Latest News Digest – November 20, 2025

National News

Data Lacking on U.S. Economy Due to Government Shutdown – The Federal Reserve faces challenges in assessing the U.S. labor market following a 43-day government shutdown that disrupted data collection, leaving key economic signals unclear. Richmond Fed President Thomas Barkin, in a speech on November 18, likened the situation to a ship unable to dock due to a darkened lighthouse, emphasizing the need for clearer data to guide monetary policy decisions. The upcoming September employment report, due on November 21, is expected to show a 50,000 job increase with an unchanged 4.3% unemployment rate, but its relevance is limited due to the data gap. The October report has been canceled, and November’s data will not be available for at least two weeks. Despite recent Fed rate cuts driven by perceived labor market weakness, other indicators—such as stable jobless claims, tight labor conditions, and a declining workforce growth rate of 0.3% annually—suggest resilience. Inflation remains above the Fed’s 2% target, with no clear path to normalization, complicating the central bank’s dual mandate. Financial markets have adjusted expectations, with futures now pricing in less than a 50% chance of another rate at the next meeting in December, reflecting uncertainty over the labor market’s true strength. – Reuters.com

Convicted Sex Offender Jeffrey Epstein Case Files to be Released – President Trump Signs Bill - On November 19, 2025, President Donald Trump signed the Epstein Files Transparency Act, directing the Department of Justice to publicly release all Jeffrey Epstein-related files within 30 days, following unanimous House passage (427-1) on November 18 and Senate approval by unanimous consent. The bill, championed by bipartisan lawmakers including Rep. Ro Khanna and Sen. Lindsey Graham, aims to expose Epstein’s associations with figures like former President Bill Clinton, former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers, and LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman, amid accusations of Democratic ties. Attorney General Pam Bondi pledged DOJ compliance, though concerns persist about potential delays due to ongoing investigations. The release has been celebrated by Epstein survivors, including Lisa Phillips and Sharlene Rochard, who see it as a step toward accountability. Additionally, former Harvard president Larry Summers stepped aside from teaching as Harvard investigates his Epstein ties, following released emails. – Reuters.com

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to Prioritize Treatment and Work Over Permanent Housing – HUD Secretary Scott Turner stated on Fox Business program that the root problem of homelessness is mental illness and drug addiction/drug abuse.  He wants to restore accountability to a system that has been a slush fund for nonprofits around the country who were being rewarded for the more people they have in their system.  He also stated that under the Obama and Biden administrations, “Housing First” policies were just warehousing homeless people who needed rehabilitation, leading to an increase in the numbers of people needing assistance by over 33% in the last few years.  Homelessness, addiction, and mental illness are at crisis levels in America. – Fox Business

GOP Lawmakers Introduce Bill to Roll Back a Biden-Era Regulation Forcing Taxpayers to Help Illegal Aliens Get Abortions – Representatives Mary Miller, R-Ill., and Mark Harris, R-N.C., have introduced a bill to defund a Biden rule forcing taxpayers to fund abortion travel for unaccompanied migrant kids.  “No American should ever have their tax dollars used to shuttle illegal aliens across state lines for abortions,” Harris told The Daily Signal.  “That’s why we’re fighting to stop these outrageous Biden-era policies that turned federal programs into a taxpayer-funded Uber for abortions.  We’re going to end it.”  The Office of Refugee Resettlement was directed by President Joe Biden to arrange and finance abortion travel for illegal alien minors and now, under President Trump’s Department of Health and Human Services, is reviewing relevant regulations and guidance to ensure they align with applicable laws, including the Hyde Amendment.  The Hyde Amendment is a 1976 law that prohibits taxpayer funding for abortions. – The Daily Signal; X Post by Rep. Mark Harris

