Lutnick held on through the Epstein scandal. The Nvidia scandal is qualitatively different.

The number of Republicans pointing fingers at the commerce secretary, even within the Trump administration, puts his political future in doubt.

Friday, November 13, 2026 TODAY'S TOP MADDOWBLOG POSTS Lutnick held on through the Epstein scandal. The Nvidia scandal is qualitatively different. Lutnick held on through the Epstein scandal. The Nvidia scandal is qualitatively different. The number of Republicans pointing fingers at the commerce secretary, even within the Trump administration, puts his political future in doubt. MORE Democrats take a keen interest in the generous gifts and trips RFK Jr. received Kennedy received more than $250,000 worth of free flights from a former donor. Two Senate Democrats have a few questions about this. MORE Democrats take a keen interest in the generous gifts and trips RFK Jr. received Kennedy received more than $250,000 worth of free flights from a former donor. Two Senate Democrats have a few questions about this. MORE Key Democrat isn’t backing down on ballroom probe, setting up clash with Trump’s DOJ A Republican prosecutor told Sen. Richard Blumenthal to preserve his records. Then the senator told the prosecutor the same thing. MORE Key Democrat isn’t backing down on ballroom probe, setting up clash with Trump’s DOJ A Republican prosecutor told Sen. Richard Blumenthal to preserve his records. Then the senator told the prosecutor the same thing. MORE Vance gets new marching orders from Trump: Focus on blue states, not Iran The vice president was taking a series of steps to help resolve the war with Iran. The president then published a statement, effectively telling him, “Stop.” MORE Vance gets new marching orders from Trump: Focus on blue states, not Iran The vice president was taking a series of steps to help resolve the war with Iran. The president then published a statement, effectively telling him, “Stop.” MORE MORE FROM THE MADDOWBLOG Democratic senators launch investigation into RFK Jr., questioning whether he lied to Congress Despite Blanche’s denials, Trump tries to breathe life into criminal case against Democrats Friday’s Campaign Round-Up, 11.13.26: Democrats’ Holscher prevails for Kansas governor OUT OF THE FRYING PAN, INTO THE BOOK TOUR As we see the folks in Milwaukee showing Rachel a good time at the halfway point through the Department of Fate book tour, we join her on her media tour with PBS Newshour's Settle In, below.   By now you may have already read the book, or you've certainly heard Rachel's arguments about the Department of Justice and especially the disgrace of Donald Trump's criminal defense attorney turned attorney general, Todd Blanche. If you're wanting to weigh in on these issues Rachel is raising, MS NOW Members can join in the discussion board on that topic:   The collapse of the Justice Department under President Trump “gives us an opportunity to refound it in a different way,” Rachel Maddow told Lawrence O’Donnell. What’s a change you’d want to see in a reformed Justice Department? Why Rachel Maddow thinks the Department of Justice is dead Rachel Maddow’s latest book, “Department of Fate,” tackles the checkered past and present of the Department of Justice. In this episode of “Settle In,” the MS NOW host and anchor talks to Amna Nawaz about why she considers the department America’s most consequential institution – and what the results of the 2026 midterm elections mean for the country’s political landscape going forward. WHAT'S ON RACHEL'S BLUESKY RADAR First detainees arrive at Appleton immigrant detention center Feds paid CoreCivic $500M for it after company sought to sell to state for $75M (Minnesota Reformer) if you were at the milwaukee book tour stop with me and ben wikler tonight, then you know this is for you: (Rachel has an in-joke in Milwaukee now) "Her lieutenant governor, KC Ohaebosim, will be the first Black person elected to statewide office in Kansas since the 1880s (and only the second overall!)." "HUGE: Democrat Cindy Holscher has won the race for Kansas governor, defeating Republican Ty Masterson and keeping this seat blue. Congratulations, Governor-elect Holscher!"  (Dennis Mersereau shares the Democrats congratulating Cindy Holscher) (Rachel making use of her book tour travel) Lutnick agrees to testify as Bessent blames him for not banning Nvidia chip exports to China-linked firm (CBS News) Bessent Says Treasury Backed Restrictions on Megaspeed but Commerce Didn’t Act — Treasury secretary points at agency run by Howard Lutnick, whom some Trump administration officials have sought to blame for political fallout from Nvidia (Wall Street Journal) "Senate Commerce Chair Ted Cruz has postponed a classified briefing that was scheduled for early next week and was set to include Jeffrey Kessler, the undersecretary of Commerce who has come under scrutiny this week for his dealings with chipmaker Nvidia." (Politico) "Russia has attacked a hospital in the centre of Kyiv, close to several western embassies, after Volodymyr Zelenskyy said speed restrictions on SpaceX’s Starshield system had made it harder for Ukraine to shoot down enemy drones." (The Guardian) How Trump’s War on Offshore Wind Upended a “Limitless” Future for Thousands of New England Workers — Massachusetts and Connecticut invested millions into offshore wind in the hopes the once-blossoming industry would jump-start local economies. But amid Trump’s multifront war on the industry, workers say they’re watching opportunity dry up. (ProPublica) Wholesale prices rose 0.3% in October, putting annual rate at 6.5%, the highest in nearly four years (CNBC) Follow Rachel on Bluesky here. NEW YORK CITY ADDED TO THE 'SOLD OUT' LIST Was this newsletter forwarded to you? Sign up to follow it yourself or send this sign-up link to someone you know would appreciate it. NEWS TIPS? 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