YOUR MORNING NEWS ROUNDUP | | | | Nicole Fallert
Reporter & Newsletter Writer
| | |
Morning! Welcome to the Daily Briefing. Start today with the news: |
| • | Late night TV was back in the political spotlight. | | • | The projected cost of the new White House ballroom has doubled to $400 million. | | • | Is 41 bowl games too many for college football? | |
Nicole Fallert here, and this morning, I'm wondering whether one Christmas tree is enough? We have the news to know on Thursday, from takeaways from a presidential address, a revelatory account of predators using Roblox and one family that never expected to be homeless. |
Trump plays the blame game in White House address |
President Donald Trump delivered a forceful defense of his first 11 months in office during a primetime address from the White House, pointing the finger at Democrats for Americans' economic anxieties in a combative speech that sets the tone for the 2026 midterm elections. |
| • | Obamacare subsidies divide House GOP. A health care proposal that can win broad support is urgently needed because federal subsidies under the Affordable Care Act are set to expire Dec. 31, threatening to raise premiums for millions. | | • | Rob Reiner's children break their silence on parents' "horrific" death. Jake and Romy Reiner said in a statement that Rob and Michele Reiner "weren't just our parents; they were our best friends." Meanwhile, the couple's other son, Nick Reiner, has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder with a special circumstance of multiple murders. | | • | She just wanted to play Roblox with friends. Then the messages from a predator began. Families across the country describe incidents of predators using Roblox as an entry point for grooming , which in some cases escalated into sextortion, sexual assault or kidnapping. Some have already sued Roblox, and others plan to do so too. | |
Presidential wall of ... disparagement | Newly installed plaques summarizing the legacies as interpreted by the Trump White House of former presidents shown along the colonnade, or the "Presidential Walk of Fame" on Wednesday. Win McNamee/Getty Images |
President Trump took personal swipes at his top presidential foes in new plaques installed in the White House, the latest Trump makeover of the mansion. The plaques of Trump's top Democratic foes read much like the attacks Trump posts on Truth Social — even down to the capitalization of certain words for emphasis. |
She was a school counselor for a decade. Now, her family of 5 is homeless. |
Johnika Jamison, 38, and her family been homeless for 14 months. Before that, Jamison was in her tenth year working as a school counselor, making about $60,000 a year. Her story reflects how so many Americans are just one crisis away from homelessness. | Johnika Jamison along with her husband and three daughters have been staying in a small hotel room for weeks as they embark on year two of homelessness. Jack Gruber, USA TODAY |
Have feedback on the Daily Briefing? Shoot Nicole an email at NFallert@usatoday.com. | | Pope Leo appointed a relatively unknown cleric from Illinois, Bishop Ronald Hicks, to replace Dolan as leader of the nation's second-largest Catholic diocese. | | The hunt for the shooter that left two students dead and nine injured at one of the nation's top universities stretches into a fifth day. | | | | Attorney General Pam Bondi must release the Epstein files by Dec. 19, but her previous about-face on Epstein transparency has worried skeptics. | | | | Known as subclade K, a new, mutated flu strain that has dominated in Europe and Asia is now rapidly spreading across the US. | | | | First lady Melania Trump's documentary chronicles her transition into her role before inauguration. The first look at the film is out now, watch. | | | | USA TODAY Network visual journalists uncover the beauty and drama of wildlife in the places we call home. See the best wildlife photos from 2025. | | | | College football's big stage can't be overshadowed by small thinking. Playoff games shouldn't include teams not worthy of being in field. | | | | Find the best holiday gifts for foodies and home chefs! Shop from Snake River Farms meats, Ooni Pizza Oven and essential kitchen tech. | | | | USA TODAY's daily news podcast, The Excerpt, brings you a curated mix of the most important headlines seven mornings a week. | | | | Our app gives you award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, eNewspaper and more. | | | | | Play Your Way to a Relaxing Break | Unwind with crosswords and challenges that recharge you. | | | Crosswords, Puzzles, Comics & Horoscopes | | | | | | |
![20251217_VPC_PRESIDENTIAL PLAQUES INSTALLED BY TRUMP]_THUMB_GETTY.00_00_00_00.Still004.jpg](https://www.gannett-cdn.com/authoring/authoring-images/2025/12/18/USAT/87819069007-20251217-vpc-presidential-plaques-installed-by-trump-thumb-getty-00-00-00-00-still-004.jpg?crop=1918,1077,x0,y0&width=1200&disable=upscale)
No comments:
Post a Comment