Occupy Banksters & Crony Capitalism & GREED

Netanyahu raised possible "round 2" strikes on Iran with Trump
Axios | Barak Ravid | 12/31/25

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu discussed the possibility of attacking Iran again in 2026 during his meeting with President Trump on Monday, according to a U.S. official and two additional U.S. sources familiar with the details of the meeting.

Why it matters: Another war with Iran could further destabilize a region that's seeking stability after two years of crises.

Trump and Netanyahu both saw the 12-day war with Iran in June as a tremendous success. But Netanyahu has argued more strikes might be necessary to prevent Tehran from rebuilding its capabilities. ... Read more

Eastern U.S. faces heavy snow threats in New Year's holiday storm
Axios | Rebecca Falconer | 12/31/25

A "surge" of Arctic air will "invade" much of the eastern two-thirds of the U.S. over the New Year's period, forecasters warned - as lake-effect snow began hitting parts of New York Tuesday evening.

The big picture: This multi-day severe weather event that prompted N.Y.'s governor to declare a statewide emergency will see this "snow machine" downwind of lakes Erie and Ontario dump an additional 1-2 feet with locally 3+ ft possible within the heaviest snow bands in a region that's already been pummeled by a potent winter storm this week, per the National Weather Service.

The NWS said on X the Great Lakes, Ohio Valley and Northeast faced potentially "hazardous driving conditions" on New Year's Eve from snow squalls - a sudden, brief but intense burst of snow that combines with strong, gusty winds. ... Read more

2025's AI-fueled scientific breakthroughs
Axios | Maria Curi | 12/31/25

AI-driven scientific innovation accelerated in 2025 - fueling major progress in fields ranging from robotics to health care.

Why it matters: Powerful new models and computing tools are influencing everything from how experiments are designed to how results are analyzed - with much of that momentum coming from the private sector.

1. Making diagnoses for Alzheimer's and related diseases is on the road to becoming faster and cheaper with AI.

• Researchers at a wide range of universities and health care institutions announced findings this year about how AI will help with future therapies and better detection in primary care. ...

Trump, top aides asked Netanyahu to change policy in occupied West Bank
Axios | Barak Ravid | 12/30/25

President Trump and his top advisers asked Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to change Israel's policies in the occupied West Bank during their meeting on Monday, according to a U.S. official and another source, both with direct knowledge.

Why it matters: While the security situation in the West Bank has deteriorated dramatically, and other Western governments have denounced Israel's policies, the Trump administration has been seen as supportive. This is the first time in his second term that Trump and his team have weighed in at length with Netanyahu about West Bank policy.

1. The U.S. official said the White House thinks a violent escalation in the West Bank would undermine efforts to implement the Gaza peace agreement and prevent the expansion of the Abraham Accords before the end of Trump's term.
2. Over the past three years, Netanyahu's hard-right government has actively pushed policies that have weakened the Palestinian Authority and starved it of funds, dramatically expended settlements, legalized outposts, forcibly displaced Palestinian communities and taken many more steps toward de-facto annexation.
3. Trump and his team expressed concern about the situation in the West Bank and asked Netanyahu to avoid provocative steps and "calm things down," the sources said. ...

Dealmaking tops $4 trillion for only third time ever
Axios | Dan Primack | 12/30/25

2025 has been a monster year for dealmaking, trailing only 2021 in terms of dollar value, according to preliminary data from LSEG.

The big picture: Dealmakers were appropriately optimistic entering the year, due to falling interest rates, the rise of artificial intelligence, and decreased regulatory headwinds in the U.S.

By the numbers: Global M&A value was around $4.39 billion through Dec. 18, a 45% boost over 2024. The only richer year-to-date was 2021, at $5.48 trillion, while 2015 was the only other year to surpass $4 trillion in deal value. ... Read more

Powerful winter storm disrupts U.S. holiday season travel
Axios | Rebecca Falconer | 12/29/25

Arctic air blasted the Plains Sunday, as forecasters warned an "intense cyclone" system would threaten parts of the Midwest and Northeastern U.S. with heavy snow and blizzard conditions this week, while New England faces freezing rain.

