Good morning everyone. There’s a lot to get to today as Donald Trump begins his trip to East Asia. Before he even left, we learned that his administration is now accepting private donations not only for the extravagant White House ballroom project but also to help pay U.S. troops during the ongoing government shutdown, a move that raises serious ethical and constitutional concerns. At the same time, Trump is falsely claiming that the Canadian ad featuring Ronald Reagan’s own words was created with artificial intelligence.
And while all this unfolds, I woke up to messages like this one, hoping I never sleep in peace.
The Pentagon confirmed it accepted an anonymous $130 million donation to help pay U.S. troops during the government shutdown, prompting ethical concerns from lawmakers who warned that taking undisclosed private money to fund the military could open the door to foreign influence and undermine government accountability, especially since troop pay typically costs about $6.5 billion every two weeks. The donation came from a friend of Donald Trump’s.
Donald Trump accused Canada of “cheating” in a political commercial that he claimed used artificial intelligence to falsely portray Ronald Reagan as opposing tariffs, saying Reagan actually supported them and that Canada “got caught cheating.” The commercial, however, took direct quotes from Reagan’s speech.
Donald Trump criticized the Ontario government for waiting until after the first two World Series games to pause a controversial ad featuring Ronald Reagan denouncing tariffs, calling it “dirty play” and accusing Canada of manipulating the timing, while the Reagan Foundation said the ad misrepresented Reagan’s original 1987 remarks.
Donald Trump said his new ballroom project could cost over $300 million and suggested it might be repurposed for “the arc,” a planned development he described as an incredible project for Washington, D.C., noting that significant funds have already been raised.
Senior officials said Donald Trump plans to name his new $300 million White House ballroom “The President Donald J. Trump Ballroom,” after demolishing the East Wing to build the 90,000-square-foot venue, a move drawing attention for its self-branding, the removal of historic gardens and trees, and questions about how an extra $50 million in raised funds will be used.
The White House confirmed it will allow anonymous donors to contribute to Donald Trump’s $300 million ballroom project, a decision drawing ethical scrutiny as transparency advocates warn it could obscure the influence of wealthy benefactors on the president, even as officials insist no foreign donations will be accepted.
The White House has tightened control over Donald Trump’s clemency process after concerns about lobbyists profiting from access to pardons, with Chief of Staff Susie Wiles centralizing review and oversight as Trump resumes issuing high-profile pardons — including for George Santos and Binance founder Changpeng Zhao — while facing criticism for favoring allies and wealthy figures.
Former 60 Minutes producer Bill Owens said he resigned after facing corporate pressure from Paramount to limit coverage of Gaza and Donald Trump, calling it censorship tied to business interests and saying he refused to apologize over an edited Kamala Harris interview that angered Trump and jeopardized a merger.
The Justice Department announced it will send federal monitors to polling sites in six counties across California and New Jersey to ensure election transparency and compliance with federal law, a move raising debate over expanding federal oversight of elections as the Trump administration pushes for greater control and controversial voter data collection amid ongoing concerns about election integrity and voter suppression.
As the government shutdown stretches past three weeks, hundreds of unpaid federal workers in Washington, D.C., lined up at food banks for essentials, expressing frustration over mounting bills and congressional inaction while community groups pledge to keep providing aid until the shutdown ends.
Amid the ongoing government shutdown, U.S. air traffic controllers are missing paychecks and taking side jobs like DoorDash to stay afloat, as severe staffing shortages and exhaustion raise safety concerns while officials warn flight delays and cancellations could worsen if the shutdown continues.
Democratic Representatives Jamie Raskin and Robert Garcia announced an investigation into reports that Donald Trump demanded $230 million from the Justice Department as personal compensation for prior federal investigations into him, raising concerns about abuse of power and potential corruption within his administration.
Donald Trump began a five-day Asia tour focused on trade talks with China’s Xi Jinping and potential diplomatic outreach to North Korea’s Kim Jong-un, saying he is open to meeting Kim while aiming to secure a trade deal with Beijing to avert new U.S. tariffs set for November 1.
A leaked Amazon document revealed executives debated concealing the full scale of their datacenters’ water use, choosing to publicize only “primary” consumption and omit water used for electricity generation to avoid reputational damage. Scientists and former employees accused Amazon of selectively disclosing data and shaping industry standards to downplay its environmental impact, while experts warned the company’s “Water Positive” campaign misleads the public about the true scope of its water footprint, which could include billions of gallons more than disclosed.
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. plans to release new dietary guidance encouraging Americans to eat more saturated fats from meat and dairy, breaking with decades of established nutritional science and alarming public health experts. Researchers warned the move could raise cholesterol and heart disease risk, noting it contradicts existing federal dietary guidelines and appears to override the normal scientific review process that shapes national nutrition policy.
Former Vice President Kamala Harris said she could “possibly” run for president again, signaling renewed openness to a 2028 bid after previously suggesting her political career might move outside elected office. In an interview with the BBC, Harris said she was “not done” with public service and reaffirmed her belief that America would see a woman president “within [her nieces’] lifetime,” while calling Donald Trump a “tyrant” whose actions have validated her past warnings.
A mass shooting near Howard University disrupted homecoming celebrations Friday night, leaving four people injured—two in critical or serious condition—while police continue to investigate, with no suspect or motive identified yet.
The Trump administration has deployed the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier and accompanying warships to the Caribbean near Venezuela, escalating its anti-drug cartel campaign and signaling possible U.S. air and ground strikes against alleged targets in the region—drawing strong condemnation from Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said he was “deeply disturbed” by federal gambling fraud indictments against Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups and Heat star Terry Rozier, who are accused in separate poker and insider-betting schemes, emphasizing the league’s commitment to integrity and cooperation with law enforcement.
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The Toronto Blue Jays defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers 11–4 in Game 1 of the World Series, powered by a historic nine-run sixth inning — including Addison Barger’s pinch-hit grand slam, the first ever in World Series history — to take a 1-0 series lead in their first championship appearance since 1993.
German police uncovered a major art forgery ring accused of trying to sell fake works attributed to masters like Picasso and Rembrandt for millions of dollars, including a forged Rembrandt once claimed to be the true version of a painting in Amsterdam’s Rijksmuseum, raising serious concerns about the vulnerability of the global art market to sophisticated fraud and the ease with which counterfeit works can infiltrate private collections.
Tropical Storm Melissa is forecast to rapidly strengthen into a Category 4 hurricane as it nears Jamaica, threatening the island with catastrophic winds, flooding, and storm surge early next week. The storm’s slow movement and the region’s mountainous terrain could cause extreme rainfall of up to 35 inches and widespread landslides, with officials warning of “life-threatening” impacts.
