[Friday, November 21] US News Headlines from r/politics

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DAILY BRIEFING

By Dr. Headline, HeadlineSquare November 21, 2025

Executive Summary

Today’s briefing details an extraordinary escalation in political tensions centered on President Trump’s rhetoric and its severe fallout, alongside major international and domestic crises. Key developments include:

• President Trump’s accusation of “seditious behavior, punishable by death” against Democrats, sparking bipartisan condemnation, a surge in death threats, and the preparation of impeachment articles.
• An intense pressure campaign on Ukraine to accept a new U.S. peace plan involving land concessions, backed by threats to cut vital military and intelligence support.
• The recently ended U.S. government shutdown halted the release of key economic data like the Consumer Price Index and worsened an already grim economic outlook.
• Significant turmoil across federal agencies, including reports of legally dubious ICE tactics, major steps to dismantle the Department of Education, and a public health controversy at the CDC.

1. The Presidency: “Sedition” Crisis and Impeachment Threat

1.1. “Seditious Behavior, Punishable by DEATH”

A major political crisis has erupted following President Trump’s response to Democratic lawmakers who urged U.S. troops to refuse illegal orders. In a public post, the President described their actions as “‘SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH’” [1]. He specifically labeled lawmakers including Rep. Jason Crow as “traitors” and reportedly suggested some “should be hanged” [2, 3]. The statements sparked immediate and widespread condemnation. Arizona Senator Mark Kelly stated, “I never thought I’d see a President call for my execution,” while Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro accused the President of directly calling for political violence [4, 5]. President Trump later downplayed the remarks, stating he “wasn’t threatening” the Democrats, while the White House defended unrelated comments where the President called a reporter a “piggy” by framing the language as “frankness” [6, 7].

References: [1] Trump accuses Democrats of ‘seditious behavior, punishable by death,’ for urging military to ignore illegal orders, https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/trump-democrats-death-penalty-sedition-military-orders-rcna245003
[2] President labels Rep. Jason Crow and others ‘traitors’ for video urging the military not to follow unlawful orders, https://www.cpr.org/2025/11/20/trump-labels-jason-crow-traitors-military-video/
[3] Trump suggests some Democrats should be hanged — and some Republicans rush to his defense, https://www.ms.now/news/trump-calls-democrats-seditious-traitors-republicans-rcna245028
[4] Sen. Mark Kelly: ‘I never thought I’d see a President call for my execution’, https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5616884-kelly-angers-trumps-execution-call/
[5] Gov. Josh Shapiro says President Trump calling for political violence after ‘SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH’ post, https://www.wgal.com/article/pa-gov-josh-shapiro-president-trump-calling-for-violence-seditious-behavior-punishable-by-death-post/69500460
[6] Trump says he wasn’t threatening Democrats he accused of ‘seditious behavior, punishable by death’, https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/trump-democrats-sedition-death-threat-military-rcna245156
[7] Trump Calling Reporter ‘Piggy’ Was ‘Frankness,’ White House Says, https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/20/business/media/trump-leavitt-reporter-piggy

1.2. Fallout: Impeachment Proceedings and Surging Threats

The President’s rhetoric has had immediate and severe consequences. A Democratic senator reported a “surge” in death threats directed at lawmakers, linking the increase directly to the President’s post [1]. The escalating situation has led to formal action in Congress, with reports that Rep. Al Green is preparing to “force a vote on impeaching Trump before Christmas” [2]. Sources indicate the President’s own legal team is now “preparing for impeachment proceedings” in response [3]. While some congressional Republicans have rushed to the President’s defense, others have publicly chastised him for the execution threats [4, 5]. Polling data taken amidst these events shows the President’s approval has fallen to a new low for his second term [6].

References: [1] Death threats surge after Trump’s post on ‘seditious behavior,’ senator says, https://www.wric.com/washington-dc/death-threats-surge-after-trumps-post-on-seditious-behavior-senator-says/
[2] Al Green to force a vote on impeaching Trump before Christmas, https://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/al-green-donald-trump-impeachment-19818820.php
[3] President Trump’s legal team is preparing for impeachment proceedings, https://www.cnn.com/2025/11/21/politics/donald-trump-impeachment-threat/
[4] Republicans Shrug in Response to Trump’s Suggestion Dems Be Put to Death, https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/republicans-downplay-trump-suggestion-dems-put-death-1235470553/
[5] GOP Senators Chastise Trump Over Execution Threat Against Colleagues, https://www.thedailybeast.com/gop-senators-chastise-trump-over-execution-threat-against-colleagues/?via=mobile&source=Reddit
[6] Trump’s approval rating slips to second term low, finds Fox News poll, https://www.newsweek.com/trump-approval-rating-second-term-low-11078701

