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November 11, 2025
☕ Good morning. 1,907 words for you today - 10 minute read.
The Spotlight
1. Supreme Court Denies Kim Davis’ Petition to Overturn Same-Sex Marriage Ruling
The U.S. Supreme Court, Nov. 7, 2025, in Washington
The U.S. Supreme Court has denied former Kentucky clerk Kim Davis’ appeal seeking to revisit the landmark 2015 Obergefell v. Hodges ruling that legalized same-sex marriage nationwide.
The decision signals the Court’s unwillingness to reopen debate on the constitutional right to same-sex marriage, despite mounting pressure from conservative activists to revisit the precedent.
Details:
Davis was ordered to pay $100,000 in emotional damages to a gay couple she refused to issue a marriage license to in 2015, plus $260,000 in attorney’s fees.
She argued that the First Amendment’s free exercise clause should shield her from personal liability, calling the Obergefell ruling “legal fiction.”
Lower courts rejected her claims, and most legal experts viewed her petition as a long shot.
Davis became a national figure after defying the Supreme Court ruling and spending six days in jail for contempt. Her appeal came amid renewed conservative efforts to roll back federal marriage protections and let states set their own laws.
The Court’s refusal to hear the case effectively upholds Obergefell v. Hodges and the damages ruling against Davis reaffirming same-sex marriage as the law of the land. Read More
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2. Trump Threatens $1B Lawsuit as BBC Apologizes Over Speech Edit
President Donald Trump has threatened legal action against the BBC, accusing the broadcaster of editing one of his speeches to “interfere in the presidential election.” The dispute follows the resignations of BBC Director General Tim Davie and News CEO Deborah Turness.
Takeaways:
Trump’s lawyers demand $1 billion in damages, alleging defamation and election interference.
The controversy stems from a “Panorama” edit that cut Trump’s “protest peacefully” remark while keeping “fight like hell.”
BBC Chair Samir Shah apologized, calling it an “error of judgment.”
The scandal has ignited debate over bias and the BBC’s future funding model.
Trump celebrated the executives’ resignations, calling the BBC “corrupt” and “dishonest.” Critics say the episode underscores longstanding political pressure on the broadcaster, while supporters argue it remains a vital pillar of trust in global journalism.
The fallout comes as Britain reconsiders the BBC’s Royal Charter, with political attacks and public skepticism threatening its independence and funding. Read More
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3. U.S. Military Strikes Kill 6 in Eastern Pacific Drug Operation
This screengrab taken from a video posted by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, shows a boat shortly before it is struck by a missile on November 9, 2025. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth
The U.S. military conducted two missile strikes on boats in the Eastern Pacific, killing six people in what officials described as part of an ongoing campaign against narco-terrorist organizations, according to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Takeaways:
The vessels were allegedly linked to drug cartels and were carrying narcotics along a known trafficking route.
These attacks bring the total to 76 people killed in 19 strikes, with 20 boats destroyed since September.
The Trump administration claims the U.S. is now in an “armed conflict” against drug cartels, labeling those killed as “unlawful combatants.”
Human rights groups and some lawmakers have challenged the legality of the campaign, citing lack of judicial oversight or verified evidence.
Officials have admitted that identities of those targeted are not always known before strikes are launched, relying instead on intelligence about cartel connections. Critics argue that such lethal operations blur the line between law enforcement and warfare.
The classified legal justification for these strikes and the absence of public evidence about the targets’ ties to cartels are fueling growing scrutiny in Congress and beyond. Read More
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Quick Headlines
Malaysian rapper Wee Meng Chee, known by his stage name Namewee, gestures during a press conference in Taipei on November 15, 2021. / Credit: SAM YEH/AFP via Getty Images
Malaysian rapper Namewee was remanded in custody after Taiwanese influencer Iris Hsieh was found dead in a Kuala Lumpur hotel bathtub. Police reclassified the case as murder. Drugs were found in the room, and Namewee tested positive but denied wrongdoing, saying “the truth will speak for itself.” Read More
The FBI is investigating the death of 18-year-old Anna Kepner, who was found dead aboard the Carnival Horizon cruise ship traveling from Miami to the Caribbean. Her family described her as a bright, kind student with dreams of joining the military. Carnival said it is cooperating with authorities. Read More
Ex-President Nicolas Sarkozy was released from a Paris prison after serving 20 days of a five-year sentence for allegedly using Libyan funds in his 2007 campaign. The 70-year-old, who denies wrongdoing, remains under judicial supervision and barred from contacting co-defendants or leaving France. Read More
U.S. airlines canceled over 2,700 flights Sunday as the government shutdown caused severe air traffic disruptions. FAA staffing shortages forced flight cuts at 40 major airports, with delays topping 10,000. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned air travel could “slow to a trickle” if the shutdown continues into Thanksgiving. Read More
Typhoon Fung-wong exited the Philippines Monday after killing eight people and displacing over 1.4 million. The super typhoon brought floods, landslides, and power outages across northern provinces before moving toward Taiwan. Authorities warned of continued rains as rescue and relief operations continued in affected areas. Read More
Ohio National Guard members are privately questioning President Trump’s troop deployments to Democratic-led cities, according to NPR. In an encrypted chat, they expressed unease about orders they see as political and outside normal duty. Some said they may leave the Guard, citing loyalty to the Constitution over individuals. Read More
Deep Dive
4. Senators Strike Bipartisan Deal to End Government Shutdown Through January
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) speaks to reporters following a vote on Capitol Hill on Nov. 9, 2025, in Washington, D.C. The Senate convened for a rare Sunday session in an attempt to end the government shutdown. Anna Rose Layden/Getty Images
A bipartisan Senate coalition reached an agreement late Sunday to reopen the federal government, ending the longest shutdown in U.S. history and funding operations through January 30, 2026.
