RECORD DEPORTATIONS: ICE reports a record 483,200 deportations and more than 491,000 immigration arrests in fiscal 2026, shattering previous agency records as President Donald Trump intensifies his immigration crackdown. https://bit.ly/3WIdxCm

CORRUPTION CRACKDOWN: President Donald Trump announced Thursday that he has directed Vice President JD Vance to focus his "complete and total attention" on what Trump describes as widespread corruption and crime in Democrat-run cities and states. MORE: https://bit.ly/3UL55ll

NEXT IN LINE?: Ben Ferguson says he has not spoken directly with President Donald Trump about becoming White House press secretary, but his history of battling liberal commentators has him prepared to take on the media.

https://youtu.be/qjcy19JMHHw

SpaceX and Tesla CEO Elon Musk said it would be an "honor" to hire Jensen Huang, who hours later was forced out as Nvidia CEO following an affair with an alleged Chinese spy. MORE: https://bit.ly/4sTpNfk

MILITARY MIGHT: President Donald Trump called on Senate leadership Thursday to immediately advance a $350 billion reconciliation bill aimed at strengthening the U.S. military.

MILITARY FAMILY TRIBUTE: First lady Melania Trump delivered a heartfelt message to military families at Fort Rucker, Alabama, on Thursday, honoring the sacrifices they make while their loved ones serve our country.

WHY I LEFT: Marjorie Taylor Greene explains why she resigned from Congress, why she now calls herself an independent, and why she says a primary challenge was looming. Greta asks MTG about Trump, the GOP and what comes next on today's "Greta Wire" podcast. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHHky6UhcjA

HERE COMES THE HAMMER: Rep. Tim Burchett says Republicans have a powerful backstop in their battles with congressional Democrats: the presidential veto. https://bit.ly/4eCJ278

Two senior congressional Democrats are urging the Trump administration to delay new Medicaid work requirements scheduled to take effect Jan. 1, warning that states need more time to prepare. https://bit.ly/4iSAo5O

OMAR INVESTIGATION: A lawyer for a man who briefly guarded Rep. Ilhan Omar says federal prosecutors charged his client with lying to immigration officials to extract information about the congresswoman, then dropped the case after he testified, according to a report. https://bit.ly/3WHDLoD

Former Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick have been called to testify before a Senate committee next month as lawmakers investigate national security concerns surrounding Huang's relationship with a woman suspected of spying for China. https://bit.ly/4iG8Od7

DEMOCRATS SET THEIR AGENDA: House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries says Democrats will push to raise the $7.25 federal minimum wage and expand healthcare access when they take control of the House in January. https://bit.ly/4sYFvG9

OBAMA MISSES HIS PRIVACY: Michelle Obama says her husband misses his anonymity but “The Right Squad” questions whether Barack Obama’s continued public appearances, campaign activity, and promotional work tell a different story.

https://youtu.be/Y3s7zRAkwQI

SCHUMER IN DANGER?: Sen. Chris Van Hollen announced that he will challenge Sen. Chuck Schumer for majority leader in the next Congress. https://bit.ly/48RrEYL

Republicans in the House and Senate will need to "stick together" to "stop some of this madness" from Democrats in the next Congress, Georgia Rep. Buddy Carter told NEWSMAX. https://bit.ly/48TGJck

GOP FLIPS MAINE SEAT: Former Maine Gov. Paul LePage has won a closely contested congressional race, delivering Republicans a rare pickup in an election dominated by Democratic victories nationwide. https://bit.ly/4katk6I