2. National Security and Foreign Policy

2.1. Ukraine Peace Plan and Coercion Campaign

The Trump administration has formally introduced a “28-point Ukraine-Russia peace plan” that would require significant concessions from Kyiv, including ceding land and reducing its military [1]. The proposal has been met with stiff resistance from the European Union, which indicated it will not accept the deal [2]. To force compliance, the U.S. is reportedly threatening to “cut intel, weapons” and other critical support to Ukraine [3]. This pressure prompted a pained response from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who warned of the “most difficult moment in history” for Ukraine and stated that his country now faces a choice between losing its “dignity or US support” [4]. The President’s envoy to Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, is also expected to leave his post as the new plan emerges [5].

References: [1] Annotated: the full text of Donald Trump’s 28-point Ukraine-Russia peace plan, https://www.ft.com/content/44d1c236-2a47-48e2-8638-0153db9e6a4b
[2] The EU indicates it won’t accept the U.S.’s Russia-Ukraine peace deal, https://www.npr.org/transcripts/nx-s1-5615184
[3] US threatens to cut intel, weapons to press Ukraine into peace deal, sources say, https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/top-ukraine-security-official-denies-accepting-terms-trumps-peace-plan-2025-11-21/
[4] Ukraine faces losing dignity or US support with Trump’s plan to end war, Zelensky says, https://www.cnn.com/2025/11/21/europe/ukraine-war-trump-plan-zelensky-intl
[5] Trump’s Ukraine envoy Keith Kellogg expected to leave his post as new peace plan emerges, https://apnews.com/article/trump-ukraine-envoy-kellogg-4bffa5b12a820f13d9909fceba15ddca

2.2. G20 Boycott and Shifting Human Rights Standards

In a significant diplomatic move, the White House has boycotted the G20 summit, issuing a sharp rebuke to the South African leader for “running his mouth” about the U.S. decision [1]. Concurrently, the administration is redefining its international human rights posture. Future U.S. reports will now flag abortion access and “gender care” as concerning issues in other countries, while new rules are being implemented to re-classify other nations’ “diversity policies” as a form of human rights infringement [2, 3].

References: [1] White House hits out at South African leader for ‘running his mouth’ over US boycott of G20, https://apnews.com/article/g20-south-africa-united-states-trump-e41ad9d725d08590d3d9b66244d1b2a3
[2] Under Trump, U.S. human rights reports will flag abortion, gender care, https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2025/11/20/trump-rubio-human-rights-report/
[3] New US rules say countries with diversity policies are infringing human rights, https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx24200d7y9o

3. Justice System and Investigations

3.1. Dueling DOJ Probes and the Epstein Files

The Department of Justice is at the center of multiple politically charged investigations. The DOJ and FBI are reportedly probing top Trump administration officials over their past investigations into the President’s political adversaries, including a federal grand jury examination of the Adam Schiff criminal probe [1]. Simultaneously, the current DOJ is moving forward with an investigation into “unfounded claims Venezuela helped steal 2020 election” and has signaled that “more charges are possible against John Bolton” [2, 3]. Separately, fears of a cover-up are growing over the Jeffrey Epstein files after a new law was passed allowing the DOJ to “Redact Info Sensitive to ‘National Security’” [4]. This has reportedly caused political “humiliation” for Speaker Mike Johnson, who is now planning a “Major Rule Change” in the House [5].

References: [1] DOJ, FBI probing top Trump administration officials over investigations of president’s adversaries: Sources, https://abcnews.go.com/US/doj-fbi-probing-top-trump-administration-officials-investigations/story?id=127602305
[2] Trump’s DoJ investigating unfounded claims Venezuela helped steal 2020 election, https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/nov/21/trump-doj-venezuela-2020-election
[3] More charges are possible against John Bolton, Justice Department says, https://www.cnn.com/2025/11/21/politics/john-bolton-trial-classified-documents?utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=missions&utm_source=reddit
[4] Cover-Up Feared as Epstein Files Law Lets DOJ Redact Info Sensitive to ‘National Security’, https://www.commondreams.org/news/epstein-files-redacted-national-security
[5] Mike Johnson Plots Major Rule Change After His Epstein Humiliation, https://www.thedailybeast.com/mike-johnson-plots-major-rule-change-after-his-jeffrey-epstein-humiliation/

3.2. Legal Setbacks for the Executive Branch

Federal courts have delivered significant blows to the executive branch. A federal judge ruled that President Trump’s deployment of the National Guard to Washington, D.C., is illegal [1]. In a separate case, a lawsuit filed by Trump against CNN over its use of the term “Big Lie” was rejected by federal judges, a panel that included some of his own appointees [2].

