The receipts are piling up. So are the excuses.
Kitties, Washington has reached the part of the accountability process where powerful people insist that asking questions is the real scandal. Hegseth has impeachment allegations to answer, Trump is recycling voting machine conspiracies, and the administration’s favorite technology executive is facing scrutiny over an alleged foreign intelligence operation.
Meanwhile, reproductive freedom advocates have an opening in Texas, another senior Justice Department official is leaving, and congressional Democrats face a very practical question: what will they actually do with the power voters handed them? Kitty recommends fewer victory laps and considerably more document preservation.
Daily Shit Show Highlights
- Massie’s published impeachment resolution alleges Hegseth violated war powers restrictions.
- Nvidia scrutiny raises questions about security warnings and Trump’s response.
- Texas’s incoming attorney general promises resistance to abortion travel ordinances.
- Trump returns to unsupported voting machine accusations.
- Hegseth announces 33 military education directives.
- Another senior Justice Department official heads for the exit.
- Greenland remains Greenland, regardless of Trump’s imaginary property portfolio.
- Democrats face pressure to turn their oversight promises into action.
Massie Publishes Hegseth Impeachment Allegations
Thomas Massie’s published resolution alleges that Hegseth violated the War Powers Resolution through unauthorized hostilities against Iran and continued military action despite congressional restrictions. These are impeachment allegations, not a conviction, but “Congress is optional” remains a spectacularly shitty governing philosophy.
Trump’s Nvidia Relationship Faces National Security Questions
Reporting indicates Trump received intelligence warnings about a woman close to Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang who was suspected of working for Beijing, raising questions about his response and the administration’s technology policy. Allegations require investigation, and apparently someone needs to remind this White House that a rising stock price is not a security clearance.
Texas’s Incoming Attorney General Challenges Abortion Travel Restrictions
Jessica Valenti reports that incoming Texas Attorney General Nathan Johnson intends to challenge local “abortion trafficking” ordinances and end Ken Paxton’s practice of suing abortion providers outside Texas. Turning public roads into reproductive checkpoints was always authoritarian bullshit with a county seal.
Kentucky Democrat Wins After a Literal Coin Toss
Democrat Kristen Gifford Fryman won a Kentucky magistrate race through a coin toss after she and Republican Benny Ray Renner each received 91 votes. The next person who tells Kitty their vote does not matter gets assigned this story as homework.
Kushner’s Diplomacy Draws Fresh Conflict Questions
Julie Roginsky examines overlapping financial relationships involving Jared Kushner, Steve Witkoff, Emirati investment networks, and proposed deals involving Russian oil assets as Ukraine negotiations proceed. Her analysis raises conflict of interest questions that deserve documentary scrutiny, because peace negotiations should not resemble a family investment prospectus.
Trump Blames Voting Machines Again
Trump questioned the honesty of the midterms and blamed voting machines without presenting evidence supporting his accusations. Apparently, the machines have committed the unforgivable offense of counting people who disagree with him.
Hegseth Unveils 33 Military Education Directives
Hegseth announced 33 directives reshaping military education, including changes to civilian faculty tenure, greater access to classified instruction, and an AI assisted capstone wargame replacing a written thesis. Kitty would like Congress to examine the actual directives before accepting another sales pitch that treats academic independence like an enemy installation.
Another Senior Justice Department Official Resigns
Civil Division chief Brett Shumate resigned, becoming the fourth Senate confirmed Justice Department official reported to leave after the midterms. Leaving the building does not answer questions about what happened inside it, so preserve the records and keep the forwarding addresses.
The Nvidia Investigation Needs Evidence, Not Billionaire Reassurances
Nvidia has launched an investigation into whether Huang was targeted by a foreign intelligence effort after he acknowledged an extramarital affair. Whether company secrets or national security were compromised remains an investigative question, which makes this an excellent moment for records and independent scrutiny rather than executive reputation management.
Trump Admits Immigration Helped Sink Republicans
Greg Sargent examines Trump’s acknowledgment that his immigration agenda contributed to Republican losses, including his admission that Americans like immigrants. What a devastating development for a political movement that confused cruelty with a universally beloved personality trait.
Hegseth’s War on Thinking Deserves Congressional Scrutiny
Our examination of Hegseth’s education agenda asks what his changes mean for academic independence, ethics instruction, faculty protections, and the military’s ability to question assumptions. An officer corps needs more than permission to agree with the boss, especially when the boss thinks intellectual discomfort is sabotage.
Blanche Threatens Democrats Over “Lawyer Up”
PunchUp reports that Attorney General Todd Blanche suggested Democratic lawmakers could face criminal proceedings over warnings to administration officials to “lawyer up,” despite similar language from MAGA figures. Threatening to investigate the people promising oversight is certainly one way to explain why oversight is necessary.
