GovBriefToday Header

What Happened Today – October 14, 2025

📣 Donald Trump should be basking in the glow of forcing a Middle East ceasefire. He was just in Egypt and Israel yesterday lauding peace.

Today he threatened Hamas with a military attack, ordered strikes that killed six more people on a boat in the Caribbean without offering proof they were of any import to the US at all, and told New York City voters he would not allow the nation’s largest city to receive federal funds if the candidate he doesn’t like is elected in 3 weeks. He followed that by telling the people of Argentina he would end their financial support if they didn’t vote for his preferred candidate. On Wednesday, the Supreme Court could finish what he started by gutting the Voting Rights Act.

There’s no carrot, only the one big stick that running the executive branch gives Trump. That’s why millions of people are taking to the streets this Saturday. Please attend the event most meaningful to you and take a stand against being bullied. We’ve come too far to return to a monarchy.

And please don’t leave learning about truth to Big Tech algorithms. This 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.

🟠 GovBrief Intensity Score 124
Heated day. Volume above normal.
Previous 5 Days
🟠124|🟠115|🟢66|🟡90|🟡103
This is an indexed score based on news activity. 100 = our permanent historical baseline that is adjusted for weekdays and weekend days. Scores above 100 mean a busier-than-normal news day.
Today's Quote
"Rest in fucking piss," "White nationalist trailer trash," "Better off dead," "Died too late," "Son of a bitch who died by his own rules," "When fascists die, democrats don't complain."
Six examples the State Department publicly posted to justify visa revocations for criticism of Charlie Kirk
Yesterday's Most Read

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth touts replacement of Texas National Guard troops deployed to Illinois after viral photos showed overweight service members arriving in Chicago.

Today’s GovBrief News


Extremism 1 of 24

Harrisburg man receives 25-50 year sentence after pleading guilty to arson attack attempting to murder Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro while governor and family slept in residence.

6 months from attack to plea

Source: Spotlight PA

October 14, 2025

Extremism 2 of 24

Trump doubles down on threat to withhold federal money from New York if Zohran Mamdani wins City Hall, calling assemblymember a communist who would squander taxpayer money.

Hundreds of billions threatened

Source: ABC 7 New York

October 14, 2025

Extremism 3 of 24

Young Republican National Federation demands resignations of state leaders after leaked Telegram chats show 28,000 racist, sexist, antisemitic messages over seven months praising Hitler.

Kansas Young Republicans disbanded

Source: Axios

October 14, 2025

Disaster Relief 4 of 24

More than 1,000 Western Alaska residents sleep in schools without functioning toilets or water after Sunday storm damaged nearly every home in two villages.

Another storm expected this week

Source: Alaska Public Media

October 14, 2025

Foreign Relations 5 of 24

Trump threatens Argentina with loss of $20 billion assistance during White House meeting with Milei if country's politics move leftward after October 26 midterms.

$80 billion total Argentina IMF debt

Source: The Associated Press

October 14, 2025

Foreign Relations 6 of 24

Trump threatens tariffs on Spain for refusing to boost NATO defense spending to 5%, calling move disrespectful as only country among 32-nation alliance not committing to new target.

Spain currently spends 2.1% GDP

Source: Reuters

October 14, 2025

Foreign Relations 7 of 24

Trump threatens to terminate cooking oil business with China in retaliation for soybean snub after Beijing stopped buying US soybeans in May despite importing $12.8 billion worth in 2024.

US buys 43% of China used cooking oil

Source: CNBC

October 14, 2025

Foreign Relations 8 of 24

US strikes vessel off Venezuela coast killing six people Trump claims were narcoterrorists, the fifth such strike since September with 27 total killed and no evidence provided.

No identities of victims provided

Source: BBC

October 14, 2025

War 9 of 24

Trump threatens to forcibly disarm Hamas if group refuses, saying it will happen quickly and perhaps violently, amid questions about group's role after ceasefire deal.

1 day after ceasefire signed

Source: The Guardian

October 14, 2025

Environment 10 of 24

EPA canceled $20 million Alaska flood protection grant five months before catastrophic flooding hit Kipnuk, where Lee Zeldin called it wasteful DEI grant despite community's vulnerability.

1,000+ remain in emergency shelters

Source: The New York Times

October 14, 2025

Environment 11 of 24

Federal officials reject Navajo company's $186,000 bid for 167 million tons of Montana coal, less than a penny per ton, for failing to meet fair market value requirements.

Last successful bid: $1.10 per ton

Source: ABC News

October 14, 2025

Voting Rights 12 of 24

Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes threatens legal action against House Speaker Mike Johnson for refusing to seat Adelita Grijalva three weeks after special election win with 70% of vote.

24 hour typical timeframe

Source: Arizona Mirror

October 14, 2025

Voting Rights 13 of 24

Supreme Court hears case Wednesday on Louisiana redistricting threatening to strike down last major Voting Rights Act provision protecting minority voters from being shut out of congressional district drawing.

12 non-African-American voters sued

Source: NPR

October 14, 2025

Censorship 14 of 24

Meta removes Chicago ICE-tracking Facebook page after Justice Department outreach, raising questions about illegal government pressure to suppress legal speech.

Apple, Google also removed tracking tools

Source: The Verge

October 14, 2025

Censorship 15 of 24

Nearly all major news outlets lose Pentagon access after refusing to sign policy requiring pledge not to obtain unauthorized material, the first such lockout in seven decades.

Only OANN signed new policy

Source: The Hill

October 14, 2025

Censorship 16 of 24

State Department revokes six foreigners' visas over social media comments criticizing Charlie Kirk after deputy secretary urged users to send him critical posts.

Visas from Argentina, Mexico, Germany, others

Source: The Guardian

October 14, 2025

Military 17 of 24

Army announces Janus Program to place small nuclear microreactors on U.S. bases worldwide, following Trump executive order requiring reactor operation by September 30, 2028.

Idaho reactor operational 2026

Source: Defense News

October 14, 2025

Intelligence 18 of 24

Pentagon contractor and State Department adviser Ashley Tellis charged with unlawful retention of classified information after investigators found over 1,000 documents with classified markings at Virginia home.

Multiple meetings with Chinese officials

Source: CNN

October 14, 2025

Courts 19 of 24

GOP-appointed judge accuses Trump administration of violating order barring FEMA conditions tied to immigration enforcement, calling it ham-handed attempt to bully states.

20 states filed lawsuit

Source: Newsweek

October 14, 2025

Immigration 20 of 24

Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors declares local state of emergency over ICE raids in 4-1 vote, citing raids preventing work and forcing business closures since June.

62% drop in immigrant earnings

Source: Fox 11 Los Angeles

October 14, 2025

Congress 21 of 24

House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan demands Jack Smith testify after revelations former special counsel obtained phone records of sitting Republican lawmakers during 2020 election probe.

3 prosecutors already interviewed

Source: Politico

October 14, 2025

Propaganda 22 of 24

Trump posthumously awards Charlie Kirk Presidential Medal of Freedom on what would have been his 32nd birthday, five weeks after conservative activist was fatally shot at Utah Valley University.

House and Senate passed resolution

Source: ABC News

October 14, 2025

Media 23 of 24

Trump calls Time magazine cover photo worst of all time in Truth Social post, criticizing low angle that made hair disappear and created floating crown effect.

3rd Time cover in 2025

Source: Time

October 14, 2025

Fighting Back 24 of 24

Judge blocks Miami Dade College land transfer for Trump library, ruling college violated Florida Sunshine law with insufficient notice about 2.6-acre downtown property.

$25M land donated to Trump

Source: The Miami Herald

October 14, 2025