HAVANA TIMES – We bring you some of the top international news stories compiled by Democracy Now on Thursday, November 12, 2026.
Democrats’ Senate Majority Expands to 55 as Scott Colom Claims Historic Win in Mississippi
Nov 12, 2026
Image Credit: Lauren Witte/USA Today Network via Reuters
Scott Colom has made history as Mississippi’s first Democratic senator since 1982 — and its first African American senator since the post-Civil War Reconstruction era. Colom narrowly defeated Republican incumbent Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith, who conceded defeat in a video posted on social media Wednesday afternoon. Hours later, Colom addressed supporters at a victory party at the historically Black Tougaloo College in Jackson.
Sen.-elect Scott Colom: “For months and months, I’ve been telling everybody, everywhere I go, that we’re going to win this election. … But every time I said it, I pointed out that people were going to give me too much credit for it, because it’s not something that I did, y’all. It’s something that we did.”
Scott Colom’s victory brings the incoming Senate Democratic caucus to 55, with Alaska’s race still too close to call. On Wednesday, Democrat Mary Peltola expanded her narrow lead over incumbent Republican Senator Dan Sullivan, with about 15% of ballots left to be counted. Meanwhile, Democrat Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins is leading in Alaska’s governor’s race.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent Relocates to Military Base After “Iranian Threats”
Nov 12, 2026
The Trump administration said Wednesday that Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has relocated from his Washington, D.C., home to a military base, after Iranian threats against his life. Bessent has overseen efforts to ratchet up sanctions on Iran, including “Operation Economic Outcast,” which includes secondary sanctions on Iran’s trading partners. Bessent called it the “economic asphyxiation” of Iran’s regime, while Iran has condemned the sanctions as collective punishment.
Progressives Call on Democratic Lawmakers to Stop Funding Attacks on Iran
Nov 12, 2026
Progressive Democrats are pushing party leaders to pass a continuing resolution that would bar the Pentagon from using funds for combat activities against Iran. This is Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen.
Sen. Chris Van Hollen: “On December 11th, the funding for the U.S. government runs out, and we should not continue funding the war in Iran. If President Trump wants to tell the country that he’ll shut down the entire government, all federal agencies, in order to keep his illegal war going, that’s his decision. But the American people have rendered their decision. Let’s end this war and end it now.”
Sen. Van Hollen Criticizes Schumer for Siding with AIPAC and Crypto Lobbies in Primaries
Nov 12, 2026
Image Credit: Reuters/Elizabeth Frantz
Senator Van Hollen has publicly criticized Democratic leader Chuck Schumer and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee for refusing to support the campaigns of Democratic candidates who went on to win the general election, including Abdul El-Sayed of Michigan and Troy Jackson of Maine.
Sen. Chris Van Hollen: “We have two members in that room, newly elected senators, who would not be there if Schumer and the DSCC had had their way. And, you know, Schumer and the DSCC sided with the crypto industry and AIPAC against these candidates.”
This week, Van Hollen said he’s considering challenging Schumer for Senate majority leader.
Rep.-elect Don Leonard Says Senior Dems Threatened to Make His Life “Living Hell” over Jeffries Vote
Nov 12, 2026
Image Credit: donforohio.com
House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries is under fire after 11 Democrats failed to show for a procedural vote on Tuesday as the House narrowly failed to advance the impeachment of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Several of the absent Democrats reportedly got caught in traffic on the way to the Capitol after attending an event held by the super PAC Elect Democratic Women. The Lever reports the group funneled nearly $2.4 million from AIPAC, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, into congressional races this cycle.
This comes as progressive groups are calling on congressional Democrats to challenge Jeffries’s bid to become House speaker. A Change.org petition calling on Massachusetts Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley to run for speaker has over 40,000 signatures.
On Tuesday, Democratic Congressmember-elect Don Leonard of Ohio said in a social media post that he’d met with senior House Democrats and told them he’ll only support Jeffries for House speaker on two conditions: a vote on a constitutional amendment overturning Citizens United, and an end to U.S. support for the war in Iran and aid to Israel. Leonard says, in response, the House Democrats threatened to undermine his political career.
Rep.-elect Don Leonard: “That would basically mean both making my life a living hell for the next two years here in Washington, as well as being sure to lose my election in two years. … At the end of the day, the big-D Democratic Party needs some little-D democracy, and I’m just a stubborn SOB.”
Israeli Strike on Nasser Hospital in Gaza Kills at Least Six People Including Surgeon
Nov 12, 2026
In Gaza, an Israeli strike on a building at Nasser Hospital killed at least six people and wounded 20 others today. A surgeon, Dr. Rizo Abu Shaira, who was featured in the documentary “American Doctor,” was killed in the strike. Footage filmed inside the hospital revealed severe destruction: rooms littered with debris and overturned furniture, and cables hanging from broken ceilings. Injured patients were moved on stretchers through hallways covered in rubble. This is a doctor, Ayman Abu Obeid.
