Trump Ends Record Government Shutdown with Funding Bill Signature
President Trump has signed a stopgap spending measure into law, bringing an end to the 43-day partial government shutdown that began on October 1, 2025, marking the longest such disruption in American history and stemming from partisan disputes over healthcare subsidies and spending priorities. The legislation, which passed the Senate 60-40 with bipartisan support including eight Democrats crossing the aisle and the House 222-209 largely along party lines, maintains fiscal year 2025 funding levels through January 30, 2026, while securing the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program through September for over 42 million recipients and providing back pay to affected federal employees whose furloughs and unpaid shifts led to widespread hardships, including airport delays and financial strain on families. Although the bill falls short of extending Affordable Care Act subsidies set to lapse at year’s end—a key Democratic demand—Senate Majority Leader John Thune has pledged a December vote on the issue, offering a pathway for future resolution amid ongoing fiscal negotiations. This resolution underscores the value of pragmatic compromise in restoring essential services without conceding core principles on immigration-related welfare and entitlement reforms, allowing federal operations to resume promptly and averting further economic uncertainty.
Atlanta Fed President Bostic Announces Retirement, Paving Way for Trump-Era Fed Reforms
Raphael Bostic, the president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta since 2017 and the first Black and openly gay leader of one of the central bank’s regional branches, has announced his retirement effective February 28, 2026, at the close of his current term—well ahead of the mandatory age of 65—creating an opening on the Federal Open Market Committee amid President Trump’s ongoing campaign to assert greater executive oversight of monetary policy. During his tenure, Bostic advocated for economic equity initiatives that some critics argued diverted the Fed from its core inflation-fighting mandate, while also facing scrutiny from a 2023 inspector general probe over personal investment trades during policy blackout periods, which raised questions about conflicts of interest. The timing aligns with the upcoming reappointment cycle for all 12 regional presidents, a process involving local boards but subject to approval by the Trump-influenced Fed Board of Governors, potentially allowing the administration to steer selections toward appointees more aligned with its goals of curbing regulatory overreach and prioritizing growth-oriented policies. Bostic expressed pride in his service, stating it was an “honor” to advance an “economy that works for everyone,” and received commendations from Fed Chair Jerome Powell for his analytical contributions, though the vacancy underscores broader tensions over the institution’s independence under renewed political pressures.
Sources: The New York Post, The Atlanta Federal Reserve Bank
U.S. Treasury Halts Penny Production After 232 Years, Citing Cost Savings
In a measured step toward fiscal restraint, the U.S. Treasury Department concluded production of the one-cent penny on November 12, 2025, at the Philadelphia Mint, where U.S. Treasurer Brandon Beach oversaw the striking of the final circulating coins alongside Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, fulfilling President Trump’s February directive to eliminate what he described as a persistent drain on federal resources. The move addresses the longstanding reality that each penny costs 3.69 cents to produce—more than triple its face value—resulting in annual losses exceeding $85 million, while an estimated 300 billion existing pennies will remain legal tender and suffice for commerce amid declining cash usage. Though retailers face short-term adjustments in rounding cash transactions to the nearest nickel, the phaseout is projected to deliver $56 million in yearly taxpayer savings, echoing similar reforms in Canada since 2012 and underscoring a practical response to evolving economic conditions without broader disruption to the currency system.
Sources: The Wall Street Journal, Reuters
Trump Administration Proposal to Reform Obamacare Amid Shutdown Resolution
In a move signaling renewed focus on healthcare reform following the recent government shutdown, President Trump has outlined a vision for ‘Trumpcare,’ a market-driven alternative to Obamacare that emphasizes individual empowerment and cost reduction, allowing Americans to negotiate their own insurance plans and redirecting subsidies from insurers to personal health savings accounts for greater flexibility and affordability. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed the administration’s intent to present detailed policy options soon, framing it as a necessary correction to the Democrats’ longstanding system, which Trump described as enabling entrepreneurial choice in coverage while ensuring better outcomes for consumers weary of escalating premiums and bureaucratic mandates. This approach builds on prior Republican efforts to enhance competition and transparency, potentially lowering costs without expanding federal oversight, though some GOP lawmakers express caution over legislative feasibility in a divided Congress. As the proposal gains traction post-shutdown, it underscores a conservative commitment to practical solutions that prioritize patient control over government intervention in everyday health decisions.
