'The weight of mischaracterization'

'That just doesn’t track'

President Donald Trump spoke with Russian leader Vladimir Putin on Monday and said he thinks the call “went very well.”  Following the two-hour conversation, Trump said “Russia and Ukraine will immediately start negotiations toward a ceasefire and, more importantly, an end to the war.”   The conditions to end the war “will be negotiated between the two parties, as it can only be, because they know details of a negotiation that nobody else would be aware of,” Trump wrote in a lengthy post on Truth Social.   The president called the “tone and spirit” of the long conversation “excellent,” adding, “If it wasn’t, I would say so now, rather than later.” Russia would like to “do large-scale trade with the United States” when the war is over, Trump said, noting that he agrees with such a plan.   “There is a tremendous opportunity for Russia to create massive amounts of jobs and wealth. Its potential is unlimited,” Trump said. “Likewise, Ukraine can be a great beneficiary on trade, in the process of rebuilding its country.”   Putin told reporters his call with Trump was “frank and substantive.” After his call with Putin, Trump spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy but did not comment on the tone or details of the second call. Multiple other leaders were on the call with Zelenskyy and Trump, including European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, French President Emmanuel Macron, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and Finnish President Alexander Stubb.   “The Vatican, as represented by the Pope, has stated that it would be very interested in hosting the negotiations,” Trump said. “Let the process begin!”  Ahead of the phone calls, Vice President JD Vance acknowledged “there is a bit of an impasse” in negotiations to end the war between Russia and Ukraine.   “I think the president’s going to say to President Putin, look, are you serious? Are you real about this?” Vance said. “Because the proposal from the United States has always been, look, there are a lot of economic benefits to thawing relations between Russia and the rest of the world, but you’re not going to get those benefits if you keep on killing a lot of innocent people.”  ? Trump Wants to Offer Putin Restoration of Economic Relations Between Russia and the World in Exchange for Ending the War ?? ?? ?? The VP JD Vance said: “We need results.”Putin “won’t get those benefits” if he keeps going, he said.The phone call between Trump-Putin is… pic.twitter.com/fTUgnKZ8iD— Lenka White (@white_lenka) May 19, 2025 Trump’s call with Putin comes one day after Russia launched its largest drone attack on Ukraine since the war began in February 2022.   The Monday calls follow a meeting Friday between delegations from Russia and Ukraine in Istanbul, Turkey—the first direct talks between the two countries in more than three years.   Putin proposed the direct peace talks, but chose not to attend the meeting in Istanbul. Trump encouraged Zelenskyy to meet with Putin after the Russian leader suggested the talks, and Zelenskyy flew to Turkey, but ultimately did not attend the meeting.     Secretary of State Marco Rubio was present for the talks on Friday, but acknowledged beforehand that he did not expect a breakthrough without key leaders in the room.     While no clear results toward peace were reached during Friday’s meeting, the two nations did agree to a large prisoner swap of 1,000 prisoners of war on each side.    Vladimir Medinsky, a top Kremlin aide who led the Russian delegation, said each delegation did agree for both sides to present a ceasefire plan in detail and that talks would continue.  The post Russia, Ukraine to ‘Immediately Start Negotiations Toward a Ceasefire,’ Trump Says After Call With Putin appeared first on The Daily Signal.

Price Tag for California's High Speed Rail Project Goes Up Again

The top leaders of the Federal Bureau of Investigation revealed in a recent interview that the evidence in the suspicious death of sex offender billionaire Jeffrey Epstein pointed to a definitive conclusion. While the circumstances of Epstein's death have led many to suspect that he was killed in order to protect those who were complicit in his alleged underage trafficking ring, FBI Director Kash Patel said the evidence supported the official explanation of suicide. 'You know a suicide when you see one, and that's what that was.' Patel made the admission while he and FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino were being interviewed by Maria Bartiromo on Fox Business. Video of the interview aired on Sunday. "You said Jeffrey Epstein committed suicide," said Bartiromo. "People don't believe it." "They have a right to their opinion," Patel replied, "but as someone who has worked as a public defender, as a prosecutor who's been in that prison system, who's been in the metropolitan detention center, who's been in segregated housing, you know a suicide when you see one, and that's what that was." "He killed himself," Bongino agreed. "Again, I've seen the whole file. He killed himself."Video of the interaction between Bartiromo, Patel, and Bongino was widely circulated on the internet, where it garnered millions of views. Some members of the Trump administration had been criticized for promising to release Epstein files and apparently stalling on the issue. RELATED: Federal judge orders dozens of names of Jeffrey Epstein associates be unsealed Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images Blaze Media co-founder Glenn Beck responded to the admission from the FBI on social media. "FBI Director @Kash_Patel and @dbongino now claim they believe Epstein's death WAS a suicide," wrote Beck. "They didn't used to believe that. I STILL don't believe that. However, I know Dan Bongino. I think he's a credible guy. He loves his country. I know Kash Patel. I think he's an honorable guy. He loves his country." Beck listed the evidence that the FBI must release in order to alleviate the suspicions of many who doubt the official story of Epstein's death. "I tend to believe Patel and Bongino. I don't believe there's some sort of conspiracy inside MAGA," Beck added. "But I also believe that Epstein didn't kill himself with a PAPER SHEET. So, show us the facts. We must restore trust."One of the Epstein accusers, Virginia Giuffre, died in April from suicide, according to a statement from her family, which sparked even more speculation. The 41-year-old had been in a bus accident and accused her husband of abuse prior to her death. Authorities have initially said the suicide was not suspicious. RELATED: Pam Bondi says Epstein client list is sitting on her desk 'right now' and being reviewed for release Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

We wish the former president well, but there is nothing untoward or scurrilous about the citizenry asking who knew what — and when.

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Oh, HONEY ... NO! Lefty Journo Tries Fact-Checking Trump Jr. on OBVIOUS Biden Joke and Becomes PUNCHLINE