[Saturday, November 15] US News Headlines from r/politics

2025-11-15 2381 words 12 minutes

Contents

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DAILY BRIEFING

By Dr. Headline, HeadlineSquare November 15, 2025

Executive Summary

A major public feud between President Trump and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene over the Epstein investigation has fractured the MAGA movement, with Greene alleging she has received threats due to the President’s statements.
The administration uses its executive power to pardon a Jan. 6 defendant and British billionaire Joe Lewis, while directing the DOJ to investigate political rivals amid ongoing Epstein revelations.
Tensions with Venezuela escalate dramatically, as a U.S. military buildup in the Caribbean is met with a Venezuelan announcement of a “‘massive deployment’ of forces.”
In a significant policy reversal, the administration cuts tariffs on dozens of food items to combat domestic inflation, while simultaneously scrapping a rule requiring cash compensation for canceled flights.
Intra-GOP conflicts over election administration deepen, with state-level Republicans in Indiana and Michigan clashing with or seeking intervention from federal powers.

1. Top-Line Political Development: The Fracturing of the MAGA Coalition

1.1 The Trump-Greene Feud Escalates

A dramatic and public schism has developed between President Trump and Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, previously one of his most fervent allies, creating what reports describe as a “major Maga rift” [1]. The President has officially withdrawn his endorsement, describing Greene as “‘Wacky’” and a “‘ranting lunatic’” whose calls he could no longer take [2, 3]. The feud, reportedly ignited by disagreements over the Epstein investigation [4], has since escalated, with the President labeling the congresswoman a “Traitor” in a stunning public slur [5]. In response, Rep. Greene has stated publicly that she is receiving “warnings for my safety” and threats, directly attributing the danger to the President’s social media posts [6, 7]. The war of words marks a significant and unprecedented fracture within a key faction of the President’s base [8].

1.2 Broader GOP Strains and Loyalty Tests

The feud highlights what some reports describe as a “fracturing” America First movement, with growing tensions threatening party cohesion ahead of the 2026 midterms [1, 2]. For some “Maga rebels,” the ongoing release of Epstein files now reportedly “trumps loyalty to Trump” [3]. Other recent events have also tested allegiance within the party’s base. One report notes that the President’s public “gloating over Thomas Massie’s private life in the wake of his wife’s death” was a “step too far for some MAGA loyalists” [4]. Direct policy contradictions are also emerging; Rep. Greene introduced a bill to end H-1B visas just days after President Trump publicly expressed support for the program, creating a clear split on immigration policy [5].

References
[1] Donald Trump’s America First movement seems to be fracturing, https://www.salon.com/2025/11/15/donald-trumps-america-first-movement-seems-to-be-fracturing/
[2] MAGA rift grows as Trump feuds with Greene before key 2026 midterm elections, https://apnews.com/article/trump-marjorie-taylor-greene-republicans-maga-feud-f4b0dffe06440dfed16d336d08a05422
[3] For Maga rebels, release of Epstein files trumps loyalty to Trump, https://www.thetimes.com/us/american-politics/article/trump-epstein-files-petition-q82ls6tvz
[4] Trump’s gloating over Thomas Massie’s private life in the wake of his wife’s death proves a step too far for some MAGA loyalists, https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-thomas-massie-wife-maga-b2865972.html
[5] Marjorie Taylor Greene Introduces Bill To End H-1B Visas Days After Trump Backs The Program: ‘Americans First’, https://www.latintimes.com/marjorie-taylor-greene-introduces-bill-end-h-1b-visas-days-after-trump-backs-program-americans-591590

2. Executive Branch: Investigations, Pardons, and Presidential Actions

2.1 The Epstein Scandal Entanglement

The Jeffrey Epstein scandal continues to directly entangle the White House and drive political conflict. President Trump has publicly called for an FBI investigation into Epstein’s ties to high-profile figures, including former President Bill Clinton [1]. This comes as newly released emails from his first term show Epstein sharply criticized Trump, calling him “‘f**king crazy,’ ‘dangerous,’ and ’not one decent cell in his body’” [2]. With a “looming House vote on the Epstein files” anticipated [3], a Senate Democrat has claimed the President is in “daily panic mode” over the continued document releases [4]. The ongoing revelations have added a new layer of complexity with a report alleging that during Michael Cohen’s 2019 congressional testimony, Epstein “was texting US House member,” though the member’s identity remains undisclosed [5].

