Susie Wiles gets candid about Trump

Tuesday, December 16, 2025

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

White House chief of staff Susie Wiles offered her candid assessment of Donald Trump's administration thus far, Rob Reiner's son faces murder charges for the killing of his parents, and the doctor who helped provide ketamine to Matthew Perry will avoid prison time.

Top stories

1 | Susie Wiles unloads on Trump's agenda in candid interviews with Vanity Fair

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2 | Rob Reiner's son charged with first-degree murder as details emerge of hours surrounding killings

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3 | Doctor who helped provide ketamine to Matthew Perry avoids prison for role in Friends' star death

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4 | Hegseth says Pentagon won't release unedited video of double-tap boat strike that killed survivors

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5 | CDC defends measles response as outbreaks balloon across US: 'Any attempts to spin this are baseless'

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The Big Question 

Fractures in Donald Trump's formerly rock-solid MAGA base appear to be deepening, a new poll suggests.

A survey from the NBC News Decision Desk found that support for the GOP leader has continued to leak away since April, with his approval figures continuing to worsen throughout his presidency.

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Editors' picks

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WATCH 

Why a fake anti-Trump tweet from 'Rob Reiner' is trending

STAT OF THE DAY

1.548 million

A sitdown with CBS News editor-in-chief Bari Weiss and Erika Kirk drew 27 percent fewer viewers compared to the network's programming in that time slot

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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

 "I know it's a passé word but [they were] sort of young, single playboys together."

Susie Wiles acknowledged that Donald Trump's name is in the so-called Epstein files, claiming the president and Trump were "young, single playboys together."

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