Plus: Trump Defends Saudi Leader Accused Of Killing Journalist — Going Against CIA Intel

Good evening,

Apple just came out with a list of its most popular podcasts for 2025, with “The Joe Rogan Experience” climbing past “The Daily” for the #1 spot.

Rogan’s show, which has been running for over 15 years, features hours-long interviews between the stand-up comedian and a wide range of notable people. Guests in the past year have included Elon Musk (twice), FBI director Kash Patel, and Mark Zuckerberg.
The top series for 2025 was The Telepathy Tapes: a podcast documentary that explores whether non-verbal people with autism are able to communicate through telepathy.
The top two new podcasts this year both were backed by big celebrity names: Good Hang with Amy Poehler and Not Gonna Lie with Kylie Kelce.

We all know that Mo News is your #1 podcast. But no matter what you’re listening to, a request from a humble producer: for everyone’s sake, please wear headphones if you’re listening on public transportation. 🙏🏻

Sam,
Associate Producer

🚨 ONE IMPORTANT THING

Trump Defends Saudi Leader Accused Of Killing Journalist — Going Against CIA Intel

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman received an extraordinarily warm welcome at the White House — complete with a flyover of stealth jets, officers on horseback, and a tour of the Rose Garden from President Trump.

It’s the crown prince’s first visit to Washington since the 2018 murder of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi, a U.S.-based critic of the Saudi government. U.S. intelligence determined during the first Trump administration that MBS approved the killing — something he denies.

Reporters pressed both leaders during a tense Oval Office photo-op, raising questions about Khashoggi’s murder, Saudi involvement in 9/11, and financial conflicts of interest between the Trump family and Saudi Arabia.

“A lot of people didn’t like that gentleman that you’re talking about, whether you like him or didn’t like him, things happen,” Trump said, effectively implying Khashoggi had it coming. “(The Crown Prince) knew nothing about it, and we can leave it at that.”

Hanan Elatr Khashoggi, the journalist’s widow, wrote on X:

TRUMP FAMILY FINANCES

Asked about ethical issues related to the Trump corporation having multiple business deals in Saudi Arabia, the president said he has “nothing to do with the family business.”
- Since his election, Dar Global — a Trump business partner with close ties to the Saudi government — has announced at least four Trump-branded multi-billion dollar developments in Saudi Arabia, with negotiations underway for another major project overseen by MBS himself.
- The private equity fund started by Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law, received $2 billion from Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund that is controlled by MBS.

USA <> SAUDI DEALS

On the economic front: MBS told Trump that Saudi Arabia plans to boost its U.S. investments from $600 billion to nearly $1 trillion — though it’s unclear what the timeline is. And, previous Saudi investment pledges have fallen far short of the numbers announced.
On defense: Trump confirmed he’s willing to sell F-35 stealth fighters to Saudi Arabia — a controversial move that could shift the military balance in the Middle East. Congress would still need to sign off.
On Israel: Reporters also asked MBS about joining the Abraham Accords — the U.S.-brokered agreements normalizing relations with Israel.
- He said Saudi Arabia wants to join, but only if there is a “clear path to a two-state solution,” that ensures an independent Palestinian state.

🚨 ONE THING THAT PASSED

House Votes 427-1 To Release Epstein Files After Months Of Infighting

The House voted overwhelmingly Tuesday to compel the Justice Department to release all files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein — a rare bipartisan move that followed a last-minute shift by Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) and President Trump. Several of Epstein’s victims watching from the gallery applauded the passage of the Epstein Files Transparency Act,.

Despite the 427–1 vote, with Rep. Clay Higgins (R-LA) casting the lone “no” vote, major obstacles still stand in the way of making the full cache of documents public.

HOW WE GOT HERE
Last week, four Republicans joined House Democrats in signing a petition to force a vote on the legislation, bypassing GOP leadership. The White House had been lobbying them not to support the petition, but realizing they were on the losing side of the fight, switched positions.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) was one of the four GOP members who initially broke rank. She said that move caused Trump to withdraw his support and endorsement of her re-election, calling her a “traitor,” “disgrace,” and “wacky” over the weekend. Greene fired back ahead of the vote Tuesday.
- “He called me a traitor for standing with these women and refusing to take my name off the discharge petition,” Greene said at press conference with Epstein’s victims. “Let me tell you what a traitor is. A traitor is a is an American that serves foreign countries and themselves.”

WHAT’S NEXT
The Senate passed the bill hours later via unanimous consent. Trump said Monday he would sign the legislation.

“Let the Senate look at it. Let anybody look at it, but don’t talk about it too much, because, honestly, I don’t want to take it away from us,” Trump said, repeating that he did not want Epstein to “deflect from the great job” Republicans and his administration have done.

