What's Happening
Politics
Hot Mics, Cold Comfort: Trump's Ukraine-Russia Balancing Act
What's going on: In just the last week, President Donald Trump’s held separate meetings with the presidents of Ukraine and Russia as part of what administration officials say is a three-step process to end the war. The highlights from yesterday’s abrupt White House summit? Trump didn’t rule out sending US troops to help protect Ukraine, and is making moves to organize a trilateral meeting (we know, another one) involving Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Plus, Zelenskyy wore a version of a suit. (Not to mention, there’s a hot mic moment raising eyebrows.) The summit — involving eight European leaders — ended with little detail of any progress towards peace.
What it means: Even after these meetings, it’s unclear if Trump will make it to step three of his plan: getting both leaders — who are far from aligned — to reach a deal. While Trump said he shares “the same goal” with European leaders, some analysts warn that Trump’s endgame doesn’t align with what Europe or Ukraine want. For one, he’s seemingly leaving Kyiv with a difficult choice: Give up all of the eastern region of Donbas to Russia or keep fighting for a ceasefire, potentially angering Trump. He also hasn’t followed through on threats to sanction the Kremlin for not stopping the fighting. Also complicating the talks: Russia’s latest strikes in Ukraine, which killed at least 10 people and which Zelenskyy says underscore “why reliable security guarantees are required.”
Related: Trump Threatened To End Mail-in Voting — but Can He? (Axios)
Education
Civil Rights Cases Are Piling Up at the Education Department
What's going on: Months after the Education Department gutted its civil rights office, it’s now dealing with a backlog of cases — and leaving many students and families without answers, according to an analysis by The Washington Post. At least 25,000 cases are unresolved, and about 90% of closed cases are typically dismissed without an investigation. Part of the reason? The civil rights office is prioritizing allegations of transgender students and students of color receiving special treatment. (Another reason? You guessed it, federal cuts). At least one investigation has led dozens of universities to drop out of a program aimed at boosting the number of Latino, Black, and Native American students earning PhDs. Meanwhile, others are applauding the civil rights office’s aggressive approach to combat antisemitism on campuses, pulling funding from schools that don’t make changes.
What it means: Critics say the civil rights office is targeting programs that address inequities as part of Trump’s anti-DEI agenda. But an Education Department spokesperson says their office is simply undoing the Biden administration’s work. Others warn the shift makes it harder for students dealing with discrimination to get help. There’s also a chance that resources could be stretched even further. Education Secretary Linda McMahon has asked Congress to cut the civil rights office appropriations by 35% next year.
Related: Back-To-School Season Is Here and So Is Confusion Over Vaccines (Axios)
Health
For More People, Cancer's Also a Chronic Illness
What's going on: A growing number of Americans are living with advanced stage cancers, managing them like chronic illnesses rather than the death sentences they once were. The US is home to 18 million people who have survived the disease, and that number is expected to reach 26 million by 2040. Nearly 700,000 are living with stage-four diagnoses of the six most common cancers: melanoma, breast, bladder, colorectal, prostate or lung cancer. And federal data show that a greater number of patients are living at least five years longer than they were two decades ago. Doctors credit better diagnostic tools for recognizing cancers earlier as well as the expanding number of therapies to treat them after a diagnosis.
Tell me more: Cancer claims more than 600,000 lives in the US every year, impacting countless more loved ones. While medical efforts to bring down those numbers continue to advance and may help more patients survive, many still find themselves in a cycle of ongoing treatment — one that can take a financial and emotional toll. As one doctor put it, “The experience our patients go through is much more complicated.” While doctors toe the line of transparency and optimism, they’re also entering new territory when it comes to treatment. One oncologist treating lung cancer said he has patients living long enough to now worry about their cardiovascular health: “It’s a good problem to have,” he said.
Related: Texas Measles Outbreak that Killed Two, Sickened 700 Now Declared “Over" (ABC News)
Your Political Briefing
The week in political chaos.
Texas Hold’ Em: Texas Democrats are back after their two-week-long walkout — and yes, it’s part of a new legal strategy to challenge the GOP’s redistricting plans.
All that and a bag of (government) chips?: The Trump administration is eyeing a 10% stake in Intel, which would make the US the company’s largest shareholder.
Docs drop: Members of Congress say they’ll finally get their hands on some Jeffrey Epstein files starting Friday.
Big box blues: Why are Democrats condemning Costco?
Game Time
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