References: [1] Judge rules Trump’s National Guard deployment to D.C. is illegal, https://www.cbsnews.com/news/judge-rules-trump-national-guard-dc-deployment-illegal/
[2] Trump’s Own Judges Easily Reject His Bonkers Lawsuit Against CNN For Calling His Big Lie A ‘Big Lie’, https://www.techdirt.com/2025/11/20/trumps-own-judges-easily-reject-his-bonkers-lawsuit-against-cnn-for-calling-his-big-lie-a-big-lie/

4. Domestic Policy and Agency Turmoil

4.1. Immigration Enforcement Under Scrutiny

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is facing a wave of criticism for aggressive and legally questionable tactics. Reports detail an ICE raid on a church conducted “With No Explanation” and an incident where agents jailed legally admitted individuals in what The New York Times describes as a “cruel detention system that operates with impunity” [1, 2]. The agency’s conduct is also under legal fire; one day after being sued, ICE claimed it lost key evidence in a “system crash” [3]. In a separate incident, a federal judge ordered the release of 16 migrants detained in an Idaho raid, citing due process violations [4].

References: [1] ICE Agents Raid a Church With No Explanation, https://newrepublic.com/post/203321/ice-agents-raid-church-charlotte
[2] Inside ICE Detention - They came to the U.S. legally. ICE jailed them anyway. Jemmy Jimenez Rosa, Ayman Soliman and Jasmine Mooney share their stories from inside a cruel detention system that operates with impunity., https://www.nytimes.com/video/opinion/100000010520926/inside-ice-detention.html
[3] ICE Suddenly Loses Key Evidence One Day After Being Sued | ICE says the evidence disappeared in a “system crash.”, http://newrepublic.com/post/203480/ice-loses-evidence-one-day-after-sued
[4] Federal judge orders release of 16 migrants detained in Idaho raid, citing due process violations, https://apnews.com/article/immigration-raid-idaho-gambling-horse-races-ice-f6bf6377875befe5953f754699d3d143

4.2. Crises in Health, Science, and Education

A public health controversy is unfolding after a report that the CDC has revived a “debunked ’link’ between childhood vaccines and autism” under the influence of RFK Jr. [1]. This comes as the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has halted numerous clinical trials, a move that “slashed treatments” for cancer and other critical issues [2]. In education, the administration has taken a “major step toward dismantling the Education Department,” a plan that workers inside the agency say “makes no sense” [3, 4].

References: [1] The CDC revives debunked ’link’ between childhood vaccines and autism, https://www.npr.org/sections/shots-health-news/2025/11/20/nx-s1-5615040/cdc-rfk-childhood-vaccines-autism
[2] Halted NIH Clinical Trials List Reveals Slashed Treatments for Cancer, COVID and Minority Health, https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/halted-nih-clinical-trials-list-reveals-slashed-treatments-for-cancer-covid/
[3] Trump administration takes major step toward dismantling the Education Department, https://apnews.com/article/education-department-shutdown-trump-05385ab8931fd0911a44ae8343ffba74
[4] Workers inside Department of Education say Trump’s latest bid to dismantle agency ‘makes no sense’, https://www.theguardian.com/education/2025/nov/21/workers-department-education-trump

5. Economic Affairs and Federal Budget

5.1. Government Shutdown and Worsening Outlook

A U.S. government shutdown compelled the government to officially cancel the release of the October Consumer Price Index (CPI) report, a key inflation gauge, creating significant economic uncertainty [1]. The shutdown coincides with multiple negative economic indicators. The U.S. freight market is reportedly “starting to roll over,” leading analysts to declare “this is a structural goods recession” linked to a plummet in trade with China [2]. The Congressional Budget Office has also revised its projections, now estimating that President Trump’s tariffs will reduce deficits by $1 trillion less than previously forecast [3]. Amid these developments, U.S. consumer confidence has plunged, setting the stage for what one economist called “the worst Thanksgiving on record for American shoppers,” and a report notes that the President’s poll numbers are “tumbling” in tandem with the stock market [4, 5].