The big picture: The National Weather Service said other potential hazards for these areas over the next 48 hours include "widespread blustery winds to locally damaging winds," as a "potent winter storm" producing frigid temperatures sweeps across from the upper Midwest to the Great Lakes Sunday into Monday.

Zoom in: In Michigan, the NWS' Marquette office said in a forecast discussion the heavy snowfall would cause "very difficult to impossible travel conditions, with blizzard conditions resulting in near-zero visibility at times." ... Read more

"Stern warning": China's military holds live drills around Taiwan
Axios | Rebecca Falconer | 12/29/25

China's military conducted live-fire military drills around Taiwan on Monday in what a Chinese official said marked "a stern warning" against 'Taiwan Independence' separatist forces and external interference."

The big picture: The drills involving the Chinese Army, Navy, Air Force and Rocket Force troops came less than two weeks after the Trump administration announced plans for a $11.1 billion weapons deal with Taipei, which prompted Beijing to impose sanctions on Boeing and other U.S. firms.

The Chinese military's Eastern Theater Command launched the drills around the democratically run island it claims is its territory in an operation it said was code-named "Justice Mission 2025."

Taiwan's Defense Ministry condemned the move and said in statements its armed forces were on "high alert" after spotting two Chinese military aircraft and 11 ships "operating around Taiwan" around 6am local time. ... Read more

U.S. to build "Trump-class" warships for "Golden Fleet"
Axios | Colin Demarest | 12/22/25

The U.S. will build "Trump-class" military vessels that the president on Monday suggested are new-age battleships, inching the country closer to construction of what the administration is advertising as "the Golden Fleet."

The big picture: President Trump has in his second term obsessed over seapower - long a sign of a country's strength. Here, he again inserts himself.

Trump has complained about the rusty appearances of ships. He's kickstarted a shipbuilding office with a promise to make vessels "very fast, very soon." He's massed destroyers and Marines in the Caribbean. And he's ordered a blockade off Venezuela as he beefs with the country's leader, Nicolas Maduro.

While this naming convention bucks tradition, it is similar to the Air Force's earlier F-47 designation.

"They'll be the fastest, the biggest, and by far 100 times more powerful than any battleship ever built," Trump said. ... Read more

Clinton, Epstein survivors demand more transparency. Here's what's missing
Axios | Herb Scribner | 12/23/25

Former President Clinton and Jeffrey Epstein's survivors are demanding more transparency after the Justice Department failed to release all the Epstein files as required last week.

Clinton, whose was pictured throughout the files, called on the Justice Department to release all documents related to the former president in the name of transparency.

Clinton has previously said he was unaware of Epstein's crimes and had ended their acquaintance.

Similarly, more than a dozen Epstein survivors urged Congress in a letter to hold the DOJ accountable for delaying the files's release.

The survivors said the Epstein files were released with "abnormal and extreme redactions with no explanation." ... Read more

Washington Week with the Atlantic full episode, Dec. 19, 2025 | Washington Week PBS | 12/19/25 | 26:45

Trump SHUTS DOWN CBS over STORY HE FEARED | MeidasTouch | 12/22/25 | 23:19

Weiss told top "60 Minutes" producers that delayed segment had problems
Axios | Sara Fischer | 12/22/25

CBS News editor-in-chief Bari Weiss told top "60 Minutes" producers Sunday afternoon, after pulling a controversial news segment, that the team didn't do enough to get Trump administration officials on the record and that data presented in the piece "paints an incongruent picture."

Why it matters: Her decision has caused uproar internally, with at least one correspondent arguing the call was politically motivated.

Weiss' note, sent to top "60 Minutes" brass - including executive producer Tanya Simon and executive editor Draggan Mihailovich - indicates she was trying to get ahead of any confusion or controversy internally, before news about the segment change was made public.