Sources: The Washington Times, The Daily Wire
Federal Judge Mandates Bond for Hundreds of Detained Illegal Immigrants in Chicago ICE Enforcement
In a ruling that challenges the Trump administration’s aggressive immigration enforcement, U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Cummings has directed the Department of Homeland Security to grant bond to 615 illegal immigrants still in custody following arrests under Operation Midway Blitz, a federal operation that apprehended over 3,000 individuals in the Chicago area from June to October for immigration violations, including those with criminal histories. The decision stems from a lawsuit by the National Immigrant Justice Center and the ACLU, which contended that Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents breached a 2022 consent decree prohibiting warrantless arrests without probable cause, leading to racial profiling and improper detentions at locations such as courthouses, workplaces, and traffic stops. While 13 detainees face immediate release by Friday and the remainder by November 21—subject to electronic monitoring for low-risk cases—the government has sought a stay to vet for public safety threats, underscoring ongoing tensions between federal deportation priorities and judicial oversight in sanctuary-leaning jurisdictions like Illinois. This development arrives amid broader efforts to prioritize removals of criminal noncitizens, though advocates maintain it safeguards due process without undermining border security.
Sources: The Post Millennial, Breitbart
Chicago Treasurer Halts Purchases of U.S. Treasury Bonds in Protest Against Trump Administration
Chicago City Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin announced on November 12, 2025, that the city’s $9.3 billion investment portfolio will cease purchasing U.S. Treasury bonds, citing a desire to withhold financial support from what she described as the authoritarian regime of President Trump amid perceived attacks on the city. This decision, which affects roughly $200 million previously held in these secure instruments, prioritizes political opposition over fiduciary prudence at a time when Chicago grapples with substantial pension debts and fiscal strains, potentially yielding lower returns for taxpayers while offering no clear alternative investments. Alderman Bill Conway criticized the move, emphasizing that Treasury bonds remain the most liquid and secure debt instruments available, urging a reconsideration to safeguard public funds. The announcement sparked debate in the City Council, highlighting tensions between ideological stances and economic responsibility in municipal finance.
Ex-Newsom Chief of Staff Faces Federal Charges in Campaign Fund Diversion Probe
Federal authorities have indicted Dana Williamson, who served as California Governor Gavin Newsom’s chief of staff until late 2024, on 23 counts including conspiracy to commit bank and wire fraud, filing false tax returns, making false statements, and obstruction of justice, stemming from an alleged scheme to divert over $225,000 from a dormant political campaign account belonging to former U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra for personal use between February 2022 and September 2024. Prosecutors claim Williamson, alongside co-conspirators such as Becerra’s former chief of staff Sean McCluskie and lobbyist Greg Campbell, funneled the money through consulting firms as payments for nonexistent services, including a “no-show” job routed to McCluskie’s spouse, while Williamson also deducted more than $1 million in personal luxuries like private jet trips and designer handbags as business expenses on her taxes. The three-year FBI and IRS investigation into Sacramento’s political circles uncovered backdated contracts created after a subpoena and recorded meetings where participants discussed concealing the fraud, with Williamson reportedly lying to agents about the transactions; she was arrested on November 12, 2025, released on $500,000 bond, and entered a not guilty plea during her initial Sacramento court appearance, facing potential decades in prison if convicted. Newsom’s office stated that Williamson was placed on leave upon disclosing the probe last year and emphasized that the governor maintains no involvement, though the case highlights persistent concerns over accountability in California’s campaign finance system amid an ongoing broader corruption inquiry.
