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Today’s Rundown:
- WHITE HOUSE SAYS TRUMP’S MRI RESULTS ARE ‘PERFECTLY NORMAL’: The White House released new information about President Trump’s MRI and other “advanced imaging” tests done at Walter Reed in early October. Officials say the scans focused on his heart and abdomen, not his brain, and the results were described as “perfectly normal.” The president’s doctor said the tests were preventative, noting that men Trump’s age often benefit from a detailed check of cardiovascular and abdominal health. Trump has joked publicly that the MRI “wasn’t for my brain,” while critics online questioned why the test was needed if there was no medical concern. The White House has not released the full report but insists there are no signs of serious disease.
- WHITE HOUSE DEFENDS SECOND STRIKE ON SUSPECTED DRUG-SMUGGLING BOAT: The White House says Navy Vice Adm. Frank “Mitch” Bradley ordered a follow-on missile strike on a suspected drug boat in the Caribbean on September 2, 2025, and insists the attack was lawful. The second strike reportedly hit survivors from an initial attack, prompting outrage from human rights groups and scrutiny in Congress. Officials say Bradley acted under authorization from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and within the rules of engagement. President Trump has tried to distance himself, saying he would not have supported a second strike and that Hegseth did not order lethal force on survivors. Lawmakers from both parties are demanding more details and video evidence, and Venezuela has launched its own investigation after saying its citizens were killed. A classified briefing for key members of Congress is planned as the Pentagon continues to claim the operation complied with U.S. and international law.
- NEW REPORT SAYS FBI ‘RUDDERLESS’ UNDER KASH PATEL AND DAN BONGINO LEADERSHIP: A new report compiled by current and former FBI agents paints a harsh picture of the bureau’s leadership under Director Kash Patel and Deputy Director Dan Bongino. Agents quoted in the report describe the FBI as a “rudderless ship” and say the top leaders are “in over their heads.” They accuse Patel and Bongino of focusing too much on social media, public relations, and personal branding instead of running investigations and managing the bureau. Some sources say morale has dropped and that key cases are being slowed by poor internal communication and constant political messaging. Conservative commentators have begun sharing the report as evidence of broader dysfunction, while critics note the document was not an official government review and may reflect internal factions. The FBI has not issued a detailed public response to the specific claims.
- TSA TO CHARGE $45 FEE FOR TRAVELERS WITHOUT REAL ID: Starting February 1, 2026, air travelers in the U.S. who show up without a REAL ID-compliant license or another approved ID (like a passport) can pay a $45 fee to verify their identity. TSA will use a system called Confirm.ID, which can be started online or at the airport and is valid for 10 days of travel. The process can take up to about 30 minutes and does not guarantee you will be cleared to fly; the fee is non-refundable. Officials say about 94% of travelers already have proper ID, and the new fee is meant to push the remaining holdouts to get compliant. The charge was originally proposed at $18 but was raised because of higher technology and staffing costs. Children under 18 are still allowed to fly without their own ID when traveling with an adult.
- ALLEGED UNITEDHEALTHCARE CEO KILLER FIGHTS TO SUPPRESS KEY EVIDENCE: Luigi Mangione, accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in Manhattan in 2024, is back in a New York courtroom for pretrial hearings over what evidence a jury will be allowed to see. Prosecutors played a 911 call from a McDonald’s manager in Altoona, Pennsylvania, who reported a customer who looked like the wanted suspect, leading to Mangione’s arrest. Police say a backpack seized at the scene contained a partly 3D-printed 9mm handgun, a silencer, and writings about targeting a health executive. Mangione’s lawyers argue the search of the bag and some of his comments about having a “3D-printed gun” were obtained without proper Miranda warnings and should be thrown out. He has pleaded not guilty in both state and federal cases, and federal prosecutors are considering the death penalty. The judge has not yet ruled on whether the disputed evidence will be allowed at trial.
- MICHAEL JORDAN-BACKED TEAM TAKES NASCAR TO TRIAL IN ANTITRUST FIGHT: A major antitrust trial has begun pitting 23XI Racing, co-owned by Michael Jordan and driver Denny Hamlin, and Front Row Motorsports against NASCAR. The teams argue that NASCAR’s charter system—essentially the franchise structure that controls who can race and how money is shared—unfairly locks in power and revenue for the league and a few top teams. They want the court to force changes that could give teams more control over sponsorships, media deals, and long-term security. Hamlin became emotional on the stand, saying the current system makes it hard for teams to be profitable and threatens the future of stock-car racing. NASCAR defends the charter model as necessary for stability and says it has invested heavily in making the sport safer and more competitive. Legal experts say the case could reshape how NASCAR and possibly other racing series do business.
- PRINCESS AIKO’S POPULARITY RENEWS DEBATE OVER JAPAN’S MALE-ONLY THRONE: Princess Aiko, the only child of Japan’s Emperor Naruhito, has become increasingly popular with the public as she takes on more official duties and works at the Japanese Red Cross Society. Under the 1947 Imperial House Law, only men in the male bloodline can become emperor, and women who marry commoners must leave the royal family. That rule leaves just one young male heir—Aiko’s cousin, Prince Hisahito—raising concerns about the long-term future of the monarchy. Scholars, activists, and some lawmakers say lifting the ban on female emperors is now essential to keep the institution alive. Conservative politicians and traditionalists still strongly oppose changing the law, arguing it would break centuries of custom. The debate is likely to grow as Aiko’s public profile and support among younger Japanese continue to rise.
- ANONYMOUS $50M GIFT WILL FUND TUITION FOR UW MEDICAL LAB STUDENTS: An anonymous donor has pledged more than $50 million to support medical laboratory science students at the University of Washington. The money will cover two quarters of senior-year tuition for students during their intensive clinical rotations for at least the next 50 years. Those rotations make it hard for students to work part-time, so the aid is expected to ease financial pressure and help more people finish the program. The gift will also allow the school to grow its class size from about 70 to 100 students over the next decade. University leaders say the donation will help fill a serious shortage of clinical lab professionals, who play a key behind-the-scenes role in diagnosing diseases and running hospital tests. The donor, a Washington state resident with a personal connection to the field, has chosen to remain anonymous.
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