Today’s Headlines: President Donald Trump has officially finished demolishing the East Wing of the White House — without filing any plans, naturally — to make way for a $300 million “Marie Antoinette” ballroom. He also pardoned Binance founder “CZ” Zhao, who pleaded guilty for enabling money laundering (aka crypto’s whole vibe) and just happens to be a Trump donor and business partner. Meanwhile, Trump’s attempt to indict Rep. Adam Schiff for mortgage fraud has stalled for lack of, well, evidence. And former special counsel Jack Smith wants to testify publicly before Congress to correct “mischaracterizations” about his Trump probes — but only if DOJ promises not to punish him. The government shutdown drags on, and SNAP benefits may not go out in November, leaving millions of families without food assistance. Over at DHS, Trump’s new “election integrity” chief Heather Honey told all 50 states the 2020 election was fraudulent and hinted Trump could declare a national emergency to control future elections. Meanwhile, NBA coach Chauncey Billups and Miami Heat’s Terry Rozier were arrested in a mafia-linked betting scandal, and a pro-MAGA crypto site that promised to “expose Charlie Kirk’s murderers” vanished after scamming its donors.

Resources/Articles mentioned in this episode:

CNN: See the White House’s East Wing demolition from satellite images

WSJ: Trump Pardons Convicted Binance Founder

AOL: The Adam Schiff criminal probe has stalled, sources say

CNN: Jack Smith asks Congress and the Justice Department to allow him to testify publicly

USA Today: Will SNAP benefits be sent in November? 'Inflection point' is near, USDA says

NYT: Trump Empowers Election Deniers, Still Fixated on 2020 Grievances

Politico: Indiana Republicans don’t have votes to back Trump’s redistricting, Senate leader spox says

ABC 11: NC House takes up Senate-approved voting maps as hundreds protest

NYT: U.S. Charges N.B.A. Coach and Players in Gambling Schemes - The New York Times

The Daily Beast: MAGA Site Took Money to Unmask Charlie Kirk Critics—Then Vanished

Morning Announcements is produced by Sami Sage and edited by Grace Hernandez-Johnson

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