WHAT WE'RE WATCHING
1. 🇬🇧 The UK hosted Trump for a state visit. The visit was President Trump’s second state visit, where he signed an agreement with Prime Minister Keir Starmer, which will see the United States and the United Kingdom invest $350 billion in each other’s nuclear power and AI sectors. Starmer declared it “the biggest investment of its kind in British history.”
2. 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia signed a mutual defense treaty with Pakistan. The agreement comes amid uncertainty — increased after Israel’s strike on Qatar — in the Gulf region over whether the United States will still provide security guarantees. The agreement reportedly extends Pakistan’s nuclear umbrella to Saudi Arabia, while the Saudis will defend Pakistan in future wars with India.
3. 🇨🇳 Xi Jinping held a call with President Trump. The two leaders discussed the ongoing trade negotiations as well as the framework of a deal on TikTok, which would allow the Chinese-owned ByteDance to maintain some influence in the American version of the app. They also agreed to meet during an upcoming conference in South Korea on Halloween.
4. 🇲🇽 Mexico and Canada agreed to boost trade ties. Talks between the two were held in the background of larger discussions on the USMCA trade agreement, which involves the two plus the United States. While no firm agreements were made, the leaders of both countries said they wanted to significantly increase trade; currently, most of both countries’ exports go to the US.
INSIDER RADAR
Trump’s comments on Vladimir Putin
Insiders behind the paywall: Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin, Giorgia Meloni, Narendra Modi, South Africa’s trade minister, and Germany’s culture minister.
THE MAIN STORY
Europe braces for war with Russia
_WHAT’S HAPPENING_
Russia and Belarus kicked off their Zapad war games in Western Belarus, right on NATO’s border.
Many in Europe long warned that Russia would test NATO, yet leaders refused to invest in deterrence…
Exclusive analysis and uncensored facts behind the paywall: Who is at the war games, the Kremlin’s chilling declaration, Europe’s response, and how the Europeans have allowed Russia to reach this point.
_JOIN THE DISCUSSION_
Do you believe Russia’s threats are to be taken seriously?
MEDIA BIAS SPOTTER
How left and right outlets frame the Zapad war games
Mentioned behind the paywall: The New York Times, ABC News, The Daily Wire, and The Washington Examiner.
_THE DAILY DEBATE_
📊 Should Trump allow China to retain partial control over TikTok?
POLLS RESULTS FROM YESTERDAY
Is the Right going too far in cracking down on free speech?
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 ✅ Yes, speech must be protected (613)
🟨🟨🟨🟨🟨⬜️ ❌ No, the Left has it coming (534)
🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ 🤔 Unsure (160)
⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ 💬 Other (73)
👍 Yes: “Free speech means all speech. Even hateful rhetoric.” — Jeff
👎 No: “It's not the Right cracking down, it's ABC/Disney no longer gaining a profit from Kimmel's show. They are in the business of making money not losing it.” — CM
💬 Other: ”Hate speech, when it provokes, incites, or causes physical violence, must always be charged and prosecuted.” — Rich
_POP QUIZ_
Trump will meet with Xi Jinping on which holiday?
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.
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