The ballad of the one-term Democrats

Nomination hearings for President-elect Trump’s Cabinet are
scheduled to begin next week. Senate members on both sides of the
aisle have signaled they may challenge some controversial picks.
The toughest fights could surround important national security
nominees like Pete Hegseth (defense secretary) or Kash Patel (FBI
director). As investigations into several violent New Year’s
terrorist attacks continue, is there an increased sense of
urgency to get those positions filled?


One of President Biden’s last acts will be eulogizing former
President Jimmy Carter, who passed just before the new year. Both
one-term Democratic presidents were everyman candidates who
struggled to maintain popularity amid economic and foreign
crises. KCRW examines Biden’s final days in office and how the
sunset of his term feels oddly familiar to Carter’s.


What stories or themes are positioned to stand out in 2025? Our
Left, Right and Center panel has a few predictions.