Latest Politics News Today: 13 November 2026

The US Department of Justice published a memo designating English as the official language of the agency, instructing its divisions to prioritize English over all other languages. The memo responds to a 2025 executive order and directs agencies to review multilingual assistance programs, eliminating them unless legally required or necessary for the agency's mission.

President Trump's job approval rating has hit a second-term low, with 63 percent of Americans disapproving of his performance in a new Economist/YouGov poll. Foreign policy and the economy remain his weakest areas, with 67 percent disapproving of his handling of the economy. The poll also found that 60 percent of respondents believe Trump is using his office for personal gain.

Germany's Bundestag agreed to a reform package granting intelligence agencies wide-ranging new powers to counter hybrid warfare. The Federal Intelligence Service will be allowed to respond to foreign cyberattacks with counterattacks, including deleting data and disabling systems. The agencies will also be permitted to enter homes and business premises covertly under certain conditions.

A widening wiretapping scandal in Indonesia has brought concerns about state surveillance to the heart of government. Four senior police officers, including former national police chief Listyo Sigit Prabowo, are suspects in an alleged illegal surveillance operation targeting President Prabowo Subianto and other prominent figures. The affair has intensified tensions between the president and his predecessor, Joko Widodo.

Reform politicians in the Welsh Parliament are considering a no-confidence vote against the presiding officer after a member was banned for speaking. The ban was issued after a member claimed white people were being replaced, remarks the presiding officer called unnecessarily provocative. Reform has withdrawn from most proceedings in response to the ban.

Alaskans rejected a ballot measure to repeal the state's ranked choice voting system and open primaries, preserving a unique electoral framework adopted in 2020. The 'no' vote was backed by top Republicans, including Governor Mike Dunleavy and President Donald Trump, who had called for the system's end.

The measure also maintained campaign finance provisions established in the 2020 ballot measure, keeping Alaska and Maine as the only states using ranked choice voting statewide.

Republican senators warned that President Trump's push to use the budget reconciliation process to secure 350 billion dollars for the Defense Department could risk a government shutdown. Senator Mike Rounds said the move would make negotiations on a broader government funding deal more difficult as Democrats subtract the amount from regular appropriations.

Trump called on Senate Majority Leader John Thune to immediately move the reconciliation bill to provide supplemental funding.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz asked US President Donald Trump to avoid diplomatic surprises with Russian President Vladimir Putin ahead of their expected meeting at the APEC summit in China. Speaking in Dublin, Merz warned against a repeat of the Anchorage talks, which Europeans viewed as favoring Putin, and insisted that Europe must be included in the next round of Ukraine peace negotiations.

He stated that Germany's involvement in these talks is a given and that Europe does not need to discuss new security arrangements with Russia.

President Donald Trump directed Vice President JD Vance to shift his focus from Iran diplomacy to combating fraud in Democratic-led states, declaring that Washington no longer needs a deal with Tehran. The move sparked criticism within the Republican party, with Senator John Kennedy dismissing Vance's earlier claim that the Iran war caused GOP midterm losses.

Kennedy argued that economic concerns, particularly inflation and the cost of living, were the primary drivers of the party's defeat in the recent elections.

US Central Command rejected claims by Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps that its forces destroyed an American early-warning radar in Bahrain, stating that two drones were shot down without causing injury or damage. The IRGC said the strike was a warning to Washington to end aerial provocations and oil smuggling in the Strait of Hormuz.

The confrontation occurs as President Trump takes a harder line against Iran, while diplomatic efforts mediated by Qatar and Pakistan continue.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez wrote in Foreign Affairs that the erosion of multilateralism is multiplying the chances of planetary annihilation. He criticized the EU's embrace of war preparedness as feeding a dangerous militaristic mindset and defended Spain's decision to deny the US use of its bases in the war against Iran. Sanchez is set to face a snap election on November 29, where polls suggest he may lose power.

The German Bundestag agreed on a 2027 budget that includes new debt of just over 210 billion euros, the second-highest level in post-war history. The spending plan, which covers infrastructure and military modernization, was finalized after a 15-hour session. New debt constitutes around a third of total spending plans, while tax revenue is expected to be under 400 billion euros.

South Africa's African National Congress secured under 31 percent of the vote in local government elections, its worst electoral setback, with party leaders calling the result catastrophic. The result reflects frustration over unemployment, service delivery, local governance failures and corruption. A researcher said the party must confront difficult questions about governance, leadership and accountability.

Senate Banking Committee Chairman Tim Scott asked former Nvidia chief Jensen Huang and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to testify over national security concerns after Huang resigned amid reports of a relationship with a woman suspected of spying for China. Lutnick has agreed to testify, and Scott said he would consider a subpoena if Huang does not appear. House committee chairs also sought interviews.

US special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner announced that both sides agreed to expand Ukraine peace negotiations to include European partners. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Europe would have a voice in future talks, a move he described as vital for security guarantees.

However, Moscow has not formally confirmed its agreement, with presidential aide Yuri Ushakov stating that Europeans must decide if they want peace or the continuation of war.

