November 28, 2025
Donald Trump
Peter Baker - Trump and his administration have targeted at
least 470 people, organizations and institutions for retribution since
he took office, according to a Reuters tally – an average of more than
one a day.
Meanwhile. ..
Music may ease surgical pain and accelerate recovery, researchers in India found (read more)
Child safety organization warns against giving AI toys to kids.
NPR - The nonprofit children's safety organization Fairplay is urging
gift-givers to refrain from purchasing AI toys for kids this holiday
season. In an advisory, Fairplay and other child and consumer advocacy
groups highlight the potential dangers of toys such as interactive dolls
and children's robots designed to mimic human behavior and engage with
kids as if they are friends. The advisory points out that these toys exploit children's trust and can disrupt human relationships, among other negative effects.
Polls
Axios - Nearly two-thirds of registered voters believe a college degree isn't worth the cost — a stunning shift in sentiment from just one decade ago, according to an NBC News poll out this morning.
The eye-popping shift "comes against the backdrop of several major trends shaping the job market and the education world, from exploding college tuition prices to rapid changes in the modern economy" — namely, AI.
63% agreed that it's "not worth the cost because people often graduate without specific job skills and with a large amount of debt to pay off."
Just 33% agreed that a four-year college degree is "worth the cost because people have a better chance to get a good job and earn more money over their lifetime." In 2013, 53% in a CNBC poll said a degree was worth it. 40% said it wasn't. More
Immigration
Axios - President Trump said late Thursday he "will permanently pause migration from all Third World Countries to allow the U.S. system to fully recover."
The big picture: Trump has stepped up his hardline immigration crackdown since authorities identified an Afghan national as the suspect in Wednesday's deadly shooting attack on National Guard members.
Spc. Sarah Beckstrom, 20, died from her injuries Thursday and fellow West Virginia National Guard member Air Force Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, 24, is "fighting for his life," Trump said.
State of play: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services suspended all immigration applications from Afghan nationals with immediate effect on Wednesday night.
Bloomberg - Donald Trump called for “reverse migration” in the US as he outlined a further crackdown on immigration following the shooting of two National Guard members in Washington. Hours after announcing that one of the soldiers had died from her injuries, the president proposed measures such as permanently pausing admissions from “third world” countries and revoking citizenship for some naturalized migrants.
He also increased his hostility toward South Africa, saying he won’t invite the country to next year’s Group of 20 summit, which the president will be hosting at his private golf course in Miami. It may be a breach of protocol for a leader to decide which of the bloc’s members can attend the summit—let alone to host the event at their own hotel—but Trump has demonstrated he cares little for convention or the multilateral order.
November 27, 2025
Meanwhile....
Brian Allen - CNN just confirmed the [National Guard] shooter applied for asylum in December 2024 and was approved in April of this year under Trump.
Heavy snow and high winds in many states
Newsweek - Residents across many states in the U.S. have been given winter storm warnings, with some areas expected to get up to 24 inches of snow and blizzard-like conditions from Thursday through Sunday, according to the National Weather Service (NWS).
Snow and blustery conditions are likely to disrupt travel plans over Thanksgiving and into the weekend, with the NWS issuing warnings that visibility levels may fall to below a quarter of a mile in some affected areas, causing “treacherous” travel and “potentially life-threatening” conditions.”
What To Know
Several states across the U.S. are likely to experience high levels of accumulated snowfall and high winds, including Montana, Michigan, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Alaska, Missouri, Iowa, Wisconsin, South Dakota, and Illinois.
Snow and blustery conditions are likely to disrupt travel plans over Thanksgiving and into the weekend, with the NWS issuing warnings that visibility levels may fall to below a quarter of a mile in some affected areas, causing “treacherous” travel and “potentially life-threatening” conditions.”
What To Know
Several states across the U.S. are likely to experience high levels of accumulated snowfall and high winds, including Montana, Michigan, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Alaska, Missouri, Iowa, Wisconsin, South Dakota, and Illinois.
Trump regime puts restrictions on housing for immigrants
Newsweek - The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has updated its interpretation of immigration verification requirements on Wednesday, introducing changes that immigrants advocates say “effectively deny” immigrants lawfully present in the country access to housing programs.
For Protecting Immigrant Families (PIF) Coalition, which unites more than 800 organizations nationwide fighting for the rights of immigrants in the U.S., the consequences of the HUD’s redetermination are likely to extend “well beyond immigrants excluded under the notice,” the group said in a statement shared with Newsweek.
For Protecting Immigrant Families (PIF) Coalition, which unites more than 800 organizations nationwide fighting for the rights of immigrants in the U.S., the consequences of the HUD’s redetermination are likely to extend “well beyond immigrants excluded under the notice,” the group said in a statement shared with Newsweek.
