“More than 1,000 unionized Starbucks workers went on strike at 65 U.S. stores Thursday to protest a lack of progress in labor negotiations with the company. The strike was intended to disrupt Starbucks’ Red Cup Day, which is typically one of the company’s busiest days of the year. Since 2018, Starbucks has given out free, reusable cups on that day to customers who buy a holiday drink. Starbucks Workers United, the union organizing baristas, said Thursday morning that the strike had already closed some stores and was expected to force more to close later in the day. … Around 550 company-owned U.S. Starbucks stores are currently unionized. More have voted to unionize, but Starbucks closed 59 unionized stores in September as part of a larger reorganization campaign.” (11/13/25)
It’s a FIREHOSE Friday at the freedom movemement’s daily newspaper — we’ve got more than 100 news stories, opinion pieces, and audio/video links (and maybe more by the time you read this) lined up for you today!
After a zero dollar Thursday, our year-end fundraiser total remains at $1,165.84.
Our “mini-goal” is to raise at least $334.16, getting that number up to at least $1,500, by Monday morning. Please help us with that at:
Our TOTAL goal is $5,501, the SECOND half of which is already guaranteed by a “matching funds” pledge from supporter GL. We have to raise the FIRST half — $2750.50 — in order to get GL’s money, and that’s where you come in.
We don’t play the “if we don’t make our goal, we’ll have to shut down” game. We’ve been doing this for 23 years as Rational Review News Digest and for nearly 35 years under other brands (Freedom News Daily and Libernet) before that. When we run our year-end fundraiser, we consider that a commitment to keep going for AT LEAST one more year absent some kind of unpredictable cataclysm.
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My family “closed” on our new (to us) house purchase (we’ve been renting for nearly 13 years) this week, and have begun the moving process. Hopefully Monday’s RRND/FND will come to you from there. Have a happy, healthy, and prosperous weekend!
Yours in liberty,
Tom Knapp
Publisher
Rational Review News Digest / Freedom News Daily
“Doritos and Cheetos are getting a makeover. PepsiCo said Thursday it’s launching toned-down versions of its bright orange snacks that won’t have any artificial colors or flavors. Doritos and Cheetos Simply NKD will hit store shelves on Dec. 1. It’s part of a broader shift underway at PepsiCo, which announced in April that it would accelerate a planned transition to using natural colors in its foods and beverages. Around 40% of its U.S. products now contain synthetic dyes, according to the company. Dye-free doesn’t mean Doritos and Cheetos Simply NKD will be colorless. Instead, they’re just a lighter color, like a tortilla chip. Many other big food companies, including Kraft Heinz and General Mills, have made similar pledges.” (11/13/25)
“The main presidential candidates in Honduras signed a democratic commitment agreement to ensure transparency and respect for the results of the general elections scheduled Nov. 30. The initiative, promoted by the National Electoral Council and supported by the Organization of American States, seeks to ease political tensions after President Xiomara Castro alleged an ‘electoral coup’ attempt by opposition groups, El Heraldo reported. During the ceremony held in Tegucigalpa on Tuesday, presidential hopefuls from the Libre, National and Liberal parties pledged to respect the popular will, avoid hate speech and recognize the official results issued by the electoral council.” (11/13/25)
“Self-proclaimed socialist Katie Wilson — who is still financially supported by her New York parents at 43 years old — will be the next mayor of Seattle, overseeing a budget close to $9 billion. Wilson, whose campaign was likened to that of fellow Democratic Socialist Zohran Mamdani in New York City, secured the lead over incumbent Mayor Bruce Harrell on Wednesday. Unlike the New York City race, however, the Seattle election went down to the wire, with Wilson squeezing just enough votes to win and avoid an automatic recount. … While Harrell lost by enough votes not to trigger an automatic recount, it’s still close enough for his campaign to request and pay for one.” (11/13/25)
“Airlines are optimistic they can resume normal operations just a few days after the government lifts its order to cut some flights at 40 busy airports, but it’s not clear how soon that will happen even though the federal shutdown is over. The Federal Aviation Administration did announce Wednesday night that airlines won’t have to cut more than 6% of flights at those airports because air traffic controller staffing has improved significantly in the last few days. Originally the order that took effect last Friday called for those flight cuts to increase to 8% Thursday and top out at 10% on Friday. A number of air traffic controllers missed work while they were going without pay during the shutdown, and the spike in understaffing at airport towers and regional control centers prompted the flight cut order due to concerns about safety.” (11/13/25)
“Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania has been hospitalized after a fall near his home, which caused minor injuries to his face, his spokesman said on X. Fetterman fell to the ground after feeling light-headed, which was due to a ventricular fibrillation flare-up, the statement said. Ventricular fibrillation is a type of irregular heartbeat. Fetterman is remaining at the hospital for observation so doctors can ‘fine-tune’ his medications.” (11/13/25)
“South Sudan’s leader Salva Kiir has in a shock move dismissed one of his vice-presidents, Benjamin Bol Mel, who had been tipped as his possible successor. Kiir stripped Bol Mel of his military rank of general and dismissed him from the national security service. He also sacked the central bank governor and the head of the revenue authority, both considered close allies of Bol Mel. No explanation was given for the dismissals, which were announced in a decree broadcast on state television. It comes when there are growing fears of political instability and a possible return to civil war, after the recent collapse of a fragile power-sharing agreement between Kiir and opposition leader Riek Machar.” (11/13/25)
“The Trump Organization requested 184 foreign workers to work across various company properties, a record number that has increased over the years. The company sought to hire workers through H-2A and H-2B visas for temporary positions at Mar-a-Lago, two golf clubs and at Trump Vineyard Estates in Charlottesville, Va., according to data from the Department of Labor. Over the course of Trump’s first term and the first nine months of his second term, the Trump Organization’s visa requests increased from 121 in 2021 to 184 in 2025, according to Forbes. Overall, the company has filed to hire 566 foreign laborers, primarily to work as servers, farm workers, kitchen staff, clerks and housekeepers.” (11/13/25)
“Telegram chief Pavel Durov is once again free to travel as he pleases. The social media entrepreneur’s judicial supervision and prohibition on leaving France without authorization has been lifted by the courts, according to an official familiar with the proceedings, confirming reports from Bloomberg and AFP. The Telegram founder was arrested in France in August 2024 and charged with several organized crime offenses. Prosecutors accuse Durov and his Telegram messaging service of refusing to cooperate with authorities in proceedings to combat illegal content, including child pornography. Following his late-night arrest at Le Bourget airport, the courts placed Durov under strict judicial supervision, preventing him from leaving French territory.” (11/13/25)
