A recent poll shows that Gen Z has slightly more confidence in Republicans than Democrats, despite generally preferring Democratic candidates. The poll highlights issues Gen Z has with both political parties, though many view Democrats as more open-minded and honest. The findings are significant as Democrats aim to regain support from Gen Z for upcoming elections.
Key Facts
A new poll reveals that 38% of Gen Z respondents have confidence in Republicans, compared to 33% in Democrats.
Despite the confidence gap, 64% of Gen Z plans to vote for Democratic congressional candidates, while 30% would choose Republicans.
The poll surveyed 1,443 adults between November 10-13, with a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.
Gen Z finds both parties lacking, but views Democrats as more open-minded (54%) and honest (60%).
Democrats are trying to appeal to Gen Z voters before the 2026 midterms, as they were crucial for past Democratic victories.
Gen Z's political views vary, with some voicing concerns over Biden's handling of international issues like the Israel-Hamas conflict.
A gender divide exists among Gen Z voters, with young women focusing on rights issues, which young men don't prioritize as much.
President Donald Trump was asked by a reporter about the sale of F-35 jets to Saudi Arabia during a meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the White House.
Key Facts
President Trump met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the Oval Office.
During the meeting, a reporter asked about the sale of F-35 jets to Saudi Arabia.
The F-35 jets are advanced military aircraft.
The conversation took place at the White House.
The question was asked by Al Jazeera journalist Kimberley Halkett.
The US Congress passed a bill that requires the Justice Department to release unclassified files on Jeffrey Epstein. The bill now awaits President Donald Trump's signature, and he has stated that he will sign it.
Key Facts
US Congress approved a bill about Jeffrey Epstein's files.
The bill applies to unclassified files only.
The Justice Department must release these files.
President Donald Trump plans to sign the bill.
The decision follows calls from victims for full disclosure.
Doug Jones, a Democrat and former Alabama senator, faces tough odds in a potential bid for governor against Republican Tommy Tuberville. A recent poll shows Tuberville leading Jones by 19 points, highlighting the challenge Democrats face in heavily Republican Alabama. Jones has hinted at running in 2026, and he would likely start as an underdog.
Key Facts
Doug Jones may run for governor of Alabama in 2026.
A poll shows Republican Tommy Tuberville leading Jones by 19 points in a hypothetical race.
Alabama is known for being a Republican stronghold.
Tuberville was elected as a senator in 2020, defeating Jones.
The poll found that undecided voters in Alabama mostly favor Republicans.
President Donald Trump has a 56% approval rating on economic issues in Alabama.
Jones has hinted at his interest in running by saying, "Stay tuned" at a recent event.
Tuberville has raised over $7.7 million for a potential campaign.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott faced two legal challenges as federal courts stopped the enforcement of a redistricting plan and a law requiring the posting of the Ten Commandments in schools. These court decisions impact political redistricting and religious expression in Texas.
Key Facts
A federal court blocked Texas' new 2025 congressional redistricting plan, which was intended for the 2026 elections.
The court stated that the 2025 map likely involved racial gerrymandering, which alters voting districts based on race.
Governor Greg Abbott and other state officials opposed the court's decision, arguing it infringed on state legislative authority.
Texas Democrats and some lawmakers support the court's ruling against the redistricting plan.
On the same day, a judge blocked a law requiring the Ten Commandments to be displayed in public school classrooms.
The court ruled that the Ten Commandments law might violate the First Amendment, which ensures separation of church and state.
Both legal decisions were seen as significant setbacks for Texas Republicans.
Representative Tim Burchett criticized fellow Republicans after they did not support a resolution to censure Democratic Delegate Stacey Plaskett for her past exchanges with Jeffrey Epstein. The resolution aimed to formally censure Plaskett and remove her from the House Intelligence Committee. Three Republicans sided with Democrats, leading to the resolution's failure.
Key Facts
Representative Tim Burchett is a Republican from Tennessee.