Zoom in: Weiss argued the segment - about Trump administration deportations of Venezuelan immigrants to an El Salvador prison - left out comment and perspective from administration officials, according to a copy of the memo obtained by Axios. ... Read more

What Sam Altman Doesn't Want You To Know | More Perfect Union | 12/19/25 | 14:18

Year of the Epstein files enters final chapter
Axios | Zachary Basu | 12/19/25

After years of mystery and months of turmoil, the Justice Department is expected on Friday to release - as required by law - the bulk of its unclassified archive on Jeffrey Epstein.

Why it matters: No saga has commanded more public fascination this year than the Epstein files, which destabilized the MAGA movement in ways few thought possible.

President Trump's efforts to close the book on the deceased sex trafficker backfired in spectacular fashion, unleashing a populist wave that ultimately swelled beyond his control.

Now, thanks to Congress, a new era of forced transparency is underway.

Zoom in: By Friday, the Justice Department must release "all unclassified records, documents, communications, and investigative materials" related to Epstein in a "searchable and downloadable format." ... ... ... Read more

Every Illegal Act Trump Committed in 2025 (So Far) | LegalEagle | 12/06/25 | 40:55

Trump's Christmas message: Things are better than you think
Axios | Madison Mills, Marc Caputo | 12/18/25

A fiery President Trump - addressing Americans from a holiday-decked White House - insisted the economy is stronger than people think it is and any problems are all Democrats' fault.

It's a message that poll after poll says most voters don't believe.

The big picture: Trump's speech was closer to a Festivus airing of grievances than a Christmas message of hope, as he ran through a litany of problems - inflation, wage growth, the border, crime - that he said were entirely the fault of the Biden administration, and that he insisted he'd already fixed.

The speech was notable for what he didn't do: use the words "hoax" or "con job" when talking about affordability.

Aside from announcing a new "warrior dividend" of $1,776 for service members, Trump's speech had little new in it.

He promised a zooming economy next year, built around tax cuts and other measures in his "big, beautiful bill." ... Read more

America's data center growth hot spots, mapped
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Axios | Alex Fitzpatrick | 12/18/25

Nearly 3,000 new data centers are under construction or planned across the U.S., per a new analysis shared first with Axios - adding to the more than 4,000 already in operation.

Driving the news: Virginia leads the country in data centers, with 663 operational and 595 more either under construction or planned.

1. Texas is also up there, with 405 existing data centers and 442 planned or being built.
2. That's per a new report from the American Edge Project (a pro-tech advocacy group) and the Technology Councils of North America (which represents tech and IT trade organizations).

Zoom in: Georgia and Pennsylvania are among the states due for particularly big data center booms, if all goes to plan.

1. Georgia currently has 162 data centers, and is slated for 285 more (a 176% increase, if all are built).
2. Pennsylvania has 98, with 184 more potentially on the way (a 188% increase).

6 jarring quotes from Trump's chief of staff in Vanity Fair
Axios | April Rubin | 12/17/25

Susie Wiles, President Trump's chief of staff, chronicled the chaotic inner workings of the White House in a series of shockingly candid, unfiltered interviews with Vanity Fair throughout the year, published Tuesday.

Why it matters: Wiles discussed Trump's "alcoholic's personality," Elon Musk's drug use and USAID chaos, Vance's "sort of political" conversion, the Epstein files debacle, boat strikes targeting Maduro, and whether Trump will defy the 22nd Amendment.

Her interviews offer the most unvarnished look yet at power and peril in Trump's second term.

Wiles offered blunt assessments of influential figures around Trump including Musk, Attorney General Pam Bondi and Office of Management and Budget director Russell Vought, who she called "a right-wing absolute zealot." ... ... ... Read more

Another billionaire just announced a donation to "Trump accounts"
Axios | Emily Peck, Courtenay Brown | 12/17/25

Billionaire Ray Dalio will make a "generous contribution" to the "Trump accounts," giving 300,000 children in Connecticut $250 each, or roughly $75 million.

Why it matters: The news came alongside the launch of a new website that signaled how White House officials envision the government, corporations and billionaires contributing to the accounts, aimed at improving kids'' financial prospects.

