Thursday, October 23, 2025

Betting bombshell hits the NBA

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The Short List

Thu Oct 23 2025

Phaedra Trethan | National Correspondent

@wordsbyphaedra

👋🏼 Hi there! I'm Phaedra Trethan, wondering whether I'm getting enough sleep. 😴 🥱 😴

In Thursday's news:

•	An explosive gambling scandal is rocking the NBA.
•	Millions rallied to send a message to President Trump. But what happens next?
•	Where will Tropical Storm Melissa go? Well...

But first: The World Series starts Friday! Yay ! But once it's over, that's the end of baseball season. Boooo! ⚾️ ⚾️ ⚾️ ⚾️

Basketball betting bombshell

More than 30 people have been indicted in connection with a sprawling investigation into illegal gambling that's rocking the NBA. Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups, Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier and former player Damon Jones are among those caught up in the scandal. The charges, fallout and how the mafia is allegedly involved.

•	Watch: FBI Director Kash Patel's news conference.
•	Photos: Gambling scandals that roiled sports through the years
•	Read the full indictments.

Combination image of Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billiups, left and Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier, middle, and former NBA player Damon Jones.

Getty Images

No Kings drew millions. Now what?

More than 2,700 "No Kings" rallies took place last week, a grassroots mobilization meant to send a message to President Donald Trump and his administration about unpopular policies around immigration, LGBTQ rights and what protesters say is creeping authoritarianism.

But while millions turned out for the rallies, many wonder: What now?

•	President Trump pressed pause on sending federal troops to San Francisco.
•	Watch: Trump upends the H1-B visa program.
•	A Chicago official calls ICE raids in a Mexican neighborhood a "reign of terror."

Protesters march in the second "No Kings" demonstration on Oct. 18, 2025, in Chicago.

Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Real quick

•	Check the eggs in your fridge: Millions are being recalled over salmonella concerns. 🥚 🥚 🥚
•	There's much more to Virginia Giuffre's story than trauma, pain and abuse.
•	Vice President JD Vance had harsh words for Israel's parliament as he tries to usher the peace process forward.
•	Watch: Video shows thieves escaping in broad daylight from the Louvre. 💎 💎 💎

Where will Melissa go?

⛈️ Tropical Storm Melissa is spinning in the Caribbean. And islanders in the region are keeping a close eye on the storm.

The National Hurricane Center said Thursday afternoon the storm is about 200 miles south-southeast of Jamaica, and likely intensify this weekend. Where forecasters think the storm is headed, and when it will become a hurricane.

Ballooning budget for White House ballroom?

💰 💰 Cost estimates for the planned White House ballroom keep going up . Now at $300 million, the ballroom will be paid for by private donors, many of whom do business with the U.S. government.

•	Watch: Who's donating to build the ballroom?
•	The demolition has raised questions about the legality of altering the historic building. That didn't stop the bulldozers.
•	Tourists in D.C. react to the changes.
•	The big picture: How the White House is changing.

Demolition of the East Wing of the White House continues where President Donald Trump's proposed ballroom will be built in Washington, D.C., on October 23, 2025.

Kevin Lamarque, Reuters

A break from the news

•	Would you go on a date just to get a free meal? 🤔
•	What the stars wore to ballerina Misty Copeland's final performance. 🤩
•	If I ever get to interview Dave Grohl, I will ask him: What is Foo and why must you fight it? 🧐

Phaedra Trethan is a national correspondent at USA TODAY. She'd love to hear from readers about The Short List, story ideas from across the nation and suggestions on what to watch after baseball season ends. Email her at ptrethan@usatoday.com.