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The Miller Doctrine Photo illustration: Brendan Lynch/Axios. Photos: Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images Stephen Miller is no Susie Wiles: He believes in almost limitless presidential power, considers the Democratic Party an extremist organization, and dreams of ruthless crackdowns on immigration and foreign adversaries, Axios' Marc Caputo and Alex Isenstadt report. Why it matters: Miller, who starts Monday as the new White House chief of staff, is unlike any of his five predecessors who have held the job during Trump's two terms — and unlike anyone who has held the powerful position in the modern era. Miller puts the hard in hard-liner, and understands how to pull the levers of power to get his way and make the U.S. government a MAGA machine. 💥 Miller's appointment sets the stage for two years of partisan warfare with the new Dem-led Congress, which is likely to launch investigations of Trump's administration, political committees and allies. "Stephen is Trump's wartime consigliere," Roger Stone, one of the president's oldest friends and advisers, told Axios. The big picture: Despite his post-midterm comments about finding ways to work with Democrats, Trump's choice of Miller signals that the president isn't looking for truces. He's prepping for war, and sees Miller as a brass-knuckle general and tactical expert impervious to criticism or traditional restraints. The 41-year-old Miller — Trump's MAGA brain for a decade — has detailed his Miller Doctrine in speeches, policies and press conferences: 🏛️ Presidential power is "very substantial and will not be questioned." Miller said those words about Trump's Muslim travel ban in 2017 on CBS' "Face the Nation." But to him, they broadly apply to other areas of the executive's authority. ⚖️ Court authority is limited. In May 2025, when courts blocked aspects of Trump's deportation policies, Miller said the rulings were the work of "radical rogue judges" who were "at war" with the executive and legislative branches. 🫏 The political opposition is a threat to America. "The Democrat Party is not a political party. It is a domestic extremist organization," Miller told Sean Hannity in August 2025. Miller also warned that if Democrats won Congress, "it's game over." They just won it. 🛡️ Homeland security is the nation's spine. A key architect of the administration's hard-line immigration policies, Miller said in a March speech: "Our national security, our homeland security, the safety and well-being of our people begins at home, begins in our neighborhood, begins in our home region." 🪖 America should use "hard power" in the Western Hemisphere. "The cartels that operate in this hemisphere are the ISIS and the al-Qaeda of the Western Hemisphere, and should be treated just as brutally and just as ruthlessly as we treat those organizations," Miller said in the same speech, to foreign leaders at the Shield of the Americas conference. Between the lines: Trump advisers see Miller's elevation as a way to reenergize the president's populist base, which failed to turn out in sufficient numbers for the midterms — and in some cases voted for Democrats. Advisers point to Trump's handling of the Epstein files and his decision to attack Iran — which in turn escalated fuel prices — as reasons he lost support among those voters. Without winning them back, Republicans say, they'll have no chance in the 2028 elections. Critics also fault the harsh immigration enforcement championed by Miller, as well as voters' perceptions of corruption in Trump's administration, as additional drags on Republicans. 👀 Miller's allies dismiss questions about his management experience, noting that he has overseen the Department of Homeland Security and regularly runs morning meetings with the White House staff focused on immigration policy. With Trump's legislative agenda effectively stalled, Miller's allies argue he is particularly well suited to a White House that will increasingly rely on executive orders and legal battles — areas in which Miller has extensive experience. But some critics worry that Miller's elevation could mean Trump turns Miller's hard-line immigration agenda into a centerpiece of his final two years in office — something that could continue to alienate independent and moderate voters, as it appeared to do in the midterms. Trump's administration and supporters expect the criticism and are unfazed. "It's Miller Time," said another Trump adviser. "Buckle up."

Violent, property crime victimization rates fell in 2025, federal data shows A new federal report released the week before Tuesday’s midterm elections found that Americans experienced declines in several categories of violent and property crime victimization in 2025, including aggravated assaults, burglaries and motor vehicle thefts. https://floridaphoenix.com/2026/11/06/repub/violent-property-crime-victimization-rates-fell-in-2025-federal-data-shows/?

Young home shoppers still priced out without help, according to survey The age of the typical first-time homebuyer last year remained stuck at a historic high of 40 years old as younger people continue to get the worst of brutally high prices and interest rates in much of the country. https://floridaphoenix.com/2026/11/07/repub/young-home-shoppers-still-priced-out-without-help-according-to-survey/?

