Trump News for Friday, October 24, 2025

One Crypto Tycoon Pardons Another

Will Gottsegen, The Atlantic

The pardon of one of the world’s richest men is an overture to an industry that has made Trump millions.

DOJ hires immigration judges after months of layoffs

Ximena Bustillo, NPR

Judges will soon take the bench across 16 states, the Justice Department said. These include courts that saw the biggest losses of judges this year.

Trump administration investigating China’s compliance with 2020 trade deal

Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera English

The probe comes as the US government seeks additional leverage against Beijing amid escalating trade tensions.

Trump’s Tantrum Over Accurate Reagan Quotes Backfires: Millions Learn Reagan Opposed His Tariff Policy

Mike Masnick, Techdirt

Donald Trump just cut off all trade negotiations with Canada because an Ontario ad campaign quoted Ronald Reagan accurately. The quotes are real. The context is accurate. But Trump called them “fake” and “fraudulent,” and the Reagan Foundation—the institution…

Is the US killing innocent people?

Cameron Peters, Vox

This story appeared in The Logoff, a daily newsletter that helps you stay informed about the Trump administration without letting political news take over your life. Subscribe here. Welcome to The Logoff: President Donald Trump sanctioned Colombian President …

Allen defeats Brown in Antrim derby at NI Open

BBC Sport, BBC News

Mark Allen overcame fellow Antrim man Jordan Brown 5-2 in the quarter-final of the Northern Ireland Open at Belfast's Waterfront Hall.

Chinese drug kingpin captured after audacious escape from house arrest

BBC News

Zhi Dong Zhang, known as Brother Wang, was attempting to flee to Russia with false papers when his plot unravelled.

US imposes sanctions on left-wing Colombian President Petro

BBC News

Washington has accused Gustavo Petro of allowing drug cartels to flourish during his time in office.

Trump administration tells Colorado wolves must come from U.S. Rockies states, not Canada

MEAD GRUVER, Yahoo Entertainment

The Trump administration is telling Colorado to stop importing gray wolves from Canada as part of the state’s efforts to restore the predators, a shift that ...

WATCH: Trump ends Canada trade talks over anti-tariff ad

ABC News

President Donald Trump said he's terminating trade negotiations with Canada, citing a negative TV advertisement about tariffs.

3 most important things to watch with Big Tech earnings next week

Yahoo Finance Video, Yahoo Entertainment

Big Tech earnings are on deck next week with Magnificent Seven companies Microsoft (MSFT), Amazon (AMZN), Apple (AAPL), Alphabet (GOOG, GOOGL), and Meta...

US deploys aircraft carrier amid hardening stance towards Venezuela

Brian Osgood, Al Jazeera English

The Trump administration has carried out a serious of provocative moves that point towards possible military action.

US sanctions Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro, escalating Trump feud

Allison Griner, Al Jazeera English

The sanctions come as Petro and Trump clash over migration, drug policy and US strikes on boats in international water.

How Trump Is Building A Violent, Shadowy Federal Police Force

J. David McSwane and Hannah Allam, Techdirt

This story was originally published by ProPublica. Republished under a CC BY-NC-ND 3.0 license. When Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers stormed through Santa Ana, California, in June, panicked calls flooded into the city’s emergency response system.…

Pentagon accepts $130 million donation to pay troops during shutdown

Konstantin Toropin, The Associated Press, Lisa Mascaro, The Associated Press, Yahoo Entertainment

While large and unusual, the $130 million gift amounts to a small contribution toward the billions needed to cover service member paychecks.

US Justice Department to send election observers to California, New Jersey

Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera English

Republicans in both states have requested the Trump administration monitor for 'irregularities' over Democratic outcry.

U.S. imposes sanctions on Colombia's president and family over drug trade allegations

The Associated Press, NPR

The sanctions sharply escalate tensions with the leftist leader of a country that has traditionally been one of the closest U.S. allies in South America.

Flight Delays in the U.S. Are About to Get Much Worse

Matt Novak, Gizmodo.com

Air traffic controllers won't be getting paid on Tuesday.

Ontario premier says he will pause anti-tariff ad that angered Trump

BBC News

The advertisement will be paused from Monday so "trade talks can resume", Doug Ford says.

Trump likely to name White House ballroom after himself, officials say

Katherine Faulders, ABC News

Trump has not publicly said what he intends to name the ballroom, but officials say it's already being referred to as "The President Donald J. Trump Ballroom."

How furloughed federal workers can get help paying bills amid government shutdown

Mason Leib, ABC News

Roughly 750,000 government workers are currently furloughed.

