Tamara Keith

And then, of course, there was Matt Gaetz for attorney general who had to withdraw because he didn't have the votes to be confirmed.

And then, of course, there was Matt Gaetz for attorney general who had to withdraw because he didn't have the votes to be confirmed.

And then, of course, there was Matt Gaetz for attorney general who had to withdraw because he didn't have the votes to be confirmed.

You know, it's almost expected that at least one of a president's initial nominees will fail before getting to a Senate vote. It happened with Trump. It happened to Biden, Bush, Clinton. Obama actually had three picks withdraw. But this is really, really early for two picks to be out already. Part of the reason is Trump has bypassed some of the typical vetting procedures.

You know, it's almost expected that at least one of a president's initial nominees will fail before getting to a Senate vote. It happened with Trump. It happened to Biden, Bush, Clinton. Obama actually had three picks withdraw. But this is really, really early for two picks to be out already. Part of the reason is Trump has bypassed some of the typical vetting procedures.

You know, it's almost expected that at least one of a president's initial nominees will fail before getting to a Senate vote. It happened with Trump. It happened to Biden, Bush, Clinton. Obama actually had three picks withdraw. But this is really, really early for two picks to be out already. Part of the reason is Trump has bypassed some of the typical vetting procedures.

Max Steyer heads the Partnership for Public Service, which has long worked to improve presidential transitions.

Max Steyer heads the Partnership for Public Service, which has long worked to improve presidential transitions.

Max Steyer heads the Partnership for Public Service, which has long worked to improve presidential transitions.

You know, the Trump transition only just agreed to FBI background checks earlier this week, more than a month late. Usually this sort of vetting is done quietly before picks are named to avoid embarrassment. And this time you have a cloud of self-inflicted chaos around the Trump transition because of the way they chose to do it.

You know, the Trump transition only just agreed to FBI background checks earlier this week, more than a month late. Usually this sort of vetting is done quietly before picks are named to avoid embarrassment. And this time you have a cloud of self-inflicted chaos around the Trump transition because of the way they chose to do it.

You know, the Trump transition only just agreed to FBI background checks earlier this week, more than a month late. Usually this sort of vetting is done quietly before picks are named to avoid embarrassment. And this time you have a cloud of self-inflicted chaos around the Trump transition because of the way they chose to do it.

You're welcome.

You're welcome.

You're welcome.

President-elect Donald Trump has said he intends to roll back a lot of President Biden's signature legislative achievements. So the Biden team is trying to use its remaining time to make that hard to do by obligating funds, signing contracts and pushing out grants.

President-elect Donald Trump has said he intends to roll back a lot of President Biden's signature legislative achievements. So the Biden team is trying to use its remaining time to make that hard to do by obligating funds, signing contracts and pushing out grants.

They're also working to draw attention to popular provisions like the $2,000 cap on prescription drug costs for seniors that takes effect in 2025. Pardons and commutations are a power of the presidency often exercised at the very end. Biden has used his power to send a signal about inequality in the nation's criminal code, and he could do something like that again. Tamara Keith, NPR News.

They're also working to draw attention to popular provisions like the $2,000 cap on prescription drug costs for seniors that takes effect in 2025. Pardons and commutations are a power of the presidency often exercised at the very end. Biden has used his power to send a signal about inequality in the nation's criminal code, and he could do something like that again. Tamara Keith, NPR News.

They need to pass a temporary government funding bill. There is a defense policy bill that comes up annually. And the White House has asked Congress to pass billions of dollars in additional funding for disaster relief because funds to help people recovering from hurricanes and wildfires are running low.