President Donald Trump announced on Monday that his administration would sell the &#8220;best equipment&#8221; and &#8220;best missiles&#8221; to NATO for Ukraine&#8217;s defense and threatened to impose 100% &#8220;secondary tariffs&#8221; on Russia as it continues to wage war on Ukraine.
During a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte at the White House, Trump said, &#8220;We&#8217;ve made a deal today where we&#8217;re going to be sending them weapons and they&#8217;re going to be paying for them.&#8221;
&#8220;The United States will not be having any payment made,&#8221; he added. &#8220;We&#8217;re not buying it, but we will manufacture it, and they&#8217;re going to be paying for it.&#8221;
&#8220;We have an ocean separating us,&#8221; the president <a href="https://x.com/RapidResponse47/status/1944783154327204286">continued</a>. &#8220;We make the best stuff, but we can&#8217;t keep doing this — and Biden should&#8217;ve done this years ago.&#8221;
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.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a>: &quot;We make the best equipment, the best missiles&#8230; the European nations know that&#8230; We&#39;ve made a deal today where we&#39;re going to be sending them weapons and they&#39;re going to be paying for them. The United States will NOT be having any payment made.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/TG2URSC3Ya">pic.twitter.com/TG2URSC3Ya</a>
&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1944780326531698861?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 14, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Rutte agreed that &#8220;it&#8217;s totally logical&#8221; for Trump to want European countries to pay for Ukraine&#8217;s defense.
&#8220;This is again Europeans stepping up,&#8221; Rutte said. &#8220;I&#8217;ve been in contact with many countries. I can tell you at this moment Germany, massively, but also Finland and Denmark and Sweden and Norway, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands, Canada — they all want to be part of this, and this is only the first wave. There will be more,&#8221; Rutte added.
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.<a href="https://twitter.com/SecGenNATO?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SecGenNATO</a>: &quot;You want Ukraine [to have] what it needs &#8230; but you want the Europeans to pay for it — which is totally logical.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/k2tSUfCGJ4">pic.twitter.com/k2tSUfCGJ4</a>
&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1944779973316792809?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 14, 2025</a></blockquote>
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The 100% tariffs on Russia would go into effect if Russian President Vladimir Putin does not reach a peace agreement with Ukraine within 50 days, according to Trump. The &#8220;secondary tariffs&#8221; would penalize countries that do business with Russia, such as those purchasing Russian oil and gas. Trump&#8217;s 100% tariff rate on Russia is lower than what some GOP lawmakers are pushing for. A bill introduced by Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) proposes 500% tariffs on nations that deal with Russia.
&#8220;We are very, very unhappy with [Russia], and we&#8217;re going to be doing very severe tariffs if we don&#8217;t have a deal in 50 days,&#8221; Trump said. He added that his talks with Putin have become meaningless.
&#8220;I speak to him a lot about getting this thing done, and I always hang up and say, &#8216;Well, that was a nice phone call,'&#8221; Trump said. &#8220;And then missiles launched into Kyiv or some other city, and I said, &#8216;strange.'&#8221;
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.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a>: &quot;We are very, very unhappy with [Russia], and we&#39;re going to be doing very severe tariffs if we don&#39;t have a deal in 50 days.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/hQSTIng1zj">pic.twitter.com/hQSTIng1zj</a>
&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1944778508669943868?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 14, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Last week, Russia launched two major drone and missile attacks on Ukraine after Trump publicly expressed disappointment with Putin. The strikes included a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/clear-escalation-of-terror-russia-hits-kyiv-with-another-major-missile-and-drone-attack">barrage</a> on Kyiv that killed at least two people and wounded 16 more.
Trump praised Ukraine and other European nations for their &#8220;spirit&#8221; during the war, a major change in tune from just a few months ago, when the president blasted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for requesting more U.S. assistance in the fight against Russia.
&#8220;I think this is a chance at getting peace,&#8221; Trump said of the new deal with NATO and Ukraine. &#8220;Europe has a lot of spirit for this war. When I first got involved, I really didn&#8217;t think they did, but they do &#8230; they really think it&#8217;s a very, very important thing to do or they wouldn&#8217;t be doing it.&#8221;

President Trump Meets NATO Secretary General

Trump Strikes Deal With NATO To Send Weapons To Ukraine On Europe’s Dime

Donald Trump

Europe

Global Politics

NATO

Politics

Russia

Trump Administration

Ukraine

Ukraine-Russia War

Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Malaysia on Thursday, seeking to push Russia toward peace with Ukraine through “a new and different approach.”
Following the talks, Rubio did not specify what exactly was said, but told reporters, “I think it’s a new and a different approach. I wouldn’t characterize it as something that guarantees peace, but it’s a concept that I’ll take back to the president,” the Associated Press <a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-russia-ukraine-rubio-lavrov-tariffs-trump-asean-ca7569c363260b1a63bae12153fa7dd3">reported</a>. The meeting between the United States and Russia took place at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Regional Forum, where 10 nations, including Russia, China, and the United States, gather for their annual meeting.
Despite the Trump administration’s continued efforts to mediate peace between Russia and Ukraine, Russia has <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/clear-escalation-of-terror-russia-hits-kyiv-with-another-major-missile-and-drone-attack?topStoryPosition=undefined&amp;author=Zach+Jewell&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=1&amp;row=1&amp;rowHeadline=Top+Stories&amp;rowType=Top+Stories&amp;title=%E2%80%98Clear+Escalation+Of+Terror%E2%80%99%3A+Russia+Hits+Kyiv+With+Another+Major+Missile+And+Drone+Attack">launched</a> two massive missile and drone <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/russia-launches-largest-drone-and-missile-attack-yet-against-ukraine?author=Jayden+Jelso&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=1&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Russia+Launches+Largest+Drone+And+Missile+Attack+Yet+Against+Ukraine">attacks</a> on Ukraine this week after President Donald Trump expressed disappointment in Russian President Vladimir Putin. Putin’s escalation has frustrated President Trump, who said earlier this week, “We get a lot of bulls*** thrown at us by Putin.”
Rubio acknowledged Trump’s displeasure with Russia, telling reporters after the 50-minute meeting, “We need to see a roadmap moving forward about how this conflict can conclude. And then we shared some ideas about what that might look like. We’re going to continue to stay involved where we see opportunities to make a difference.”
Russia’s Foreign Ministry called the discussion with Rubio a “substantive and frank exchange of views.”
“Both countries reaffirmed their mutual commitment to finding peaceful solutions to conflicts, restoring Russian-American economic and humanitarian cooperation, and unimpeded contact between the societies of the two countries, something which could be facilitated by resuming direct air traffic,” Russia added. “The importance of further work to normalize bilateral diplomatic relations was also emphasized.”
Russia’s latest attack on Kyiv included 18 missiles and 400 drones, some of which targeted residential areas. Two people were killed in the attack, a 68-year-old woman and a 22-year-old police officer. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called Russia’s attack “a clear escalation of terror by Russia.”
“This demands that we speed things up. Sanctions must be imposed faster, and pressure on Russia must be strong enough that they truly feel the consequences of their terror,” Zelensky added. “There’s a need for quicker action from our partners in investing in weapons production and advancing technology.”
The Trump administration said earlier this week that it would send more defensive weapons to Ukraine amid Russia’s increased aggression. Trump is also reportedly considering hitting Russia with sanctions.