Driving the news: Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that Dalio has joined a "50 State Challenge," a new initiative aimed at rallying the nation's richest people and philanthropists to contribute to these funds.

"The President is calling on our nation's business leaders and private organizations to help us make America great again by securing the financial future of America's children," Bessent said. ... Read more

NOTE: Just remember what happened to R|Dumps other Cheritable Funds/Accounts

Ukraine and U.S. divided over territory after intense negotiations
Axios | Barak Ravid, Dave Lawler | 12/15/25

Two days of intense negotiations between Ukraine, the U.S. and European officials resulted in clear progress on security guarantees for Ukraine but left significant gaps on the issue of territory, U.S. officials told reporters on Monday.

Why it matters: The U.S. side wants to finalize a deal with Ukraine that they can turn around and present to the Russians. The two main friction points during several weeks of talks have been the security guarantees Ukraine would receive from the U.S. and its European allies, and the location of the post-war lines of control.

The U.S. officials said Monday that the sides were approaching an agreement on security guarantees, which would be based on NATO's Article 5.

But Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky - who spent seven hours with Trump's advisers in Berlin over the past two days - confirmed the sides still had "different positions on territory." ... Read more

Trump administration says White House ballroom construction is matter of national security
TheGuardian | Associated Press | 12/16/25

Donald Trump's administration argued Monday in a court filing that the president's White House ballroom construction project must continue for reasons of national security.

The filing came in response to a lawsuit filed three days earlier by the National Trust for Historic Preservation asking a federal judge to halt the ballroom project until it goes through multiple independent reviews and wins approval from Congress.

In its filing, the administration included a declaration from the deputy director of the US Secret Service saying more work on the site of the former White House East Wing is still needed to meet the agency's "safety and security requirements". The administration has offered to share classified details with the judge in an in-person setting without the plaintiffs present. ... Read more

MAGA breaks with Trump on mocking Rob Reiner's killing
Axios | Tal Axelrod | 12/15/25

President Trump torpedoed MAGA influencers' calls for compassion after the killing of director Rob Reiner, mocking the longtime liberal activist as a victim of "Trump derangement syndrome."

Why it matters: Many MAGA influencers vowed after the assassination of Charlie Kirk that they would never celebrate or mock the untimely death of a political opponent.

Trump abandoned that moral high ground the morning after Reiner and his wife were found dead in their Los Angeles home - drawing rare criticism from his Republican allies.

What they're saying: "Rob Reiner, a tortured and struggling, but once very talented movie director and comedy star, has passed away, together with his wife, Michele, reportedly due to the anger he caused others through his massive, unyielding, and incurable affliction with a mind crippling disease known as TRUMP DERANGEMENT SYNDROME," Trump posted on Truth Social Monday.... Read more

Trump ERUPTS After LAWSUIT KILLS Ballroom Event in Public Disaster | Rick Wilson | America's Future | 12/13/25 | 15:17

Ukraine and U.S. divided over territory after intense negotiations
Axios | Barak Ravid, Dave Lawler | 12/15/25

Two days of intense negotiations between Ukraine, the U.S. and European officials resulted in clear progress on security guarantees for Ukraine but left significant gaps on the issue of territory, U.S. officials told reporters on Monday.

Why it matters: The U.S. side wants to finalize a deal with Ukraine that they can turn around and present to the Russians. The two main friction points during several weeks of talks have been the security guarantees Ukraine would receive from the U.S. and its European allies, and the location of the post-war lines of control.

The U.S. officials said Monday that the sides were approaching an agreement on security guarantees, which would be based on NATO's Article 5.

But Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky = who spent seven hours with Trump's advisers in Berlin over the past two days = confirmed the sides still had "different positions on territory." ... Read more

Our 2025 Reports on Artificial Intelligence | 60 Minutes | 11/xx/25 | 1:21:06

Trump turns to Big Tech for AI government workforce
Axios | Emily Peck, Maria Curi | 12/15/25

The White House on Monday unveiled a new AI-focused "Tech Force," looking to tap employees from the nation's biggest tech firms in the latest sign of the industry's embrace of President Trump.