References: [1] US cancels release of CPI report for October because of government shutdown, https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-cancels-release-cpi-report-october-because-government-shutdown-2025-11-21/
[2] ‘This is a structural goods recession’: U.S. freight market is starting to roll over as Chinese trade plummets, https://www.cnbc.com/amp/2025/11/20/trump-tariffs-trade-china-import-decline-freight-recession.html
[3] Trump tariffs to reduce US deficits by $1 trillion less than previous estimate, CBO says, https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-tariffs-reduce-us-deficits-by-1-trillion-less-than-previous-estimate-cbo-2025-11-20/
[4] ‘Worst Thanksgiving on record for American shoppers’: US consumer confidence plummets, https://www.dailymail.co.uk/yourmoney/consumer/article-14502395/Worst-Thanksgiving-record-American-shoppers-consumer-confidence-plummets.html
[5] Trump’s Polls Are Tumbling. So Is the Stock Market. Coincidence?, https://newrepublic.com/article/203481/trump-polls-stock-market-economy

6. Congress, Elections, and Political Landscape

6.1. Legislative Clashes and Member Conduct

A tense fight has erupted on the Senate floor over a provision allowing senators to personally profit from suing the Department of Justice. Senator Lindsey Graham blocked an effort to repeal the “payout provision,” a move one outlet labeled “‘Just Corrupt’” [1]. In contrast, the House voted unanimously to repeal a separate provision that could have also enriched senators [2]. Separately, the House Ethics Committee has opened an investigation into Rep. Cory Mills ahead of a planned censure vote [3]. The investigation comes as a report from Notus alleges that Mills “Was Caught With Sex Workers Before Mission to Afghanistan in 2021” [4].

References: [1] ‘Just Corrupt’: Lindsey Graham Blocks Repeal of Senate GOP Payout Provision, https://www.commondreams.org/news/lindsey-graham-republican-payout
[2] House unanimously passes repeal of phone records provision that could enrich senators, https://thehill.com/homenews/house/5613703-house-repeal-of-phone-records-provision-senators/
[3] Ethics Committee opens investigation into Florida Rep. Cory Mills ahead of censure vote, https://www.wfla.com/news/florida/ethics-committee-opens-investigation-into-mills-ahead-of-censure-vote/?fbclid=IwdGRjcAOM2tljbGNrA4zavGV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkDDM1MDY4NTUzMTcyOAABHkyP6M2N5a5dCNmuPMFQp3_pXtb44F2YE57KJyLTmIVKEcGtq9YZhEgEzaur_aem_RPCWITuyzkK630ZOL_1SUQ
[4] Cory Mills Was Caught With Sex Workers Before Mission to Afghanistan in 2021, Sources Say, https://www.notus.org/congress/cory-mills-afghanistan

6.2. Redistricting Battles and Electoral Politics

Contentious redistricting fights are escalating nationwide, with a report detailing a “full-blown pressure campaign on the Supreme Court as redistricting cases loom” [1]. Those resisting what is being called “Trump’s Gerrymander Bid” are reportedly facing “Threats, Intimidation” [2]. In Indiana, a fourth Republican state senator has been targeted by “swatting” amid the fight [3]. On the campaign front, Representative Eric Swalwell has officially entered the race for California governor [4], while in New York, a Democratic candidate claims a $100 million AI-powered Super PAC that targeted him backfired [5].

References: [1] Leaked audio reveals full-blown pressure campaign on the Supreme Court as redistricting cases loom, https://rewirenewsgroup.com/2025/11/21/leaked-audio-reveals-full-blown-pressure-campaign-on-the-supreme-court-as-redistricting-cases-loom/
[2] Those Who Resist Trump’s Gerrymander Bid Face Threats, Intimidation, https://www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/those-who-resist-trumps-gerrymander-bid-face-threats-intimidation/
[3] Fourth Indiana GOP senator swatted amid redistricting fight, https://www.indystar.com/story/news/politics/2025/11/20/fourth-indiana-gop-senator-swatted-amid-redistricting-fight/87376753007/?utm_campaign=trueanthem&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook&fbclid=IwdGRjcAONO3dleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAwzNTA2ODU1MzE3MjgAAR4cskKrVWYlcHI-xpQrPObNEpM8RfRSvrZyORmBL8BEuQPzsVeNGvg9vhaFiA_aem_LV4ipfxPH9s-fSs6AtTF_Q
[4] Eric Swalwell enters California governor’s race, https://www.politico.com/news/2025/11/21/eric-swalwell-runs-california-governor-00651742?utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=dlvr.it
[5] A $100 Million AI Super PAC Targeted New York Democrat Alex Bores. He Thinks It Backfired, https://www.wired.com/story/alex-bores-andreessen-horowitz-super-pac-ai-regulation-new-york/

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