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Good morning everyone. Today I’m tracking several major developments, led by the Republican Party’s growing revolt against the President over his plan to import beef from Argentina. Some of Trump’s most loyal allies are breaking with him in ways we have not seen in his second term, while the President lashes out, calling critics of his Asia trip “almost treasonous.” I am reporting what the White House does not want you to see, the truth. Millions are already reading our work, Republicans, Democrats, and Independents, but I can only continue with your support. I do this because facts matter, accountability matters, and democracy depends on both. They will try to silence us, but I will not stop. Subscribe today and stand with independent journalism that never backs down.
With that, here’s the news: President Trump’s plan to import beef from Argentina has sparked a major backlash from farm-state Republicans, who say the move betrays “America First” principles and harms U.S. ranchers. Lawmakers including Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith and Rep. Jason Smith are demanding the administration reverse course, warning that the policy favors foreign competitors and deepens divisions over Trump’s sweeping tariff agenda. Donald Trump and Xi Jinping met in Busan, South Korea, reaching an agreement to end their rare earths dispute, reduce tariffs, and resume China’s purchases of U.S. soybeans. The talks, which Trump called “amazing,” signaled a significant easing of U.S.–China trade tensions and included pledges to cooperate on broader global issues like Ukraine. Donald Trump lashed out at Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer for calling his Asia trip a “total dud,” labeling the remarks “almost treasonous.” Schumer had criticized Trump for boasting about trade progress with China while failing to make meaningful gains with key Asian allies, prompting Trump to defend the trip as a “spectacular success.”
I have been doing deep research into the temperament of American presidents during and after crises, and truthfully, no one is as emotional and temper-driven as Trump. The new trade deal includes a 10% tariff reduction on Chinese goods in exchange for China’s pledge to curb fentanyl exports, a move analysts call risky despite potential consumer relief. While the deal could ease inflation and mend US-China ties, critics warn it weakens America’s leverage, strains relations with allies like Canada and Mexico, and may yield few lasting gains if Beijing fails to uphold its promises. Donald Trump ordered the Pentagon to begin nuclear weapons testing to “match” Russia and China, breaking with a three-decade U.S. moratorium on full tests. His announcement, made just before meeting Xi Jinping, drew international concern as China urged Washington to uphold non-proliferation commitments and critics warned it could escalate a new nuclear arms race.
An exclusive Atlantic report reveals that several senior Trump administration officials, including Marco Rubio, Kristi Noem, and Stephen Miller, have relocated to military bases for security reasons following escalating threats and protests. The unprecedented wave of political appointees moving into military housing—dubbed an unofficial “Trump Green Zone”—underscores rising political polarization and has strained housing availability for senior officers while deepening the administration’s isolation from the public. Senate Majority Leader John Thune says bipartisan talks to end the nearly month-long government shutdown are “picking up,” as mounting economic fallout—including a potential lapse in food aid—pressures both parties to act. Meanwhile, a new CBO report warns the shutdown could cost up to $14 billion in GDP, as Democrats decry ICE furloughs, GOP divisions deepen over tariffs and troop drawdowns, and frustration grows across Capitol Hill over stalled negotiations. A Guardian investigation found that ICE has been detaining migrants for days or even weeks in secretive holding rooms meant for short-term use, violating its own policies and oversight standards. The report details widespread abuses, unsafe conditions, and a dramatic rise in detention times under the Trump administration’s expanded immigration crackdown. Eleven Democratic senators demanded that ICE halt its use of the “Wrap” full-body restraint on deportees, citing secrecy, human rights concerns, and possible misuse amounting to torture. Their letter followed an AP investigation revealing that ICE has used the device for years without transparency or oversight, prompting calls for accountability and new legislation to restrict its use. An investigation by independent outlet Verstka found that Russian commanders have tortured, executed, and deliberately sent to their deaths soldiers who refused to fight in Ukraine, documenting over 100 officers implicated and at least 150 confirmed deaths. The report reveals systematic violence, including drone strikes on retreating troops and “gladiator” fights between detainees, all occurring under a culture of impunity protected by an unofficial ban on prosecuting commanders in combat zones. British journalist Sami Hamdi was detained by U.S. immigration authorities during a speaking tour over his pro-Palestinian advocacy, with officials revoking his visa and seeking deportation despite no criminal charges. His wife and rights groups condemned the detention as a violation of free speech, warning it reflects the Trump administration’s crackdown on dissenting foreign voices critical of U.S. and Israeli policies. The Senate postponed the confirmation hearing for Dr. Casey Means, President Trump’s nominee for surgeon general, after she went into labor with her first child just days before the scheduled date. Means, a Stanford-trained doctor and wellness advocate known for promoting holistic health and reduced reliance on pharmaceuticals, would have been the first nominee to testify virtually before the committee due to her pregnancy. Belgium’s defense minister Theo Francken traded barbs with former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev after vowing that NATO would “flatten Moscow” if Russia attacked Brussels. Medvedev called Francken an “imbecile” and threatened Belgium with nuclear annihilation, prompting Francken to respond on Instagram—set to Selena Gomez’s Calm Down—urging the Kremlin to stop its “bully” rhetoric while reaffirming NATO’s defense stance. French police have arrested five additional suspects linked to the $102 million Louvre jewel heist, including one identified through DNA evidence, but the stolen jewels remain missing. Prosecutors say the suspects are believed to be part of a four-person team that carried out the daylight robbery, exposing major security lapses at the world-famous museum.
Good news: A new international clinical trial has found that the experimental drug amivantamab can shrink head and neck tumors within six weeks and halt disease progression in most patients whose cancer returned after previous treatments. The triple-action therapy, unveiled at a Berlin oncology conference, blocks two key cancer pathways and boosts immune response—offering what researchers call an “incredibly encouraging” breakthrough for one of the hardest-to-treat cancers. A two-year-old girl who went missing in freezing New Hampshire woods was found safe after a volunteer and his German shepherd, Freyja, tracked her for hours in near darkness. The rescue team of 90 people had searched for hours before Freyja followed the child’s scent to her location, reuniting her with rescuers just as temperatures neared 20°F. Nine-year-old Stephen Mondek from California saved his father’s life by donating stem cells to treat his recurring leukemia after no other donor match could be found. Doctors at Cedars-Sinai say the transplant from the young half-match donor was remarkably successful, and Stephen’s father now calls his son both his hero and his lifesaver. A family in Hampshire, England, discovered 69 rare gold Tudor coins buried in their backyard—one of the most significant treasure finds in decades. The “New Forest Hoard,” featuring coins from the reigns of Henry VI through Henry VIII, is valued at over $300,000 and will be auctioned in November, with experts believing it was buried during the English Reformation to hide church wealth.
See you this evening. — Aaron
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