TOPSHOT-MALAYSIA-US-ASEAN-DIPLOMACY

Rubio Meets With Russia, Pursues New Approach After Deadly Attacks On Ukraine

Marco Rubio

Vladimir Putin

Volodymyr Zelensky

Two days after President Donald Trump expressed disappointment with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Russia launched another major missile and drone attack at Ukraine&#8217;s capital overnight Wednesday, killing at least two people and wounding 16 more, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Ukrainian police said on Thursday morning that Russian missiles struck eight different districts in Kyiv, targeting residential areas, the BBC <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cj3rvpe06rxo">reported</a>.
&#8220;Residential buildings, vehicles, warehouses, office and non-residential buildings are burning,&#8221; said Tymur Tkachenko, head of the Kyiv Regional Administration. According to the Ukrainian government, a 68-year-old woman and a 22-year-old police officer were killed at a metro station during Russia&#8217;s bombardment.
Zelensky added that Russia fired 18 missiles and launched 400 drones targeting Kyiv. The latest Russian offensive came just one night after Putin hit Ukraine with the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/russia-launches-largest-drone-and-missile-attack-yet-against-ukraine?author=Jayden+Jelso&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=1&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Russia+Launches+Largest+Drone+And+Missile+Attack+Yet+Against+Ukraine">largest</a> drone and missile attack since the start of the war.
&#8220;This is a clear escalation of terror by Russia — hundreds of &#8216;shaheds&#8217; every night, constant strikes, and massive attacks on Ukrainian cities,&#8221; Zelensky posted on X. &#8220;This demands that we speed things up. Sanctions must be imposed faster, and pressure on Russia must be strong enough that they truly feel the consequences of their terror. There’s a need for quicker action from our partners in investing in weapons production and advancing technology.&#8221;
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Last night, Russia launched a massive combined strike that lasted nearly 10 hours. 18 missiles, including ballistic ones, and around 400 attack drones were used — nearly 200 of them were &quot;shaheds.&quot;
The main target of the attack was Kyiv and the region. Chernihiv, Sumy, Poltava,… <a href="https://t.co/jtBo0YYQ8d">pic.twitter.com/jtBo0YYQ8d</a>
&mdash; Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) <a href="https://twitter.com/ZelenskyyUa/status/1943199462135824718?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 10, 2025</a></blockquote>
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As President Trump continues to seek a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine, Putin has stepped up his aggression in the war. Trump has grown increasingly frustrated with Putin, telling reporters on Tuesday, &#8220;We get a lot of bulls*** thrown at us by Putin, if you want to know the truth. He&#8217;s very nice to us all the time, but it turns out to be meaningless.&#8221;
Trump <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/we-have-to-trump-to-send-ukraine-more-defensive-weapons?author=Zach+Jewell&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=%E2%80%98We+Have+To%E2%80%99%3A+Trump+To+Send+Ukraine+More+Defensive+Weapons">said</a> earlier this week that the United States will send more defensive weapons to Ukraine, so the country can &#8220;defend themselves.&#8221;
“I’m disappointed, frankly, that President Putin hasn’t stopped,” Trump added.
Some Republicans in Congress, led by Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) in the House and Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) in the Senate, are pushing Trump to impose sanctions on Russia and punish Putin for his refusal to work with Ukraine and the United States on a peace agreement. The president is <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2025/07/09/trump-is-interested-in-new-russia-sanctions-but-theres-a-catch-00445148">reportedly</a> considering the idea of hitting Russia with new sanctions and punishing nations that trade with Putin.
“[Trump] told me he thought it would be helpful,” Graham said, referring to his bill that would place a 500% tariff on any country that imports Russian uranium, gas, or oil. “We want to be a team. We want to help the president. This is an effort to give the president leverage he doesn’t have today.”

Russian attack on Kyiv

‘Clear Escalation Of Terror’: Russia Hits Kyiv With Another Major Missile And Drone Attack

