The House had Pete Hegseth’s impeachment resolution in front of it Tuesday and voted 211 to 204 to send it to the Judiciary Committee. Eleven Democrats missed the vote. Had eight of them shown up and voted against referral, the motion would have failed and the House could have moved toward a vote on impeachment itself. Kitty would love to see what all eleven had penciled in that was more pressing.
Meanwhile, the Trump administration proposed a rule that could take food assistance away from millions, and nine Kennedy relatives asked a judge to let them join the fight against Trump’s proposed arch near Arlington National Cemetery. On Veterans Day, look at what this administration wants to build, what it wants to cut, and who it expects to stand quietly in the shade.
Daily Shit Show Highlights
- Eleven Democrats missed the vote that sent Hegseth’s impeachment resolution to committee.
- Trump’s proposed SNAP rule could cost about 6.3 million people their eligibility for food assistance.
- The White House warned incoming Oversight chair Robert Garcia that future investigations could cross into criminal conduct.
- A federal appeals panel upheld a ruling that Kari Lake unlawfully fired the Voice of America director.
- Kennedy relatives asked to join two lawsuits seeking to block Trump’s proposed arch near Arlington.
Eleven Democrats Miss the Hegseth Impeachment Referral Vote
Rep. Thomas Massie was the only Republican who voted against sending his impeachment resolution to committee. Every Democrat who voted opposed referral. The official roll call gives constituents the part nobody can spin away. It shows exactly who voted and who didn’t.
Harry Litman Makes the Impeachment Case Against Todd Blanche
The New Republic legal columnist argues that Todd Blanche presents a clearer impeachment case than Hegseth. That puts the Justice Department’s conduct in the frame while Washington is still counting votes over the Pentagon.
Scott Dworkin Revisits the Admiral Hegseth Fired
Hegseth removed Vice Adm. Nancy Lacore as chief of the Navy Reserve in August 2025. She has since won a House seat, and Politico reported that she still hasn’t been told why she was removed. Funny how a firing looks different when the person you fired gets a seat in the chamber that oversees you.
The Pentagon Put Conservative Influencers in Civilian Jobs
In August, The Washington Post reported that conservative veterans with large online followings took undisclosed Pentagon jobs while publicly amplifying Hegseth’s positions. If someone defending the boss online also has a desk in the boss’s department, the public deserves to know.
Congress Scrutinizes Deaths by Suicide at the NSA and Cyber Command
Bloomberg reported that at least eleven workers at the two agencies died by suicide over roughly a year. Congress has reason to ask what support workers could access, whether employees felt safe seeking help, and how the agencies responded.
Nick Akerman Takes On Trump’s National Security Record
Akerman’s commentary puts Trump’s national security record on the table. Kitty’s questions for Congress are specific. Which decisions put national security at risk, who signed off, and what records would show it?
The Nation Presses Congress to End Trump’s Iran War
The Nation urges Congress to use its war powers to cut funding for unauthorized military operations, withdraw U.S. forces from hostilities, and pursue diplomacy. The House sent Hegseth’s impeachment resolution to committee. Congress still has decisions to make about the war itself.
The White House Warns Robert Garcia About Congressional Oversight
White House counsel William Scharf suggested in a letter obtained by Punchbowl News that incoming Democrats’ investigations could amount to criminal conduct. The committee hasn’t even changed hands, and the White House is already trying to tell the next chair how to use his subpoena power.
Whistleblowers Raise Concerns About Trump Construction Records
CNN reported that whistleblowers raised concerns with House Democrats that the Interior Department was disposing of records tied to Trump’s Washington construction projects. Interior denied the allegation. Retention logs and copies of the records could help establish what happened.
Nightfire Puts Government Classification Under the Microscope
Nightfire takes up government classification. Kitty’s question for any oversight hearing on secrecy is simple. Who decided to keep a record from the public, under what authority, and who gets to review that decision?
Appeals Court Upholds Ruling That Kari Lake Unlawfully Fired VOA Director
A federal appeals panel upheld a ruling that Kari Lake unlawfully removed Voice of America director Michael Abramowitz after he refused a demotion. The case turned on who had the authority to fire him. Apparently an ultimatum still needs a statute behind it.
Trump’s Proposed SNAP Rule Puts Food Assistance for Millions at Risk
The proposal would limit a policy that lets states use eligibility for other assistance to qualify households for SNAP. The New York Times reported that about 6.3 million people could lose eligibility. That’s a proposal with an actual grocery bill attached.
The Hartmann Report Takes Up How America Makes Billionaires
Thom Hartmann puts billionaire wealth on the reading list. In the same briefing as a proposal to tighten food assistance eligibility, it’s worth asking which rules help people accumulate fortunes and whose budgets Washington expects to stretch another inch.
Kennedy Relatives Ask a Judge to Block Trump’s Arlington Arch
Nine Kennedy family members asked to join two lawsuits over Trump’s proposed arch, which would stand 250 feet tall. They say it would cast shadows over family graves and change the experience of visiting the cemetery. A federal judge has temporarily barred the administration from breaking ground.
