Beltway Insider: Trump Targets MAGA Rep, Gov Reopens, SCOTUS, Pelosi, Nadler Bow, Ukraine, Gaza, John Beam

Details: Category: Haute This Issue; Published on Saturday, 15 November 2025 17:45; Written by Janet Walker

President Trump signed the federal spending bill into law ending the 42-day shutdown, the longest in government history, and while both Democrats and Republicans claim victory, there is little to celebrate on either side.

The President's job approval rating, according to Reuters featured in The New York Times for the period ending November 16, 2025, of those polled who approve of his effectiveness as President decreased by 1% to 40% and those who disapprove of his effectiveness as president decreased by 3% to 57%. A slight 3% of the population polled have no opinion. Ratings are calculated weekly.

Beltway Insider: Trump/Election, Dem Sweep, Prop 50, Gov Shutdown, SNAP, FAA, Biden Infrastructure Act

Trump Targets Marjorie Taylor Greene

Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) has found herself out of favor with President Trump, as she has been increasingly vocal over his preoccupation with his foreign agenda, and she acknowledged earlier in the week, her belief that his personal attacks were ramped up to stop other Republicans from voting to have the Epstein files released.

"President Donald Trump announced Friday he is officially rescinding his endorsement of Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene and attacked her in personal terms, while the congresswoman countered that Trump was trying to make an example of her to prevent the release of files on convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein," CNN.com reported.

Government Reopens, SNAP, Travel, Restored

With the stroke of a pen, the federal government reopened this week, ending the longest shut down in history, and while both sides claimed victory, there appears to be little to celebrate, as democrats caved under pressure, squandering any leverage they had in the upcoming ACA battle.

Forty-two days before the government closed, Democrats were adamant that the expiring Affordable Care Act subsides, signed into law during the Covid-era, which saved Americans, both democrats and republicans, hundreds of dollars monthly were critical, and they would not endorse any legislation that failed to address the ACA health care subsides.

As the weeks wore on, and SNAP, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which more than 42 million low income Americans, and seniors, and many deem as a vital lifeline, expired. Furthermore, the reduction of air travel by 10%, primarily due to safety concerns as Air Traffic controllers, who were working without pay, in high stress environments, and were barred from taking time off, was producing blowback, disrupting travel, and costing airlines.

"Speaking from the White House late Wednesday, Trump blamed the shutdown and its harmful effects squarely on the Democratic Party and portrayed its end as a Republican victory. He also urged voters to remember the shutdown ahead of the 2026 midterm elections — an apparent attempt to use the moment as political leverage, despite a recent poll suggesting more Americans blame the GOP for the shutdown," The Washington Post reported.

As it is government, a bureaucracy that operates in a world unto its own, the legislation only funds the government until January 30, 2026, when the entire process begins again. The bill also provides pay and backpay to the 1.2 million government employees who were either furlough for forced to work without pay, such as the military and air traffic controllers. The SNAP is funded through December 2026.

Six democrats crossed the aisle to vote with the republicans in the deeply divided chamber and explained they were tired of seeing their constituents suffer without governmental benefits.

The final legislation did not address the ACA subsides, and although the Republicans indicated they would be willing to work with democrats on the bill, it is unlikely that it will be addressed until the 2026 midterms, which will be the litmus test for the GOP and the success of the MAGA Republicans. The high cost of healthcare, which will expire for millions December 30, will cause a ripple effect in voter’s mind, as elections come down to kitchen table economics. Without the subsides, MAGA Republicans are likely to see themselves replaced come 2026.

World News: COP 30 Convenes to Mixed Reviews

SCOTUS Refuses Same Sex Case

The United State Supreme Court, in a surprise move, has refused to hear the case brought by Kim Davis, a former county clerk in Kentucky who refused to grant a same sex couple a marriage license based on religious beliefs, ruled on in 2015, which granted came sex couple constitutional protection.

In a brief, unsigned order, the justices rejected Davis’ petition for review of a ruling by a federal appeals court upholding an award of $100,000 to a gay couple to whom she had refused to issue a marriage license. That petition had also asked the justices to overrule the 2015 decision, Obergefell v. Hodges, arguing that a right to same-sex marriage "had no basis in the Constitution."