attack

Just days after President Donald Trump said he was &#8220;disappointed&#8221; with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Russia bombarded Ukraine with its largest drone attack of the war. 
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky <a href="https://x.com/ZelenskyyUa/status/1942835716905382384">claims</a> that 741 aerial vehicles participated in the attack on Tuesday night and into the early hours of Wednesday morning, with the Ukrainian Air Force reporting a mix of 728 attack drones and decoys, as well as 13 missiles. According to the Air Force, 711 drones and seven missiles were neutralized, with impacts recorded in at least four locations. 
The northwestern Volyn region, in which the city of Lutsk is located, was the primary target, and Zelensky stated that damage was recorded in ten other cities: Dnipro, Zhytomyr, Kyiv, Kirovohrad, Mykolaiv, Sumy, Kharkiv, Khmelnytskyi, Cherkasy, and Chernihiv. 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
A new massive Russian attack on our cities. It was the highest number of aerial targets in a single day: 741 targets – 728 drones of various types, including over 300 shaheds, and 13 missiles – Kinzhals and Iskanders. Most of the targets were shot down. Our interceptor drones… <a href="https://t.co/Lxa5TdYVXT">pic.twitter.com/Lxa5TdYVXT</a>
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) <a href="https://twitter.com/ZelenskyyUa/status/1942835716905382384?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 9, 2025</a></blockquote>
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“This is a telling attack,&#8221; Zelensky <a href="https://x.com/ZelenskyyUa/status/1942835716905382384">wrote</a> on X. “It comes precisely at a time when so many efforts have been made to achieve peace, to establish a ceasefire, and yet only Russia continues to rebuff them all.”
He called the assault “massive” and painted it as a sign that Russian President Vladimir Putin is not interested in the United States-led effort to end the war.
“This is yet another proof of the need for sanctions — biting sanctions against oil, which has been fueling Moscow&#8217;s war machine with money for over three years of the war,” he said. “Secondary sanctions on those who buy this oil and thereby sponsor killings.”
“Our partners know how to apply pressure in a way that will force Russia to think about ending the war, not launching new strikes. Everyone who wants peace must act.”
According to<a href="https://abcnews.go.com/International/russia-launches-largest-drone-attack-ukraine-kyiv-pushes/story?id=123599312"> ABC News</a>, June took the record for the most long-range drones and missiles launched into Ukraine — 5,438 and 239, respectively. On Monday, President Donald Trump announced plans to resume weapons shipments to Ukraine after they were paused due to concerns about U.S. stockpiles. 
“They are getting hit very hard. … We’re gonna have to send more weapons,” he <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/we-have-to-trump-to-send-ukraine-more-defensive-weapons?author=Zach+Jewell&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=11&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=%E2%80%98We+Have+To%E2%80%99%3A+Trump+To+Send+Ukraine+More+Defensive+Weapons">said</a>, then later added: “I’m disappointed, frankly, that President Putin hasn’t stopped.” 
Ukraine also launched attacks on Russia throughout Tuesday night. The Defense Ministry in Moscow said they destroyed 86 Ukrainian drones, 4 of which were over the Moscow region. Flight restrictions were temporarily enforced at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport. 
On Tuesday, Zelensky <a href="https://x.com/ZelenskyyUa/status/1942661575178948872">stated</a> that he had ordered his defense officials to intensify contacts with the United States regarding continued military aid. 
“[This primarily concerns] air defense, as well as all other elements of supply from the U.S.,” he said in his nightly video address, <a href="https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/ukraines-zelenskiy-says-he-ordered-intensified-contacts-with-us-deliveries-arms-2025-07-08/?utm_source=chatgpt.com">according to</a> Reuters. 
“These are critical deliveries that mean saving lives and protecting Ukrainian cities and villages. I expect results from these contacts very soon. And this week, we are preparing formats for meetings of our military and political teams.”

