November 22

Trump Administration Denies FEMA Disaster Relief for Illinois Again Despite Governor Pritzker's Appeal

The Trump administration rejected Illinois' second appeal for a major disaster declaration covering severe August 2025 storms that caused flooding, wind and hail damage in Boone, Cook, Kane, McHenry, and Will counties. FEMA had denied the first request in October; this second denial came after joint damage assessments and supplemental surveys in November. Governor JB Pritzker called the decision "politically motivated," noting that Vermont, Maryland, and Colorado — all with Democratic governors — also faced denials in 2025.

Trump says Greene went bad as her resignation ripples through MAGA coalition

A day after announcing her resignation, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene faced Trump's public rebuke — he said she "went BAD" — while also leaving open the door to reconciliation, saying "I said go your own way." Greene defended her stand: "Standing up for women who were raped at 14 should not result in me being called a traitor." Media coverage detailed the months-long rift over Epstein files and Trump's second-term agenda.

Trump nominates Scott Bessent as 79th secretary of the Treasury

President-elect Donald Trump announces Scott Bessent as his nominee for Secretary of the Treasury, calling him "one of the most brilliant men on Wall Street." Financial markets rally on the news, with analysts citing Bessent's hedge fund background and relative moderation on tariff escalation as stabilizing factors. The Senate Finance Committee advances his nomination on a bipartisan basis in January 2025.

Trump hosts dinner with Holocaust denier Nick Fuentes and Ye at Mar-a-Lago

On November 22, 2022, former President Donald Trump hosts rapper Ye (Kanye West) for dinner at Mar-a-Lago. Ye arrives with white nationalist and Holocaust denier Nick Fuentes, who joins the meal. Fuentes is a leading figure in the "America First" white nationalist movement who has denied the Holocaust and argued for white Christian dominance. Trump's aides later say Trump did not know Fuentes would be present. Trump nevertheless confirms the dinner took place, and neither condemns nor distances himself from Fuentes in the days that follow. The dinner comes three weeks after Ye made a series of antisemitic statements that cost him brand deals worth hundreds of millions of dollars. Prominent Republicans including House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy call the dinner "clearly not acceptable," but Trump faces no party consequences. The episode adds to a documented pattern of Trump meeting with, amplifying, or failing to condemn white nationalists and antisemites.

Biden releases 50 million barrels from Strategic Petroleum Reserve to combat gas prices

Biden announces the release of 50 million barrels of oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve in coordination with China, India, Japan, South Korea, and the UK, the first coordinated international strategic reserve release in history. Gas prices had risen to $3.40 per gallon nationally, a 7-year high, driven by post-pandemic demand recovery. The release aims to reduce prices ahead of Thanksgiving and Christmas travel. The IEA separately releases 60 million barrels. Critics call it a band-aid. Prices fall modestly but remain elevated. Biden uses the SPR repeatedly in 2022, releasing a record 180 million barrels.