Trump, European Leaders Express Optimism for End to Russia-Ukraine War After White House Meeting

With the likelihood of in-person talks with Trump, Zelensky and Putin soon. Trump: Everyone is very happy about the possibility of PEACE for Russia/Ukraine. At the conclusion of the meetings, I called President Putin, and began the arrangements for a meeting, at a location to be determined, between President Putin and President Zelenskyy. After that meeting takes place, we will have a Trilat, which would be the two Presidents, plus myself. Again, this was a very good, early step for a War that has been going on for almost four years. Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, are coordinating with Russia and Ukraine. Thank you for your attention to this matter! (Truth). Wall Street Journal: NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said Russian President Vladimir Putin has agreed to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Rutte shared details of a phone call between Putin and President Trump on Monday, held in the middle of a meeting between the American president and top European officials. Zelensky says “We don’t have any date” for a potential meeting. Russia’s official comments so far have been non-committal. The talk of possible in-person talks between the warring leaders and Trump came after Trump, Zelensky and a group of European leaders sounded upbeat during a White House meeting Monday about the prospects of finding a way to end the war in Ukraine…. What’s changed: The Trump administration has recently expressed support for security guarantees to prevent Russia from attacking again. Asked what guarantees he needs, Zelensky replied, “Everything.” Trump said the U.S. would be involved in some capacity, alluding to a NATO-like arrangement led by Europe (Wall Street Journal).

Zelensky Meeting at White House a Marked Contrast to Previous Encounter

Zelensky came with a new attire and a new demeanor—relative to the acrimonious encounter on February 25 this year (Wall Street Journal). Financial Times: From the moment Donald Trump greeted Volodymyr Zelenskyy outside the West Wing on Monday afternoon, there seemed to be less personal tension between the men compared with their public spat in late February. Zelenskyy’s allies had feared another public showdown in the Oval Office — with consequences for Trump’s attitude to Ukraine in its war against Russia. Their fears were unfounded. The Ukrainian president had accepted Trump’s plea to wear a suit for the occasion instead of his usual military garb. The US president smiled and when a reporter asked what his message was to the people of Ukraine, he responded: “We love them.” Inside the Oval Office — scene of the bust-up almost six months ago — vice-president JD Vance and secretary of state Marco Rubio were sitting in the same positions on the sofa next to the two leaders…. As well as changing attire, Zelenskyy also praised a letter that US first lady Melania Trump had sent to Putin about the fate of Ukrainian children, including those abducted by Russia. Zelenskyy handed a letter from his own wife to the first lady. “It’s not to you, [it’s] to your wife,” Zelenskyy told Trump, in a moment of levity. “I want it,” the US president said, with a grin (Financial Times).

Texas Democrats Return to Austin, Marking End of Two-Week Chicago Escapade

Their return allows for Governor Abbot’s redistricting effort to move ahead. KUT Austion: A charter bus full of the Texas House’s quorum-breaking Democrats arrived at the Texas Capitol on Monday, just 30 minutes before the chamber reconvened amid the state’s second special session. “I feel victorious,” state Rep. Mihaela Plesa of Dallas said as she exited the bus. “We killed the first sham special session.” Their return marks the end of a two-week quorum break over Texas Republicans’ plans to redraw the state’s congressional maps in the GOP’s favor before the 2026 midterm elections (KUT). Axios: Texas Republicans are expected to move quickly to pass the map, which could create as many as five additional U.S. House districts favorable to their party before the 2026 midterms. Democrats who left the state will be under watch by the Texas Department of Public Safety. A committee on Monday evening approved the new map and it will go to the full House soon. House Speaker Rep. Dustin Burrows (R-Lubbock) said that members not present until Monday, who had arrest warrants issued for them, “will be granted written permission to leave only after agreeing to be released into the custody of a designated DPS officer.” The officers will ensure the Democrats return, Burrows added. Gov. Greg Abbott convened a second special session at noon Friday — immediately after the first adjourned — with the same agenda, including redistricting, plus one new item: legislation to “ensure and enhance” youth camp safety. Democrats announced they would be showing up to the second special session, following legal advice “to build a public legislative record” for an expected court battle over the maps — and tying their return to California’s counter-redistricting plan to offset GOP gains (Axios).

Trump Sends Clear Message on Hamas: “We will only see the return of the remaining hostages when Hamas is confronted and destroyed!!!”

