The Morning: Where is Congress? – The New York Times

October 23, 2025

  

Good morning. President Trump is demolishing most of the east side of the White House. You may be asking: Can he do that? The answer is yes. We explain what’s happening below, and then we look at how Congress is struggling during the government shutdown.

Then, we have news on Trump’s strikes on boats, the New York mayoral debate and embroidery that is back in style.

A total teardown

When Trump first announced his plans for his $300 million White House ballroom, he pledged to leave the East Wing alone. “It won’t interfere with the current building. It’ll be near it but not touching it,” Trump said. “And pays total respect to the existing building, which I’m the biggest fan of.”Yesterday, The Times reported that Trump now plans to demolish the entire East Wing for the project. The White House determined razing the structure would be cheaper and more structurally sound than building Trump’s 90,000-square-foot ballroom as an addition, an administration official said.The teardown could be finished as soon as this weekend. It would be a swift farewell to a structure built at the turn of the 20th century, during administration of Theodore Roosevelt, and which for decades has housed the offices of the first lady and her staff.

Continue/Read Original Article Here: https://www.nytimes.com/ – The Morning Newsletter, October 23, 2025

#2025 #America #DonaldTrump #EastWing #History #Libraries #LibraryOfCongress #Newsletter #Opinion #Resistance #Science #TheMorning #TheNewYorkTimes #Trump #TrumpAdministration #UnitedStates #WhiteHouse