Wednesday morning news: November 12, 2025

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Government funding update » House members are on their way back to Capitol Hill, where a vote could happen as soon as today on a government funding package the Senate just passed.

That would reopen the government and fund it through the end of January.

The vote could be tight. Republican Brian Mast noted that 8 Senate Democrats supported the stopgap measure, and:

MAST:  I would be surprised if in the end we have a total of 15 Democrats between the House and the Senate.

But it is widely expected to pass in the House nevertheless.

Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania was one of those 8 Democrats in the upper chamber who crossed the aisle to break a filibuster and approve funding.

He said he’s elated that the government will soon reopen.

FETTERMAN:  People have went five weeks without being paid. Um, I mean, that's a violation of my core values. And then I think it's our party’s as well.

Flight delays » Among those who have gone without paychecks, are air traffic controllers across the country.

Transportation Sec. Sean Duffy:

DUFFY:  Virtually all of them can't navigate missing two pay periods, which is a whole month of pay they've missed. Um, so that, that's a problem and that's why this, uh, reopen of the government is so critical to happen right now.

A surge in unpaid controllers calling out sick, forced the FAA to reduce flight traffic for safety. And that has led to thousands of flight cancellations and delays each day this week.

Nick Daniels is president of National Air Traffic Controllers Association.

DANIELS:  This is the erosion of the safety margin the flying public never sees, but America relies on every single day.

If lawmakers can’t get back to Washington in time, that could delay the funding vote.

And even when the government does reopen, that doesn’t mean flights will immediately return to normal.

The FAA says there is no timeline right now for when air traffic will return to normal.

SOUND: [Playing Taps]

Veteran's Day » President Trump paying tribute to fallen soldiers on this Veteran’s Day laid a wreath at the tomb of the unknown soldier at Arlington National Cemetery.

But the president said this holiday should also be known as Victory Day.

He noted celebrations he’s witnessed in Europe to mark the end of both World Wars.

TRUMP:  America's warriors never quit, never surrender her. They fight, fight, fight, and they win, win, win. That's what we do. We win battles.

The president said his administration is reducing wait times for medical care for veterans and working to create new opportunities for veterans after leaving the military.

TRUMP: And I’m pleased to report that since January, the veterans unemployment rate has fallen by more than 26%.

President Trump has also issued an executive order to build a center to house up to 6,000 homeless veterans by 2028.

Arctic blast chills much of U.S. » A surge of Arctic air has knocked temperatures into record territory across the Southeast while dumping early snow in the Northeast.

Freeze warnings now cover 18 million people in Alabama, Georgia, and even in Florida, where officials warned residents of falling iguanas as the frigid air paralyzes the tropical reptiles.

Scott Kleebauer with the National Weather Service said Tuesday that in Lakeland, Florida between Orlando and Tampa:

KLEEBAUER:  Their records go back to 1948 and they were at 36 this morning. And the old record, the old daily record was 44 back in 1996, so actually beating it by a whole eight degrees.

Meanwhile, lake-effect snow is coating parts of Michigan, New York and Pennsylvania with 4 to 8 inches already, and more on the way.

Israel latest A » Israel has agreed to allow more than 100 Hamas terrorists to be exiled, but there's a snag.

The Times of Israel reports the plan cannot move forward, because there are currently no countries willing to accept them.

Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron said his country is taking steps toward the establishment of a Palestinian state.

MACRON: [Speaking French]

Macron says France and the Palestinian Authority will work together on a first draft of a constitution for a future state.

Israel latest B » And in central Israel

SOUND: [Soldier funeral]

Tens of thousands of Israelis gathered yesterday for the funeral of Lieutenant Hadar Goldin.

Goldin was 23 when he was killed just two hours after a ceasefire took effect in the 2014 war between Israel and the terror group Hamas. Hamas has held his body for the past 11 years but the terror group released his remains on Sunday as part of the ceasefire deal brokered by the Trump administration last month.

Pakistan suicide bombing » At least 12 people are dead and more than two dozen wounded after a suicide bombing outside a district court in Islamabad. WORLD’s Benjamin Eicher has more.

BENJAMIN EICHER: Police say the attacker tried to enter the courthouse Tuesday, but detonated his explosives beside a police car after being stopped at the gate.

Authorities say the bomber targeted officers, calling the assault part of a wider wave of militant violence.

A faction of the Pakistani Taliban, Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, claimed responsibility, though its leaders later issued conflicting statements.

Meanwhile, Pakistani security forces foiled an attack at an army-run college in a northwestern province. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned both attacks and called for swift justice.

For WORLD, I’m Benjamin Eicher.

I'm Kent Covington.

Straight ahead: this week in politics on Washington Wednesday and our international roundup on World Tour. Plus, help for parents wanting to strengthen their children’s faith.

This is The World and Everything in It.

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