Trump’s clear message on Truth Social comes amidst word of another potential ceasefire, a ceasefire—no doubt—that Hamas hopes help them salvage a bit of their terror enterprise. More from Trump: The sooner this takes place, the better the chances of success will be. Remember, I was the one who negotiated and got hundreds of hostages freed and released into Israel (and America!). I was the one who ended 6 wars, in just 6 months. I was the one who OBLITERATED Iran’s Nuclear facilities. Play to WIN, or don’t play at all! Thank you for your attention to this matter!     President DJT (Truth). On the latest ceasefire potential: The latest hostage mediators meeting was positive, according to Qatari Al-Araby TV, which reported on the meeting between Qatar’s Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim bin Jaber al Thani, Palestinian factions, and Egyptian Intelligence Minister Abbas Kamel. The meeting “demonstrated a heightened sense of responsibility and determination to end the war,” Al-Araby TV continued. Qatar’s prime minister arrived in Egypt on Monday to meet with mediators regarding a potential hostage deal, sources familiar with the details told The Jerusalem Post (Jerusalem Post).

Images of Gazan Children Have Fueled Claims of Genocide; Nearly All of Them Faced Other Health Problems

The New York Times ignited the propaganda effort anew in July with the prominent image of an emaciated child. They had to issue and apology, but the damage was done (New York Post). Turns out, a full dozen of children were subjects of similar acts of deception: An investigation by The Free Press reveals that at least a dozen other viral images of starvation in Gaza also lacked important context: The subjects of those photos have significant health problems. Those appeared all over social media, in the reports of leading international aid organizations, and on some of the most prestigious news outlets in the United States, including CNN, NPR, and the Times—without disclosing the complicated medical histories that help explain their stark appearances…. The children in all of the images reviewed by The Free Press were either sick or facing death at the time their images circulated online, according to local reports in Arabic. Their situations were dire. But in every instance, they were already facing grave situations because of their health, irrespective of any third-party action (Free Press).

Protestors Gather Today in Sacramento to Protest Family-Threatening Legislation

The legislation—AB 495—would significantly expand the range of adults who can fill out a child’s Caregiver’s Authorization Affidavit. Southern California Pastor Jack Hibbs has called it “the most dangerous bill we’ve ever seen.” He is leading a rally at the state capital today: AB 495 is a dangerous bill that puts every child at risk. This legislation would allow any adult to claim they are a child’s “caregiver” simply by filling out and signing a Caregiver’s Authorization Affidavit — with no parent consent, no parent notification, no photo I.D., no court review, and no background check. Zero safeguards (details here: Intercom). Alliance Defending Freedom argues: AB 495 is likely unconstitutional. ADF attorney Jordan K. Carpenter argues that the bill: • Undermines the fundamental rights of parents to make medical and educational decisions for their children. • Allows adults with little or no legal accountability to override a parent’s decisions. •Fails to provide due process to parents before their rights are sidelined. Quoting U.S. Supreme Court precedent, ADF notes that parents have a “fundamental right to make decisions concerning the care, custody, and control” of their children.” AB 495, however, hands this authority to potentially unqualified or untrustworthy adults simply because they filled out a form. The bill even tells school officials and healthcare providers that they have no obligation to verify the legitimacy of the caregiver (CFC).

Illegal Immigrant With California Commercial Driver’s License Kills Three in Florida Accident

… An accident that should never have happened, a driver that should never have been behind the wheel of a big rig. Homeland Security: The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) lodged an arrest detainer for criminal illegal alien Harjinder Singh following his arrest for three counts of vehicular homicide. According to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, on August 12, 2025, Harjinder Singh attempted to make an illegal U-turn through an “Official Use Only” access point in St. Lucie County. By blocking all lanes of the highway with his truck, Singh caused a brutal wreck, instantly killing three innocent people and leaving Florida families shattered (DHS). Duane Patterson for Hot Air: It’s a gut-wrenching story. Last Tuesday afternoon, on the routinely busy Florida Turnpike, Harjinder Singh, an illegal alien who entered the country in 2018, was behind the wheel of an 18-wheel tractor trailer, and suddenly attempted to make an illegal U-turn by using an “official use only” turnout reserved for Florida Highway Patrol and other emergency vehicles. In so doing, by the time the cab made it to the median, the rest of the trailer blocking all lanes of traffic, a minivan driven by a 30-year old man with two passengers, a 37-year-old female and a 54-year-old male, never had a chance to react. They plowed into the trailer and all died on the scene. The tragedy turned to outrage as details over the weekend continued to emerge. Singh, the driver, is now being held by Florida authorities as the investigation has turned into a homicide case, and ICE has put a detainer on him to deport him once Florida has had their way with him. By Saturday afternoon, a press release by the Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles Department dropped the other shoe – Not only was he in the country illegally, he was granted a commercial driver’s license in my sanctuary home state of California. Within minutes, the social media long knives came out for Gavin Newsom and his sanctuary state policies. (Hot Air).

