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What Happened Today – November 21, 2025

“MTG turns on Trump and resigns. Mamdani and Trump are new best friends. I am so confused.”

Political scientist Larry Sabato, the academic who calls elections before the networks, wrote that on X tonight.

Marjorie Taylor Greene is disappearing into a chaotic haze of insults she’s been trading with Trump over the Epstein files. Trump called NYC Mayor-Elect Mamdani a communist yesterday and wouldn’t stop praising him today after an Oval Office meeting. Meanwhile, nurses are learning that their student loans don’t qualify as a professional’s do, but chiropractors and theologians made the cut.

The big White House secret is that there is no grand plan. Trump famously doesn’t attend briefings or read much. He runs the presidency like a hot dog stand in his native New York, reacting to the flow around him, and knocking off early when the mood strikes.

Sabato’s been doing this for decades. He’s never confused. Today he’s confused. Finding the patterns in the chaos and meticulously documenting it all is why GovBrief Today started and why we continue every day.

Want to stop missing what matters? Get every brief in your inbox, 7 nights a week. You’ll get data, images, quotes like Sabato’s and links to get engaged. Sign up free at govbrief.today.

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Today's Quote
MTG turns on Trump and resigns. Mamdani and Trump are new best friends. I am so confused.
Political scientist Dr. Larry Sabato writing on X on November 21, 2025.
Yesterday's Most Read

Trump calls for death penalty for six Democratic lawmakers with military backgrounds after they told service members that they can refuse illegal orders.

Today’s GovBrief News


Extremism 1 of 15

Bomb threat prompts police search at Sen. Elissa Slotkin's home days after Trump accused her of sedition "punishable by death" for urging military to refuse illegal orders.

1 of 6 lawmakers Trump targeted

Source: WDIV Detroit

November 21, 2025

Extremism 2 of 15

Coast Guard restores "hate symbols" language for swastikas and nooses after public outcry, but new policy still weakens investigation requirements and eliminates transgender references.

Commandant role open since January

Source: NPR

November 21, 2025

Foreign Relations 3 of 15

FAA warns airlines of "potentially hazardous situation" flying over Venezuela as U.S. military buildup in region includes Navy's largest aircraft carrier, eight warships, F-35s.

GPS interference rising since September

Source: Reuters

November 21, 2025

Foreign Relations 4 of 15

Haiti qualifies for World Cup for first time since 1974, but Trump's travel ban bars fans from attending games the U.S. is co-hosting.

Iran also qualified, also banned

Source: Politico

November 21, 2025

Foreign Relations 5 of 15

Trump administration gives Ukraine one week to accept peace framework ceding parts of eastern Ukraine to Russia or risk losing U.S. military and intelligence support.

28-point plan caps Kyiv's forces

Source: Newsweek

November 21, 2025

Health 6 of 15

North Dakota Supreme Court upholds abortion ban despite 3 of 5 justices finding it unconstitutional; state's supermajority rule required 4 votes to strike law.

No abortion providers in state

Source: The North Dakota Monitor

November 21, 2025

Health 7 of 15

RFK Jr. says he personally ordered CDC to change website language on vaccines and autism, breaking pledge to Senate committee chairman who endorsed his confirmation.

Fired all 17 vaccine advisers

Source: Reuters

November 21, 2025

Voting Rights 8 of 15

Justice Alito pauses ruling that struck down Texas' "Big Beautiful Map" as racial gerrymandering; AG Paxton says it was designed "solely to secure more Republican seats."

5 new GOP House seats at stake

Source: UPI

November 21, 2025

Immigration 9 of 15

Costa Rica says it will still accept Kilmar Abrego Garcia, directly contradicting ICE official who testified under oath this week that the country was "not an option."

Government tried 4 African nations

Source: ABC News

November 21, 2025

Immigration 10 of 15

Federal judge blocks IRS from sharing taxpayer addresses with ICE, rules data pact violated post-Watergate privacy laws and was "arbitrary and capricious."

ICE requested 1.3 million records

Source: Fed Scoop

November 21, 2025

Immigration 11 of 15

Federal judge issues 233-page ruling finding Border Patrol commander was 'outright lying' about Chicago deportation operation, documents 76 use-of-force incidents.

Agents used ChatGPT for reports

Source: The Chicago Sun-Times

November 21, 2025

Immigration 12 of 15

Trump announces he is ending Temporary Protected Status for Somalis in Minnesota, claims without evidence that "Somali gangs are terrorizing" the state.

705 Somalis enrolled nationwide

Source: CBS News

November 21, 2025

Education 13 of 15

Trump's budget bill classifies chiropractic and theology as "professional degrees" eligible for $200,000 student loans but excludes nursing, nurse practitioners and physician assistants.

Graduate nurses capped at $100,000

Source: Arizona Family

November 21, 2025

Congress 14 of 15

Former Trump ally Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene announces January resignation days after Trump withdrew endorsement, called her a "disgrace" over Epstein files criticism.

Pension eligible after 5 year tenure

Source: Roll Call

November 21, 2025

Fighting Back 15 of 15

NYC Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, 34-year-old democratic socialist, meets Trump in Oval Office one day after president called him a "communist," leaves with pledge of cooperation.

First-term assemblyman vs billionaire president

Source: ABC News

November 21, 2025