UKRAINE-RUSSIA-CONFLICT-WAR

Russia Launches Largest Drone And Missile Attack Yet Against Ukraine

President Donald Trump fields questions on tariffs, Ukraine, and Jeffrey Epstein during his sixth cabinet meeting, fallout continues from the Central Texas floods, and the Trump administration rejects amnesty but hints at flexibility for some illegal immigrant workers.
It’s Wednesday, July 9, and this is the news you need to know to start your day.
Morning Wire is available on video! You can watch today’s episode here:
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If you’d rather listen to your news, today’s edition of the Morning Wire podcast can be heard below:
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<h2>Trump Convenes His Cabinet</h2>
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Topline:  President Trump provided new details on tariffs, support for Ukraine, and Jeffrey Epstein during a wide-ranging cabinet meeting on Tuesday.
Cabinet meetings traditionally take place behind closed doors, but on Tuesday, President Trump spent nearly two hours taking questions from reporters. While many questions addressed the recent flash flooding in Texas, the president also spent a considerable amount of time discussing his plans for new tariffs.
In April, President Trump announced a 90-day pause on his ‘Liberation Day’ tariffs to offer countries a chance to negotiate lower rates — but warned that any country that didn’t come to the table would be hit with massive tariffs on July 9. However, despite early signs of optimism from our trading partners, the reality is that we have yet to see the “90 deals in 90 days” that the White House initially promised. 
To date, the only countries with formal, finalized trade agreements are the United Kingdom and Vietnam. 
The White House insists it is approaching the finish line with the European Union, India, and Cambodia, among others, but the administration clearly needs more time. On Monday, the president signed an executive order extending the tariff deadline to August 1. In an effort to expedite negotiations in the meantime, Trump sent letters to more than a dozen countries, stating that without a deal, they would face enormous tariffs on August 1, and if they raised rates in response, the United States would increase them even further. 
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent also announced that the United States government had collected “about $100 billion in tariff income thus far this year” and projected that that figure could rise to well over $300 billion by the end of the year.&#8221;
Meanwhile, since taking office and that disastrous White House meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, the Trump administration has significantly cut its military and financial support for Ukraine. Trump said that he was worried Zelensky would avoid peace talks if he knew the United States would send an endless supply of weapons, and there were those in Washington who believed Russian President Vladimir Putin would be more willing to come to the table if support was cut off.
But with Moscow stepping up its attacks on population centers in Ukraine and Putin repeatedly backing out of peace talks, Trump has reversed himself and announced that the United States would resume weapons shipments to Ukraine. Trump later added that he’s seriously considering even harsher sanctions on Moscow.
“We want to put defensive weapons because Putin is not treating human beings right,” Trump told reporters. “We get a lot of bullsh** thrown at us by Putin — you want to know the truth. He&#8217;s very nice all the time, but it turns out to be meaningless.&#8221;
President Trump also turned heads with his remarks on Jeffrey Epstein – the Trump administration essentially closed its case on Epstein this week, saying there is no evidence that he was murdered, had a client list, or blackmailed powerful individuals. 
That decision has dominated the headlines, but the president seemed irritated, even <a href="https://x.com/9mm_smg/status/1942628135263989932">exasperated</a>, when asked about it.“Are people still talking about this guy, this creep? That is unbelievable. Do you wanna waste the time… I can’t believe you’re asking a question about Epstein at a time like this.”
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<h2>Tensions High In Texas After Flash Floods Kill Over 100 People</h2>
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Topline: While rescue and recovery operations continue in Texas, some are already asking why communities were so unprepared for the natural disaster.
The tragedy that has killed more than 100 people, with many still missing, has left officials to face tough questions. Searches are underway throughout Central Texas. Rains and flash flood warnings have hindered progress, and officials have had to not only look for those missing, but also protect the emergency responders and volunteers that have joined the search crews.
“In the Kerr County area alone, there are 161 people who are known to be missing,” Texas Governor Greg Abbott <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2yquWcGJ9g&amp;t=2938s">said</a> on Tuesday. “We will not stop until every missing person is accounted for. Know this also, there is very likely more to be added to that list.”
Press conferences have started to become testy, however, with local and national reporters pushing officials to answer increasingly pointed questions about their disaster response, including but not limited to, “Was the emergency manager awake?”
Kerrville City Manager Dalton Rice defended the decision not to issue an evacuation order before the flooding, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xgKRuDsTEyk&amp;t=1303s">arguing</a> that “evacuation is a delicate balance, because if you evacuate too late you then risk putting busses, or cars, or vehicles, or campers on roads into low water areas trying to get them out which then can make it even more challenging, because these flash floods happen very quickly.”
Critics have claimed that recent cuts to the National Weather Service led to the organization being understaffed and less prepared. Texas Republican Senator Ted Cruz characterized those allegations as “partisan finger-pointing” and claimed that the local NWS office had surged “additional manpower” in anticipation of possible flooding. The NWS union, which has generally been very critical of the recent cuts, has also said that the reductions did not impact the response.
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<h2>To Deport, Or Not To Deport</h2>
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Topline: The Trump administration is again signaling a shift in how it is addressing illegal immigration in the farming industry. 
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has been authorized by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to continue worksite raids on farms to sweep for illegal immigrants. That directive was <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2025/06/17/politics/homeland-security-immigration-raids-resume">issued</a> in June, shortly after the administration announced a pause on those raids, as well as raids at hotels and restaurants. Since then, the Trump administration has sent additional signals that it is attempting to balance its commitment to deporting all illegal aliens with more immediate economic concerns, including potential workforce shortages.
“We’re going to take care of our farmers and hotel workers, but we&#8217;re working on it right now,” President Trump said. “We have a lot of cases where ICE would go into the farm, and these are guys that are working there for 10 to 15 years, no problem. … The farmers know them. It’s called ‘farmer responsibility’ or ‘owner responsibility,’ but they&#8217;re going to be largely responsible for these people, and they know these people…They can be here legally. They can pay taxes and everything. They&#8217;re not getting citizenship, but they get other things. And the farmers need them to do the work.”
That approach has caused backlash among some of the president&#8217;s more ardent supporters, many of whom favor a zero-tolerance policy towards illegal aliens living and/or working in the United States.
In June, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins <a href="https://x.com/BrookeLRollins/status/1934240461717143696">expressed</a> her full commitment to the America First agenda, but said deportations were being “prioritized” in a way to avoid “severe disruptions to our food supply.” On Tuesday, after being questioned by Daily Wire White House Correspondent Mary Margaret Olohan, Rollins elaborated that the Trump administration will offer illegal immigrants working on farms “no amnesty under any circumstances. Mass deportations continue, but in a strategic and intentional way as we move our workforce toward more automation and toward a 100% American workforce.”
Some reports, mostly out of California, said illegal immigrant farm laborers stopped showing up to work out of fear of deportation, and crops had gone unharvested. One <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jul/01/ice-raids-crops-california-farms">report</a> cited numerous farm supervisors who stated that the number of workers dropped dramatically since raids began in California; one supervisor claimed that only 80 of 300 people showed up to work, while another saw a drop from 80 workers to 17. Recent estimates by the Department of Agriculture suggest that about <a href="https://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/farm-economy/farm-labor#:~:text=Roughly%20Half%20of%20Hired%20Crop,unauthorized%20is%20highest%20in%20California.">40-50%</a> of crop farmworkers are either in the country illegally or lack proper work authorization.

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Morning Brief: Trump Says No Amnesty For Illegals & Texas Flood Fallout

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weapons

President Donald Trump vowed on Monday to resume weapons shipments to Ukraine as Russia continues to pound the country with airstrikes and drone attacks.
Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell <a href="https://www.wsj.com/politics/national-security/trump-told-zelensky-he-wasnt-responsible-for-weapons-holdup-f684444b?mod=hp_lead_pos4">told</a> The Wall Street Journal that per Trump&#8217;s orders, &#8220;the Department of Defense is sending additional defensive weapons to Ukraine to ensure the Ukrainians can defend themselves while we work to secure a lasting peace and ensure the killing stops.&#8221;
“We have to, they have to be able to defend themselves,” Trump said. “They are getting hit very hard. &#8230; We’re gonna have to send more weapons.”
“I’m disappointed, frankly, that President Putin hasn’t stopped,” Trump added on Monday night.
Last week, it was reported that weapons shipments to Ukraine had been paused, surprising the administration in Kyiv, as well as officials in the State Department. Asked on Tuesday who ordered the pause in weapons shipments to Ukraine last week, Trump replied, &#8220;I don&#8217;t know. Why don&#8217;t you tell me?&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
.<a href="https://twitter.com/kaitlancollins?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@kaitlancollins</a> on Ukraine weapon shipments: &#8220;So, who ordered the pause last week?&#8221;
President Trump: &#8220;I don&#8217;t know. Why don&#8217;t you tell me?&#8221; <a href="https://t.co/k2YKFkbCK7">pic.twitter.com/k2YKFkbCK7</a>
— CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1942632501538705496?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 8, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Trump, who vowed to end the war between Russia and Ukraine on his first day back in office, added that he wants to send Ukraine defensive weapons &#8220;because Putin is not treating human beings right. He&#8217;s killing too many people.&#8221;
Trump&#8217;s move to restart weapons shipments to Ukraine comes after months of negotiations with Ukraine and Russia in hopes of reaching a peace agreement, but to no avail. After publicly berating Zelensky in the Oval Office in February, Trump has appeared to become more friendly with the Ukrainian president while ramping up his criticism of Putin. Trump spoke to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky last week, a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/ukraines-zelensky-says-latest-call-with-trump-was-most-productive-yet">conversation</a> that Zelensky called &#8220;the most productive&#8221; talks he has had with Trump.
“We discussed air defense issues, and I’m grateful for the willingness to help. The Patriot system is precisely the key to protection against ballistic threats,&#8221; Zelensky said.
Trump also spoke to Russian President Vladimir Putin over the phone last Thursday and pushed him to end the war with Ukraine, a request that Putin refused, according to the Kremlin, the WSJ reported. Trump said he was &#8220;very disappointed&#8221; after the call and said they &#8220;didn&#8217;t make any progress&#8221; on a peace deal.
Shortly after the phone call between Trump and Putin, Russia launched its largest drone and missile attack on Ukraine since the start of the war.