Drugs, Theft, Homelessness Kill San Francisco’s Largest Mall

The San Francisco Centre is 1.5 million square feet and it’s nearly empty. The San Francisco Chronicle would like to blame the pandemic. Anyone who has tracked with the filth of the city center in San Francisco knows otherwise. The owner of the Shoe Wiz repair shop can’t afford to relocate, but he knows the end is coming: “We’re waiting to see what’s going to happen with the mall — eventually, (it’s) going to close,” Argueta said. “I know the end is coming one of these months.” The mall’s deterioration is a potent symbol of the economic malaise that has plagued San Francisco’s once-vibrant shopping district since the pandemic began. But while nearby Union Square has seen some new businesses moving in, the San Francisco Centre is locked in a death spiral. An auction of the troubled mall, now controlled by lenders after prior owners Westfield and Brookfield Properties walked away in 2023, has been repeatedly postponed. It’s currently scheduled for Aug. 21. What has caught the attention of close observers is the speed with which San Francisco was able to destroy the retail hub: Mark Steiner, founding moderator of a Reddit forum that follows dead malls, said he couldn’t think of any other shopping center that died quite as fast as San Francisco Centre. “Even in cities that have been hit hard economically, the retail usually hangs on longer than this,” Steiner wrote to the Chronicle in a message. “For a property this size in a major market? This is pretty unprecedented in my experience.” San Francisco Centre took a direct hit from “a perfect storm” driven by San Francisco’s population decline and the implosion of its tourism industry during the pandemic, said Michael Berne, a consultant with expertise in the retail industry (San Franciso Chronicle). Richie Greenberg of the recall effort of former District Attorney Chesa Boudin provides a look at Gavin Newsom’s prized town now: Drug use, addicts slumped at dawn. Mere blocks from San Francisco’s 2 failed shopping malls, mostly-empty skyscraper offices, the famous cable car line, hotels for tourists and business visitors. City Hall and Mayor ignore reality. (Greenberg)

Trump to Launch Movement Against Mail-In Ballots, Voting Machines

Starting with a forthcoming Executive Order. Trump on Truth Social: I am going to lead a movement to get rid of MAIL-IN BALLOTS, and also, while we’re at it, Highly “Inaccurate,” Very Expensive, and Seriously Controversial VOTING MACHINES, which cost Ten Times more than accurate and sophisticated Watermark Paper, which is faster, and leaves NO DOUBT, at the end of the evening, as to who WON, and who LOST, the Election. We are now the only Country in the World that uses Mail-In Voting. All others gave it up because of the MASSIVE VOTER FRAUD ENCOUNTERED. WE WILL BEGIN THIS EFFORT, WHICH WILL BE STRONGLY OPPOSED BY THE DEMOCRATS BECAUSE THEY CHEAT AT LEVELS NEVER SEEN BEFORE, by signing an EXECUTIVE ORDER to help bring HONESTY to the 2026 Midterm Elections. Remember, the States are merely an “agent” for the Federal Government in counting and tabulating the votes (Truth). CBS News: In the U.S., mail voting is widespread: 28 states allow any voter to request a mail-in ballot, while the rest require a a documented reason such as illness or military service. The pandemic gave mail voting a huge boost in the 2020 elections. About 43% of voters cast their ballot by mail that year, according to a report by the Election Assistance Commission. In 2024, mail voting dropped off, representing just over 30% of the total votes cast — about 46.8 million votes. The commission said that last year’s numbers still exceeded pre-pandemic levels (CBS).

MSNBC Has Become “MS Now”

For: “My Source, News, World, Opinion” The association with NBC is gone, as is the peacock logo. The mockery started quickly: “Most Surely No One Watching.” New York Post: Left-leaning cable channel MSNBC – home to Rachel Maddow and other Trump-bashing anchors – was derided on Monday for the worst rebrand since New Coke after announcing a name change to MS NOW. The head-scratching acronym for My Source News Opinion World was mercilessly mocked. Social media users quipped the ratings-challenged network’s new name stands for “Majorly Skewed News Overly Woke” or “Most Surely No One Watching.” Others simply started calling it “BS NOW” (New York Post). Wall Street Journal: The shift is part of an effort to distance the network from its NBC heritage and establish its own identity ahead of the planned spinoff of the bulk of NBCUniversal’s cable networks later this year, including CNBC, USA, Oxygen and E!. MS NOW’s new logo features a blue, white and red color scheme. MSNBC and some other channels that use the iconic peacock logo associated with NBCUniversal brands will also stop doing so. CNBC will keep its name, which originally stood for Consumer News and Business Channel, and is working on a new logo. The new names and brands will be rolled out later this year, ahead of the completion of the spinoff (Wall Street Journal). On the average day Fox News has about 4.9 million viewers while MSNBC/MS Now has about 1.2 million (Forbes).