August 16, 2026 - Gov Brief Today

What Happened Today – August 15, 2026

August 16, 2026 by George Bounacos

Rendering of the White House ballroom interior with gold trim, marble floors, and a presidential seal, from Trump's Supreme Court filing

President Donald Trump asked the Supreme Court to restart construction of the ballroom that destroyed the East Wing, a project nearing $1 billion after his private-funding pledge collapsed. (White House rendering from Supreme Court filing)

Federal prosecutors spent the past year investigating Loren Merchan because her father presided over the trial that made Donald Trump a felon. Merchan co-owned a marketing firm until late 2024, and the subpoena that opened the investigation never named a crime. It demanded the firm’s private communications with top Democrats, including Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, … Read more