Here’s your morning news rundown—but first, a quick thank you. If you believe in this kind of journalism, please consider subscribing or becoming a supporter.

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Now, let’s get into the news.

  • Marco Rubio is now admitting that Trump might not actually be able to stop Russia’s war in Ukraine—despite Trump’s big promise to end it before even stepping into office. Rubio even mentioned that peace negotiations could be scrapped as early as this week.
  • The U.S. is offering to relax some sanctions on Russia as part of a proposed peace deal to end the war in Ukraine.
  • The National Intelligence Council has concluded in a classified assessment that Venezuela's government is not orchestrating an invasion of the U.S. through the Tren de Aragua gang. This finding represents the most thorough intelligence review so far and directly challenges Trump’s justification for bypassing due process in deporting individuals suspected of gang ties.
  • Juan Carlos Lopez-Gomez, a 20-year-old U.S. citizen born in Georgia, was mistakenly jailed in Florida after being charged as an “unauthorized alien” under a state law aimed at undocumented immigrants. Despite a judge finding no probable cause, he remained detained for several hours due to an ICE hold requested under the Trump administration’s deportation policies. Lopez-Gomez has since been released.
  • Senator Chris Van Hollen has met with Kilmar Abrego Garcia and is expected to share more updates later today. His legal team at Murray Osorio PLLC stated: “If the government truly believes there's a valid case, it should argue that case in court—where a judge can make a fair ruling—not through social media. But none of that can happen unless Mr. Abrego Garcia is brought back to the U.S. and granted full due process.”
  • A Texas school district has banned the Virginia state flag because it features an exposed breast, according to Axios.
  • ​Connecticut has officially declined to comply with the Trump administration's directive requiring K-12 schools to certify the elimination of certain diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, which the administration deems "illegal." This certification was presented as a condition for continued federal funding.​
  • ​The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is reportedly drafting plans to end most of its routine food safety inspections, shifting oversight responsibilities to state and local authorities. This move comes in the wake of significant staff reductions at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), which oversees the FDA. As many as 20,000 employees have been laid off or have resigned from HHS, disrupting various public health efforts, including food safety programs.

    • See you this evening.

    — Aaron