Politics and views in the United States.

Today is a national day of mourning for former President Jimmy Carter. President-elect Trump's proposals are met with pushback from officials and experts and another Trump pick worries experts, citing a lack of experience.

TRANSCRIPT

Welcome to 2025 Talks, where we're following our democracy in historic times.

I, Jimmy Carter, do solemnly swear.

I, Jimmy Carter, do solemnly swear.

That I will faithfully execute.

That I will faithfully execute.

The office of President of the United States.

The office of President of the United States.

Today is a national day of mourning for former President Jimmy Carter.

His body has been lying in state in the Capitol, and he'll be buried today next to his wife Rosalynn after a state funeral in Plains, Georgia.

Though Carter's term was marred by an energy crisis, high inflation, and American hostages held in Iran, his later humanitarian work earned him a Nobel Peace Prize.

Meanwhile, current Secretary of State Antony Blinken says President-elect Donald Trump's plan to take control of Greenland, a territory of NATO ally Denmark, won't happen.

Trump says for economic and national security, he's willing to buy or use force to take the huge Arctic island close to Europe and Russia.

Blinken says the U.S. already has trade and military bases there.

One of the basic propositions we've brought to our work over the last four years is we're stronger, we're more effective, we get better results when we're working closely with our allies, not saying or doing things that may alienate them.

Media reports say the people of Greenland have no interest in joining the U.S.

Reactions in Canada, Panama, and Mexico suggest Trump's proposals to take back the canal, rename the Gulf of Mexico, and make Canada the 51st state are similarly unpopular.

Immigrant rights organizations are calling on the Senate to block the Lake and Riley Act, which the House passed this week.

Marata Wada with the New York Immigration Coalition says it's designed to deny migrants due legal process.

If this bill becomes law, immigrants who are swept up in this enforcement without even being convicted of a crime could be permanently separated from their families before having the opportunity to defend themselves in the court of law, in direct violation of their constitutional rights.

Trump has tapped first-term domestic policy aide Brooke Rawlins to lead the Department of Agriculture.

Rawlins has been leading Amaga Think Tank, the America's first policy institute.

But some worry she's inexperienced and say Trump's food policy picks seem contradictory.

Emily Bass directs the agriculture program for the Breakthrough Institute.

I think folks are looking to see what her answers are during her confirmation hearing.

When she's confirmed, I believe she will be.

How her policy clash or align with RFK Jr.'s policy position.

New data shows more than 12,000 Americans say they're interested in running for office, and increasingly, they're women.

A Center for American Women and Politics survey says the trend's likely to continue.

Jordan Haynes with the nonprofit Run for Something says many start out wanting to fix a specific problem.

The Run for Something alums, they ran initially to try and solve some problem in their community.

And so we are always looking for that, looking for what really motivates people to get into the race, what office they're looking to run for, if that office has the power to solve the problem that they're trying to solve.

Elected officials in California say the ongoing wildfires might be the worst in the state's history.

So far, more than 1,000 structures have been burned across Los Angeles County.

Five people have perished in the fires, and firefighting officials have said crews are overwhelmed but continuing to battle the blazes.

I'm Edwin J. Vieira for Pacifica Network and Public News Service.

Find our trust indicators at publicnewsservice.org.