UPS, FedEx’s Cargo Planes To Be Grounded Over Christmas
Newsweek - United Parcel Service's (UPS) and FedEx's fleet of MD-11 cargo aircraft will likely remain grounded for months rather than weeks as had initially been expected, according to an internal memo obtained by Newsweek, potentially increasing pressure on shipping over the Christmas holiday.
The vast grounding of the Boeing-made planes follows the November 4 crash of Flight 2976 in Louisville, Kentucky, which killed 14 people, including all three crew members, and injured at least 23 others.
In the new memo, UPS Airlines president Bill Moore told employees on Wednesday that Boeing’s “ongoing evaluation shows that inspections and potential repairs will be more extensive than initially expected,” and return to service “will take several months instead of weeks.”
The vast grounding of the Boeing-made planes follows the November 4 crash of Flight 2976 in Louisville, Kentucky, which killed 14 people, including all three crew members, and injured at least 23 others.
In the new memo, UPS Airlines president Bill Moore told employees on Wednesday that Boeing’s “ongoing evaluation shows that inspections and potential repairs will be more extensive than initially expected,” and return to service “will take several months instead of weeks.”
Polls
Newsweek - The likelihood that Vice President JD Vance will become the Republican Party's nominee for the 2028 presidential election is declining, according to polls. According to polling by McLaughlin & Associates, Vance's net lead over President Donald Trump's son, Donald Trump Jr.—in a hypothetical contest between them and other Republican figures—has decreased in recent months.....
.According to the polling, in August Vance had a 20-point lead over Trump Jr., who is in second place, with 36 percent of the vote share to Trump Jr.'s 16 percent. This lead actually increased to 28 points in September.
However, in October, his lead decreased and while Vance still enjoyed 38 percent of the vote share, Trump Jr.'s 20 percent of the share meant that just a few weeks ago Vance had a narrower 18-point lead. And in November, this lead decreased again to 10 points, with Vance on 34 percent and Trump Jr. on 24 percent.
.According to the polling, in August Vance had a 20-point lead over Trump Jr., who is in second place, with 36 percent of the vote share to Trump Jr.'s 16 percent. This lead actually increased to 28 points in September.
However, in October, his lead decreased and while Vance still enjoyed 38 percent of the vote share, Trump Jr.'s 20 percent of the share meant that just a few weeks ago Vance had a narrower 18-point lead. And in November, this lead decreased again to 10 points, with Vance on 34 percent and Trump Jr. on 24 percent.
Trump's golf tab
New Republic - Donald Trump has already spent $70 million of taxpayer money on golfing in less than a year as president. If this pace keeps up, he will spend $300 million playing golf by the time his second term ends.
20 states sue the Trump administration over cuts to homeless permanent housing funding
Politico - A coalition of 19 attorneys general and two governors on Tuesday sued the Trump administration over policy changes that would place new conditions on and significantly cut funding for permanent housing for people experiencing homelessness. The coalition, led by New York Attorney General Letitia James, is seeking a court order blocking the “administration’s cuts and illegal new conditions” on the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Continuum of Care program funding.
How healthy are potatoes?
NY Times - Sweet potatoes tend to get most of the nutritional glory, but regular potatoes (russets, fingerlings, red and Yukon Golds) deserve another look. The tubers help to support your immune system, aid in various bodily functions and keep you energized.
“Potatoes often get a bad reputation” because they’re commonly eaten in the form of French fries or potato chips, said Tal Kleiner, a clinical nutrition manager at NYU Langone Health. But when they’re prepared in a healthy way, potatoes are an “amazing, nutrient-dense” food, she added.
Potatoes are high in carbohydrates (a medium-size peeled russet potato has about 35 grams), but that doesn’t make them “inherently bad,” explained Tara Schmidt, a dietitian and instructor of nutrition at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. — it just means they may not be considered an “unlimited” food.
Potatoes are complex carbs that take longer for the body to break down and digest than simple carbs, so they provide a steadier source of energy, which helps you feel fueled and fuller for longer, Ms. Kleiner said.
But certain varieties do have a high glycemic index, meaning they can rapidly spike blood sugar, Ms. Kleiner said. Diets rich in foods with a high G.I. have been linked to an increased risk of diabetes and heart disease. Waxy potatoes, like fingerlings and red potatoes, tend to have a lower G.I. than russet or Idaho potatoes, she explained, and boiled and roasted potatoes have a lower G.I. than fried or mashed ones.
To help manage blood sugar spikes and slow digestion, Ms. Schmidt suggested “meal balancing” by pairing potatoes with lean protein, healthy fats and nonstarchy vegetables.
“Potatoes often get a bad reputation” because they’re commonly eaten in the form of French fries or potato chips, said Tal Kleiner, a clinical nutrition manager at NYU Langone Health. But when they’re prepared in a healthy way, potatoes are an “amazing, nutrient-dense” food, she added.