‘We Have To’: Trump To Send Ukraine More Defensive Weapons

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Saturday that his latest conversation with U.S. President Donald Trump this week was the best and &#8220;most productive&#8221; he has had to date.
&#8220;Regarding the conversation with the president of the United States, which took place a day earlier, it was probably the best conversation we have had during this whole time, the most productive,&#8221; Zelensky said in his nightly video address.
&#8220;We discussed air defense issues and I&#8217;m grateful for the willingness to help. The Patriot system is precisely the key to protection against ballistic threats.&#8221;
Zelensky said the two leaders had discussed &#8220;several other important matters&#8221; that officials from the two sides would be considering in forthcoming meetings.
Trump told reporters on Friday that he had a good call with Zelensky and restated his disappointment at a conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin over what he said was Moscow&#8217;s lack of willingness to work toward a ceasefire.
Asked whether the United States would agree to supply more Patriot missiles to Ukraine, as requested by Zelensky, Trump said: &#8220;They&#8217;re going to need them for defense&#8230; They&#8217;re going to need something because they&#8217;re being hit pretty hard.&#8221;
Russia has intensified air attacks on Kyiv and other cities in recent weeks. Moscow&#8217;s forces launched the largest drone attack of the 40-month-old war on the Ukrainian capital hours after Trump&#8217;s conversation with Putin on Thursday.
(Reporting by Ron Popeski and Oleksander Kozhukhar; Editing by Daniel Wallis and Diane Craft)

U.S. President Trump and Ukraine’s President Zelenskiy attend a meeting on the sidelines of NATO summit in The Hague

Ukraine’s Zelensky Says Latest Call With Trump Was ‘Most Productive’ Yet

Putin

Two people were killed and at least 14 wounded when a Russian drone smashed into a residential high-rise in Ukraine&#8217;s Black Sea city of Odesa, authorities said on Saturday.
Three children were among the wounded in the overnight attack, with one in critical condition, said regional Governor Oleh Kiper.
Footage posted by the State Emergency Service showed firefighters battling a blaze and rushing residents down a dark stairwell in the 21-storey building.
Russia has stepped up drone and missile strikes on Ukrainian cities in recent weeks as diplomatic efforts to end the nearly three-and-a-half-year-old war have stalled.
<div id="attachment_940751" style="width: 2570px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-940751" class="size-full wp-image-940751" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/06/2025-06-28T074002Z_1_LYNXMPEL5R027_RTROPTP_4_UKRAINE-CRISIS-ATTACK-ODESA-scaled.jpeg" alt="Residents walk in front of an apartment building hit by a Russian drone strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Odesa, Ukraine June 28, 2025." width="2560" height="1707" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/06/2025-06-28T074002Z_1_LYNXMPEL5R027_RTROPTP_4_UKRAINE-CRISIS-ATTACK-ODESA-scaled.jpeg 2560w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/06/2025-06-28T074002Z_1_LYNXMPEL5R027_RTROPTP_4_UKRAINE-CRISIS-ATTACK-ODESA-300x200.jpeg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/06/2025-06-28T074002Z_1_LYNXMPEL5R027_RTROPTP_4_UKRAINE-CRISIS-ATTACK-ODESA-864x576.jpeg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/06/2025-06-28T074002Z_1_LYNXMPEL5R027_RTROPTP_4_UKRAINE-CRISIS-ATTACK-ODESA-768x512.jpeg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/06/2025-06-28T074002Z_1_LYNXMPEL5R027_RTROPTP_4_UKRAINE-CRISIS-ATTACK-ODESA-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/06/2025-06-28T074002Z_1_LYNXMPEL5R027_RTROPTP_4_UKRAINE-CRISIS-ATTACK-ODESA-2048x1365.jpeg 2048w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/06/2025-06-28T074002Z_1_LYNXMPEL5R027_RTROPTP_4_UKRAINE-CRISIS-ATTACK-ODESA-1800x1200.jpeg 1800w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/06/2025-06-28T074002Z_1_LYNXMPEL5R027_RTROPTP_4_UKRAINE-CRISIS-ATTACK-ODESA-1200x800.jpeg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px" />REUTERS/Nina Liashonok</div>
This is only the latest use of more advanced war tech. Several weeks ago, Russia launched a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/russia-launches-massive-drone-attack-on-ukraine-as-war-intensifies?author=Zach+Jewell&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Russia+Launches+Massive+Drone+Attack+On+Ukraine+As+War+Intensifies">massive attack</a>, firing nearly 500 drones and 20 missiles into Ukraine in response to Ukraine’s major drone offensive on Russian airfields earlier this month.
According to Ukraine, slightly more than half of the drones were intercepted, as were almost all of the missiles.
“Russia is escalating the war and has no intention of stopping it. Any escalation can only be stopped by force,” said Andriy Yermak, a top adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
<div id="attachment_940753" style="width: 2570px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-940753" class="size-full wp-image-940753" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/06/2025-06-28T074002Z_1_LYNXMPEL5R028_RTROPTP_4_UKRAINE-CRISIS-ATTACK-ODESA-scaled.jpeg" alt="A resident walks inside his apartment building hit by a Russian drone strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Odesa, Ukraine June 28, 2025." width="2560" height="1707" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/06/2025-06-28T074002Z_1_LYNXMPEL5R028_RTROPTP_4_UKRAINE-CRISIS-ATTACK-ODESA-scaled.jpeg 2560w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/06/2025-06-28T074002Z_1_LYNXMPEL5R028_RTROPTP_4_UKRAINE-CRISIS-ATTACK-ODESA-300x200.jpeg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/06/2025-06-28T074002Z_1_LYNXMPEL5R028_RTROPTP_4_UKRAINE-CRISIS-ATTACK-ODESA-864x576.jpeg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/06/2025-06-28T074002Z_1_LYNXMPEL5R028_RTROPTP_4_UKRAINE-CRISIS-ATTACK-ODESA-768x512.jpeg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/06/2025-06-28T074002Z_1_LYNXMPEL5R028_RTROPTP_4_UKRAINE-CRISIS-ATTACK-ODESA-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/06/2025-06-28T074002Z_1_LYNXMPEL5R028_RTROPTP_4_UKRAINE-CRISIS-ATTACK-ODESA-2048x1365.jpeg 2048w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/06/2025-06-28T074002Z_1_LYNXMPEL5R028_RTROPTP_4_UKRAINE-CRISIS-ATTACK-ODESA-1800x1200.jpeg 1800w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/06/2025-06-28T074002Z_1_LYNXMPEL5R028_RTROPTP_4_UKRAINE-CRISIS-ATTACK-ODESA-1200x800.jpeg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px" />REUTERS/Nina Liashonok</div>
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These attacks come as President Donald Trump continues his attempt to broker peace between the warring nations. The president <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-tells-russian-leader-to-stop-using-the-n-word-after-nuclear-threats">scolded</a> Russian Deputy Chairman of the Security Council Dmitry Medvedev on June 23 after Medvedev discussed other nations supplying Iran with “nuclear warheads.”
“Did I hear Former President Medvedev, from Russia, casually throwing around the ‘N word’ (Nuclear!), and saying that he and other Countries would supply Nuclear Warheads to Iran? Did he really say that or, is it just a figment of my imagination?” Trump said on Truth Social.
“If he did say that, and, if confirmed, please let me know, IMMEDIATELY. The ‘N word’ should not be treated so casually,&#8221; Trump added.
(Reporting by Dan Peleschuk; Editing by William Mallard)

