The 19th

President-elect Donald Trump has reportedly chosen hedge fund manager Scott Bessent to lead the Treasury Department, where he will likely carry out the president’s plans to raise tariffs — a strategy that will have significant impacts on low-income people and women.

Pennsylvania Sen. Bob Casey Jr., considered one of the chamber’s leading champions of disability policy, conceded in his Senate race last night, ending the Democrat’s decades-long career in Congress.

Rep. Jennifer Wexton had a “fitting full circle moment” in a final constituent meeting with parents of children with disabilities and complex medical needs as they discussed her legacy and what comes next.

President-elect Donald Trump named Pam Bondi as his next nominee for attorney general on Thursday night. The former AG for Florida, a longtime ally of Trump, has publicly defended the former president during his criminal cases.

Reproductive rights groups are planning to embrace a multipronged approach: challenging anti-abortion policies in court, organizing political protests, and lobbying state and national lawmakers to oppose proposed bans.

Matt Gaetz has withdrawn from consideration as attorney general. His withdrawal comes after calls for the House Ethics Committee to release an investigation reportedly detailing damning accusations against Gaetz.

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Every year, the pay gap between White men and different groups of women is captured in dollars and cents. But what if it was described in rent payments? Or grocery and child care bills? For Native American women, whose pay gap is recognized on November 21, the earnings they miss out on could help them cover many of their basic needs. Currently, Native women earn 58 cents for every $1 White, non-Latino men earn, meaning their pay gap is one of the largest, second only to Latinas. A new analysis by the National Women’s Law Center puts that into context: The gap amounts to $2,505 every month, or $30,055 annually — enough to cover 11 months of child care, nine months of food and seven months of rent on average. The disparities worsen when part-time workers are added, widening the gap to 52 cents. And they’re worse still for certain communities, such as Blackfoot women, who are paid just 48 cents to the $1. Over time, that gap shapes their lives. It makes it harder to save for a down payment for a house, cover the costs of higher education or save for retirement. The pay gap reflects the kinds of jobs women are in compared to men more than it reflects differences in pay between men and women in the same job. The figure is calculated by taking the average wage for all women and comparing it with the average wage for all men. Women of color are more likely to be working low-wage jobs, but the share of Native American women in the low-paid workforce is twice as big as the share of Native women who are in the workforce overall. Like other groups of women, Native American women are often in hospitality or retail jobs that offer little pay and few benefits. ??: Chabeli Carrazana, economy and child care reporter

Donald Trump is known for abandoning political and societal norms and expectations, but his wife is also often choosing to be unburdened by what has been the traditional role of the first lady. The latest from Errin Haines:

President Joe Biden has awarded Cecile Richards, the former president of Planned Parenthood and longtime reproductive rights advocate, the Presidential Medal of Freedom. A commendation delivered after the private medal ceremony called Richards “a leader of utmost character” who “has carved an inspiring legacy.” “With absolute courage and conviction, Cecile Richards fearlessly leads us forward to be the America we say we are — a Nation of freedom,” the commendation said. “Carrying her parents’ torch for justice, she’s led some of our Nation’s most important civil rights causes — to lift up the dignity of workers, defend and advance women’s reproductive rights and equality, and mobilize Americans to exercise their power to vote.” Richards, the daughter of former Texas Gov. Ann Richards, cut her teeth in organizing and activism. She led Planned Parenthood from 2006 to 2018, establishing the organization as a force in Democratic politics and pushing the Democratic Party to embrace abortion rights as a top political issue. In January, Richards announced she’d been diagnosed with glioblastoma, a rare and aggressive form of brain cancer. Richards told The 19th in a recent interview that she cast her vote for Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 election — and that she sees a long road ahead for advocates for abortion rights. “In all honesty, I fear it will take us a long time to restore the rights we once had,” Richards wrote. “For people who face challenges based on race, geography, income and more, these inequities are deep-seated, intersectional and much more difficult to eradicate. We need to be ready for a multi-year fight.” ??: Grace Panetta, political reporter ??: Jared Siskin/Getty Images