Thursday morning news: November 13, 2025

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House funding vote » After six weeks, the House last night cast the final vote to end the longest-ever government shutdown.

AUDIO (House vote): On this vote, the yeas are 222, the nays are 209. The bill is passed.

And with that, the bill went to President Trump’s desk for a signature — with the Senate having approved it earlier in the week.

Hours before the vote, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters:

LEAVITT:  President Trump looks forward to being, to finally ending this devastating Democrat shutdown with his signature.

The spending package will reopen the government and fund it through the end of January.

Senate Democrats held up funding for weeks, demanding Republicans agree to extend expiring Obamacare tax credits, until eight Democrats crossed the aisle to break the filibuster this week.

Fentanyl crackdown » The Trump administration says Beijing is now taking real steps to help curb the flow of deadly fentanyl into the United States.

 FBI Director Kash Patel met with his Chinese counterpart following a recent summit between President Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping.

PATEL:  That was the sole purpose of my trip to China to eliminate these precursors,

The flow of fentanyl precursors from China has been a major flashpoint between Washington and Beijing. President Trump earlier this year hit Chinese goods with additional tariffs, accusing China of allowing chemical makers to supply Mexican cartels.

But Secretary of State Marco Rubio says things are now moving in the right direction.

RUBIO:  The Chinese have agreed to schedule 13 key precursors, so for the first time, if they can cut back on that being shipped to Mexico, that will certainly have an impact on the, on the manufacturing of Fentanyl inside of Mexico.

In response to the announcement from China, the White House is reducing tariffs on Chinese products by 10%.

White House responds to Epstein email »  Democrats on the House Oversight Committee released emails on Wednesday from Jeffrey Epstein about President Trump.

In one 2019 message, Epstein wrote that Trump “knew about the girls,” though what he meant is unclear.

The White House says Trump banned Epstein from Mar-a-Lago years ago.

And Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt called the release a smear campaign … and an attempt to distract Americans as Trump signs a bill ending the Democrats’ government shutdown.

LEAVITT: And this entire thing, again, it's not a coincidence to the American people at home. There are no coincidences in Washington D.C.

One alleged Epstein victim, Virginia Giuffre, repeatedly said under oath that Trump was never involved in wrongdoing and “couldn’t have been friendlier.”

But House Democrats joined by a handful of Republicans are attempting to force a vote to compel full release of any and all files the Justice Department has related to the late billionaire and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Israel: Trump’s call for Bibi pardon » President Trump is renewing his earlier call for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to be pardoned.

Trump, speaking to Israel’s parliament last month, asked Israeli President Isaac Herzog:

TRUMP: Mr. President, why don't you give him a pardon?

Netanyahu has been facing a long-running corruption trial that has bitterly divided Israel.

Trump this week reiterated his position. He said he sent a letter to Herzog, characterizing the case against Netanyahu as political and unjust.

Israel: West Bank attacks » Meanwhile, tensions in the West Bank.

Authorities say several dozen masked Israeli settlers attacked a pair of Palestinian villages in the region, which the Israeli government refers to as Judea and Samaria.

Both Israeli and Palestinian officials say the settlers set fire to vehicles and other property, before clashing with Israeli soldiers sent to stop the attacks.

Final U.S. pennies to be minted in Philly » The U.S. Mint struck its final penny on Wednesday, ending more than two centuries of production.

The one-cent coin, once a symbol of thrift, now costs nearly four cents to make.

Treasurer Brandon Beach pressed the button for the last batch at the Philadelphia Mint.

 BEACH: Given the rapid modernization of the American wallet, the Department of the Treasury and President Trump no longer believe the continued production of the penny is fiscally responsible.

He said the move will save taxpayers $56 million.

President Trump ordered the change earlier this year. It’s the first U.S. coin discontinued since the half-cent in 1857.

Billions of pennies will stay in circulation, but no new ones will be made.

I'm Kent Covington.

Straight ahead: a Christian denomination wrestles with what to do next when someone confesses abuse. Plus, changes in women’s health care during menopause.

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