“The United States has called on the United Nations Security Council to officially back its draft resolution aimed at bolstering President Donald Trump’s Gaza peace plan, warning that Palestinians could suffer ‘grave consequences’ if it does not. The call came as Russia presented the council with its own ‘counter-proposal’ on Gaza, challenging Washington’s draft, according to a copy seen by the Reuters news agency. … The US mission formally circulated its draft resolution to the 15 UNSC members last week for negotiations on the wording and substance of the text.” (11/14/25)
“Bitcoin fell further below the $100,000 mark as a bout of risk aversion sweeping across markets saw investors pull nearly $900 million from funds investing in the token. The largest digital-asset sank as much as 2.8% to below $96,000 on Friday before paring losses, leaving it more than 20% below a record high reached in early October. The crypto market remains under strain after $19 billion in liquidations on Oct. 10 in turn erased over $1 trillion from the total market value of all cryptocurrencies, CoinGecko data shows. The liquidations keep coming, with more than $1 billion worth of leveraged crypto bets wiped out in the past 24 hours, according to CoinGlass data.” (11/14/25)
“Chinese police on Thursday issued a wanted notice and offered a $35,000 reward for two Taiwanese social media influencers they accused of ‘separatism,’ what Taipei says is an effort by China to bring fear to Taiwanese. Beijing has accused dozens of people in democratically-governed Taiwan, which it [pretends is] Chinese territory, of ‘separatism,’ including elected lawmakers. Chinese law does not apply in Taiwan, which has its own judicial system. Taiwanese influencers Pa Chiung and Chen Po-yuan — a rapper better known by his stage name Mannam PYC — have long been engaged in publishing and ‘inciting separatist views,’ police in Quanzhou, the city facing Taiwan across the Taiwan Strait, said in a statement.” (11/13/25)
“The U.S. military conducted another strike on an alleged drug-trafficking boat on Tuesday, a Pentagon official confirmed to CBS News. The attack targeted a vessel in the Caribbean Sea and killed four people on board. Since September, U.S. forces have destroyed at least 21 vessels in 20 strikes in international waters, killing at least 80 people. The Trump administration says the operations — the details of which remain sparse — are part of an anti-drug offensive. The Pentagon has not revealed more information about the most recent strike.” (11/13/25)
“Ukrainian forces fired Flamingo missiles at Russian oil facilities in a fresh wave of overnight strikes, the military has said on Thursday. This included strikes on the Morskoy Neftyanoy oil terminal in occupied Crimea and an oil depot in occupied Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine’s General Staff said. The attack came as top military commander Oleksandr Syrskyi said the Russian army overran three settlements in the southern Zaporizhzhia region and Ukrainian units are locked in ‘grueling battles’ to repel the thrust.” (11/13/25)
“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)