Statements on the CDC Website as of November 20, 2025

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Now Admits They Made False Claims – The CDC’s long-held stance that “Vaccines do not cause autism.” has not been studied or the studies that show an association with vaccines and autism have been ignored.  Now, on the CDC’s website, they are acknowledging that their earlier claim is not evidence-based because studies have not ruled out the possibility that infant vaccines cause autism.  The Health and Human Services agency has launched a comprehensive assessment of the causes of autism, including investigations on plausible biologic mechanisms and potential causal links.  https://www.cdc.gov/vaccine-safety/about/autism.html – X Posts, Toby Rogers, Maryanne Demasi, PhD, Aaron Siri

California News

7 Dead as Atmospheric River Drenches California; 7-Year-Old Swept Away in Big Sur Found -  As a strong atmospheric river drenched California over the weekend, causing the deaths of 7 people.  A 39-year-old father and his 7-year-old daughter were found dead after a large wave pulled them into the ocean in Monterey County, California, near Rocky Point Restaurant.  The father was identified as Yuji Hu of Calgary, Alberta, Canada, and his daughter as Anzi Hu.  The mother also tried to reach out to the girl and was swept into the water but survived, along with their 2-year-old child who had remained on shore.  In Sutter County, a 71-year old man died Friday, November 13, when his vehicle was swept off a flooded bridge north of Sacramento.  In San Diego County, a wooden boat believed to be carrying migrants from Mexico capsized in stormy conditions off the coast on Saturday.  Four people were killed and four others were hospitalized, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.  The National Weather Service released county rainfall totals on Sunday, reporting parts of Los Angeles County seeing up to 5 inches of rain, while Orange County received 4 inches and Ventura County received around 7 inches– Newsweek.com; DesertSun.com

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Filed a Brief in Ongoing Lawsuit Seeking Access to California’s Voter Rolls – On September 25, 2025, the DOJ filed suit in District Court to compel the California Secretary of State to turn over unredacted voter rolls in an effort to ensure compliance with the law regarding maintenance of accurate voter rolls.  The case, United States v. Weber, Case No. 2:25-cv-09149, is being fought by the State who has requested dismissal on the grounds of protecting the privacy of voters and other groups have joined in defending against the lawsuit.  Those groups are the NAACP, NAACP California/Hawaii, and Asian Americans Advancing Justice (SIREN), arguing the data handover would disproportionately harm Black, immigrant, and minority voters by enabling intimidation and violating privacy laws.   Also, the League of Women Voters of California (LWVC), supported by the ACLU, filed a motion to intervene, contending the DOJ's demands exceed statutory authority, threaten democratic participation, and misuse data for political ends like creating a national database.  The brief filed by the DOJ states that, “if the Defendants’ position were to be adopted, it would eviscerate Title III.  The attorney general can only meaningfully investigate and enforce the list maintenance requirements of HAVA (Help America Vote Act) and the NVRA (National Voter Registration Act) by having access to the voter identification numbers required by Federal law.  For each voter, that includes their driver’s license number, last four digits of their social security number, or other identifying number.”  This is one of at least eight similar lawsuits filed by the DOJ against states (California, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Oregon and Maine) for similar refusals.  “Clean voter rolls are the foundation of free and fair elections,” Attorney Pamela Bondi has said in a statement. – APNews.com; X Post of Shiloh Marx; Courtlistener.com

California Representative, Carl DeMaio asks Trump DOJ (Department of Justice) to Criminally Investigate CalPERS (California Public Employees' Retirement System) Huge Loss on Green Deal Investment – According to State Representative Carl DeMaio, California Democrats forced CalPERS into a bogus Green New Deal investment fund.  The initial investment was $468 million and now it is only worth $138 million, representing a 71% loss.  However, if that money had been invested in an S&P 500 index fund, it would be worth around $3 billion today.  DeMaio is wanting the DOJ to look at this as a violation of fiduciary duty.   In September of 2019, Governor Gavin Newson signed an executive order to leverage the state’s $700 billion pension investment portfolio and assets to advance California’s climate leadership.  X Post – Carl DeMaio; gov.ca.gov; freerepublic.com