Much of the White House East Wing was torn down yesterday.

That's where we're starting The Seven from the Washington Post.

I'm Hannah Jewell.

It's Wednesday, October 22nd.

Let's get you caught up with today's seven stories. That was the sound of a demolition job at the White House.

Yesterday, we told you about the disappearance of the White House's eastern entrance.

But it turns out, the job is much more extensive than it first appeared.

By yesterday, much of the East Wing was destroyed.

The East Wing houses office space for the First Lady,

and it is one of the most well-known parts of the White House.

That's because it has been used for decades

as the entrance for almost all visitors coming for tours. A White House spokesman clarified

that the entirety of the East Wing would eventually be, as he put it, modernized and rebuilt.

The move to knock it down has shocked preservationists and raised questions

about White House overreach and lack of transparency. It's also sparked complaints from Democrats

that President Donald Trump was damaging the People's House to pursue a personal priority.

That priority is building a massive ballroom to host state visits and big parties.

Trump spoke more about the project at the White House yesterday.

You probably hear the beautiful sound of construction to the back. You hear that sound? Oh, that's music to my ears. I love that sound. Other people don't like it. I love it, Josh. I think when I hear that sound, it reminds me of

money. In this case, it reminds me of lack of money because I'm paying for it, so it's the opposite.

But it's going to be one of the most beautiful ballrooms anywhere in the world.

The ballroom is expected to cost $250 million. Dozens of companies, including Apple, Coinbase,

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