MAJOR HEADLINES
Trump Meets Putin in Alaska: A Choreographed Summit Amid Tensions
I covered the events leading up to this meeting here.
A Change in Format
As President Donald Trump landed in Alaska, his press secretary Karoline Leavitt announced a last-minute shift: the planned one-on-one with Russian President Vladimir Putin was scrapped. Instead, the talks would be a three-on-three meeting. Representing the U.S. alongside Trump were Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Secretary Marco Rubio. On the Russian side, Putin was joined by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and foreign policy aide Yury Ushakov.
The Arrival
Putin was welcomed with a red carpet and a large “ALASKA 2025” backdrop on the tarmac. A U.S. Army honor detail rolled the carpet up to his plane — an image critics quickly labeled as “the U.S. rolling out the red carpet to a murderer.”
Trump, visibly eager, clapped as Putin approached. The two shook hands, exchanged laughs, and posed together on the Alaska 2025 stepper.
Overhead, a B-2 stealth bomber performed a flyover. The pair then traveled together in Trump’s presidential limousine, The Beast — a move that raised alarms among national security observers, given the unprecedented access granted to Russian security services on a U.S. Air Force base and in the presidential vehicle.
The Pre-Summit Press Moment
Seated side-by-side before the press, Trump and Putin faced shouted questions about the war in Ukraine. The audio was abruptly cut, and soon the livestream ended altogether as reporters were ushered out.
Key Takeaways from the Trump–Putin Statements
Putin’s Remarks
Called the negotiations “respectful, useful, and with mutual respect.”
Thanked Trump for the invitation, noting the symbolic location: “It signifies how close our countries are… I told Trump, ‘Hello, dear neighbor.’”
Framed the meeting as long overdue, highlighting that Witkoff had visited Russia several times and that the two nations’ foreign ministries had remained in contact.
Identified Ukraine as the common priority, stating that Trump “strives to understand the history of the issue” and has agreed to work on Ukraine’s security.
Claimed U.S.-Russia trade had grown 20% since Trump took office and floated expanded Arctic cooperation.
Emphasized Alaska’s “Russian heritage” with a lengthy historical narrative, citing both Soviet-era and older ties.
Ended by saying the next meeting with Trump would be in Moscow.
Trump’s Remarks
Referenced “big points” agreed upon and promised to brief NATO and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Spoke positively about “tremendous Russian business people” in attendance.
Revisited the “Russia, Russia hoax,” framing Putin’s willingness to engage as proof of mutual understanding.
Called the meeting “extremely productive,” claiming agreement on “many points” while dismissing others as insignificant.
Thanked Putin’s team, calling them “as famous as the boss,” and personally acknowledged Lavrov.
Stated Putin “wants to stop people from getting killed.”
No questions were taken.
Post-Summit Spin
On Hannity, Trump praised Putin’s remarks, saying:
“Putin made a very good speech … I was very happy to hear him say, if I was president, that war would have never happened.”
Trump claimed the two leaders would “set up a meeting between Zelenskyy and Putin to go over it further.” As far as we know, Putin has not agreed to such a meeting, nor has Zelenskyy seen any steps from Russia to justify it.
When Hannity asked:
“What would your advice be, based on today, when you talk to Zelenskyy?”
Trump responded:
“Make a deal. Russia is a very big power.”
He then added:
“Now it's really up to President Zelenskyy to get it done. And I would also say the European nations, they have to get involved a little bit, but it's up to President Zelenskyy.
And if they'd like, I'll be at that next meeting. They're going to set up a meeting now between President Zelenskyy and President Putin. And myself, I guess. I didn't ask about it. Not that I want to be there, but I want to make sure it gets done.”
Hannity proceeded:
“Almost everybody's kind of universal thinking how this ends - there's going to be some land swaps, there will be more Russian territory than there had been. And what Ukraine wants and needs desperately is our security measures that won't be NATO-related. If you had to look into your crystal ball, is that how it ends?”
President Trump:
“Well, I think those are points that we negotiated. And those are points that we largely have agreed on. Actually, I think we've agreed on a lot. And I can tell you, the meeting was very warm. You know, he [Putin] is a strong guy. He's tough as hell and all of that. But the meeting was a very warm meeting between two very important countries. And it's very good when they get along. I think we're pretty close to a deal. Now look, Ukraine has to agree to it. Maybe they'll say no.”