Federal appeals court finds Florida’s Medicaid termination letters insufficient Florida has lost another round in a long-running legal battle over how the administration of Gov. Ron DeSantis removed people from Medicaid. https://floridaphoenix.com/2026/11/06/federal-appeals-court-finds-floridas-medicaid-termination-letters-insufficient/?

November 7, 2026 Good morning. Susie Wiles is out as White House chief of staff. Stephen Miller is in. We’ll catch you up on that and all the latest news below. But first: As the days get shorter, resist the urge to hibernate. María Jesús Contreras Hunkering down By Melissa Kirsch Despite this week’s unseasonably warm weather, turning the clocks back is like shifting into winter gear. The sun peaces out at 4:45 p.m. as if saying, You don’t have to go home but you can’t stay here. And go home we do, helpless to disobey the darkness. Why are we eating dinner at 6 p.m.? Why this sudden urge to make soup? Where are my slippers? The urge comes on strong to hibernate, to melt into layers of fleece and quilts. Here comes the cozy season — what will we watch and read, what about a hot cider or a hot buttered rum or something, anything, steaming in a mug? Warmblooded animals hibernate. Their body temperatures, heart rates, metabolism, all drop. Posted up in the burrow or the cave or the hollow tree — winter quarters known as the hibernaculum — they stay unconscious for weeks or months. It’s a tempting model, but I’ve come to be skeptical of it for humans. Hibernating feels like comfort for those of us who see cold and dark as things to endure. But hibernation is missing an essential energy. Hunker too long and it can tip over into lethargy, detachment, a seasonal case of the blues. If we want to indulge in the pleasure of indoor coziness without totally going to sleep, we might take inspiration from the wintertime behavior of coldblooded animals. Where woodchucks and bats hibernate, reptiles and amphibians brumate. Brumation also involves bodily functions’ slowing down to conserve energy. But brumating animals don’t go totally unconscious: A lizard might emerge on warm days to bask in the sun. A snake might have a drink of water. “The most important distinction between brumation and hibernation is awareness,” is how a website that sells enclosures for reptiles explains it. “A hibernating animal is in a deep, continuous sleep and generally doesn’t wake until the season changes. A brumating reptile remains somewhat aware and responsive to their surroundings.” What does it look like to remain aware and responsive as fall seeps into winter? It’s questioning the cues: Do I feel like staying in because it’s restorative, or am I shutting down early just because the sun did? It’s continuing to participate in the splendor of the world even if it’s icy outside. If you have a tendency to go dark in the colder months, might I suggest acting a little more reptilian this year? We might slow down when winter comes, we might feel most comfortable in our own tree hollows, but we remain aware — aware of the way our energy and appetites shift as the light does; aware of the world inside and outside our hibernacula; aware that this winter, like all winters, is still a season of our lives that we don’t want to miss. I’ll be on vacation for the next two Saturdays. See you after Thanksgiving. (I can’t believe it either.) TRUMP’S NEW CHIEF OF STAFF Doug Mills/The New York Times; Tierney L. Cross for The New York Times Days after the Republican rout in the midterm elections, President Trump ousted his chief of staff, Susie Wiles, and replaced her with Stephen Miller, his policy adviser and architect of his controversial immigration crackdown. Miller had been pitching himself for the job for weeks, saying he would advocate winding down the war in Iran. There had been signs Wiles was on shaky ground with the president. He cut her out of some decisions, like picking a television pundit as his press secretary (which turned out to be a disaster). He also blamed her for Tuesday’s losses. On Friday, Trump told reporters that Wiles had done a “great job” but that “sometimes in life you have to make moves.” Wiles, one of the most powerful figures in Trump’s orbit for years, is the latest in a wave of powerful women to leave his administration. THE LATEST NEWS Midterm Elections Scott Colom meeting with content creators in Jackson, Miss., on Thursday. Rory Doyle for The New York Times Scott Colom, the Democratic Senate nominee in Mississippi, held a slim but growing lead as the ballot counting continued. Young voters, alienated by Trump’s policies and an older generation of politicians, powered many of the Democratic victories this year. Prediction markets tout their accuracy. Did they pick the right midterm winners? After Texas flipped blue, Houston’s mayor told the city’s police officers to limit their cooperation with ICE. Voters in four states chose to bar transgender athletes from competing on female sports teams. The U.S. attorney who helped oversee Trump’s retribution campaign has resigned, adding to a list of abrupt departures from the Justice Department since Election Day. Around the World Saudi-led forces bombed a home in northern Yemen, killing nine family members, five of them children, their relatives said. A Tanzania court sentenced the country’s main opposition leader to four years in prison. Human rights groups say the case is part of a pattern of repression. What was once a popular nightclub in Haiti is now a makeshift shelter for families