Israel Ambassador Mike Huckabee's meeting with an American convicted of spying for Israel is adding to MAGA's festering divide over the United States' ties to Jerusalem.
Why it matters: The right's outrage over Huckabee's visit with Jonathan Pollard — and the White House's defense of it – showed that the movement's fissure over how closely to align with Israel isn't closing anytime soon.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Friday that he believes President Trump's 28-point peace plan could serve as the basis for a peace deal, while stressing that in-depth negotiations are still needed.
Split screen: Shortly before Putin's remarks, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in an address to the Ukrainian people that he was under immense pressure to sign a deal within days that he fears would sacrifice Ukraine's "dignity." Putin doesn't appear to face a similar time crunch, or the same degree of pressure.
President Volodymyr Zelensky addressed the Ukrainian people on Friday and said President Trump's 28-point peace plan will force Ukraine to choose between "losing our dignity" or risking the loss of U.S. support.
Why it matters: The plan would force Ukraine to accept harsh concessions, including the loss of even more territory than Russia currently controls. Zelensky has told the Trump administration he's prepared to negotiate, but the White House is pushing him to sign within one week.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky spoke with Vice President Vance on Friday about the U.S. proposed peace plan for Ukraine, according to two sources with knowledge.
Why it matters: The call was the highest-level engagement between the U.S. and Ukraine about the new plan. Zelensky told the Trump administration he's ready to negotiate, but President Trump wants a signature by Thanksgiving.
The mayors of Phoenix and Melbourne, Australia, are leading a global commitment with eight other mayors to ensure that companies build AI systems more sustainably.
Why it matters: Mayors are on the front lines of the global data center boom. They respond to residents' concerns, rising energy prices, water management issues and other infrastructure demands.
President Trump's peace plan for Ukraine includes a security guarantee modeled on NATO's Article 5, which would commit the U.S. and European allies to treat an attack on Ukraine as an attack on the entire "transatlantic community," according to a draft obtained by Axios.
Why it matters: Trump's plan demands painful concessions from Ukraine, but it also includes an unprecedented promise. President Volodymyr Zelensky's top objective in peace talks is to obtain a robust U.S. and European security guarantee, and this is the first time Trump has been willing to put one on the table.
Editor's note: For the latest on the Trump peace plan for Ukraine, click here.
President Trump's 28-point plan for peace in Ukraine would force Kyiv to give up additional territory in the east, cap the size of its military, and agree it will never join NATO, according to a draft obtained by Axios and verified by a Ukrainian official, a U.S. official and a source familiar with the proposal.
Why it matters: The U.S. side is pushing Ukraine to make a deal on an "aggressive timeline." And despite the plan including proposals Ukraine has repeatedly rejected up to now, President Volodymyr Zelensky is not ruling it out.
A bipartisan group of lawmakers is demanding answers from fast-fashion giant Shein over the possible sale o U.S. consumers of dolls "with a childlike appearance."
The big picture: The rare cross-party scrutiny piles onto years of criticism the Chinese-founded online retailer has faced over its environmental and labor practices and comes as it contends with new trade barriers to its sale of ultra-cheap goods.
Ukrainian President VolodymyrZelensky told U.S. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll on Thursday that he's willing to work with the Trump administration on its new plan for peace in Ukraine, U.S. and Ukrainian officials tell Axios.
Why it matters: The plan calls on Ukraine to make enormous concessions, including handing over territory to Russia that Ukraine currently controls. But rather than reject it outright, Zelensky agreed to negotiate — and his office said he expects to discuss it with President Trump in the coming days.
