WHAT WE'RE WATCHING
🗳️ Republican wins Tennessee special election. Republican Matt Van Epps defeated Democrat Aftyn Behn by nine points in Tennessee's 7th District special election. However, Donald Trump won the district by 22 points, signalling a possible bellwether for a weaker GOP performance in 2026.
🚔 ICE targets Somalis in Minnesota. The Trump administration ordered ICE to round up Somali illegal migrants in the Twin Cities. Hundreds are expected to be targeted this week, though about 95 percent of Minnesota's Somali population is US citizens.
💰 Billionaires donate $6.25B to "Trump Accounts". Billionaires Michael and Susan Dell pledged $6.25 billion to fund investment accounts for 25 million American children. The donation supports Trump's program, giving every newborn a $1,000 federal grant, with the Dells adding $250 for children under 10 in lower-income areas.
🏪 Costco sues Trump administration over tariffs. Wholesale giant Costco filed suit seeking a refund of tariffs paid on imported goods. The company claims it faces an urgent customs law deadline that threatens its ability to recover the duties.
INSIDER RADAR
Secretary of State Marco Rubio believes the US government has recovered alien technology that was given to private military contractors.
Border czar Tom Homan taunted Democrats who want to prosecute him over immigration raids, telling them to "come get some."
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced the department is investigating Minnesota welfare funds being diverted to the Somali terror group al-Shabaab.
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth blasted media reports about his order to strike a drug boat as "fake stories.”
HOAX TRACKER
WaPo’s “war crime” claim against Hegseth falls apart
The Washington Post claimed Pete Hegseth ordered troops to “kill everybody” after a Venezuelan drug-boat strike, but New York Times reporting contradicted the story, noting Hegseth gave no such follow-up order — revealing the Post omitted key context that undercut its narrative.
🔓 You have {{days_left_free}} full-access editions left in your trial.
QUICK AND IMPORTANT
An Afghan national who entered the US under Biden was charged after threatening to carry out a suicide attack in Texas.
President Trump said he does not want Somali immigrants who "complain and do nothing but bitch" in the country.
Adm. Frank Bradley is scheduled to give a classified briefing to senior lawmakers regarding strikes on narco-terrorist boats.
Pop star Sabrina Carpenter slammed the White House for using her song in an ICE deportation video.
The most clicked link in our last newsletter was the leaked FBI report revealing widespread anti-Trump resistance.
THE MAIN STORY
Steve Witkoff’s secret Russia negotiations
_WHAT’S HAPPENING_
This topic was recommended by Upward News member Janet Null. If you’d like to request a story, become a member and use the link at the bottom of the newsletter.
A leaked phone call between US envoy Steve Witkoff and a senior Kremlin aide revealed Witkoff engaging in secret negotiations with the Russians to end their war in Ukraine in late November.
The phone call’s transcript, reported by Bloomberg, showed Witkoff telling the Russian official that President Donald Trump had given him "a lot of space and discretion to get to the deal." Progress is being made in renewed talks, now involving Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner.
_THE FACTS_
The initially leaked 28-point peace plan, drafted by Witkoff and Jared Kushner, was essentially a list of Russian demands.
Witkoff told Kremlin aide Kirill Dmitriev in the leaked call: "I know what it's going to take to get a peace deal done. Donetsk and maybe a land swap somewhere.”
Witkoff also floated the idea of joint US-Russia business deals, including Arctic mining ventures
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky responded that the country faces “a very difficult choice: the loss of dignity, or the risk of losing a key partner.”
Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) said, "These ridiculous side shows and secret meetings need to stop.”
Rep. Ted Lieu (D-CA) characterized Witkoff as an "actual traitor" who serves Moscow.
Following new talks in Geneva, Ukrainian negotiator Rustem Umerov believes both sides have "reached a common understanding on the core terms.”
Rubio, Witkoff, and Kushner met with Ukrainian officials in Florida on Sunday to continue peace discussions.
_OUR INSIGHTS _
The leaked Witkoff call has exposed a fundamental tension in Trump's Ukraine strategy: the administration is pushing hard for a negotiated settlement while Russian President Vladimir Putin believes he's winning and has little incentive to compromise.
To that end, these negotiations could be a way for the Russians to claim they tried to achieve peace, knowing that the Ukrainians will reject their lofty demands.
_JOIN THE DISCUSSION_
Do you trust Steve Witkoff leading negotiations with the Russians?
BIAS SPOTTER
How left and right outlets frame the ongoing negotiations with Russia
_LEFT_
Witkoff’s competence questioned: The Independent called special envoy Steve Witkoff a "useful idiot" and "staggeringly inept," adding he is not trusted by Western intelligence. The Independent
Concerns over territorial concessions: PBS News reported that US negotiators have been pressing Ukraine to give up parts of Donetsk, a move European officials say would be “one of the most difficult items” for Kiev to accept. PBS News
_RIGHT_
Trump’s defense of Witkoff: The Daily Wire reported that Trump dismissed backlash over Witkoff’s leaked phone call with a Russian aide, calling it “standard negotiation” and rejecting claims that the envoy favored Moscow. The Daily Wire
Kremlin signals no compromise: The European Conservative reported the Kremlin found "no compromise" on territory, but a Putin aide said "some American solutions can be discussed." The European Conservative
_THE DAILY DEBATE_
📊 Is Trump’s strategy too soft on Russia, too hard, or about right?
POLLS RESULTS FROM YESTERDAY
Do you approve of Kash Patel's performance at the FBI?
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 ✅ Approve (1,145)
⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ ❌ Disapprove (65)
🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ 🤷♂️ Somewhere in the middle (248)
⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ 🤔 Unsure (61)
✅ Approve: “The FBI is so used to corrupt leadership that they don’t recognize someone with integrity.” — Marlene
❌ Disapprove: “All he has done is continue to prop up the deep state.” — Gary
🤷♂️ Somewhere in the middle: “I like the man and his mindset, but I am not sure of his effectiveness given the state of the agency.” — GW
COMMENT OF THE DAY
“The tone of their seditious video was saying to each person in the military, ‘Before you carry out any order of the president or your superior, stop and check with your attorney to see if the order is legal or not.’ The damage to our military by presenting this video is catastrophic.”
_POP QUIZ_
Who is suing the Trump administration over its tariff policies?
Today’s newsletter was written by Brandon Goldman, Anthony Constantini, and Ariel David. We scoured 100s of sources to bring you stories and insights you won’t find in the mainstream media.
See you tomorrow.