Ukrainian Building

Russian Drone Strike Kills 2, Wounds 14 In Ukraine’s Odesa, Authorities Say

World

Russia launched its largest drone attack of the war overnight Sunday into Monday, firing nearly 500 drones and 20 missiles into Ukraine in response to Ukraine&#8217;s major drone offensive on Russian airfields earlier this month.
Ukraine claims that it intercepted 277 drones and 19 missiles, adding that only 10 Russian missiles or drones hit their targets, according to <a href="https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-russia-drones-attack-air-force-a1b092efaaad6886659a9230109a48db">the Associated Press</a>. The Ukrainian air force said the Russians targeted the central and western areas of Ukraine, <a href="https://nypost.com/2025/06/09/world-news/russia-launches-biggest-drone-attack-on-ukraine-since-start-of-war-with-almost-500-individual-strikes/">damaging</a> a military airfield in Dubno, which is just 40 miles from Ukraine&#8217;s border with Poland. Russia also said on Monday that its forces took more territory in Ukraine&#8217;s east-central region of Dnipropetrovsk, giving Putin&#8217;s army a &#8220;buffer zone,&#8221; Reuters <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russia-says-it-takes-more-territory-east-central-ukraine-creating-buffer-zone-2025-06-09/">reported</a>.
“Russia is escalating the war and has no intention of stopping it. Any escalation can only be stopped by force,” said Andriy Yermak, a top adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
The attack comes as the three-year-long war has intensified despite the Trump administration&#8217;s efforts to work out a peace deal between the two countries. U.S. officials <a href="https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/us-believes-russia-response-ukraine-drone-attack-not-over-yet-expects-multi-2025-06-07/">warned</a> over the weekend that Russia would conduct multiple strikes on Ukraine in response to Ukraine&#8217;s surprise drone attack that knocked out numerous Russian bombers. The first round of Russia&#8217;s response came on Friday when it launched a missile and drone barrage on Kyiv, an attack that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2025/06/05/europe/russia-launches-retaliatory-strike-on-kyiv-latam-hnk-intl">said</a> involved 400 drones and 40 missiles.
President Donald Trump, who spoke to Russian President Vladimir Putin over the phone last week, said that Putin &#8220;strongly&#8221; <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-holds-75-minute-call-with-putin-not-a-conversation-that-will-lead-to-immediate-peace?author=Zach+Jewell&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Trump+Holds+75-Minute+Call+With+Putin%3A+%E2%80%98Not+A+Conversation+That+Will+Lead+To+Immediate+Peace%E2%80%99">insisted</a> that Russia “will have to respond to the recent attack on the airfields.”
“We discussed the attack on Russia’s docked airplanes, by Ukraine, and also various other attacks that have been taking place by both sides. It was a good conversation, but not a conversation that will lead to immediate Peace,&#8221; Trump added.
Trump later told reporters that he urged Putin to avoid further escalation in the war, but added that &#8220;it&#8217;s probably not going to be pretty.&#8221;
&#8220;I said: &#8216;Don&#8217;t do it. You shouldn&#8217;t do it. You should stop it,'&#8221; Trump said of his conversation with Putin. &#8220;But, again, there&#8217;s a lot of hatred.&#8221;
While little progress has been made in negotiating a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine, the two countries have agreed to multiple rounds of prisoner swaps, with the latest swap beginning on Monday, according to Zelensky.
&#8220;Today, an exchange began, which will continue in several stages over the coming days,&#8221; the Ukrainian president <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/russia-ukraine-war-prisoner-swap-drone-strikes-front-lines-latest/">said</a>. &#8220;Among those we are bringing back now are the wounded, the severely wounded, and those under the age of 25,&#8221; he added.

