This is what American oligarchy looks like in 2025.
Billionaire Miriam Adelson whispered to Trump last night at the White House Hanukkah reception. He announced to the crowd that she offered $250 million if he ran for a third term. The crowd chanted “four more years.”
The same day, Axios reported that Elon Musk is back funding Republican congressional campaigns after threatening to start his own party. He spent $291 million on MAGA political donations in 2024. If he matches it, that’s about a half billion dollars from just two megadonors.
Trump’s supporters say he is trolling people by continually raising the idea of an unconstitutional third term. But the nation’s wealthy are lining up behind him with enough funding to make this anything but a joke.
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Capitol unveils statue of Barbara Rose Johns, the 16-year-old who led 1951 school strike that became part of Brown v. Board, replacing Robert E. Lee after 111 years.
Today’s GovBrief News
FBI waited four days to announce arrest of former Louisiana police officer allegedly planning attack on ICE agents in New Orleans.
Source: KADN Baton Rouge
December 16, 2025
House Republicans revolt against Johnson over expiring ACA tax credits while leadership in both parties refuse to negotiate on extension timeline.
Source: The Independent
December 16, 2025
Trump appoints Yale epidemiologist who speculated about vaccine-caused "turbo cancer" and profits from ivermectin sales to chair the President's Cancer Panel.
Source: Wired
December 16, 2025
Maryland legislature overrides first Black governor's veto to create reparations commission studying Jim Crow era, as federal attacks on diversity programs intensify.
Source: Maryland Matters
December 16, 2025
Sixteen states sue Trump administration for withholding $2.1 billion in EV charging funds Congress allocated under Biden's infrastructure law.
Source: CNBC
December 16, 2025
Trump administration moves to dismantle 65-year-old Colorado climate research center that developed hurricane forecasting tools, calling it "climate alarmism."
Source: USA Today
December 16, 2025
Unemployment hits four-year high of 4.6% as economy added only 64,000 jobs in November, with economists declaring a "jobs recession."
Source: CNN
December 16, 2025
Pentagon restricts Congress from viewing unedited boat attack footage as three administration sources confirm strikes target Maduro regime, not drug trafficking.
Source: BBC
December 16, 2025
Trump orders total blockade of Venezuelan oil tankers, demands Caracas return oil assets Venezuela nationalized in the 1970s.
Source: AFP
December 16, 2025
Oklahoma Supreme Court permanently nullifies social studies standards requiring Bible teaching and 2020 election doubt, finding state board violated open meeting laws.
Source: The Oklahoma Voice
December 16, 2025
Trump doubles travel restrictions to 39 countries, adds full ban on Palestinian Authority travel documents and partial bans on 15 African and Caribbean nations.
Source: Deutsche Welle
December 16, 2025
Sen. Murphy says Rubio and Hegseth admitted in classified briefing that boat strike targets carry cocaine to Europe, not fentanyl to America.
Source: The Hill
December 16, 2025
OPM launches Tech Force to hire 1,000 early-career technologists by March after Trump administration shed more than 300,000 federal employees this year.
Source: Federal News Network
December 16, 2025
Texas sues Samsung, LG, Sony, and two Chinese TV makers, alleging deceptive consent hides surveillance software that captures screenshots every half-second and sells viewing data.
Source: Ars Technica
December 16, 2025
Chief of Staff Susie Wiles told Vanity Fair boat attacks aim to pressure Maduro, contradicting administration claims they target drug trafficking.
Source: Axios
December 16, 2025
Trump announces primetime address Wednesday to tout accomplishments and preview policy after Democrats' strong showing in November elections.
Source: UPI
December 16, 2025
Jared Kushner exits Paramount's Warner Bros. Discovery bid one day after withdrawing from Trump hotel deal in Serbia, as foreign investor scrutiny intensifies.
Source: Variety
December 16, 2025
Trump donor Miriam Adelson offers $250 million for unconstitutional third term bid at White House Hanukkah event where guest Mark Levin called Trump "the greatest president."
Source: USA Today
December 16, 2025
Former NIH vaccine chief sues Trump administration over firing, alleging retaliation after she exposed officials who said "vaccines are unnecessary if populations are healthy."
Source: CBS News
December 16, 2025