[Monday, November 24] US News Headlines from r/politics

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DAILY BRIEFING

By Dr. Headline, HeadlineSquare November 24, 2025

Executive Summary

Today’s developments are dominated by an escalating crisis between the executive and legislative branches, with the Pentagon threatening to court-martial Senator Mark Kelly over a video on “illegal orders.” The judiciary delivered a major blow to the administration, as a federal judge dismissed the politically charged cases against James Comey and Letitia James, ruling the prosecutor was “unlawfully appointed.” Meanwhile, the House GOP faces a morale crisis, with lawmakers warning of a “mass exodus.” The administration also advanced an aggressive foreign policy, moving to designate chapters of the Muslim Brotherhood and Venezuelan officials as terrorists.

1. Inter-Branch Crisis and The Rule of Law

A series of dramatic events is testing the separation of powers and the foundations of the U.S. justice system, headlined by a direct confrontation between the Department of Defense and a sitting U.S. Senator.

1.1. Pentagon Threatens to Court Martial Senator Mark Kelly

A severe inter-branch crisis has erupted over military command and the rule of law. The Pentagon confirmed it is investigating Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ), a retired Navy captain, regarding a video in which he urged U.S. troops to defy what they believe to be “illegal” or “unlawful orders” [1]. The situation has intensified dramatically, with reports that the Department of Defense has threatened to recall Senator Kelly to active service in order to prosecute him via a court martial [2]. This action follows public statements from Vice President JD Vance asserting it is “illegal for members of Congress to tell military to defy legal orders from president” [3]. In a pointed public response to Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Senator Kelly stated that the Pentagon’s investigation will not “intimidate me” [4]. The confrontation highlights a fundamental clash over the legal duty of soldiers to disobey unlawful orders, a principle affirmed by legal analysis [5].

References:
[1] Pentagon says it’s investigating Sen. Mark Kelly for video urging troops to defy ‘illegal orders’, https://apnews.com/article/pentagon-mark-kelly-troop-investigation-4882f76b05dcdfa3060c284c2c84dd12
[2] Pentagon threatens to recall Sen. Mark Kelly to military service for court martial in wake of illegal orders video, https://www.cnn.com/2025/11/24/politics/kelly-recall-service-pentagon?utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=missions&utm_source=reddit
[3] Vance: Illegal for members of Congress to tell military to defy legal orders from president, https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5619762-vance-democrats-defy-legal-orders-illegal/
[4] Kelly to Hegseth: Pentagon investigation over ‘illegal orders’ video won’t ‘intimidate me’, https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5620668-kelly-hegseth-pentagon-investigation-illegal-orders-video/
[5] Trump Has it Wrong: Soldiers Must Disobey Unlawful Orders, https://news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/trump-has-it-wrong-soldiers-must-disobey-unlawful-orders

1.2. Judge Dismisses Politically Charged Cases Against Comey and James

The administration’s legal agenda suffered a spectacular defeat as a federal judge dismissed indictments against two of President Trump’s longtime political adversaries, former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James [1]. In a stunning rebuke, the judge ruled that the prosecutor appointed by the Trump administration, interim U.S. Attorney Lindsey Halligan, was “illegally” and “unlawfully appointed” and therefore disqualified from bringing the charges [2]. Multiple sources had characterized the now-defunct legal actions as a politically motivated “revenge case” and “political prosecutions” initiated by the administration [3]. Following the ruling, reports began detailing the administration’s reaction to the collapse of the high-profile cases [4].

References:
[1] US judge tosses case against ex-FBI chief Comey, New York AG James, https://www.reuters.com/world/us-judge-tosses-case-against-ex-fbi-chief-comey-rebuking-trump-prosecutor-2025-11-24/?utm_medium=Social&utm_social_handle_id=114050161948682&utm_social_post_id=596317791&utm_source=Facebook&fbclid=IwdGRjcAORfk5leHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEeqfTBaRDfcg9hpP5u_83I8jOry9FGiFE2jffMzz38lBUOXg4K5iZO3HhKrYs_aem_aIQPc-7W81N2vh9Ct_hsfA&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook
[2] Judge Dismisses James Comey Case, Finding Trump Prosecutor Was Unlawfully Appointed, https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/24/nyregion/james-comey-case-dismissed.html
[3] Federal Judge Kills Trump’s Revenge Case Against James Comey, https://newrepublic.com/post/203602/federal-judge-kills-trump-revenge-case-james-comey
[4] Trump admin reacts after James Comey, Letitia James Cases dismissed, https://www.newsweek.com/letitia-james-comey-case-dismissed-update-donald-trump-11100936?utm_source=reddit&utm_campaign=reddit_influencers

