A Look to the 2026 Midterms, November 2025  —  Democrats with Double-Digit Lead on 2026 Generic Ballot  —  The Democrats currently have a 14-point lead against the Republicans among registered voters nationally on the 2026 generic congressional ballot question.  This has changed considerably.

This Is All John Roberts' Fault  —  Imagine: You are at a baseball game, but something is off.  When the blue team is at bat, the umpire calls every pitch a strike.  But when the red team is up, the umpire won't call a single one.  When a red batter hits the ball into a blue player's glove …

Trump Was Working With Putin The Entire Time  —  Phillips's Newsletter is a reader-supported publication.  To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.  —  Well, the story is out and the fait accompli to screw Ukraine (and Europe) will soon be delivered to Kyiv.

The Charlie Kirk purge: How 600 Americans were punished in a pro-Trump crackdown  —  Two months after Charlie Kirk's assassination, a government-backed campaign has led to firings, suspensions, investigations and other action against more than 600 people.  Republican officials have endorsed …

“Quiet Piggy!”  —  Subscribe to Civil Discourse and become part of a community that believes we have the power to save democracy, and that we don't have to obey a president who wants us to give up our rights so he can be a king.  Being informed is our superpower.

Appeals court panel mulls $1M penalty for Trump in lawsuit against Hillary Clinton … “I can read this complaint,” said Pryor, a George W. Bush appointee.  “It seems a classic shotgun complaint.  It incorporates, by reference, hundreds of paragraphs into succeeding counts.”

Trump's Tariffs Sent Trade Plummeting in August  —  The steep tariffs President Trump issued in August led to a significant contraction in imports and the trade deficit, newly released data shows.  —  ‘Really Good Friends’: Trump Lauds Saudi Leader During Lavish Visit

Republican to force vote on ousting GOP Rep. Cory Mills from committees  —  Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) plans to force a vote Wednesday censuring Rep. Cory Mills (R-Fla.) and removing him from several committees, according to sources familiar with the matter. … Mace wants to do it for real this time.

Trump attacks ABC reporter after question about killing of Saudi journalist Khashoggi  —  President Donald Trump denounced ABC News' Mary Bruce as a “terrible reporter” Tuesday and threatened the network's license to broadcast after she asked him three sharp questions at the White House.

“Ticking Time Bomb”: A Pregnant Mother Kept Getting Sicker.  She Died After She Couldn't Get an Abortion in Texas.  —  ProPublica has found multiple cases of women with underlying health conditions who died when they couldn't access abortions.  Tierra Walker, a 37-year-old mother …

The White House Gold Rush Is On  —  Here is a small selection of stories concerning either the president, a member of his family or a member of his cabinet.  —  This week, President Trump welcomed Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia with a lavish reception at the White House.

The AI Bubble Is Bigger Than You Think  —  It's not just OpenAI that looks overhyped.  There's a whole mountain of sketchy financial engineering underneath.  — Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email  —  One thing I've been tracking this year is the areas …

Trump picks new CFPB director amid efforts to close agency … His ability to serve as the acting CFPB head was set to expire in December under the Vacancies Act, which typically limits such acting appointments to 210 days but extends that period if the president nominates another person for the job.

State Dept's Foreign Terrorist Designations Undermine Claims of “Antifa” Threat  —  On Nov. 13, the State Department added four European entities to the U.S. government's list of Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGTs), claiming that they are affiliated with “Antifa.”

Gov. Greg Abbott Was Ordered to Release Some of His Emails With Elon Musk.  Most Are Blacked Out.  —  Months after fighting to keep secret emails between Gov. Greg Abbott and Elon Musk, Texas officials released 1,400 pages of records.  But they reveal little about the two men's relationship or Musk's influence over state government.

Jordan refers former Jack Smith aide to Department of Justice  —  House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) referred a top aide to former special counsel Jack Smith to the Justice Department for criminal prosecution over obstruction of a congressional investigation.

Jessica Tisch Will Remain Police Commissioner Under Mamdani  —  Commissioner Tisch, the current head of the N.Y.P.D., said she had agreed to serve in Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani's administration.  —  Zohran Mamdani, the mayor-elect of New York City, said on Wednesday that Jessica Tisch …

ICE employee among 16 men arrested in Bloomington sex trafficking sting, police say  —  More than a dozen men have been arrested after trying to solicit a minor for sex in Bloomington, Minnesota, police say.  —  According to Bloomington Police Chief Booker Hodges, officers started the three-day sting on Nov. 5.

Tom Steyer enters California governor's race … Steyer's late entrance reflects a widespread sense that the contest remains wide open after two heavyweights, former Vice President Kamala Harris and Sen. Alex Padilla, opted not to run.  —  A subset of elected officials and political insiders …

Gustav Klimt portrait that spared its subject from Nazis breaks modern art record with $236M sale  —  A Gustav Klimt portrait painting that helped save the life of its Jewish subject during the Holocaust sold Tuesday for $236.4 million, a record for a modern art piece.