FactCheck.org Checks Trump’s Post Election Interview
Trump blamed Republican losses on poor messaging in his 60 Minutes interview. FactCheck.org examined his claims about gas prices, immigration, crime, Russia sanctions, and his own wealth. It’s a long list for a man who thinks the problem was the messaging.
American Freakshow Examines MAGA’s Backlash Against Its Own Women
Nina Burleigh and Katie Chenoweth examine how MAGA has turned its anger on women within the movement after the midterms. Apparently the people who ran the show are already looking for somebody else to take the fall.
The Trump Epstein Reading Room Reflects on Its Survivor Tour
David Garrett reports that nearly 20 survivors took part in the tour, speaking with visitors and reporters across 15 states. His account centers what survivors asked for in city after city, including truth about what happened and accountability regardless of how rich or connected the people responsible are.
How Victoria Broderick Flipped a Tennessee House Seat
Axios reports that Broderick beat Scott DesJarlais, a Republican who had served eight terms, after raising less than $100,000. Her win in Tennessee’s Fourth District deserves a closer look from anyone whose campaign map treated it as a foregone conclusion.
The Record Tracks Public Support for Jeffries and Schumer
The tracker collects what congressional Democrats have said publicly about Hakeem Jeffries and Chuck Schumer. Its entries link to the statements used to classify lawmakers, so readers can check what each member actually said.
Your Weirdo Friend Puts Hakeem Jeffries Under Scrutiny
The commentary raises an allegation about Jeffries’s use of pressure. The questions worth following are what was said, who heard it, and whether the people involved will put their accounts on the record.
The Digital Drumbeat Highlights a Tool for Reaching House Members
DemCast’s newsletter points readers to a tool for contacting their House representative. It’s timely given how closely constituents are examining individual members’ votes and absences.
Marco Rubio’s Cuba Remarks Get a Closer Read
Extreme Arturo looks at what Rubio’s remarks reveal about U.S. policy toward Cuba. The commentary focuses on what the administration’s own words tell us about its objectives.
Mutual Aid Starts With What Neighbors Actually Need
The Resistance Directory gets specific about what keeps mutual aid working. Regular contributions, respect for privacy, and asking local groups what would actually help all matter. It’s a timely read while Washington debates who should qualify for grocery money.
Final Kitty Thoughts
The House roll call tells us who showed up. The construction records could tell us what the administration did. And the SNAP proposal tells us whose grocery budget Washington thinks has room for another cut. When the people making those decisions ask for the benefit of the doubt, Kitty would like to see the roll call, the retention logs, and what they think a week’s groceries costs.
Kitty is big mad today….. RAWER MOTHER FUCKERS!
Featured Resisters and Resources
- Fire Hegseth is a petition campaign calling for Pete Hegseth’s removal from office. The site pairs that request with a detailed presentation of the campaign’s case and links to reporting and other source material, giving visitors a way to examine its arguments before deciding whether to add their name.
- Center for Tech and Civic Life Election Training supports professional election administration by providing training, technology guidance and reliable civic information.
What We Are Watching Today
- 6:15 AM EST
Jared Kushner Says “Significant Progress” in Ukraine-Russia Negotiations - 10:00 AM EST
Veterans Day at the World War II Memorial Live - 10:15 AM EST
Witnesses Testify on Sports Betting at College Campuses Live - 11:00 AM EST
U.S. House of Representatives - 12:00 PM EST
U.S. Senate - 12:00 PM EST
House Freedom Caucus Holds News Conference - 2:45 PM EST
House Speaker Mike Johnson & Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries Hold Veterans Day Tribute
Today’s Call to Action
1. Read Today’s Resistance Survival Guides
2. Sign these Petitions and Send These Pre Written Letters
- Send a message to your Rep. demanding that they hold Hegseth accountable for his reckless, lawless leadership by passing articles of impeachment immediately.
- Tell Congress: Don’t let Pete Hegseth escape impeachment
- Stop Trump’s Bulldozers in Big Bend National Park
- Sign the petition to Congress: Stop Trump from labeling nonprofits as terrorists.
- Please, call your representative now and urge them to impeach Hegseth.
- Tell Bill Gates: Stop Profiting From Methane Pollution
- Tell Congress: Investigate Staffing Failures at VA Hospitals
3. Attend an Event
- The Midterm Elections: Hope or Horror?, November 12: Join Michael Krasner and Let’s Talk Democracy for a virtual forum examining the election results.
- Nov. 12, 3 p.m. ET | What’s the Plan with Leah and Ezra? | Indivisible’s weekly political briefing and organizing Q&A. Indivisible
- Nov. 13, 1 p.m. ET | What the Midterms Mean for Education and Workforce Policy | Jobs for the Future hosts a bipartisan discussion on YouTube Live. Jobs for the Future (JFF)
- Nov. 16, noon ET | The Midterms: What Went Right and What Went Wrong | Free election law webinar from the American Bar Association. americanbar.org
- Nov. 17–19, 7 p.m. ET each night | We Voted, Now How Do We Fix Our Rigged Political System? | Democracy Revival Center’s three-part training on electoral reform. Action Network
- Nov. 18 | Noncooperation 101 | Hands Off Our Vote lists a virtual training on civil resistance and protecting voting rights. Hands Off Our Vote
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.
