Jim Jordan Elected as Next House GOP Leader
Jordan defeated Majority Leader Steve Scalise in the race to become the House minority leader in the next Congress.
This Week in the World Affairs Brief
MIDTERM ELECTION A DISASTER FOR REPUBLICANS
In the face of Republicans losing control of both houses of Congress, Trump insisted all day Tuesday that Republicans would have won in a landslide if he were on the ballot. Not only is this not true, but the midterm election defeat was a direct result of independent voters turning against Trump because of the growing costs of products people buy, including high gas and diesel prices, and above all, his refusal to end the war against Iran. Those voting for president in 2024 represented 3 major voting bocks: about a third of voters were conservatives firmly behind Trump. They were joined by half of another third bloc made up of independent voters, including many Hispanics, who overwhelmingly voted against Kamala Harris. They expected big changes from Trump. Trump’s initial changes were well received by most voters: eliminating government wasteful aid and spending, stopping the open border policies of Biden and suppressing discrimination against whites and meritocracy in the name of diversity and enforced equality. Some of those initiatives have been blocked or limited by the establishment judiciary and others are keeping a low profile, waiting until Trump is out of office. But since Trump’s positive start, he has major some major errors: 1) Attacking Iran and setting off the most serious trade dislocation in this century, 2) Failing to rein in the Federal Reserve’s inflation of the currency, 3) Lavish deficit spending, 4) using tariffs to bully trading allies, and 5) Betraying Ukraine while lavishing praise on our greatest enemies, Xi Jinping, Kim Jong-un and Vladimir Putin. To receive a free, one-time sample of the Brief, along with options on how to subscribe, click on Request a sample on the left.
Also:
- Restarting the Iran Coming War
- Ilhan Omar’s Strange Muslim Life
- The Current Prepping Scare
Daily News
Susie Wiles 'Pay-For-Play' Scandal Goes Nuclear With New Pfizer Accusations; White House Responds
Pollster Mark Mitchell, an adviser to Vice President JD Vance, says Susie Wiles, Trump's former chief of staff, warned him off criticizing Pfizer, which he called her old lobbying firm's "number one client."
Leaked Photo: Susie Wiles Accused Of Banning MAHA Activists From White House
Independent journalist Nick Monroe aired the accusations on X, citing an anonymous source who allegedly provided photographic evidence that activists had been barred from attending White House events. The photograph purports to show a White House document titled "Not Permitted List," identifying three activists allegedly barred from attending: Eden Marie Biele of the MAHA Mom Coalition, Emily Suzanne Bybee Stembridge of Moms Across America, and Alexandra Clark of Turning Point USA.
Kamala Harris Finishes 16th With Under 1 Percent in Progressive 2028 Straw Poll
Georgia Sen. Jon Ossoff, fresh off his reelection win over Republican Rep. Mike Collins, led the field with 38 percent. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York was second at 17 percent, followed by former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg at 14 percent. Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear and Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro each received 4 percent. Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly and Maryland Gov. Wes Moore drew 3 percent, and California Gov. Gavin Newsom took 2.3 percent. Harris tied with Michigan Sen. Elissa Slotkin.
"Whole World Repeating A Lie": EU Lawmaker Challenges "Far-Right" MSM Narrative For Polish Gunman
The Kraków killer was so far-right that he demonstrated in favor of opening all borders and welcoming all foreigners who wanted to enter Poland. He also wanted a world without weapons and without borders. A strange far-right figure who lived, acted, dressed up and painted like a woke leftist of ambiguous sexuality.
Qatar Becomes Largest Buyer of U.S. LNG Amid Hormuz Crisis
With its only route to market blocked, Qatar last month hedged its bets against future disruptions by signing two separate agreements to buy LNG from U.S. producers to diversify its portfolio. QatarEnergy signed two long-term deals with Cheniere to buy up to 4 million tons per annum of LNG from Cheniere's Sabine Pass and Corpus Christi export facilities, with deliveries expected to begin in 2031 and continue through 2054
China Rehearses Taiwan Blockade In Unannounced Naval War Drill
The People’s Republic of China (PRC) may be conducting a major, unannounced military exercise that simulates surrounding and isolating Taiwan. The PRC likely aims to demonstrate that it can cut Taiwan off from air and sea during a conflict, eroding Taiwanese confidence in its ability to resist PRC aggression. Taiwanese National Security Council (NSC) Secretary-General Joseph Wu reported on November 3 that over 100 People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) and China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels were operating in the West Pacific.[1] Joseph Wu released data that appeared to show two main PLAN and CCG concentrations located between Taiwan and its principal partners, simulating isolation operations.