Potatoes are high in carbohydrates (a medium-size peeled russet potato has about 35 grams), but that doesn’t make them “inherently bad,” explained Tara Schmidt, a dietitian and instructor of nutrition at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. — it just means they may not be considered an “unlimited” food.
Potatoes are complex carbs that take longer for the body to break down and digest than simple carbs, so they provide a steadier source of energy, which helps you feel fueled and fuller for longer, Ms. Kleiner said.
But certain varieties do have a high glycemic index, meaning they can rapidly spike blood sugar, Ms. Kleiner said. Diets rich in foods with a high G.I. have been linked to an increased risk of diabetes and heart disease. Waxy potatoes, like fingerlings and red potatoes, tend to have a lower G.I. than russet or Idaho potatoes, she explained, and boiled and roasted potatoes have a lower G.I. than fried or mashed ones.
To help manage blood sugar spikes and slow digestion, Ms. Schmidt suggested “meal balancing” by pairing potatoes with lean protein, healthy fats and nonstarchy vegetables.
North Carolina congressional map may add one Republican to House
NY Times - A panel of three federal judges in North Carolina on Wednesday allowed the state’s newly redrawn congressional map to go into effect for the 2026 midterm elections, a victory for the Trump administration and Republican efforts to retain control of the U.S. House next year.
The judges, at the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina, unanimously sided with the state’s Republican leaders, whose lawyers had argued that their motivations to draw a new map were partisan — not because of race or political retaliation, as the plaintiffs had claimed. That distinction was important because the U.S. Supreme Court effectively blessed partisan gerrymandering in a 2019 ruling.
The new North Carolina map is very likely to give Republicans an extra House seat. It was redrawn in October by the state’s Republican-controlled legislature, after Texas kicked off a redistricting effort over the summer at President Trump’s behest to help Republicans. Since then, Ohio and Missouri have also passed new maps to help the party.
The judges, at the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina, unanimously sided with the state’s Republican leaders, whose lawyers had argued that their motivations to draw a new map were partisan — not because of race or political retaliation, as the plaintiffs had claimed. That distinction was important because the U.S. Supreme Court effectively blessed partisan gerrymandering in a 2019 ruling.
The new North Carolina map is very likely to give Republicans an extra House seat. It was redrawn in October by the state’s Republican-controlled legislature, after Texas kicked off a redistricting effort over the summer at President Trump’s behest to help Republicans. Since then, Ohio and Missouri have also passed new maps to help the party.
A native American Thanksgiving
|
NIce News - By
the time the sun has risen over San Francisco’s Alcatraz Island today,
Native Americans and visitors from all over the world will have already gathered there in droves. The Indigenous Peoples Thanksgiving Sunrise Gathering, held by the International Indian Treaty Council, celebrates the resilience of Native Americans and gives thanks for the survival of their way of life.
The annual gathering, held since 1979, carries several layers of meaning,
beginning with the fact that Alcatraz is within the traditional
Ramaytush Ohlone territory. During the event, the council shares the “true history” of the first Thanksgiving:
According to the Wampanoag Tribe of Massachusetts, that inaugural 1637
holiday was declared by colonizers to give thanks for the massacre of
hundreds of Pequot Native Americans.
National Guard shooter worked for CIA
NY Times - The Afghan man accused of shooting two members of the National Guard in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday had worked with C.I.A.-supported military units in Afghanistan, the agency said. The suspect worked for multiple U.S. government agencies in Afghanistan, including a C.I.A.-backed unit in the southern province of Kandahar, a stronghold of the Taliban insurgency during the two-decade war there, the C.I.A. said. Officials identified the suspect as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, 29.
November 26, 2025
American Psychological Association warns against over use of Tik Tok and Instagram
Independent UK - Excessive usage of TikTok and Instagram Reels is damaging cognitive performance, the American Psychological Association has said in a recent study.
Data from 98,299 participants across 71 studies found that the more short-form content a person watches, the poorer cognitive performances they had in terms of attention and inhibitory control - meaning the more complex they found it to focus.
Researchers found that “repeated exposure to highly stimulating, fast-paced content may contribute to habituation, in which users become desensitized to slower, more effortful cognitive tasks such as reading, problem solving, or deep learning.” In short, researchers said it can contribute to brain rot.
Data from 98,299 participants across 71 studies found that the more short-form content a person watches, the poorer cognitive performances they had in terms of attention and inhibitory control - meaning the more complex they found it to focus.
Researchers found that “repeated exposure to highly stimulating, fast-paced content may contribute to habituation, in which users become desensitized to slower, more effortful cognitive tasks such as reading, problem solving, or deep learning.” In short, researchers said it can contribute to brain rot.
