Following the Soviet Union’s collapse, Russia’s unchecked power in the Black Sea grew significantly. Inheritance of the Black Sea fleet and the Sevastopol base, coupled with Crimea’s annexation, solidified Russia’s regional dominance. This control extends to Ukrainian shipping routes. Furthermore, modernization efforts have established substantial anti-access/area-denial (A2/AD) capabilities, challenging NATO’s influence in the region.
Following a federal court ruling partially invalidating President Trump’s tariffs, former Vice President Pence reiterated his stance that the president lacks the constitutional authority to unilaterally impose tariffs. Pence cited Article 1, Section 8 of the Constitution, which grants Congress the power to levy taxes and duties. A federal court agreed, stating that the president’s invocation of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to justify tariffs exceeded his authority. The administration has appealed the decision, keeping the tariffs temporarily in effect pending the appeal’s outcome.
Haribo is recalling all 1kg bags of Happy Cola F!ZZ sweets in the Netherlands with a best-before date of January 2026 after cannabis was detected in three packs. Several consumers, including a family, reported feeling unwell—specifically dizziness—after consuming the sweets. Dutch authorities are investigating the contamination source, which remains unclear, and are working with Haribo to determine if the affected bags are genuine. The recall is a precautionary measure, and Haribo assures consumers that products outside the Netherlands are unaffected.
Ongoing discussions between Ukraine and Germany regarding the delivery of Taurus missiles are currently underway, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Zelenskyy confirmed work is progressing on this front, although specifics remain confidential per an agreement with Chancellor Merz. Merz has previously expressed openness to supplying the missiles, while the German government maintains a policy of limited public disclosure on weapons deliveries. Pressure for the missile transfer continues to mount within Germany’s ruling coalition.
Michael Wolff suggests President Trump’s feud with Harvard stems from Trump’s own unsuccessful application to the university, contradicting claims that it’s due to Barron Trump’s rejection. The White House vehemently denies this, calling Wolff’s assertion “fake news.” While the president attended the University of Pennsylvania after Fordham, allegations persist that others assisted him with college entrance exams. This conflict escalated with the White House’s removal of federal funding from Harvard following disputes over diversity programs.
Donald Trump’s $20 billion defamation lawsuit against CBS News, stemming from a 60 Minutes interview with Kamala Harris, continues to unfold. Trump’s legal team claims the interview caused him “mental anguish” and accuses CBS of using the First Amendment as a shield for “news distortion.” Paramount, CBS’s parent company, initially sought to dismiss the suit but has since offered a $15 million settlement, a figure Trump reportedly rejected. However, the settlement discussions have been complicated by internal tensions at CBS and concerns about potential legal repercussions, including investigations into possible bribery.
Bernie Sanders attributes Kamala Harris’s 2020 election loss to her campaign’s focus on wealthy donors and insufficient attention to working-class concerns. He argues that Harris prioritized relationships with billionaires like Mark Cuban over addressing issues such as healthcare, wages, and housing affordability, ultimately alienating potential voters. Sanders contends that this strategic miscalculation, coupled with a reliance on consultants, resulted in a missed opportunity to win the election. He concludes that the Democratic Party needs to clearly articulate its commitment to working-class Americans to avoid repeating this failure.
A joint forecast from the World Meteorological Organization and the U.K. Meteorological Office predicts a high likelihood (80%) of another record-breaking global temperature within the next five years, exceeding the 1.5°C threshold set by the Paris Agreement. There’s even a chance, albeit small, of exceeding the 2°C warming limit before the end of the decade. This increased warming translates to more frequent and intense extreme weather events, including heatwaves, droughts, floods, wildfires, and stronger hurricanes, resulting in significant risks to human health and life. The forecasts are based on multiple climate models and indicate a continuing trend of escalating global temperatures.
Senator Sheldon Whitehouse argued on MSNBC that Donald Trump’s corruption escalated during his second term. A key example cited was the U.S. Court of International Trade’s intervention, which prevented Trump from implementing damaging tariffs. This judicial action, according to Whitehouse, effectively saved Trump from his own self-destructive actions. The discussion highlighted the increasingly concerning levels of alleged corruption during Trump’s presidency.
Attorney General Pam Bondi ended the American Bar Association’s (ABA) access to nonpublic information on President Trump’s judicial nominees, citing the ABA’s perceived bias toward Democratic administrations and its function as an “activist group.” This decision prevents nominees from providing waivers for the ABA’s access to information, responding to questionnaires, or participating in interviews. The move follows past conservative criticisms of the ABA’s ratings, with previous presidents altering the organization’s role in the nomination process. This action comes despite the ABA’s long history as a nonpartisan organization that evaluates nominees’ qualifications.
John Q. Hosedrinker