US Warns of Ongoing Cyber Threat to Industrial Freezers and Cold Storage
CISA, the FBI, and other agencies said hackers are targeting temperature controllers in grocery, healthcare, and food systems after attacks hit Europe.
France Blames Iran for Supermarket Fridge Cyberattack
Paris said it will be asking partners in Europe to back new sanctions against the Iranian entities and individuals involved in the cyberattack.
Pentagon's 'Iron Gate' Operation: Washington Moves To Choke Off Iran's Overland Military Trade
This weekend saw the Pentagon unveil details of a new initiative called "Task Force Iron Gate" - which will seek to target Iranian alternative trade routes amid the US naval mission to blockade its main ports via the Strait of Hormuz and Persian Gulf waters.
Riyadh: Aramco Skyscraper Hit By Missile Strike
An Aramco office building in Riyadh was damaged during a Houthi missile attack; Iran reported three oil tankers on fire in the Strait of Hormuz; US forces disabled a vessel in the Gulf of Oman amid surging regional tensions, less than a week after the US midterms.
Ukraine Strikes Deep Into St. Petersburg, Setting Major Russian Oil Export Terminal on Fire
Ukrainian long-range drones struck one of Russia’s major oil export terminals in St. Petersburg overnight on October 18, igniting a fire at the facility as a large-scale drone attack targeted energy infrastructure across the city and surrounding Leningrad region.
Startling Chart Projects Mind-Boggling Surge in 2026 Ballots Just for Dems, Unprecedented in US History
One data point they have seized on is the estimated approximate number of people who voted for each party in the Tuesday elections. One popular chart posted on the social media platform X shows that approximately 70 million Americans voted for Democrats, while approximately 55 million Americans voted for Republicans.
Inside CHIRLA’s Secret Voter Campaign
Since 2019, California has granted more than $100 million to a left-wing NGO called the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles, or CHIRLA. The group has used those or other resources to fight deportations, address “hate incidents,” and craft what it calls “progressive policies.”
Houston Mayor Curbs ICE Cooperation Days After Abbott Loses - And Says Texas' New Leaders Are On Board
Houston Mayor John Whitmire has ordered the city's police to stop calling ICE on anyone who isn't arrested for a jailable offense, and says he cleared it with the Democrats who just won Texas. "SB4 is not a priority of the new statewide elected officials," Whitmire told reporters Friday, three days after Gov. Greg Abbott lost his bid for a fourth term.
Heavily Armed Illegal Alien Arrested Near White House With AR-15, MAC-10; DHS Say He "Heard Voices In Head To Kill Trump"
Secret Service agents arrested a heavily armed illegal alien from Venezuela down the street from the White House who, according to the federal government, "heard voices in his head telling him to kill President Trump." A new report from the Department of Homeland Security said the illegal alien had an AR-15-style rifle, a MAC-10, a Glock 43X, and ammunition in his vehicle at the time of his arrest near the White House grounds.
Drones and Neptune Missiles Strike Kamensky Rocket Fuel Plant
Ukrainian Defense Forces conducted a complex overnight strike using attack drones and Navy Neptune missile systems against the Kamensky chemical plant in Kamensk-Shakhtinsky, Rostov region, the General Staff announced on Saturday, Oct. 31. The precision attack ignited a finished goods warehouse and damaged four production workshops at the facility, which synthesizes solid rocket propellant for Uragan, Smerch, and Tornado-S artillery rocket systems and air-launched munitions.
Exit Poll: Iran War Was ‘Crucial Or Major’ Factor For 3 In 4 Voters
As Republicans see electoral losses across the country, about 74 percent of voters said the Iran war was a “crucial or major” factor in their vote for Congress, and Democrats won 63 percent of those voters, according to NBC exit polls. Only 26 percent said the war was a “minor factor or not a factor,” 70 percent of whom voted Republican and 28 percent of whom voted Democrat.