Donald Trump
The Guardian - Donald Trump on Sunday appeared to endorse the discredited conspiracy theory that Venezuela’s leadership controls electronic voting software worldwide and caused his 2020 election defeat to Joe Biden.
White House officials have previously said that Trump’s increasingly bellicose policy toward Venezuela is driven by concerns about migration and the drug trade. But the president’s new comment, made on Truth Social, hints that his hostility to Venezuela may also be based on an outlandish, implausible theory ruled to be false by a judge in 2023.
Fox News paid $787m in 2023 to Dominion Voting to settle a lawsuit that was based in part on identical claims about Venezuela’s supposed role in the 2020 election.
Trump wants a bigger White House ballroom. His architect disagrees.
People - Donald Trump called a White House correspondent for The New York Times "ugly, both inside and out" in a lengthy social media post on Wednesday, Nov. 26. Trump, 79, targeted reporter Katie Rogers after the outlet published a story about how his age has appeared to impact his ability to travel during his second term in office. The remarks come less than two weeks after Trump called Bloomberg correspondent Catherine Lucey "Piggy" while aboard Air Force One on Nov. 14.
Trump has argued at least 28 times that a national TV network should lose its licence
The Guardian - Trump has suggested at least 28 times over the last eight years that a television network should lose its license, according to analysis by the Guardian. But while the FCC does not actually license national networks, it does license the local television stations they own or strike affiliate deals with.
Anna M Gomez, the lone Democrat on the FCC, said after a commission meeting last week that Trump’s threats are hollow. “Aside from the ability to make things difficult for those we retaliate, this FCC is powerless to truly retaliate against a news network,” she said, noting that no local station licenses are up for renewal “any time soon.”
Anna M Gomez, the lone Democrat on the FCC, said after a commission meeting last week that Trump’s threats are hollow. “Aside from the ability to make things difficult for those we retaliate, this FCC is powerless to truly retaliate against a news network,” she said, noting that no local station licenses are up for renewal “any time soon.”
Polls
Newsweek - President Donald Trump's approval rating is negative with every pollster for the first time.As of Wednesday morning, Trump currently has an average disapproval rating of 55 percent, while 41 percent approve, according to The New York Times' polling aggregator. Polls, including Morning Consult, Ipsos, HarrisX, Quinnipiac, YouGov, and Pew Research, all show more Americans disapprove than approve of Trump's performance or favorability.
Independent, UK - Throughout the past 10 months, Trump’s deportation operation has been on full display as chaotic raids take place in Los Angeles, Chicago and most recently, Charlotte, North Carolina.
It seems Americans are not liking what they are seeing, as a new Daily Mail/JL Partners poll found that ICE has just a 34 percent approval rating. This is a four percentage point drop since last month
Trump regime allowing use of pesticides on foods
News Hour - The EPA is starting to allow the use of pesticides
containing PFAS on food. The move is part of an effort to roll back the
regulation of PFAS — also known as "forever chemicals" because they
don't break down easily in the environment.
The danger of 50 year mortgages
Patriotwise - While the allure of lower monthly payments is significant, the long-term implications of a 50-year mortgage are concerning. Borrowers could find themselves owing more than their homes are worth, a situation known as being “underwater.” This is particularly risky in markets where home prices stagnate or fall. After a decade, borrowers may have only paid off 4% of the principal, compared to 46% on a traditional 30-year mortgage. This slow equity growth exposes borrowers to excessive interest costs, potentially paying up to 225% of the home’s price over the loan’s lifetime. More
Public links Tesla to GOP
Heather Cox Richardson - Last week, a poll conducted for Global EV Alliance, made up of electric vehicle driver associations around the world, found that 52% of Americans would avoid buying a Tesla for political reasons.
Tesla chief executive officer Elon Musk pumped more than $290 million into electing President Donald J. Trump and supporting the Republicans in 2024. After taking office, Trump named Musk to head the “Department of Government Efficiency,” a group that slashed through government programs and fired civil servants.
In response, protesters organized “Tesla Takedowns,” gathering at Tesla dealerships to urge people not to buy the vehicles. The protests spread internationally. In March, Trump advertised Teslas on the South Lawn of the White House to try to help slumping sales, to no avail.
Tesla chief executive officer Elon Musk pumped more than $290 million into electing President Donald J. Trump and supporting the Republicans in 2024. After taking office, Trump named Musk to head the “Department of Government Efficiency,” a group that slashed through government programs and fired civil servants.
In response, protesters organized “Tesla Takedowns,” gathering at Tesla dealerships to urge people not to buy the vehicles. The protests spread internationally. In March, Trump advertised Teslas on the South Lawn of the White House to try to help slumping sales, to no avail.
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