As the make-up of the Supreme court has radically changed in recent years, it is a surprise that the conservative leaning court comprised of five of the nine justices chose not to rehear this case, with the possibility of overturning the constitutional protections afforded same sex couples.

No opinion was issued with the decision, and as four of the nine justices must agree to hear the case, before it gets placed on the docket, it is impossible to discover the reason the case was rejected.

With the current trend toward establishing a more conservative landscape, the hope in bringing this case was to reestablish precedence that abolished the constitutional protections afforded same-sex couples.

The five most consistently conservative justices on the U.S. Supreme Court are generally considered to be Justices Clarence Thomas, Justice Samuel Alito, and three Trump appointees Justice Neil Gorsuch, Justice Neil Kavanaugh, and Justice Amy Coney-Barrett. Chief Justice John Roberts is also a conservative appointee but is often seen as a swing vote.

World News: National Rally Bill Survives Vote

Nancy Pelosi Bows, Readies Successor

Former Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, (D-CA), who has announced she will not be seeking reelection after serving the constituents of San Francisco for 28 years, has left the path open for what many believed would be her daughter, Christine, a political activist, to seek the office.

"But Christine Pelosi said on Monday that she would instead pursue the State Senate seat that represents San Francisco. The next scheduled race in that district is not until 2028, but the incumbent, Senator Scott Wiener, a Democrat, is running for Nancy Pelosi’s congressional seat next year," reported The New York Times.

At this time, it remains unclear whether the current wave of democratic socialism that propelled New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani to a decisive victory, over the tarnished political dynasty associated with Andrew Cuomo, and supported by Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) with make its way to the west coast and influence the bay area voters.

Both cities have many of the same issues affecting its citizens, including a lack of affordable housing, unrestrained inflation, economic disparity, and a strong immigrant population.

Currently, California State Senator Scott Wiener has announced his intent to seek the office. His platform includes streaming development of housing and LGBTQ rights.

As San Francisco continually ranks just behind New York City as one of the most expensive cities in the United States, it is fertile ground for the democratic socialist wave to find and support a yet to be announced candidate one that will address the issues of affordable housing, economic disparity, unrestrained inflation, ballooning costs for utilities, transportation, and other necessities.

JFK Grandson, Jack Schlossberg, Announces Candidacy

Jack Schlossberg, the grandson of the late President John F. Kennedy, and son of Caroline Kennedy and Edwin Schlossberg, has announced his candidacy for the House seat being vacated by Representative Jerrold Nadler, who announced his retirement after 32 years of service.

The prize is the tony 12th Congressional District, which includes the area all of Midtown Manhattan, and both the Upper West Side and Upper East from Grammercy and the Flatiron District to Carnegie Hill and parts of Manhattan Valley.

The political scion was recently featured in the New York Times, which did not serve him well, as the article, which included an interview, appeared to paint him as someone who is bored with life and now sampling politics. Conversely, he has momentum in that by using his father’s name he will not be associated with the current family ties in the White House, nor the dynasty of birth. He is also not part of the current political machine that is being overthrown, in favor of democratic socialism.

Congressional Representative Nadler, who currently holds the seat is expected to endorse his longtime protégé Micah Lasher, and has commented on Schlossberg’s run, by stating, "his successor should be someone "with a record of public service, a record of public accomplishment — and he doesn’t have one," The New York Times reported.

Medical Science: Unveiling the Mysteries of the Human Mind

Ukraine Pummeled by Russian Drones

Russian military has pummeled Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, unleashing a hell fury of drone attacks, some lasting up to six hours, with the Ukraine responding with a series of drone attacks aimed at the destruction of Russia oil production.

"Russia launched a heavy drone and missile attack on Ukraine early on Friday, killing six people in Kyiv and two more in the south in strikes on energy facilities, apartment buildings and infrastructure, Ukrainian officials said. President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russian forces used 430 drones and 18 missiles and Kyiv was responding with long-range strikes. It was one of the biggest attacks on the capital so far," Reuters reported.

