MTG’s last act in Congress could be a longshot plot to oust Mike Johnson, report says

Friday, December 12, 2025

Good evening and welcome to your daily news briefing from The Independent.

Marjorie Taylor Green's final act in Congress may be trying to take down Mike Johnson, new photos from Epstein's estate shows Trump, Clinton, and Steve Bannon partying with women, and the president is sued over his big, beautiful ballroom.

Top stories

1 | MTG's last act in Congress could be a longshot plot to oust Mike Johnson, report says

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2 | New photos show Trump with women at Epstein estate; Clinton and Steve Bannon also appear in docs

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3 | Water levels for the vital Colorado River are so low people can just walk across it

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4 | Trump sued over White House ballroom construction as preservationists demand a halt to $300 million project

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5 | Leader of California religious group arrested in connection with disappearance of two members

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The Big Question 

First lady Melania Trump joined her husband, President Donald Trump, at the White House Congressional Ball on Thursday evening and hinted at an upcoming initiative the commander-in-chief appeared to know nothing about.

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Editors' picks

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WATCH 

Moment house obliterated by gas explosion filmed on doorbell camera

STAT OF THE DAY

$1 million

The Trump administration this week launched the president's immigration "gold card," a program allowing applicants to pay $1 million to become lawful permanent residents, but legal experts warn all that money could go down the drain for these hopefuls because the initiative rests on flawed legal reasoning and could be struck down in court.

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"At The Independent, we've always believed journalism should do more than describe the world – it should try to improve it.

This Christmas, we're asking for your help again as we launch our new campaign with the charity Missing People – the SafeCall appeal.

Every year, more than 70,000 children in the UK are reported missing. The misery that follows – for the child, for the family, for the community – is often hidden. Too many of these young people have nowhere to turn when they need help most. SafeCall will change that. Our goal is to raise £165,000 to help Missing People launch this new, free service – designed with the input of young people themselves – offering round-the-clock support, advice and a route to safety."

QUOTE OF THE DAY

 'They never got it up, but we got it off. In a very short period of time, like about a year and a half, you're going to have the best ballroom anywhere in the country.'

President Donald Trump announced that his gold-plated White House ballroom could be completed in as soon as a year and a half.

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