Trump names chief of staff; Fed cuts key rate

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. 

AMSTERDAM (AP) — Israeli fans and protesters have clashed overnight after a soccer match in Amsterdam. Police said Friday that five people were hospitalized and 62 arrested. Dutch authorities said attackers systematically targeted Israeli fans. 

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. 

CAMARILLO, Calif. (AP) — Southern California firefighters working to contain a wildfire that has destroyed 132 structures in two days could be assisted by a forecast of fierce wind gusts easing. 

LONDON (AP) — Britain’s Prince William described the past year as “brutal” as he faced work while his wife and father were treated for cancer. 

NEW YORK (AP) — “The Handmaid’s Tale” is selling again. Since President-elect Trump clinched his return to the White House, Margaret Atwood’s dystopian classic about a country in which women are brutally repressed has been high on the Amazon.com best seller list. “The Handmaid’s Tale” was popular throughout Trump’s first term, along with such dark futuristic narratives as George Orwell’s “1984” and Ray Bradbury’s “Fahrenheit 451,” both of which were in the Amazon top 40 as of Thursday afternoon. Another best-seller from Trump’s previous time in office, Timothy Snyder’s “On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century,” was in the top 10.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. (AP) — A former health care worker who illegally accessed the health records of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg before she died has been sentenced to two years in prison. Thirty-four-year—old Trent Russell of Bellevue, Nebraska, worked at the time as a transplant coordinator in the Washington, D.C., region and had access to hospital records. 

In other news:

• Federal Reserve cuts its key interest rate by a quarter-point amid postelection uncertainty.
• How 5 key demographic groups voted in 2024: AP VoteCast.
• Biden gets blamed by Harris allies for the vice president's resounding loss to Trump.
• Pentagon chief presses military to carry out a smooth transition and obey all lawful orders.
• California governor calls special session to protect liberal policies from Trump presidency.
• Republican David McCormick flips pivotal Pennsylvania Senate seat.
• Judge strikes down Biden administration program shielding immigrant spouses from deportation.
• Defiant Giuliani says he's a victim of 'political persecution' as he's told again to give up assets.
• Stock market today: Most of Wall Street rises after the Fed cuts interest rates.
• Average rate on a 30-year mortgage in the US rises for 6th straight week.
• Slightly more American apply for unemployment benefits last week, but layoffs remain at low levels.
• 43 monkeys escape from a South Carolina medical lab. Police say there is no serious danger.
• Jury convicts man of killing girlfriend and hiding her body in rural Minnesota.
• Beyonce' leads Grammy nominations.
• Argentine prosecutors charge 3 people linked to the death of former One Direction star Liam Payne.
• The Ravens hold on to beat the Bengals in a Thursday night thriller, the Cowboys may be without their starting quarterback for a while, the Timberwolves flex their muscles in the fourth quarter to beat the Bulls, and the NHL-best Jets just keep getting better.
• Canada orders TikTok's Canadian business to be dissolved but won't block app.
• Banning UNRWA will lead to a vacuum and suffering for Palestinians, the agency's chief says.
• UK doctor gets 31 years for poisoning mother's partner with fake COVID vaccine.
• When should kids start using social media Australia's government proposes age limit of 16.

About this program

Host Terry Lipshetz is managing editor of the national newsroom for Lee Enterprises. Besides producing the daily Hot off the Wire news podcast, Terry conducts periodic interviews for this Behind the Headlines program, co-hosts the Streamed & Screened movies and television program and is the former producer of Across the Sky, a podcast dedicated to weather and climate.

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Hot Off The Wire is a collection of news, sports and entertainment reports. The program is produced by Lee Enterprises with audio provided by The Associated Press.