President Donald Trump met Sunday with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for nearly three hours at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club in Florida, as US-led efforts to end the war in Ukraine continued.

Trump said he believes negotiations are moving closer to a peace deal but stressed the talks remain complex and could still fall apart.

He declined to give a firm timeline, saying it would take weeks to know whether an agreement is possible and warning that unexpected issues could derail the process.

He said “one or two very thorny issues” remain, including the future of the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine, which Russia has demanded Ukraine surrender. Trump said progress is being made but acknowledged the issue remains a major hurdle.

Any give up’s of territory would face legal limits in Ukraine, where the constitution requires a national referendum to approve ceding land.

Trump described the meeting as “excellent” and said progress had been made toward ending the war. During their talks, Trump and Zelensky also spoke by phone with European leaders, including officials from several NATO countries and the European Union, to discuss next steps.

Trump said he would be open to traveling to Ukraine or speaking before its parliament if it would help secure a deal, though he suggested such a trip was unlikely. Zelensky welcomed the idea.

Despite the diplomatic push, fighting continued in Ukraine on Sunday, with Russian attacks killing and wounding civilians and following Kyiv’s longest drone and missile assault of the year.

Any agreement would still require approval from Russian President Vladimir Putin, as the war continues on the ground.

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“2026 is going to be a great year,” Leavitt said in her Instagram announcment. “I am so excited to be a girl mom!”

Leavitt’s announcement marks a first in U.S. history, making her the first sitting White House press secretary to be pregnant while holding the role.

The position has historically been held by men or women without young children, placing Leavitt’s announcement in a unique context inside the West Wing.

The White House has not indicated that Leavitt’s pregnancy will affect her duties or briefing schedule. She did not provide a due date in her post.

Trump described the vessel as “the largest one ever seized” and said the United States would keep the oil, though he offered few details about the operation or the ship’s ownership. T

he seizure was carried out by the U.S. Coast Guard with support from other federal agencies.

The tanker, identified by U.S. officials as the Skipper, had been under U.S. sanctions for years for allegedly moving oil tied to Venezuela and Iran.

A video released by U.S. authorities showed Coast Guard and military personnel boarding the vessel by helicopter.

The move took place as part of a broader U.S. effort in the region that has included military deployments and strikes against suspected drug-smuggling boats.

Venezuela’s government strongly condemned the action, calling it a “blatant theft” and an “act of international piracy.”

Caracas said it would defend its sovereignty and bring complaints before international bodies.

The seizure adds to growing tensions between Washington and Caracas and could have implications for global oil markets, where prices rose slightly after news of the operation.

Crockett’s filing appeared on a list posted by the Texas Democratic Party. Hours earlier, Allred said he would instead run for his redrawn House seat, calling his conversation with Crockett about the race “professional” and “friendly.”

He said he stepped aside after weighing what was “best for the state and the party.”

Allred launched his Senate run in July after losing to Sen. Ted Cruz in 2024. He will now seek the 33rd Congressional District.

Crockett has been signaling interest in a Senate run for weeks. Her entry is expected to reshape the Democratic primary, where state Sen. James Talarico has been gaining attention, and raising more money, since entering the race in September.

Talarico said he welcomes Crockett’s candidacy and framed his campaign as a grassroots effort against “billionaire mega-donors.”

The race is still taking shape, but Monday’s developments mark a major turning point in Texas’ 2026 Senate landscape.

The move comes just days after Warner struck a deal with Netflix, setting up a public showdown between two of Hollywood’s biggest players over the future of HBO, DC, and other assets.

David Ellison is presenting Paramount’s proposal as the stronger option, emphasizing that it is an all-cash offer and delivers far more money to Warner’s investors than Netflix’s agreement.

Paramount is also arguing that its bid has a clearer path through regulators, while warning that Netflix’s deal faces significant roadblocks in the U.S. and abroad.

The pressure intensified over the weekend when President Trump signaled concerns about the Netflix deal, saying it “could be a problem” because of the level of industry power it would give the streaming giant.

He added that he “will be involved” in the decision, a notable comment given Netflix’s dominance and the political sensitivity around media consolidation.

Paramount’s bid is backed by the Ellison family, RedBird Capital, and more than $50 billion in financing. The company has also accused Warner of failing to meaningfully engage during earlier talks, despite receiving multiple proposals over the past three months.

