This quick roundup highlights several stories connected to the Trump administration. New images from the Jeffrey Epstein estate released by House Oversight Democrats include photos of Bill Clinton, Steve Bannon, Bill Gates and Donald Trump. The National Trust has sued to block construction of a proposed White House ballroom, and the U.S. joined Saudi Arabia, Russia and Iran to block parts of a U.N. environmental report calling to phase out fossil fuels. Other items include Fed reappointments, a DOJ argument against providing ASL at presidential briefings, and a November drop in Tesla’s U.S. sales.
Friday Mini-Report — 12.12.25: Epstein Images, White House Lawsuit, U.N. Fight and More
Today’s quick roundup of major developments tied to the Trump administration and other notable national stories.
Epstein Files
New images released: Democrats on the House Oversight Committee on Friday released a tranche of photographs recovered from the Jeffrey Epstein estate. The images include figures such as former President Bill Clinton, media figure Steve Bannon, Microsoft founder Bill Gates and President Donald Trump.
Historic Preservation Lawsuit
Court challenge: The National Trust for Historic Preservation has sued President Donald Trump and several government officials, asking a federal court to block construction of a proposed ballroom at the White House tied to Mr. Trump’s plans.
At the United Nations
Environmental report dispute: According to participants, the United States joined Saudi Arabia, Russia and Iran in a successful effort to block parts of a U.N. environmental report that recommended phasing out fossil fuels, shifting to cleaner energy sources and reducing single-use plastics.
Demolition of a section of the East Wing of the White House on Oct. 22, 2025.(Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Federal Reserve Reappointments
Regional bank presidents retained: The Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve announced Thursday that it had reappointed all regional Federal Reserve bank presidents. The action came days after the Trump administration signaled it wanted major changes to how reappointments are handled.
Sign Language Dispute
Legal argument by DOJ: In litigation brought by the National Association for the Deaf, Justice Department attorneys argued that providing American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation at press briefings by President Trump and Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt would "severely intrude on the President’s prerogative to control the image he presents to the public." The claim is part of an ongoing legal dispute over access and accommodations.
Tesla Sales Dip
U.S. sales fall: Estimates from Cox Automotive, shared exclusively with Reuters, show Tesla’s U.S. deliveries in November fell to a near four‑year low despite the company introducing lower-priced versions of its popular models.
Unusual Government Posts
Cartoon used in political messaging: In another unusual move by the administration, the Department of Justice on Thursday posted an image portraying Franklin, the anthropomorphic turtle from a children’s-book series, as a "deportation judge." Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had posted a similar depiction late last month.
Have a safe weekend.