fleeing gang violence. Click to watch. The New York Times Other Big Stories Employers in the United States added 165,000 jobs in October, and the overall unemployment rate fell. (Is A.I. boosting the job market?) The Cornell faculty senate passed a resolution of no confidence in the school’s administration, urging change in how the university handles sexual assault. The U.S. experienced the largest drop in homelessness last year since an annual count began nearly two decades ago. Tesla will stop making Cybertrucks. GAME OF THE WEEK Brendan Mullin/Imagn Images, via Imagn Images via Reuters Connect College football rivalry: Can Michigan State football find its way out of its deepest hole ever? The Spartans are rocking an embarrassing 2-6 record. In their home conference, where the team has played its worst stretch of football in almost 75 years, it’s 0-5. Tonight at 7:30 p.m., Michigan State faces off against its rival, the University of Michigan Wolverines, who are 5-3 (2-3 in their conference). There will be a parallel competition on the sidelines that scientific researchers are calling “The Piss Off.” For a project across both campuses, researchers will collect urine from tailgaters, pasteurize it and isolate nutrients for use in fertilizer pellets. So fans should feel free to have another beer! — Evan Gorelick THE WEEK IN CULTURE Film and TV A24 Close-up shots of Elizabeth Holmes, Nathan Fielder and Billy Evans give “You Can See Everything” its signature look. Our film critic asks: What do their faces say? Jordan Firstman, known as an Instagram troublemaker, becomes a sentimental filmmaker with his debut feature, “Club Kid.” The Canadian sketch show “SCTV,” whose archives are now available on Netflix, featured a murderer’s row of comedians like John Candy and Catherine O’Hara. Our critic explains what made it so funny. Music Sometimes, Dominic Fike sounds like Weezer, or like John Mayer and Jack Johnson. Other times, he raps. Is the mess part of his appeal? Listen to his interview on “Popcast.” The composer John Luther Adams, long attracted to extreme environments, left the U.S. for inspiration in the arid heart of Australia. More Culture “The Nutcracker” has entered virtual reality: Audience members in Detroit watched the ballet on a borderless, 87-foot-diameter LED dome. The Booker Prize will be announced on Monday. See the nominated novels, and vote for your favorite. Lucien Smith, the young artist who skyrocketed to fame before his death this year, died from an accidental drug overdose, the New York City medical examiner’s office said. Morning readers, don’t miss The Midterms Sale on election coverage and more. What effect will the results have on the country? And on you? Stay informed with our best offer on The Times in full. Subscribe now. RECIPE OF THE WEEK Armando Rafael for The New York Times By Melissa Clark Crispy Tofu Tacos Alexa Weibel’s deeply spiced crispy tofu tacos are a masterpiece — fragrant and savory, with heft and crunch. The tofu crumbles are versatile, too. You can skip the tacos and spoon them over rice or sprinkle them onto salads. The key is to really let the grated tofu bits roast until the sizzle is audible. That’s when you know the crunch will be, too. REAL ESTATE Lauren Lancaster for The New York Times The Hunt: She loved her Brooklyn apartment, but there wasn’t much nature nearby. What did she find for $500,000 in the Catskills? What you get for $1.5 million around Cuernavaca, Mexico: A four-bedroom in Palmira, a contemporary home in Chapultepec or a Mexican colonial in Acapantzingo. Calculator: How old will I be before I own a home? Source: U.S. Census Bureau. The New York Times LIVING A skier last winter at Mount Bachelor in Bend, Ore. Ruth Fremson/The New York Times Snowfall effect: A super El Niño is here. What does that mean for skiing? First-lady-worthy: Whom did Rama Duwaji, Zohran Mamdani’s wife, DM for a haircut? Never left: Long after the pandemic, people are still using weekend and seasonal homes year-round. ADVICE FROM WIRECUTTER Order your Thanksgiving turkey in the mail Yes, you can outsource your holiday bird. My advice, in fact, is that you do. A good smoked turkey — we found several in our taste-testing — can be a delightfully tender and wonderfully juicy centerpiece. All of the Rockwellian vibes, close to zero work. You’re not babysitting a bird all day, which frees up more time to go all out on sides and desserts. Because it arrives fully cooked, this turkey won’t hog oven space, nor require you to maneuver around a raw bird brining in the fridge. Maybe best of all, it gives you scrumptious, smoky leftovers for gumbo, my family’s favorite tradition. Just make sure you give yourself plenty of time for shipping, plus an additional day or two to let it thaw. Another shortcut? One of these actually good store-bought pie crusts. — Abigail Bailey NOW TIME TO PLAY Here is today’s Spelling Bee. Yesterday’s pangrams were linocut and locution. Take the news quiz to see how well you followed this week’s headlines. And here are today’s Mini Crossword, Wordle, Crossplay, Connections and Strands. Thanks for spending part of your weekend with The Times. — Melissa Sign up here to get this newsletter in your inbox. Reach our team at themorning@nytimes.com. Host: Sam Sifton Editor: Adam B. Kushner News Editor: Tom Wright-Piersanti News Staff: Evan Gorelick, Brent Lewis, Lara McCoy, Karl Russell Saturday Writer: Melissa Kirsch Editorial Director, Newsletters: Jodi Rudoren Deputy Editorial Director: Lauren Jackson

