NBC: Top Stories

• ‘Nobody should be surprised Matt Gaetz is a maverick’ or even ‘reckless at times’: GOP senator

  Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) joins Meet the Press NOW to talk about President-elect Trump’s expected nominations of Matt Gaetz and Pete Hegseth to lead the departments of Justice and Defense, and how he expects to vote on Cabinet confirmations.

• After a stinging election defeat, the Democrats' next big race kicks off: From the Politics Desk

  As Democrats dissect what went wrong in the election, the are beginning the process of choosing their next national party committee chair.

• Three of Trump's Cabinet selections face allegations of sexual misconduct

  Three of President-elect Donald Trump’s high-profile picks to join his Cabinet have faced serious allegations of sexual impropriety.

• Musk and Ramaswamy float ending remote work for federal employees and 'large-scale firings'

  Incoming Trump administration advisers Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy floated ending remote work for federal workers, calling it a “privilege” left over from the pandemic.

• Defense Secretary Austin says women in military 'make us stronger'

  Outgoing Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin called women and racial diversity in the armed forces as vital to its strength, he said in an interview with NBC News.