Cover News: Pentagon investigating Kelly over video urging troops to reject illegal orders

In our Monday news cover, the Pentagon is investigating Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona over a video urging U.S. troops to refuse to follow illegal orders, the Trump administration designates Venezuela’s Cartel de los Soles as a foreign terrorist organization, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation says it is ending operations in the region, and Tulsa massacre survivor Viola Fletcher dies at 111.

Jeff Bennett:

Moving on to other news headlines of the day: The Pentagon says it is investigating Arizona Senator Mark Kelly over a video in which he and several other US lawmakers urged US forces to refuse to follow illegal orders.

Defense officials say Kelly’s comments may have interfered with the loyalty, morale, or good order and discipline of the armed forces. Kelly retired with the rank of captain. The Minister of Defense will have to recall him to active duty to face any disciplinary action.

“You have given this country too much to be silenced by bullies who care more about their power than protecting the Constitution,” Kelly said in a statement.

The Trump administration officially designated Venezuela’s Cartel de los Soles as a foreign terrorist organization today. The move is part of a broader new pressure campaign against the government of President Nicolas Maduro, as President Trump publicly considers whether the United States should take military action against Venezuela.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio accused the group of responsibility for terrorist violence. But Maduro’s government denies the cartel’s existence. Regional experts say it is not so much a single organization as a pseudonym. They describe it as an umbrella term for high-ranking Venezuelan military and political figures accused of profiting from the international drug trade.

Now moving to the Middle East, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation says it will permanently end its operations in the region. The US-Israel-backed group said in a statement that it was the only aid operation that reliably and safely provided free meals in Gaza.

But its operations were shrouded in secrecy and its locations were marred by violence. Hundreds of Palestinians were reportedly killed by Israeli forces as they sought aid, although Israel maintains it only fired warning shots to control the crowds.

This comes as hospital officials in Gaza say at least 24 people were killed in Israeli raids last weekend. Israel says it was responding to fire on its forces. The authorities in Gaza told the NewsHour newspaper that the raid targeted displaced Palestinians.

Abdullah Al-Majdalawi, Director of Public Relations at the Civil Defense in Gaza (through a translator):

It is important to note that all of this is happening during what should have been a ceasefire. But this violation was very clear today. Some of those targeted were in tents. Now their bodies are fully charged.

Jeff Bennett:

Meanwhile, thousands in Lebanon today attended the funeral of Hezbollah’s top military commander, who was killed in an Israeli raid over the weekend in Beirut. Israel has intensified its attacks on Lebanon in recent weeks as part of its attempt to push the country to move faster in disarming the armed group.

The Environmental Protection Agency has begun allowing pesticides containing PFAS to be used on food. It’s part of an effort to permanently deregulate so-called chemicals because they don’t break down easily in the environment. Last week, the agency approved two new PFAS-qualified pesticides for use.

This means farmers can spread it on crops such as lettuce, lettuce, cauliflower and potatoes. The Washington Post reported that the agency plans to approve four more pesticides. Little is known about their long-term effects, but PFAS have been linked to some cancers, birth defects, and other health problems.

In a statement to “News Hour” today, the Environmental Protection Agency said that it will provide transparent, scientifically based information on how to evaluate chemicals.

On Wall Street today, stocks enjoyed strong gains to start the Thanksgiving holiday week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added more than 200 points. The Nasdaq index jumped about 600 points. The S&P 500 posted one of its best days since the summer.

The beloved star of Indian cinema, actor Dharmendra, has passed away. He rose to fame in the 1970s with hits like “Sholay,” a Bollywood version of a spaghetti western. At the time, the film was the highest-grossing Bollywood film of all time. Dharmendra was known as part action hero and part romantic lead.

In a career spanning over six decades, he has appeared in over 300 films and is widely considered one of the greatest Indian actors of all time. Dharmendra has been in and out of the hospital in recent weeks. He was 89 years old.

The oldest living survivor of the Tulsa Race Massacre, Viola Fletcher, died in 1921. Fletcher was just 7 years old when a white mob destroyed Tulsa’s Greenwood district, formerly known as Black Wall Street, killing hundreds and burning businesses, schools, and churches, and leaving up to 10,000 people homeless. Fletcher has carried those memories for more than a century.

In her final years, she became a national witness to history, speaking with students and journalists and testifying before Congress.

Viola Fletcher, survivor of the Tulsa Race Massacre:

I will never forget the violence of the white mob when we left our home. I still see black men being shot. I hear screaming. I lived through the carnage every day. Our country may forget this history, but I cannot.

Jeff Bennett:

Fletcher was one of two survivors who sued the state of Oklahoma seeking damages from the city. Last year, the state Supreme Court dismissed their case, marking a serious setback to the decades-long fight for compensation.

Confirming her death, Fletcher’s grandson said: “She had a beautiful smile on her face. She loved life. She loved people.”

Viola Fletcher was 111 years old.