Florida Sen. Marco Rubio seen as Trump's pick for secretary of State

WASHINGTON — Marco Rubio, the combative and hawkish Republican senator from Florida, is expected to be President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for secretary of State, multiple media outlets reported Tuesday.

Rubio, the son of Cuban immigrants, was once a challenger to and critic of Trump, but has become a staunch defender and campaign surrogate. He was considered as Trump’s running mate, a post that eventually went to Vice President-elect JD Vance.

Neither Trump’s nor Rubio’s camp commented on the reports. An announcement was expected later Tuesday as Trump quickly pieces together a government.

Rubio, 53, has strong foreign policy credentials, having served on the Senate Intelligence and Foreign Relations committees. Most recently, he was the ranking Republican on the Senate subcommitee on Latin America. Many of his opinions echo those of Trump.

—Los Angeles Times

Teamsters boss Sean O’Brien rips Democrats, says American workers demand voice

BOSTON — Once the “civil war” among Democrats ends, Teamsters boss Sean O’Brien said American workers demand attention. “There’s got to be a vision,” O’Brien told the Boston Herald Tuesday afternoon. “This election clearly signaled American people were fed up.”

The angst in the Democratic Party after an election that swept President-elect Donald Trump back into the White House — and with Republicans set to control both chambers of Congress — is a stinging rebuke of the party of Joe Biden, Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer, he added.

“The Democrats need a reset. Nancy Pelosi needs to take a look in the mirror, and do it sooner than later,” O’Brien said. “Good leaders look for a succession plan and that clearly wasn’t the thought process.”

O’Brien, who first joined the Teamsters at 18 in Charlestown, said his Boston upbringing has him always seeking bipartisan solutions, but manipulation by entrenched media handlers and a Democratic Party that had “no ground game” and stubbornly left “talent” on the sidelines, has exposed a critical “disconnect.”

—Boston Herald

Pronghorn herds dying by the dozen on eastern Colorado roads after snowstorm

DENVER — Deep, crusty snow piled up on fields in eastern Colorado after last week’s snowstorm is driving herds of pronghorn onto roads, and dozens of them are dying, state wildlife officials said.

Pronghorn are being hit by drivers in droves as they seek refuge from snow-covered fields, according to Colorado Parks and Wildlife officials. The southeast state wildlife office said more than 100 of the animals had been killed on roads this week and the northeast office said 52 had been killed Tuesday morning alone.

The wildlife office for northeastern Colorado said all 52 pronghorn were killed at once. Mass killings can happen when a herd is hit while bunched together on the road after snow, officials said.

Drivers need to slow down and watch for pronghorn standing or sleeping in the road, especially at night, state wildlife officials said.

—The Denver Post

Serbian President Vucic signaled Musk was present during Trump call

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic signaled that Elon Musk was present during a phone call with Donald Trump on Sunday, calling his phone call with the U.S. president-elect a “great honor.”

Vucic told reporters he was among the “first 10 or 15 world leaders” to speak to Trump following his Nov. 5 election victory. He also said Chris Ruddy, CEO of the Newsmax TV network, was present.

“President Trump knows Serbia very well, and Elon Musk, who was with him, as well as Chris Ruddy, also know it particularly well, maybe even the best,” Vucic said, according to a video of the broadcast.

Billionaire and entrepreneur Musk was also present during Trump’s first post-victory phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, highlighting his influence within the incoming administration.

—Bloomberg News