Netflix, meanwhile, included a multi-billion-dollar breakup fee in its agreement, signaling confidence it could ultimately win approval.

What happens next largely depends on how Warner’s major shareholders respond.

A takeover battle of this scale, especially after a company has already signed with another buyer, is almost unheard of.

But with Hollywood’s most valuable franchises on the table and the industry bracing for another wave of consolidation, neither Paramount nor Netflix appears ready to back down.

Speaking to reporters on the red carpet at the Kennedy Center Honors, Trump praised Netflix as a “great company” with a “phenomenal” track record, but made clear the merger is far from a done deal.

“That’s got to go through a process, and we’ll see what happens,” he said, adding that Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos “is a fantastic man” but that the combined company would hold “a lot of market share.”

Trump said he met with Sarandos in the Oval Office last week and praised his leadership in the entertainment industry. But his comments underscored a growing political dimension to the deal, which would merge the world’s largest streamer with Warner Bros., HBO, and a deep catalog of film and studio assets.

The Justice Department is already preparing to examine the transaction, which unites two of the three biggest streaming platforms and this year’s top-performing studio.

The review is expected to focus heavily on competition and consumer impact. Paramount CEO David Ellison previously ran his own bid for Warner Bros. Discovery and looked to Trump in an effort to clear potential regulatory hurdles.

Trump said Sunday that he expects to be involved in the scrutiny process, signaling that the White House could take an active role as the deal advances.

The merger’s announcement jolted Hollywood on Friday, sending shockwaves through the industry and raising urgent questions about the future of Warner Bros. Discovery and the broader streaming landscape as Netflix positions itself to become an even more dominant global platform.

An admiral overseeing the September 2 “double-tap” strike in the Caribbean told lawmakers this week that the suspected drug boat targeted by U.S. forces was on its way to meet a larger vessel bound for Suriname, not the United States, according to two sources briefed on the meeting.

Adm. Frank Bradley said intelligence indicated the smaller vessel planned to transfer narcotics mid-route, though the larger boat was never located. He argued that the shipment still could have eventually reached the U.S., a justification that has become central to the Trump administration’s defense of the operation.

The new detail deepens scrutiny around the decision to carry out multiple lethal strikes, even after the boat split in half and two survivors were left clinging to wreckage.

CNN previously confirmed the U.S. military struck the vessel four times, killing all 11 people onboard. Lawmakers were also told the boat had turned around shortly before the initial strike after apparently spotting U.S. aircraft, contradicting early public statements from senior officials who suggested it was directly heading toward American shores.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio had told reporters the suspects were “probably headed to Trinidad or some other country in the Caribbean,” while President Trump claimed in his September 2 announcement that the traffickers were “heading to the United States.”

U.S. drug enforcement officials say most trafficking routes through Suriname supply European markets, not the U.S., adding another complication to the administration’s narrative.

Bradley also acknowledged that survivors were visibly waving at the aircraft before they were killed, though it remains unclear whether they were surrendering or signaling distress.

The Pentagon’s own law-of-war manual classifies shipwrecked individuals as protected persons who cannot be targeted, a standard that has fueled bipartisan concern on Capitol Hill.

The Senate Armed Services Committee has already signaled it will launch oversight into the mission.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s role in the operation remains a focal point for investigators. According to one source, Hegseth made clear before the mission that the strikes should be lethal, but he was not informed survivors were still alive until after they had been killed.

A U.S. official said Bradley understood the objective to be to kill all 11 suspects and sink the boat, though no lawful order was given to deny quarter, an act that is explicitly illegal under international law.

The Pentagon has not commented on the new reporting.

A CDC advisory panel is weighing a major change to the long-standing recommendation that all newborns receive a hepatitis B vaccine within 24 hours of birth.

Under the proposal discussed Thursday, only infants born to mothers who test positive for the virus would still get the shot at birth, while other babies would wait until their two-month visit.

The debate grew tense after last-minute wording changes forced the committee to delay a vote, which is now expected Friday.

The birth-dose has been standard since the early 1990s and is credited with sharply reducing childhood hepatitis B infections.

Public-health experts warn that rolling it back could leave newborns vulnerable, especially when maternal screening is missed or incomplete.

Supporters of the change say universal birth-dosing is unnecessary and that most infants can safely begin the series later.

The final vote will determine whether the U.S. shifts away from one of its oldest routine vaccine recommendations.