1.3. Judiciary Checks Executive Power

Beyond the Comey-James dismissal, federal courts are actively pushing back on the administration’s agenda. In what was described as a “landmark decision,” federal judges condemned Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for systemic falsehoods, with a 233-page ruling reportedly dedicated to “calling out DHS, ICE, CBP, [and] Border Patrol for their lies” [1, 2]. In another instance, a federal court rejected a Trump Justice Department effort to gain access to the private medical records of transgender children [3]. At the Supreme Court, the administration’s legal challenge to end birthright citizenship remains pending “for now” [4].

References:
[1] In landmark decision federal judges condemn ICE, https://peoplesworld.org/article/in-landmark-decision-federal-judges-condemn-ice/
[2] Federal Judge Spends Most Of 233 Pages Calling Out DHS, ICE, CBP, Border Patrol For Their Lies, https://www.techdirt.com/2025/11/24/federal-judge-spends-most-of-233-pages-calling-out-dhs-ice-cbp-border-patrol-for-their-lies/
[3] Federal court rejects Trump Justice Department’s effort to access trans kids’ medical records, https://www.advocate.com/news/philadelphia-trans-patient-subpoena-quashed
[4] Supreme Court does not act on Trump’s attempt to end birthright citizenship – for now, https://www.scotusblog.com/2025/11/supreme-court-does-not-act-on-trumps-attempt-to-end-birthright-citizenship-for-now/

2. The Presidency: Actions, Policy, and Conduct

2.1. Aggressive New Foreign Policy Directives

The administration has issued a series of directives that are significantly altering U.S. foreign policy.

• Terrorist Designations: President Trump signed an executive order to begin the process of designating “chapters of the Muslim Brotherhood as foreign terrorist organization[s]” [1]. Separately, the White House is moving to formally designate Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro and the “Maduro-tied Cartel de los Soles” as a foreign terrorist organization [2]. The aggressive posture toward Venezuela has reportedly troubled European allies, prompting them to limit intelligence sharing with the U.S. [3].
• Human Rights Redefined: The administration has ordered U.S. embassies to redefine their human rights monitoring. A report claims diplomats have been instructed to ignore issues like torture and instead focus on “trans health care and abortion as violations,” based on a new framework of God-given rights that reportedly excludes LGBTQ+ rights [4].
• U.S.-China Relations: A major geopolitical signal emerged from Beijing, where Chinese President Xi Jinping reportedly told President Trump that the “return” of Taiwan is a key component of the “post-war order,” according to a state-run media report [5].

References:
[1] Trump signs executive order pledging to designate chapters of Muslim Brotherhood as terrorist orgs, https://jewishinsider.com/2025/11/trump-signs-executive-order-pledging-to-designate-chapters-of-muslim-brotherhood-as-terrorist-orgs/
[2] Trump administration formally designates Venezuela’s Maduro as member of a foreign terrorist organization, https://www.cnn.com/2025/11/24/politics/venezuela-terrorist-designation-maduro
[3] Troubled by US Venezuela operation, Europeans limit intel sharing, https://www.euractiv.com/news/troubled-by-us-venezuela-operation-europeans-limit-intel-sharing/
[4] Trump admin to monitor human rights “given to us by God” which don’t include LGBTQ+ rights. Orders to embassies told them to ignore human rights issues like torture and instead focus on trans health care and abortion as violations., https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2025/11/admin-to-monitor-human-rights-given-to-us-by-god-which-dont-include-lgbtq-rights/
[5] China’s Xi tells Trump Taiwan’s ‘return’ key to post-war order, Xinhua reports, https://www.reuters.com/world/china/chinas-xi-holds-phone-call-with-trump-xinhua-reports-2025-11-24/

2.2. “Fractured” U.S. Policy on Ukraine

U.S. policy toward the war in Ukraine appears increasingly divided. President Trump’s “28-point plan for Ukraine” reportedly “shocked the world,” with critics labeling it a “pathetic ‘peace’ plan” [1, 2]. Subsequent reports indicate that Ukraine is now proposing “significant changes” to this U.S. plan [3]. This occurs as Secretary of State Marco Rubio is reportedly clashing with other senators over the “Peace Proposal,” leading Kyiv-based media to conclude that U.S. policy on the conflict has become “fractured” [4].

