MORNING NEWS UPDATE: NOVEMBER 24, 2025
- A cross-country storm is disrupting Thanksgiving travel across the U.S., causing widespread flight delays and road closures, with Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy urging travelers to remain patient amid the chaos.
- Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene has announced her resignation from Congress, citing personal reasons, prompting the GOP to scramble for a replacement in her Georgia district ahead of midterms.
- U.S. Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick of Florida has been indicted for allegedly stealing $5 million in federal disaster funds and using portions to fund her 2021 campaign, marking a major corruption scandal.
- Food insecurity is rising ahead of the holidays, with new reports highlighting the stigma surrounding it and calls for expanded federal assistance programs to support affected families.
Trump Administration to Unveil Health Care Plan: Reports indicate the administration is planning to release a proposal aimed at stabilizing Affordable Care Act (ACA) premiums amid expected cost spikes, a key issue leading up to the 2026 midterm elections.
GOP Alarm Over Potential 2026 Midterm Wipeout: Republican lawmakers are reportedly growing concerned about signs suggesting a significant loss of seats in the 2026 midterm elections, with internal warnings that leaders must address voter concerns about the slowing economy and persistently high prices.
Housing and Interest-Sensitive Sectors Challenged: Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent asserted that the U.S. is not at risk of a 2026 recession, but acknowledged that sectors like housing and those sensitive to interest rates are showing signs of struggle.
- President Trump's proposed health care overhaul is sparking intense debate, with critics warning it could dismantle key Affordable Care Act protections while supporters claim it will lower costs.
- Newly released Epstein files reveal ongoing communications between his estate and high-profile figures in politics and business, even after his sex offender registration, fueling fresh investigations.
- Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene's sudden resignation is forcing the Republican Party to reassess its internal dynamics and strategy for maintaining House control.
- Trump praises NYC Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani during their first Oval Office meeting, marking a thaw in a previously hostile relationship amid discussions on urban policy.
Ukraine Peace Talks Continue Amid US Plan Scrutiny: Officials are meeting in Geneva to discuss a peace plan for Ukraine, reportedly proposed by the U.S., with European leaders expressing that the current 28 points "need reworking" and calling for Russia to engage more directly.
Hezbollah Studies Response to Deadly Strike: Following an Israeli strike in Beirut targeting a Hezbollah leader, the political council of Hezbollah is reportedly "studying the matter of response" and will take an appropriate decision.
Sudanese General Rejects Ceasefire Proposal: Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, commander-in-chief of the Sudanese Armed Forces, rejected a ceasefire proposal from U.S.-led mediators, calling it "the worst yet" and one that would dismantle the Armed Forces.
- An Israeli airstrike on Beirut marks the first such attack since June, killing a top Hezbollah commander and escalating tensions, with Hezbollah vowing retaliation and the UN calling for de-escalation.
- Fifty of 303 schoolchildren abducted from a Catholic school in Nigeria's Niger State have escaped and reunited with families, as security forces continue searching for the rest amid a wave of kidnappings.
- Bangladesh's interim government formally requests extradition of deposed PM Sheikh Hasina from India following her death sentence by a tribunal, straining bilateral relations.
- Brazil's Supreme Court orders the arrest of former President Jair Bolsonaro for his role in a coup attempt, as he attempts to flee ahead of sentencing.
Romania Scrambles Jets Due to Russian Drones: Romania's defense ministry reported scrambling jets after Russia resumed night-time drone attacks on Ukrainian civilian and port infrastructure close to the NATO member's border.
EU Leaders Address Frozen Russian Assets: During informal talks, EU leaders had a "serious" discussion on the Ukraine peace settlement, agreeing that one potential way forward is to move on proposals regarding frozen Russian assets.
Poland Arrests Third Suspect in Russian Rail Sabotage: Polish authorities arrested a Ukrainian man, alleging he was involved in aiding the main two suspects (also identified as Ukrainian men allegedly working for Russian intelligence) in preparing a recent rail sabotage attack.
- President Trump signs an executive order to effectively close the U.S. Department of Education, shifting responsibilities to other agencies and nominating Linda McMahon to oversee the transition.
- Texas State Board of Education approves a new list of instructional materials for the 2025 cycle, impacting publishers and curriculum in the nation's second-largest K-12 market.
- Doubts mount over the outsourcing of Education Department functions to other federal agencies, with experts warning of disruptions to student aid and special education programs.
- Montgomery County Public Schools advances plans to redistribute magnet and specialty programs more equitably across districts, aiming to address access disparities.
