Trump Nominates Linda McMahon for Education Department and FEMA Faces Scrutiny Over Disaster Response
President-elect Donald Trump has announced Linda McMahon as his pick to lead the U.S. Department of Education. Previously, McMahon served as the head of the U.S. Small Business Administration during Trump’s first term. She is widely recognized for transforming WWE into a global entertainment giant alongside her husband.
🎧 NPR’s Cory Turner notes that McMahon’s nomination is surprising, as she lacks traditional conservative education credentials. While McMahon served briefly on the Connecticut State Board of Education and initially pursued a teaching career, her more recent work includes chairing the America First Policy Institute, which advocates for school choice. Despite her potential leadership, Turner explains that eliminating the Education Department—a common conservative goal—would be an uphill battle, as only Congress has the authority to dismantle it.
Meanwhile, FEMA administrator Deanne Criswell faced tough questions from Congress about the agency's disaster response. Lawmakers pressed her on accusations of slow aid and alleged political bias following Hurricanes Helene and Milton. One incident drew particular attention: a fired FEMA supervisor reportedly directed workers to avoid homes with Trump campaign signs in Florida, citing concerns about hostility. Criswell denied systemic issues within FEMA, emphasizing that such actions do not reflect the agency’s overall culture.
🎧 NPR’s Debbie Elliott reports that the Biden administration is seeking additional funding for disaster recovery amid a year marked by hurricanes, wildfires, and floods.
In the social media sphere, NPR’s Bobby Allyn discusses shifts on X (formerly Twitter) following Trump’s victory. Many users observed an increase in Trump-related content after Elon Musk adjusted the platform’s algorithm to boost his own posts. Meanwhile, Bluesky, a budding social network, is growing rapidly, though its limited infrastructure poses challenges to becoming a major competitor.
As the holidays draw near, many people are preparing for meaningful conversations with loved ones who may hold opposing views. Research in neuroscience and psychology shows that, despite disagreements, there are effective ways to foster understanding. When mutual respect is present and the desire for constructive dialogue exists, science offers tools to make discussions more productive and rewarding.
In entertainment, HBO’s Dune: Prophecy delves into themes of power, sisterhood, and humanity’s future. Emily Watson and Olivia Williams star as two sisters who establish the Bene Gesserit, a powerful order dedicated to guiding humanity. Set 10,000 years before the rise of Paul Atreides, the messianic figure in Frank Herbert’s Dune novels, the series explores the aftermath of a war between humans and machines.
Watson and Williams humorously describe the timeline as “10,000 years B.C.—before Timothée Chalamet,” referencing Chalamet’s portrayal of Paul in the Dune films. Speaking with Morning Edition host Michel Martin, they discussed the show’s exploration of how women perceive and exercise power. The six-episode season premiered Sunday.