
Only President Trump could force Putin to the negotiating table, says Nile Gardiner
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Yahoo
2 minutes ago
- Yahoo
The president's ex-adviser said the 79-year-old looked downright exhausted during his meeting with the Russian leader.
President Donald Trump's former national security adviser thought he looked 'tired' at his Alaska summit, which did him no favors standing opposite Russian President Vladimir Putin. John Bolton said on CNN that Putin 'clearly won' the high-profile encounter on Friday given that he escaped without agreeing to a ceasefire with Ukraine and without additional sanctions on Russia. 'Trump didn't come away with anything except more meetings,' Bolton said. 'Putin has, I think, gone a long way to reestablishing the relationship, which I've always believed was his key goal. He has escaped sanctions. He's not facing a ceasefire. The next meeting is not set.'
Yahoo
2 minutes ago
- Yahoo
National Guard to carry weapons in D.C. as West Virginia sends troops at Trump's request
National Guard troops mobilized in Washington, D.C., are preparing to carry weapons in the coming days, according to a new report. Some troops were told to expect an order to start carrying weapons late Friday, though no official order had come as of Saturday morning, The Wall Street Journal reports. This comes after the U.S. Army said in a statement that 'weapons are available if needed but will remain in the armory.' President Donald Trump mobilized about 800 members of the D.C. National Guard in the nation's capital this week. As of Thursday, about 200 troops were on the streets of D.C., the Defense Department said. Now, West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey is set to send additional National Guard troops to Washington, D.C., at the request of the Trump administration The West Virginia National Guard will provide 'mission-essential equipment, specialized training, and approximately 300-400 skilled personnel as directed,' according to a Saturday statement from Morrisey's office. The mission, which will be 'funded at the federal level,' is a show of 'commitment to public safety and regional cooperation,' the statement adds. More states could follow in West Virginia's footsteps. A White House official told The Independent that the National Guard's role has not changed, and 'additional National Guard troops will be called in to Washington DC.' 'The National Guard will protect federal assets, create a safe environment for law enforcement officials to carry out their duties when required, and provide a visible presence to deter crime,' the official said. D.C. National Guard spokesman Capt. Tinashe Machona told The Washington Post that other states want to participate in the mission, but he couldn't provide a specific number. The Independent has contacted the Washington, D.C. National Guard for comment. Trump claimed he mobilized troops and federalized D.C. police in response to 'out of control' crime that was getting worse. However, data shows that violent crime in Washington, D.C. has been decreasing since 2023. Violent crime in D.C. even hit its lowest point in more than 30 years in 2024, according to the Justice Department. D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser called Trump's takeover of the police force an 'authoritarian push' on Tuesday. Trump threatened a D.C. takeover earlier this month after Edward Coristine, a former Department of Government Efficiency staffer, was assaulted in an attempted carjacking. Coristine, 19, is better known by his online nickname 'Big Balls.' 'I have to say that somebody from DOGE was very badly hurt…a young man who was beat up by a bunch of thugs in DC, and either they're gonna straighten their act out in the terms of government and in terms of protection or we're gonna have to federalize and run it the way it's supposed to be run,' Trump said on August 5. Trump also said he was placing the D.C. police under federal control this week. The Justice Department then attempted to name DEA Administrator Terry Cole as the Metropolitan Police Department's 'emergency police commissioner.' D.C. sued in a response, challenging the administration's appointment of Cole and its attempts to assert control over the department. Following an emergency court hearing on Friday, the Trump administration walked back its order, allowing the D.C. government and current police chief Pamela Smith to retain control over the department. Attorney General Pam Bondi instead named Cole her 'designee.' 'I have just issued a new directive to Mayor Bowser requiring MPD to provide the services found necessary by my designee, @DEAHQ Administrator Terry Cole, to comply fully and completely with federal immigration law and authorities, regardless of any policies MPD might otherwise have,' Bondi wrote on X. 'Unfortunately, the DC Attorney General continues to oppose our efforts to improve public safety in Washington, DC,' she added. D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb celebrated the judge's decision on Friday. 'The outcome of today's hearing is a win for Home Rule and upholds the District's right to operate its own local police force,' he wrote on X. 'The Court recognized that it was clearly unlawful for the Administration to try to seize control of the Metropolitan Police Department. Chief Smith and @MayorBowser rightfully remain in command of MPD.'


TechCrunch
3 minutes ago
- TechCrunch
Judge says FTC investigation into Media Matters ‘should alarm all Americans'
A federal judge has granted a preliminary injunction blocking the Federal Trade Commission's investigation into left-leaning advocacy group Media Matters. Back in 2023, Media Matters published research showing ads from major companies had appeared alongside antisemitic and other offensive content on Elon Musk-owned X. When major advertisers subsequently pulled back from the platform, X sued Media Matters. It also sued advertisers and advertiser groups over what it claimed was a 'systematic illegal boycott.' After Musk's then-ally Donald Trump took office again in January, the FTC also began an investigation into whether Media Matters had illegally colluded with advertisers. On Friday, however, Judge Sparkle L. Sooknanan sided with Media Matters and blocked the FTC's investigation. In her decision, Sooknanan (a district court judge for the District of Columbia appointed by Joe Biden) wrote that the Media Matters article represented 'quintessential First Amendment activity' and the FTC's 'expansive' investigative demands appeared to be 'a retaliatory act.' 'It should alarm all Americans when the Government retaliates against individuals or organizations for engaging in constitutionally protected public debate,' she wrote. 'And that alarm should ring even louder when the Government retaliates against those engaged in newsgathering and reporting.' Sooknanan noted that before his appointment as the current FTC chair, Andrew Ferguson had appeared on Steve Bannon's podcast and called for the FTC to investigate progressive groups criticizing online disinformation, and that he subsequently 'brought on several senior staffers at the FTC who previously made public comments about Media Matters.' The FTC did not immediately respond to a TechCrunch email asking whether it intends to appeal. Techcrunch event Tech and VC heavyweights join the Disrupt 2025 agenda Netflix, ElevenLabs, Wayve, Sequoia Capital, Elad Gil — just a few of the heavy hitters joining the Disrupt 2025 agenda. They're here to deliver the insights that fuel startup growth and sharpen your edge. Don't miss the 20th anniversary of TechCrunch Disrupt, and a chance to learn from the top voices in tech — grab your ticket now and save up to $600+ before prices rise. Tech and VC heavyweights join the Disrupt 2025 agenda Netflix, ElevenLabs, Wayve, Sequoia Capital — just a few of the heavy hitters joining the Disrupt 2025 agenda. They're here to deliver the insights that fuel startup growth and sharpen your edge. Don't miss the 20th anniversary of TechCrunch Disrupt, and a chance to learn from the top voices in tech — grab your ticket now and save up to $675 before prices rise. San Francisco | REGISTER NOW Regardless of the legal outcome, X's lawsuits have already had a significant effect on the targeted organizations, with Media Matters cutting staff (one of the laid off researchers is now running for Congress), while the World Federation of Advertisers shut down its brand safety program and reportedly complained of drained finances. Sooknanan said the FTC investigation has also had its 'intended effect,' prompting Media Matters to decide 'against pursuing certain stories about the FTC, Chairman Ferguson, and Mr. Musk.'