Voters in 8 States Approve Citizenship, Voter ID Measures for State Elections
In West Virginia, South Dakota, Kansas, Alaska, and Arkansas, voters approved measures affirming that only U.S. citizens can vote in state elections. All but Alaska’s were constitutional amendments, while Alaska’s was a ballot initiative. Voters in Ohio and Nevada approved constitutional amendments requiring photo ID to vote in person. North Carolina voters approved an amendment extending the state’s photo ID requirement, already in its constitution for in-person voting, to mail ballots. Voters in California and Colorado rejected measures that would have tightened voter ID rules. California’s Proposition 39 would have required voter ID, and Colorado’s Amendment 84 would have required an ID number for mail-in ballots.
Iran Reportedly Hands Out Iodine Tablets As Trump Locks Crosshairs On Pickaxe Mountain
Iodine Tablets Being Distributed Iranian Video Tells Citizens How To Survive Nuke Trump Says US 'Locked And Loaded' For Renewed Strikes Against Iran
Rubio Weighs Leaving Administration After GOP’s Midterm Loss`
Secretary of State Marco Rubio is weighing whether to leave the Trump administration, people familiar with the matter said, as he considers his next moves following Republicans’ midterm elections wipeout this week.
Trump’s Statement on Ending Israel’s Military Aid by Year’s End Aligns With Netanyahu Push for Deeper Military Integration
Ben Freeman of the Quincy Institute said on X in response to Trump’s statement that if the integration moves forward, Israel could “end up getting WAY more than $4B from US taxpayers” and that the funds would “just be buried in the DoD budget.”
Exclusive: ‘Another Death One Day After Vaccine’ — Medical Examiners Debated COVID Vaccine Safety, Emails Reveal
Internal emails obtained under New York’s Freedom of Information Law and shared with The Defender reveal how the nation’s largest medical examiner’s office and its peers discussed deaths that followed COVID-19 vaccination, amid emerging evidence linking mRNA vaccines to heart damage. Attorney Jimmy Wagner, who requested the documents, said medical examiners’ private discussions contradicted public assurances that the COVID-19 vaccines were safe.
Judge finds DOJ conceded violating Epstein files law, gives Blanche a week
U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan found that Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche effectively conceded the Justice Department is violating the law governing the release of Jeffrey Epstein records, according to Politico’s account of the order — and after that ruling, Blanche filed heavily redacted Epstein records at the wire Thursday. Sullivan has also warned Blanche he could face contempt proceedings if the Justice Department fails to comply with orders in the case.
Texas's New Democrat Governor Vowed To Stop Helping ICE - Here's What She Can Actually Undo
Democrat Gina Hinojosa's upset of Gov. Greg Abbott hands the state's border machinery to a lawmaker who spent the campaign attacking it.
Iran Says Four Oil Tankers Destroyed by Mines Near Strait of Hormuz
Four oil tankers were destroyed after hitting naval mines in an area south of the Strait of Hormuz proscribed by Iran as prohibited for navigation, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said on Wednesday, as attacks on vessels in the region intensify while crude oil flows have dipped from recent highs. The four tankers are still ablaze, while two other vessels have been seized, the Revolutionary Guards said.
Democrat Annie Andrews Defeats GOP Sen. Darline Graham in South Carolina Senate Race
Andrews defeated incumbent Republican Sen. Graham, becoming the first Democrat to win the seat in nearly 3 decades.
Democrats Win Senate Control After Flipping Key Seats
Democrats have flipped seven Senate races to win a majority. Several Senate races are yet to be called.
Mike Johnson to Step Down as Top House Republican in Wake of Election Loss
Among the options to succeed Johnson will be Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), who told GOP colleagues on Wednesday that he will run for the top Republican post.
Iran Rejects Latest Draft Proposal To End War: US 'Must Act On 7 Conditions' To Reopen Hormuz
Iran Rejects US Draft Proposal: Tehran insists all seven conditions must be met before reopening the Strait of Hormuz. Negotiations Remain Uncertain: Reports of US-Iran concessions raised hopes of a breakthrough, but Iran indicates a deal remains distant. Back to Headline Ping-Pong: Oil prices initially plunged on optimism over negotiations before recovering some losses. Military Tit-for-Tat Escalates: Iran reported three tanker explosions and claimed to have downed two US drones, while the US confirmed strikes on Qeshm Island.