Monday, Nov. 21

á           NASAÕs Orion spacecraft reached the moon five days after its launch from the Kennedy Space Center. The spacecraft passed within 81 miles of the lunar surface, marking the conclusion of a key step in the agencyÕs Artemis campaign to return astronauts there within a few years.

á           Vice President Kamala Harris traveled to the Philippines where she, along with Ambassador MaryKay Carlson, participated in a moderated discussion on empowering women and girls both economically and in civic participation. Harris also met with Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio to discuss education policy.

á           The Washington Post reported that, although the Biden administration has approved $14.5 billion in student loan discharges for nearly 1.1 million borrowers defrauded by colleges, only 53,000 of those students have actually had their debts cleared, according to data from the Education Department.

Tuesday, Nov. 22

á           Sen. Lindsey O. Graham (R-S.C.) appeared before a special grand jury in Atlanta investigating efforts by former president Donald Trump and his allies to overturn TrumpÕs 2020 election loss in Georgia. The testimony followed months of legal skirmishes before the U.S. Supreme Court earlier in November declined to overturn lower court rulings requiring Graham to appear.

á           The White House announced a new six-week push to increase COVID boosters in seniors and other high-risk people ahead of winter travel and holiday season. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released data showing that the omicron-specific boosters authorized this fall protect against new variants as well.

á           The Supreme Court, without comment, denied efforts by former President Donald Trump to withhold his tax returns from the House Ways and Means Committee. There were no recorded dissents.

á           The Biden Administration announced it will extend a pause on payments for federal student loans, initiated because of the COVID pandemic, while courts consider the legality of its debt forgiveness program. The pause, which has been extended multiple times, had been set to expire at the end of the year.

Wednesday, Nov. 23

á           A panel of three judges from the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals heard arguments in the Department of JusticeÕs appeal of Judge Aileen CannonÕs decision in September appointing a special master over the documents retrieved from TumpÕs Mar-a-Lago estate and barring the justice Department from using the documents until the special master finished examining them.

á           The CDC and the World Health Organization issued a report warning that measles may be on the verge of a comeback. The CDC said that although the U.S. declared it had eradicated measles in 2000, this year 50-plus cases have been detected in the country.

Thursday, Nov. 24

á           President Joe Biden, in the wake of recent mass shootings in Colorado and Virginia, again spoke in favor of a ban on assault weapons. ÒThe idea we still allow semi-automatic weapons to be purchased is sick. Just sick,Ó Biden said. ÒIÕm going to try to get rid of assault weapons.Ó

Friday, Nov. 25

á           No news to report.

Saturday, Nov. 26

á           The U.S. Treasury granted Chevron a license for a limited expansion of energy operations in Venezuela, signaling the possible beginning of that countryÕs re-entry into the international oil market. The deal is part of a change in U.S. strategy towards Venezuela that many analysts say has been motivated, in part, by reduced global oil supplies due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Sunday, Nov. 27

á           The White House reported that Jon Batiste, who won album of the year at the Grammys, will entertain at BidenÕs first state dinner, where the honored guests will be French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte.