Monday, Nov. 9

á           Justice Department Inspector General Michael Horowitz released his report on an FBI inquiry into connections between Russia and President Donald TrumpÕs 2016 presidential campaign. The report, which debunks the conspiracy theory that Russia interfered in the United States election on behalf of Democrats, found that the inquiry process was marred by dysfunction and systemic problems, but begun with sufficient nonpartisan reason and not politically biased.

á           The U. S. Supreme Court chose to leave a Kentucky law in place that requires abortion providers in the state to perform an ultrasound, then show and describe the image to the patient before the procedure, regardless of patient wishes. This law was enacted in 2017 but has, until now, been blocked from taking effect by lower courts.

á           Federal prosecutors recommended leniency for former Trump deputy campaign chairman Rick Gates, who pled guilty in 2018 to lying under oath and partaking in a criminal financial conspiracy. The recommendation of leniency was made because Gates offered incriminating evidence in the trials of Paul Manafort and Roger Stone.

Tuesday, Nov. 10

á           House Democrats released two articles of impeachment that formally call for TrumpÕs removal from office for obstruction of Congress and abuse of presidential power. ÒOur president holds the ultimate public trust,Ó Rep. Jerry Nadler, chair of the Judiciary Committee, said. ÒWhen he betrays that trust and puts himself before country, he endangers the Constitution, he endangers our democracy and he endangers our national security.Ó

á           After months of negotiation, Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced that the White House and House Democrats came to an agreement on labor, environmental, pharmaceutical and enforcement provisions in TrumpÕs North American trade pact. It still requires House and Senate approval, TrumpÕs signature and approval by Mexican and Canadian legislatures to be implemented.

á           The Pentagon suspended all training for Saudi military students in the United States in the wake of a Dec. 6 shooting at Naval Air Station Pensacola in Florida by a member of the Saudi Royal Air Force.

á           Federal Judge David Briones of El Paso issue a nationwide injunction that prevents the Trump administration from using $3.6 billion of military construction funds for the border wall, ruling that repurposing this funding for the declared national emergency at the border was unlawful as congress limits funding for the border wall to $1.375 billion.

Wednesday, Nov. 11

á           Trump signed an executive order broadening the legal definition of Jewish identity as a race or nationality as well as a religion, furthering its protections under the 1964 Civil Rights Act, with the stated goal of curbing anti-Semitic discrimination on college campuses. Critics are concerned that this risks repressing free speech by conflating legitimate opposition to the nation of Israel with opposition to Jewish people at large.

á           The House passed a $738 billion military policy bill in a 377-48 vote that authorizes the development of a Space Force and secures paid parental leave for over two million federal workers. Progressive Democrats and libertarian Republicans rejected the bill for its high price and an increase of the presidentÕs military power.

Thursday, Nov. 12

á           The House passed HR 3, a bill that empowers the federal government to negotiate drug prices with pharmaceutical manufacturers to better limit the rising costs of prescription drugs, creates new vision, dental and hearing benefits and sets in place a $2,000 cap on out-of-pocket drug costs for Medicare beneficiaries. Trump has vowed to veto the bill if it passes the Senate.

á           The Senate confirmed Dr. Stephen Hahn, Trump nominee and chief medical executive at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, as commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration.

á           The Senate confirmed John J. Sullivan, another Trump nominee who served as deputy secretary of state under Mike Pompeo since 2017, as U.S. ambassador to Russia.

á           A unanimous vote in the Senate recognized the Armenian genocide as a matter of American foreign policy, the first time Congress formally identified the slaughter of roughly 1.5 million Armenians by the Ottoman Empire in 1915 as genocide.

á           Federal Judge Clark Waddoups of Utah ruled that American Samoans should be granted United States citizenship, citing the 14th Amendment, which reads, ÒAll persons born or naturalized in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside.Ó

Friday, Nov. 13

á           The House Judiciary Committee approved the two articles of impeachment released on Tuesday. Both passed 23 to 17 along party lines.

Saturday, Nov. 14

á           Nine Democratic presidential candidates signed and sent a letter to Democratic National Committee Chairman Tom Perez, urging him to lower the qualification thresholds for future Democratic Party debates. The letter was written and spread by Sen. Cory BookerÕs campaign. According to the New York Times, it comes Òamid angst that ThursdayÕs debate in Los Angeles will include just one candidate of color — the businessman Andrew Yang — among the seven qualifying participants.Ó

Sunday, Nov. 15

á           Democratic Sen. Chuck Schumer presented a proposal for a Senate impeachment trial to his Republican counterpart Sen. Mitch McConnell. Schumer wrote that Òin keeping with É bipartisan spiritÓ he modeled the language of the proposal directly on the 1999 impeachment trial of President Bill Clinton.