What we know about Trump's cabinet picks so far. And, an intimate view of the White House from Biden's eyes

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🎧 Trump’s selections reflect his focus on loyalty and show a more nationalistic and transactional emphasis when it comes to his policy priorities, NPR’s Franco Ordoñez tells Up First. A strong opposition to China, support for Israel and skepticism for Ukraine is expected. A House Republican committee chair expressed shock after Hegseth was named secretary of defense. The representative said Hegseth wasn’t on the known list of names under consideration. Hegseth is a decorated veteran but lacks the management and high-profile national security experience expected for this role, Ordoñez says

🎧 The jury said U.S. military contractor CACI could be found guilty because the interrogators CACI supplied to the prison conspired with U.S. soldiers to inflict torture on the plaintiffs, NPR’s Ruth Sherlock says. CACI denies this characterization and said its employees didn’t take part in abuse committed by the military police in Abu Ghraib. This case specifically focuses on the three plaintiffs and does not pave the way for compensation for other victims. Sherlock remarks that the verdict shows how hard it is for victims of U.S. military abuse to get any kind of remedy.

➡️ Last year, Sherlock spoke with former Abu Ghraib detainee Talib al-Majl, who is not one of the three plaintiffs in this latest case. He told Sherlock that the 16 months he was held in prison ruined his life.

🎧 The U.K. plans to reach this goal by investing in climate solutions like wind energy, solar, big batteries and nuclear energy, NPR’s Julia Simon says. Starmer also made an economic argument for the change, saying it is a huge opportunity to invest in U.K. businesses. There hasn't been as much optimism for U.S. leadership at this climate summit, Simon says. President-elect Trump has previously called climate change a hoax.