Key Updates
Trump Accuses Democrats of Sedition, Pentagon Investigates Senator Kelly
The fallout from that video we saw yesterday is escalating, just as you’d expect. To recap, a group of Democratic lawmakers with military backgrounds—including Senators Elissa Slotkin and Mark Kelly—released a video reminding service members of their duty to refuse "illegal orders." Today, the situation has moved from a political spat to a formal investigation.
The Pentagon, led by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, has launched an investigation into Senator Mark Kelly, a retired Navy Captain and astronaut. The core question is whether his participation in the video constitutes a violation of the Uniform Code of Military Justice, specifically related to conduct unbecoming an officer, given his status as a retired officer subject to recall. President Trump, never one to miss an opportunity, has doubled down on his accusations of "sedition," framing the video as a direct attempt to incite mutiny against his potential orders. He and Hegseth are referring to the group as the "Seditious Six."
Slotkin is defending the video, arguing it’s a necessary reminder of constitutional duty, not an incitement. This entire affair is a masterclass in political brinkmanship. The Democrats are trying to preemptively delegitimize any controversial orders Trump might issue, particularly concerning domestic use of the military. In response, the Trump administration is using the full weight of the executive branch—and the language of treason—to paint its political opponents as a threat to national security.
Analytical Take: This is a dangerous and significant escalation of civil-military tensions. The Democrats took a calculated risk, and the administration has called their bluff with an official investigation. The probe into Kelly is the key thing to watch. If it leads to a recall to active duty and a court-martial, it would be a political earthquake, setting a chilling precedent for any retired officer who criticizes a sitting president. More likely, it's a powerful political cudgel designed to intimidate and force the Democrats onto the defensive. The administration is signaling that the normal rules of political discourse are out the window, and loyalty to the Commander-in-Chief is paramount. This isn't just a D.C. drama; it's a live-fire stress test of the institutions meant to constrain executive power.
DOJ's Cases Against Comey and James Collapse on a Technicality
In a stunning legal setback for the Trump administration, a federal judge has tossed out the high-profile indictments against former Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James. The reason? Not a lack of evidence, but a fatal procedural flaw. Judge Cameron Currie ruled that the interim U.S. Attorney who secured the indictments, Lindsey Halligan, was unlawfully appointed by Attorney General Pam Bondi.
The ruling states Halligan's appointment violated federal law governing how such positions are filled, rendering the indictments she brought invalid. Comey was facing charges of lying to Congress, and James was indicted for bank fraud. The Justice Department is, predictably, vowing to appeal. However, they have a serious problem with the Comey case: the statute of limitations expired on September 30. This means that unless the appeal is successful, they likely can't re-indict him.
This is a major, unforced error. The administration's public campaign for these prosecutions, led by Trump himself, now looks like a politically motivated effort that couldn't even get the basic legal paperwork right. It hands Comey and James a clean victory and fuels narratives of incompetence or malicious prosecution within the .
Analytical Take: This is more than just egg on the 's face; it's a fundamental blow to the credibility of their most politically charged prosecutions. The appointment of Halligan was likely intended to ensure a loyalist was in place to pursue cases the administration prioritized. That strategy just backfired spectacularly. The focus will now shift to the appeal, but the legal ground looks shaky. For Trump's opponents, this is a gift. It validates their claims of a "weaponized" and suggests the pursuit of political enemies took precedence over legal due process. The second-order effect is that it may make it harder for the to pursue other sensitive cases, as their competence and motives are now squarely under the microscope.
US-Led Ukraine Peace Push Hits Friction with European Allies
The Ukraine peace plan, which we saw surface yesterday, is moving forward, but not without creating new diplomatic fissures. The U.S. delegation, led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, met with Ukrainian officials in Geneva on Sunday. They emerged with what they're calling a "refined peace framework," building on the initial 28-point plan reportedly drafted in secret meetings with Russian intermediary Kirill Dmitriev.
While Ukraine is at the table, European leaders are openly expressing frustration. They feel sidelined by the U.S.-driven process and are reportedly uneasy with some of the plan's concessions. The core of the original plan, as we understand it, involved Ukraine's neutrality and territorial compromises, which has always been a sticking point for Kyiv and many in Europe. Zelenskyy's government continues to publicly insist on its sovereignty and territorial integrity, creating a clear tension with the reported framework.
This dynamic places the U.S. in a difficult position: trying to broker a deal between Kyiv and Moscow while simultaneously managing dissent from its own key allies. President Trump appears determined to secure a deal as a major foreign policy win, but by moving so unilaterally, his administration risks fracturing the Western coalition that has been central to supporting Ukraine.
Analytical Take: The U.S. is playing a high-stakes, high-risk game. By taking the lead so forcefully, the Trump administration is betting it can strong-arm both Ukraine and Russia into an agreement, presenting it to Europe as a fait accompli. The friction with the is a feature, not a bug, of this approach; it reflects a transactional "America First" diplomatic style. The danger is that if the deal collapses, the U.S. will own the failure and may have alienated the very allies it needs to maintain pressure on Putin. Watch Russia's public posture closely. Their relative quiet suggests they're happy to let the U.S. do the work of splitting the West. The real test will be if the "refined" plan's details leak and we see exactly how much pressure is being put on Ukraine to concede.
The Race for Rare Earths: US Scrambles to Break China's Stranglehold
Beneath the daily political churn, a much more strategic battle is heating up. The U.S. is making a concerted, government-backed push to rebuild its domestic supply chain for rare earth elements—the critical minerals essential for everything from F-35 fighter jets to iPhones and batteries. This comes after decades of ceding the entire market to China, a strategic blunder dating back to the 1990s.
