SCOTUS allows Trump's ballroom project to continue. And, the Army secretary resigns
✓Good morning. You're reading the Up First newsletter. Subscribe here to get it delivered to your inbox, and listen to the Up First podcast for all the news you need to start your day.
The Supreme Court yesterday ruled that President Trump can proceed with the construction of his ballroom at the former East Wing of the White House without needing congressional approval. Chief Justice John Roberts and the court's three liberal justices dissented. The high court didn't address whether demolishing the East Wing and constructing the ballroom are legal, but said that the National Trust for Historic Preservation lacked standing to sue, as it likely hasn't suffered any concrete injury. The new ballroom is projected to cost taxpayers at least $300 million, even though Trump has said that taxpayers wouldn't pay for it.
President Trump displays a rendering of his proposed White House ballroom in October 2025. Alex Wong/Getty Images hide caption
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Alex Wong/Getty Images
Dan Driscoll has resigned as secretary of the Army after only 18 months in the role. Driscoll, who became the youngest-ever Army secretary when he took the job last year at age 38, served as the Army's top civilian leader. Tensions between Driscoll and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have risen as Hegseth has dismissed many top military officers, replacing them with officers seen as more loyal to him.
Finance ministers from the world's largest economies are meeting for the G-20 summit this week in North Carolina to discuss ways to encourage faster economic growth. They are also expected to talk about tightening economic pressure on Iran. This gathering marks the first time in more than a decade and a half that the U.S. has hosted the summit.
A newly released whistleblower report warns that the U.S. Postal Service could "derail" the midterm election by rushing out "untested" technology as part of Trump's efforts to restrict mail-in voting. USPS has spent months preparing to launch an online portal for state election officials to submit absentee voters' names and ballot envelope barcodes. According to the whistleblower, testing of this new system has been inadequate. If the courts allow USPS to proceed with this plan, issues with the portal could prevent eligible absentee voters from receiving their mail-in ballots on time or at all.
CSA-Printstock/Getty Images
It can be challenging to love your appearance in a world full of filtered photos and weight loss trends. If you find yourself feeling negatively about your looks, practicing "body image flexibility" can help. The term describes the ability to cope with uncomfortable feelings about your looks, and the approach doesn't require you to love or even feel neutral about your body. Instead, it focuses on how you respond to negative thoughts. Here are some exercises to practice body image flexibility:
For more advice on how to stop fixating on your body image, listen to this episode of NPR's Life Kit. Subscribe to the Life Kit newsletter for expert advice on love, money, relationships and more.
Released prisoner of war Lt. Col. Robert L. Stirm is greeted by his family at Travis Air Force Base in Fairfield, Calif., as he returns home from the Vietnam War, March 17, 1973. Sal Veder/AP hide caption
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Sal Veder/AP
Photojournalist Slava "Sal" Veder died at the age of 99 on Aug. 22, eight days before his 100th birthday. He was best known for his Pulitzer Prize-winning photo "Burst of Joy," which captured a U.S. Air Force lieutenant colonel reuniting with his family after five years in a Vietnam prisoner-of-war camp. During his three-decade career at the Associated Press, Veder documented significant political events and figures, including Dianne Feinstein's election as San Francisco mayor following Mayor George Moscone's assassination and political activist Angela Davis' conspiracy for murder trial. See photos of some of Veder's works throughout his AP career.
The first ever Fat Marmot Week ends on August 30, 2026. Eric Philips hide caption
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Eric Philips
This newsletter was edited by Suzanne Nuyen.
The Supreme Court has ruled that President Trump's ballroom project may continue. And, Army Secretary Dan Driscoll resigns after 18 months on the job
This lens runs the verified story through Cinnamon's AI — wired in the next step.
Good morning. You're reading the Up First newsletter. Subscribe here to get it delivered to your inbox, and listen to the Up First podcast for all the news you need to start your day.
The Supreme Court yesterday ruled that President Trump can proceed with the construction of his ballroom at the former East Wing of the White House without needing congressional approval. Chief Justice John Roberts and the court's three liberal justices dissented. The high court didn't address whether demolishing the East Wing and constructing the ballroom are legal, but said that the National Trust for Historic Preservation lacked standing to sue, as it likely hasn't suffered any concrete injury. The new ballroom is projected to cost taxpayers at least $300 million, even though Trump has said that taxpayers wouldn't pay for it.
President Trump displays a rendering of his proposed White House ballroom in October 2025. Alex Wong/Getty Images hide caption
toggle caption
Alex Wong/Getty Images
Dan Driscoll has resigned as secretary of the Army after only 18 months in the role. Driscoll, who became the youngest-ever Army secretary when he took the job last year at age 38, served as the Army's top civilian leader. Tensions between Driscoll and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have risen as Hegseth has dismissed many top military officers, replacing them with officers seen as more loyal to him.
Finance ministers from the world's largest economies are meeting for the G-20 summit this week in North Carolina to discuss ways to encourage faster economic growth. They are also expected to talk about tightening economic pressure on Iran. This gathering marks the first time in more than a decade and a half that the U.S. has hosted the summit.
A newly released whistleblower report warns that the U.S. Postal Service could "derail" the midterm election by rushing out "untested" technology as part of Trump's efforts to restrict mail-in voting. USPS has spent months preparing to launch an online portal for state election officials to submit absentee voters' names and ballot envelope barcodes. According to the whistleblower, testing of this new system has been inadequate. If the courts allow USPS to proceed with this plan, issues with the portal could prevent eligible absentee voters from receiving their mail-in ballots on time or at all.