Russian troops target Zaporizhzhia with guided bombs

Russia Launches Massive Drone Attack On Ukraine As War Intensifies

President Donald Trump revealed that he had an hour-and-fifteen-minute phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday, but said that the discussion was not one &#8220;that will lead to immediate peace.&#8221;
Trump said the two leaders discussed Ukraine&#8217;s recent <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/how-ukraine-pulled-off-its-massive-drone-strike-inside-russia">drone attack</a> on Russia, which reportedly decimated Russia&#8217;s fleet of bombers that are capable of carrying nuclear payloads. The president said that Putin &#8220;strongly&#8221; told him that Russia &#8220;will have to respond to the recent attack on the airfields.&#8221;
&#8220;I just finished speaking, by telephone, with President Vladimir Putin, of Russia. The call lasted approximately one hour and 15 minutes,&#8221; Trump <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/114626383407680212">wrote</a> on Truth Social. &#8220;We discussed the attack on Russia’s docked airplanes, by Ukraine, and also various other attacks that have been taking place by both sides. It was a good conversation, but not a conversation that will lead to immediate Peace.&#8221;
On the Iran front, however, Trump said he came to an &#8220;agreement&#8221; with Putin, reiterating &#8220;that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon.&#8221; Iran and Russia — two nations that are outspoken in their rejection of Western values — have grown close in their economic and military ties, with Iran <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/iran-sends-russia-hundreds-ballistic-missiles-sources-say-2024-02-21/">reportedly</a> sending Russia hundreds of surface-to-surface ballistic missiles last year.
&#8220;President Putin suggested that he will participate in the discussions with Iran and that he could, perhaps, be helpful in getting this brought to a rapid conclusion,&#8221; Trump added. &#8220;It is my opinion that Iran has been slowwalking their decision on this very important matter, and we will need a definitive answer in a very short period of time!&#8221;
Russia and Ukraine have taken turns escalating the three-year-long war in recent weeks as the Trump administration continues to push the countries toward a peace deal. Trump last spoke to Putin on May 19 and <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-makes-big-announcement-following-very-frank-two-hour-call-with-putin">said</a> that Russia and Ukraine would &#8220;immediately start negotiations toward a Ceasefire and, more importantly, an END to the War.&#8221; But as Russia&#8217;s aggression continued, Trump said a week later that he was “<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-eyes-stinging-russia-sanctions-bipartisan-proposal-bring-pain">absolutely</a>” considering imposing new sanctions on the country. He also blasted Putin as &#8220;CRAZY,&#8221; saying that he was “needlessly killing a lot of people.”
Trump then warned that if Putin pushed for taking &#8220;ALL of Ukraine,&#8221; it would &#8220;lead to the downfall of Russia.&#8221;

Putin/Trump

Trump Holds 75-Minute Call With Putin: ‘Not A Conversation That Will Lead To Immediate Peace’

Iran

U.S.

Backlash to liberal immigration policies fuels yet another shift to the Right in Europe. The fallout from the Colorado terror attack continues as more details emerge about the victims and the illegal immigrant suspect. And, the Trump administration pauses most operations at the Department of Labor’s highly controversial Job Corps. 
It’s Tuesday, June 3, and this is the news you need to know to start your day.
Morning Wire is available on video! You can watch today’s episode here:
 
