Multiple sources tell CBS News that the FBI has opened an investigation into six congressional Democrats who participated in a video addressing the U.S. military about unlawful orders. CBS News' Scott MacFarlane reports.

Washington

The FBI has initiated an inquiry involving six Democratic members of Congress who released a video reminding service members of their duty not to follow unlawful military orders. The inquiry, which is not a criminal investigation at this stage, includes outreach to House and Senate leadership to arrange interviews with the lawmakers, all of whom have military or intelligence backgrounds.

The lawmakers have cited First Amendment protections and the speech and debate clause as potential defenses. Following public criticism from former President Trump, including social media posts labeling their actions as sedition, the lawmakers have reported a rise in threats, with one member sharing audio of death threats received by phone.

FBI opens inquiry into Democrats warning on unlawful military orders

For more on the FBI inquiry into Democratic lawmakers, let's jump now to CBS News Justice Correspondent Scott McFarlane in our DC Bureau. Good morning, Scott. Tell us about this new inquiry, and if lawmakers could actually be charged for the video they made. It's over this 90-second-long video a few days ago in which they encourage service members to remember they do not have to follow unlawful orders in the military. An FBI inquiry has begun. CBS News has learned from multiple sources the outreach was done to leadership of the U.S. House and Senate trying to arrange interviews with these six Democratic members, all of whom are military or intelligence veterans. But an inquiry does not mean a criminal investigation, Errol. There are any number of defenses these members of Congress can put up. First of all, First Amendment rights. Second of all, Congress has First Amendment rights on steroids. They have a speech and debate clause, which protects what they say in their legislative duties. What's more, they've been making the argument in media interviews, there's the literal truth defense. Service members do have a right, if not a duty, to not follow and report unlawful orders. So there's a lot of noise here. It doesn't mean there's going to be anything at the end of this road, though, Errol. And Scott, what about the climate this is happening in? You know, these lawmakers say they're now facing an uptick in threats in light of President Trump's critiques. Tell us about that. And some of these members of Congress have been sharing those accounts. One of the members of Congress, Chris Deluzio of Southwest Pennsylvania, posted audio of the death threats he's been getting by phone, calling for his murder, calling for his hanging. We're in a moment of elevated political threats. This is a distinctively pernicious set of threats they've been getting ever since the president posted on social media that he believes this to be sedition and reposted somebody who says this is punishable by death. This is all escalating as we approach the holiday. Yeah, very sobering stuff. Scott McFarland with the latest. Thank you.

Two members of the West Virginia National Guard were shot and critically wounded while on duty in Washington, D.C. They were ambushed just blocks from the White House, and the suspect was taken into custody.

Two National Guard members shot in targeted D.C. attack

The death toll in a fire that engulfed several high-rise apartment buildings in Hong Kong has risen to at least 36, authorities say, with more than 275 others still unaccounted for. Hong Kong leader John Lee confirmed the updated death toll early on Thursday.

Tai Po District

Death toll in Hong Kong residential high-rise fires rises to 36

A suspect is in custody and the scene is secured after a shooting mere blocks from the White House in Washington, D.C., police said Wednesday. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said two National Guardsmen had been shot.

Suspect in custody after National Guardsmen shot in Washington, D.C.

Brazil's Supreme Court on Tuesday ordered far-right former president Jair Bolsonaro to begin serving a 27-year sentence for plotting a failed coup, after he exhausted all appeals.

Rio de Janeiro

Brazil's Bolsonaro begins 27-year jail term for coup bid

A fire in a Hong Kong residential complex killed 13 people and injured 15 others. The blaze rapidly spread through bamboo scaffolding, leading to the evacuation of 700 residents.

Tsim Sha Tsui

Thirteen dead as blaze engulfs Hong Kong residential complex

Brazil's Supreme Court on Tuesday (November 25) ordered former President Jair Bolsonaro to begin a prison sentence of more than 27 years for plotting a coup in 2022, according to a court document.

Brasília

Brazil's Bolsonaro to start 27-year prison sentence for coup plot

President Trump says only a few "points of disagreement" remain on a possible deal to end the war between Russia and Ukraine. The president says he will meet with the leaders of both countries only when the deal is in its final stages.

Trump optimistic on Russia-Ukraine peace deal despite recent strikes

The FBI has launched an inquiry into six Democratic lawmakers after President Trump accused them of “seditious behavior” for appearing in a video encouraging U.S. service members to refuse unlawful orders.

FBI probes Democrats over video urging troops to refuse illegal orders

President Donald Trump's administration has ramped up pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro by designating the Cartel de los Soles as a foreign terrorist organization. But the entity that the U.S. government alleges is led by Maduro is not a cartel per se.

Caracas

U.S. labels Maduro-tied Cartel de los Soles as terror organization

The head of Sudan's Rapid Support Forces (RSF), General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, said late on Monday (November 24) that his paramilitaries would immediately enter into a three-month humanitarian truce in its conflict with the country's armed forces.