FOX reporters have tweeted there has been little tangible progress, while the White House dismissed the coverage as “fake news.” Later in the same interview, Trump shifted the narrative, stating it was “up to Zelenskyy to make his own bilateral meeting with Putin.”
Altogether — nonsense. No real results, at least not for Ukraine. Once again, we do not know what Trump promised or offered to the Russian business figures he praised. Once I find out, I will be the first to report it to you.
Violations & Context
Putin’s public framing of the meeting ignored — and in some cases, directly contradicted — ongoing violations of international law and prior agreements:
Ongoing War Crimes in Ukraine: Independent monitors and the UN continue to document Russian strikes on civilian infrastructure, forced deportations, and the targeting of population centers.
Breach of the UN Charter: The invasion of Ukraine violates the UN’s core principles on sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Ignored Peace Frameworks: Russia remains in violation of the 1994 Budapest Memorandum, which guaranteed Ukraine’s borders in exchange for giving up nuclear weapons.
Occupation of Territory: No commitment was made to withdraw from occupied regions — instead, Putin used the stage to reframe Alaska as “Russian heritage,” a rhetorical escalation that parallels past justifications for territorial claims.
None of these violations were addressed publicly by Trump during the summit. The result is a meeting heavy on symbolism and optics, light on enforceable outcomes.
Early Kremlin Messaging
Russian state media began publishing details about the talks even before the joint remarks concluded. Whether the leaks were genuine or propaganda remains unclear, but the framing was notably positive toward Moscow’s agenda.
Closing Image
The contrast between the images of Trump and Putin before and after the summit tells its own story.
Moldova Gains Momentum in EU Accession Talks
The European Union is considering giving Moldova a head start over Ukraine in the accession process. Moldova’s bid for EU membership enjoys broad support across the bloc and is likely to achieve unanimous backing.
In contrast, Hungary is complicating Ukraine’s path to membership, though Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s opposition appears not to extend to Moldova.
Ukrainian Forces Sink Russian Cargo Ship Transporting Iranian Drone Components
The Russian dry cargo vessel Olya-4 was reportedly sunk by Ukrainian armed forces. According to sources, the ship was transporting parts for Shahed drones and Iranian-made ammunition.
In other good news, this:
NATIONAL NEWS
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The July Producer Price Index (PPI) showed business inflation rose 0.9%, much higher than the expected 0.2%. Economist Stephen Brown noted the increase was partly due to portfolio management fees and unlikely to alarm the Fed. Still, the chances of a rate cut at the Fed’s next meeting dipped from 100% to 95%. Fed Chair Jerome Powell is expected to address the outlook at Jackson Hole next week.
Mortgage Rates Hit 10-Month Low
The average 30-year fixed mortgage dropped to 6.58%, its lowest since October 2024. The dip was driven by lower bond yields, following weak July job numbers. Experts warn it may be temporary. Rates have mostly hovered just below 7%, cooling the housing market and limiting qualified buyers.
White House May Invest in Intel
The Trump administration is reportedly considering a government stake in Intel to help fund its Ohio chip plant, per Bloomberg. The move would follow other recent government-industry deals, such as revenue sharing with Nvidia and a “golden share” in Nippon Steel. Any deal would reportedly require Lip-Bu Tan to stay on as CEO.
DC Pushes Back on Federal Police Takeover
A legal standoff is unfolding in Washington, D.C., after Attorney General Pam Bondi ordered the DEA chief to take control of the city’s police department. Mayor Bowser and D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb rejected the move as illegal, citing the Home Rule Act, which limits federal authority over local personnel decisions.
LA28 to Sell Naming Rights for Olympic Venues
Breaking Olympic tradition, LA28 received approval to sell naming rights to corporate sponsors for venues at the 2028 Los Angeles Games. Typically, branding is removed to create “clean venues,” but this change allows venues like SoFi Stadium and Crypto.com Arena to keep their names.
