Peace, Thanksgiving, and Trump
Happy Thanksgiving and welcome back to Politics Explained! This week, we’ll be covering updates on the preparation for Trump’s second term, conflict in the Middle East, and Biden’s pardoned turkeys*. Let’s get started!
Here are some quick updates from the past week on Donald Trump’s transition preparations so far:
Trump has chosen Keith Kellog, a retired lieutenant general and former national security adviser to Vice President Mike Pence, to be his envoy to Russia and Ukraine. Kellog will play a major role in fulfilling Trump’s plans to end the Russia-Ukraine war. He has also largely contributed to the America First Policy Institute’s policy book, which, similar to the Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025, proposes conservative policies to help Trump in his next term.
Bomb threats and “swatting” calls have been targeted at several of Trump’s administration picks. “Swatting” is when someone falsely reports danger, resulting in an armed police response such as a SWAT team showing up to one’s house. Among those targeted have been the pick to be the ambassador to the UN Rep. Elise Stefanik, the pick to lead the EPA Lee Zeldin, the pick for agriculture secretary Brooke Rollins, and the pick for commerce secretary Howard Lutnick. None have been harmed, but this raises serious alarm for an increase in political violence and threats.
This past Tuesday, President Biden announced a cease-fire deal between Israel and Hezbollah. This deal has been mediated by American and French diplomats, and calls for a 60-day truce. Over the next 60 days, Israel is expected to withdraw its troops out of Lebanon. Hezbollah forces must also move their troops away from Israel’s border. The hope is that with this deescalation of fighting, the peace will extend past the 60-day deal and resolve this conflict.
Every year, the president pardons two turkeys to spare them from being eaten like many other turkeys across the country. This year, President Joe Biden pardoned Peach and Blossom, named after Delaware's state flower, the peach blossom. Marking the beginning of Biden’s final holiday season in office, he expressed his gratitude for being chosen to serve as president, stating, “it's been the honor of my life, I am forever thankful,"
*Definition of the Week (Pardoned Turkeys): Turkeys spared from Thanksgiving dinner through a symbolic "presidential pardon." This tradition, held annually at the White House, began officially with President George H.W. Bush in 1989. The turkeys often retire to farms or sanctuaries.