A resolution was proposed to censure Democratic Delegate Stacey Plaskett.
The resolution concerned Plaskett's past text exchanges with Jeffrey Epstein.
The resolution also aimed to remove Plaskett from the House Intelligence Committee.
Three Republicans voted with Democrats against the resolution.
Representative Burchett expressed disappointment with his colleagues' votes.
Plaskett has admitted to the messages but denies any wrongdoing.
The U.S. Senate passed a separate bill requiring the release of Epstein's files, which awaits the president's approval.
The Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board approved closing an obstetric unit at a hospital in Elk Grove Village. The labor and delivery services will move to another hospital in Hoffman Estates. Nurses and community members expressed concerns about the impact on maternal and infant health.
Key Facts
The Illinois board voted 6-3 to close the 28-bed OB unit at Alexian Brothers Hospital.
Obstetric services will be transferred to Ascension St. Alexius Women and Children's Hospital.
National Nurses United reported Ascension has closed many OB units, mainly in minority and low-income areas.
Ascension's OB unit closures are three times higher than the national average.
Concerns include increased travel time for pregnant individuals and reduced access to timely care.
The closure was announced earlier this year, with the transition plan detailed on July 2, 2025.
The closure is part of decisions made in a meeting that also included two decisions involving Mercyhealth.
The Justice Department (DOJ) has said that the grand jury involved in indicting former FBI Director James Comey never saw the final charges against him. This came to light during questioning by a judge in the ongoing legal proceedings. Comey's legal team believes this issue should lead to the dismissal of the charges.
Key Facts
The DOJ admitted that the grand jury did not see the final version of the indictment against James Comey.
This information was revealed during a court session with a judge.
James Comey is a former Director of the FBI.
Comey's lawyers think the charges should be dropped because of this oversight.
The judge has not yet made a decision on whether to dismiss the indictment.
The case is still ongoing and may have more updates soon.
Tom Steyer, a businessman and Democrat, is running for governor of California in an open race following Governor Gavin Newsom's exit due to term limits. The race has many candidates, with early polls showing no clear leader, and Steyer currently trailing. California uses a unique primary system where all candidates compete together, and the top two go to the general election.
Key Facts
Tom Steyer is running for governor of California as a Democrat.
The race is open because Governor Gavin Newsom cannot run again due to term limits.
Steyer announced his campaign with a video addressing affordability and criticizing wealthy Americans.
California's primary system allows all candidates to appear on one ballot, regardless of party.
An EMC Research poll showed Steyer with 3% of voter support, trailing behind other candidates.
Another poll from the University of California, Berkeley also showed Steyer with low support at 1%.
Many voters remain undecided, with 44% stating they haven't chosen a candidate yet according to recent polls.
James Comey's lawyers are working to get his criminal case dismissed, arguing it is driven by President Donald Trump’s dislike of Comey. They claim that the prosecution is an attempt to silence a critic, while the Justice Department denies that the case is unfair or targeted. Comey has pleaded not guilty to the charges against him.
Key Facts
James Comey's lawyers claim the prosecution is motivated by President Trump's personal dislike of him.
Comey argues he is being targeted to prevent critics from speaking out against President Trump.
The Justice Department denies that the prosecution is vindictive and insists the charges are valid.
Comey has pleaded not guilty to charges of making a false statement and obstructing Congress.
President Trump replaced a veteran prosecutor with Lindsey Halligan, a White House aide, who then secured an indictment against Comey.
U.S. Magistrate William Fitzpatrick criticized the handling of Comey's case due to significant investigative errors.
The prosecution claims are being reviewed by U.S. District Judge Michael Nachmanoff.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is providing a new $16 billion financial aid package to help American farmers affected by natural disasters like floods and wildfires. This program, part of the Supplemental Disaster Relief Program, aims to support farmers who faced losses in 2023 and 2024 that weren’t covered by existing insurance. Enrollment for aid starts on November 24, 2025.
