Politics and views in the United States.

Transgender rights in Congress, a historic win for Utah's youngest elected official, scrutiny of Democratic Party leadership, and the economic impact of Trump's tax proposals highlight America's shifting political and social landscape.

TRANSCRIPT

Welcome to 2024 Talks, where we're following our democracy in historic times.

I'm a survivor of rape, sexual violence and abuse.

The idea of a man walking into a locker room where I'm changing feels like assault.

And I absolutely, I'm going to stand in the way of any guy that wants to come into our spaces.

South Carolina Republican Nancy Mace is sponsoring a House bill to bar transgender people from restrooms outside of their birth sex in federal buildings, including the Capitol.

Mace says it's aimed specifically at Delaware Democrat Sarah McBride, the first openly transgender member of Congress.

McBride calls the bill an extremist distraction.

She says Congress should focus on real issues like reducing the cost of housing, health care and child care.

The House Ethics Committee split in a party-line deadlock on whether to release the results of its drugs and sex trafficking investigation into former Congressman Matt Gaetz.

Joe Leppard is the attorney for a woman who testified that she saw the attorney general pick have sex with a 17-year-old.

Whether or not a federal prosecutor takes a case and decides to move forward on a trial or move forward on an allegation is that particular prosecutor's decision.

It doesn't mean they didn't do it.

ABC News just released receipts for $10,000 of payments the Florida Republican reportedly made to two women who testified about his role in drug-fueled parties.

Gaetz has repeatedly denied the allegations.

A new Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy report confirms that changes proposed by President-elect Donald Trump would mean big benefits for wealthy households, while middle-income families would face higher taxes.

The Institute's Joe Hughes says taxes would rise, often by thousands of dollars a year, for more than nine families out of 10.

"The top 5 percent of households make more than $360,000 a year.

They will likely see their taxes go down.

For the other 95 percent of Americans, they will likely see their taxes go up."

Trump says big new tariffs would offset revenue losses and make those increases unnecessary, though details remain unclear.

Progressives are criticizing the Democratic Party for forgetting the needs of working families.

Usama Andrabi with Justice Democrats says the party's reliance on corporate backing has disillusioned its base voters and cost it the election.

"Any other sector of the economy, a failure this large, would demand the firing of those in charge.

Cleanup shop impers the party of these donors, pundits and politicians that brought us another Trump presidency."

In Utah, 19-year-old Jackson Lewis will join his local school board, becoming the state's youngest elected official.

Lewis, who is openly gay, says his victory represents progress for young and marginalized people.

"As a gay man, it means a lot to me.

And the queer students in the district, even members of the football team, of the debate team, they are all excited that someone this young is representing student interests on this board."

Utah recently enacted a law allowing parents to challenge books they consider to have sensitive materials.

Lewis says he plans to oppose book bans.

I'm Farah Siddiqui for Pacifica Network and Public News Service.

Find our trust indicators at publicnewsservice.org.