A panel of federal judges has blocked Texas from using a newly redrawn congressional map, which was designed to help Republicans maintain their majority in the House in next year's midterm elections.

Texas

A federal panel has blocked Texas from implementing its newly redrawn congressional map, ruling that there is substantial evidence the map was racially gerrymandered to favor Republicans. The court ordered Texas to use the district lines adopted in 2021 instead, a decision that Governor Greg Abbott has vowed to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.

The ruling has caused uncertainty in redistricting efforts across the country, particularly in states like California that had responded to Texas's changes. The decision is expected to have major implications for the 2026 midterm elections and could influence how redistricting is approached nationwide, especially if the Supreme Court becomes involved.

Court finds strong evidence Texas gerrymandered new House map

A major setback today for President Trump and Republicans. A panel of federal judges blocked Texas from using a newly redrawn congressional map, which was designed to help the GOP maintain its majority in the House in next year's midterms. In its opinion, the court said it found, quote, substantial evidence that the state racially gerrymandered the map. The judges ordered Texas to instead use House district lines adopted in 2021. Governor Greg Abbott signed the map into law in August. In response to today's ruling, Abbott said that the ruling, quote, undermines the authority of the US Constitution. He added that the state will appeal to the Supreme Court. For more, let's bring in CBS News political reporter Hunter Whittall. Hunter, what substantial evidence of racial gerrymandering are the judges referring to? Well, Lindsey, reading through this lengthy order today, it's striking the argument that the two justices, excuse me, the two judges in this case are essentially saying, they're pointing to evidence, obviously, of clear issues about how race was used to draw these new congressional maps in Texas that they threw out in this order. But what's significant too, and I'm reading directly from the order today, is they quote, lawmakers initially showed little appetite to redistrict when the Trump administration pressed the state to redistrict for exclusively partisan reasons. What triggered the redistricting process was the administration reframing the request in exclusively racial terms. That kind of language is throughout the ruling, and it's clear that that had a major impact and a major influence on how the judges rule today. Now, this redraw would have essentially taken five Democratic-held congressional seats in Texas and made them more favorable to Republicans. With that map now being thrown out, that causes a lot of chaos in redistricting because you had other states, including California, where Democrats answered to the redistricting in Texas, and essentially were trying to mitigate what had happened with a redraw of their own. So what we're seeing here has massive implications for the midterms, and it's a really, real big setback for national Republicans as they try and maintain control of the House. And so you had mentioned other states who were moving to redraw their maps as well. What happens to those efforts now? That's a key question here. You know, we're still in 2025, right, Lindsey? Like, you know, no elections have gone on yet, no primaries yet for the 2026 midterms. But what is striking is when you're looking at how race, you know, judges in this case are saying race was used, it remains to be seen how this impacts other redistricting states that took similar moves, especially California, where there's an ongoing case where Republicans, and including the Trump administration's U.S. Department of Justice, are challenging the map drawn by California Democrats. So major implications here, and it's not yet clear what will happen, but given that the U.S. Supreme Court may weigh in, as Texas Governor Greg Abbott is hoping, it remains to be seen what this can mean for the midterms, but really has massive implications for how things operate moving forward. All right, Hunter Waddell, thank you so much.

Hamas rejects the US-drafted UN resolution for a Gaza ceasefire and international stabilisation force.

New York

UN Security Council vote: Hamas rejects Gaza 'peace resolution'

President Trump welcomed Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman to the White House on Tuesday. The two leaders announced a boost in Saudi Arabia's planned investment in the U.S., from $600 billion to nearly $1 trillion.

Washington

Trump, MBS announce boost in Saudi investment to U.S.

President Donald Trump hosted Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the White House on Tuesday, with the Saudi de facto ruler seeking to further rehabilitate his global image after the 2018 killing of U.S.-based journalist Jamal Khashoggi and deepen ties with Washington.

Trump hosts Saudi crown prince for pomp-filled, deal-making visit

The Senate, through the process of unanimous consent, agreed to send the bill to President Trump's desk for his signature without any amendments once it's received from the House.

Senate to send Epstein files bill to Trump's desk for signature

The House has approved a bill that would require the Justice Department to release files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The bill, which received bipartisan support, now awaits consideration in the Senate.

House passes bill that would force release of Jeffrey Epstein files

Hopes for a strong G20 declaration on climate and debt relief are slim as South Africa readies to host the summit from Saturday (November 22). Global tensions and a boycott by the United States threaten to overshadow the gathering.

Johannesburg

South Africa readies for G20 despite U.S. boycott

At least one person is dead and three others were injured after an attack in the West Bank, Israeli forces said. Meanwhile, the United Nations Security Council backed the U.S. plan for Gaza. CBS News' Ramy Inocencio has the latest.

Jerusalem

Middle East Conflict

Tensions escalate as U.N. Security Council backs Trump's plan for Gaza

U.S. President Donald Trump will host Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the White House, his first visit since Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi was killed in 2018. The crown prince has denied any involvement.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman visiting White House

The sale of the fighter jets is one of several major deals between the two countries expected to be announced during the visit.