Key Facts
The USDA announced a $16 billion aid package for farmers impacted by natural disasters.
This initiative is called the Supplemental Disaster Relief Program (SDRP).
The aid targets losses from events like wildfires, floods, and hurricanes in 2023 and 2024.
Stage two of the SDRP will support what they call "shallow losses," which are not normally covered by crop insurance.
Farmers can apply for this aid starting November 24, 2025, until April 30, 2026.
Over $5.7 billion has already been distributed from the first stage of SDRP.
Additional programs include the Milk Loss Program and the On-Farm Stored Commodity Loss Program.
Farmers who receive SDRP payments must buy federal crop insurance or noninsured crop coverage.
Colorado health officials reportedly poured bleach on food from a taco vendor in Denver after ordering the food to be destroyed. The vendor had been cited earlier for not following food safety rules, which can lead to illnesses. The incident happened because the food was not stored or prepared under proper conditions.
Key Facts
A video on social media shows a health official pouring bleach on the vendor's food.
The taco vendor, Tacos Tacolorado, was operating in South Denver.
The vendor previously received warnings and orders to stop due to sanitation and temperature issues.
More than 145 pounds of food were discarded across two previous inspections in October.
The Denver Health Department found food stored improperly and not kept at safe temperatures.
Bleach is sometimes used by health officials to ensure food cannot be consumed.
Health officials found the vendor was using a residential kitchen instead of a commercial one.
The U.S. House of Representatives voted to reprimand Illinois Rep. Chuy Garcia over a plan that could influence the selection of his successor. The decision was controversial among Democrats, with some voting for the reprimand alongside Republicans.
Key Facts
The House of Representatives voted 236-186 to reprimand Rep. Chuy Garcia.
The reprimand was due to Garcia's succession plan for his congressional seat.
More than two dozen Democrats joined Republicans in voting for the resolution.
Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez introduced the resolution against Garcia.
Perez stated it was important to address "election subversion" by any lawmakers.
Garcia had announced he was not running for reelection earlier in the month.
Garcia's chief of staff was the only one to file for Garcia's seat before the deadline.
The U.S. Treasury hopes Americans will save, not spend, the $2,000 checks that President Trump plans to send out in 2026. The creation of "Trump accounts" for children is part of this effort, with accounts seeded by the government to encourage saving.
Key Facts
President Trump announced $2,000 checks would be sent out starting in mid-2026.
These checks are meant to help with the affordability crisis and are timed before midterm elections.
The checks' total cost could reach $450 billion, with a slight potential impact on inflation.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent suggests using the checks to encourage savings through "Trump accounts" for kids.
"Trump accounts" are investment accounts for children born between 2025 and 2028, starting with $1,000 from the Treasury.
Parents can contribute up to $5,000 a year into these accounts.
A study found that past stimulus payments were mostly spent or used to pay down debt.
No bill has yet been proposed to officially authorize the $2,000 checks or determine eligibility.
Brian Harpole, head of security for Charlie Kirk, spoke out to reject conspiracy theories about hand signals leading up to Kirk's assassination. The shooting took place at Utah Valley University, where security concerns were noted about the outdoor location. Tyler Robinson faces charges related to Kirk's death.
Key Facts
Charlie Kirk was shot and killed on September 10 at Utah Valley University (UVU).
Brian Harpole, who led Kirk’s security, denied claims about the use of hand signals before the shooting.
Harpole said his team communicated via radios, not hand signals.
The shooting involved a shot fired from a rooftop on campus.
Conspiracy theories have emerged around the event, but key figures have called them baseless.
The event took place in an open outdoor space, despite security concerns.
Tyler Robinson is charged with aggravated murder for the shooting.
A new bill called the "Stop Ballroom Bribery Act" has been introduced to limit private donations for projects at federal buildings, including President Trump's White House ballroom. This legislation aims to prevent donations from individuals or companies with conflicts of interest and to ensure transparency. President Trump raised $350 million in private funds for White House renovations, attracting scrutiny over the influence of wealthy donors.