The trigger for this renewed urgency was a brief restriction on rare earth exports by China last spring, which sent shockwaves through U.S. defense and tech supply chains. Now, Washington is throwing grants, loans, and purchase guarantees at the problem. The effort spans the full vertical, from reactivating the Mountain Pass mine in California to building new magnet manufacturing facilities in Texas with companies like MP Materials. The goal is simple: break America's critical dependence on a strategic rival for materials vital to national security and economic competitiveness.
This is happening as reports suggest China's own command-and-control economic model is showing signs of strain and creating social discontent. While their stock market may be rising, the underlying fragility gives the U.S. an opening to claw back some industrial independence.
Analytical Take: This isn't just an economic story; it's a national security imperative. The U.S. voluntarily offshored a foundational industry and is now paying the price to painstakingly rebuild it. The sale of Magnaquench by GM in the 90s was the original sin, handing China the keys to the magnet-making kingdom. The current U.S. effort is a direct reversal of that decades-long strategic drift. It's expensive and slow, but the alternative—allowing Beijing to hold a veto over your defense and tech sectors—is untenable. This is the real "great power competition" in action, fought not with soldiers, but with supply chains, refineries, and industrial policy.
The Great Affordability Squeeze: Farmers, Seniors, and the ACA
A clear and politically potent narrative of economic pain is taking shape across several fronts. First, American farmers and ranchers are in a dire state. A combination of high input costs, low commodity prices, and persistent drought has shrunk the nation's cattle herd to a 70-year low. This is already translating to higher beef prices for consumers and is pushing many farm operations toward bankruptcy. Senator Tom Cotton is blaming past Biden-era policies and demanding immediate aid.
At the same time, a different kind of sticker shock is on the horizon. Medicare Part B premiums are projected to spike in 2026, an increase so large it could wipe out the entire Social Security cost-of-living adjustment for millions of seniors. Topping it off, the enhanced Affordable Care Act () subsidies are set to expire at the end of 2025, which would cause insurance premiums to skyrocket for millions more.
The Trump administration is clearly aware of this looming political storm. Reports indicate President Trump is preparing to unveil a "healthcare price cuts" proposal, and House Republicans are working on a broader "affordability agenda." There's conflicting information on whether Trump would support extending the subsidies—a move that would infuriate his base but might be a political necessity.
Analytical Take: Connect the dots: squeezed farmers, rising food prices, and massive, looming increases in healthcare costs for seniors and families. This is the recipe for a political firestorm. The administration's "affordability agenda" is a preemptive strike against what could be a brutal 2026 for household budgets. The internal debate over extending subsidies is fascinating. It pits ideological purity (repeal and replace) against raw political pragmatism (don't let premiums explode on your watch). How they handle this will be a key indicator of their governing strategy: are they playing to the base or to the broader electorate worried about their wallets?
Marjorie Taylor Greene Announces Her Exit, Highlighting Fractures
Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, one of the most prominent and controversial figures on the right, is calling it quits. She announced she will resign from Congress effective January 5, 2026. This move comes alongside a pointed denial that she’s planning a 2028 presidential run, a rumor that had been circulating.
The timing is telling. Her announcement follows a very public and growing rift with President Trump, who has recently criticized her, alongside Senator Rand Paul and Representative Thomas Massie. While the exact reasons for the split are murky, it appears to be more than just a single disagreement. Greene's departure from Congress will further shrink the already razor-thin Republican majority in the House, putting immense pressure on the special election to fill her seat and others.
Analytical Take: Greene's resignation is a symptom of the shifting power dynamics within the Trump-era . She rose to fame as one of his most fervent loyalists, but it appears she has flown too close to the sun. Her exit removes a major media lightning rod from the House but also signals that even the most die-hard supporters are not immune from Trump's ire. The denial of a presidential run is likely a face-saving measure. Her political brand is inextricably linked to Trump, and without his blessing, a national campaign is a non-starter. For the leadership, her departure is a mixed bag: one less unpredictable voice to manage, but one more seat they have to defend to keep their fragile hold on power.
Noteworthy
's Thanksgiving Week Carnage: Coaches Fired, Rookie Shines
The 's notorious lack of patience was on full display. As a follow-up to the Raiders coach firing reported yesterday, the team has now also fired their big-name offensive coordinator, Chip Kelly, after a dismal 2-9 start. They weren't alone; the New York Giants (2-10) also canned their defensive coordinator, Shane Bowen. It's the classic mid-season bloodletting as teams try to signal that failure is not an option. Meanwhile, the Raiders' on-field misery was compounded by their 24-10 loss to the Cleveland Browns, who were led by rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders in his first-ever start. Sanders' solid performance earned him the starting job for the next game and even a congratulatory post on Truth Social from President Trump.
Violent Incidents Rattle New York City
A string of three separate fatal incidents in New York City in a 24-hour period is raising public safety concerns. The violence included a fatal stabbing after a baseball bat assault in Times Square, a domestic dispute where an 80-year-old man was stabbed to death by his roommate in Manhattan, and a fatal hit-and-run in the Bronx. While the roommate has been arrested, the perpetrators in the Times Square and Bronx incidents remain at large. While these are currently isolated events, a cluster of high-profile violence like this, especially in a tourist hub like Times Square, inevitably puts pressure on the mayor's office and the .
'Slender Man' Attacker Captured After Escape
Morgan Geyser, one of the two girls involved in the infamous 2014 "Slender Man" stabbing, was apprehended in Posen, Illinois, after escaping from a group home in Wisconsin. Geyser, who had been released from a psychiatric hospital earlier this year, apparently cut off her monitoring bracelet and was found with a 42-year-old female accomplice. The incident is a grim reminder of the original case and is now sparking serious questions about the conditions of her release and the effectiveness of the monitoring system for individuals with such a violent history.