Welcome to the Fox News Politics newsletter, with the latest updates on the Trump transition, exclusive interviews and more Fox News politics content.

**Please note that while we plan on publishing tomorrow, Dec. 24, the newsletter will take a short hiatus for the Christmas holiday, returning on Monday, Dec. 30.***

Here's what's happening…

-TikTok divestment could be ‘deal of the century’ for Trump, House China Committee chair says

-Trump names several new White House picks to work on AI, crypto and more: 'America First Patriots'

-Gaetz sues to block release of Ethics Committee report

Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., is calling out the Biden administration for spending over a trillion taxpayer dollars on "government waste" this year, including on a bearded lady cabaret show, Arabic Sesame Street, and "girl-centered climate action."

The Kentucky senator released his annual "Festivus" report that details different ways in which the current administration spent taxpayer dollars throughout the year. 

The 2024 Festivus Waste Report found that the Biden-Harris administration spent over $1 trillion this year, including giving a $10,000 grant to "Beards on Ice" — an ice skating drag show on climate change put on by the Bearded Ladies Cabaret, a self-described "queer cabaret arts organization."…Read more

LOOKING BACK: Six household appliances that have taken heat from Biden's crackdown on regulations…Read more

OFF THE NAUGHTY LIST?: Biden admin lifts $10M bounty on the head of leader of Islamist group now in charge in Syria…Read more

'ACT OF COMPASSION': 'Squad' Dem applauds Biden for sparing murderers from 'racist' death penalty in 11th-hour clemency move…Read more

SEE THE VICTIMS: Biden spares federal death row inmates: Murderers targeted sailor, young girls, law enforcement…Read more

BLOWING SMOKE: How Biden's last-minute emissions target may prove short-lived when Trump takes office…Read more

'SOFT ON CRIME': Republicans hammer Biden for federal death row commutations ahead of leaving office…Read more

CANAL CLASH: Panama's president hits back at Trump idea to reclaim key canal…Read more

FALL OF ASSAD: Why 2024 was a very bad year for Iran…Read more

BUILDING SUPPORT: Top Trump aides join group prepping to shore up support for MAGA agenda during second term…Read more

'RAPID' DECLINE: Retiring GOP congresswoman's decline has been 'very rapid,' son says…Read more

SEXUAL MISCONDUCT: House report accuses Matt Gaetz of paying women for sex, using illegal drugs, accepting improper gifts…Read more

SKIRTING THE RULES: Watchdog releases report highlighting the worst ethics violations it saw from public officials in 2024…Read more

FIRED: New York Gov. Hochul orders prison staffers involved in inmate's deadly beating to be fired…Read more

LUIGI PLEADS NOT GUILTY: Ivy League suspect in UnitedHealthcare CEO's killing pleads not guilty…Read more

'SHEER INSANITY': Conservative watchdog puts ‘sanctuary’ officials on notice ahead of Trump deportation push…Read more

Get the latest updates on the Trump presidential transition, incoming Congress, exclusive interviews and more on FoxNews.com.

Allies of Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., are urging President-elect Trump to publicly reaffirm support for the House GOP leader to avoid a messy, protracted battle that could delay the certification of his own victory.

"If we have some kind of protracted fight where we can’t elect a speaker — the speaker’s not elected; we’re not sworn in. And if we’re not sworn in, we can’t certify the election," Rep. Carlos Gimenez, R-Fla., told Fox News Digital.

"I would hope that President Trump would chime in and talk to those who are maybe a little hesitant, and say, ‘We’ve got to get going. We don’t have time.’"

Meanwhile, Rep. Pat Fallon, R-Texas, told Fox News Digital "it would be immensely helpful" if Trump chimed in.

TOP TRUMP AIDES JOIN GROUP PREPPING TO SHORE UP SUPPORT FOR MAGA AGENDA

"Any time would be great, but right after Christmas if President Trump said, ‘You know, listen’ — it would even be really cool if somehow Mike Johnson ended up at Mar-a-Lago for Christmas… wherever the president is," Fallon said. "I think it would be incredibly powerful."

House lawmakers are returning to Washington, D.C., for a chamber-wide vote to elect the speaker on Friday, Jan. 3. Just days later, on Monday, Jan. 6, the House will meet to certify the results of the 2024 election.

Johnson is facing a potentially bruising battle to win the speaker’s gavel for a full Congressional term, with several House Republicans vocally critical of the Louisiana Republican and his handling of government funding.

His predecessor went through 14 public defeats in his quest to win the gavel, finally securing it after days of negotiations with holdouts on the 15th House-wide vote.

When he was ousted, Johnson won after a three-week inter-GOP battle that saw Congress paralyzed for its duration.

But some House Republicans are now warning that they can afford few delays in what Trump himself said he hopes will be a very active first 100 days of his second term.

"To ensure President Trump can take office and hit the ground running on Jan. 20, we must be able to certify the 2024 election on Jan. 6. However, without a speaker, we cannot complete this process," Rep. Claudia Tenney, R-N.Y., told Fox News Digital. 

Tenney warned it could delay "the launch of his agenda."

Congress narrowly avoided a partial government shutdown hours after the Dec. 20 federal funding deadline, passing a bill to extend that deadline to March 14 while also extending several other key programs and replenishing the FEMA Disaster Relief Fund.

It angered GOP hardliners who opposed the addition of unrelated policy riders to what they believed would be a more straightforward government funding extension.

Johnson also tried and failed to heed Trump’s demand to pair action on the debt limit — which was suspended until January 2025 — with his government funding bill, after 38 House Republicans and all but two Democrats voted against it.

Fallon told Fox News Digital that it did not necessarily mean they would defy Trump if he backed Johnson again ahead of Jan. 3.

