Justice Dept sues to block California’s new congressional maps

The Justice Department is suing to block new congressional district boundaries approved by California voters. After President Trump called for Republican states to redraw their U-S House districts to add more GOP seats, California adopted new congressional maps that could help Democrats win more seats. And while the Trump administration supports redistricting in Texas and other red states, it’s fighting the move in California. It’s a legal battle that could determine which party wins control of the House of Representatives in 2026.

Trump’s fight with the BBC is latest run-in with media

President Trump’s latest run-in with the media was with a British broadcaster. A lawyer for the president sent a letter to the BBC last week demanding an apology for a misleading edit and threatening a one-billion dollar lawsuit. The network apologized, but said it strongly disagreed that there was a basis for a defamation case. Donald Trump has a long history of suing news outlets, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, CNN, ABC, and CBS.

Trump removes some tariffs hoping to lower grocery prices

President Trump has removed some tariffs on food imports amid concerns of rising prices. In a bid to lower the prices of some grocery items, the president ended U-S tariffs on beef, coffee, tropical fruits, and a wide range of other supermarket staples. It’s a dramatic reversal from a tariff policy that he’s repeatedly claimed didn’t make items more expensive for American consumers. But Donald Trump admitted to reporters that, “in some cases,” tariffs may increase prices. It remains to be seen if or by how much prices are affected by the move.

Trump cuts ties with MAGA supporter Marjorie Taylor Greene

President Trump has broken ties with one of his long-time MAGA supporters in Congress. In a social media post, the president cut ties with Georgia Republican Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene. He said he would endorse a challenger against her in next year’s midterms “if the right person runs.” The president described Greene as a “ranting lunatic” for criticizing the GOP over the government shutdown and for not developing a health care plan. She also supports the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files, something Donald Trump opposes.

Trump opposes Epstein files release after promising it

President Trump once promised to release the Jeffrey Epstein files, but now is fighting to keep them from the public. Before winning reelection last year, Donald Trump called for the release of the investigative files into the late sex offender. It was a promise welcomed by MAGA supporters. But after taking office, the president directed the Justice Department not to release the files. Recently released Epstein emails claim Donald Trump knew about the sex trafficking, but was not involved. The White House said the emails were leaked to smear the president.

The U.S. reaches trade frameworks with 4 countries

The Trump administration has announced trade frameworks with four Central and South American countries. The White House says it has come to terms with Argentina, Ecuador, El Salvador, and Guatemala. The trade frameworks are aimed at boosting the ability of American companies to sell industrial and agricultural products in those countries. The deals haven’t been finalized, but are expected to be signed within about two weeks.

American aircraft carrier heading toward Venezuela

America’s most advanced aircraft carrier is expected to reach the waters off Venezuela in the coming days. The USS Gerald R Ford is being deployed after the Trump administration said the U-S is in an “armed conflict” with drug cartels. It’s a major flex of American military power in the region. Since early September, the U-S military has carried out 19 deadly strikes against alleged drug-smuggling boats in the Caribbean, killing 76 people.

Essential federal workers to receive back pay soon

A White House official says essential federal workers should get their back pay soon. Trump economic adviser Kevin Hassett said payments will probably come in the next week — or sooner. Federal workers deemed essential, including Capitol Police officers, TSA workers, and air traffic controllers, had been forced to work without paychecks during the shutdown. Meanwhile, it’ll likely take some time to get SNAP food aid payments and air travel back to normal.

Republicans tell voters “don’t forget” who caused shutdown

Republicans are telling voters not to forget about the recent government shutdown. As he signed a funding bill to reopen the government, President Trump blamed Democrats for the shutdown and suggested voters shouldn’t reward the party during next year’s midterm elections. He said “don’t forget what they’ve done to our country.” On Capitol Hill, House Speaker Mike Johnson also expressed his displeasure, saying Democrats knew the shutdown would cause pain “and they did it anyway.”

White House angry about Dems’ release of Epstein emails

The White House is angry about a batch of Jeffrey Epstein emails released by House Democrats.  Democrats on the House Oversight Committee released emails from Epstein, the late sex offender. In one of the messages, Epstein wrote Donald Trump “knew about the girls.” An email from 2011 alleged that he had “spent hours” at Epstein’s house with a sex trafficking victim. The president accused Democrats of trying to deflect from their political failures, and White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the emails were “selectively leaked…to smear President Trump.”

MAGA riled by Trump’s comments about U.S. workers

President Trump has riled his MAGA base by saying American workers aren’t talented enough for some jobs. During a Fox News Channel interview, the president defended the H-1B visa program as a way to “bring in talent” for high-skilled jobs. It’s a hot-button issue for MAGA supporters who argue H-1Bs take jobs away from Americans. But Donald Trump said the U-S doesn’t have qualified workers for certain positions. saying “you can’t take people off an unemployment line” and put them in a factory.