Takeaways:
The procedural vote passed 60 to 40, with seven Democrats and one independent joining Republicans, triggering sharp criticism from party colleagues.
Defecting Democrats secured a commitment for a future vote on health care tax credits, a central issue for progressive lawmakers.
The Trump administration now faces court-mandated SNAP payments, with states expected to restore full November benefits within two days.
The House must still approve the Senate measure before it reaches the president, leaving additional legislative hurdles.
Market watchers and federal employees welcomed the news as air travel disruptions and unpaid federal wages have created mounting economic stress.
The agreement represents a rare display of bipartisanship amid a politically charged environment, with procedural compromises designed to appease moderates on both sides. Sen. Elizabeth Warren criticized her colleagues for defecting, warning that health care advocacy had been weakened.
Federal courts remain involved in SNAP benefit disputes, as states navigate conflicting directives from the administration and judges, illustrating the fragility of social safety nets during shutdowns. Historically, states have restored benefits within days once funding resumes, offering cautious relief to recipients.
Meanwhile, global attention shifted to Brazil for COP30, the annual U.N. climate summit. The U.S. will take a limited role, drawing scrutiny given its status as the second-largest polluter. Analysts say economic incentives, from solar energy to electric vehicles, may drive climate progress more than diplomacy alone.
The shutdown’s end signals temporary relief for households, federal workers, and airlines, but underlying policy and judicial tensions are likely to resurface in the months ahead. Read More
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On Our Radar
‘Predator: Badlands’ Dominates Global Box Office with $80 Million Debut
1 of 5 | This image released by 20th Century Studios shows Thia, portrayed by Elle Fanning, left, and Dek, portrayed by Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi, in a scene from 'Predator: Badlands.' (20th Century Studios/Disney via AP)
Predator: Badlands led North American theaters with a $40 million debut and another $40 million overseas, giving Disney a boost after a slow fall at the box office.
Takeaways
The $40 million domestic launch is the franchise's biggest opening, surpassing 2004’s Alien vs. Predator.
With a $105 million budget, it is the most expensive Predator film to date.
Positive reviews and an A- CinemaScore helped drive strong audience turnout.
Disney marks four straight years of $4 billion in global ticket sales, aiming to exceed $5 billion with upcoming releases.
The eighth Predator movie follows an outcast predator and an android researcher on a remote planet. Critics gave it 85% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Other fall releases struggled, including Die My Love ($2.8M) and Christy ($1.3M), highlighting the film’s standout performance.
Disney’s success signals renewed momentum after a historically weak autumn for theaters. Read More
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6. Colt Ford Sees Toby Keith During Near-Death Experience
Country rap star Colt Ford, 56, revealed he had a vision of late Toby Keith while recovering from a heart attack in 2024 in Gilbert, Arizona.
Takeaways
Ford died twice and underwent a 10-hour surgery before waking from a medically induced coma.
He saw Toby Keith, who called him "Little Dog Daddy", in a bright light, telling him he wasn’t ready yet.
Keith had passed away two months earlier from stomach cancer.
Ford shared the experience with Keith’s wife, describing Keith as healthy and vibrant in the vision.
Ford said the encounter reinforced his gratitude for life and his focus on being present. He noted Keith had been a close friend, often helping him and others in the industry.
The story highlights Ford’s miraculous recovery and a deeply personal tribute to Keith’s legacy. Read More
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8. 🎉 This day in history
On This Day — November 12
Hitler Arrested, 1923 – Adolf Hitler is arrested in Germany for his failed attempt to seize power during the “Beer Hall Putsch,” a coup that marked the early rise of the Nazi Party.
First Space Selfie, 1966 – Astronaut Buzz Aldrin snaps the first-ever “space selfie” while conducting a spacewalk during NASA’s Gemini 12 mission.
Birth of the World Wide Web, 1990 – CERN scientists Tim Berners-Lee and Robert Cailliau propose the World Wide Web, laying the foundation for the modern internet.
9. Poll
Life Hack of the day
🥔 🧂 Restore a Rusty Cast-Iron Skillet with a Potato and Salt
Dealing with a rusty cast-iron skillet? You can restore it with just a potato and some salt! Sprinkle coarse salt over the rusty spots, then scrub using the cut side of a potato. The salt acts as an abrasive, while the potato’s natural oxalic acid helps dissolve rust and bring back your pan’s smooth surface.
That’s your morning brief. Now go show someone how smart you are. 🧠
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