However, Trump called on Attorney General Pam Bondi late last week to investigate high-profile figures in the Democratic Party and ties to Epstein. Hours later, she ordered a federal prosecutor to specifically investigate Epstein’s ties to former President Bill Clinton and former Treasury Secretary and Harvard University President Larry Summers. Now, even if Trump signs the legislation—- the DOJ might say that they cannot release the files because of an ongoing investigation.

🚨 Yesterday, Summers announced he is stepping back from public commitments after emails he had with Epstein were released showing they maintained a close friendship even after Epstein’s 2008 conviction for soliciting prostitution from a minor.
- In emails to Epstein, Summers asked him for his advice in how to convince a younger woman to sleep with him. Summers wrote: “I said what are you up to. She said ‘I’m busy’. I said awfully coy u are.” Epstein, replied, “you reacted well.. annoyed shows caring. , no whining showed strength.”

WAR OR PEACE
“What a beautiful song, the lyrics. For the young people, look up the lyrics. It’s an inspiration for all times,” the Venezuelan president said.

Maduro faces U.S. drug-trafficking charges and is accused of leading the Cartel de los Soles. The U.S. has a $50 million reward for information leading to his arrest. The State Department said Sunday it intends to designate the cartel a foreign terrorist organization (FTO), effective Nov. 24.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said: “Neither Maduro nor his cronies represent Venezuela’s legitimate government. Cartel de los Soles by and with other designated FTOs including Tren de Aragua and the Sinaloa Cartel are responsible for terrorist violence throughout our hemisphere as well as for trafficking drugs into the United States and Europe.”
Trump said that the designation allows his administration to strike inside Venezuela, “but we haven’t said we’re going to do that,” he added.

Since early September, the U.S. has killed at least 75 people in 21 strikes on small boats accused of transporting drugs in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific. The Trump administration has said the missions target drug-smuggling vessels and “narcoterrorist” networks, mostly connected to Venezuelan gangs. Critics note that if drugs were the main focus, far larger smuggling operations exist in Mexico and Colombia. There are also major questions and concerns about whether what the US has been doing is legal under international and U.S. law.

BIGGER PICTURE
Maduro has shown no signs of preparing to leave power, despite U.S. pressure and losing Venezuela’s election last year.

Along with the USS Gerald R. Ford, the U.S. has roughly a dozen warships, a nuclear submarine, F-35 jets, and around 15,000 troops in the broader Caribbean.
- A senior administration official said Friday that negotiations are not entirely dead, and that the aircraft carrier gives the U.S. increased leverage.

The focus has been on drug trafficking; but Trump has privately discussed the issue of Venezuela’s massive oil reserves, the New York Times reports — around 300 billion barrels, the largest in the world. Maduro had floated a deal that would have given the U.S. broad access to that oil without military action, but Trump reportedly called off those talks.

⏳ THE SPEED READ

🚨NATION

Federal court blocks Texas from using new congressional gerrymander in 2026 midterms (TEXAS TRIBUNE)
Tennessee judge blocks Trump’s use of National Guard in Memphis but gives time for government appeal (AP)
Indiana man accused of killing house cleaner who mistakenly arrived at front door charged with manslaughter (FOX)
Joseph Emerson, off-duty pilot who tried to cut plane’s engines midflight, sentenced to time served, supervised release (CBS)

🌎 AROUND THE WORLD

‘Breakthrough’ HIV prevention shot set to roll out across Africa, first shot delivered in Eswatini (NPR/AP)
1 Israeli killed and 3 wounded in West Bank stabbing as UN approves Trump’s Gaza plan (AP)
Poland says Russian secret services likely behind railway sabotage attack (CBS)
Chinese travelers cancel hundreds of thousands of trips to Japan amid rising tensions (GUARDIAN)

📱BUSINESS, SCIENCE & TECH

Cloudflare outage impacts thousands, disrupts transit systems, ChatGPT, X, and more (AP)
Global stocks sell off as AI valuation concerns persist ahead of Nvidia earnings (CNBC)
Google rolls out Gemini 3 Pro to power search and app (AXIOS)
Trump, one of McDonald’s ‘all time most loyal customers,’ offers Filet-O-Fish suggestion at McDonald’s Impact Summit (FOX)

🎬 SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Roblox announces new safety measures amid a spate of lawsuits (ABC)
Vanity Fair announces all-men 2026 Hollywood issue (VANITY FAIR)
President Trump unveils ‘FIFA Pass’ to help World Cup travelers get their visas faster (NBC)
“Parasocial,” how you may have felt after Taylor Swift’s engagement, is Cambridge Dictionary’s word of the year (CBS)

ICYMI FROM THE 📲

In case you missed it…

Cher will return to the SNL stage for the first time in almost four decades on December 20, alongside ‘Wicked: For Good’ star, Ariana Grande, who will host the episode.

The “Goddess of Pop” has had cameos on the sketch-comedy show throughout the years – including performing for SNL’s 50th anniversary – but this will mark her first time back on the SNL stage as the musical guest since 1987.