THIS DAY IN HISTORY November 7 1944 FDR wins unprecedented fourth term President Franklin Delano Roosevelt rose above personal and political challenges to emerge as one of the nation’s most revered and influential presidents. FDR remains the only president to have served more than two terms. Read More Sponsored Content by REVCONTENT 19th Century 1885 Canada’s transcontinental railway completed Arts & Entertainment 1943 Singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell is born 1966 John Lennon and Yoko Ono meet 1980 “King of Cool” Steve McQueen dies Black History 1989 Two African American firsts in politics Civil War 1861 Battle of Belmont, Missouri Crime 1932 Supreme Court overturns Scottsboro convictions Natural Disasters & Environment 1940 Tacoma Narrows Bridge collapses Sports 1991 Magic Johnson announces he is HIV-positive U.S. Government and Politics 1972 Nixon reelected president 2000 Hillary Clinton is elected to the U.S. Senate 2000 Election results between Al Gore and George Bush too close to call Women’s History 1916 Jeannette Rankin becomes first woman elected to Congress World War I 1914 First issue of “The New Republic” published World War II 1944 Soviet master spy is hanged by the Japanese

The Octopus Shuffle In a study published this week, researchers have mapped how octopuses contort to fit through small spaces. The findings could inform the design of more versatile search-and-rescue robots. Rather than simply squeezing through tight gaps, octopuses follow a coordinated three- to four-step process, adjusting their movements based on the opening's size. They first extend one arm to explore the other side, then push several more arms through. Using those arms for leverage, they pull the rest of their arms and mantle to the other side. If an opening is narrower than the distance between their eyes, they make the final passage in two distinct movements (watch here). Their ability to contort stems from a body built around muscles rather than bones. Their major blood vessels can also maintain circulation locally, even when other body parts are constricted. Today's search-and-rescue robots are typically long and narrow, resembling snakes (see example). Researchers say an octopus-inspired robot could potentially carry more sensors, tools, and communication devices with its flexible arms.

Strait of Hormuz could reopen as part of Qatari plan for Iran nuclear inspections Trump still considering new assault on Iran nuclear sites – though threats less credible after Vance remarks https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/nov/07/strait-of-hormuz-qatar-plan-iran-nuclear-inspections? ps:We didn't need to get to this place! But no president trump had to get rid of a deal that the USA already had with Iran and was working just fine!!!!!!!!!!

What’s the point? Ten years after the Paris treaty, are climate talks getting anywhere? Its key temperature goal has been missed but experts say the agreement is still proving a vital moral compass for progress https://www.theguardian.com/environment/ng-interactive/2026/nov/07/whats-the-point-ten-years-after-the-paris-treaty-are-climate-talks-getting-anywhere?

The fear of cooking is known as Mageirocophobia and is a recognized phobia. James

Prominent government critics across Africa are facing treason charges. It's often to silence them Veteran Tanzanian opposition leader Tundu Lissu was acquitted of treason on Friday but sentenced to four years in prison for inciting others to disrupt last year’s elections. Read More.

Belgium's king rejects prime minister's resignation, tells coalition to resume budget talks Belgium’s King Philippe on Friday rejected the resignation of Prime Minister Bart De Wever and sent him and the governing coalition back to work on a long-running crisis over the country’s budget. Read More.

Connecticut Sen. Chris Murphy is discharged from hospital after a stroke and goes to rehab facility Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut said on Friday that he has been discharged from the hospital after suffering a stroke last weekend and will miss “several weeks” of votes in the Senate as he recovers in a rehabilitation facility. Read More.