References:
[1] How Trump’s 28-point plan for Ukraine shocked the world, https://www.axios.com/2025/11/24/trump-ukraine-plan-28-points-back-story
[2] Trump’s pathetic ‘peace’ plan leaves Europe on the brink of defeat, https://inews.co.uk/opinion/trumps-pathetic-peace-plan-leaves-europe-on-the-brink-of-defeat-4058517
[3] Ukraine makes significant changes to US ‘peace plan’, sources say, https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/nov/24/zelenskyy-trump-meeting-revised-us-peace-plan-ukraine-russia
[4] Russian ‘Wish List’: Rubio, Senators Duel Over ‘Peace Proposal’ as US Policy Fractures, https://www.kyivpost.com/post/64792

2.3. Immigration Crackdown Reshapes Communities

The administration’s immigration policies are creating significant upheaval. An ongoing immigration crackdown is reportedly “quietly reshaping where immigrants live in America” [1], has left nearly 200,000 Ukrainians in the U.S. in “legal limbo” [2], and has made it harder for immigrant victims of domestic violence to escape abusers [3]. The President has also announced plans to cancel Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Somalian refugees in Minnesota [4]. In a new record, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has sent 600 immigrant children to federal detention shelters this year [5].

References:
[1] ‘We need to get out of here’: Trump’s immigration crackdown is quietly reshaping where immigrants live in America, https://www.npr.org/2025/11/13/nx-s1-5592335/we-need-to-get-out-of-here-trumps-immigration-crackdown-is-quietly-reshaping-where-immigrants-live-in-america
[2] Nearly 200,000 Ukrainians in US thrown into legal limbo by Trump immigration crackdown, https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/nearly-200000-ukrainians-us-thrown-into-legal-limbo-by-trump-immigration-2025-11-23/
[3] How ICE Is Making It Harder for Immigrants to Escape Domestic Violence, https://www.themarshallproject.org/2025/11/22/women-police-ice-domestic-violence?utm_source=reddit&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=tmp-reddit
[4] Trump wants to cancel TPS protection for Minnesota’s Somalian refugees, http://salon.com/2025/11/22/trump-wants-to-cancel-tps-protection-for-minnesotas-somalian-refugees
[5] ICE Sent 600 Immigrant Kids to Detention in Federal Shelters This Year. It’s a New Record., https://www.propublica.org/article/ice-detentions-immigrant-kids-family-separations?utm_source=sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=majorinvestigations&utm_content=feature

2.4. Legacy of The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)

The now-defunct Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) continues to be a subject of contentious debate. While some question what savings the agency achieved, other reports suggest the “Damage It Did ‘Will be Felt for a Long Time’” [1]. One account claims the agency’s “brutal cuts” “cut muscle, not fat,” forcing the government to rehire 26,000 experts [2]. A more extreme and unsourced claim from one media outlet alleges DOGE’s legacy includes “300,000 fired federal workers, 600,000 USAID deaths, and more” [3].

References:
[1] DOGE ‘Doesn’t Exist’ Anymore, But the Damage It Did ‘Will Be Felt for a Long Time’, https://www.commondreams.org/news/doge-doesn-t-exist
[2] DOGE “cut muscle, not fat”; 26K experts rehired after brutal cuts, https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2025/11/doge-doesnt-exist-anymore-but-expert-says-its-still-not-dead/
[3] DOGE is gone, leaving behind 300,000 fired federal workers, 600,000 USAID deaths, and more, https://www.advocate.com/politics/doge-lgbtq-impact-elon-musk

3. Congress and The Political Landscape

3.1. “Mass Exodus” Feared as House GOP Morale Plummets

The House Republican conference is facing a severe internal crisis. Following the resignation of Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, fellow House Republicans have warned that more “explosive” resignations are forthcoming, with one representative stating that morale has “never been lower” and that a “mass exodus” is imminent [1]. The resignations are being attributed in part to pressure from President Trump [2], who has labeled Rep. Greene and other dissenting Republicans as “lowlifes” even as he claimed the party “has ’never been so united’” [3].

