What's Happening

Politics

Trump Weighs Treasury Secretary Pick — What's the Hold-Up With This One?

What's going on: President-elect Donald Trump’s approach to picking Cabinet members has so far felt like a game of loyalty roulette, with seemingly quick decisions and minimal vetting. But one role appears to be getting more careful consideration: treasury secretary. This person will oversee tax cuts, lead trade talks with China, and manage the $30 trillion US bond market. While they won’t directly set trade policy, they’ll serve as the economic frontman for an administration that’s betting big on tariffs as a way to encourage companies to make products in the US. The New York Times reports Trump’s list of frontrunners for the job changes daily. Meanwhile, just yesterday, he picked Dr. Mehmet Oz (yes, from the TV show) to lead the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, and WWE co-founder Linda McMahon as his nominee for education secretary. Both will need Senate confirmation.

What it means: The economy played a major role in Trump’s reelection, and now he has to deliver on his agenda. The president-elect faces a delicate balancing act, likely wanting someone loyal enough to execute what The Times calls his “unconventional plans,” yet credible enough to avoid unsettling the stock market and investors. Rock, meet hard place. A traditional Treasury Department pick might resist Trump’s plan to increase tariffs on imports — a move many economists argue would backfire by raising prices for US consumers. Whoever he picks will have historic shoes to fill — the first-ever Treasury Secretary got his own hit musical — and could shape Trump’s economic legacy and the fate of the global economy. No pressure. 

Related: Hacker Claims to Have Damaging Testimony on Matt Gaetz as Ethics Panel Considers Releasing Report (NYT Gift Link) 

International

New Zealand Grapples With "Culture Wars"

What's going on: A New Zealand bill has sparked controversy among the country’s indigenous Māori people, prompting nationwide protests. The measure would upend a 184-year-old treaty between the Māori people and the British crown, which is regarded as the country’s founding document. Over the years, the treaty’s two versions (English and Māori) have led to discrepancies regarding the Māori people’s right to self-determination and land ownership. Supporters of the bill argue it ensures equal rights for all New Zealanders, while critics warn it would undermine the Māori population and reverse years of progress. In a viral response to the bill last week, the country’s youngest member of parliament tore up a draft and staged a haka, a ceremonial dance and chant, during a reading of the bill proposal. Yesterday, a huge crowd gathered in the streets of the capital, Wellington, for the final stretch of a weeklong protest, calling on lawmakers to abandon the legislation.

What it means: The bill is extremely unpopular with most of the lawmakers in parliament, where it’s expected to fail. However, its introduction has sparked protests that are forcing a racial reckoning in New Zealand. The country has often been hailed for its progressive policies toward its native population, but things dramatically shifted after former Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern left office nearly two years ago. The new center-right ruling party has gotten rid of the Māori Health Authority, challenged their protected representation in local offices, and discouraged use of the Māori language in government. One expert told The New York Times that this is New Zealand’s “version of the culture wars.”

Related: It Took America 150 Years to Apologize for Indigenous Boarding Schools. What’s Next? (AP)

Climate

Can the US Catch the (Energy) Wave?

What's going on: Imagine harnessing the endless power of the ocean, where every wave is a potential energy jackpot. Now, that’s not just a surfer’s dream; it could be a clean energy game-changer. Unlike the fickle sun or wind, ocean waves are constant, providing a reliable, untapped energy source. For the Energy Department, a $100 million investment off the coast of Newport, Oregon, could usher in a sea of change. The PacWave project uses buoy-like converters to harness wave energy, potentially generating up to 20 megawatts of power — enough to light thousands of homes. Globally, the US is playing catch-up to Europe, where floating turbines, hydro dams, and wave energy technology are already making the ocean look like its own personal power plant. Take that, fossil fuels.

What it means: America’s coasts have enough wave energy to power a third of the country. This new frontier isn’t just about power; it’s about jobs, too. Wave energy is also proving to be a far less controversial option than offshore wind turbines, which, let’s face it, are kind of sky-scraping eyesores. While it’s still in the early stages, developers are working to make wave energy cost-effective and more accessible, especially for remote areas like Alaska. The roadblocks are real — including extensive federal permitting and tech development challenges — but this project could be the radical energy shift that brings a positive wave of change.

Related: Can Spraying Salt Into the Sky Help Cool the Planet? (NYT Gift Link)