Monday, November 17, 2025

Epstein whiplash: Trump urges release of files

Reversing course, the President urged Congress to vote to release the Epstein files. ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌  ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ 
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The Short List

Mon Nov 17 2025

 

Phaedra Trethan National Correspondent

@wordsbyphaedra

👋🏼 Hello, Monday! I'm Phaedra Trethan, humming the theme from "The Dick Van Dyke Show" and wishing its 99-year-old namesake well. 🤩 📺 🩵

In Monday's news:

After years of controversy, could the Epstein files finally be released?
Another U.S. city is rocked by ICE raids.
Universities across the U.S. report plummeting international enrollment.

But first: Tony Hawk is a grandfather?! How is that possible when we're almost the same age? 🛹 😱

Epstein whiplash

In a sudden reversal, President Donald Trump this weekend backed the release of Jeffrey Epstein records — but it was likely to happen anyway, with Congressional Republicans joining Democrats in calling for the Justice Department to share what it knows about the disgraced late sex trafficker. The latest.

What might be in those files.
Watch: What Trump said.
Watch: How Epstein revelations might affect Trump's presidency.
Trump is feuding with a longtime ally. What it's about.
A Kentucky congressman reacts after being trolled by Trump.

Usa Trump Epstein

A billboard in New York City's Times Square sponsored by the group Home of the Brave displays emails by Jeffrey Epstein about President Donald Trump on Nov. 17, 2025. The emails were part of documents released by the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. The House of Representatives is expected to vote Nov. 18 on compelling the Justice Department to release the full files from the federal investigation of the late convicted sex offender and disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein.

Mike Segar/Reuters

ICE descends on Southern city

Immigration raids and protests against them roiled Charlotte, North Carolina this weekend as federal agents descended on the city .

Photos: Protests greet ICE agents in Charlotte.
Watch: The scene in Charlotte.
Meanwhile, the Pentagon withdrew some National Guard troops from other cities.
And the Supreme Court will weigh whether asylum seekers can be turned away at the border with Mexico.

Charlotte ICE Protests

People protest as federal authorities conduct raids in Charlotte, expanding their crackdown on illegal immigration, in Raleigh, N.C., Nov. 16, 2025.

Jonathan Drake, REUTERS

Real quick

The acting head of FEMA resigned Monday.
Alice Wong, a trailblazing disability rights advocate, has died.
Welcome relief for air travelers: Flights should get back to normal soon.
A federal judge in Virginia blasted the Trump Administration's case against James Comey.

International enrollments plummet

International enrollments at colleges and universities in the U.S. tanked this year according to a study, falling 17%, the largest drop in more than a decade. Foreign-born students are fearful of Trump Administration policies, navigating tightened visa restrictions and travel troubles.

The Trump Administration can't withhold funding from the University of California, a judge ruled.

Heavy rains pummel Southern California

Parts of California were slammed by heavy rains this weekend , and more wet weather is set to drench the state even more, possibly triggering mudslides and flooding, forecasters say.

Heartbreaking: A man died in an unsuccessful attempt to save his daughter in high surf.

California Storm Atmospheric River Storm

Motorists drive toward downtown during a powerful atmospheric river storm on Nov. 15, 2025, in Los Angeles. The multiple-day storm is triggering evacuation and flash flood warnings today in the Eaton and Palisades fire burn scars due to fears of debris flow.

Mario Tama, Getty Images

A break from the news

The Baseball Hall of Fame released its 2026 ballot. We're voting for Cole Hamels, Chase Utley, Bobby Abreu and Jimmy Rollins. (Editor's note: Phaedra does not get a vote.) ⚾️ ⚾️ ⚾️
That is... a lot of spiders. 🕷️ 🕸️ 🕷️
Who's kicking off the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade? We have the answer! 🦃 🤩

Phaedra Trethan is a national correspondent at USA TODAY. She'd love to hear from readers about The Short List, story ideas from across the nation and who you think belongs in baseball's Hall of Fame. Email her at ptrethan@usatoday.com.

Scott Bessent, Secretary of the Treasury, testifies in front of the House Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government in Washington, D.C., on May 6, 2025.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent spoke about Trump's plan to send $2,000 tariff rebate checks to Americans on Fox News on Sunday, Nov. 16.

FCC chair Brendan Carr, left, posted a call on social media for NBC to fire Seth Meyers.
 

FCC's Brendan Carr weighs in again as Trump calls to fire Seth Meyers

Brendan Carr, the chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, has amplified a call from President Donald Trump for Seth Meyers to be fired.

Travelers gather with their luggage near the United Airlines check-in area at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) on November 12, 2025 in Los Angeles, California.
 

Avoid driving on these days for your Thanksgiving trip

Thanksgiving 2025 is set to be a record-breaking travel period. Here's what to know if you have travel plans.

Rev. Jesse Jackson is interviewed in Montgomery, Ala., on Thursday, June 20, 2024.
 

Rev. Jesse Jackson's family gives update on his hospitalization

Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr. was hospitalized on Nov. 12, his family said. Here's the latest on his health.

A humpback whale beached near Yachats on Nov. 16.
 

Humpback whale stranded on Oregon Coast 'unlikely to survive'

So many people had shown up that Oregon State Police and other officials were asking people to avoid the area.

Mustard Seed Market, prepares for the 90-day ban on intoxicating hemp from Gov. Mike DeWine, at the West Market Street location in Akron on Oct. 10, 2025.
 

New law puts familiar drinks, creams and gummies in legal limbo

The new hemp rules close a loophole that allowed hemp-derived products containing THC to be sold.

American aviator Amelia Earhart, who disappeared over the Pacific Ocean on July 2, 1937, in this handout image obtained by Reuters on November 15, 2025.
 

Amelia Earhart's last message: Newly released records show communication

The inital batch of documents includes the female pilot's last communications. More are expected to be released on the National Archieves website.

Stephen Bryant is pictured.
 

Firing squad executes SC serial killer who wrote taunts in blood

Stephen Corey Bryant, who once scrawled "catch me if u can" on a wall using the blood of 62-year-old victim Willard "T.J." Tietjen, was executed on Friday.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino (R) presents US President Donald Trump a FIFA world Cup ticket for the final match in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, on August 22, 2025. Trump announced the 2026 World Cup draw will be held on December 5 at Washington's Kennedy Center.
 

Trump, FIFA president announce 'FIFA PASS' expedited visa interviews

FIFA President Gianni Infantino joined U.S. President Trump at the White House to announced an expedited visa process for World Cup ticketholders.

Catherina Laga'aia appears as Moana in a scene from Disney's live-action "Moana."
 

'Moana' offers sneak peek at live-action remake in new teaser

"Moana," a live-action adaptation of Disney's 2016 animated musical fantasy, unveiled a first look at the film with a new teaser trailer.

Time for a break!

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