References
[1] Trump to ask FBI to investigate Bill Clinton’s links to Epstein, https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/news/2025/11/14/trump-to-ask-fbi-investigate-bill-clinton-links-epstein/?fbclid=Iwb21leAOFI3xjbGNrA4UjVGV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkDDM1MDY4NTUzMTcyOAhjYWxsc2l0ZQIyNQABHumzj-6QOYKHoSb8OaEuNWmPaeJQ-BpAH-zJJTBYQJGVfZYO0zsKMt5j6Q9J_aem_sUJUtD7UfGSn4dSKEv8eNg
[2] Emails: Epstein repeatedly ridiculed Trump during 1st term as ‘f**king crazy,’ ‘dangerous,’ ‘not one decent cell in his body’, https://www.cnn.com/2025/11/14/us/video/ebof-kfile-jeffrey-epstein-emails
[3] Breaking down the looming House vote on the Epstein files, https://www.cnn.com/2025/11/15/politics/breaking-down-the-looming-house-vote-on-the-epstein-files
[4] Senate Democrat: Trump in ‘daily panic mode’ over Epstein files, https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5607275-chris-murphy-donald-trump-jeffrey-epstein-files/
[5] Epstein was texting US House member during 2019 hearing with Michael Cohen, https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/nov/14/epstein-texting-house-member-cohen-hearing

2.2 Presidential Pardons and Justice Dept. Maneuvers

The pattern of executive clemency continues to draw scrutiny. The President has re-pardoned a January 6 defendant, an action reportedly taken to release them from prison and nullify a separate, unrelated gun conviction [1, 2]. He also granted a full pardon to British billionaire Joe Lewis, who was convicted of insider trading and conspiracy [3]. A ProPublica investigation highlights a broader pattern where powerful individuals who faced federal prosecution during Trump’s first term have been pardoned in his second [4]. These actions were accompanied by procedural issues, with reports that the Justice Department had to “quietly” replace several recent pardon documents after questions arose over “identical” presidential signatures [5]. Concurrently, a U.S. Attorney is reportedly “Under Pressure” after receiving a direct order from the administration to launch investigations into prominent Democrats [6].

References
[1] Trump re-pardons a Jan. 6 defendant to erase unrelated gun conviction, https://www.politico.com/news/2025/11/15/trump-re-pardons-a-jan-6-defendant-to-erase-unrelated-gun-conviction-five-year-jail-term-00653425
[2] Trump pardons Jan. 6 defendant for separate gun offense, releasing him from prison, https://apnews.com/article/daniel-edwin-wilson-pardon-trump-capitol-riot-fdd10aaab22a8996a097704bea37b6ae
[3] British billionaire Joe Lewis, former Tottenham Hotspur owner, pardoned by Trump for insider trading and conspiracy crimes, https://fortune.com/2025/11/14/british-billionaire-pardoned-by-trump-tottenham-hotspurs/
[4] A Tale of Two Terms: How Powerful Figures Were Prosecuted in Trump’s First Term, Then Pardoned in His Second, https://www.propublica.org/article/trump-pardons-erased-prosecutions-second-term
[5] Justice Department quietly replaced ‘identical’ Trump signatures on recent pardons, https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/justice-department-quietly-replaced-identical-trump-signatures-pardons-rcna244105
[6] U.S. Attorney Under Pressure After Order to Investigate Democrats, https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/15/nyregion/sdny-jay-clayton-epstein.html

3. Domestic Policy: Economy, Immigration, and Deregulation

3.1 Economic and Trade Policy Reversal

Amid persistent inflation and spiking grocery costs, the administration has executed a significant policy reversal on trade. President Trump ordered the removal of tariffs “on dozens of food items, from beef to bananas” [1, 2]. Analysts characterized this move as the President “Finally Admits His Tariffs Raise Prices,” portraying it as a tacit admission that his previous policies contributed to higher consumer costs [3]. The action comes as reports note that, like his predecessor, President Trump has found “no quick fix on inflation” [4]. In a separate deregulatory move, the administration has officially scrapped a Biden-era rule that would have required airlines to provide cash payments to passengers for significantly delayed or canceled flights [5].

References
[1] Trump cuts tariffs on beef, coffee and other foods as inflation concerns mount, https://www.reuters.com/business/trump-cuts-tariffs-beef-coffee-other-foods-inflation-concerns-mount-2025-11-14/
[2] Trump drops tariffs on dozens of food items, from beef to bananas, https://www.axios.com/2025/11/14/trump-tariffs-food-groceries
[3] The Trump Administration Finally Admits That Tariffs Raise Prices: If lowering tariffs makes things cheaper, why stop at coffee?, https://reason.com/2025/11/14/the-trump-administration-finally-admits-that-tariffs-raise-prices/
[4] Trump, like Biden before him, finds there’s no quick fix on inflation, https://apnews.com/article/trump-biden-high-prices-inflation-angry-voters-e6e65165deaf9dfc8dbb986f43b1a61a
[5] Trump Administration Scraps Cash Payments for Delayed or Canceled Flights, https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/14/travel/trump-biden-delayed-flights-payments.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare

3.2 Immigration Policy and Enforcement

The administration is continuing its “anti-immigration offensive,” with Charlotte, North Carolina, becoming the latest Democratic-run city to be targeted for enhanced federal enforcement [1]. Reports also indicate a controversial plan is being considered to “pay citizens to snoop on immigrants” [2]. These enforcement policies are being challenged; DOJ figures cited in one report show that 97.4% of 614 immigrants recently detained in a Chicago-area operation had no prior criminal record, questioning the administration’s “worst of the worst” characterization [3]. At the state level, California is reportedly set to “revoke 17,000 commercial driver’s licenses issued to immigrants” [4]. In the courts, a federal judge in Los Angeles has stated the government is continuing to block immigrants’ access to attorneys at a detention facility [5].