Trump Administration Moves to Dismantle Education Department: The administration quietly announced plans to shift programs serving Native students from the Department of Education to the departments of the Interior and Labor, a move that critics argue violated federal law by not consulting tribal nations.
Adaptive Math Program Approved in Texas: DreamBox Math for Texas by Discovery Education received full approval by the Texas State Board of Education (SBOE) for grades K-5, aligning with the state's TEKS Readiness Standards.
- U.S. productivity surges 3.3% in Q2 2025, outpacing unit labor cost increases of 1.0%, signaling robust business efficiency amid ongoing tariff impacts.
- The U.S. net international investment position worsens to -$26.14 trillion in Q2, driven by rising foreign liabilities, as the trade deficit narrows slightly to $59.6 billion in August.
- Macy's adjusts holiday inventory to counter tariff-driven price hikes, with CEO Tony Spring noting curtailed consumer spending despite high Black Friday foot traffic.
- China's fixed-asset investment declines 1.7% in the first 10 months of 2025, prompting efforts to boost domestic demand amid U.S. trade tensions and a weakening yuan.
Mortgage Rates Hold Narrow Range: The average 30-year fixed mortgage rate is reported at 6.11%, and the 15-year fixed rate is at 5.62%, holding within a narrow range in recent weeks.
Stock Market Growth Concentrated in 'Magnificent Seven': The S&P 500 is up over 12% for the year, but the gain is heavily concentrated in a few AI-forward tech companies (the "Magnificent Seven"), with smaller and lower-tech companies reporting lackluster sales and declining investment.
Investor Uncertainty Pushes Bitcoin Below $90,000: Broader market uncertainty has led to a sell-off in risky assets, with Bitcoin sinking below $90,000 for the first time since April, while gold has surged in value.
- AI-driven job cuts reach 17,375 in the first nine months of 2025, though broader labor market data shows no widespread disruption yet, with experts predicting future impacts.
- Harvard's database is hacked in a wave of Ivy League cyberattacks, highlighting vulnerabilities in academic institutions amid rising ransomware threats.
- Valve revives the Steam Machine platform unexpectedly, aiming to compete in gaming hardware with enhanced AI integration for better user experiences.
- A new protein gel breakthrough regenerates tooth enamel in clinical trials, potentially revolutionizing dental health by addressing cavities at the molecular level.
Cybersecurity Leader Recognized for Government Work: The President of Optiv + ClearShark, a cybersecurity provider for the U.S. federal government, was named a "Top Government Consultant and Leader of 2025" for their work in advancing security and resilience.
Loftware Honored for Healthcare Tech Innovation: Loftware, a company specializing in cloud-based labeling and packaging technologies, was recognized among the "Top 50 Healthcare Technology Companies" for improving patient safety and compliance in the life sciences sector.
- Microplastics in human tissues are linked to accelerated artery-clogging disease, with studies showing higher risks for males, urging immediate regulatory action on pollution.
- Long-term melatonin use for insomnia raises heart failure risk, per new research, prompting warnings for over-the-counter supplement users.
- Tirzepatide and semaglutide show strong early cardiovascular benefits in type 2 diabetes patients, reducing heart attacks and strokes in a massive real-world study.
- A surprise flu mutation triggers U.S. high alert, with health officials ramping up vaccine updates and surveillance to prevent a potential outbreak.
CMS Modernizes Hospital Payments for Transparency: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is moving to empower patients and boost transparency by modernizing hospital payment systems.
HHS Releases Report on Pediatric Procedures: The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released a peer-reviewed report discrediting certain pediatric sex-rejecting procedures.
- Italy clinches the Davis Cup title with a victory over six-time champions Spain, marking their fourth overall crown in a thrilling final.
- No. 5 Duke defeats No. 24 Kansas 78-66 in a high-stakes college basketball matchup, with Cameron Boozer leading with 18 points in his standout performance.
- Oregon climbs back into the AP Top 5 college football poll after a dominant win, while Ohio State, Indiana, and Texas A&M hold the top three spots for a sixth week.
- No. 23 Wisconsin crushes SIU Edwardsville 94-69, scoring 85+ points in each of their first four games—a feat not seen since 1975-76.
Las Vegas Raiders Fire Offensive Coordinator Chip Kelly: Hours after a loss to the Cleveland Browns, the Las Vegas Raiders organization fired Offensive Coordinator Chip Kelly mid-season due to ongoing struggles and poor performance on offense.
