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What Happened Today – October 22, 2025

The food crisis is real and about to get much worse.

California and New Mexico are the latest states warning about their inability to meet demand now that they’ve been cut off from federal funding. That’s millions in California and one out of every five New Mexicans. Often they are people who are already food insecure or skipping meals. More states are issuing the same warnings. And when you don’t have any money or available credit, even basic necessities are out of reach.

That’s not stopping Trump from eating cake. After swearing his ballroom for 1,000 people wouldn’t affect the White House, he began demolishing the entire East Wing built in 1902. He claims donors are paying for the new $300 million ballroom, and even if so, there are reports that their names will be etched into the nearby bricks.

Check your voter registration today and make sure you’re ready to vote in every race you’re eligible for. It’s especially critical in New Jersey and Virginia, where gubernatorial races on Election Day—under two weeks away—will determine whether those states resist or enable the next two years of this. Text CHECK to 50409 or visit https://go.govbrief.today/resistbot to verify your registration is active in under a minute. Then send this to everyone you know, especially anyone in those two states.

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

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Today's Quote
The president does the calculation by saying, Okay, if a drug was $100 and you reduce it to $50, it’s 100% cheaper because you’re taking $50 off and left with only $50, so the amount you took off the price is equal to the amount that’s left. They’re equal so it’s 100%.
CMS Admin Mehmet Oz speaking on NBC News on October 22, 2025, while doubling down on Trump's incorrect calculations.
Yesterday's Most Read

Thirteen vulnerable House Republicans urge Johnson to extend expiring enhanced Obamacare subsidies after shutdown, warning constituents face premium spike.

Today’s GovBrief News


Foreign Relations 1 of 14

Trump sanctions Russia's two largest oil companies after planned Budapest meeting with Putin falls through, pushing oil prices up 3%.

Oil down about 15% in 2025

Source: CNBC

October 22, 2025

Health 2 of 14

Federal shutdown order ends SNAP benefits Nov. 1 for 450,000 New Mexicans by blocking client file submission, as food banks warn they provide about 10% the aid and cannot replace program.

1 in 5 New Mexicans

Source: Source NM

October 22, 2025

Human Rights 3 of 14

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who US intelligence says ordered Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi's 2018 murder, visits DC as Trump's guest next month to sign defense pact bypassing Congress.

First US visit in 7 years

Source: Semafor

October 22, 2025

DEI 4 of 14

Justice Department reaches deal with University of Virginia to close civil rights probes once school prohibits DEI programs, four months after forcing President Ryan to resign.

5 federal investigations suspended

Source: Politico

October 22, 2025

Censorship 5 of 14

Pentagon replaces journalists from AP, New York Times, and Washington Post with pro-Trump outlets like Mike Lindell's streaming channel after new policy requiring Pentagon-approved information.

60+ credentialed orgs

Source: Deadline

October 22, 2025

Economy 6 of 14

ADP Research cuts off Fed's employment data covering 20% of private labor force after Fed Governor Waller referenced statistics, compounding information blackout during shutdown.

Fed policy meeting Oct. 28-29

Source: Bloomberg

October 22, 2025

Military 7 of 14

US military kills 5 in first Pacific strikes on alleged drug-trafficking boats, expanding campaign to at least 37 deaths total while using dubious legal theory to justify extrajudicial killings.

9 strikes total

Source: The Guardian

October 22, 2025

Criminal Justice 8 of 14

FBI backtracks less than an hour after denying children were zip-tied in Idaho raid, changing statement to "young children" after TV station sends photo of 14-year-old U.S. citizen in zip ties.

105 arrests by ICE

Source: Idaho Capital Sun

October 22, 2025

Immigration 9 of 14

Alderman Mike Rodriguez says ICE raid brought ‘reign of terror’ to Chicago’s Mexican community, seizing citizens amid Trump’s contested immigration blitz.

4 citizens also detained

Source: USA Today

October 22, 2025

Immigration 10 of 14

Trump deploys more than 100 federal agents including ICE to San Francisco despite city's low violent crime ranking, escalating weeks of threats to invoke Insurrection Act.

SF ranks 26th in violent crime

Source: KRON San Francisco

October 22, 2025

Congress 11 of 14

Oregon Sen. Jeff Merkley speaks for 22 hours and 39 minutes on Senate floor protesting Trump's National Guard deployment to Portland and indictments of political opponents, calling it "biggest threat to republic since Civil War."

Day 22 of shutdown

Source: The Hill

October 22, 2025

Federal Personnel 12 of 14

USDA uses Commodity Credit Corporation's permanent borrowing authority to reopen 2,100 offices and pay workers during shutdown, selectively operating to help farmers three weeks after Argentina trade deals angered Trump's base.

$3 billion in aid available

Source: The Associated Press

October 22, 2025

Grift 13 of 14

Trump demolishes entire White House East Wing built in 1902 for $300 million ballroom funded by private donors after promising project wouldn't interfere with building

90,000 square foot ballroom

Source: CBS News

October 22, 2025

Fighting Back 14 of 14

California Gov. Newsom deploys National Guard to food banks and fast-tracks $80 million after federal government told state not to submit food benefit payment data, threatening 5.5 million CalFresh recipients three weeks into shutdown.

5.5 million participants

Source: KCRA Sacramento

October 22, 2025