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The Daily Briefing

YOUR MORNING NEWS ROUNDUP

Tue Sep 2 2025

Nicole Fallert | Newsletter Writer

@nicolefallert

Good morning!🙋🏼‍♀️ I'm Nicole Fallert. Is summer over?

Quick look at Tuesday's news:

•	Between the budget and the Epstein files, lawmakers are in for a potentially messy few weeks.
•	Burning Man saw a death and a birth.
•	From start to finish, Bill Belichick's North Carolina debut was weird.

Congress is back in session

Congress' summer break is over, and lawmakers don't have much time to waste if they want to keep the federal government's lights on through October.

Is a shutdown likely? As a strict government funding deadline approaches by the end of September, Republicans need 60 votes in the Senate — and help from Democrats — to pass a budget bill and avoid a shutdown. For that reason, Democrats know they have a fair amount of political leverage.

•	Democrats can stand in the way of a budget measure. Democrats' shutdown strategy will become clearer in the coming weeks, and whether the White House sticks to its funding clawbacks will influence those plans.
•	Meanwhile, the Epstein controversy has put Mike Johnson, the Republican speaker of the House, in a tough situation. Rep. Ro Khanna is trying to force a floor vote on a bill requiring the government to release all the Epstein files.
•	And redistricting wars will continue. Efforts are intensifying to redraw statewide congressional maps ahead of next year's midterm elections. Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe is the latest to call a special legislative session to draw a new voting map.

Chicago mayor says city will stand up to Trump's 'tyranny'

'This is about making a very clear distinction between what our law enforcement engages in versus what federal agents engage in. This president is not going to come in and deputize our police department.'

~ Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson took a defiant stance over the weekend against President Donald Trump's promise to deploy the National Guard to the nation's third-largest city. Chicagoans expect the White House to bring its immigration crackdown to the city sometime after Labor Day. Meanwhile, police department data says violent crime rates are falling in Chicago.

More news to know now

•	An Afghan earthquake death toll breached 1,100, with thousands more injured.
•	Beaches across the U.S. closed during Labor Day weekend due to fecal contamination.
•	In an exclusive USA TODAY interview, JD Vance said he's ready to be president.
•	A federal judge halted the deportation of unaccompanied Guatemalan children.

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

Burning Man death investigated as homicide

A man found dead Aug. 30 at Burning Man has prompted a homicide investigation, authorities said, as thousands of attendees prepared to culminate the event by watching the burning of the wooden "Man" effigy. A deputy was flagged down by a participant who found the body "lying in a pool of blood," according to the sheriff's office. Authorities noted that while the incident appeared to be a "singular crime," all attendees should remain vigilant of their surroundings and acquaintances. The investigation is ongoing, and the "portion of the 'City'" where the incident occurred will have a heavy law enforcement presence until the scene is released, the sheriff's office said. The incident appears to be the first reported homicide at the event.

•	Meanwhile, unexpecting parents welcomed a newborn at Burning Man.

ICE agents face burnout and frustration

Under President Trump, the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency has become the driving force of his sweeping crackdown on migrants, bolstered by record funding and new latitude to conduct raids, but staff are contending with long hours and growing public outrage over the arrests. Two current and nine former ICE officials told Reuters the agency is grappling with burnout and frustration among personnel as agents struggle to keep pace with the administration's aggressive enforcement agenda. Those internal pressures are taking a toll.

Today's talkers

•	Millie Bobby Brown shared a first baby photo!
•	What happened to cheap fast food?
•	Need a new book? Here are 15 new ones.
•	The musical "Heathers" is now a Gen Z phenomenon.

Belichick's debut turns into debacle

From the sold-out ticket allotment through the community's frenzied excitement surrounding Bill Belichick's North Carolina debut, the atmosphere Monday night inside Kenan Stadium — flashing lights, choreographed blackouts, even Michael Jordan in a luxury box — reflected the unrestrained jubilation over the school's football-forward decision to hire a six-time Super Bowl champion as the coach of this perpetually underachieving program. But the party ended not long after kickoff, in a brutal blowout loss that managed to erase nine months of hope and hype in a single 60-minute package. UNC scored a touchdown on the opening possession but were quickly overwhelmed by TCU, who scored the ensuing 41 points and won 48-14.

•	Here's the best and worst of college football week 1.

North Carolina football coach Bill Belichick stands on the sidelines during his team's game against TCU at Kenan Stadium.

Bob Donnan, Images

Photo of the day: Osaka on top

Naomi Osaka got the best of her fellow former U.S. Open champion Coco Guaff and someone she affectionately calls her "little sister," advancing to the quarterfinals with a 6-3, 6-2 victory in front of a packed Arthur Ashe Stadium on Monday. Meanwhile, Taylor Fritz heads to quarterfinals Tuesday as the last American competing in the men's singles tournament. We wish we were celebrities sipping a honey deuce.

Naomi Osaka of Japan celebrates match point against Coco Gauff of the United States during their Men's Singles Fourth Round match on Day Nine of the 2025 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 1, 2025.

Clive Brunskill, Getty Images

Nicole Fallert is a newsletter writer at USA TODAY, sign up for the email here . Want to send Nicole a note? Shoot her an email at NFallert@usatoday.com.