Dr. Ayman Abu Obeid: “As usual, we were on shift at the hospital. We have rooms where we stay. We were surprised by a strike directly on the room we sleep in. Total destruction. No light left, no help left, no… I don’t know what happened. All of a sudden, the world turned upside down. It went dark all at once. Honestly, it was very terrifying.”
A Hamas spokesperson condemned the strike as a “fully-fledged war crime.” Since last October’s so-called ceasefire, at least 1,600 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks.
Hegseth and His Entourage Scolded for Breaking Decorum at Arlington National Cemetery
Nov 12, 2026
President Trump marked Veterans Day Wednesday with a visit to Arlington National Cemetery, where he defended U.S. attacks on Iran and Venezuela. Trump declared that the war with Iran is on hold, for now, and that the U.S. had already won. And he boasted that in Venezuela, “we’re taking out billions and billions of dollars of oil and all sorts of other things… To the victor belong the spoils.” Ahead of his remarks, Trump participated in a wreath-laying ceremony, joined by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. After the event, Hegseth and his entourage were seen taking photos, chatting and laughing outside the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, before they were loudly scolded by a U.S. Army sentinel for breaking decorum.
U.S. Army sentinel: “All visitors will maintain an atmosphere of silence and respect at all times!”
Trump’s Triumphal Arch Faces Lawsuit from Members of Kennedy Family
Nov 12, 2026
President Trump’s plan to build a 250-foot triumphal arch just outside Arlington National Cemetery is facing lawsuits by Vietnam War veterans, Arlington County, the state of Virginia, the District of Columbia — and members of the Kennedy family, who claim the arch would interfere with the sightline from the eternal flame at President John F. Kennedy’s gravesite and cast shadows over the memorial.
This comes as House Democrats sent letters to dozens of federal agencies and private companies telling them to preserve all documentation related to Trump’s construction projects. Whistleblowers reportedly warned Democrats that Trump officials have destroyed documents, violating the Federal Records Act.
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang Resigns
Nov 12, 2026
In breaking news, Nvidia CEO and co-founder Jensen Huang has resigned. This follows reports that Nvidia’s board of directors was preparing to remove him after an internal investigation into his affair with a Chinese businesswoman whom U.S. intelligence officials claim was spying for Beijing. Huang was reportedly the target of a Chinese intelligence operation that attempted to convince him to lobby U.S. officials to allow the export of advanced computer chips to China. According to The New York Times, President Trump eased some of the limits on the sale of advanced chips to China after Huang’s lobbying. Trump was reportedly briefed about Huang being compromised about a year ago.
In a separate report Wednesday, The New York Times said Huang had another extramarital affair with an Nvidia executive who reports directly to him. Meanwhile, a shareholder lawsuit filed in federal court in California accuses Nvidia and Huang of misleading investors about the affair with the alleged Chinese spy. The lawsuit comes as President Trump said the FBI is investigating the relationship.
SpaceX Plans $24 Billion Data Center in South Texas
Nov 12, 2026
In Texas, Elon Musk’s SpaceX is planning to build a $24 billion data center just outside of Brownsville, despite the city’s data center moratorium that went into effect last week. At SpaceX’s request, Brownsville deannexed the land for the proposed data center. Democratic Governor-elect Gina Hinojosa has called for a data center moratorium throughout the state of Texas.
Oakland City Council Unanimously Extends Data Center Moratorium for a Year
Nov 12, 2026
In California, the Oakland City Council unanimously extended its data center moratorium for a year. This is Cathy Leonard, the community liaison for the Oakland EcoBlock project.
Cathy Leonard: “Black people were redlined into West Oakland, where there were harmful industrial emissions, which continue to this day. The asthma and cancer rates for children and seniors in West Oakland is higher than any other district in the city of Oakland. So, now we’re going to bring data centers to West Oakland? … Let’s bring some productive businesses to Oakland that actually help Oaklanders, who improve the health of Oaklanders, not kill us. These centers are killers.”
Millions Take Part in General Strike in Spain
Nov 12, 2026
In Spain, millions of people took to the streets for the first general strike in 14 years to protest against rising housing costs and stagnant wages. Tenants’ associations and unions led the protests with a 24-hour work stoppage. The protests come less than three weeks before a snap general election. This is a resident of Madrid.
Olga Domingo: “They just keep making cuts and things just keep getting worse. And, of course, there’s the issue of housing. The housing situation is outrageous. The prices of things right now compared to wages are completely unsustainable, and it’s a wonder that we haven’t been out on strike before now.”
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