Key Facts
The "Stop Ballroom Bribery Act" aims to restrict private funding for federal building projects used by the President or Vice President.
The bill would ban donations from those with conflicts of interest, such as individuals seeking government favors.
President Trump raised $350 million in private donations for a new White House ballroom.
Some of the donors include major companies like Apple, Google, and Amazon.
The bill would require full transparency about donors and introduce penalties for violations.
Ethics experts have expressed concerns that private donations could provide undue influence over federal decisions.
The proposed legislation is backed by several Democratic Senators, including Elizabeth Warren.
Federal immigration authorities have conducted a series of arrests in Charlotte, North Carolina, as part of "Operation Charlotte's Web," led by U.S. Border Patrol and supported by other Homeland Security agencies. This operation resulted in over 250 arrests, including individuals with serious charges. The actions have raised concerns among local officials and residents about aggressive tactics and the impact on the community.
Key Facts
Over 250 people were arrested in Charlotte, NC, as part of "Operation Charlotte's Web."
The operation is led by U.S. Border Patrol with support from other DHS agencies like ICE.
44 arrested individuals faced serious charges such as assault and battery.
Local officials expressed concerns, noting most detainees had no criminal records, and some were U.S. citizens.
Viral videos showed federal agents detaining people in public places, raising concern about their tactics.
Joshua Long, a U.S. citizen, was detained while recording agents and was later released with an assault citation.
The operation is part of broader efforts by the Trump administration to increase arrests and deportations.
A mom from California, Tiffany Shepis-Tretta, received a frightening text from her daughter, Mia, during a school shooting at Saugus High School in 2019. Mia was shot but survived, while two of her classmates were killed. In response to the shooting, Tiffany advocates for stricter gun laws to prevent similar tragedies.
Key Facts
Tiffany Shepis-Tretta's daughter, Mia, was involved in a school shooting at Saugus High School in Santa Clarita, California, in November 2019.
Mia sent a text from the scene saying she loved her family and had been shot.
Caught in the shooting, Mia survived, but her best friend Dominic Blackwell and another student, Gracie Muehlberger, were killed.
A student who was in a fire-department program helped control Mia's bleeding until help arrived.
Tiffany is now advocating for stricter gun laws in the United States to prevent school shootings.
The family has been deeply affected by the shooting, with Mia attending Brown University and still managing physical and emotional scars.
The shooter used an unsecured ghost gun, which is a firearm without a serial number, making it hard to trace.
Tiffany calls for responsible gun ownership and safer gun policies to protect children and the public.
A Cuban man went to court expecting a regular immigration hearing but instead faced deportation. An Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent was waiting for him outside, coordinated by a government lawyer who was uncomfortable with the situation.
Key Facts
A Cuban man went to court for what he thought was a routine immigration hearing.
An ICE agent was waiting nearby as part of a coordinated effort.
A government lawyer in the courtroom was distressed about the situation.
The lawyer texted the ICE agent expressing discomfort with the plan.
The ICE agent acknowledged the lawyer's concerns but proceeded with the operation.
Republican Representative Clay Higgins of Louisiana was the only member of the House of Representatives to vote against releasing Jeffrey Epstein's case files. The measure passed in the House and the Senate, and it now awaits President Trump's signature. Higgins stated his opposition was due to concerns about exposing innocent people if the files were made public.
Key Facts
The U.S. House voted 427 to 1 in favor of releasing Jeffrey Epstein’s case files.
Republican Representative Clay Higgins was the sole dissenting vote.
Higgins has been in Congress since 2017 and is known for far-right positions.
He has faced controversy for his statements and past conduct both in politics and law enforcement.
Higgins voiced concerns that releasing the files could harm innocent people.
The bill passed the Senate unanimously and is pending President Trump's signature.
Higgins has previously been a strong supporter of President Trump.
