Nov 2026 briefs
The Washington File · Source updated: Nov 15, 2026 · 3:05 PM EST
The Federal Aviation Administration says its initial investigation traced the November 13 data flood to two possible locations: a radar site in Amarillo, Texas, and a radio-communications site in El Dorado, Arkansas, where contractor L3Harris had deployed a new router.
The Washington File · Source published: Nov 15, 2026 · 9:03 AM EST
Associated Press reported that a small but growing group of Republican National Committee members is backing co-chair KC Crosbie's bid to replace chairman Joe Gruters after Republicans lost control of Congress. The leadership vote is scheduled for the RNC's January winter meeting in Arizona.
Money & Influence · Source updated: Nov 14, 2026 · 5:00 AM EST
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has agreed to testify voluntarily before the Senate Banking Committee amid scrutiny of Megaspeed and Nvidia export controls. CBS reported a December 10 appearance based on a U.S. official; a Commerce spokesperson separately confirmed the voluntary acceptance to ABC News, which said the date was not yet clear. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said November 13 that Treasury, State, Defense and the U.S. Trade Representative had favored adding Megaspeed to the Entity List for months, while Commerce's Bureau of Industry and Security controlled the process. Those statements document an interagency dispute and planned testimony; they are not an issued subpoena, Entity List decision, export-control violation finding or criminal charge.
Courts & Power · Source published: Nov 13, 2026 · 8:58 PM EST
A federal judge permanently barred Justice Department and Homeland Security officials from formally or informally demanding or pressuring Facebook to suppress Kassandra Rosado's ICE Sightings - Chicagoland group or Apple to suppress Kreisau Group's Eyes Up app.
The Washington File · Source published: Nov 13, 2026 · 7:24 PM EST
The Trump administration finalized a rule that removes federal wage and benefit requirements added to Head Start in 2024. The text, signed by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., strikes paragraphs (e) and (f) of 45 CFR 1302.90.
The Washington File · Source published: Nov 13, 2026 · 5:48 PM EST
The Trump administration gave states an optional six-month transition before they must deny or end Medicaid coverage solely because certain adults fail to demonstrate compliance with a new work requirement.
Courts & Power · Source published: Nov 13, 2026 · 3:05 PM EST
The Supreme Court agreed November 13 to review the Trump administration's restrictions on asylum access at the southern border. Its order in Mullin v.
The Washington File · Source published: Nov 13, 2026 · 1:03 PM EST
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit ruled November 13 that the Trump administration could not impose the challenged highway-fund penalty on New York.
Courts & Power · Source updated: Nov 13, 2026 · 10:57 AM EST
President Donald Trump asked November 12 whether six Democratic lawmakers would be prosecuted over their 2025 video telling military and intelligence personnel not to obey unlawful orders.
The Washington File · Source updated: Nov 13, 2026 · 7:05 AM EST
A seven-page letter from Senators Elizabeth Warren and Richard Blumenthal and Representative Robert Garcia asks O'Rourke to identify donors she solicited, explain her White House role and compensation, and disclose whether contributions affected meetings, regulatory matters, tariffs or other government action.
The Washington File · Source updated: Nov 13, 2026 · 3:08 AM EST
On November 12, President Trump said he had asked Vice President JD Vance to focus his complete attention on alleged corruption and crime in Democratic-run cities and states, adding that the United States did not need a deal with Iran.
Money & Influence · Source published: Nov 12, 2026 · 1:18 PM EST
Prediction-market company Kalshi said it and Donald Trump Jr. mutually ended his paid advisory role after 1789 Capital, where Trump Jr. is a partner, significantly increased its investment in rival Polymarket.
The Washington File · Source updated: Nov 12, 2026 · 1:12 PM EST
President Donald Trump threatened to double tariffs on Mexico unless the Mexican government stops a migrant caravan traveling north from Tapachula near the Guatemala border.
The Washington File · Source updated: Nov 12, 2026 · 11:17 AM EST
U.S. envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on November 12 after two days of U.S.-mediated talks between Russian and Ukrainian delegations in Abu Dhabi, Associated Press reported.
