Why we're still obsessed with the mushroom case
Elon Musk says he's starting a new political party in the US and we look at the Big Beautiful Bill that kicked off the latest Trump-Musk Feud.
Jeremy Fernandez and Beverley Wang chat about the stories you're obsessed with, the stuff you've missed and the things that matter. Jules is away for a few weeks and filling in for her on Not Stupid is the ABC's National Culture correspondent, co-host of Stop Everything and Life Matters on Radio National, Beverley Wang.
Episodes drop every Wednesday afternoon. We want to hear from you! Join the conversation and email the show at notstupid@abc.net.au
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ABC News
40 minutes ago
- ABC News
Stage set for Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin meeting in Alaska as Air Force One approaches Anchorage
Donald Trump is due to arrive in Anchorage, Alaska ahead of a summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss a possible path to peace in Ukraine. The two leaders are expected to sit down with their delegations and translators for their first face-to-face interaction since 2019. Mr Trump has said there will be severe consequences for Russia if Mr Putin does not agree to end his war in Ukraine, but in recent days the Kremlin has signalled a broader agenda, including one that covers Russia-US economic ties. Follow live.
ABC News
an hour ago
- ABC News
Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin head to Alaska for 'high stakes' meeting
Just in case anyone needed reminding, Donald Trump spelled it out in a social media post that simply read: "High stakes!!!" The US president is on Friday, local time, meeting his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in Alaska. His post, which appeared on his Truth social platform in the hours before he boarded Air Force One in Washington DC en route to the summit, summed up what everyone was thinking. Then, while on board, he spoke to reporters and said he wanted to see a ceasefire "today". The talks are the first in-person between the leaders of the respective countries since 2021, when former president Joe Biden met Mr Putin in Geneva. Eight months later, Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. It's not entirely clear what will come of the meeting, which was organised in less than two weeks. The White House has described them as "a listening exercise", while Mr Trump on Thursday said they had a "25 per cent" chance of failing. Multiple European leaders, after an all-in phone call during the week with the US president, claimed he would try and organise a ceasefire in Alaska. Mr Putin, for his part, earlier in the week praised Mr Trump's "energetic" efforts to stop the war in Ukraine. But there are signs it may be difficult. Russia's foreign minister Sergei Lavrov, who will also take part in the talks, turned up in Anchorage this week wearing a USSR sweatshirt. His clothing choice, when considered in the context of Russia's ongoing invasion of the former Soviet state Ukraine, has been interpreted by some as inflammatory. Mr Trump, who's been critical, and glowing of Mr Putin this year, described the Russian leader as "a smart guy" on Friday. "He's been doing it for a long time but so have I ... We get along, there's a good respect level on both sides." Mr Putin, 72, has towered over Russia's politics since the late 90s, and runs what has been described as a "power vertical" in the country, which means everyone, ultimately, answers to him. The Kremlin delegation also incudes Finance Minister Anton Siluanov and the head of the country's sovereign wealth fund Kirill Dmitriev, among several other business leaders. Ahead of the summit, there's been reports of potential cooperation between the US and Russia on multiple resources deals. "But they're not doing business until we get the war settled," Mr Trump said on Friday. On Friday, hundreds of pro-Ukrainian protesters gathered in Anchorage, ahead of Mr Putin's arrival, which was due at 11am local time (5am Saturday, AEST). Among their chanting, were demands that Russia return the estimated 20,000 children that it has taken from the war zone since its invasion. Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who wasn't invited to Alaska, will monitor developments from France, with his counterpart there Emmanuel Macron. On Friday morning, Mr Zelenskyy posted on the encrypted messaging service, Telegram: "It's time to end the war, and the necessary steps must be taken by Russia. We are counting on America." That could prove tricky. Russia and Ukraine's stated list of demands to secure a ceasefire are still vastly different. For instance, Ukraine has demanded it be able to join the NATO alliance — something Mr Putin has said is a deal-breaker. Mr Trump has also suggested the two countries could engage in "land swaps", but both have ruled that out so far too.
ABC News
4 hours ago
- ABC News
Washington DC launches court challenge against Trump administration police takeover
Washington DC has challenged US President Donald Trump's takeover of its police department in court, hours after his administration stepped up its crackdown on policing. District of Columbia Attorney General Brian Schwalb said in a new lawsuit that Mr Trump was going far beyond his power under the law. Mr Schwalb asked a judge to find that the district still controls the department and sought an emergency restraining order. "The administration's unlawful actions are an affront to the dignity and autonomy of the 700,000 Americans who call DC home," he said. "This is the gravest threat to Home Rule that the District has ever faced, and we are fighting to stop it." The lawsuit comes after Federal Attorney General Pam Bondi said Thursday night, local time, that Drug Enforcement Administration boss Terry Cole would assume the "powers and duties vested in the District of Columbia Chief of Police." She said the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) "must receive approval from Commissioner Cole" before issuing any orders. It was unclear where the move left the city's current police chief, Pamela Smith, who works for the mayor. Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser pushed back, writing on social media that "there is no statute that conveys the District's personnel authority to a federal official." Justice Department and White House spokespeople did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment on the district's lawsuit. Mr Schwalb said late Thursday that Ms Bondi's directive was "unlawful," arguing it could not be followed by the city's police force. He wrote in a memo to Ms Smith that "members of MPD must continue to follow your orders and not the orders of any official not appointed by the Mayor," setting up the legal clash. Ms Bondi's directive came even after Ms Smith told MPD officers hours earlier to share information with immigration agencies regarding people not in custody, such as someone involved in a traffic stop or checkpoint. The Justice Department said Ms Bondi disagreed with the police chief's directive because it allowed for continued enforcement of "sanctuary policies," which generally limit cooperation by local law enforcement with federal immigration officers. Mr Trump's Attorney General said she was rescinding that order as well as other MPD policies limiting inquiries into immigration status and preventing arrests based solely on federal immigration warrants. All new directives must now receive approval from Commissioner Cole, the attorney general said. The police takeover is the latest move by Mr Trump to test the limits of his legal authority. The DC population, already tense from days of ramp-up, has begun seeing more significant shows of force across the city. National Guard troops watched over some of the world's most renowned landmarks and Humvees took position in front of the busy main train station. Volunteers helped homeless people leave long-standing encampments, but it was unclear where they were moved to. Department of Homeland Security police stood outside Nationals Park on Thursday during a game between the Washington Nationals and the Philadelphia Phillies. DEA agents patrolled The Wharf, a popular nightlife area, while Secret Service officers were seen in the Foggy Bottom neighbourhood. National Guard Major Micah Maxwell said troops would assist law enforcement in various roles, including traffic control posts and crowd control. The Guard members have been trained in de-escalation tactics and crowd control equipment, Major Maxwell added. AP