The decision helps offset LA28’s $7B private budget, with top sponsors like Comcast and Honda already making deals. Up to 19 temporary venues are also up for naming rights, but iconic sites like the LA Coliseum and Dodger Stadium will keep their names.
QUICK NEWS
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SpaceX Tax Breaks: Internal documents show that despite billions in federal contracts, SpaceX has likely paid little to no federal income tax due to years of early losses.
RFK Jr. Policy Preview: A draft White House report suggests Robert F. Kennedy Jr. won't pursue major restrictions on ultraprocessed foods or pesticides, contrary to some expectations.
PBS Budget Cut: PBS has slashed its budget by 20% after losing federal funding.
Drug Company Tax Strategy Hit: U.S. pharmaceutical firms face setbacks as tariffs undermine their longtime use of Irish factories to lower tax bills.
Berkshire Buys UnitedHealth: Warren Buffett’s firm bought over 5 million shares in UnitedHealth last quarter—worth about $1.6 billion.
Air Canada Disruptions: Labor tensions between Air Canada and its 10,500 flight attendants lead to service disruptions.
Apple Watch Ban Eased: Apple is reinstating blood oxygen monitoring on newer Apple Watches after navigating an import ban.
Airbnb Payment Flexibility: Airbnb now offers “Reserve Now, Pay Later” for select U.S. properties.
Military Budget Cuts: The Air Force and Space Force plan to cut $2.3 billion in 2026, including over 5,700 civilian jobs, in line with Trump-era efficiency policies.
U.S. Caribbean Deployment: The U.S. is sending air and naval forces to the southern Caribbean Sea to counter threats from Latin American drug cartels.
AI in Missile Defense: AI will take a lead role in enhancing the Golden Dome air-defense system, “improving threat detection and response times”, per a Pentagon briefing.
GLOBAL NEWS
Israel Advances Controversial West Bank Settlement Plan
Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu supports building 3,000 new housing units in a key area of the West Bank, a move that could split Palestinian territory and undermine prospects for a two-state solution. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich called the plan a way to “bury the idea of a Palestinian state.” The UN, EU, and U.S. criticized the proposal, which violates international law.
UN Plastic Pollution Talks Collapse
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U.S.-India Relations Continue Amid Tariffs
Despite new U.S. tariffs on Indian goods, India confirmed it’s still pursuing arms purchases from the U.S., and U.S. defense officials will visit New Delhi later this month. India’s foreign ministry said it hopes to move forward based on “mutual respect and shared interests.”
Trump Raises Jimmy Lai Case With China
President Donald Trump said he discussed the case of imprisoned Hong Kong media figure Jimmy Lai in talks with China. Lai, on trial for sedition, founded a pro-democracy newspaper and denies the charges. China responded by warning against foreign interference in its domestic affairs.
Vietnam Launches $49 Billion Infrastructure Plan
Vietnam announced a $49 billion public-private infrastructure plan to boost domestic demand, aiming to offset the impact of 20% U.S. tariffs on its exports. The initiative is part of Hanoi's strategy to reduce dependence on foreign markets.
UN Accuses Multiple Sides of War Crimes in Syria
A new UN report found likely war crimes committed by both Syrian government forces and armed groups during recent violence in coastal and central Syria. The report marks the most detailed public account yet but said the central government did not order the killings—it claims the response followed an ambush by pro-Assad fighters.
African Union Backs ‘Equal Earth’ Map
The African Union is calling for global adoption of the Equal Earth map, which presents countries more accurately in proportion to their real size, unlike the Mercator map that exaggerates the size of northern nations. The World Bank has started using Equal Earth in some contexts, and the UN is reviewing the AU’s petition.
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Sounds like the big meeting went just as I imagined it would. Except one point that was even worse: Trump and Putin alone for a period of time in that Beast vehicle ( unless I missed something the only other person in there was the driver?). No one from the U.S. state dept. to take notes as per protocol. Not even an American interpreter ( I remember there wasn't going to be one in the meetings), not even the Russian interpreter that they said WOULD be in the meetings. Which of course points to what everyone who studies this stuff knows which is that Putin doesn't need a Russian interpreter because as an old KGB guy he would have to speak English fluently anyway. It's all a ridiculous pretend thing altogether.