Overview
- Both chambers of Congress approved a measure requiring publication of Jeffrey Epstein case materials, and the White House told Reuters the president will sign it upon receipt on November 19.
- The New York Times reported that Trump approved CIA covert options for Venezuela, while the Pentagon confirmed a carrier group led by USS Gerald R. Ford entered the Caribbean for counter‑narcotics operations.
- Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro publicly urged direct talks, and NYT separately reported secret U.S.–Venezuela contacts that touched on Maduro’s future and U.S. access to Venezuelan oil.
- Axios reported the administration is developing a 28‑point Ukraine proposal with consultations involving Russian interlocutors, as U.S. officials brief European allies and Kyiv on the framework.
- Trump announced a strategic defense agreement with Saudi Arabia and designated the kingdom a major non‑NATO ally, and he highlighted UN Security Council backing for his Gaza plan with Russia and China abstaining.