The government shutdown is over, the Justice Department investigates riots surrounding a Turning Point USA event, and a standoff brews in the Caribbean between Venezuela and the United States. It’s Thursday, November 13, 2025, and this is the news you need to know to start your day. Today’s edition of the Morning Wire podcast can be heard below, and the video version can be seen on The Daily Wire: Shutdown Comes To A Close Topline: The government shutdown finally came to a close on Wednesday, with President Donald Trump signing legislation to reopen the government. The House voted on legislation to fund the government through the end of January. The vote came after eight Senate Democrats sided with Republicans earlier this week to break the filibuster and push through a continuing resolution to fund the federal government. After more than 40 days, the shutdown’s impacts hit all across the country. From air travel to food stamps, Americans felt it. What comes next:  The debate will quickly shift to healthcare and Obamacare subsidies, which the Democrats used as a rhetorical tool to prevent funding the government for the past 40 days. When they voted to reopen the government over the weekend, part of the deal was to bring that debate back to the Senate in December. On the House side, Democrats such as Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries have proposed extending those subsidies for three years. But with Republicans in the majority, the calculus is different, and there is a lot unknown about the continuation of those subsidies. The argument from many Republicans and opponents of the renewed subsidies for the Affordable Care Act is that the program was never sustainable to begin with. Shutdown drama continued:  Republicans are very pleased with the outcome, but many Democrats, aside from those few who voted to reopen the government, are not.  Berkeley Riot Topline: The DOJ is investigating a protest outside of a Turning Point USA event at UC Berkeley this week. TPUSA has gotten more attention than ever over the last two months since Charlie Kirk, the group’s founder, was assassinated. In the wake of that tragedy, rather than pull back, the conservative activist group has gone all in. While a number of its events have faced significant protest, thanks to increased security, most have been peaceful. But during the final stop of the Turning Point tour this week at Cal Berkeley, a protest turned violent. In the hours leading up to the event, hundreds of black-clad protesters descended on the venue, hurling insults and threats at conservative students attending the event, and mocking Kirk’s murder. Other chants included, “When fascists come and cause a wreck, they get a bullet in the neck.” At one point, a group of protesters attempted to rob a man of his necklace and proceeded to beat him when he attempted to stop them. As the victim, who was briefly detained by police himself, stands up, dripping blood from his face, some in the crowd begin to taunt him, saying, “white boy, you’re bleeding.” Turning Point staffers say rioters set off smoke bombs and tear gas outside the venue, and hurled fireworks and glass bottles at those trying to get in, including parents carrying small children. And then, as the event ended, large groups of rioters blocked exits and hurled threats at those leaving.  DOJ steps in: Attorney General Pam Bondi said Tuesday that the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force will “spare no expense unmasking all who commit and orchestrate acts of political violence” and seeking out the identities of specific agitators. Bondi added, “Antifa is an existential threat to our nation.” The Justice Department also sent a letter to the University of California Board of Regents, notifying them that an investigation had been opened into their handling of the riot, ordering them to preserve all internal records regarding security preparations.  “ There was a sold out crowd of over 2,000 tickets for this event with Rob Schneider, the comedian, and in fact, only a thousand people were allowed to enter,” said the Justice Department’s assistant attorney general for civil rights, Harmeet Dhillon. “There were shenanigans with the ticketing, but a lot of people didn’t come because of what we call the ‘heckler’s veto,’ the violent mob allowed to fester outside.”  Fracas In Caracas Topline: Venezuela says it’s launched a “massive mobilization” of its armed forces – as the United States’ largest aircraft carrier arrives in the region. Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro’s defense minister, Vladimir Padrino López, on Tuesday announced a military buildup to counter what he called the “imperialist threat” from the United States. That buildup included military exercises on Wednesday that reportedly involved around 200,000 troops. Reports say that the military has prepped anti-aircraft systems across Venezuela in case Trump decides to order land strikes, as he has hinted at a few times. State of play: The United States’ largest and most advanced warship, the USS Gerald R. Ford, has finally arrived in the region, military officials said on Tuesday. But diplomatic relations between Caracas and Washington have broken down, and it is unclear whether they have since rebounded. The New York Times reported last month that diplomacy between the two sides is basically broken. It broke over Maduro’s refusal to vacate leadership. Caracas had offered the United States a majority stake in its oil and other mineral wealth. Part of the agreement would have been that Caracas would distance itself from powers hostile to the United States – namely, China, Iran, and Russia. But the United States walked away. Invasion?: Many have made comparisons between the military buildup in the Caribbean Sea and the lead-up to the U.S. invasion of Panama in 1989. There remain some stark differences, however. Venezuela is much larger than Panama, has a larger military, and Maduro is protected by special forces from Cuba, and Moscow has promised to help Venezuela in the event of an invasion. Also, in 1989, the United States went into Panama to oust dictator Gen. Manuel Noriega with roughly 27,000 troops. With the addition of the USS Gerald R. Ford, the United States still has only around 15,000 troops in the Caribbean Sea.

