Trump White House
Trump Reverses Course on Epstein Files, Hosts Saudi Crown Prince Amid AI Regulation Rift
President Trump, after initial resistance, urged the House to approve the release of Jeffrey Epstein’s files, signaling a shift amid bipartisan pressure, while hosting Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince at the Kennedy Center for investment talks.
Trump hosted New York City Mayor-Elect Zohran Mamdani at the White House to discuss urban policy amid troop deployment concerns.
The administration touted falling Thanksgiving prices and a sharp drop in foreign-born immigrants, but faced internal MAGA divisions over Trump’s push to block state-level AI regulations, with critics warning of job losses and risks to children.
President Trump unleashed a barrage of Truth Social posts labeling six Democratic lawmakers—veterans and national security experts—as “traitors” engaging in “seditious behavior punishable by death” for appearing in a video urging U.S. military personnel to refuse “illegal orders” from the administration. The remarks, which referenced potential arrests and trials, prompted swift condemnation from both parties, with Republicans like Rep. Michael McCaul calling for toned-down rhetoric amid reports of heightened death threats against the targeted Democrats, including Sen. Elissa Slotkin and Sen. Mark Kelly.
SCOTUS
Court Backs Trump on Tariffs and Immigration Stops, Weighs Birthright Citizenship Injunctions
The Supreme Court heard arguments on whether President Trump’s global tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act overstep executive authority, a case with massive implications for presidential power and consumer costs. In shadow docket moves, justices limited nationwide injunctions blocking the birthright citizenship ban and greenlit race-based immigration stops in Los Angeles, while denying appeals on same-sex marriage challenges and mental health jail conditions.
ICE
ICE Hits Record Detention of 65,000 Amid Shutdown Deportations and School Raid Backlash
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement reached a peak of 65,000 detainees, with over 1,250 deportations daily and 21,000 non-criminal arrests during the government shutdown, drawing fire for targeting families and workers. A U.S. citizen teen was briefly detained during a high school lunch break in Oregon, sparking outrage, as North Carolina raids in Charlotte escalated fears in communities despite local GOP concerns over economic fallout.
Congress
Bipartisan Epstein Files Mandate Passes Overwhelmingly as Greene Resigns in Trump Feud
Congress delivered near-unanimous votes in both chambers to force the Justice Department to release Jeffrey Epstein’s full case files within 30 days of presidential approval, overriding Trump’s early objections with only one dissenting vote.
The week wrapped with Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s abrupt resignation from her House seat amid a public spat with Trump, capping a session focused on averting further shutdown damage and advancing immigration enforcement bills.