Trump says he will sell F-35 jets to Saudi Arabia

The U.K. government has proposed a major overhaul of its asylum rules, making it easier to deport people and quadruple the amount of time it takes to become a permanent resident.

London

U.K. introduces tougher laws for asylum seekers

In a blistering opinion, a federal judge in Virginia accused Justice Department prosecutor Lindsay Halligan of misconduct, saying there was a "disturbing pattern of profound investigative missteps."

Virginia

DOJ accused of 'profound investigative missteps' in Comey case

The United Nations Security Council has voted to adopt a U.S. resolution outlining President Trump's peace plan for post-war Gaza. CBS News senior foreign correspondent Holly Williams has the details.

U.N. Security Council adopts U.S. resolution on Gaza plan

The aircraft carrier USS Gerald Ford has arrived in the Caribbean, giving the United States the ability to strike inside Venezuela if President Trump gives the order. The U.S. has also sent thousands of troops to the region.

Trump 'won't rule out' sending troops to Venezuela amid rising tensions

President Trump now says Republicans should vote to release all of the files related to the federal investigation into convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. CBS News' Olivia Rinaldi and Nikole Killion have the latest on what could happen next.

Trump's Epstein files reversal comes amid pressure from allies

Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk has called an explosion on a railway line “an unprecedented act of sabotage.” Donald Tusk did not say who he believed had carried out the attack, but a government minister said "foreign intelligence agencies" were responsible.

Warsaw

Railway line blast in Poland ‘unprecedented act of sabotage’

Ukrainian President Zelenskyy signed a landmark deal in Paris on Monday to buy 100 Rafale jets, drones, and air defense systems from France.

Paris

Ukraine signs deal with France for jets, air defense systems

The Federal Aviation Administration ended mandated cuts in domestic flights at 40 major U.S. airports, easing restrictions that had been imposed over air traffic control concerns during the federal shutdown.

FAA ends mandated cuts in domestic U.S. flights

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to oppose any attempt to establish a Palestinian state, a day before the UN Security Council will vote on a U.S.-drafted resolution on Gaza that leaves the door open to Palestinian independence.

Tel Aviv-Yafo

Netanyahu insists there can be no Palestinian state ahead of UN vote

A Bangladesh court sentenced ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to death for crimes against humanity on Monday (November 17), concluding a months-long trial that found her guilty of ordering a deadly crackdown on a student-led uprising last year.

Dhaka

Bangladesh's ousted PM sentenced to death for protest crackdown

President Donald Trump now appears to support the release of all Jeffrey Epstein files as the House of Representatives readies for a vote on the matter. CBS News' Natalie Brand reports.

House vote on Epstein files expected Tuesday

In the latest round of the Trump administration's sweeping immigration raids, federal agents arrested 81 people in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Saturday alone. In videos posted online, some who were detained said they do have legal status.

Charlotte

ICE detains dozens in Charlotte

If the bill passes, the U.S. Justice Department would be required to release all files and communications related to Epstein, as well as details about the investigation into his death in federal prison.

Trump calls on House Republicans to vote to release Epstein files

Chile heads to a December runoff after Sunday's presidential vote left no clear winner. Leftist Jeannette Jara and far-right José Antonio Kast will now face off in a race dominated by concerns over crime and migration.

Santiago

Chile leftists advance to next month's presidential runoff

Construction work of a concrete wall continued on the Israeli side of southern border with Lebanon, despite the Lebanese presidency's threat to complain to the U.N. Security Council over the wall's extension into Lebanese territory.

Israel constructs wall along Lebanon border

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro slammed planned joint military exercises by the United States and its ally Trinidad and Tobago as "irresponsible," with Washington increasing its armed presence in the Caribbean.

Caracas

Maduro denounces US military exercises

Despite U.S. President Donald Trump's repeated attempts to kill the effort to release federal files related to Jeffrey Epstein, House Republican leaders are planning to hold a vote this week on legislation to force the issue.

Claims Epstein emails mentioning Trump were 'selectively leaked'

President Trump says he has "sort of made up my mind" on whether to take military action in Venezuela. The comments come as America's largest aircraft carrier, the Ford, and other U.S. forces move within striking distance of the country. Charlie D'Agata has new details.

Trump says he's "sort of made up my mind" on Venezuela military action

President Trump says he will no longer support onetime close ally and Georgia congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene amid the ongoing fallout over the Epstein files. Willie James Inman reports.

Marjorie Taylor Greene 'threatened' by Trump supporters amid Epstein fallout

Flash flood warnings expanded on Saturday as rain hit wide swaths of California amid fears that the atmospheric river will intensify. Andres Gutierrez has the latest details.

Pacific Palisades

Rainstorm pummels California, triggering flash flood warnings

Large-scale protests at COP30 in Belém, Brazil, have drawn attention to environmental concerns and the preservation of the Amazon rainforest. Inside the summit, negotiations have been complicated by the absence of the United States.

Breakdown