Sources: The Washington Examiner, The Post Millennial
56 Arrested in Massachusetts Child Exploitation Sting
Massachusetts State Police, in collaboration with federal agencies, district attorneys, and local law enforcement, conducted Operation Firewall, a three-day initiative that resulted in the arrest of 56 individuals across 38 communities for offenses including possession, production, and dissemination of child sexual abuse material, as well as child enticement and related assaults. The operation, executed last week, involved 34 residential search warrants and the seizure of 229 electronic devices from suspects aged 18 to 75, many of whom held positions as business professionals, homeowners, spouses, or even parents, underscoring the pervasive threat posed by such crimes within everyday society. Officials highlighted a 270% surge in cyber tips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children since 2020, with over 1,000 reports received in a single recent week, emphasizing the urgent need for parental vigilance over online activities to safeguard children from digital predators. State Police Superintendent Col. Geoffrey Noble stressed that families must monitor device usage and establish firm boundaries against sharing explicit content, while Lt. Col. Dan Tucker affirmed the commitment to pursuing those who exploit minors, noting additional arrests may follow as investigations continue.
Sources: The Daily Caller, The Boston Herald
Seattle Elects Democratic Socialist as Mayor in Narrow Victory
In a closely contested race reflecting voter frustrations with rising costs and urban challenges, Katie Wilson, a 43-year-old progressive organizer and self-identified democratic socialist with no prior elected experience, has secured Seattle’s mayoralty by defeating incumbent Democrat Bruce Harrell by a margin of about 2,000 votes, or 50.08% to 49.59%, following a week of mail-in ballot tallies after the November 4 election. Wilson, co-founder of the Transit Riders Union and backed by endorsements from figures like Rep. Pramila Jayapal, campaigned on affordability measures including higher taxes on corporations and the affluent, rent controls, expanded homeless services, and reinforcing the city’s sanctuary status amid threats from federal policies. While Harrell held an early lead of over 10,000 votes on election night, late returns—often favoring progressive candidates in Seattle’s vote-by-mail system—shifted the outcome, prompting projections of Wilson’s win from outlets like Decision Desk HQ and avoiding an automatic recount threshold. Observers note this result, echoing Zohran Mamdani’s recent New York City triumph, signals a leftward tilt in major Democratic strongholds, though it raises questions about governance continuity given Wilson’s activist roots and the city’s ongoing struggles with crime and business exits. Harrell, who has not yet conceded, is set to address the public today.
Sources: Townhall, The Post Millennial
Activist Rev. Jesse Jackson Hospitalized for Observation Amid Long-Term Neurological Condition
Civil rights leader Rev. Jesse Jackson, the 84-year-old founder of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition and a key figure in the fight for racial and economic justice since the 1960s, was admitted to Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago on November 12, 2025, for observation related to progressive supranuclear palsy, a neurodegenerative disorder he has managed for over a decade following an initial Parkinson’s diagnosis that was refined earlier this year; the coalition’s statement emphasized his ongoing care without detailing immediate severity, reflecting the steady challenges of his condition as he steps back from public roles while his legacy endures through family and organizational efforts.
Sources: The Chicago Sun-Times, The Chicago Tribune
Florida Board Advances Mandatory Lessons on Communism’s Legacy in Schools
The Florida State Board of Education has taken a significant step toward equipping students with a fuller understanding of communism’s historical record by approving revisions to social studies standards that integrate instruction on the ideology’s origins, tactics, and human costs across middle and high school curricula, effective from the 2026–27 school year. This move builds on Senate Bill 1264, signed into law by Governor Ron DeSantis in 2024, which directed the Department of Education to craft age-appropriate guidelines drawing from survivor testimonies and emphasizing atrocities like poverty, starvation, and suppression of freedoms under regimes in the Soviet Union, Cuba, and elsewhere, while contrasting these with American democratic principles. Board Chair Ryan Petty underscored the effort’s aim to foster rigorous academic insight into how communist movements wielded propaganda to consolidate power and the factors contributing to their eventual collapses, a priority rooted in Florida’s longstanding vigilance against ideological threats, including the state’s prior designation of November 7 as Victims of Communism Day. Though some academics have raised concerns about potential overreach in portraying anti-communist figures from the mid-20th century, supporters maintain the standards promote essential historical awareness without compromising classroom balance, ensuring young Floridians grasp the tangible perils of systems that clash with individual liberties.
