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The Daily Briefing

YOUR MORNING NEWS ROUNDUP

Fri Oct 17 2025

Jane Onyanga-Omara | Audience Editor

👋🏾 Good morning! I'm Jane, Daily Briefing author. Chicago's "Rat Hole" was likely created by another rodent.

Quick look at Friday's news:

•	President Trump will meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
•	Is World War III on the horizon?
•	What you need to know about tomorrow's "No Kings" protests.

Trump to meet with Ukraine's Zelenskyy at the White House

President Donald Trump will meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House on Friday as the United States weighs supplying Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk missiles.

The meeting comes a day after Trump said in a post on social media that he plans to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Budapest "to see if we can bring this 'inglorious' War, between Russia and Ukraine, to an end."

•	Trump described the call as "very productive." He said he and Putin agreed to hold an initial meeting between U.S. and Russian officials, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio leading the discussions for the administration.
•	Trump told reporters his meeting with Putin will take place in the next two weeks. He's also expected to visit South Korea at the end of October for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum.
•	An earlier face-to-face meeting in August between Trump and Putin in Alaska failed to advance peace negotiations as Trump hoped.

Why World War III no longer feels like a remote prospect

Early this fall, Germany's leader Friedrich Merz assured reporters that his country was "not at war." Merz was speaking about what he characterized as Russia's repeated attempts to undermine European unity over its response to Moscow's war in Ukraine. "But we are no longer at peace either," he added. Merz did not mention World War III or even imply it would soon be underway. But he did tap into a growing sense of apprehension among some Europeans and Americans: surveys show that many of them believe a global war could occur in the next five to ten years.

More news to know now

•	Trump is barred from deploying troops to Chicago, for now.
•	Mitch McConnell trips and falls while being confronted by protester.
•	Stephen A. Smith says Americans are "ticked off" at Washington about government shutdown.
•	KISS rocker Ace Frehley remembered by Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons.

What's the weather today? Check your local forecast here.

Trump critic and ex-National Security Adviser John Bolton indicted

Former National Security Adviser John Bolton, who became a critic of President Donald Trump, was indicted Oct. 16 on charges of improperly retaining national defense information that allegedly included top secret documents. The case marks the latest in a string of prosecutions of Trump's perceived enemies. The indictment comes after federal law enforcement said in court filings that they obtained documents labeled "classified," "secret," and "confidential" during an August search of Bolton's office. The allegations represent the third criminal case brought against a major critic of Trump in about three weeks.

Former White House national security adviser John Bolton arrives at his house following its search by the FBI in Bethesda, Maryland, U.S., August 22, 2025.

Tasos Katopodis, REUTERS

What to know about the 'No Kings' protests

In the latest in a series of mass protests since President Donald Trump took office, "No Kings" rallies and marches will be held at more than 2,500 locations nationwide Saturday, Oct. 18. The protests are meant as a celebration of free speech, the right to assemble and the First Amendment broadly. It is also an opportunity to push back against recent moves by Trump's administration including increased immigration enforcement, organizers say. Protesters are being urged to wear yellow. Asked for reaction to the protests earlier this week, White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson replied "Who cares?"

Today's talkers

•	Liam Payne's girlfriend Kate Cassidy shares heartfelt tribute a year after his death.
•	A North Carolina dog chewed on a lithium-ion battery and started a fire.
•	Inside the WWE house making fans cry at Halloween Horror Nights.
•	Boy signs his name for the first time after cashier's ASL surprise.

Billionaires spend big to oppose Zohran Mamdani's bid for NYC mayor

Billionaires are donating heavily in the waning days of the New York City mayor's race to stop Democratic frontrunner Zohran Mamdani. Bill Ackman, a billionaire hedge fund manager, donated $1 million Oct. 14 to Defend NYC, a super PAC opposed to Mamdani's candidacy. Mamdani, a democratic socialist state lawmaker, is ahead in polls with less than three weeks before the Nov. 4 general election. Ackman has previously criticized Mamdani for his advocacy for Palestinian rights and his condemnation of Israel's siege in Gaza, as well as Mamdani's socialist politics. Mamdani has said billionaires shouldn't exist amid extreme income inequality.

Independent candidate former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa and Democratic candidate Zohran Mamdani participate in a mayoral debate, in New York, U.S. October 16, 2025.

Angelina Katsanis, via REUTERS

Photo of the day: Alaska residents rescued after Typhoon Halong devastation

Rescue crews in Alaska airlifted hundreds of people out of remote villages devastated by remnants of Typhoon Halong last weekend, as authorities worked to shelter survivors and restore power and water services to hard-hit communities. One woman in the rural village of Kwigillingok was killed and two people remain missing, the state's emergency management agency said Wednesday, Oct. 15, as it shifted from a rescue mission to a recovery effort.

Alaska National Guard Typhoon Halong airlift rescue

Alaska Air National Guard aircrew evacuate approximately 300 displaced western Alaska residents from Bethel, Alaska, following Typhoon Halong, Oct. 15, 2025.

Staff Sgt. Joseph Moon, Alaska National Guard

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