The final day of voting begins in New Zealand's election as an unusual law bans any talk of politics Polling places opened in New Zealand on Saturday for a final day of voting in the country’s election, with results due to be released in the evening. Read More.

Japan announces emergency cybersecurity package following a wave of attacks Japan on Friday announced an emergency cybersecurity package that includes the use of artificial intelligence and cyber rescue teams after a wave of massive data breaches hit major companies and government agencies. Read More. Japan protests Russian takeover of Japan Tobacco subsidiaries in Russia Japan has protested to Moscow after Russia placed four subsidiaries belonging to Japan Tobacco Inc. under the temporary management of a Russian company and demanded that the measure be withdrawn immediately, Japanese officials said Friday. Read More.

Buckets, chickens and worms: Schools reduce cafeteria food waste through compost, shared tables At Lovin Elementary School in Lawrenceville, Georgia, students play with their food. Sort of. Read More.

PHOTO ESSAY: Israel's government demolished their homes. Bedouins responded by voting against it When Adnan Abu Wadi voted in Israel’s recent election, he carried with him the fresh memory of his now-demolished home. Read More.

Ousted Paraguayan president placed under house arrest after bank collapse ASUNCIÓN, Paraguay (AP) — Ousted Paraguayan President Santiago Peña was placed under house arrest Friday on suspicion of breach of trust and influence peddling, among other charges, shortly after the Senate removed him from office over the collapse of a government-linked bank that locked nearly half the country’s 6 million people out of their savings. https://apnews.com/article/paraguay-santiago-pena-bank-failure-ueno-impeachment-trial-resign-crisis-e84f5ada84e8c747329ec82fabb46e4d?

Total Defiance of Oversight View in browser Introspection has never been one of Donald Trump’s more notable attributes. He never accepts blame or course-corrects; he only becomes a more distilled version of himself. And so, faced with rejection at the ballot box on an overwhelming scale, the president responded by replacing his chief of staff, Susie Wiles, with Stephen Miller. Technically speaking, Miller had been Wiles’s second in command, as deputy chief of staff. In reality, Miller was already the administration’s most powerful figure, arguably including Trump himself. Steve Bannon, a former Trump adviser and a Miller ally who was briefly cast as the power behind the throne during Trump’s first term, described Miller earlier this year as Trump’s “prime minister.” In a parliamentary system, the president or monarch is merely the symbolic head of state, whereas the prime minister is the head of government. Wiles, though reputed for her professionalism and competence, held her job for nearly two years by facilitating Trump’s impulses without questioning them. Miller, however, has driven and shaped those impulses. He is fanatically post-liberal. Miller has repeatedly described the opposition as illegitimate. “The Democrat Party is not a political party,” he said last year. “It is a domestic extremist organization.” He has obsessively, and effectively, employed executive actions to circumvent Congress as a lawmaking body. Trump had little use for the legislature even when his allies controlled it. If Miller remains true to form, he will extend his reliance on executive action, and commit the administration to total defiance of any oversight. He is especially driven by his belief that immigration is a plot directed by left-wing elites to destroy traditional America. Miller, more than any other single factor, explains Trump’s baffling choice to blow up his 2024 coalition, which registered shocking gains among Latinos. He has directed the administration’s frantic campaign of mass deportation, acting in the belief that the GOP has four years to permanently reshape American demography or face permanent extinction. Miller, more than any other person, is responsible for unleashing violent havoc on American streets, as masked agents in unmarked vehicles have swept up suspects. He has also virtually shut down legal immigration—except for white South Africans, whom the administration has ostentatiously welcomed. Even Trump, according to The Wall Street Journal, has sometimes complained that Miller’s immigration enforcement has gone too far. Miller’s enforcement regimen is obviously not the sole cause of Trump’s unpopularity. Trump’s tariffs, corruption, cuts to health care, obsession with erecting monuments to or renaming them for himself, and the war with Iran all contributed to the disintegration of his coalition. When J. D. Vance laid all of the blame on the war, absolving every other failure, it sent a signal that the administration would tolerate criticism only in this one, single realm. The signal sent by Miller’s elevation takes that message to the next step. Miller pitched himself to Trump as an advocate of winding down the war with Iran, The New York Times’ Maggie Haberman reported. His elevation thus combines retreat on a single front—a front many Trump devotees regard as a betrayal of his “America First” principles—with a determination to advance on every other. Trump dwells in a zero-sum world, divided between winners and losers. His instinct in a moment of defeat is to empower an aide who he himself recognizes has at times gone too far. But Trump cannot admit he has failed, or bring himself to show any weakness. Better to go too far than not far enough. Related: The wrath of Stephen Miller Stephen Miller’s new recusals