Why it matters: The White House appears to be trying to pick up the pieces after Elon Musk's DOGE swept through the federal government and wiped out existing tech expertise.

The administration listed a who's who of Big Tech as partners for the program, including Adobe, Amazon Web Services, IBM, Meta, Microsoft, Nvidia, Oracle, Palantir and Musk's xAI.

How it works: Big tech firms will be able to lend their workers to do two-year stints to help modernize the federal government - and retain any equity or stock options - and then return to their employer, Office of Personnel Management director Scott Kupor said in a call with reporters on Monday. ... Read more

NATO's Rutte says Europe must prepare for 'scale of war our grandparents' endured
Politico | Nette Nostlinger | 12/11/25

NATO Chief Mark Rutte urged member countries to do more to prepare for the possibility of large-scale war, warning that Russia may be ready to attack the alliance within five years.

"We are Russia's next target. And we are already in harm's way," Rutte said on Thursday during a speech in Berlin. "Russia has brought war back to Europe, and we must be prepared for the scale of war our grandparents and great grandparents endured."

Although he welcomed the decision by NATO members to increase overall military spending to 5 percent of gross domestic product annually by 2035, Rutte argued more needed to be done, saying alliance members must shift to a "wartime mindset." ... Read more

Washington Week with The Atlantic full episode, Dec. 12, 2025 | Washington Week PBS | 12/12/25 | 26:43

Pacific Northwest faces "catastrophic" flood threats
magazine | author | date

Residents in the Pacific Northwest face "catastrophic" and potentially life-threatening flood threats after days of heavy rains, the National Weather Service warns.

The big picture: Washington's governor declared a statewide emergency Wednesday to respond to the flooding that's already prompted water rescues, closed roads, caused power outages and left tens of thousands under evacuation orders in the state and across the border in the Canadian province of British Columbia. ... Read more

SMOKING GUN Photos of Trump's DARK PAST RELEASED | MeidasTouch | 12/12/25 | 13:53

Officials from Ukraine, U.S. and Europe to meet Saturday on Trump's plan
Axios | Barak Ravid | 12/11/25

Senior U.S. officials are expected to meet on Saturday in Paris with senior officials from Ukraine, France, Germany and the U.K. to discuss President Trump's peace plan, according to White House official and a Ukrainian official.

Why it matters: The meeting is an effort to reach consensus on President Trump's peace plan, but comes amid sky-high transatlantic tensions.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky faces growing pressure from the U.S. to swiftly accept Trump's 20-point plan, which includes major territorial losses and other concessions.

The Europeans have been counseling patience, and thus reassuring Kyiv but infuriating some in Washington. ... ... ... Read more

AI architects are Time magazine's 2025 "Person of the Year"
Axios | April Rubin | 12/11/25

Artificial intelligence architects were named Time magazine's "Person of the Year" on Thursday.

Why it matters: The selection underscores the impact that the AI revolution is having on technology, business and humanity.

What they're saying: "This was the year when artificial intelligence's full potential roared into view, and when it became clear that there will be no turning back or opting out," Time editor in chief Sam Jacobs wrote. "Whatever the question was, AI was the answer."

"Humanity will determine AI's path forward, and each of us can play a role in determining AI's structure and future," Jacobs wrote. Our work has trained it and sustained it, and now we find ourselves moving through a world increasingly defined by it." ... Read more

We Had 400 People Shop For Groceries. What We Found Will Shock You. | More Perfect Union | 12/09/25 | 18:33

Trump plans to appoint U.S. general to lead Gaza security force
Axios | Barak Ravid | 12/11/25

The Trump administration is planning to appoint an American two-star general to command the International Stabilization Force (ISF) in Gaza, according to two U.S. officials and two Israeli officials.

Why it matters: The appointment will further increase the U.S. responsibility for securing and rebuilding Gaza, which is turning into the biggest U.S. political-civilian-military project in the Middle East in more than two decades.

