Trump appoints White House chief of staff, Calif. declares state of emergency, FDA proposes removal of “ineffective” decongestant
Good morning, all. A programming note: The Yodel team will be off on Monday for Veterans Day. Here's one thing you can do for free if you have the day off. Now, on to the news.
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NEED TO KNOW Trump names White House chief of staffPresident-elect Donald Trump began making staffing announcements yesterday for his return to the White House on Jan. 20, after President Biden addressed Vice President Kamala Harris's loss.
Trump's first appointment: Trump announced that his campaign manager Susie Wiles will serve as his White House chief of staff, where she'll be the first woman in the role. In his first term, Trump cycled through four chiefs of staff. [Reuters]
Biden's first public remarks: Biden praised Harris's campaign in light of her defeat, emphasizing that he would facilitate a peaceful transition of power to President-elect Trump. "We accept the choice the country made," he said. [Yahoo News]
House control: Twenty-five House seats are left to be called, according to the AP. Republicans have the lead as ballot counting continues this morning. Here's what to know about the remaining competitive races. [USA Today]
Calif. state of emergency
California Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency after the Mountain Fire, northwest of Los Angeles, grew to 20,000 acres in 24 hours. The wildfire was still 0% contained as of Thursday evening. [ABC News]
Racist text scheme
The FBI is looking into a series of racist texts that were sent en masse to Black residents in several states, including Georgia, Florida and Pennsylvania. Law enforcement officials across the country condemned the messages. [CBS News]
"Ineffective" decongestant
The Food and Drug Administration proposed removing oral phenylephrine — a decongestant used in popular products like Sudafed PE and Vicks DayQuil — from the market. The agency cited studies showing its ineffectiveness. [CNN]
Risingmortgage rates
The average rate on a 30-year mortgage in the U.S. rose to its highest level since early July, ticking up to 6.79% after six straight weeks of increases. The rate is still lower than a year ago, when it was 7.5%. [AP]
Ravens' latest win
The Baltimore Ravens beat the Cincinnati Bengals 35-34 in a game that ended in controversy. Some commentators believe there were at least two missed calls against the Ravens that could've contributed to their win. [Yahoo Sports]
WHAT'S HAPPENING TODAYBig movie day: The action thriller Elevation , horror film Heretic and historical drama Small Things Like These are all in theaters. [Variety]
In men's basketball, the Wizards play the Grizzlies at 8 p.m. ET on NBA League Pass. [Yahoo Sports]
In women's soccer, the Pride play the Red Stars in the NWSL Championship quarterfinals at 8 p.m. ET on Prime Video. [The Athletic]
In men's hockey, the Golden Knights and the Kraken take the ice at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN+. [AP]
And don't forget to: Read your daily horoscope . Play the Crossword . Check the forecast in your area.
TODAY IN HISTORYIn 2000, a statewide recount began in Florida to decide the winner of the year's presidential election. Its critical electoral votes eventually went to George W. Bush, who, in turn, won the presidency over Al Gore. [AP]
...about YellowstonePart 2 of Yellowstone Season 5 premieres this Sunday. I talked to entertainment reporter Kelsey Weekman about what to expect.
Lily: Refresh me, what happened during Part 1 of this season?Kelsey: So, the Duttons have always faced conflict from outsiders throughout the series to sell their family ranch, but shifting alliances and unsolved murders pushed them to their breaking point in Part 1.
Lily: I saw that star Kevin Costner isn't coming back for Part 2. Why?Kelsey: After some behind-the-scenes scheduling drama , Costner left the series to focus on his four-part western saga, Horizon. He told my colleague Taryn Ryder that he took a big risk by putting $38 million of his own money in that project.
Lily: What can you tell me about the new episodes?Kelsey: Paramount is very mysterious, so I haven't seen any of it ahead of the premiere. I did manage to uncover that a major event rattles the state of Montana in the first episode. The show will have to quickly address why Costner's character, who's currently the governor, isn't present.
Want more Yellowstone? Here are all of the spin-offs set in the same cinematic universe.
FEEL-GOOD MOMENTMove over, Moo Deng. An endangered pygmy hippo was recently born at the Edinburgh Zoo in Scotland and given an appropriately Scottish name: Haggis. "It is amazing to see her personality beginning to shine already," a member of her care team said. [CNN]
Have a wonderful long weekend. See you on Tuesday!
P.S. Before you go, your daily advice: Not sure if your home smells bad? There are several easy ways to combat nose blindness, including leaving out a bowl of vinegar. [Yahoo Life]
About The Yodel: The Yodel is a morning newsletter from Yahoo News.