Khartoum

Sudan's RSF paramilitary says it will enter into ceasefire

A U.S. official tells CBS News that Ukraine has agreed to a peace proposal brokered by the Trump administration, but some details still need to be sorted out. CBS News' Holly Williams reports.

Kyiv

Ukraine Invasion

Ukraine agrees to peace proposal with Russia, U.S. official says

The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, the U.S.- and Israeli-backed organization to distribute aid in Gaza, said on Monday (November 24) it was ending its operations after months of criticism over the deaths of hundreds of Palestinians trying to reach GHF hubs.

Tel Aviv-Yafo

Divisive U.S.- and Israeli-backed Gaza aid group ends operations

Darfur

Sudan's RSF paramilitary says it will enter into a ceasefire

Chauncey Billups, who was serving as head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers until his suspension, pleaded not guilty on Monday to charges related to alleged rigged high-stakes poker games.

Chauncey Billups pleads not guilty to charges

The Kremlin on Monday (November 24) said that a European counter-proposal to a U.S. 28-point peace plan for Ukraine was not constructive and that it simply did not work for Moscow.

Moscow

Kremlin rejects revised European peace plan to end war in Ukraine

A federal judge has dismissed the criminal cases against former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James on the grounds that Lindsey Halligan, the interim U.S. attorney who secured their indictments, was unlawfully appointed to the role.

Cases against James Comey, Letitia James dismissed

At least 90 people have died in a week of torrential rain, flooding and landslides in south-central Vietnam, authorities said. Popular tourist areas have been heavily hit, with parts of Nha Trang submerged and deadly landslides cutting off roads near Da Lat.

Nha Trang

Vietnam flooding kills at least 90

The Trump Administration is ramping up pressure on Venezuela as the Air Force conducted a simulated nighttime attack along the country's coast. Charlie D'Agata has the latest.

Trump ramps up pressure on Venezuela with nighttime Air Force attack

Israel killed Ali Tabtabai, the acting chief of staff of militant group Hezbollah, in an airstrike on a southern suburb of Beirut on Sunday, the Israeli military said.

Beirut

Middle East Conflict

Israel kills Hezbollah military leader in Beirut strike

While Russia and Ukraine continue to exchange daily drone fire, an updated peace framework is being worked out in Geneva between Ukraine, the US and European partners.

Ukraine upholds red lines as Geneva peace talks continue

Álvaro García Ortiz's decision came less than a week after he received a two-year suspension and a fine for disclosing private information about the partner of an opposition politician.

Madrid

Spain's attorney general resigns after conviction over data leak

U.S. President Donald Trump's Department of Government Efficiency has been disbanded with eight months remaining in its mandate, and Office of Personnel Management Director Scott Kupor has told Reuters that the cost-cutting body now "doesn't exist".

DOGE 'doesn't exist' with eight months left on its charter

Al-Burhan rejected a new truce proposal from US envoy as the “worst yet”, accusing the Quad mediators of bias due to the UAE’s involvement.

Al Fashir

Sudan’s army chief rejects quad truce proposal as ‘worst yet’

Three suicide bombers and three security personnel killed in attack on the Federal Constabulary headquarters in Peshawar, media reports say.

Peshawar

Six killed in suicide attack on security complex in Pakistan

The attack which Israel says to have killed chief of staff Haytham Tabtabai in the southern suburbs of Beirut also killed four other people and injured 25.

Israel says to have killed top Hezbollah official in strike on Beirut

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer suggested that former Prince Andrew should testify before the U.S. Congress as part of its ongoing investigation into Jeffrey Epstein. Starmer did not discuss Andrew’s case directly but said, as a matter of principle, everyone involved should cooperate with the inquiry.

London

Starmer says former Prince Andrew should testify in Epstein probe

About 50 schoolchildren aged 10–18 who were abducted in Niger state, Nigeria, have escaped, authorities confirmed. They fled individually between Friday and Saturday, according to the Christian Association of Nigeria, which runs the school. Officials continue to track those still missing.

Niger

50 abducted Nigerian schoolchildren escape, authorities say

The first G20 summit to be held in Africa has been labelled a "triumph of multilateralism," as leaders from the world's more powerful economies came together in Johannesburg. South African leader Cyril Ramaphosa used his presidency to highlight the priorities of Africa and the global south.

Johannesburg

G20 shared goals 'outweigh differences' as summit ends

After running a day overtime, delegates at COP30, the United Nations climate summit in Belém, Brazil, finally reached a deal on a final agreement, but one that falls well short of the high expectations held by many delegates, environmental groups and NGOs.

Belém

COP30 climate deal falls short of expectations

Washington signaled room for negotiation on a 28-point plan to end the Ukraine war, denying claims by some U.S. senators that it is a Russian "wish list," as Kyiv and European allies criticized the proposal ahead of Sunday talks in Geneva.

Breakdown