Breaking it down: The U.S. established a civil-military headquarters in Israel to monitor the ceasefire and coordinate humanitarian aid.

The U.S. is leading the planning for the reconstruction of Gaza. ... Read more

Trump's new cold war with Europe
Axios | Zachary Basu | 12/10/125

The Trump administration is engaged in open hostilities with the European Union, turning long-simmering feuds over free speech, Ukraine and mass migration into official U.S. policy.

Why it matters: The EU's $140 million fine of Elon Musk's X platform lit the fuse on a conflict the Trump administration was already primed for - and which it formalized in a new National Security Strategy that casts Europe as a geopolitical villain.

"They're destroying their countries," Trump told Politico, slamming European nations as "decaying" and "weak."

The newest flashpoint comes with the U.S. and its European allies also at loggerheads over Ukraine and the future of European security. ... ... ... Read more

I need you to listen to and share this story - of how Trump is preparing to abandon Ukraine in exchange for Russian money for his billionaire friends.

White House construction site photos show rubble where East Wing once stood
Axios | Rebecca Falconer | 12/10/25

Construction work at the White House for President Trump's $300 million ballroom is well underway - and all that's left of the site where the 123-year-old East Wing once stood is rubble, photos taken this week show.

The big picture: Trump said on Truth Social over the weekend that the ballroom would be "double the size" than was originally planned and the "column SPAN has been substantially increased for purposes of viewing," but the project was "under budget and ahead of schedule." ... MORE PICTURES

Trump's trade wounds force White House into action
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Axios | Courtenay Brown | 12/09/25

The White House is taking some of the biggest steps yet to address the economic pain caused by its own tariff regime.

Why it matters: President Trump's recent moves suggest the American economy is not adjusting seamlessly to his abrupt trade policy shifts.

The big picture: The farm aid announced on Monday illustrates the sometimes circular nature of the Trump administration's handling of tariff-related issues.

The White House says the payments for row crop farmers will be funded with revenue from the trade policies that caused much of the farmers' economic pain in the first place. ... Read more

Trump lambasts 'weak' and 'decaying' Europe and hints at walking away from Ukraine
TheGuardian | Peter Beaumont | 12/09/25

Donald Trump has hinted he could walk away from supporting Ukraine as he doubled down on his administration's recent criticism of Europe, describing it as "weak" and "decaying" and claiming it was "destroying itself" through immigration.

In a rambling and sometimes incoherent interview with Politico, a transcript of which was released on Tuesday, the US president struggled to name any other Ukrainian cities except for Kyiv, misrepresented elements of the trajectory of the conflict, and recycled far-right tropes about European immigration that echoed the "great replacement" conspiracy theory.

Trump called for Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, to accept his proposal to cede territory to Russia, arguing that Moscow retained the "upper hand" and that Zelenskyy's government must "play ball".

In his often halting remarks, Trump swerved from subject to subject while rehearsing familiar grudges and conspiracies. He also declined repeatedly to rule out sending American troops into Venezuela as part of his effort to bring down President Nicolas Maduro. ... Read more

National Security Strategy of the United States

Transformative AI is coming, and so are the risks
Axios | Ben Berkowitz | 12/05/25

The holy grail of technology - artificial general intelligence (AGI) that can match or outdo humans - is on the horizon, Google DeepMind co-founder and CEO Demis Hassabis says.

But the risks of something going seriously wrong are also in sight, and some are even happening now, he warns.

The big picture: Google set the entire AI world spinning in recent months with the giant leaps in its frontier model Gemini, prompting a "code red" at OpenAI and forcing others to rethink the competitive landscape.

But Hassabis,49, who won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry last year, and his DeepMind team are already thinking far, far ahead. ... Read more

Exclusive: Meta strikes multiple AI deals with news publishers
Axios | Sara Fischer | 12/05/25

Meta on Friday said it has struck several commercial AI data agreements with news publishers ranging from USA Today, People Inc., CNN, Fox News, The Daily Caller, Washington Examiner and Le Monde.

