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What Happened Today – October 20, 2025

The pain is about to get very bad for a lot of people.

Food benefits and Head Start programs are quickly running out of money. Pennsylvania already said they have no funding for SNAP in November. Federal employees are missing checks. Even the National Nuclear Security Administration is down to 400 people from 1,800, and funding for those 400 runs out this week.

Meanwhile, Trump treats the world like a Risk board game. He told Ukraine they would have to give up territory for peace with Russia, threatened to “eradicate” Hamas 10 days after flying to the Middle East for a ceasefire, and is accelerating U.S. military attacks on boats in the Caribbean without proof of their wrongdoing.

Flight attendants tell you to secure your own mask before helping others. Shore up your community, then we can move to the state level. By doing that, you’re freeing others to take on the state and federal fights. That’s the only way out of this. Find the community resources near you that need support, then show up.

Don’t let algorithms curate your reality. Every night: raw evidence from local and national sources nationwide – images, data, quotes you can verify yourself in under 3 minutes. Free and private at govbrief.today.

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Today's Quote
But, you know, we’ve got a huge problem in this country, Larry, with Sharia law and the Muslims trying to take over all the areas in our country. And so, I hope we wake up and smell the roses.
Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) speaking on Fox Business Channel October 20, 2025.
Yesterday's Most Read

Trump posts AI video depicting himself in fighter jet labeled "King Trump" dropping apparent feces on protesters in response to No Kings demonstrations.

Today’s GovBrief News


Extremism 1 of 21

Trump nominee for Office of Special Counsel said MLK Jr. holiday belongs in "hell," admitted to "Nazi streak," and made racist remarks about multiple groups in texts with Republican operatives.

Confirmation hearing scheduled Thursday

Source: Politico

October 20, 2025

Foreign Relations 2 of 21

Colombia recalls ambassador after Trump calls President Petro an "illegal drug leader" and threatens tariffs and aid cuts following U.S. strikes that killed Colombian fishermen.

U.S. aid cut from $400M to $230M

Source: Newsweek

October 20, 2025

Foreign Relations 3 of 21

Ecuador releases survivor of U.S. Caribbean strike, saying no evidence of crime, after Trump said survivors would be detained and prosecuted for drug trafficking.

32 deaths from 7 US strikes

Source: The Associated Press

October 20, 2025

Foreign Relations 4 of 21

Trump and Australia sign critical minerals framework with conflicting investment figures - Albanese says $1 billion over six months, White House says $3 billion.

$8.5 billion total project pipeline

Source: CNBC

October 20, 2025

Foreign Relations 5 of 21

Trump-Zelenskyy meeting turned acrimonious as Trump raised voice demanding Ukraine cede territory to Russia after Putin phone call proposing Donbas surrender.

Putin proposed Donbas for Kherson, Zaporizhzhia

Source: CNN

October 20, 2025

War 6 of 21

Trump threatens to "eradicate" Hamas after ceasefire violations, saying Israel could handle it "in two minutes" but suggesting other countries are offering to intervene.

28 killed in Israeli strikes Oct. 19

Source: USA Today

October 20, 2025

Health 7 of 21

Government shutdown forces CDC researchers to skip nation's largest infectious disease conference, leaving no federal scientists at meeting as measles and whooping cough surge.

CDC lost 25% workforce before shutdown

Source: The Associated Press

October 20, 2025

Voting Rights 8 of 21

North Carolina Senate advances Trump-backed congressional map to flip Don Davis's Democratic district, moving state delegation to 11 Republicans and 3 Democrats.

Advanced in Senate 25-20

Source: North Carolina Newsline

October 20, 2025

Military 9 of 21

Idaho's Republican governor and GOP congressional delegation demand Hegseth briefing after Defense Secretary announced Qatari training facility without advance notice.

Letter cites Qatar's Hamas funding history

Source: The Idaho Capital Sun

October 20, 2025

Courts 10 of 21

9th Circuit overturns judge's order blocking National Guard in Portland, clearing way for Trump to deploy troops at ICE facility over state objections.

2-1 appeals panel ruling, 2 Trump appointees

Source: KGW

October 20, 2025

Courts 11 of 21

Chicago judge questions top ICE and Border Patrol officials over body camera noncompliance and use of tear gas in residential areas during Operation Midway Blitz.

85 ICE, 232 CBP agents deployed

Source: CBS Chicago

October 20, 2025

Courts 12 of 21

Comey asks judge to dismiss charges, arguing career prosecutors found no case but Trump installed White House aide who filed indictment days before statute of limitations expired.

Career prosecutors refused to take case

Source: The Guardian

October 20, 2025

Courts 13 of 21

Illinois and Chicago urge Supreme Court to reject Trump's request to deploy National Guard, arguing judge's order expires in three days and lower courts agree on legal analysis.

300 Guard member deployment blocked

Source: SCOTUS Blog

October 20, 2025

Criminal Justice 14 of 21

Two more arrested in attack on DOGE staffer as prosecutors reveal group assaulted multiple victims in less than 10 minutes across DC neighborhoods.

2 teens arrested earlier received probation

Source: DC News Now

October 20, 2025

Education 15 of 21

Government shutdown threatens 65,000 Head Start preschoolers as 134 programs face funding cutoff Nov. 1.

6 programs already missed Oct. 1 funding

Source: The Associated Press

October 20, 2025

Education 16 of 21

Seven universities reject Trump's college compact by Monday deadline, with zero acceptances of deal requiring foreign student caps and funding changes in exchange for preferential federal treatment.

Vanderbilt offered feedback, UT Austin silent

Source: The Hill

October 20, 2025

Congress 17 of 21

Republican budget failure will halt November food stamps for 42 million Americans, multiple states warn.

PA: 2M won't receive November benefits

Source: Axios

October 20, 2025

Federal Personnel 18 of 21

Interior Department reveals plan to lay off more than 2,000 employees in court filing, with cuts blocked by restraining order but prepared for months before shutdown.

770 Interior HQ, 474 BLM cuts

Source: Federal News Network

October 20, 2025

Federal Personnel 19 of 21

Nuclear weapons agency furloughs 1,400 employees for first time in a shutdown, keeping 400 working to protect property and human life.

Office of Safe Transport funded through Sunday

Source: The Albuquerque Journal

October 20, 2025

Grift 20 of 21

White House East Wing demolition begins for Trump's 90,000-square-foot ballroom, months after he said construction wouldn't touch the building.

$200 million privately funded project

Source: ABC News

October 20, 2025

Fighting Back 21 of 21

Federal judge orders Defense Department to restock banned books at 5 military base K-12 schools where students sued, ruling removals violated First Amendment rights.

596 books ordered returned

Source: Courthouse News Service

October 20, 2025