References
[1] Charlotte becomes latest Democratic-run city to be targeted by Trump’s anti-immigration offensive, https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/charlotte-trump-immigration-north-carolina-b2866003.html
[2] Trump administration plans to pay citizens to snoop on immigrants, https://www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnbc-opinion/trump-administration-plans-pay-citizens-snoop-immigrants-rcna244022
[3] ‘Worst of the Worst’? DOJ Figures Show 97.4% of 614 Detained Immigrants in Chicago Had No Criminal Record, https://www.commondreams.org/news/worst-of-the-worst-doj-figures-show-97-4-of-614-detained-immigrants-in-chicago-had-no-criminal-record
[4] California to revoke 17,000 commercial driver’s licenses issued to immigrants, https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-11-15/california-to-revoke-17-000-commercial-drivers-licenses-issued-to-immigrants
[5] Judge says government is still blocking immigrants’ access to attorneys at LA detention facility, https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/2025/11/14/trump-ice-lawsuit-immigration-lawyers-detention/dc5bed7e-c193-11f0-8eee-a78486b4c797_story.html

4. Foreign Policy and National Security

4.1 Crisis with Venezuela Deepens

Tensions in the Western Hemisphere are rapidly escalating. The U.S. is continuing a “Caribbean military buildup,” which includes the strategic reopening of a shuttered naval base in Puerto Rico to support regional operations [1]. These actions are taking place as President Trump’s “Venezuela war threats” cause alarm among Latin American leaders [2]. In direct response, Venezuela has announced preparations for a “‘massive deployment’ of forces” along its coast in anticipation of a potential U.S. attack [3]. After three days of meetings with top officials, President Trump stated he has “sort of” made up his mind on a course of action [4], even as national security experts warn that a military intervention to oust President Maduro would likely result in a “long military commitment and chaos” [5].

References
[1] U.S. reopens shuttered Puerto Rico naval base as Caribbean military buildup continues, https://www.cbsnews.com/news/u-s-reopens-shuttered-puerto-rico-naval-base-caribbean-military-buildup-continues
[2] Trump’s Venezuela war threats roil Latin American leaders, https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2025/11/15/trump-venezuela-latin-america/
[3] Venezuela prepares ‘massive deployment’ of forces in case of US attack, https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/11/11/venezuela-prepares-massive-deployment-of-forces-in-case-of-us-attack
[4] Trump says he’s “sort of” made up his mind on Venezuela after top officials spent 3rd day mulling options, https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-venezuela-sort-of-made-up-mind-after-top-officials-spent-3rd-day
[5] Trump likely to face long military commitment and chaos if he ousts Maduro in Venezuela, experts say, https://www.cnn.com/2025/11/15/politics/trump-maduro-removal-venezuela

4.2 Middle East and Europe Policy

In the Middle East, Israel is reportedly pressing the Trump administration to make any potential sale of F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia conditional on the kingdom normalizing diplomatic relations with Israel [1]. This development comes as the Trump Organization is said to be in talks for a major real estate deal with the Saudi government [2]. In Europe, at the reported urging of Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the State Department has designated certain EU anti-fascist groups as “‘Foreign Terrorist Organizations,’” a move analysts believe is a step toward prosecuting their U.S. allies [3, 4].

References
[1] Scoop: Israel wants Trump to condition F-35 sale to Saudi Arabia on Israel normalization, https://www.axios.com/2025/11/15/israel-trump-jet-sale-saudi-arabia
[2] Trump Organization Is Said to Be in Talks on a Saudi Government Real Estate Deal, https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/15/world/middleeast/trump-organization-saudi-development-deal.html?unlocked_article_code=1.1U8.VKwL.p-6SLEWwEXuV&smid=url-share
[3] Marco Rubio Wants to Imprison You on Terror Charges for Supporting Nazi Punchers | The Trump administration moved to designate antifa groups abroad as foreign terrorists — setting up the prosecution of their U.S. allies, https://theintercept.com/2025/11/15/antifa-terrorist-rubio-nazi-material-support/
[4] Broadening Assault on the Left, Trump Designates EU Anti-Fascist Groups as ‘Foreign Terrorist Organizations’, https://www.commondreams.org/news/trump-antifa-foreign-terror-orgs