Are US-Israeli relations experiencing upheaval under Trump?

Al Jazeera English

Angry US reaction to Knesset vote to annex occupied West Bank.

Trump foe Letitia James slams federal charges against her

Al Jazeera English

New York Attorney General Letitia James slammed the federal charges against her as "revenge" from Donald Trump.

Russia’s top Indian oil buyer to comply with Western sanctions

Fiona Kelliher, Al Jazeera English

Last year, Reliance Industries Ltd signed a deal with Russian major Rosneft to import nearly 500,000 barrels per day.

Trump adversary Letitia James pleads not guilty in mortgage fraud case

Brian Osgood, Al Jazeera English

US President Donald Trump has publicly called for the prosecution of James and other political rivals despite concerns.

Activists say Mamdani must counter Trump, starting with how he leads NYPD

Joseph Stepansky, Al Jazeera English

Candidate's roots in grassroots activism hearten longtime organisers, but test is on his vision of reform yet to come.

With His Contract Nearly Up, Will Jon Stewart Sign for Another Round of ‘Daily Show’?

Matt Solomon, Cracked.com

By Matt Solomon Published: October 24th, 2025

Satellite photos show White House East Wing demolished to make way for Trump ballroom

brett.tingley@futurenet.com (Brett Tingley) , Brett Tingley, Space.com

Satellite photos taken by Planet depict the demolition of the East Wing of the White House to make room for the planned Trump Ballroom.

Trump’s ‘whipping boy’ says he’s ‘tired’ of doing the dirty work

Rachel Cohen, nj.com

The GOP senator has emerged as a target of the president's ire in recent days.

US rejects Hamas, UNRWA roles in Gaza as Israeli aid blockade persists

Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera English

US's Marco Rubio says Israel can veto countries in proposed task force for Gaza as UN urges more aid be allowed in.

WATCH: High-tech cheating devices allegedly used in NBA gambling scandal

ABC News

Here's a look at how the alleged fraudsters rigged poker games, according to an unsealed indictment and announcement from federal officials.

ICE Recruits Are Failing Background Checks, Drug Tests, Fitness Standards, & Open-Book Exams

Susan Rinkunas, Jezebel

Barf Bag: It turns out that the folks most eager to brutalize non-white people aren’t exactly our country’s best or brightest.

Trump Bulldozes Away a Century's Worth of Women’s Contributions to the White House

Danielle Han, Jezebel

“It’s sort of like, my worst fears realized, to be frank," a women's studies scholar at Ohio University told Jezebel of the East Wing demolition.

The Taliban Drove This Afghan Trumpeter Into Exile. He Still Dreams of Home

Simon Vozick-Levinson, Rolling Stone

Qudrat Wasefi fled Kabul after the fundamentalist regime, with its violently enforced prohibition of music, returned to power in 2021. He's part of a generation of refugees the world has largely forgotten

Kristi Noem Lies, Says Stupid Shit While Defending ICE From ‘Demonization’ By Press, Gov’t Officials

Tim Cushing, Techdirt

Earlier this year, Donald Trump declared (without facts in evidence) that Chicago was a crime-ridden hellhole that could only be saved by sending in the literal troops. This happened during a year which has been one of the safest (in terms of crime rates) in …

An investigation into rigged poker games and illegal sports gambling has the NBA on the ropes

Dan DeFrancesco, Business Insider

The cases illustrate the delicate relationship sports leagues have with the sportsbooks that pay them millions in sponsorship deals.

‘Can’t control’ US tariffs: Canada ‘stands ready’ to resume trade talks

Al Jazeera English

Canadian PM Mark Carney says Ottawa “can’t control” US trade policy but will “stand ready” to resume talks.

Officers fire shots after driver tries to ram into Coast Guard Base Alameda, 2 hurt

Jon Haworth, ABC News

Two people were wounded when an "erratic" driver prompted a shooting at the Coast Guard Base Alameda, located on a small island next to Oakland, Oakland, officials said.

US consumer prices rise less than expected before Fed decision

Andy Hirschfeld, Al Jazeera English

The biggest increases came from the surging price of petrol, according to the report.

Ex–Stellantis CEO says Tesla could exit the car industry and may not exist in 10 years: ‘Tesla’s stock market value loss will be colossal’

Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez, Yahoo Entertainment

“We can’t rule out that at some point, he’ll decide to leave the automotive industry to refocus on humanoid robots, SpaceX, or artificial intelligence.”