Sources: The Epoch Times, Campus Reform
DON’T MISS THIS WEEK’S FEATURED COMMENTARY:
How Marxism & Islamism Mirror Each Other In
Their March Toward Total Domination Of The West
“Marxism’s anti-capitalist ire finds a zealous bedfellow in Islamism’s anti-Western jihad, united against the Enlightenment’s bastard heirs: liberal democracy, secularism, individualism. They’ve infiltrated NGOs, unions, and Silicon Valley echo chambers, where ‘inclusivity’ means silencing Islamophobia critiques while excusing Marxist-Leninist ‘struggles.’ Europe’s no-go zones and America’s DEI dogmas are canaries in the coal mine—precursors to ‘sharia soviets.’ We must awaken to this assault…”
Read and listen to more at UndergroundUSA.com
U.S.-Led Coalition Operations Yield ISIS Casualties and Captures in Syria
In a steady effort to counter the persistent threat posed by the Islamic State in Syria, U.S. Central Command forces, alongside local partners, supported more than 22 targeted operations between October 1 and November 6, resulting in the elimination of five ISIS members and the capture of 19 others, according to a CENTCOM statement released on November 12. These actions, part of broader coalition initiatives to disrupt terrorist networks amid regional instability, reflect ongoing commitments to regional security without reported civilian casualties. CENTCOM Commander Admiral Brad Cooper emphasized that such measures represent a significant step in diminishing ISIS’s operational capacity, underscoring the value of coordinated international partnerships in addressing jihadist remnants that continue to endanger stability in the Middle East.
Sources: The Epoch Times, Reuters
Israeli Forces Dismantle Hamas Cell in West Bank, Detain Dozens in Coordinated Raids
In a series of overnight operations underscoring Israel’s ongoing commitment to countering terrorist threats, security forces arrested around 40 Hamas operatives in Bethlehem and surrounding areas of the West Bank, effectively dismantling a network poised to launch attacks on civilians and military personnel. The raids, conducted by the IDF’s Etzion Brigade, elite Duvdevan unit, Shin Bet intelligence agency, and police, spanned more than 15 sites and yielded weapons such as M16 rifles, while interrogations exposed recruitment efforts by key figures who had built multiple cells for shooting operations. This action represents a measured step in Israel’s security strategy, preventing potential violence amid persistent regional tensions following the Gaza conflict, and highlights the challenges of maintaining stability in areas under partial Palestinian Authority control where militant activities persist. Such efforts reflect a prudent approach to safeguarding lives without escalating broader confrontations.
Sources: Legal Insurrection, The Times of Israel
U.S. State Department Labels Four European Antifa-Affiliated Groups as Global Terrorists
In a measured extension of President Trump’s ongoing efforts to address left-wing extremism, the U.S. State Department on November 13, 2025, designated four Antifa-linked organizations operating in Germany, Italy, and Greece as Specially Designated Global Terrorists, with plans to classify them as Foreign Terrorist Organizations effective November 20. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the action, citing the groups’ promotion of revolutionary anarchist and Marxist ideologies marked by anti-American, anti-capitalist, and anti-Christian sentiments that have incited violent assaults, including bombings, shootings, and physical attacks on political opponents. Among the named entities is the German-based Antifa Ost, previously known as the Hammer Gang, which Hungarian authorities had already labeled a terrorist group following assaults in Budapest in 2023; the other three involve two cells in Greece and one in Italy, all accused of coordinating politically motivated violence across borders. This marks the first U.S. application of foreign terrorist sanctions to far-left networks, building on domestic measures taken after the September 2025 assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk and amid unrest in American cities like Portland and Los Angeles, though experts note Antifa’s decentralized structure may complicate enforcement while underscoring the administration’s focus on safeguarding public order through established legal tools.
