A short update this week while I’m on the road. Trump will join European leaders, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, for an emergency virtual summit Wednesday ahead of his Friday meeting with Vladimir Putin in Alaska. The talks, organized by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, will focus on pressuring Russia, addressing seized Ukrainian territory, securing guarantees for Kyiv, and sequencing peace talks. Merz insists on a ceasefire before any negotiations or land swaps, and Europe is pushing for stronger sanctions on Russia’s banking sector. Three sessions will bring together EU leaders, NATO chief Mark Rutte, Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and Ukraine’s military backers. I’ve been struck by how closely Europe and NATO are aligned with Trump here — but we’ve been down this road with Putin before. He’s not a trustworthy guy. My bet is Zelensky ends up in the summit, and Trump pushes for a wrap-up.

Meanwhile, the Teamsters Union, long a Democratic stronghold, is broadening its political giving under President Sean O’Brien, donating to Republicans as well. It’s a big story — a sign that Democrats’ hold on organized labor’s money and loyalty is eroding, and it’s going to be something we need to watch as we move forward.

Finally, a judge denied the DOJ’s request to unseal grand jury material in the Ghislaine Maxwell case, saying the public would learn little new. The DOJ’s handling — including interviewing Maxwell, transferring her to a less restrictive prison, and not notifying victims — has sparked outrage. The public want more answers, but it’s unclear what new revelations could satisfy that demand. Would naming names in exchange for a pardon be worth it? That’s the moral trade-off now on the table.

Chapters

00:00:00 - Intro

00:02:00 - Interview with Kevin Ryan, pt. 1

00:30:00 - Update

00:34:24 - Interview with Kevin Ryan, pt. 2

00:57:46 - Wrap-up

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