References:
[1] GOP Rep. warns mass exodus of House Republicans is imminent: “Morale has never been lower”, https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2025/11/gop-rep-warns-mass-exodus-of-house-republicans-is-imminent-morale-has-never-been-lower/
[2] House Republican Warns More “Explosive” Resignations Coming After MTG | Marjorie Taylor Greene won’t be the last Republican resignation before the midterms—and it’s all thanks to Trump., https://newrepublic.com/post/203596/house-republican-more-explosive-resignations-coming-marjorie-taylor-greene
[3] Trump claims GOP has ’never been so united,’ calls Greene and other Republicans ’lowlifes’, https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-claims-gop-has-never-been-so-united-calls-greene-other-republicans-lowlifes

3.2. Intra-Party Conflicts and Shifting Alliances

Beyond the House turmoil, other fissures are appearing in the Republican coalition. A “surprising issue driving a wedge between Trump and his MAGA base” is the President’s effort to block states from regulating artificial intelligence [1]. In a notable political crossover, President Trump held a congenial meeting with New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, which reportedly “Scrambled the MAGA-Sphere” [2]. Days later, Mamdani publicly reiterated his belief that President Trump is a “fascist” [3]. In a separate development, former Senator Kyrsten Sinema is reportedly “Ready for Her MAHA Turn,” signaling a potential political realignment [4].

References:
[1] The surprising issue driving a wedge between Trump and his MAGA base | President Donald Trump’s attempt to block states from regulating AI sparked pushback from Republicans concerned the tech will displace workers and harm children., https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2025/11/23/trump-maga-division-tech-ai/
[2] Mamdani’s Meeting With Trump Scrambled the MAGA-Sphere, https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/23/style/mamdani-trump-reactions-fuentes-bannon.html
[3] Days after their friendly meeting, Mamdani says he still thinks Trump is a fascist, https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/days-after-friendly-meeting-mamdani-thinks-trump-fascist/story?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=dhfacebook&utm_content=null&id=127807736
[4] Kyrsten Sinema Is Ready for Her MAHA Turn, https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2025/11/23/kyrsten-sinema-maha-psychedelic-ibogaine-interview-00664454

4. Economic and Domestic Affairs

4.1. Economy, Inflation, and Public Perception

A significant credibility gap marks the administration’s economic messaging. While President Trump “tout[s] cheap groceries,” a “scathing” poll shows that very “Little Americans Are Buying Trump’s Claims About Prices” [1]. A separate poll also delivered “brutal” new numbers for the president on his administration’s handling of inflation and the economy [2]. This follows a separate new poll showing that President Trump’s support among Latino voters is “slipping” after gains in 2024 [3]. Amid these challenges, the White House has canceled the release of what one outlet calls a “crucial economic report” [4].

References:
[1] Scathing Poll Shows How Little Americans Are Buying Trump’s Claims About Prices, https://www.thedailybeast.com/scathing-poll-shows-how-little-americans-are-buying-trumps-claims-about-prices/
[2] Donald Trump gets brutal new poll on inflation, economy, https://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-new-poll-inflation-economy-11098375
[3] New poll shows Latino support for Trump is slipping after gains in 2024, https://www.npr.org/2025/11/24/nx-s1-5619170/trump-latinos-poll-immigration-economy-pew
[4] Trump Cancels Release of Crucial Economic Report to Hide His Failures | Donald Trump has now blocked three economic data reports., https://newrepublic.com/post/203619/donald-trump-cancels-release-gdp-economic-report

4.2. Flux in Healthcare and Education Policy

The administration is pursuing major changes in social policy but is meeting resistance. A plan to propose a two-year extension of Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies was put “on hold after GOP pushback” [1]. Separately, the administration has drawn “outrage” for a bill that would reclassify nursing as not a “professional degree” for student funding purposes, a move nursing organizations warn “threatens the very foundation of patient care” [2]. This comes amid a broader effort to “dismantle” the Department of Education [3] and reports detailing a “crisis” at VA hospitals due to funding cuts [4].

References:
[1] Trump plan for Obamacare subsidies on hold after GOP pushback: report, https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2025/11/24/trump-obamacare-aca-subsidies-proposal/87446544007/
[2] Outrage over Trump’s bill reclassifying nursing as not a ‘professional degree’ for college students. Nursing organizations warn limiting access to student funding ‘threatens the very foundation of patient care’, https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-nursing-professional-degree-bill-linda-mcmahon-b2870983.html
[3] Trump Is Dismantling the Education Department. What’s at Stake., https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-11-24/trump-s-push-to-slash-the-education-department-explained
[4] Trump Cuts Leave VA Hospital Nurses and Veteran Patients in a Crisis Already burdened by years of funding cuts and understaffing, registered nurses who work at Veterans Health Administration facilities across the country are facing a crisis., https://inthesetimes.com/article/trump-cuts-va-hospital-nurses-and-veteran-patients-healthcare-working-people-podcast

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