Good morning, and happy Saturday. Even on a weekend, the news isn’t slowing down. And, neither am I. Washington, D.C. remains under heightened military presence, and Donald Trump is now signaling a shift on Ukraine that edges closer to Russia’s stance. This is critical coverage you won’t find filtered through corporate interests—because there aren’t any here.
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With that, here’s the news:
Russia and Ukraine:
Donald Trump aligned with Putin in backing a comprehensive peace deal instead of the urgent ceasefire sought by Ukraine, as Zelenskyy confirmed he will meet Trump in Washington on Monday.
Trump said Zelenskyy will meet him in the Oval Office on Monday and that, “if it all works out,” he will then schedule talks with Putin, stressing the goal should be a direct peace deal rather than a ceasefire.
Putin demanded Ukraine withdraw from the entire Donetsk region as a condition to end the war, according to the Financial Times.
Moscow celebrated the Trump-Putin summit as a win for Russia, with Dmitry Medvedev praising talks “without preconditions.” Despite Trump’s threats of “severe consequences” if no ceasefire was reached, the meeting ended without concessions from Putin, who maintained his demands while consolidating gains in eastern Ukraine.
Many Ukrainians dismissed the Trump-Putin summit as a “useless meeting” that excluded their country, with some calling it a diplomatic win for Putin. Residents of Kharkiv, under constant shelling, said the talks brought no change, voiced skepticism about Trump, and stressed that Ukraine’s struggle and belief in eventual victory continue.
Zelenskyy warned that Russia may intensify attacks in the coming days to gain leverage in talks, following the inconclusive Trump-Putin summit and ahead of his visit to Washington to meet the US president.
In a post-summit debrief, Trump and European leaders discussed offering Ukraine security guarantees equivalent to Nato’s article 5. A joint European Council statement stressed that Ukraine must face no limits on its defense or international ties, and rejected any Russian veto over its path to EU and Nato membership.
European leaders pledged continued support for Ukraine after the Trump-Putin summit, stressing ironclad security guarantees, no Russian veto on EU/NATO membership, and rejecting changes to borders by force. They backed stronger sanctions on Russia and endorsed a possible Trump-Zelenskyy-European trilateral summit.
Leaders of the “coalition of the willing” will hold a video conference on Sunday, co-chaired by Emmanuel Macron, Friedrich Merz, and Keir Starmer, ahead of Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s visit to Washington on Monday.
Polish PM Donald Tusk warned that the battle for Ukraine and Europe’s security is in a “decisive phase,” urging Western unity against Putin, whom he called “cunning and ruthless.” He noted Trump asked Polish president Karol Nawrocki, a Maga-aligned nationalist, to join recent Ukraine talks instead of him.
General News:
Thousands are set to protest in 34 states under the banner “Fight the Trump Takeover,” opposing Republican redistricting plans in Texas and beyond that Democrats say would rig congressional maps, with Austin as the anchor site and major organizations like Indivisible, MoveOn, and the DNC backing the effort.
The White House and Washington DC reached an agreement to scale back Trump’s takeover of city police, keeping the Metropolitan Police Department under Chief Pamela Smith’s control rather than shifting authority to DEA official Terry Cole.
Former Capitol police officers attacked on January 6 dismissed Trump’s new law-and-order stance in DC, recalling his failure to deploy the National Guard during the riot and criticizing his sudden use of troops against what city leaders say is a nonexistent crime wave.
Democratic lawmakers introduced a resolution to end Trump’s federalization of DC’s police, calling it unlawful and noting that emergency conditions required for such a takeover under the Home Rule Act have not been met.
Washington residents voiced alarm as masked federal agents and police patrolled neighborhoods under Trump’s DC police takeover, with witnesses describing raids targeting Hispanic day laborers as an intimidation tactic.
Trump said Chinese president Xi Jinping assured him China would not invade Taiwan while he is in office, though Xi emphasized that China is “very patient,” as tensions over Taiwan’s status remain high.
Meta is facing backlash after leaked guidelines showed its AI chatbots were allowed to have “sensual” conversations with children, spread false medical claims, and generate racist content; the company says it has since removed the policy, while Senator Josh Hawley launched an investigation.
Midwest farmers in Ohio are being squeezed by Trump’s trade war with China, which threatens soybean exports, and by climate-driven excess rainfall that has worsened crop disease and pest pressures.
Air Canada suspended all flights after more than 10,000 flight attendants went on strike over pay and working conditions, stranding about 130,000 travelers a day during peak season; the airline and union remain far apart despite months of talks, with the walkout expected to cause major disruptions worldwide.
The US is deploying over 4,000 Marines and sailors, along with warships, aircraft, and a submarine, to Latin America and the Caribbean as part of Trump’s counter-cartel mission, a show of force under Southern Command that expands military options but has raised concerns over the Marines’ role in drug interdiction.
AT&T agreed to a $177 million settlement over two 2024 data breaches, allowing millions of customers to claim up to $7,500 with proof of losses; the breaches exposed Social Security numbers and phone data of more than 73 million people, with claims due by November 18 and payouts pending court approval.
Good News:
A GoFundMe raised nearly $100,000 for baby Cameron Casacci’s rare brain surgery, and after an appeal, his insurer reversed its denial and agreed to cover the procedure; the funds will now support his long-term therapies through a medical trust.
Nike co-founder Phil Knight and his wife Penny donated a record $2 billion to Oregon Health & Science University’s Knight Cancer Institute, funding its expansion into a self-governed entity to advance early detection, innovative treatments, and comprehensive patient care.
Scientists confirmed the discovery of a new manta ray species, Mobula yarae, off Mexico’s Yucatán coast—the third known manta species—distinguished by grey wing tips and a strong V-shaped marking, offering rare insights into evolution and ongoing speciation in large marine animals.
See you this evening.
— Aaron
