The True Brief

Zelensky says he met Witkoff and Kushner in Ireland and is "counting on the largest prisoner exchange"

Official post · not independently verified. Ukraine's president wrote that he met Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner in Ireland. He wrote: "prisoners will be released, and we are counting on the largest prisoner exchange since the start of this war." He also wrote that European representatives would be involved "even more actively in diplomacy". On X: 110,545 views and 344 reposts as of Fri 13 Nov, 04:10 ET.

Von der Leyen and Costa say the Commission will present a 22nd package of sanctions against Russia

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa said that at the European Council on 26–27 November "we will discuss Ukraine's urgent financing needs for 2027". They said: "The Commission will in parallel present its 22nd package of sanctions against Russia." They also said: "We are mobilising 500 generators from our rescEU reserves".

State Department says it has revoked more than 6,000 visas over birth tourism

Official post · not independently verified. The State Department wrote: "The Department of State’s Birth Tourism Prevention Task Force has now revoked more than 6,000 visas from foreigners who engaged in or facilitated birth tourism." It added: "We are identifying and holding accountable everyone involved in this illicit practice." On X: 84,332 views and 893 reposts as of Fri 13 Nov, 04:10 ET.

Justice Department says Operation TorNado led to 354 arrests in a Dark Web drug crackdown

Official post · not independently verified. The Justice Department said the operation with Europol resulted in "the arrest of 354 Dark Web drug traffickers and fraudulent criminals" across the United States, Europe, Australia and New Zealand. It reported "the seizure of over $234 million in both cash and virtual currencies". On X: 124,811 views and 1,103 reposts as of Fri 13 Nov, 04:10 ET.

Fed publishes revised tentative 2027 meeting dates, starting January 26-27

The Federal Reserve announced "a revised tentative schedule of Federal Open Market Committee meetings in 2027." The dates are January 26-27, March 16-17, April 27-28, June 8-9, July 27-28, September 14-15, October 26-27 and November 16-17. It said it will announce its policy decision as usual on the second day of each meeting, "except the October 26-27 meeting", which "will be dedicated to the discussion of broad monetary policy strategy issues".

Bundesbank says risks to financial stability remain elevated

Germany's central bank published its 2026 Financial Stability Review. It said: "The German financial system is resilient, but operating in an environment of geopolitical tension." It listed "high valuations in the financial markets, rising credit risk, real estate financing vulnerabilities, high government debt and the growing importance of private credit" as sources of increased risk.

Trump says tariffs on Mexico will be "IMMEDIATELY DOUBLED" if Mexico does not stop caravans

President Trump wrote that "Huge CARAVANS are forming and beginning their illegal march through Mexico." He wrote: "MEXICO MUST STOP THEM, NOW, and if they do not do so, the Tariffs on Mexico will be IMMEDIATELY DOUBLED." He added: "MEXICO, THE GOVERNOR OF TEXAS, THE VERY LIBERAL NEW GOVERNOR OF TEXAS, OUR GREAT BORDER PATROL, & ICE, HAVE BEEN SO INFORMED."

US and Japan set out plans for seabed mineral development

The two governments said "secure, resilient, and diversified critical mineral supply chains are essential to the prosperity and national security of both countries." A US-Japan working group met on November 11 and 12 in Toyama, Japan, with talks on "Japan’s rare-earth mud project near Minamitorishima Island and its polymetallic nodules project". Plans include securing processing capacity "among trusted partners".

BLS says the job openings rate was little changed at 4.5% in September

Official post · not independently verified. The Bureau of Labor Statistics wrote: "Job openings rate little changed at 4.5 percent in September 2026". Its The Economics Daily article said the rate in private industry "was 4.7 percent" and the rate for the healthcare and social assistance industry "was 5.8 percent". On X: 2,233 views and 1 repost as of Fri 13 Nov, 04:10 ET.

NASA shares a photo of Saturn's moons Tethys and Dione

Official post · not independently verified. NASA wrote: "Tethys and Dione showed up for the group photo!" It wrote that Saturn has more natural satellites than any other planet in the solar system and that "As of now, the ringed planet has 293 confirmed moons." On X: 518,762 views and 779 reposts as of Fri 13 Nov, 04:10 ET.

USGS projects world capacity for eight critical minerals through 2030

Official post · not independently verified. The US Geological Survey released its second World Minerals Outlook, covering "antimony, copper, graphite, niobium, potash, silicon, silver and tungsten". It said: "The United States depends on imports for more than 50% of annual consumption of each of these minerals." On X: 5,566 views and 10 reposts as of Fri 13 Nov, 04:10 ET.

Trump: "I want to get Cuba done before I leave", State Department clip shows

Official post · not independently verified. The State Department posted a video clip of President Trump, captioned: "PRESIDENT TRUMP: I want to get Cuba done before I leave, yeah. We have a very good, talented guy for Cuba named Marco." On X: 284,957 views and 1,192 reposts as of Fri 13 Nov, 04:10 ET.

Trump on Truth Social, Thursday

At least 12 posts on Trump's official Truth Social account between 05:50 ET and 19:18 ET Thursday; the 07:04 ET post on Mexico is under Trade.

• 05:50 ET: Trump wrote that Democrats are "saying, over and over again, that the Trump Administration is corrupt", "in order to nullify the TREMENDOUS & UNPRECEDENTED theft that has taken place in our Blue States". Post
• 06:28 ET: Trump wrote about "the relentless effort by the anti-American Dumocrats to get my personal Tax Returns" in his first term, and that the accountants "FOUND NOTHING except that I paid my taxes and did everything right." Post
• 07:35 ET: Trump wrote that "Not passing THE SAVE AMERICA ACT (Voter I.D., Proof of Citizenship), sent up five times by the House, was devastating to the Republican Party in the Midterms" and offered "congratulations to John Thune for another year of leadership, Minority though it may be!" Post
• 08:07 ET: Trump wrote: "I have asked Vice President Vance to focus his complete and total attention on the Massive Corruption and Crime taking place in Democrat run Cities and States throughout the U.S." He also wrote: "We don’t need a deal with Iran." Post
• 08:23 ET: Trump wrote: "If the Democrats want to “root out corruption,” they should start with investigating Blue States". Post
• 10:29 ET: Trump wrote: "NOW THAT Nvidia CEO JENSEN HUANG, who has done a fantastic job, has resigned, there is only one man to take his place - TIM COOK of Apple." Post
• 10:59 ET: Trump asked: "Will the Seditious Six ever be prosecuted?" Post
• 12:24 ET: Trump wrote: "TODAY I am calling on Senate Leadership to IMMEDIATELY move on the 350 Billion Dollar Reconciliation Bill to give our brave Warriors the DECISIVE ADVANTAGE they deserve." Post
• 13:41 ET: Trump wrote: "Senator Chuck Schumer just stated that he wants to end corruption in the United States. I assume he’s referring to Democrat run Blue States such as California, Minnesota, Illinois, Maine, and New York." Post
• 18:30 ET: Trump posted a message headed "From Hugh Hewitt": "President Trump was as good as he has ever been today. Still the best interview in the country." Post
• 19:18 ET: Trump wrote: "Lilly breaks ground in Pennsylvania's Lehigh Valley on a $3.5 billion site to make next-generation obesity medicines, the latest of 10 new U.S. sites since 2020", with a link to Lilly's investor site. Post