☎️ Base wakeup call Illustration: Maura Kearns/Axios Democratic House members and members-elect are being bombarded with phone calls and emails urging them not to elect Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries as speaker, more than a dozen lawmakers and aides tell us. Why it matters: The calls point to a fundamental disconnect between House Democrats — most of whom are likely to vote for Jeffries — and at least a portion of their grassroots base. Jeffries remains the overwhelming favorite to become speaker, House Democrats say. Nobody has offered even a hint of a whisper that they would be willing to run against him. A senior House progressive who said they've gotten a lot of calls told us there is a "0.0%" chance of Jeffries not securing the gavel. Zoom in: An incoming House Democrat told us they are "getting inundated" and have received "about 150" calls since the election urging them not to vote for Jeffries. A senior House Democrat said they received "over 500" calls in the last two days, telling us they also got asked about it in-person at a Chamber of Commerce meeting in their district. "I think our numbers are higher" than 500, said another House Democrat. "It's our No. 1 issue, and it's not close." A Democratic chief of staff who said their office got "about 300" calls told us: "Lots of people are saying make Jamie Raskin speaker." Raskin has expressed no interest in mounting a bid. A spokesperson for his office declined to comment. The intrigue: One House Democrat, who said they've "gotten between 300-400" calls, told us actor Mark Ruffalo's post on X calling for "a new speaker" has been driving much of the outreach. Go deeper — Andrew Solender

Dems' long game Illustration: Brendan Lynch/Axios Congressional Democrats see a target-rich environment next year. But they're also worried that if they investigate everything, they may appear to investigate nothing. Why it matters: Democrats want to move beyond the one-off hearings, fist-pounding document demands and subpoena threats that defined much of their oversight during President Trump's first term. The goal, according to senior Democrats, is to build a sustained narrative around the administration's "cost, chaos and corruption" — while showing voters they have legislative solutions to the problems they uncover. "We're trying to get to the answers that point to solutions," a senior Democratic aide said. Zoom in: Senate Democrats are actively coordinating investigations across committees and with their House counterparts, looking to turn Day One oversight of the Trump administration into a sustained case for their own legislative agenda. Think more Jan. 6 committee investigation, with slick videos and compelling witness testimony, than impeachment 1.0. The coordination, underway for months, is increasingly happening at the senator level, with lawmakers working to divide investigative responsibilities and avoid overlapping efforts. "We want to deconflict these with some of the other committees, right? We don't want to be duplicative with other committees," Sen. Chris Van Hollen told us. The other side: Rep. Robert Garcia, the likely chair of the House Oversight Committee, has a four-pronged plan to investigate the Trump administration. But he has a two-word taunt: "LAWYER UP." Between the lines: Nearly every House committee has the power to subpoena without getting sign-off from the minority party. In the Senate, only the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee and its Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations (PSI) can issue subpoenas unilaterally. Trump's war in Iran will likely be the Senate's first focus, with the Senate Armed Services Committee preparing for hearings — and planning to call Hegseth to testify — in January. There will also be an immediate vote on a war powers resolution. "I've been very clear that we need to use every tool at our disposal to end the illegal [incentives] war in Iran, and that's beginning day one," Van Hollen said. What's next: As the scope of their victory comes into focus, Democrats across committees are eager to get to work. "I'm looking at you — Big Tech CEOs, Wall Street executives, and giant corporations. If you break the law, there will be consequences," Sen. Elizabeth Warren thundered on X. Read more — Hans Nichols

Origin of life Scientists say a decades-old theory might be wrong. New research contradicts the long-standing notion that comets seeded the building blocks of life on Earth.

Help for caregivers Lots of Americans care for their ailing loved ones solo, with no training or financial assistance. This little-known Medicare program could help about 63 million people. + ‘Medically frail’: Judge blocks Medicaid rule forcing sick recipients to prove they can’t work

White House shake-up Stephen Miller will replace Susie Wiles as President Donald Trump’s chief of staff. The move comes three days after Republicans suffered catastrophic losses in the midterm elections. 💸 $5,000 checks? White House won’t comment on Trump’s midterm promises + DOJ departures: Three senior officials have resigned since brutal midterm losses Stephen Miller, architect of Trump’s immigration crackdown, to become White House chief of staff US president confirms Susie Wiles, current chief of staff and first woman to serve in the role, will step down https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/nov/06/stephen-miller-chief-of-staff-trump?