The Senedd's presiding officer has effectively banned smart glasses in the Welsh Parliament after ruling they could be used as a teleprompter with advance notice. Members were told he will not consider other requests until a review reports. The review will include consultation with members and staff and be completed by the end of 2026, with recommendations in the new year.

Indian activist Sonam Wangchuk said late Thursday that he is under house arrest in Ladakh, with 20 to 25 police and paramilitary personnel outside his home. He made the claim a day after police removed him from a protest site ahead of planned hill council elections on December 4. Ladakh police said he was advised to stay at his residence under prohibitory orders, while Wangchuk and local groups argue the winter timing could reduce voter turnout.

Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff apologised for the social media backlash following a Facebook post in which he incorrectly claimed all references to Christmas were being removed from a school's end-of-year event. The post identified Trevallyn Primary School and its acting principal, leading to a no-confidence motion against the premier by local union members.

Rockliff said he was sorry for the effect on individuals and schools but stood by his expectations regarding the celebration of Christmas.

A GLOBSEC 2026 Trends survey found 71% of Europeans want the EU to have its own army, with support reaching 82% in Romania, 78% in Lithuania and 75% in France. Majorities also backed the idea in Poland, Bulgaria and Germany, while 78% of EU respondents supported developing EU defense capabilities alongside NATO. More than one-third of Europeans surveyed consider the United States a security threat, including a majority in Germany.

The NSW Supreme Court rejected police objections to Rising Tide's Paddle for the Plant protest, allowing hundreds of paddlers to enter Newcastle Harbour. Justice Edward Muston said public interests in political expression outweighed police concerns, though organisers capped watercraft at 785. Protesters plan to unfurl floating letters reading 'Coal Exports Equals Climate Chaos' and form a line across the shipping channel for 30 to 40 minutes.

Justice Samuel Alito warned Thursday that Congress could defund the Supreme Court and stop its activities, telling the Federalist Society that lawmakers can 'turn off the lights' at the court. He defended the importance of an independent judiciary as he cautioned against potential congressional action.

Democrat Eric Jones is projected to win California's 4th Congressional District, ousting incumbent Rep. Mike Thompson in a single-party battle. Decision Desk HQ projected Jones leading Thompson by more than 4 percentage points, ending a race that had gone uncalled since Election Day. The 35-year-old businessman's defeat of the 75-year-old, 14-term incumbent resembles fights for generational change in the Democratic Party.

A 15-year-old Northern Territory girl charged with making or collecting documents likely to facilitate a terrorist act has applied for bail. Her lawyer proposed strict conditions including 24/7 parental supervision and electronic monitoring, citing her age, ADHD and likely autism diagnosis. The prosecutor opposed bail, pointing to diary entries that allegedly included plans to shoot her school and concerns about online influence.

European Union leaders met in Dublin for the first dedicated summit on artificial intelligence, focusing on how Europe can build sovereign AI capacity to rival the US and China. The agenda included discussions on funding for computing power and infrastructure, with input from AI pioneers and company executives.

The summit also addressed other pressing issues, including the EU's role in Ukraine peace talks and the succession of European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde.

Australia's Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said the government is reworking its working holiday visa overhaul, including ways to reduce British backpackers. British arrivals under a 2023 free trade deal rose from 47,238 in 2023/24 to 79,412 in 2024/25, while industry groups warned a ballot system for non-British backpackers could hurt farming, tourism and hospitality. Burke said the overall working holiday visa number remains unchanged.

Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., said Thursday he will challenge Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., for majority leader as Democrats prepare to retake the majority. Van Hollen called for new leadership and said voters sent a clear message in the midterm elections that they want change from the status quo.

Incumbent Rep. Lauren Boebert, R, blamed policy, corruption and markets for her potential loss in Colorado's 4th Congressional District. She made the remarks Thursday as the race remains too close to call more than a week before Election Day.

President Trump said he gives credit to Sen.-elect Scott Colom, D, for his efforts to win over Republican voters after the Democrat's upset victory in the Mississippi Senate race. Trump made the remark in a White House interview with Stephen A. Smith.

Newly released images showing the size of the new White House ballroom have drawn criticism from House Democrats James Clyburn of South Carolina and Morgan McGarvey of Kentucky. The two lawmakers voiced frustration with the project on social media this week.

A U.S. Army officer arrested in the United Kingdom in an alleged Russian espionage scheme has been identified as Lt. Col. Brandon Tyner, according to multiple reports. The 41-year-old was detained Tuesday after a sting operation and is expected to be charged in the U.K. early next week.

Two top Democrats in the House and Senate are urging the Trump administration to delay the Medicaid work reporting requirement for states. They argue states do not have enough time to prepare before the January implementation.

Judge Jeannette Vargas in New York rejected a bid by FIFA's US subsidiaries to block UEFA from gathering evidence over FIFA President Gianni Infantino's plan to sell stakes in the World Cup and other tournaments. The ruling lets UEFA seek documents from JP Morgan and Thrive Capital in the FIFA Forward Enterprise proposal. UEFA has said it will file a criminal complaint in Switzerland if it finds evidence of financial wrongdoing.