orleans Saints amid dreadful season

ROME (AP) — The New Orleans Saints may be one of the worst teams in the NFL this season. But at least they can count on continued prayers from Pope Francis. The pope – or at least someone in the Vatican communications office – has been inadvertently rooting for the Saints since Nov. 1 – All Saints Day – even as the team lost yet another game and fired their coach.Thanks to an automatic function on X, formerly Twitter, the team’s fleur-de-lis emoji is automatically added to the hashtag #Saints. That has given the impression that the @Pontifex account on X was talking about the team.