Federal workers hunker down as they go without pay amid shutdown

Megan Cerullo, CBS News

Federal workers, who missed their first full paycheck on Friday as a result of the government shutdown, say they're scrambling to stay afloat financially.

Who are the private donors funding Trump’s White House ballroom?

Sarah Shamim, Al Jazeera English

White House releases list of donors funding $300m construction on the site of the demolished East Wing.

US conducts 10th deadly boat strike as bombing campaign quickens

Allison Griner, Al Jazeera English

The latest air strike took place in the Caribbean Sea, amid growing concerns about human rights violations under Trump.

DHS, pressing to deport Kilmar Abrego Garcia, says Liberia has agreed to accept him

Laura Romero, ABC News

DHS says the West African nation of Liberia has agreed to accept wrongly deported Salvador native Kilmar Abrego Garcia as the agency continues to seek his removal.

Trey Parker Cracks Himself Up in BTS ‘South Park’ Video Posted By His Wife

Keegan Kelly, Cracked.com

Maybe the ‘South Park’ creators aren’t sick of making the show after all

Is Trump’s pardon of Binance boss Changpeng Zhao a conflict of interest?

Alex Kozul-Wright, Al Jazeera English

Zhao is a convicted criminal who founded the world's biggest cryptocurrency exchange.

Brazil's Lula, 79, to seek fourth term as president

BBC News

The 79-year-old says he has "the same energy I had when I was 30" as he announces plan to run in 2026.

US strikes another alleged drug boat in Caribbean

BBC News

The US has carried out several strikes in the region as part of an anti-drug trafficking effort

How Curtis Sliwa Became the Most Hilarious Man in Politics

Opheli Garcia Lawler, Cracked.com

The cat owner and Chainsmokers lover will never be mayor, and that’s why we can laugh

US strikes another alleged drug vessel in Caribbean Sea

Alexandra Hutzler, ABC News

The United States has carried out another strike against an alleged drug vessel, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced on Friday.

Shots fired at vehicle after it backs into US Coast Guard base in the San Francisco Bay Area

Associated Press, Yahoo Entertainment

Law enforcement officers fired shots at a vehicle that backed into a U.S. Coast Guard base in the San Francisco Bay Area that had earlier been the site of...

Can Israel annex the West Bank if the US says no?

Simon Speakman Cordall, Al Jazeera English

One day after the Israeli parliament votes to annex the West Bank, Donald Trump declares he will forbid it.

Another US strike in Caribbean targets alleged drug-running boat, killing 6, Hegseth says

KONSTANTIN TOROPIN, Yahoo Entertainment

The U.S. military has conducted its 10th strike on a suspected drug-running boat, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Friday, blaming the Tren de Aragua...

Inflation climbs to highest level since January

Max Zahn, ABC News

A recent uptick in prices has coincided with a sharp slowdown of hiring.

Very Innovative: Here Come Thousands In CBS Paramount Merger Layoffs

Karl Bode, Techdirt

U.S. media mergers always follow the same trajectory. Pre-merger, executives promise all manner of amazing synergies and deal benefits. Post-merger, not only to those benefits generally never arrive, the debt from the acquisition spree usually results in sign…

Why has Trump ended trade talks with Canada over a Reagan advertisement?

Priyanka Shankar, Al Jazeera English

A Canadian state wants to swamp US TV networks with a commercial showing Ronald Reagan opposing tariffs.

What's in Reagan advert that's caused US-Canada trade talks collapse?

BBC News

Comparing the controversial advert quoting Ronald Reagan on tariffs with his original address.

The Download: carbon removal’s future, and measuring pain using an app

Rhiannon Williams, MIT Technology Review

This is today’s edition of The Download, our weekday newsletter that provides a daily dose of what’s going on in the world of technology. What’s next for carbon removal? After years of growth that spawned hundreds of startups, the nascent carbon removal secto…

The Moment When News Outlets Began Reporting on ‘SNL’s Political Sketches

JM McNab, Cracked.com

By JM McNab Published: October 24th, 2025

Archaeologist Torches Teardown With Scathing ISIS Comparison...

Tom Latchem, Daily Beast

Archaeologist Torches Teardown With Scathing ISIS Comparison... (First column, 6th story, link) Related stories:The Abdication of Congress... The Don shits on America. Few in media care... 24% APPROVE... The East Wing is gone, and Tru…

Trump’s got Big Tech and crypto bankrolling White House ballroom

Robert Hart, The Verge

Trump is demolishing the East Wing of the White House to make way for a gilded grand ballroom. The president says taxpayers won’t be footing the $300 million bill and that private donors, himself included, will pick up the tab.  Big Tech will be paying for a …

US allies seek to keep Trump “invested” in Asia trip talks

Al Jazeera English

Analyst Patricia M Kim says some Asian countries hope to show Trump they are valuable partners to the US.