The Washington File · Source updated: Nov 11, 2026 · 3:02 PM EST
Representative Jim Himes, who is expected to chair the House Intelligence Committee when Democrats take control in January, told Reuters that the committee plans to investigate the Trump administration's handling of U.S. intelligence agencies.
Courts & Power · Source updated: Nov 11, 2026 · 10:58 AM EST
A unanimous D.C. Circuit panel affirmed a permanent injunction preventing Trump administration officials from removing Voice of America director Michael Abramowitz without approval from the International Broadcasting Advisory Board.
The Washington File · Source updated: Nov 11, 2026 · 9:04 AM EST
Reuters reported November 11 that Vitol trader John Addison's political ties to Vice President JD Vance may have helped Vitol obtain a special U.S. license and a lucrative role marketing Venezuelan oil after the Trump administration's January operation.
Courts & Power · Source updated: Nov 11, 2026 · 7:04 AM EST
President Donald Trump withdrew U.S. District Judge Lee Philip Rudofsky's nomination to the Eighth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals and sent Arkansas Supreme Court Justice James Cody Hiland's nomination for the same seat to the Senate on November 10, the White House announced.
The Washington File · Source updated: Nov 10, 2026 · 6:58 PM EST
The House voted November 10 to refer Rep. Thomas Massie's Hegseth impeachment resolution to the Judiciary Committee, stopping the privileged floor effort from advancing to a vote on the eight articles.
The Washington File · Source published: Nov 10, 2026 · 6:03 AM EST
A Reuters/Ipsos poll completed November 9 found that 71% of U.S. adults wanted Congress to pass legislation ending the Iran war launched by President Donald Trump and Israel, Reuters reported November 10. The figure included 93% of Democrats and 51% of Republicans.
The Washington File · Source updated: Nov 10, 2026 · 1:02 AM EST
President Donald Trump said in a CBS 60 Minutes interview broadcast November 8 that his deportation policy may have been too tough and supported working out legal status for some long-term workers who have jobs and pay taxes.
The Washington File · Source updated: Nov 9, 2026 · 11:01 PM EST
President Donald Trump said November 9, after meeting Qatar's prime minister, that the Iran war was militarily 'effectively over' and that the United States was maintaining the status quo.
The Washington File · Source updated: Nov 8, 2026 · 6:30 PM EST
A U.S. deportation flight intended to carry Iranian nationals toward Iran through Georgia and Pakistan was canceled November 8 after at least eight people boarded in Mesa, Arizona, attorney Ali Rahnama told Associated Press.
The Washington File · Source updated: Nov 8, 2026 · 5:02 PM EST
A spokesperson for Susie Wiles denied Calley Means's allegations of industry influence on the Trump administration's health policy, Axios reported November 8. Attorney General Todd Blanche said on CNN he would not investigate on the basis of the podcast remarks.
The Washington File · Source published: Nov 8, 2026 · 3:01 PM EST
Rep. Robert Garcia, the House Oversight Committee's ranking Democrat and expected incoming chairman, said November 8 that Stephen Miller's central role in Trump administration policy merits oversight and investigation.
Courts & Power · Source published: Nov 7, 2026 · 4:09 PM EST
The Trump Justice Department filed to enter a years-old civil case accusing Planned Parenthood entities of improperly billing Texas and Louisiana Medicaid programs after the states sought to end their participation, Reuters reported November 7.
Courts & Power · Source published: Nov 7, 2026 · 11:04 AM EST
Secret Service officers arrested Ronny Yordrix Guanipa Chrinos in a vehicle parked on Constitution Avenue near the White House shortly before midnight November 5.
The Washington File · Source published: Nov 6, 2026 · 9:30 PM EST
President Donald Trump endorsed Republican National Committee chair Joe Gruters for another term, calling him a trusted partner and urging Republicans to support him.
The Washington File · Source published: Nov 6, 2026 · 12:58 PM EST
President Donald Trump announced that Stephen Miller, currently a White House deputy chief of staff and one of Trump's longest-serving advisers, will replace Susie Wiles as White House chief of staff starting Monday, November 9. Trump said Wiles will move to his political operation.
