Trump tries to talk down transition chaos fears Republicans keep counsel over hiring of former Breitbart chief; Japanese PM will be first foreign leader to meet Trump; Paris climate deal at risk, experts warn Vice President-elect Mike Pence, the head of Donald Trump's transition team, gets into an elevator at Trump Tower in New York City. Photograph: Drew Angerer/Getty Images Mazin Sidahmed 'Stalinesque purge' overshadows Trump transition President-elect Donald Trump's transition team appeared to be in chaos on Tuesday after one member was forced to step down in what one report described as a "Stalinesque purge". Former Republican congressman Mike Rogers was earmarked to be national security adviser before leaving the talks, which are taking place in Trump Tower in New York. The president-elect rejected rumors that his children were trying to get top-level security clearance as a "false news story". The team tasked with making key appointments before Trump takes office in January is being led by Vice-President-elect Mike Pence, who replaced New Jersey governor Chris Christie. Trump, star of the reality TV show The Apprentice, hoped to offer reassurance last night, tweeting that the transition process was "very organized". "I am the only one who knows who the finalists are!" he added. Donald Trump transition team in disarray after key adviser 'purged' Republicans hold their tongue over Bannon Republicans avoided questions about Trump's new White House chief strategist, Steve Bannon, who has a record of promoting antisemitic, anti-Muslim and misogynistic content while overseeing the "alt-right" website Breitbart News. As members of Congress returned to work on Tuesday, they refused to criticize Trump's latest appointee. "I don't want to accuse a man of being antisemitic or racist whom I've never met," said Lindsey Graham, a senator from South Carolina. He added of Breitbart: "The website in question was a friendly site to the alt-right. I don't like them and they don't like me and I'm glad." Bannon's appointment has sparked outrage among Democrats and many commentators. Republicans refuse to criticize Steve Bannon hire after growing backlash Face/off: voters from left and right swap Facebook feeds The Facebook echo chamber has been widely discussed during the political upheavals of 2016. Trying to make sense of how divided the country is following Trump's election victory, many have blamed Facebook for creating a distorted reality in which one's own views are reinforced. To test the effects of Facebook's political influence, the Guardian asked 10 US voters, five liberal, five conservative, to switch their feeds to the other side. Some said the experiment reinforced their views of the opposing side, while others left with a more nuanced understanding of their political counterparts. Bursting the Facebook bubble: we asked voters on the left and right to swap feeds Muncie, Indiana, and how Trump took middle America After a month in the midwestern town of Muncie, Indiana, Gary Younge completes his 10-part series by noting that when people feel the system is broken, they vote for whoever promises to smash it. How Trump took middle America Support the Guardian's fearless journalism Never has America needed fearless independent media more. Help us hold the new president to account, sort fact from fiction, amplify underrepresented voices, and understand the forces behind this divisive election – and what happens next. Support the Guardian by becoming a member or making a contribution. Trump faces awkward meeting with Japan PM Trump will face some difficult questions about comments he made about US allies during his controversial campaign as he prepares to meet Japan's prime minister, Shinzo Abe, on Thursday. Trump has repeatedly said that America's allies need to pay more for US support and suggested Japan and South Korea should develop their own nuclear weapons. Abe will be seeking reassurance that Trump is committed to the Japan-US relationship. Japan PM Shinzo Abe to be first foreign leader to meet Donald Trump Action needed to save Paris climate deal at risk, says watchdog The Paris climate deal hangs in the balance unless countries present detailed plans for its implementation, the International Energy Agency said on Wednesday. The global watchdog's executive director, Fatih Birol, said that the deal was merely a framework and governments must make sweeping policy changes in order to implement it. Talks over the climate deal in Marrakech this week have been overshadowed by Trump's shock victory in the US election, as he has promised to tear up the deal during the campaign. Paris climate deal at risk unless countries step up plans, says watchdog Economic Piketty: Democrats must learn lessons of Sanders vote Trump's victory is the result of decades of rising inequality that the Democratic party has failed to grapple with, writes Thomas Piketty. "What sealed the deal … was the suspicion that the Democrats were too close to Wall Street – and the inability of the Democratic media elite to learn the lessons from the Sanders vote," the renowned leftwing economist writes. Piketty predicts that Trump will only exacerbate the problem. World leaders must focus on sustainable development and avoid trade deals that only benefit corporations, while hurting the environment. We must rethink globalization, or Trumpism will prevail In case you missed it … Catherine Shoard explains why the new film from Harry Potter author JK Rowling has given her faith in the future of politics. After seeing Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, Shoard explains how youth today is being indoctrinated with a culture of tolerance. Why Fantastic Beasts is a trump card for progressive youth Manage your emails | Unsubscribe | Trouble viewing? You are receiving this email because you are a subscriber to Guardian US Briefing. Guardian News & Media Limited - a member of Guardian Media Group PLC. Registered Office: 222 Broadway, 22nd and 23rd Floors, New York, New York, 10038