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If you’d rather listen to your news, today’s edition of the Morning Wire podcast can be heard below:
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<h2>Europe Updates</h2>
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Topline: As Ukraine and Russia meet this week for peace talks, a growing list of European countries have elected right-wing leaders amid growing anti-immigration sentiment.
In the last 24 hours, we’ve learned more about <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/how-ukraine-pulled-off-its-massive-drone-strike-inside-russia">Ukraine’s surprise attack</a> on Russia last weekend. The Ukrainians managed to smuggle scores of attack drones across the border, where they were launched from wooden sheds mounted on the backs of large moving trucks. Because those drones originated within Russian territory, they were able to bypass Putin’s extensive air defense systems, targeting five separate air bases and knocking out dozens of the country’s most important planes. According to some estimates, Ukraine successfully destroyed up to one-third of Russia’s strategic bomber fleet. 
The strikes came at a crucial time, as the two countries began meeting Monday in Istanbul for formal peace talks. Those talks concluded after just 90 minutes, and little progress had been made. Moscow finally presented its terms for peace: Ukraine must recognize all of Russia’s territorial gains, shrink the size of its military, change its official language to Russian, agree to long-term neutrality, and forfeit the right to join NATO.
Meanwhile, Poland elected right-winger Karol Narwocki to the presidency. Many have compared the 42-year-old Narwocki, who had no prior political experience, to Donald Trump, who openly supported Narwocki’s campaign. Narwocki even adopted a similar campaign slogan: “Poland First.&#8221; Among other things, he campaigned on a promise to withdraw from the European Union’s Migration Pact, which he said flooded the continent with illegal immigrants. He’s staunchly pro-life, against same-sex marriage, and has called for a return of Christian values to public life in his country. 
Narwocki has signed a pledge to prevent Ukraine from joining NATO — and like Trump, he’s accused Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky of not showing enough gratitude for the support his country has given Ukraine for its war effort. 
In the last year, conservatives have made historic gains across the continent — largely by promising to crack down on illegal immigration from Africa and the Middle East. In Austria, the country’s right-wing Freedom Party won control of parliament — the first time a hardline Conservative Party had won since World War II. Then, conservatives made historic gains in Germany, with the right-wing AfD party surging. And last week, Portugal’s right-wing Chega party scored a number of victories to become the country’s leading opposition party. 
In Paris this week, we’ve seen mass rioting following a big soccer victory – sparking conversations about law and order and immigration policies in France.
Some left-wing politicians have even adopted a more conservative tone. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, for example, has promised to “significantly” cut down on immigration over the next four years, restrict new visas for skilled labor, and penalize companies that hire foreign labor.
“The experiment is over,” Starmer <a href="https://x.com/addicted2newz/status/1929076924392903007">said</a>. “We will deliver what you’ve asked for time and again. And we will take back control of our borders.”
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<h2>Boulder Terror Suspect Charged With Multiple Felonies</h2>
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Topline: The man suspected of attacking a Colorado demonstration in support of Israeli hostages has been hit with multiple charges, including a federal hate crime.
Mohamed Sabry Soliman is being held in Boulder County Jail on a $10 million bond.  At the state level, he’s facing felony <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/colorado-hits-egyptian-anti-israel-terror-suspect-with-charges-including-murder">charges</a> for first-degree assault and “extreme indifference” to criminal use of an incendiary device – as well as crimes against the elderly. Federal prosecutors have charged Soliman with a hate crime. The special agent in charge at the FBI’s Denver office, Mark Michalek, said the bureau is investigating the attack as an act of terrorism.
None of the people injured in the attack has died. Soliman himself was treated for burn injuries before he was booked. Police say Soliman received those injuries using a makeshift flamethrower and Molotov cocktails to attack demonstrators.
Soliman is an Egyptian national. He entered the United States in 2022 on a visa that then expired the next year. He was able to obtain a temporary work permit from the Biden administration, but that, too, expired in March this year. Trump said in a social media post on Monday that Soliman “came in through Biden’s ridiculous Open Border Policy, which has hurt our Country so badly.” The president went on to say: “This is yet another example of why we must keep our Borders SECURE, and deport Illegal, Anti-American Radicals from our Homeland.”
In an interview with the FBI, Soliman said that he wanted to kill “Zionists.” Law enforcement also says he screamed “free Palestine” during his assault. The demonstration targeted in the attack was a weekly march in support of the hostages held by terrorists in Gaza. The FBI said that Soliman had planned this attack for at least a year and targeted what he called a “Zionist group.” Colorado Democratic Governor Jared Polis called it a “targeted attack on the Jewish community.”
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<h2>Department Of Labor &#8220;Pauses&#8221; Job Corps Program</h2>
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Topline: The Department of Labor last week said it was “pausing” most operations at the Job Corps, a $1.7 billion program that trains high school dropouts on residential campuses across the country.
Job Corps was spending an average of $80,000 a year per student, training them to go on to earn an average of $16,000 a year. That’s more than Harvard charges for tuition to essentially get them minimum wage. At one campus run by ODLE Management Group LLC, the cost was $764,000 per graduate.
The Job Corps operates about 130 campuses across the country, where troubled young adults are paid $1,200, plus living expenses, to take classes towards their GED or training in the trades. Most campuses are run by companies whose staff are paid bonuses based on how many people they recruit, and how many get a job afterwards. Reports found that contractors were faking job statistics to make it look like the training worked, and were looking the other way at criminal behavior on campus, because if they expelled students, they’d get less revenue.
“The Trump administration has terminated all contracts with companies,” Daily Wire Investigative Reporter Luke Rosiak told Morning Wire. “About one-fifth of campuses are operated by the Department of Agriculture, and those will remain open. So this is really targeted towards preventing contractors from abusing the taxpayer and using at-risk youth as a cash cow.”
Other forms of exploitation were also common. Discipline data from the Job Corps campuses show that there were 500 sex assaults and 5,000 violent assaults in the last three years. That includes a 16-year old transgender runaway who was ordered to live with a 23-year-old man who was later arrested for raping her. &#8220;One-third of students are expelled, one-third abscond, and one-third graduate,” Rosiak said. “To enroll, you’re required to be on welfare, a refugee, a high school dropout, illiterate, or a victim of sex trafficking.”
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Morning Brief: Ukraine’s Major Drone Op & Charges For Colorado’s Illegal Alien Terrorist

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Ahead of high-stakes peace talks in Istanbul, Ukraine says it carried out an audacious drone attack that destroyed over 40 Russian military planes at airfields, including Belaya air base in Russia’s Irkutsk region.
Planned for over a year and overseen by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, the operation involved drones smuggled deep into Russia via truck containers, a Ukrainian security official <a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-sumy-region-18966d4b286ffb6f4e764b94a6afaf61" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told</a> The Associated Press. Also noted by the news outlet, Russia conducted its own attack with 472 drones and several missiles, killing at least 12 Ukrainian service members and injuring over 60 others, according to Ukraine&#8217;s air force.
The assaults, which happened before Monday’s planned negotiations in Turkey, underscore the fragile prospects for peace.
Zelensky, <a href="https://x.com/ZelenskyyUa/status/1929145331696239049" target="_blank" rel="noopener">posting</a> on X, outlined Ukraine’s demands: &#8220;First — a full and unconditional ceasefire. Second — the release of prisoners. Third — the return of abducted children.&#8221; He added: &#8220;And in order to establish a reliable and lasting peace and ensure security, preparation of the meeting at the highest level. The key issues can only be resolved by the leaders. On Monday, our delegation will be led by Rustem Umerov.&#8221;
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Russia’s state-run TASS <a href="https://x.com/tassagency_en/status/1929182444097327484" target="_blank" rel="noopener">quoted</a> envoy Rodion Miroshnik accusing Kyiv of &#8220;destabilizing the situation&#8221; ahead of the talks.
President Donald Trump, a vocal critic of the war’s escalation, has taken to Truth Social to lambast both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Zelensky.
&#8220;I’ve always had a very good relationship with Vladimir Putin of Russia, but something has happened to him. He has gone absolutely CRAZY! He is needlessly killing a lot of people, and I’m not just talking about soldiers. Missiles and drones are being shot into Cities in Ukraine, for no reason whatsoever. I’ve always said that he wants ALL of Ukraine, not just a piece of it, and maybe that’s proving to be right, but if he does, it will lead to the downfall of Russia!&#8221; Trump said in a <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/114571369956761390" target="_blank" rel="noopener">recent</a> post on Truth Social.
&#8220;Likewise, President Zelenskyy is doing his Country no favors by talking the way he does,&#8221; Trump added. &#8220;Everything out of his mouth causes problems, I don’t like it, and it better stop. This is a War that would never have started if I were President. This is Zelenskyy’s, Putin’s, and [former President Joe] Biden’s War, not &#8216;Trump’s,&#8217; I am only helping to put out the big and ugly fires, that have been started through Gross Incompetence and Hatred.&#8221;

Drone operators perform combat tasks in Zaporizhzhia direction

Ukraine Says It Obliterated 40 Russian Military Planes In Drone Attack

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