Bad Bunny Wins 'Best Artist of 21st Century' Trophy at Latin Billboard Awards

TMZ Staff, TMZ

Bad Bunny just keeps racking up the wins -- and probably driving his haters nuts -- after snagging the "Best Artist of the 21st Century" award at the Latin Billboard Awards. Check out his big moment ... Bad Bunny hit the stage Thursday as legendary…

The US warships off Venezuela aren’t there to fight drugs

Guillaume Long, Al Jazeera English

Washington’s Caribbean build-up isn’t about traffickers. It’s about projecting power and pushing regime change.

Why Bird Flu Is Surging Again—And What It Means for Public Health

Meghan Bartels, Scientific American

After a quiet summer, bird flu cases are rising again. Scientists expected the development, but what happens next is still uncertain

EU accuses Meta under DSA of failing to give users easy ways to flag illegal content and adequate tools to appeal moderation decisions, in preliminary findings (Kim Mackrael/Wall Street Journal)

Techmeme.com

Kim Mackrael / Wall Street Journal: EU accuses Meta under DSA of failing to give users easy ways to flag illegal content and adequate tools to appeal moderation decisions, in preliminary findings  —  Allegations against Facebook and Instagram owner risk ire o…

Trump wants to ‘freeze’ Russia-Ukraine war: Who gets what if that happens?

Sarah Shamim, Al Jazeera English

Currently, Russia controls all of the Luhansk region and part of Donetsk alongside most of Kherson and Zaporizhia.

NY Attorney General Letitia James, a Trump adversary, to plead not guilty to mortgage charge

Yahoo Entertainment

Unions opposing Trump agenda pouring money into Proposition 50 campaign

Seema Mehta, Yahoo Entertainment

With the fate of President's Trump's right-wing agenda at stake, the California ballot measure crafted to tilt Congress to Democratic control has turned into...

The Dangerous Data Gap in Pregnancy Drug Research

Rachel Feltman, Tanya Lewis, Fonda Mwangi, Alex Sugiura, Scientific American

Despite the widespread use of medication during pregnancy, a lack of clinical research leaves patients and doctors navigating treatment with dangerously few data.

Explainer-Why are corn and soybeans at the heart of India-U.S. trade talks?

By Mayank Bhardwaj, Yahoo Entertainment

President Donald Trump said this week he spoke with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi mainly about trade, and that Modi had assured him India would limit...

Premier Li Qiang to visit Singapore as China looks to shore up ties

South China Morning Post, Yahoo Entertainment

Premier Li Qiang will arrive in Singapore on Saturday for a two-day visit that the Chinese foreign ministry said aimed to deepen cooperation and reaffirm a...

Canadian ad featuring Reagan on tariffs derails US trade talks

Al Jazeera English

The Trump administration says it has ‘terminated’ all trade talks with Canada over an Ontario government commercial.

Trump heads to Asia to talk trade deal with China's Xi

Michelle Stoddart, ABC News

He's threatened to increase tariffs on Chinese imports 100% if no agreement.

New York AG Letitia James set to be arraigned on mortgage fraud charges

Katherine Faulders, Alexander Mallin, Jack Date, ABC News

New York Attorney General Letitia James is scheduled to appear in federal court in Norfolk, Virginia, Friday to be arraigned on charges of alleged mortgage fraud.

Air traffic controllers have become reluctant bargaining chips in the government shutdown. They just want to get paid.

Taylor Rains, Business Insider

America's 13,000 air traffic controllers will soon receive their first $0 paycheck. They hold a delicate power in Washington's government shutdown.

Palestinian teen killed in Israeli raid on West Bank as settlers rampage

Al Jazeera Staff, Al Jazeera English

Israeli forces kill youth in Nablus in the occupied territory, as settlers destroy property near Ramallah.

Trump says he's terminating all trade negotiations with Canada over an ad featuring Ronald Reagan

Kwan Wei Kevin Tan, Business Insider

"They only did this to interfere with the decision of the US Supreme Court, and other courts," Trump said of the Ontario government's ad.

Trump administration pushes ahead with Alaska wildlife refuge oil and gas drilling

Liz Ruskin, NPR

The Trump administration plans to offer parts of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska for oil and gas drilling. It's part of a larger effort to advance controversial projects in the state that were blocked by the Biden administration.

