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What Happened Today – October 23, 2025

History is being rewritten in real time.

Trump continues gaslighting America by demanding the National Symphony open concerts with the National Anthem and editing the White House website to include photos of Hunter Biden in a bathtub and a topless transgender activist whose actions got her immediately banned from the White House.’

He told reporters today that the U.S. would attack drug cartels in other countries, but won’t ask Congress for permission “because we’re just gonna kill people.” Take him at his word, even in America. In Chicago today, the Border Patrol Chief personally threw tear gas at a Little Village crowd despite a federal order barring exactly that.

Virginia’s House meets Monday for an emergency session to address redistricting after Texas, Missouri, Utah, and Indiana tried to do the same for the GOP. Ask your local representatives why they’re not doing the same.

And don’t let algorithms curate your reality. Every night we send an email with 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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🟡 GovBrief Intensity Score 86
Normal range. Baseline political energy.
Previous 5 Days
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Today's Quote
I don’t think we’re necessarily going to ask for a declaration of war. I think we’re just gonna kill people that are bringing drugs into our country. We’re going to kill them. They’re going to be, like, dead.
Donald Trump at the White House on October 23, 2025, telling reporters he would attack "drug cartels" in other countries.
Yesterday's Most Read

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.

Today’s GovBrief News


Dissent 1 of 16

Man sues District and Ohio National Guard after DC Police detained and handcuffed him for playing Star Wars "Imperial March" behind Guard members during peaceful September protest.

10-15 minutes in handcuffs

Source: WUSA Washington DC

October 23, 2025

Disaster Relief 2 of 16

Trump administration denied Western Maryland's final FEMA appeal for May flash flood recovery despite $33.7 million in damages exceeding state threshold by nearly 3x.

Worst flooding in 30 years

Source: The Baltimore Banner

October 23, 2025

Foreign Relations 3 of 16

Israeli parliament gave preliminary approval to West Bank annexation bill, prompting Vance to call it a "very stupid political stunt" and warnings from Rubio that it threatens Gaza peace efforts.

25-24 vote

Source: BBC

October 23, 2025

Foreign Relations 4 of 16

Trump terminates all trade negotiations with Canada after Ontario aired ads featuring Reagan's 1987 anti-tariff remarks, accusing Canada of trying to influence pending Supreme Court cases on tariff legality.

$75 million ad campaign

Source: CNBC

October 23, 2025

Environment 5 of 16

Interior Secretary Doug Burgum signed permits Thursday advancing drilling, mining and road projects across Alaska in ceremony dubbed "Alaska Day," prompting environmental groups to call it "Alaska Sellout Day."

3 major projects advanced

Source: The Alaska Beacon

October 23, 2025

Military 6 of 16

Trump said he won't seek congressional authorization to expand drug cartel strikes from boats to land targets, telling reporters "we're just gonna kill people" despite Colombia calling current strikes violations of international law.

At least 37 killed in boat strikes

Source: NBC News

October 23, 2025

Military 7 of 16

Two B-1 bombers flew over Caribbean near Venezuela on Thursday in second show of force in a week, sources say, though Trump denied the mission when asked by reporters later that day.

10,000 U.S. troops in region

Source: ABC News

October 23, 2025

Immigration 8 of 16

Border Patrol Chief Gregory Bovino threw tear gas toward a crowd in Chicago's Little Village Thursday morning despite a federal restraining order barring agents from using chemical agents on people who don't pose a threat.

Third alleged violation in 12 days

Source: NBC Chicago

October 23, 2025

Immigration 9 of 16

Justice Department told a federal judge Thursday that Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has authority to send migrants designated for deportation to any U.S. military base worldwide, defending Guantanamo detentions now paused for a hurricane.

710 migrants held there since February

Source: The New York Times

October 23, 2025

Immigration 10 of 16

Trump calls off planned federal deployment to SF 12 days before California's redistricting vote, after Mayor Lurie requested a stand down and Governor Newsom called the threat voter suppression.

5 House seats at stake

Source: NBC Bay Area

October 23, 2025

Propaganda 11 of 16

Trump completed demolition of White House East Wing this week to build ballroom, breaking his pledge not to touch existing structures and exploiting exemption from historic preservation reviews.

90,000 sq ft, $300M cost

Source: The Associated Press

October 23, 2025

Propaganda 12 of 16

White House edited its official "Major Events Timeline" web page attacking past Trump opponents and praising him, while posting photos including nude Hunter Biden in a bathtub and a topless transgender woman.

19 total entries, 9 partisan

Source: Mediaite

October 23, 2025

Arts 13 of 16

The National Symphony Orchestra now opens all performances with the national anthem at Richard Grenell's direction after Trump made himself Kennedy Center chairman and purged the formerly bipartisan board.

18 Biden appointees removed

Source: Symphony

October 23, 2025

Grift 14 of 16

Trump pardoned Binance founder Changpeng Zhao two months after reports his family's crypto venture benefited from Binance partnership and after Zhao's firm paid $450,000 to lobbyist friend of Donald Trump Jr.

Trump family crypto venture worth $4.5 billion

Source: CNBC

October 23, 2025

Grift 15 of 16

White House released a list of donors funding Trump's ballroom showing contributions from Amazon, Apple, Google, Meta, Microsoft, Lockheed Martin, and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick's family.

$300 million cost

Source: CNN

October 23, 2025

Fighting Back 16 of 16

Virginia House Speaker Don Scott called special session for Monday to pursue redistricting that could add two Democratic congressional seats in response to Republican gerrymandering in Texas and other states.

8 days before Election Day

Source: The Virginia Mercury

October 23, 2025