🆕 What happened today just doesn’t happen in modern America.
China restricted exports of rare earth minerals. Trump responded with an immediate 100% tariff on top of the tariffs already crushing American farmers. During the government shutdown, Project 2025 co-author Russ Vought laid off 4,200 federal employees, the first time a shutdown has ever been used to permanently cut workers.
And GOP members of Congress asked the EPA to develop a system for tracking abortion pills in wastewater. The EPA said they could build a system to track what goes down your drain to prosecute what happens in your body.
This is what normalizing the unprecedented looks like. Each toppled boundary makes the next one easier to cross. Next Saturday is the No Kings protest with more than 2,000 events nationwide. Find yours. Show up. Politicians are watching, and they need to see that we’re watching back.
Don’t leave truth to the algorithm. Our free and private nightly email arms you with images, data, and quotes so you can see it all for yourself. Add your email at govbrief dot today or on Substack at Gov Brief Today.
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Health Secretary Kennedy claims circumcised boys have double autism rates from Tylenol, contradicting medical groups that still recommend acetaminophen.
Today’s GovBrief News
EPA directed scientists to research tracing abortion drug mifepristone in wastewater following Republican congressional letter, a method anti-abortion activists seek to restrict medication.
Source: Raw Story
October 10, 2025
Justice Department urged federal prosecutors to investigate George Soros citing conservative report that its own author admits found no evidence the Soros network committed crimes.
Source: The New York Times
October 10, 2025
Trump to posthumously award Charlie Kirk Medal of Freedom at White House ceremony Oct. 14, rushing back from Israel trip for event honoring conservative activist murdered at Utah Valley University.
Source: USA Today
October 10, 2025
University of Arkansas installs 500 Ten Commandments posters in compliance with state law requiring displays in public institutions, despite federal judge blocking law at five school districts.
Source: The Arkansas Advocate
October 10, 2025
Hegseth announces Qatar will build air force facility in Idaho under 2017 $12 billion arms deal, hosting F-15s and pilots for training.
Source: Stars and Stripes
October 10, 2025
Administration uses $300 million in tariff revenue to fund WIC during shutdown, despite Trump budget proposing cuts to program for low-income mothers and children.
Source: The Associated Press
October 10, 2025
Trump announces deal with AstraZeneca to cut drug prices in exchange for three years of tariff relief.
Source: Bloomberg
October 10, 2025
Border Patrol agents detain WGN-TV employee and multiple landscapers in Chicago immigration raid, then ram vehicle and speed away as witnesses describe scene as violent and lawless.
Source: Chicago Sun-Times
October 10, 2025
Federal judge blocks Trump administration from imposing conditions on domestic violence grants that would bar groups from promoting DEI or providing abortion resources.
Source: The Associated Press
October 10, 2025
Federal judge rules ICE warrantless arrests of 11 Missouri restaurant workers violated consent decree, ordering release and requiring DHS to retrain officers and reissue arrest policy nationwide.
Source: The Missouri Independent
October 10, 2025
Melania Trump announces eight Ukrainian children returned after direct communication with Putin, as Trump administration cut funding to Yale program tracking 30,000 allegedly abducted children.
Source: CNN
October 10, 2025
White House Homeland Security Council directly selected Uganda for Abrego Garcia deportation in highly unusual move, ICE official testifies, as Justice Department asserts presidential privilege over selection details.
Source: WUSA9 Washington
October 10, 2025
Trump announces 100% tariff on all Chinese imports starting November 1, over and above existing tariffs, in retaliation for China's new export controls on rare earths minerals.
Source: CNBC
October 10, 2025
Attorney General Bondi and DOJ leadership caught off guard when Trump-installed U.S. attorney Lindsey Halligan secured indictment of Letitia James from grand jury, against career prosecutors' recommendation.
Source: ABC News
October 10, 2025
Speaker Johnson keeps House out of session during 10-day shutdown, canceling votes through at least next Tuesday while blaming Senate Democrats for blocking GOP stopgap bill.
Source: The Hill
October 10, 2025
IRS warns shutdown-exempt employees they will be furloughed if they take more than eight hours of leave per pay period, reversing promises that they were safe from furloughs.
Source: Federal News Network
October 10, 2025
Trump administration issues layoff notices to 4,200 federal employees at seven agencies during shutdown, leveraging funding lapse for workforce cuts unprecedented in shutdown history.
Source: Government Executive
October 10, 2025
Trump signs Columbus Day proclamation calling explorer "original American hero" and accusing critics of slander, reversing Biden's recognition of Indigenous Peoples Day.
Source: USA Today
October 10, 2025
MIT rejects Trump compact exchanging federal funding for adoption of administration priorities on gender, admissions and campus speech.
Source: NBC Boston
October 10, 2025