Money & Influence · Source published: Nov 5, 2026 · 9:23 PM EST
Trump-family-backed cryptocurrency venture World Liberty Financial announced a new program to buy its WLFI governance token on the open market. The company said an initial allocation may include income earned from reserves backing its USD1 stablecoin and other sources.
The Washington File · Source published: Nov 5, 2026 · 4:18 PM EST
President Donald Trump's November 5 proclamation invokes the Antiquities Act and establishes the Oval Office National Monument. The defined monument includes Oval Office Room 110, Outer Oval Office Rooms 106 and 108, and Cabinet Room 105.
Courts & Power · Source published: Nov 5, 2026 · 12:48 PM EST
Harmeet Dhillon stepped down as assistant attorney general leading the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division. Bloomberg Law reported the resignation and said Attorney General Todd Blanche confirmed in a public post that he had accepted it.
Courts & Power · Source published: Nov 5, 2026 · 12:01 AM EST
New York appeals judges questioned President Donald Trump's lawyers and Manhattan prosecutors about the legal theory supporting his 34-count falsifying-business-records conviction and evidence concerning White House conversations, Hope Hicks and Trump's first-term social-media posts, according to AP's updated report after the hearing.
Money & Influence · Source published: Nov 4, 2026 · 8:58 PM EST
Reuters estimates that outside investors in Trump Media & Technology Group collectively absorbed more than $2.2 billion in losses.
The Washington File · Source published: Nov 4, 2026 · 1:01 AM EST
The projected Democratic sweep changes the next Congress. Mike Johnson says he won’t seek another Republican leadership job, but he has not resigned his House seat.
The Washington File · Source published: Nov 3, 2026 · 10:56 PM EST
The Associated Press projected Democrat Annie Andrews defeated Republican interim Senator Darline Graham in South Carolina's U.S. Senate race, giving Democrats a second Republican-held pickup after North Carolina.
The Washington File · Source published: Nov 3, 2026 · 9:00 PM EST
The Associated Press projected former Democratic Governor Roy Cooper defeated Republican Michael Whatley in North Carolina's U.S. Senate race, flipping a seat held by retiring Republican Senator Thom Tillis.
The Washington File · Source published: Nov 3, 2026 · 7:03 PM EST
A 6-5 en banc Ninth Circuit reinstated a three-judge panel order staying a federal district court's temporary restraining order in Service Employees International Union v. Department of Justice, No. 26-7303.
The Washington File · Source published: Nov 3, 2026 · 5:01 PM EST
President Donald Trump said he and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had agreed months earlier that the United States would stop providing roughly $4 billion in annual assistance to Israel after the end of 2026.
Courts & Power · Source published: Nov 3, 2026 · 3:01 PM EST
U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan granted the League of Women Voters and Electronic Privacy Information Center a nationwide preliminary injunction in League of Women Voters v. Department of Homeland Security, No. 1:26-cv-03602.
Courts & Power · Source published: Nov 2, 2026 · 6:11 AM EST
Reuters reports that the Trump administration suspended a requirement that federal prosecutors consult the Justice Department's Public Integrity Section on election-corruption probes and told agents and prosecutors that unresolved disputes would be decided by Trump political appointees.
Courts & Power · Source published: Nov 2, 2026 · 3:13 AM EST
Chief Judge James Boasberg granted in part CHIRLA and Pedro Trujillo's motion for a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction in Trujillo v. U.S. Department of Homeland Security, No. 1:26-cv-03072.
The Washington File · Source published: Nov 1, 2026 · 6:04 AM EST
Reuters reports, citing one White House official and two people familiar with the work, that deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller, budget director Russell Vought and the White House Counsel's Office have spent months identifying actions President Donald Trump could pursue if Democrats take control of Congress.
The Pardon Desk · Source updated: Nov 1, 2026 · time not supplied
President Donald Trump said October 31 that it was unacceptable for his former lawyer and Justice Department adviser Alina Habba Mildon to secure a reported contract worth more than $50 million.