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The Daily Briefing

YOUR MORNING NEWS ROUNDUP

Thu Oct 23 2025

Nicole Fallert | Newsletter Writer

@nicolefallert

Almost through the week!🙋🏼‍♀️ I'm Nicole Fallert. Turns out all this pumpkin is good for us.

Skim Thurday's news:

•	The East Wing's torn facade has sparked criticism from historical societies and some political figures.
•	Who's going to rule the Big Apple?
•	A ballerina's star-studded final show.

Sudden East Wing demolition stirs controversey

When the White House first released the plans for construction of a ballroom in July, President Donald Trump told reporters that the 90,000-square-foot addition was "not touching" the building's East Wing.

Fewer than three months later, bulldozers have removed the entire East Wing of the White House. Trump told reporters Wednesday the decision to tear down the entire structure was made after "tremendous amount of study with some of the best architects in the world."

•	A Trump ballroom commences with "no approvals." A congressional aide familiar with the process told USA TODAY that no reviews were submitted for approval by the National Capital Planning Commission, which provides building and zoning advice in the capital and approves various federal construction plans. The White House said in response that such approval was not required.
•	What is the East Wing? The modern version of the East Wing was added to the White House in 1942. It had been the traditional location for the first lady's offices until demolition began this week

Federal agents are headed to San Francisco

The San Francisco Chronicle reported that more than 100 federal agents, including those from U.S. Customs and Border Protection, would begin arriving as soon as Thursday to San Francisco to carry out immigration operations. The federal agents' pending arrival in Northern California comes days after a federal appeals court agreed that Trump could send 200 National Guard troops to Portland, Oregon, to quell protests, as part of his campaign to strengthen immigration enforcement nationwide. It is unclear if National Guard troops will be deployed in San Francisco.

More news to know now

•	Families found sewing pins in candy distributed at a Texas parade.
•	A Russian chess grandmaster is being investigated for his conduct involving a U.S. grandmaster's death.
•	Virginia Giuffre survived Epstein's abuse. There's more to her than salacious details.
•	A family health insurance plan now costs nearly $27,000.

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

Heated moments from NYC mayor's debate

In a lively debate Wednesday, Democratic frontrunner Zohran Mamdani, a 34-year-old democratic socialist state lawmaker, sought to portray himself as mayoral material ahead of Election Day. He stood between former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who is running as an independent, and Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa. But Mamdani struggled to address how he would restructure NYC schools while Cuomo, polling in second, tried to account for his past, including resigning as governor. Sliwa, the GOP candidate, called out his opponents' opposition to President Trump. Here are all the key moments.

Former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo gestures towards Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa and Democratic candidate Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani during mayoral debate in Queens, New York, on Wednesday.

Hiroko Masuike, via REUTERS

Sean Grayson murder trial is underway

Testimony began in the murder trial of Sean Grayson, a former Illinois sheriff's deputy who fatally shot Sonya Massey, a Black woman who called police for help. Sangamon County Sheriff's deputy Dawson Farley, Grayson's partner, told jurors he didn't "see or hear anything" that would have made Grayson draw his service weapon. Farley testified that he was "caught off guard" by Grayson firing his firearm and that it didn't follow training. Here's what else witnesses said.

Today's talkers

•	Are you raising "velcro" kids?
•	"Nobody Wants This" utterly self-destructs in Season 2.
•	How did Cooper Flagg do in his NBA debut?
•	A Tennessee coach just made a historic MLB job change.

Who is to blame for brazen $102 million jewelry heist?

The Louvre's outdated security system failed to detect robbers in time to prevent a daytime heist of eight French crown jewels worth millions, the museum's director said Wednesday before the French Senate's Culture, Education and Sport Committee. The daytime heist of eight French crown jewels worth millions shocked the world and sparked criticism over the museum's lapses in security. Some French officials have called the incident a national humiliation.

The window believed to have been used in a robbery at the Louvre museum in Paris, France.

Gonzalo Fuentes, REUTERS

Photo of the day: Misty's révérence

Misty Copeland, the first Black woman to serve as a principal dancer at the renowned American Ballet Theatre, danced for the final time with the company Wednesday in New York City. Watch Copeland hug Oprah before revealing advice she'd give to her younger self (and now we're crying).

(From left) Misty Copeland and Oprah Winfrey attend the American Ballet Theatre fall gala in New York City on Wednesday.

Dimitrios Kambouris, Getty Images for ABT

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.