CSA-Printstock/Getty Images
It can be challenging to love your appearance in a world full of filtered photos and weight loss trends. If you find yourself feeling negatively about your looks, practicing "body image flexibility" can help. The term describes the ability to cope with uncomfortable feelings about your looks, and the approach doesn't require you to love or even feel neutral about your body. Instead, it focuses on how you respond to negative thoughts. Here are some exercises to practice body image flexibility:
For more advice on how to stop fixating on your body image, listen to this episode of NPR's Life Kit. Subscribe to the Life Kit newsletter for expert advice on love, money, relationships and more.
Released prisoner of war Lt. Col. Robert L. Stirm is greeted by his family at Travis Air Force Base in Fairfield, Calif., as he returns home from the Vietnam War, March 17, 1973. Sal Veder/AP hide caption
toggle caption
Sal Veder/AP
Photojournalist Slava "Sal" Veder died at the age of 99 on Aug. 22, eight days before his 100th birthday. He was best known for his Pulitzer Prize-winning photo "Burst of Joy," which captured a U.S. Air Force lieutenant colonel reuniting with his family after five years in a Vietnam prisoner-of-war camp. During his three-decade career at the Associated Press, Veder documented significant political events and figures, including Dianne Feinstein's election as San Francisco mayor following Mayor George Moscone's assassination and political activist Angela Davis' conspiracy for murder trial. See photos of some of Veder's works throughout his AP career.
The first ever Fat Marmot Week ends on August 30, 2026. Eric Philips hide caption
toggle caption
Eric Philips
This newsletter was edited by Suzanne Nuyen.
Good morning. You're reading the Up First newsletter. Subscribe here to get it delivered to your inbox, and listen to the Up First podcast for all the news you need to start your day.
The Supreme Court yesterday ruled that President Trump can proceed with the construction of his ballroom at the former East Wing of the White House without needing congressional approval. Chief Justice John Roberts and the court's three liberal justices dissented. The high court didn't address whether demolishing the East Wing and constructing the ballroom are legal, but said that the National Trust for Historic Preservation lacked standing to sue, as it likely hasn't suffered any concrete injury. The new ballroom is projected to cost taxpayers at least $300 million, even though Trump has said that taxpayers wouldn't pay for it.
President Trump displays a rendering of his proposed White House ballroom in October 2025. Alex Wong/Getty Images hide caption
toggle caption
Alex Wong/Getty Images
Dan Driscoll has resigned as secretary of the Army after only 18 months in the role. Driscoll, who became the youngest-ever Army secretary when he took the job last year at age 38, served as the Army's top civilian leader. Tensions between Driscoll and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have risen as Hegseth has dismissed many top military officers, replacing them with officers seen as more loyal to him.
Finance ministers from the world's largest economies are meeting for the G-20 summit this week in North Carolina to discuss ways to encourage faster economic growth. They are also expected to talk about tightening economic pressure on Iran. This gathering marks the first time in more than a decade and a half that the U.S. has hosted the summit.
A newly released whistleblower report warns that the U.S. Postal Service could "derail" the midterm election by rushing out "untested" technology as part of Trump's efforts to restrict mail-in voting. USPS has spent months preparing to launch an online portal for state election officials to submit absentee voters' names and ballot envelope barcodes. According to the whistleblower, testing of this new system has been inadequate. If the courts allow USPS to proceed with this plan, issues with the portal could prevent eligible absentee voters from receiving their mail-in ballots on time or at all.
CSA-Printstock/Getty Images
It can be challenging to love your appearance in a world full of filtered photos and weight loss trends. If you find yourself feeling negatively about your looks, practicing "body image flexibility" can help. The term describes the ability to cope with uncomfortable feelings about your looks, and the approach doesn't require you to love or even feel neutral about your body. Instead, it focuses on how you respond to negative thoughts. Here are some exercises to practice body image flexibility:
For more advice on how to stop fixating on your body image, listen to this episode of NPR's Life Kit. Subscribe to the Life Kit newsletter for expert advice on love, money, relationships and more.
Released prisoner of war Lt. Col. Robert L. Stirm is greeted by his family at Travis Air Force Base in Fairfield, Calif., as he returns home from the Vietnam War, March 17, 1973. Sal Veder/AP hide caption
toggle caption
Sal Veder/AP
Photojournalist Slava "Sal" Veder died at the age of 99 on Aug. 22, eight days before his 100th birthday. He was best known for his Pulitzer Prize-winning photo "Burst of Joy," which captured a U.S. Air Force lieutenant colonel reuniting with his family after five years in a Vietnam prisoner-of-war camp. During his three-decade career at the Associated Press, Veder documented significant political events and figures, including Dianne Feinstein's election as San Francisco mayor following Mayor George Moscone's assassination and political activist Angela Davis' conspiracy for murder trial. See photos of some of Veder's works throughout his AP career.
The first ever Fat Marmot Week ends on August 30, 2026. Eric Philips hide caption
toggle caption
Eric Philips
This newsletter was edited by Suzanne Nuyen.
Read the full story at BBC ↗ · NPR ↗ · Axios ↗
This lens runs the verified story through Cinnamon's AI — wired in the next step.
- The Supreme Court has ruled that President Trump's ballroom project may continue.
- And, Army Secretary Dan Driscoll resigns after 18 months on the job