Trump Did Not Buy Greenland
FactCheck.org explains that the new defense agreement expands military arrangements while Greenland remains a self governed territory of Denmark, with Danish approval still pending at the time of its report. Someone please confiscate Trump’s imaginary Monopoly deeds before he announces that NATO owes him rent.
Neo Nazi Leader Discovers the “Stop Streaming” Button Matters
The Bulwark reports that a neo Nazi leader accidentally broadcast himself masturbating after apparently believing his gaming stream had ended. The master race continues its losing battle with basic computer literacy.
Democrats Need a Plan for Trump’s Oversight Obstruction
Brian Beutler and Greg Sargent examine how Democrats could respond if Trump obstructs investigations, ignores subpoenas, or resists congressional spending restrictions. Kitty expects an enforcement strategy, because another stern letter will not spontaneously grow teeth in the mail.
Final Kitty Thoughts
The common thread is power expecting exemption from scrutiny. Military leaders need to answer questions about war and education policy, technology executives need independent security investigations, and elected officials need to explain financial relationships that intersect with public decisions. Nobody gets a constitutional exemption because they have money, a television audience, or an especially loud persecution complex.
Choose one issue from today’s roundup and ask your representatives for something concrete: a hearing, a records request, a public position, or a commitment to protect witnesses. Then follow up. Kitty is delighted when people win elections, but the job comes with homework, and we intend to check it.
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What We Are Watching Today
- 8:03 AM EST
Defense Secretary Hegseth News Conference on Impeachment Efforts Against Him - 8:31 AM EST
Secretary of State Marco Rubio Speaks to Reporters at G7 Meeting - 8:57 AM EST
Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE) Speaks to Reporters on Republican Leadership Elections - 8:59 AM EST
Rep. Debbie Dingell Speaks to Reporters - 9:01 AM EST
House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA) Speaks to Reporters - 9:01 AM EST
Rep. Nancy Pelosi Speaks to Reporters - 9:04 AM EST
Speaker Johnson (R-LA) on Republican Leadership Elections - 9:06 AM EST
Rep. Steny Hoyer Speaks to Reporters - 9:11 AM EST
Rep. Darell Issa (R-CA) Speaks to Reporters - 9:29 AM EST
Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-OH) Speaks to Reporters - 10:00 AM EST
U.S. House of Representatives - 10:00 AM EST
Supreme Court Takes Up Labor Department’s Power to Penalize Farms - 10:00 AM EST
Veterans Day Ceremony at Iwo Jima War Memorial - 10:30 AM EST
Transportation, FCC & NASA Nominees Testify at Confirmation Hearing - 11:30 AM EST
EU Commissioner Andrius Kubilius Address on European Defense - 11:30 AM EST
House Democratic Leadership News Conference - 12:00 PM EST
U.S. House of Representatives - 12:00 PM EST
U.S. Senate
Today’s Call to Action
1. Read Today’s Resistance Survival Guides
2. Sign these Petitions and Send These Pre Written Letters
- Investigate Fox’s $1M Melania Trump Bribe
- Sign the petition: Impeach Pete Hegseth in House vote SOON!
- Tell Amtrak: No Guns in Passenger Cars
- Sign and send a quick petition to your members of the House of Representatives: Impeach Pete Hegseth.
- Tell Congress: Investigate Musk’s government contracts
- Tell Congress: Raise Social Security by $2,400 a Year
- The World Is Fighting Climate Change. Where Is America?
3. Attend an Event
- Further Together, Always, November 10: Join Common Power’s virtual gathering to discuss election results and next steps for organizing.
- The Midterm Elections: Hope or Horror?, November 12: Join Michael Krasner and Let’s Talk Democracy for a virtual forum examining the election results.
4. Contact Your Lawmakers Directly
- Demand Epstein accountability: “Hi, I’m [name], a constituent in [ZIP code]. I’m asking [Representative/Senator name] to demand a full accounting of withheld Epstein records, protect survivor privacy, and pursue public hearings on documented investigative failures. What specific action will your office take this week?”
- Protect access to health care: “Hi, I’m [name], a constituent in [ZIP code]. I’m asking [Representative/Senator name] to protect Medicaid and affordable health coverage, oppose cuts that leave people uninsured, and reduce prescription costs. Please tell me what legislation your office supports.”
- Defend congressional oversight: “Hi, I’m [name], a constituent in [ZIP code]. I want [Representative/Senator name] to defend Congress’s oversight authority, demand compliance with lawful subpoenas, and investigate documented abuses of federal power. Please prioritize public hearings and meaningful protections for whistleblowers.”
5. Who Are We Boycotting This Week?
- Tesla: Skip new Tesla purchases and leases.
- Amazon: Skip Amazon orders and Prime renewals and shop independently.
- Meta: Stop buying Facebook and Instagram ads and cancel paid subscriptions.
- Trump branded businesses: Avoid Trump hotels, golf resorts and merchandise.
- Fox News: Cancel Fox Nation subscriptions and contact the network’s advertisers.
