European Leaders to Join Zelensky for White House Meeting

• Following Thursday’s meeting between Putin and Trump in Alaska, Zelensky and the President will meet in Washington, Monday.
• Friday, the NYT amplified voices that characterized Thursday’s meeting as a win for Putin.
• The last time Zelensky visited the White House resulted in a media spectacle, and argument between Trump, Vance, and the Ukrainian president.
  • Zelensky was underdressed, in tactical blacks
  • Zelensky appeared myopic
• Europe will send Merz, Macron, Starmer, Stubb (Finland), and more.
  • This could dilute Zelensky’s unstable presence
  • In other words, the Europeans will stand beside Zelensky, not behind him.
  • Zelensky being the sub-par leader that he is, this is probably a benefit to the country of Ukraine
  • Reason will prevail

Three Republican-led States will Send National Guard Troops to Washington

• WV, SC, OH are sending hundreds of troops to the capital
• The NYT has amplified voices (I’m going to be using that one frequently), that claim Trump characterized the capital is gang-infested, and crime-ridden, implying violent crime.
• I’m under the assumption that DC is having the same issues and other major cities, where violent crime is not excessive, but the streets are full of homeless, drug-addicted bums.
  • Not all the streets, but too many of them.
• The takeover of DC’s police force by the Attorney General (…and Jean Pirro), and the deployment of national guard troops will serve as a test case
  • Given overwhelming force, can the Republicans achieve their desired outcome?
  • If they can, will other cities see a similar takeover? Will the Tenderloin ever be safe at night?
• What are the Republicans’ stated aims?
  • The President says, …
  • Bondi says, …
  • The phrase “law and order” is in the mix
  • The White House says troops are there to “protect federal assets and provide a visible presence”, like a deterrent.
• Finally, how does the deployment of National Guard to DC relate to that of summer in Los Angeles, to quell the anti-ICE protests?
  • No protest, crisis, or real emergency in the capital. Where’s the fire? Dems might ask.

Israelis Join Nationwide Rallies to Call for Release of Hostages

• Thousands of Israelis called for their government to “reach an immediate truce” with Hamas, so that the hostages held in Gaza may be freed.
• Military forces in Inrael are gearing up to push into Gaza.
• What is the prevailing sentiment among Israeli’s? Is this protest group a vocal minority?
  • My sense is the citizenry can’t control their government, and a few strongmen at the helm are bent on obliterating the Palestinian race.
  • If they treated the hostage crisis as more than a mere pretext for such action, the government would broker an exchange.
  • Surely, the 60K dead Palestinians could be leverage in such a deal; in other words, Hamas must be willing to turn over the hostages, if Israel will stop winning the battles.
    • Right?
• After ~2 years of war, 20 of the hostages from Oct. 7, 2023 remain alive in captivity.
  • 30 bodies remain, as well