The Daily Briefing

YOUR MORNING NEWS ROUNDUP

Tue Dec 16 2025

Nicole Fallert
Reporter & Newsletter Writer

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

•	A flag linked to Christian nationalism was hung at the Education Dept.
•	Trump approval rating poll shows worsening support among the MAGA base.
•	Patrick Mahomes had surgery to repair his ACL.

Nicole Fallert here, bringing you the news to know on Tuesday, which includes the latest in the investigation into a Hollywood legend and his wife's death and how to not get sick right before the holidays. Plus, Washington earns soccer glory.

Rob Reiner's son Nick arrested on murder charge for parents' death

Following Rob Reiner and wife Michele Singer Reiner's shocking deaths, all eyes are on the Hollywood couple's children, especially middle child Nick.

Nick Reiner was taken into police custody Monday and "booked for murder," according to Los Angeles Sheriff's Department records viewed by USA TODAY. The acclaimed Hollywood director and actor was killed alongside Singer in their California home Sunday night. Soon after the couple were discovered dead in their home, longtime friend Billy Crystal was on the scene of the killing.

Meanwhile, President Donald Trump drew strong bipartisan condemnation for his criticism of Reiner, with Republican lawmakers calling Trump's response "wrong" and "disrespectful."

More news to know now

•	Search for Brown University gunman continues: Authorities released new photos and videos of a person of interest dressed in dark clothing as officials search for the gunman in the deadly attack at Brown University that killed two students and wounded nine others.
•	Police say Bondi gunmen may have been "inspired" by the Islamic State. Two alleged gunmen who attacked a Hanukkah event at Sydney's Bondi Beach on Sunday traveled to the Philippines before the assault that killed 15 people and was Australia's worst mass shooting in nearly 30 years
•	"Gaslighting of Lyme patients is over": On Monday during a roundtable, Heath Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. asserted — without proof — that officials at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services had claimed Lyme disease "did not exist."

Take a look

Washington beats NC State in OT for first men's soccer NCAA title

Washington Huskies midfielder Joe Dale (14) holds up the trophy after winning the National Championship Monday in Cary, North Carolina.

Bob Donnan, Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

Washington men's soccer won its first national title Monday night, thanks to an overtime golden-goal winner from Harrison Bertos for a 3-2 championship win over NC State.

Something to talk about

Sniffle ... sneeze ... stomach hurts

We're at crowded holiday parties. The cold air whips our noses as we head to work. It's that time of year when flu, colds and other respiratory illnesses run rampant. Here's a quick reminder of easy steps you can take to lower your risk of getting sick and infecting others as the peak flu and cold season draws near.