eNewspaper | Crosswords | Horoscopes

On Politics

Thu Oct 16 2025

Kathryn Palmer | Politics Reporter

@KathrynPlmr

Hello readers! Kathryn Palmer here, your new OnPolitics newsletter host. I'll share a bit more about myself in coming editions, but for now, a big thank you and bon voyage to former host Sudiksha Kochi, who is moving on to other journalism opportunities.

Indictment of Trump critic John Bolton imminent, reports say

Multiple media reports say the Justice Department is planning to seek a criminal indictment against former National Security Adviser John Bolton, who has openly criticized President Donald Trump.

The possible prosecution comes after federal law enforcement officials said in court filings that they had obtained documents labeled "classified," "secret" and "confidential" during an August search of Bolton's office. If criminal charges land, they would mark the latest in a string of prosecutions against Trump's perceived enemies.

Bolton, a former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations and national security adviser to Trump during his first administration, has become a fierce critic of the president in recent years.

Arc de Trump? President touts a new real estate project.

It seems Trump is nowhere near finished with his DC makeover proposals.

At a dinner to thank donors for contributing to his planned $250 million, 90,000-square-foot ballroom at the White House, the president unveiled a new idea, and included miniature models of it. This time, he's plugging the concept of a giant arch, reminiscent of Paris's Arc de Triomphe, proposed to sit across from the Lincoln Memorial.

He did not offer any further details on the meaning of the arch, its cost or who would pay for it. Nor did he say what permits it might require or when it would be built. The White House did not immediately respond to questions about the proposed arch.

Trump has already made several changes in the White House since he returned for his second term in January, including replacing the Rose Garden lawn with a paved patio and gilding the Oval Office.

President Donald Trump holds a model of an arch monument during a ballroom dinner in the East Room at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., October 15, 2025.

Jonathan Ernst, REUTERS

A politics pit stop

•	This government shutdown is approaching historic lengths. Where does it rank?
•	California Gov. Gavin Newsom signs controversial new handgun law
•	Swastika spotted in GOP congressman's office prompts Capitol Police investigation
•	Trump says San Francisco could be next target for anti-crime push

Will a paycheck arrive? Shutdown leaves military families in limbo.

As the government shutdown stretches on, an increasing number of Americans are feeling its effects. For many military servicemembers, a level of uncertainty over whether they will get paid has become a concern since the crisis began.

Most military servicemembers, who are paid bimonthly, received their paychecks on Oct. 1, the day the shutdown began when Democrats in Congress voted down a Republican plan to keep the government funded. While the Pentagon made the Oct. 15 payroll for active-duty military members, details of servicemembers' next paychecks remain unclear.

Military families at the country's largest Navy base told USA TODAY the shutdown has heightened the stakes of their financial choices, and many servicemembers and their families expressed frustration at members of Congress.

Questions? Feedback? Reach out at kapalmer@usatoday.com.