While Ukraine is battered by Russian drones, its counter strikes has been increasingly effective in its attempts to disrupt Russia’s oil reserves, which are critical to the Russian President Vladimir Putin’s effort to continue the war.

Currently Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky has disrupted approximately 10% of the reserves, which is vital, but Ukraine forces need to be more aggressive, and increase the effort to target fuel depots, oil refineries, and military and munitions depots.

Displaced Gazans Hit with Heavy Winter Storms

Displaced Gazans many who live in tent cities, as their homes were destroyed by the Israeli Defense Forces, during the more than two years bombardment, are now facing the beginnings of the winter with a torrential downpour that has left the area flooded and many of the tents destroyed.

In addition to a continued lack of humanitarian aid, as Israeli officials have still refused to allow the agreed upon 600 trucks per day, the displaced and shell shocked Gazans are forced to live in makeshift shanty towns, with little means to protect them from the upcoming winter rains, and drop in temperatures.

IDF Accused of Violating Peace Deal

The Israeli Defense Forces have been accused by Palestine of daily violating the peace treaty, over the past month over 280 times, including raids on residential areas, bombings, and destroying property.

"Israel violated the ceasefire agreement at least 282 times from October 10 to November 10, through the continuation of attacks by air, artillery and direct shootings, the Government Media Office in Gaza reports. The office said Israel shot at civilians 88 times, raided residential areas beyond the "yellow line" 12 times, bombed Gaza 124 times, and demolished people’s properties on 52 occasions. It added that Israel also detained 23 Palestinians from Gaza over the past month," Aljazerra.com reported.

Medical Science: Understanding Claustrophobia: Causes, Symptoms, Treatments, and Brain Effects

Coronavirus Total

At the order of the President of the United States, the U.S. no longer recognizes the value of The World Health Organization. The CDC has recommended every person from age six months, including senior citizens should receive at least one shot of an updated COVID-19 vaccine, annually. The death toll from Covid-19 has dramatically decreased, as has transmission of the virus. Even as confirmed new cases continue each week, fewer are dying from the newer variants.

For the seven days ending November 16, 2025, the total number of confirmed coronavirus cases reported by the World Health Organization increased by 29,417 to 778,885,759. The total worldwide death toll increased by 68 to 7,103,253 deaths. The United States has stopped providing Covid data to the World Health Organization. (Data updated October 26, 2025, from the World Health Organization).

Earth Science: The Importance of the Amazon Rainforest and Ecological Devastation

John Beam, Storied Basketball Coach, Killed in Drive By Shooting

Laney College Football Coach John Beam, 66, a giant in the Oakland community and featured in the Netflix series "Last Chance U," was killed in a targeted drive-by shooting on the university’s campus.

Beam, who started his coaching career in 1979, " is reported to have produced over 20 NFL players and won several league championships in a career that spanned more than four decades. He coached players who won at every level of football, including an NCAA Division I national championship, NCAA Division III national championship, Canadian Grey Cup, NFL Europe championship and Arena League championship, according to Laney College," The Washington Post reported.

Oakland Police Department have arrested two suspects, one of whom was admitted to a local hospital with a gunshot wound. They have indicated that the shooting was targeted and Beam and the second suspect, Cedric Irving Jr., 27, knew each other.

For more information on President Donald Trump: Whitehouse.gov.

Janet Walker is the publisher, founder, and sole owner of Haute-Lifestyle.com. A graduate of New York University, she has been covering international news through the Beltway Insider, a weekly review of the nation’s top stories, for more than a decade. A general beat writer/reporter and entertainment/film critic, she is also an accomplished news/investigative news/crime reporter and submitted for Pulitzer Prize consideration "Cops Conspire to Deep Six Sex Assaults" in the Breaking News Category and was persuaded to withdraw the submission. Ms. Walker has completed five screenplays "The Six Sides of Truth," "The Assassins of Fifth Avenue," "The Wednesday Killer," "The Manhattan Project," and the sci-fi thriller "Project 13: The Last Day." She has also published "Unholy Alliances: A True Crime Story," and "Days, Times, Seasons, and Events: A Collection of Poetry & Prose," which can be purchased here. She is a member of the Los Angeles Press Club, the National Writers Union, and a member of the International Federation of Journalists.