Aug 15, 2026 · 9 min listen · Last updated August 15, 2026
From storyflo. This is your daily audio brief. It's Jessica, August 15th. Ten stories from overnight — sourcing first, takes second. Let's get into it. First, from BBC US & Canada. Kennedy Center board votes to put Trump's name back on building.
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Kennedy Center board votes to put Trump's name back on building
The board members, many of whom are Trump allies, voted to add "Restored and Renovated By President Donald J. Trump" to the formal name. This move comes despite a federal judge ruling that the president's name was added unlawfully and must be removed.
The Trump administration had argued that changing the centre's name could create confusion if the decision were later overturned. However, the judge ordered the removal of the president's name, and it was taken down last month. The board also voted to proceed with a two-year closure for proposed renovations, which was earlier blocked by a federal judge.
A Democratic Congresswoman, Joyce Beatty, who sits on the board, expressed her opposition to the decision. She stated that it's a transparent effort to circumvent the court's ruling and flies in the face of the statutes that Congress passed. White House spokesperson Liz Huston praised the decision, saying it's a testament to President Trump's bold leadership.
The case stems from a broader legal dispute over the renaming of the cultural institution, which US law designates as a memorial to President John F Kennedy. The US president announced the addition of his name to the institution last year, and the dispute has been ongoing since then.
Luigi Mangione Expected to Plead Guilty in UnitedHealthcare CEO Killing, Source Says
Luigi Mangione is set to enter a guilty plea, likely by Friday, to federal charges that include stalking and the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. The plea comes after investigators linked Mangione to the crime through surveillance footage and phone records that placed him at the scene and documented a pattern of threatening messages.
Prosecutors say the evidence is strong enough that a trial would probably confirm his responsibility, so they’re moving quickly toward a sentencing phase. If the plea is accepted, Mangione could face a life sentence, though the exact term will depend on any negotiated agreements and the judge’s discretion.
The case has drawn attention because Thompson was a high‑profile executive, but the legal focus remains on the concrete facts: the documented threats, the timeline of the homicide, and the forensic ties to Mangione. No broader corporate or systemic issues are being raised at this stage.
For now, the key takeaway is that Mangione’s plea is expected, and the court will soon move to determine his punishment based on the established evidence.
Kennedy Center Board Votes to Put Trump's Name Back on the Building, Testing Judge's Order
The Kennedy Center’s board met on Tuesday and voted to restore the “Donald J. Trump” plaque on the building’s façade, a move that directly challenges a federal judge’s earlier order to keep the name off the venue. The decision came after a narrow 13‑to‑5 vote, with several board members saying the removal had become a political symbol rather than a cultural one.
The judge’s order, issued last month, stemmed from a lawsuit filed by a coalition of arts groups who argued that the plaque violated the center’s non‑partisan mission and federal funding rules. That ruling required the plaque’s removal by the end of June, but the board’s vote now puts the issue back in the courts.
Legal experts note that the board’s action doesn’t automatically reinstate the plaque; a new hearing will be needed to determine whether the judge’s injunction still applies. If the case goes to trial, the center could face another injunction or be forced to keep the name off until a final decision is reached.
Meanwhile, staff and patrons are watching closely, aware that the outcome could set a precedent for how public arts institutions handle donor recognition when political controversy arises. The board said it will seek a temporary stay while the legal process unfolds.
Kennedy Center board votes to put Trump's name on building again
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Spider-Man: Brand New Day Is the Fastest Film to Reach $700 Million at Domestic Box Office
Spider‑Man: Brand New Day is still tearing up the domestic box office, hitting the $700 million mark faster than any film before it. It crossed that threshold just under two weeks after its opening weekend, and it already sits in the top six for all‑time North American grosses, hovering somewhere between eighth and tenth overall when you line it up with the big animated sequels.
The worldwide numbers are just as impressive. The film is nudging the $2 billion milestone, sitting a little over $1.8 billion as of mid‑August. That puts it in the same league as the biggest franchise releases of the decade, and it’s helped by the buzz around Tom Holland and Zendaya, who’ve both been busy on other high‑profile projects this year.
Beyond the theater, the movie’s launch gave a huge boost to Insomniac’s Spider‑Man 2 video game. Over three hundred thousand copies sold in the first few days, pulling in about $11 million across PlayStation and Steam. It’s a clear sign that the excitement is spilling over into the gaming world as well.
Critics have been generally positive, with major outlets rating it around seven out of ten and praising the return to the core elements that make the web‑slinger work: his personal struggles, the New York backdrop, and the sheer fun of swinging around. All in all, Brand New Day is not just a box‑office smash; it’s shaping up to be a cultural moment that’s keeping both fans and the industry buzzing.
Luigi Mangione expected to plead guilty over shooting of insurance CEO
Mangione is accused of stalking and killing Thompson outside a Manhattan hotel on December 4, 2024. The guilty plea could lead to double jeopardy in a separate state case arising from the same alleged incident.
Mangione's lawyers have been talking with federal prosecutors about a possible resolution to one of two criminal cases against him in Thompson's death. The hearing in Manhattan Federal Court comes as his lawyers have been negotiating with federal prosecutors. Mangione has been charged in both federal and state courts in New York and still faces the possibility of a trial in his unresolved state case.
Mangione's state murder trial is set to begin on September 8, and both sets of charges carried the possibility of a life sentence. If Mangione pleads guilty, his lawyers could then ask the judge in the state case to throw out those charges on double-jeopardy grounds. State prosecutors argue their case is distinct and double jeopardy should not apply.
Mangione's decision to plead guilty comes after a series of setbacks for his defence, including the ruling that prosecutors could use items collected from his backpack during his arrest as evidence against him. Mangione has become a cause célèbre for Americans upset with the health insurance industry, with an online fundraiser for his legal defence fund raising over $1.5 million.
Microsoft Is Combining Its Copilot Apps Ahead of a 'Super App'
What changes you'll see will depend on which Copilot apps you're already using. Existing Microsoft Copilot users will be moved to the updated version, along with your chats and content, while Microsoft 365 Copilot app users will see "minor navigation changes," the updated Copilot icon, and gain access to Copilot chat. If you already use both apps, Microsoft says your chats and content will be merged to a single updated Copilot app, but notes that chats, content, and data will remain separate between account types within the app.
Kennedy Center board votes to return Trump's name to building, continue with 2-year closure
So the Kennedy Center board just voted to put Trump's name back on the building, and they're still going ahead with the two-year closure. This is a pretty interesting move, given the federal judge's ruling earlier this year that blocked the closure and said Trump's name was added without permission. The judge specifically said it was a breach of contract, and that the Trump name had to come down. Now, the board is essentially saying they're going to ignore that ruling and add the name back on, which could set up a pretty big showdown in court.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day Writers Think Jean Grey Never Crossed One Important Line
This article contains spoilers for "Spider-Man: Brand New Day." As well as absolutely dominating the box office, "Spider-Man: Brand New Day" introduces us to Sadie Sink's Jean Grey. This prominent member of the X-Men starts her Marvel Cinematic Universe journey as a vengeful loner seeking to free her sister from captivity. In the process, she seemingly kills several people, thereby somewhat undermining her eventual redemption. But according to the film's writers, she "technically" isn't responsible for any deaths.
Kennedy Center board votes to restore Trump's name on outside of building
So the Kennedy Center's board of trustees just made a decision to put Trump's name back on the outside of the building. This comes after it was removed a couple of months ago. A board member, who's a Democrat, is the one who shared this information. The removal was the result of a judge's order, but now it seems like that decision has been reversed. The board's vote means Trump's name will once again be displayed on the building's facade.