The Daily Briefing

YOUR MORNING NEWS ROUNDUP

Fri Dec 19 2025

Nicole Fallert
Reporter & Newsletter Writer

Happy Friday! Welcome to the Daily Briefing. Here's what's breaking this morning:

•	The Brown University shooting suspect was found dead.
•	Inside a sermon from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth at the Pentagon.
•	Rams vs. Seahawks last night was an instant classic.

Nicole Fallert here, bringing you the news to know Friday. BRB, using these TikTok holiday gift hacks. Then we'll discuss the latest news on Epstein, remembering a NASCAR great and why you should make a cheese board. Also, check out the overwhelming response to yesterday's story about an American family that unexpectedly became homeless.

Epstein files: Expectations, reality and victim protections

The moment of truth is almost here. But despite Congress passing a new law requiring the full release of the documents from the investigation of the accused sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein, legal experts don't expect all the files in the Trump administration's possession to be publicized.

And if that's the case, the question becomes: How many documents were withheld or redacted — and why?

But as the expected Friday release of the Epstein files approaches, some alleged victims of Epstein fear irreversible mistakes in the process could jeopardize their privacy, according to victim lawyers who spoke with USA TODAY.

Meanwhile, House Democrats released another batch of 68 pictures from Epstein's estate. See the photos.

More news to know now

•	RFK Jr. moves to restrict gender-affirming care for minors. Kennedy said that the Department of Health and Human Services is starting an administrative process to prohibit hospitals that provide children with that type of care from participating in Medicare and Medicaid — a move that would affect virtually every hospital in the United States.
•	Details emerge about the timeline of Rob and Michele Reiner's death. According to the Los Angeles County District Attorney, Nick Reiner allegedly used a knife to fatally stab his parents at their California home "in approximately the early morning hours" of Dec. 14.
•	USA TODAY got an up-close look at Roblox's new safety feature. Come Jan. 7, all users will be required to undergo an AI-powered age-estimator facial scan in order to continue using the platform's chat feature. The change, in many ways, is the company's answer to scrutiny it's faced over child safety on the app.

Remembrance

Ex-NASCAR driver Greg Biffle killed in fatal plane crash with family

Greg Biffle Nascar Gobowling 400 05072016

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Greg Biffle in May 2016 at Kansas Speedway.

Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

NASCAR driver Greg Biffle died on Thursday in a plane crash in Statesville, North Carolina. He was 55. Biffle was named one of NASCAR's 75 greatest drivers by the organization in 2023 to celebrate its 75th anniversary season.

Something to talk about

You should just eat the cheese

Find me at the holiday party cheese board — it may protect from dementia, new research suggests. Researchers in Sweden analyzed dietary data from about 27,600 participants in the Malmö Diet and Cancer study, who were followed for an average of 25 years. People in the study who consumed 50 grams or more of high-fat cheese daily had a 13% lower risk of developing dementia, compared to those who ate less than 15 grams daily, researchers found.

Before you go

•	USA TODAY went to Bluey's world in Australia.
•	Eleven College Football Playoff games are coming between Friday and Saturday.
•	(Spoiler!): Lily Collins dished on the new season of "Emily in Paris."