Why it matters: Meta backed away from compensating news companies several years ago, but has resumed paying for editorial content as it invests more in its AI chat tools that require real-time access to verified news.

Zoom in: The new agreements allow Meta to access content from its partners to provide real-time answers to user queries about news and current events in its Meta AI chatbot.

Like its previously announced deal with Reuters, the new agreements are multiyear deals where publishers are compensated for the use of their content. ... Read more

Gen Z loses faith in America
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Axios | Emily Peck | 12/04/25

Young Americans say the country is heading down a dark road and fear their futures are unstable, according to the latest Harvard Youth Poll out Thursday morning.

Why it matters: Financial insecurity, intense political polarization and the rise of AI are eroding Gen Z's faith in their economic prospects and public institutions overall.

The authors of the report, now in its 25th year, warn that this massive upheaval is threatening the country's stability.

"Instability is shaping nearly every part of young people's lives," said John Della Volpe, director of polling at the Harvard Institute of Politics, in a Zoom with reporters and students involved in the survey.

By the numbers: A majority of respondents (57%) say the country is headed in the wrong direction ... ... ... Read more

Trump LOOKS VERY SICK as he FALLS APART at WH PRESSER | MeidasTouch | 12/03/25 | 14:09

Trump invites America's wealthiest to fund his presidency
Axios | Zachary Basu | 12/03/25

Private wealth has become an operational arm of the Trump presidency, bankrolling pet projects and policies on a scale unmatched by any previous administration.

Why it matters: The generosity of America's billionaires can't be divorced from the tax incentives and exclusive access that come from orbiting - or serving in - the wealthiest administration in U.S. history.

While some donations are earmarked for the public good - like Michael Dell's historic $6.25 billion gift on Tuesday for "Trump accounts" for kids - many flow into the president's personal ecosystem.

Taxpayer dollars are therefore spared for projects such as the new White House ballroom, but the danger becomes a government more accountable to private patrons than the public interest. ... Read more

Behind the Curtain: The power of real reporting
Axios | Jim VandeHei, Mike Allen | 12/03/25

President Trump came into office promising to decapitate mainstream media. He bullied and sued media companies, blocked or curtailed access for reporters, and elevated nontraditional news sources.

Yet mainstream media ends the year as dominant as ever in capturing Trump's attention and setting Washington's agenda.

Why it matters: Trump remains a voracious consumer of so-called legacy news and takes more calls from more reporters than any president in our lifetime. His days are often filled with responses - not to MAGA media or X influencers, but to conventional stories from conventional reporters at conventional media publications. ... Read more

After AI push, Trump administration is now looking to robots
Politico | Yasmin Khorram | 12/03/25

Five months after releasing a plan to accelerate the development of artificial intelligence, the Trump administration is turning to robots.

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has been meeting with robotics industry CEOs and is "all in" on accelerating the industry's development, according to three people familiar with the discussions who were granted anonymity to share details. The administration is considering issuing an executive order on robotics next year, according to two of the people.

A Department of Commerce spokesperson said: "We are committed to robotics and advanced manufacturing because they are central to bringing critical production back to the United States." ... ... ... Read more

Trump wields pardons as purest form of power
Axios | Zachary Basu | 12/02/25

President Trump has embraced clemency as an expression of raw political power, seizing on a unique authority designed to go unchecked by Congress, the Constitution or the courts.

Why it matters: No presidential power is more absolute than the pardon. And no president has wielded it more openly as a tool of personal and ideological loyalty than Donald Trump.

Zoom in: Trump's extraordinary move to pardon former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández - convicted last year of flooding the U.S. with tons of cocaine - is among the clearest examples yet.

Prosecutors said Hernández, who led Honduras from 2014 to 2022, conspired with cartels to pave a "cocaine superhighway" into the U.S.- posing as an anti-drug conservative while running his country like a narco state.