The former chief of staff to California Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom was charged Wednesday in connection with a complicated scheme to steal funds from a campaign account previously belonging to former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra. The Justice Department unveiled a 23-count indictment against 53-year-old Democrat consultant Dana Williamson, charging her with bank fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to defraud the United States and obstruct justice, subscribing to false tax returns, and making false statements. Williamson, who worked for Newsom between 2022 and 2024, is accused of participating in a scheme to divert $225,000 from Becerra’s dormant campaign account. “This is a crucial step in an ongoing political corruption investigation that began more than three years ago,” said U.S. Attorney Eric Grant. “As it always has, the U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to work tirelessly with our law enforcement partners to protect the people of California from political corruption.” The indictment alleges that Williamson worked with lobbyist Greg Campbell and former Becerra chief of staff Sean McCluskie to funnel funds from the dormant campaign account. Prosecutors say the scheme operated between February 2022 and September 2024. Indictment Both McCluskie and Campbell accepted plea deals last month related to the scheme.  “Mr. Campbell takes full accountability for his actions and is cooperating fully with the legal process,” Todd Pickles, a lawyer for Campbell, said in a statement. He added that Campbell is “an honorable former public servant and a positive and respected member of the community who has conducted himself with integrity through this deeply challenging process.” The indictment also alleged that Williamson claimed more than $1 million in fraudulent tax deductions. This includes claiming deductions for items like a $15,353 Chanel handbag and ring, a $5,818 Fendi handbag and wallet, a $19,498 heating and cooling system at her home, a $9,859 watch, a $6,324 couch for her home, a $21,175 private jet charter, a $15,662 luxury hotel stay on her birthday, and $156,302 for a luxury vacation in Mexico, according to the indictment.  Williamson pleaded not guilty to the charges during an appearance in federal court on Wednesday. Footage shared online by California political reporter Ashley Zavala showed her exiting the courthouse without responding to questions from reporters. Here’s what happened when Dana Williamson— Gov. Newsom’s former Chief of Staff— emerged from federal court. She stayed pretty silent and said we could talk to her attorneys. Her attorney wouldn’t talk. She had nothing to say when I asked for her message to Xavier Becerra: pic.twitter.com/hbgOtvhLsp — Ashley Zavala (@ZavalaA) November 13, 2025 McGregor Scott, Williamson’s lawyer, accused the Trump administration of showboating in its handling of the case.  “They chose the grandstanding route,” he told the New York Times. “The only conclusion I can draw is this is the latest misstep taken down the wrong road by the Trump Justice Department.” If convicted, Williamson could face decades in prison and penalties totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars. Becerra, who is running for governor of California, said he was cooperating with federal authorities.  “The news today of formal accusations of impropriety by a long-serving trusted advisor are a gut punch,” he said. “As California’s former Attorney General, I fully comprehend the importance of allowing this investigation and legal process to run its course through our justice system.”

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