From WNYC Studios.

I'm Brian Lehrer.

This is my daily politics podcast.

It's Monday, December 23rd.

Imagine if the most powerful person in the world told you your identity doesn't exist.

And he had the power to act on it.

Well, for anyone listening right now, who is transgender or non-binary, you don't have to imagine it.

Here's what the most powerful person in the world, President-elect Trump, said at a

conservative rally, a conference in Arizona yesterday. Under the Trump administration, it will be the

official policy of the United States government that there are only two genders, male and female.

Doesn't sound too complicated, does it?

With the stroke of a pen, which he says he'll do on day one,

the person you are and believe yourself to be

will not officially exist in the United States.

So we'll talk about that and more now, including how the Donald Trump-Elon Musk government shutdown drama ended on Friday night,

why childhood cancer research and pharmacy benefit manager reform got left out of the deal,

and what all this signals for the coming Trump years and therefore for all Americans.

Our guest is Jonathan Lemire, just recently named a co-host of Morning Joe on MSNBC,

where he had already been a regular presence.

This will include hosting the 9 a.m. hour, and miraculously, just as that hour is now

ending, Jonathan is graciously extending his day and coming on live with us. Jonathan, we always

appreciate when you extend your day like this, and now even more than before. Congratulations

...