☕ Daily Brief: Trump Welcomes Afrikaners
Also, a potential Zelensky-Putin meeting
Editorial Team
May 12, 2025
From the weekend:
🏛️ Capitol Reset: Rubio's Ascendance →
🌎 Geopolitics 101: America’s Pope →
🔴 Redshift: Ruy Teixeira's Plea For Democrats →
WHAT WE'RE WATCHING
🕊️ Zelensky to meet Putin in Turkey for peace talks. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed he will travel to Turkey later this week for potential discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The meeting, which would mark the first time the two leaders have met since the war began, comes amid Zelensky's willingness to agree to a ceasefire. Putin has expressed willingness to begin direct talks with Ukraine, though he hasn't accepted President Trump’s ceasefire proposal.
🤝 US, China agree to reduced tariffs for 90 days. Following trade talks in Geneva, the US and China announced a temporary reduction in tariffs for a 90-day period. The US will lower tariffs on Chinese goods from 145 percent to 30 percent, while China will reduce its tariffs on American products from 125 percent to 10 percent. This comes as Trump faces pressure to reach a deal, and as Chinese factories have faced worker protests over mass layoffs.
🇨🇦 There may be a 51st state after all. Western Canada's oil-rich province of Alberta is planning its first referendum on independence in 2026 as frustration builds over federal policies restricting oil development. Premier Danielle Smith announced the potential vote after a separation rally drew hundreds in Edmonton. Despite the Liberal Party’s ascension as a response to Trump’s annexation threats, this one province may be open to the idea.
🧑⚖️ ICC prosecutor faces sexual assault claims. International Criminal Court prosecutor Karim Khan is facing an investigation for allegedly assaulting a female staff member while pursuing war crimes charges against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The Malaysian lawyer claims Khan pressured her not to report the incidents, warning it would damage the Palestinian case. This incident raises questions about the objectivity of the court's charges against Israel's leadership.
INSIDER RADAR
Steve Bannon on the problems facing young Americans
Insiders behind the paywall: Steve Bannon, Dan Bongino, Steve Witkoff, Donald Trump, Benjamin Netanyahu, and Jared Kushner.
QUICK AND IMPORTANT
Hamas announced its intention to release Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander following recent talks with US officials.
President Trump announced plans to sign an executive order to reduce prescription drug prices.
Harvard Law School continues to promote law student Ibrahim Bharmal, who was accused of assaulting an Israeli classmate and sentenced to 80 hours of community service.
Columbia University reportedly knowingly allowed masked anti-Israel protestors to occupy the school’s library.
INSIDER EXCLUSIVE
Marco Rubio: foreign policy kingmaker
Marco Rubio, as Secretary of State, has amassed an extraordinary set of responsibilities in the Trump administration.
President Trump recently named Rubio interim National Security Adviser (NSA) after removing Mike Waltz from the post, meaning he now holds four major federal roles: secretary of state, national security adviser, acting administrator of USAID, and acting archivist of the United States…
EDITOR’S NOTE
The last American hostage freed
Good morning. Hamas has released Edan Alexander, the final living American-Israeli hostage, calling it an act of “good faith” toward the Trump administration.
This comes after Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, bypassed Israel and negotiated directly with Hamas. Critics of Netanyahu immediately seized on the move, arguing that US goals were impossible to achieve while working through the Israeli government.
At the same time, Netanyahu was escalating — vowing to ramp up pressure on Gaza and enter a new phase of occupation, creating even more incentive for Hamas to come to the table.
But what stands out most: the last living American hostage is now free. The pace and effectiveness of Trump’s diplomacy, compared to the Biden years, remain nothing short of stunning.
THE MAIN STORY
Trump begins resettling persecuted white Afrikaners
WHAT’S HAPPENING_
The Trump administration is set to welcome white Afrikaners from South Africa to the United States as refugees, with the first group expected to arrive imminently.
Officials state these individuals are "victims of unjust racial discrimination," pointing to South Africa's land expropriation legislation as a key factor, along with increasing hostility towards white farmers.
This comes even as most other US refugee resettlement programs remain suspended.
_THE FACTS_
The first group of Afrikaner refugees is expected to arrive to the US today.
Trump suspended most refugee admissions in January but created an exception for Afrikaners fleeing “race-based persecution.”
Expropriation Act 13, signed by South Africa’s president, allows land seizures without compensation in some cases.
In February, President Trump signed an executive order halting all aid to South Africa because of that law, and paved the way for Afrikaner resettlement.
Trump adviser Stephen Miller said the Afrikaners’ situation “fits the textbook definition” of refugee status under US law.
The State Department is prioritizing Afrikaners who have experienced violence with a racial motive, including home invasions and carjackings.
South Africa’s government called the “refugees” designation of white Afrikaners “politically motivated and designed to question South Africa’s constitutional democracy.”
Secretary of State Marco Rubio expelled South Africa’s ambassador in March, calling him a “race-baiting” politician after he described Trump as leading a “global white supremacist movement.”
_OUR INSIGHTS _
Insights and analysis are for members only.
Insights behind the paywall: Violence against Afrikaners, Elon Musk, and the US southern border.
_JOIN THE DISCUSSION_
Should white South African refugees be accepted as others remain paused?
Comments are open for everyone.
MEDIA BIAS SPOTTER
How left and right outlets frame Trump accepting Afrikaner refugees
Mentioned behind the paywall: The New Republic, NPR, Breitbart, and Fox News.
THE DAILY DEBATE
📊 Do you think it would be a good idea for Alberta to become the 51st US state?Results will be in tomorrow's newsletter |
POLL RESULTS FROM YESTERDAY (REDSHIFT)
Who do you agree with more on the Shiloh Hendrix debate?
🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ ✅ Matt Walsh: We Should Support Her (99)
🟨🟨🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️ ❌ Ben Shapiro: We Should Not Support Her (211)
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 🤦♂️ Mike Cernovich: The Whole Thing Is Absurd (444)
⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ 🤔 Unsure (50)
⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ Other (28)
✅ We Should Support Her: “So a murderer can use this platform, but someone who says an inappropriate word cannot?” — Roger
❌ We Should Not Support Her: “I agree with Ben. We shouldn't support bad actors.” — Ben
🤦♂️ The Whole Thing Is Absurd: “Support of free speech can't be limited to speech we agree with. That said, we must also call out those who espouse hate, violence, racism, bigotry, etc., while acknowledging their right to be idiots.” — K.P.
💬 Other: “I teach high school in the D.C. area. I hear the N-word many times in a single class, uttered by Black students at each other—sometimes in jest, sometimes in annoyance or anger. But if non-Black students say it, for whatever reason, they get detention. How completely unfair and absurd.” — Anonymous
POP QUIZ
What is President Trump planning to sign an executive order on? |
Today’s newsletter was written by Brandon Goldman, Anthony Constantini, and Ari David. We scoured 100s of sources to bring you stories and insights you won’t find in the mainstream media.
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