Axios

White House envoy Steve Witkoff met for three hours on Friday with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin.

Why it matters: The fourth meeting between Witkoff and Putin comes a day after President Trump made a public demand that Russia stop its missile and drone attacks on Ukraine and focus on negotiating a peace deal.

The Trump administration announced an investigation into the University of California, Berkeley, on Friday over allegations it failed to disclose millions in funding from a foreign government.

The big picture: The move comes after President Trump signed an executive order this week requiring higher education institutions to report significant sources of foreign funding.

A defiant President Trump insisted in a new interview that the U.S. is less than a month away from potentially hundreds of trade deals, and that even Chinese President Xi Jinping has called him to talk business.

Why it matters: China denies it, other countries aren't saying it either, Trump won't say who the deals are with or share details, and the global economy is cracking as the saga plays out.

President Trump denied there's any risk Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will "drag" him into war with Iran in an interview with Time magazine, because he will be "leading the pack" for war if he can't get a deal.

Why it matters: Netanyahu is much more skeptical than Trump of diplomacy with Iran, and much more inclined to opt for a military strike on Iran's nuclear facilities. Trump has repeatedly said his priority is to negotiate a deal, but that Iran doesn't have much time before he will consider plan b to ensure Tehran never gets a bomb.

The Trump administration wants to empower local schools by dismantling the U.S. Department of Education. The catch: Local school districts nationwide already are struggling with teacher shortages, falling test scores and rising turnover in leadership.

Why it matters: Those measures of instability — along with ongoing debates over what should be taught, and how — are just a few of the problems local systems are facing as the White House signals that less help could be coming.

President Trump issued rare criticism of Russian President Vladimir Putin after Russia unleashed a massive missile and drone attack on Kyiv overnight just hours after Trump had claimed Putin was ready to make peace.

Why it matters: Trump had been focusing his criticism exclusively on the Ukrainians in recent days as he pushed a "final offer" for peace. Trump insists a deal is close, but neither party to the conflict seems to agree.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Thursday concurred with President Trump's assertion that talks to end the war with Ukraine were "moving in the right direction," according to an excerpt from an interview with CBS News.

Why it matters: Lavrov's comments come hours after Trump issued rare criticism of Russian President Vladimir Putin after Russian forces launched a deadly missile and drone attack on Kyiv overnight.

Immigration authorities did not have an arrest warrant when agents detained Mahmoud Khalil, lawyers for the Department of Homeland Security said in a court filing this week.

The big picture: Khalil, a leader of Columbia's pro-Palestinian protests, is a legal U.S. resident who has been in the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) since last month. His arrest sparked outcry across the U.S.

The Chinese government asserted Thursday that no talks are happening with the U.S. about de-escalating the trade war, and called on the Trump administration to make the first move.

Why it matters: Someone has to blink.

The U.S. military has been bombing Yemen for weeks on end, executing hundreds of strikes this month alone.

Why it matters: The standoff between American forces and Houthi rebels backed by Iran risks something President Trump promised to stamp out: endless war. In this case, though, it's being waged almost entirely from the air and often with the help of drones.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told White House envoy Steve Witkoff during nuclear talks on Saturday that it might not be possible to reach a final nuclear accord on President Trump's proposed timetable and asked whether the sides should first negotiate an interim deal, two sources with knowledge of the issue tell Axios.

Why it matters: President Trump has set a two-month deadline for negotiations with Iran — and ordered a build-up of U.S. military forces in the Middle East in case diplomacy fails.