Changpeng Zhao ("CZ"): The billionaire founder of crypto giant Binance was pardoned despite pleading guilty in 2023 to money laundering violations. Trump - whose family's crypto venture has ties to Binance - later claimed he did not know CZ, saying on "60 Minutes": "I heard it was a Biden witch hunt." ... ... ... Read more

Witkoff and Kushner arrive to meet Putin to discuss Ukraine peace plan
Axios | Barak Ravid | 12/02/25

President Trump's advisers Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are inside the Kremlin for their meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, in which they will try to convince him to support the updated U.S. peace plan for Ukraine.

Why it matters: The meeting in Moscow comes after two weeks of intense diplomacy around Trump's plan, including two rounds of negotiations between the U.S. and Ukraine. Putin has said Trump's plan could be the basis for negotiations, but has suggested he's unwilling to shift his hardline positions.

The intrigue: This is Witkoff's sixth meeting with Putin in Russia but the first in-person meeting between Putin and Trump's team since the Alaska summit in August. It's also the first time Kushner has joined the talks with Putin. ... Read more

Noem reveals sweeping travel ban plan after meeting with Trump
Axios | Rebecca Falconer | 12/02/25

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said after meeting with President Trump on Monday that she's recommending a travel ban on multiple countries in connection with criminal activity in the U.S.

The big picture: Trump widened his administration's hardline immigration crackdown after officials said the suspect in last Wednesday's ambush-style shooting in D.C. that killed one National Guard member and critically injured another was an Afghan national.

Zoom in: "I am recommending a full travel ban on every damn country that's been flooding our nation with killers, leeches, and entitlement junkies," Noem said on X, without specifying which countries she was referring to. ... ... ... Read more

Post-war borders dominated "intense" U.S.-Ukraine talks
Axios | Barak Ravid | 12/01/25

Negotiations between the U.S. and Ukraine on Sunday focused on where the de facto border with Russia would be drawn under a peace deal, two Ukrainian officials tell Axios. They described the five-hour meeting as "difficult" and "intense," but productive.

Why it matters: Russian President Vladimir Putin - who's expected to meet with President Trump's envoy on Tuesday - insists Russia won't stop until it controls the entire Donbas region in eastern Ukraine.

The U.S. wants Ukraine to hand over territory there to convince Putin to make peace, but that would be a painful and politically explosive concession. ... Read more

Social Security's day of reckoning is nearly here
Axios | Neil Irwin | 11/30/25

For decades, people have fretted about the financial sustainability of America's bedrock retirement income program. Now, Social Security's precarious fiscal state is an issue for the here and now.

How to fix it is set to be a defining political fight of the next several years, with millions of Americans' benefits and the fiscal future of the United States at stake.

Why it matters: There is a tug-of-war between the benefits future retirees receive and the taxes that working-age people pay. Something has to give, and surprisingly soon.

The big picture: The Social Security retirement fund is set to be depleted in 2033, at which point recipients would see a steep cut to their monthly checks absent congressional action. ... ... ... Read more

Trump SPIRALS ALL FRIDAY as BACKLASH IS SEVERE | MeidasTouch | 09/28/25 | 17:26

Trump orders the closure of Venezuelan airspace
Politico | Ben Johansen | 11/29/25

President Donald Trump abruptly ordered the airspace closed above and around Venezuela on Saturday, further escalating tensions between the U.S. president and Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro, whom the White House accuses of working with narco-terrorist organizations to facilitate drug trafficking.

"To all Airlines, Pilots, Drug Dealers, and Human Traffickers, please consider THE AIRSPACE ABOVE AND SURROUNDING VENEZUELA TO BE CLOSED IN ITS ENTIRETY," the president wrote on Truth Social Saturday morning.

The Federal Aviation Administration recently issued a security notice warning airlines and pilots to avoid Venezuelan airspace, citing "a worsening security situation," increased military activity and potential GPS interference as risks to flights. On Thursday, Venezuela revoked operating rights for six major international airlines that had suspended flights to the country following the FAA's warning. ... Read more

Washington Week with The Atlantic full episode, Nov. 28, 2025 | Washington Week PBS | 09/30/25 | 24:10