In today's newsletter: Donald Trump added to the list of people he wants to serve in his second-term. A renowned urologist in New York was sentenced to life in prison for sexually abusing former patients. And why some say the the $6.24 million sale of a duct-taped banana hardly makes a dent in the art world.  

Here's what to know today.

President-elect Donald Trump’s second presidential administration continued to take shape, with a flurry of announcements to close the week. He named his choices to lead Treasury Department, FDA, budget office and more. Here's who: 

→ Scott Bessent, a hedge fund executive and top fundraiser to Trump’s campaign, was chosen to serve as Secretary of the Treasury. If confirmed, Bessent will helm the fiscal policies for an economy that weathered high inflation, an issue that helped send Trump back to the White House. He will also be tasked with implementing tax cuts that a Republican-controlled Congress may pursue. Read more about Bessent.

→ Russell Vought, a Project 2025 co-author, was named as Trump’s pick to lead the Office of Management and Budget. Vought previously held the role in Trump’s first term and was a platform policy director for the Republican National Committee. If confirmed, Vought will oversee the budget and the execution of Trump’s policies across departments and agencies. Read more about Vought.

→ Dr. Marty Makary, a pancreatic surgeon at Johns Hopkins University who has made controversial claims about Covid, was nominated to be commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration. If confirmed, Makary would be responsible for regulating and overseeing drugs, food, medical devices and other products, such as tobacco and cosmetics. Read more about Makary.

→ And Lori Chavez-DeRemer was announced as Trump’s choice to serve as his labor secretary. Chavez-DeRemer, of Oregon, has been a Republican congresswoman since 2022 but lost her seat to her Democratic opponent earlier this month. Read more about Chavez-DeRemer.

More Trump transition and politics coverage: 

Families and immigration groups brace for mass deportations

In Tucson, Arizona, a group of 10 nonprofit organizations called the Coalición de Derechos Humanos is helping undocumented and mixed-status families create "emergency packets" — which include key documents detailing power of attorney, emergency contact information and their children's school records — ahead of mass deportations planned by President-elect Donald Trump. Across the U.S., immigration advocacy groups and families who fear they could be separated from each other are also making similar preparations.

It’s unclear how exactly the deportations will play out, but a recent study by the American Immigration Council estimated that up to 4 million mixed-status families, where some members are undocumented and some are U.S. citizens, could be separated. Trump has said he will begin by prioritizing criminal noncitizens for deportation but he and his incoming administration have not ruled out separating or deporting families. 

Also on advocacy groups’ radars are state-level changes to immigration enforcement that could result in deportations.

A star urologist preyed on men and boys. Why didn't his hospitals stop the abuse?

Dr. Darius Paduch was a leading figure in the field of urology. But behind closed doors, he preyed on the men and boys who sought him out. This week, Paduch was sentenced to life in prison for sexually abusing seven former patients between 2007 and 2022. Still, a crucial question remains unanswered: How was he allowed to practice for so long? 

Hundreds of men have filed lawsuits accusing New York hospitals of enabling and failing to stop Paduch from sexually abusing patients in his care. The suits have yielded evidence that shows employees of Weill Cornell, where Paduch worked for 17 years, were made aware of sexual abuse complaints far earlier than previously known. 

“There’s a litany of evidence that this was going on,” said BR, whose experience with Paduch in 2006 haunts him to this day. BR, who asked to be identified by his initials, is among men recalling their encounters with Paduch and the responses they received when they tried to speak out.

What this eye-popping sale (doesn't) say about the art world

A piece of modern art called “Comedian,” which is just a banana duct-taped to a wall, sold at an auction earlier this week for a whopping $6.24 million. The winning bidder, a 34-year-old cryptocurrency platform founder, called the piece “a cultural phenomenon,” and a Sotheby’s executive hailed the purchase as emblematic. But in the greater art world, the sale was met with a shrug.

This year has seen some of the worst sales in decades. At the Sotheby’s auction this week, art produced in the last 20 years saw $16.5 million in total sales, far below the $72.9 million seen for the equivalent “Now” auction in 2022, according to the New York Times. And the average return on art sold in the first half of the year was the lowest it has been since 2000. Experts say there are a few reasons for the downturn.

Coca Cola's controversial ad, and a music video leads to a priest’s downfall

Coca Cola’s Christmas ad was slammed, a pop star’s music video uncovered a priest’s financial mismanagement and the Justice Department wants Google to sell part of its company. Test your knowledge of the week in news.

Vaccines don't cause autism. What does?

Autism ignites conspiracy theories about its causes in a way that other developmental disorders don’t. With Robert F. Kennedy Jr., one of the leading purveyors of the myth that childhood vaccines are linked to autism, picked to head our federal health agencies, I felt it was time to explore the latest science about the neurological condition that affects how people interact with others, communicate, learn and behave.

Contributor Liz Szabo found there has never been a greater understanding of the genetic causes of autism, that most risk factors exist before birth and that researchers agree on one thing: Vaccines aren't to blame.

— Jane Weaver, health and medical managing editor

Ever wonder how Black Friday came to be? Here's the history of the mega-sale, and what to expect this year. Plus, check out these ideas for white elephant and Secret Santa gifts people will actually want.

Thanks for reading the Morning Rundown. Today's newsletter was curated for you by Elizabeth Robinson. 

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