House is set to vote on bill to end the government shutdown

America’s longest-running government shutdown could be over by tonight. House lawmakers are returning to Capitol Hill for the first time since mid-September, and they’ll be voting on the Senate-approved plan to fund and reopen the government. Most Democrats are expected to oppose the bill because it doesn’t include an extension of healthcare subsidies they had demanded. With only a two-vote margin, Republicans have little room for error and will need all GOP members back for the vote.

At Arlington National Cemetery, Trump honors veterans

President Trump has paid tribute to the nation’s military veterans. After laying a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery, the president honored all who have worn the nation’s uniform. He said all veterans have earned the gratitude and respect of the entire country.

Speaker Johnson says House will face long days, nights after shutdown ends

House Speaker Mike Johnson says members will have to make up for lost time once the government shutdown is over. Johnson looks forward to Congress returning to a regular legislative session after the House has been in recess for several weeks. And he offers this warning to fellow lawmakers. The House Speaker sent lawmakers home after their September 19th vote to approve a temporary spending bill — and has refused to bring them back until the government reopens.

Supreme Court takes up a mail-in ballots case

The Supreme Court has agreed to decide whether states can continue to count late-arriving mail ballots. Justices took up an appeal from Mississippi after the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled last year that the state law allowing properly postmarked ballots that arrive shortly after Election Day to be counted violated federal law. Mississippi is among 18 states and the District of Columbia that accept such ballots. President Trump strongly opposes late-arriving ballots. The case will be argued in the late winter or early spring.

Trump to give Veterans Day speech at Arlington National Cemetery

It’s Veterans Day — and President Trump will pay tribute to the nation’s military members. In commemoration of this national holiday, the president will pay tribute to America’s fallen military service members. This morning, he’ll participate in a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery, followed by a Veterans Day speech.

Trump threatens to sue BBC over editorial edit

President Trump is threatening to sue the BBC over the way the network edited a speech he made. In a letter to Britain’s public broadcaster, the president’s lawyers said the BBC must retract its documentary by November 14th or face a lawsuit for “no less” than one billion dollars. The network came under fire for cutting out a section of Donald Trump’s speech on January 6, 2021, when he said he wanted supporters to demonstrate peacefully at the U-S Capitol. Over the weekend, the head of the BBC and the news CEO both resigned, calling the edit an “error of judgment.”

Trump pardons Giuliani, dozens of allies accused in 2020 election interference

President Trump has pardoned has pardoned dozens of allies accused of trying to overturn his 2020 election loss. According to a signed proclamation, former Trump personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani, former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, attorneys Sidney Powell and John Eastman, and others have been granted “full, complete, and unconditional” pardons. The proclamation said the pardons were designed to continue “the process of national reconciliation.” Donald Trump was also indicted on felony charges related to the 2020 election, but the case was dismissed after he was re-elected last year. GC, Wash.

Senate moves closer to ending the government shutdown

A group of Senate Democrats has agreed to join Republicans in ending the government shutdown. The Senate voted to move forward on compromise legislation that would advance three annual spending bills and fund the government until late January in exchange for a mid-December vote on extending health care subsidies. The agreement also includes a reversal of the mass firings of federal workers by the Trump administration since the shutdown began and would ensure that federal workers receive back pay.

Effects of the longest-ever government shutdown are still in full force

The Senate is finally moving closer to reopening the federal government, but the shutdown effects are still in full force. Air travel remains a headache for travelers after U-S airlines canceled more than 2-thousand flights on Sunday, in additional to more than 7-thousand flight delays. Federal food assistance for tens of millions of people is also being delayed. And tens of thousands of federal workers are still going unpaid.

A Syrian head of state visits the White House for first time since 1946

Syria’s president is in Washington for a meeting with President Trump. It’s the first visit to the White House by a Syrian head of state since 1946. Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa, who once had ties to al-Qaida, led the toppling of Syria’s former president last December. Donald Trump has described al-Sharaa as a “young, attractive guy” and a “tough guy.” His visit comes after the U-S lifted sanctions imposed on Syria.

NAE urges Trump administration to reconsider refugee strategy

Economy remains a dominant concern for voters

Last week’s elections serve as a reminder that the economy remains a dominant concern among voters.
Donald Trump won re-election last year in large part because of his promise to improve the economy. Since taking office, the president has repeatedly claimed that the country is doing well. But new polling suggests that Americans remain troubled by the cost of living and fewer job opportunities. The Real Clear Politics average of a dozen polls show 55 percent of voters disapprove of the president’s handling of the economy.

Trump’s use of tariffs in the hands of the Supreme Court

President Trump’s agenda could be in jeopardy as the Supreme Court weighs the constitutionality of his sweeping tariffs. Tariffs have played a central role in the president’s economic and foreign policy agenda during his second term. And he describes his tariff case as one of the most important in American history. Last week, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments about the president’s use of an emergency law to impose import taxes. During the two-and-a-half hour session, conservative justices asked some tough questions about the legality of Donald Trump’s unilateral tariff authority.