22. November 2025 – Kurznachrichten

How to squeeze people - and then tell them it is for their own good - Health insurers in Germany

Sometimes you wonder whether some proposals arise out of sheer carelessness or out of a remarkable distance from real life. Hendrik Streeck is seriously calling for higher deductibles for people with statutory insurance - for those who pay a lot every month, wait longer, stand at the back of the line, and have been carrying the weaknesses of the system for years. And now they are supposed to pay even more, as if they first needed to be taught what “personal responsibility” means.

This idea completely ignores how much people are already carrying. Anyone who really wants to know why the health system is shaking does not need to start with patients, but with structures that have been allowed to rot for years: staff is missing, practices are strained, hospitals are struggling, reforms are postponed. And when someone shows up and acts as if the problem is a population that “lets itself be taken care of too much,” it feels more like a bad joke.

This proposal would affect people who already have to think about which treatments they can still afford. There are families who feel every copay. There are pensioners who leave prescriptions unfilled because they do not have the money at the moment. And someone wants to explain to them that they have “room to spare”? More deductibles mainly mean one thing: shifting responsibility downward while pretending it is a solution. In truth it would be an admission that no one wants to tackle the systemic problems. A functioning healthcare system is not built on patients filling the gaps. It is built on politics doing its job. And if someone believes people should pay even more for it, the answer is clear: the fault is not with them. The fault lies elsewhere.

The end of a marriage of convenience - why Marjorie Taylor Greene is leaving in January

Marjorie Taylor Greene will leave Congress in January - a step that sounds less like retreat and more like capitulation to a movement she helped build and that ultimately consumed her. She was one of the few Republicans openly pushing for the full release of the Epstein files, and she placed herself in opposition to her own camp. That visibly separated her from the MAGA faction that once celebrated her. Trump labeled her a traitor several times after she stopped following his line on Ukraine, Epstein, and several domestic decisions. That she, of all people, is now leaving shows how thin the air has become for anyone not willing to obey every command from the Trump orbit. Her departure is no ordinary resignation - it is a warning signal for a party that no longer tolerates dissent.

The Supreme Court slows down Texas - for now

The Supreme Court has blocked a lower court ruling that found the new Texas congressional map likely to be racially discriminatory. Justice Samuel Alito’s order applies only for a few days but is enough to give Texas room to maneuver. The Republican map would clearly shift the 2026 balance of power in their favor. The fact that the Supreme Court is once again intervening shortly before an election shows how willing the conservative majority is to keep problematic maps in place as long as the calendar demands it. For minorities in Texas, this means yet another election in which their voting power may be diluted.

Brazil celebrates Trump’s tariff reversal - and immediately demands more

Brazil’s government calls it “significant progress” after Trump lifted tariffs on coffee, beef, fruit, and other agricultural goods. But Vice President Geraldo Alckmin makes clear he is not satisfied: Brazil wants further exemptions and now sees the door wide open. Coffee exporters celebrate a “historic decision” that restores their lost competitiveness. Trump presents the move as a step to reduce consumer costs, but in South America it is seen as a concession that was blocked for months. For Brazil it is a victory - for Trump it is a course correction he had long avoided.

The Coast Guard reverses course - clear boundaries against hate symbols

The US Coast Guard has revised its controversial language after it was revealed that it planned to classify swastikas and nooses as “potentially divisive.” The new directive is much stricter: hate symbols are explicitly banned, without any softening. The quick turnaround came only hours after reporting triggered outrage in Congress. The Coast Guard now claims this is not a change but a “clarification” to avoid misunderstandings. In reality, the episode shows how quickly agencies come under pressure when they dilute terms that represent a bitter historical reality for many.

Six senators warn: Trump’s Ukraine plan rewards Putin’s war crimes

Jack Reed, Mark Warner, Patty Murray, Chris Coons, Brian Schatz and Elizabeth Warren speak unusually clearly: Trump’s “peace plan” undermines Europe’s security and forces Ukraine to its knees. They remind the public that Russia has abducted children, tortured civilians, and committed systematic war crimes. Anyone who rewards Moscow risks the stability of the entire continent. The senators demand that Trump work with Congress and allies - not alone behind closed doors.

A nickname moves upward: Trump follows Loomer, MTG is left isolated

“Over the weekend, President Trump told me he had ‘to steal my nickname’ - of course he meant Marjorie TRAITOR Greene, the nickname I have used for years because he likes it so much. Of course I told the president he can use my nickname for MTG permanently. We had a good laugh. I have been warning about MTG for years while she claimed she had a ‘great relationship’ with Trump. In truth he literally said he can’t take her constant angry calls anymore - and he pulled his endorsement of her while she was busy flattering Democrats like Bill Maher and the women of ‘The View’. Trump didn’t turn on her. He finally saw what I have been saying for YEARS. And now the rest of the country is catching up to how fake MTG is - and always has been.” - Laura Loomer, perhaps the most dangerous woman in America right now.

McConnell breaks his silence - and questions Trump’s advisers

Mitch McConnell, the Republican Party’s gray eminence, says openly that Putin has been “playing Trump for a fool” all year. If the president prefers pleasing Moscow over seeking a real peace solution, he should replace his advisers. For a Republican of his weight, this is a remarkable statement. It shows that Trump’s Ukraine course is causing deep unease within the party. Internal pressure is rising because many Republicans fear that a hollow peace would harm the United States for decades.

The man who forgot his pills again...

Stephen Miller: “Children will be taught to love America … When we close the Department of Education and hand funding to the states, we will make sure that this money is not used to promote communist ideology.” (Man, go to a doctor - editor’s note)

FAA warns pilots about Venezuelan airspace - signs of escalation

The FAA urges pilots to be cautious because Venezuela’s airspace is becoming increasingly dangerous due to military activity. Washington is pressuring Maduro, flying bombers up to the coast and deploying an aircraft carrier to the region. The warning signals an environment where a small mistake could lead to a serious incident. For aviation it is an alarm bell, for diplomacy a reminder that the situation can tip at any moment.

Federal court stops sharing of taxpayer data with ICE

A court in Washington has blocked the Treasury Department from sharing tax data from millions of people with ICE. The agreement would have expanded Trump’s raids dramatically and intruded deeply into privacy. The judge has now pulled the emergency brake. Civil rights groups call it an important barrier against government overreach. The case shows how narrow the line has become between immigration enforcement and nationwide surveillance.

North Carolina’s governor confronts Noem over secret raids

Josh Stein demands answers about Noem’s large-scale operation in Charlotte, where hundreds were arrested. Authorities refuse to explain the duration, goals, or reasons for the arrests. Stein wants a full list of all those affected. The lack of clarity fuels public anger because no one knows whether the operation will expand or who might be targeted next. For many it feels like a political show of force without any transparency.