5. Congressional and State-Level Governance

5.1 Election Administration Disputes

The administration of U.S. elections continues to be a source of significant intra-Republican conflict. At the state level, the Republican-led Indiana Senate is openly defying President Trump’s push for a vote on a new redistricting plan [1]. In Michigan, a group of GOP state lawmakers has formally requested that the U.S. Department of Justice intervene to oversee the state’s 2026 elections, signaling a deep distrust in their own state’s electoral system [2]. At the federal level, the Supreme Court is preparing to hear a pivotal case defending the use of mail-in voting [3].

References
[1] Indiana Senate won’t vote on redistricting, defying Trump’s push, https://apnews.com/article/indiana-senate-redistricting-vote-9370154922c9c0d0c228c459893fa756
[2] GOP lawmakers ask U.S. Department of Justice to oversee Michigan’s 2026 elections, https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/2025/11/13/republicans-ask-pam-bondi-department-of-justice-to-oversee-2026-michigan-election-jocelyn-benson/87253019007/
[3] I Protected Mail-in Voting in 2020. Now I Will Be Defending It at the Supreme Court., https://www.democracydocket.com/opinion/i-protected-mail-in-voting-in-2020-now-i-will-be-defending-it-at-the-supreme-court/

5.2 Legislative Agenda and State Policy

Commentary characterizes the 119th Congress as “An Agenda-Less GOP Congress,” suggesting a stall in substantive progress [1]. The political fallout from the recent government shutdown continues, with one analysis stating it “cost billions and bought nothing” [2]. At the state level, Republican lawmakers in Ohio are moving to ban “telehealth, [and] mail-order abortion pills” [3], while in Texas, the A&M university system has approved a policy that could limit courses with “‘race or gender ideology’” [4].

References
[1] An Agenda-Less GOP Congress, https://www.wsj.com/opinion/republicans-agenda-gop-congress-stock-trading-jeffrey-epstein-2ccaa406?gaa_at=eafs&gaa_n=AWEtsqeFK4QfPuFBr2vwru7dSfZbrmVW7vbdzhezZi1i4HM9zErzlTVhNYLb&gaa_ts=6918ca1b&gaa_sig=XAn6zrk-93FSWZVJGn1AcGlbuS5_5ngUdD5P7mS4MOgTSmH1bnDgMnq__hNSqJz4NPixdri8CEnHpw4S2XRf3g%3D%3D
[2] The shutdown that cost billions and bought nothing is finally over, https://thehill.com/opinion/congress-blog/5604786-schumer-leadership-under-fire/
[3] Ohio GOP lawmakers move to ban telehealth, mail-order abortion pills, https://www.news5cleveland.com/news/politics/ohio-politics/ohio-gop-lawmakers-move-to-ban-telehealth-mail-order-abortion-pills
[4] Texas A&M system approves new policy that could limit ‘race or gender ideology’ courses, https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/education/2025/11/13/536041/texas-am-system-approves-new-policy-that-could-limit-race-or-gender-ideology-courses/

6. Democratic Party: Strategy and Outlook

The Democratic party is publicly navigating a period of strategic reassessment. Pete Buttigieg offered a sharp critique, stating that in the last cycle, Democrats “defined everything by identity” [1]. As the party looks forward, a Politico analysis has already anointed Gavin Newsom as the “2028 Front-runner” for the presidential nomination [2]. Meanwhile, the decision of Rep. Jared Golden not to seek re-election for his House seat is being interpreted as a “wake-up call for Democrats,” signaling challenges in holding swing districts [3]. New mobilization efforts are underway, with a reported increase in young progressives registering to run for office and a “rise of white clergy candidates” running on the platform that “Trump is inconsistent with Christian principles” [4, 5].

References
[1] Democrats “defined everything by identity,” Pete Buttigieg says in critique of his party, https://www.texastribune.org/2025/11/14/texas-tribune-festival-pete-buttigieg-2/
[2] Admit It. Gavin Newsom Is the 2028 Front-runner., https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2025/11/15/gavin-newsom-interview-2028-frontrunner-00652362
[3] Jared Golden’s exit, a wake-up call for Democrats, https://www.bostonglobe.com/2025/11/10/opinion/jared-golden-maine-blue-dog-democrats-congress/
[4] The Trump Backlash Quietly Underway: Young Progressives Signing Up To Run For Office, https://www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-backlash-progressives-run-for-something_n_691160c5e4b003bdc184ebf0
[5] ‘Trump is inconsistent with Christian principles’: why the Democratic party is seeing a rise of white clergy candidates, https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/nov/15/christian-democrat-candidates-trump-republicans?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other