Warner Bros. Discovery has entered exclusive negotiations to sell its studios and HBO Max business to Netflix after the streaming giant topped rival bids from Paramount and Comcast, according to people familiar with the matter.

Netflix offered roughly $30 a share and agreed to a $5 billion breakup fee, giving it an exclusive window to finalize the deal.

All three companies submitted sweetened bids this week, but Netflix’s mostly cash offer beat out competitors after a three-round bidding war.

A deal would hand Netflix control of Warner Bros. studios, HBO Max and major IP franchises including “Harry Potter” and DC, a shift that would dramatically reshape Hollywood’s power structure.

The deal faces significant regulatory hurdles. Federal and state officials have already signaled antitrust concerns, including potential harm to content production and competition.

Rep. Darrell Issa and California Attorney General Rob Bonta have warned that further consolidation would raise red flags. The Justice Department is expected to scrutinize the agreement heavily.

Paramount, which previously accused Warner Bros. Discovery of running a “tainted” bidding process that favored Netflix, could still appeal directly to shareholders or attempt a hostile strategy.

Executives argue Paramount could close a transaction faster than Netflix given its experience navigating antitrust reviews during the Skydance merger.

Netflix shares fell 5% Wednesday amid investor concerns about the cost, regulatory review and Netflix’s limited experience in the theatrical market.

More updates expected as negotiations continue.

Rep. Adam Smith, the top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, said Thursday that classified video of the controversial follow-up strike on a suspected drug boat in September is “very, very clear” and should be released to the public.

Smith said the footage shows two shipwrecked survivors clinging to what remained of a destroyed vessel, directly contradicting Republican claims that the men were attempting to rejoin the fight.

GOP Sen. Tom Cotton earlier called the strikes “entirely lawful,” saying he saw “two survivors trying to flip a boat… back over so they could stay in the fight.”

Smith dismissed that account as “patently ridiculous,” saying the vessel was “completely disabled” and that even the overseeing admiral did not suggest otherwise.

Top congressional leaders viewed the video Thursday during a classified briefing with Adm. Frank “Mitch” Bradley, who commanded the operation.

The Trump administration has not yet released the footage, despite mounting bipartisan pressure.

The FBI has arrested a Virginia man they believe planted the pipe bombs found near the Republican and Democratic National Committee headquarters in Washington, DC, on the eve of the January 6, 2021 Capitol attack.

Attorney General Pam Bondi identified the suspect as Brian Cole Jr. of Woodbridge, Virginia, and said he has been charged with transporting an explosive device in interstate commerce and malicious destruction by means of explosion.

Officials said the arrest follows an almost five-year investigation involving tens of thousands of video files, cell phone data, shoe-sale records and other forensic evidence.

FBI Director Kash Patel and Deputy Director Dan Bongino said a new investigative team and fresh forensic work produced the “aha moment” that led to Cole’s identification and arrest, while stressing that the investigation remains active and more charges are possible.

The bombs, which the FBI has said were viable, were planted outside the DNC and behind the RNC on January 5, 2021, and were discovered about 15 hours later.

Their discovery helped pull law enforcement away from the Capitol complex just as Trump supporters began breaching police lines.

A visiting Harvard Law School professor has agreed to leave the United States after Immigration and Customs Enforcement detained him over a BB gun shooting outside a Boston-area synagogue in October, according to the Department of Homeland Security.

Carlos Portugal Gouvêa, a Brazilian national, was arrested Oct. 2 after firing a BB gun outside a synagogue the day before Yom Kippur. He later pleaded guilty to illegal use of an air rifle. Other charges, including disturbing the peace and vandalizing property, were dismissed. Harvard suspended him pending an internal investigation.

DHS said Gouvêa’s J-1 visa was revoked two weeks after the incident and that ICE’s Boston office took him into custody on Wednesday. Rather than contest deportation, he agreed to voluntarily depart the U.S.

“There is no room in the United States for brazen, violent acts of antisemitism like this,” DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said, adding that foreign nationals who commit such acts are “not welcome here.”

A federal grand jury refused to re-indict New York Attorney General Letitia James on mortgage fraud charges Thursday, just 10 days after a judge threw out the original case because the Trump administration’s handpicked prosecutor was unlawfully appointed.

The Justice Department had quickly tried to revive the case by presenting it again, but the grand jury declined to move forward.