Trump says US will expand strikes on ‘narco-terrorists’ to land

Al Jazeera English

President Donald Trump said attacks on alleged ‘narco-terrorists’ do not need a declaration of war or Congress approval.

Trump administration to open up Alaska wildlife refuge to drilling

Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera English

It said the 'sweeping package' would 'boost energy development, modernise land and resource management' in Alaska.

White House confirms Trump to meet Xi in South Korea as part of Asia tour

Alastair McCready, Al Jazeera English

Trump said he hoped he and Xi could 'work out a lot of our doubts and questions' after months of trade tensions.

Trump administration finalizes plan to open pristine Alaska wildlife refuge to oil and gas drilling

The Associated Press, NPR

The Trump administration has finalized a plan to open the coastal plain of Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil and gas drilling, renewing long-simmering debate over whether to drill in one of the nation's most sensitive wilderness areas.

Starmer to push allies on long-range missiles for Ukraine at London summit

BBC News

The prime minister is hosting Zelensky and the "coalition of the willing" at Downing Street on Friday.

Trump says tech leaders and mayor changed his mind about using federal force in San Francisco

JANIE HAR, Yahoo Entertainment

President Donald Trump was geared up for a show of federal force in San Francisco, a city he’s blasted as everything wrong with liberal governance. “I got a...

A frog, a lobster and a unicorn walked into a No Kings protest

Frank Langfitt, NPR

Demonstrators at No Kings protests around the U.S. dressed up as frogs and other animals. Many said they were trying to counter the GOP narrative that they are radical leftists who hate America.

'Uncharted territory': Ongoing shutdown threatens food aid for 42 million people

Jennifer Ludden, NPR

SNAP, the country's largest anti-hunger program, dates back to the Great Depression and has never been disrupted this way. Most recipients are seniors, families with kids, and those with disabilities.

Trump says he's terminating trade talks with Canada over TV ad about tariffs

ABC News

President Donald Trump said he's terminating trade negotiations with Canada citing a negative TV advertisement about tariffs.

Trump says all trade talks with Canada are terminated over Reagan ad

Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera English

US President says fraudulent advertisement featuring the late President Ronald Reagan to blame for termination of talks.

US, Chinese officials face off on export controls, Trump tariff threat in Malaysia

By Rozanna Latiff and David Lawder, Yahoo Entertainment

KUALA LUMPUR/WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Top economic officials from the U. and China are due to arrive in Kuala Lumpur on Friday for talks to prevent a trade war ...

Jackie Kennedy's Grandson Speaks Out About Trump's Demolition of the East Wing of the White House

Caroline Hallemann, TownandCountrymag.com

"My grandmother saw America in full color — Trump sees black and white. Where she planted flowers, he poured concrete," Jack Schlossberg wrote on Instagram...

Trump says trade negotiations with Canada 'terminated' over tariffs advert

BBC News

Trump says the advert included former president Ronald Regan speaking negatively about tariffs.

‘Kill them’: Trump says no Congress nod needed to attack ‘narco-terrorists’

Kevin Doyle, Al Jazeera English

US president says strikes on land to follow US attacks on suspected drug smuggling vessels in Caribbean, Pacific.

Russia-Ukraine war: List of key events, day 1,338

Alastair McCready, Al Jazeera English

Here are the key events from day 1,338 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.

US Energy Secretary Chris Wright urges FERC to limit the process for connecting data centers to power grids to 60 days, a process that typically takes years (Bloomberg)

Techmeme.com

Bloomberg: US Energy Secretary Chris Wright urges FERC to limit the process for connecting data centers to power grids to 60 days, a process that typically takes years  —  The Trump administration is pushing regulators to drastically accelerate the process of…

As Trump makes rare visit to Malaysia, PM Anwar’s balancing act faces test

John Power, Al Jazeera English

US president's Malaysia visit puts spotlight on Southeast Asian country's effort to walk fine line between great powers.

US military flew supersonic B-1 bombers up to the coast of Venezuela

KONSTANTIN TOROPIN, Yahoo Entertainment

The U.S. military flew a pair of supersonic, heavy bombers up to the coast of Venezuela on Thursday, a little over a week after another group of American...

DHS Posts Video Featuring Song Popular With Nazi Creators

Matt Novak, Gizmodo.com

The agency denied making "Nazi propaganda" in a statement that could be characterized as "very online."

Leslie Jones Adds Her Thoughts About the Lack of Black Women on ‘SNL’

Opheli Garcia Lawler, Cracked.com

While her discussing her new special, the iconic comedian opens up about her time on ‘SNL’