Good morning. It's Saturday, Dec. 13, and in this weekend edition, we're covering a lawsuit over a new White House ballroom, a college football scandal update, and much more. First time reading? Join over 4.5 million insatiably curious readers. Sign up here.
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Trump Ballroom Challenged |
The National Trust for Historic Preservation sued President Donald Trump yesterday, seeking to halt his White House ballroom project until it receives congressional approval and undergoes independent reviews.
The nonprofit alleges Trump exceeded his constitutional authority and skipped federally mandated reviews when he ordered the demolition of the East Wing in October to make space for a ballroom (see photos). At roughly 90,000 square feet, the planned ballroom would be nearly double the size of the White House’s primary residence and accommodate nearly 1,000 people. Trump has criticized the East Wing's roughly 200-person seating capacity as too small, forcing some events to be hosted in outdoor tents. Although Trump has stated the estimated $300M project will be privately funded, that does not necessarily exempt it from federal laws and procedures.
The last major White House renovation was completed in 1952 under President Harry Truman. Costing roughly $60M in today’s dollars, it involved a near-total gutting and rebuilding of the White House’s interior. |
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Historic floods batter Washington state.
Washington is under a state of emergency, with evacuation orders in place for tens of thousands of residents after atmospheric rivers dumped over 15 inches of rain in recent days. Several rivers have surged to record heights, and many bridges and roads have been washed out without a timeline for reopening. Some people have been rescued by helicopter. Another storm system is expected to bring more rain Sunday. |
House Democrats release new photos from Epstein estate.
Lawmakers released 19 photos from a trove of more than 95,000 images recently obtained from the estate of late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The images feature President Donald Trump, former President Bill Clinton, and Microsoft cofounder Bill Gates, among other high-profile figures. Meanwhile, the Justice Department faces a Dec. 19 deadline to unseal Epstein-related files under a law passed in November. |
Fired University of Michigan head football coach charged.
Sherrone Moore, 39, was charged yesterday with home invasion, stalking, and breaking and entering days after he was fired as the University of Michigan's head football coach over an inappropriate relationship with a fellow staffer. The charges stem from an alleged incident at that staffer's apartment hours after his dismissal. Moore was granted a $25K bond and is set to appear in court again on Jan. 22. |
Thai parliament dissolved over controversial constitutional changes.
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul dissolved the House of Representatives following approval from the king, triggering a 45- to 60-day countdown to new elections. The move follows a dispute over expanding elected lawmakers' powers. Anutin will lead a caretaker government until the elections and said the dissolution won't affect Thailand's military operations in its escalating border dispute with Cambodia. |
Reddit challenges Australia's under-16 social media ban.
Online forum Reddit filed a lawsuit alleging the world-first law—implemented Wednesday—prevents teens from engaging in age-appropriate community experiences and imposes an intrusive, insecure age-verification process on all users. The Australian government declined to comment on the suit as of this writing. |
Crypto mogul Do Kwon sentenced to 15 years in prison.
Do Kwon, the cofounder of Singapore-based Terraform Labs, pleaded guilty in US federal court to fraud charges after an international search. The charges stem from a $40B crash that occurred in 2022 after two digital currencies he designed—TerraUSD and Luna—plunged in value. Prosecutors had recommended a 12-year sentence, and Kwon faced a maximum 25-year sentence. |
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American heart surgeon works side by side at the operating table with an Ethiopian cardiac perfusionist whose life he saved decades ago. (More) |
Delaware man revives tradition of opening his doors to neighbors with nowhere else to go for Christmas. (More via Reddit) |
Middle-aged Oregon residents create a nude calendar to raise money for snowplowing. (More) |
News reporter believes she's walking to her assignment. Instead, she finds her partner down on one knee with a ring. (More, w/video) |
Retired police officer transforms a bus into a full-service laundromat for people experiencing homelessness. (More) |
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In partnership with Doroni |
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His Mission? Make Flying Cars a Reality |
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Today, we're sharing a story from reader Regina M. in New Jersey.
"My sister and I went to see the Rockefeller Center tree lighting. With all the crowds and blockades, it was difficult to gain entry to the area. We briefly started speaking with the young couple next to us, brainstorming ways we could get in the area. They quickly made a reservation to a bar/restaurant within the parameters of the tree and added us—two strangers—to the reservation. We all got in! It was a magical night. We shared a drink with them later to thank them."
What act(s) of kindness did you experience this week? Tell us here. |
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"The minute you start talking about what you're going to do if you lose, you have lost." |
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