James called the charges “baseless” and said the effort to prosecute her amounted to weaponizing the justice system. Her legal team argues the case was driven by political pressure from former President Trump, who repeatedly demanded prosecutions of his critics.

The judge’s earlier ruling voided the initial indictments of both James and former FBI Director James Comey, finding that interim U.S. Attorney Lindsey Halligan had been illegally installed after the administration bypassed Senate confirmation requirements.

The dismissal was without prejudice, meaning the DOJ could still try again, though prosecutors now face additional legal hurdles and a grand jury that has already rejected the charges twice.

James’ attorney said the new refusal “should be the end of this case,” calling further attempts to prosecute her a “shocking assault on the rule of law.”

The Supreme Court on Thursday allowed Texas to use a new congressional map that is expected to boost Republicans in next year’s midterms, blocking a lower court ruling that found the boundaries were likely drawn based on race. The unsigned order preserves President Donald Trump’s effort to solidify GOP control of the House.

The lower court had ruled the map unconstitutional, saying Texas lawmakers redrew districts primarily to change the racial makeup of several seats. The Supreme Court said the judges failed to give the legislature the “presumption of good faith” and wrongly intervened so close to the primary calendar.

Justice Elena Kagan wrote in dissent that the ruling “disserves millions of Texans,” arguing the evidence showed voters were reassigned because of their race. She was joined by Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Ketanji Brown Jackson.

Texas Republicans praised the ruling, saying it ensures the state can move forward with the “Big Beautiful Map” ahead of Monday’s filing deadline. Democrats and civil rights groups said the court effectively allowed a racially gerrymandered plan to stand.

The dispute is part of a broader nationwide fight over mid-decade redistricting, with similar cases pending in states like California and Louisiana as both parties race to secure House advantages before the 2026 election.

The U.S. military carried out another strike on a suspected drug-running vessel in the Eastern Pacific on Thursday, killing four men on board, according to U.S. Southern Command.

In a statement, SOUTHCOM said Operation Southern Spear conducted “a lethal kinetic strike” on a boat operated by a designated terrorist organization and carrying illicit narcotics along a known trafficking route. A 21-second video of the strike was released on social media.

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The attack comes as the Pentagon faces mounting bipartisan scrutiny over a separate incident in September, when the military fired a second strike on survivors of an already-disabled drug boat — an action some lawmakers say may constitute a war crime. At least 87 people have been killed across 23 strikes since the campaign began.

Earlier Thursday, Navy Adm. Frank “Mitch” Bradley briefed lawmakers on the September incident. Democrats described the video as troubling, while Republicans said the second strike was justified

President Trump has hinted at further escalation, saying the U.S. is preparing to conduct strikes not only at sea but “on land, too,” including inside Venezuela.

On Nov. 9, 2025, it became clear that Schumer had failed to contain his Democratic caucus when eight Democratic senators broke party lines to reopen the government, which at the time had been shut down for 40 days.

Several Democrats in the House called for Schumer to step down, such as Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., who said, “Schumer is no longer effective.”

I decided to conduct a poll on all of my platforms, which includes X (formerly Twitter), Instagram Stories, Threads and Truth Social. The results I found did not surprise me.

The most people voted on Threads, with 155 votes. Of those 154 voters, 82% said that they believe Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez will make a primary bid against Sen. Chuck Schumer. Only 18% said that they don’t believe a primary would happen.

On Instagram Stories, I had three people vote. 33% said that Ocasio-Cortez will challenge Schumer, and 67% of voters saying that she won’t.

When asked why he voted no, one viewer said, “Because I think she wants to run for president.”

An Axios report from September 2025 indicated that her team is positioning her for either a presidential or Senate run in 2028.

“Ocasio-Cortez hasn’t made any decision about her future,” the Axios report said. “But her team is working to give her choices.”

For full transparency, I received zero responses on my Truth Social poll.

Combining the data from all of my polls, I was able to find that of the 159 voters, 81.13% believe that Ocasio-Cortez will attempt to primary Schumer in 2028, whereas 18.87% of voters believe that she will not.

While these numbers don’t predict the future, they do reflect a growing desire among younger and more progressive voters for a generational shift in Democratic leadership.

Whether Ocasio-Cortez challenges Schumer or sets her sights higher, the energy behind her name shows that the Democratic base is eager for a new direction, and they are watching closely to see who delivers it.