Good morning everyone. At 11 AM EST today, I am going to be going live on here with Katie Phang so I hope you tune in. In addition, I plan on doing a paid subscriber Q&A again soon, so stay tuned.
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Now, let’s get to the news:
The Department of Homeland Security has reportedly been considering a proposal from a Duck Dynasty producer on a reality TV show where immigrants would compete in a series of challenges “for the honor of fast-tracking their way to U.S. citizenship.”
An internal FEMA review found the agency unprepared for the upcoming hurricane season, citing confusion about its mission and downsizing efforts. The assessment, prompted by new leadership and coming just weeks before storm season, highlights challenges made worse by staffing cuts and political pressure to reduce FEMA’s role.
Former FBI Director James Comey took down an Instagram post showing seashells arranged to spell “86 47” after Republicans accused him of encouraging violence against President Trump. The number 86 is often slang for getting rid of something, while 47 refers to Trump as the 47th president. Trump Jr. and Kristi Noem both claimed the post was a call for assassination, with Noem stating that DHS and the Secret Service are investigating. Comey denied any violent intent, saying he saw the shells on a walk and didn’t realize the numbers could be interpreted that way, but took the post down out of caution.
Russian and Ukrainian delegations are meeting in Istanbul, marking a significant moment despite the absence of both countries' leaders. Ukraine is represented by Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, while Kremlin aide Vladimir Medinsky is leading the Russian side. The talks are being chaired by Turkey’s Foreign Minister, Hakan Fidan. Just having both sides in the same room signals a rare opportunity for dialogue.
At the start of the meeting, Turkey’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan called the talks “technical” and said they were meant to pave the way for a potential meeting between the leaders of Russia and Ukraine. He emphasized the importance of the moment, noting it was the first direct contact between the two sides since March 2022. “We must seize this opportunity to make progress on the path to peace,” Fidan said.
Trump commented on the Russia-Ukraine peace talks, saying that “nothing is going to happen” until he personally meets with Putin. He had earlier encouraged Ukrainian President Zelensky to agree to talks after Putin proposed them. Senator Marco Rubio also downplayed the discussions, saying he doesn’t expect any breakthroughs.
Military leaders will be ordered to send transgender troops to health checks as a way to push them out of service under Trump’s ban. This move is part of the broader enforcement of the administration's restrictions on transgender service members.
The cost of Trump’s proposed military parade could reach up to $45 million, according to reporting by The Washington Post.
Attorney General Pam Bondi sold between $1 million and $5 million in Trump Media shares on the same day Trump announced major new tariffs that sent the stock market tumbling, according to records obtained by ProPublica. The timing of the sale has raised questions about potential insider knowledge and financial ethics.
Kilmar Abrego Garcia has now spent two months detained in a prison in El Salvador after being mistakenly deported there. Although a court hearing will be held today, the case remains stalled and tangled in delays, leaving his situation unresolved.
The Federal Aviation Administration has been forced to buy replacement parts on eBay and even produce some using 3D printers. This highlights serious supply issues and aging equipment problems within the agency.
House Democrats have launched an investigation into President Trump's acceptance of a $400 million luxury Boeing 747-8 jet from Qatar, intended for temporary use as Air Force One and later to be transferred to his presidential library.
See you this evening.
— Aaron
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