Sources: The Straits Times, FOX News
China Advances Robotic Arsenal in Simulated Taiwan Assault Drills
China’s People’s Liberation Army has integrated quadrupedal “robot wolves” into amphibious training exercises simulating an invasion of Taiwan, marking a shift toward unmanned systems in high-risk frontline operations as part of President Xi Jinping’s military modernization drive. Developed by the China South Industries Group Corporation, these 70-kilogram machines, equipped with five cameras for 360-degree surveillance, can carry 20-kilogram payloads including ammunition or explosives, and operate up to 1.2 miles from command units while breaching obstacles like barbed wire in under 10 seconds. The drills, conducted by the 72nd Group Army’s Huangcaoling Hero Company in the Taiwan Strait region, featured coordinated teams of reconnaissance, armed, and supply variants supported by AI, drone strikes, and artillery, drawing lessons from unmanned tactics in the Russia-Ukraine conflict to mitigate vulnerabilities in traditional manpower assaults. First unveiled at the Zhuhai Airshow in 2024 and showcased in the September 2025 Victory Day parade, the robots underscore Beijing’s emphasis on integrated manned-unmanned warfare, though experts note potential weaknesses such as exposure to electromagnetic interference and the logistical challenges of scaling across the 150-kilometer strait. This development raises measured concerns about escalating tensions in the region, where such technologies could alter defensive calculations without immediate indications of imminent action.
Sources: NewsMax, Think China
Controversy Erupts Over Removal of WWII Black Troops Displays at Dutch Cemetery
In a development that has drawn sharp rebukes from Dutch officials and historians, the American Battle Monuments Commission has removed two informational panels from the visitor center at the Netherlands American Cemetery in Margraten, a site honoring over 8,000 U.S. soldiers who perished liberating Europe from Nazi occupation in World War II, including at least 174 Black service members whose contributions to grave-digging and frontline heroism were highlighted in the now-absent exhibits installed just last September amid advocacy from veterans’ families and local scholars. The panels—one chronicling the valor of Technician 4th Class George H. Pruitt, who sacrificed himself to save a comrade, and another addressing the dual burdens of combat abroad and racial segregation at home—were quietly taken down earlier this year without public explanation, prompting the Limburg provincial governor’s office to voice “serious concerns” and demand their swift reinstatement as essential to preserving an unflinching account of the conflict’s human toll, especially amid the Netherlands’ ongoing 80th anniversary commemorations of its 1945 liberation. Critics on both sides of the Atlantic, including relatives of the honored troops, contend the move risks obscuring the full scope of American sacrifices, while the commission has offered only vague assurances that one panel remains in rotation and the other retired, fueling questions about alignment with evolving U.S. priorities on historical narratives. This episode underscores the enduring imperative to safeguard the unvarnished record of those who secured freedom, lest future generations inherit a diminished legacy.
Sources: The Washington Post, The Philadelphia Tribune
IOC Advances Review on Safeguarding Women’s Olympic Categories Amid Biological Advantage Concerns
The International Olympic Committee, under new president Kirsty Coventry, has initiated a scientific review through its Protection of the Female Category working group, signaling a potential shift toward restricting transgender women who underwent male puberty from competing in women’s events at the 2028 Los Angeles Games, based on evidence indicating enduring physical advantages despite testosterone suppression. This development follows Coventry’s June commitment to prioritize fairness in female sports, aligning with a broader trend where federations like World Athletics and World Aquatics have already implemented similar exclusions using biological sex verification methods such as gene testing. The IOC’s medical director, Dr. Jane Thornton, presented findings last week affirming these advantages to members, who expressed strong support for protective measures, though no final policy has been adopted and internal discussions on athletes with differences in sex development continue. Such a universal approach would harmonize Olympic standards, previously delegated to individual sports, and mitigate tensions with U.S. policies under President Trump’s February executive order barring transgender participation in women’s sports, ensuring equitable opportunities for female athletes rooted in biological realities.