"Some of the people in the 38 — that was more of a principle thing — they really want to attack the debt," Fallon said. "They felt like just letting the debt ceiling latch for two years — they like to use that as a negotiating tool to say, 'Let's reduce the debt to GDP ratio.'"

SENATE PASSES BILL TO STOP SHUTDOWN, SENDING IT TO PRESIDENT BIDEN'S DESK

But one of Johnson's biggest critics, Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., has already told reporters he is not voting for Johnson next year.

Two more, House Freedom Caucus Chairman Andy Harris, R-Md., and Rep. Michael Cloud, R-Texas, suggested they were no longer committed to backing Johnson over the weekend.

Meanwhile, there have been media reports that Trump is unhappy with how Johnson handled government funding and that his demand for the debt limit was not heeded. 

Trump himself has not mentioned Johnson publicly since the Friday vote. But top Trump allies, like Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, have come to Johnson’s defense.

"He’s undoubtedly the most conservative Speaker of the House we’ve had in our lifetime," Cruz said on his podcast "The Verdict." "If Mike Johnson is toppled as Speaker of the House, we will end up with a speaker of the House who is much, much more liberal than Mike Johnson."

Others have also signaled that Trump’s influence will weigh heavily on what ultimately happens.

One House Republican granted anonymity to speak freely told Fox News Digital early last week that they considered opposing Johnson but said Trump would be the final deciding factor.

"I think, ultimately, it's going to be decided who President Trump likes, because I believe that will weigh in heavily on the decision-making of that, because, currently, President Trump works very well with Mike Johnson. They have a great relationship," Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., told CNN’s "State of the Union."

When asked if he would support Johnson if Trump did, despite opposing his government funding plans, Burchett said "Possibly."

Johnson will head into the Jan. 3 speaker vote with just a slim GOP margin of three votes — and is virtually unlikely to get Democratic support.

"I will continue to support everyone who calls out injustice and holds the people standing in their way accountable," Liz Plank wrote in a statement.

The Queen of Christmas, 55, and the Silk Sonic singer, 38, were photographed heading into Catch Steak in Aspen, Colo., on Sunday.

The Hairy Bikers’ Si King has opened up on the moment his close friend Dave Myers told him about his cancer.

© PA Archive

The England Test captain is to undergo surgery next month after being injured during the recent Test series against New Zealand.

© PA Wire

Former president ‘remains in good spirits’

© Getty Images

He’s made his list, he’s checked it twice – join us on Santa’s journey around the world

© AFP via Getty Images

The 55-year-old is being held on a $10,000 bond

© PA Archive

Stock Will Join Nasdaq 100 Index on Monday

Former President Bill Clinton,78, was hospitalized in Washington D.C. this afternoon, his spokesperson said in a statement.

Driving the news: Clinton was admitted for "testing and observation after developing a fever," Angel Ureña, his deputy chief of staff, said on X.

---

What they're saying: "He remains in good spirits and deeply appreciates the excellent care he is receiving," Ureña said.

• Clinton is receiving care at the Georgetown University Medical Center.

Flashback: Clinton was previously hospitalized in California in 2021 when an infection spread to his bloodstream.

• He has had two heart procedures — a quadruple bypass in 2004 and the insertion of two stents into an artery in 2010. Both were performed at New York-Presbyterian Hospital.

Former President Bill Clinton was admitted to a hospital Monday afternoon for testing and observation after developing a fever, a spokesperson for Clinton said.

"President Clinton was admitted to Georgetown University Medical Center this afternoon for testing and observation after developing a fever. He remains in good spirits and deeply appreciates the excellent care he is receiving," Angel Urena wrote.

This is a developing story, please check back for updates. 

The Las Vegas Raiders may have complicated their draft position on Sunday as the team defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars, and fans of the team noticed.

The Raiders would have dropped to 2-13 with a loss and would have been in a neck-and-neck race with the New York Giants for the No. 1 overall pick. But the Raiders won and the Giants lost. Las Vegas dropped to No. 6 because of the result.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

As fans got upset with the Raiders on social media, head coach Antonio Pierce addressed critics during his media availability.

"We don’t do this to lose," he said, per Pro Football Talk. "We don’t do this for anybody’s fantasy football team. We don’t do this for anybody’s draft projections. None of that s--- matters to us. Only thing that matters to us is winning, and that’s all we want to do."

TEXANS COACH REVEALS EXTENT OF TANK DELL'S HORRIFIC INJURY

Las Vegas is in the midst of one of the worst seasons in its franchise’s history. Three wins is far from what they hoped for after narrowly missing the playoffs last season when Pierce replaced Josh McDaniels as head coach in the middle of the season.

The Raiders have only made the playoffs twice since losing to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the Super Bowl in the 2002 season. They haven’t made it out of the wild card round either.

Las Vegas hits the road to play the New Orleans Saints on Sunday and finishes the season against the Los Angeles Chargers on Jan. 5.

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

Former Purdue tight end Max Klare has committed to Ohio State, he told ESPN. He's the No. 1 tight end in the NCAA transfer portal in ESPN's rankings.

The NBA fined Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards $75,000 on Monday for criticizing the referees after Saturday's loss to the Warriors.

Hawaii's Kilauea volcano erupted again at the summit, marking the third eruption of 2024 as volcanic smog threatens communities.

Anchorage is abnormally warm, and meteorologists are doubtful that fresh snow will fall before Christmas.

A man was charged Monday with first and second degree murder and arson for allegedly setting a woman on fire on a subway train.

Former President Bill Clinton, 78, was admitted to Georgetown University Medical Center on Monday for testing and observation.