The ripple effects of an explosive argument between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and President Trump and Vice President JD Vance are being felt around the world. Margaret Brennan has more.
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Today's Political News Compilation - Thursday, August 1, 2024
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US and Russia complete biggest prisoner swap in post-Soviet history, freeing Gershkovich and Whelan
WASHINGTON (AP) — The United States and Russia completed their biggest prisoner swap in post-Soviet history on Thursday, with Moscow releasing journalist Evan Gershkovich and fellow American Paul Whelan, along with dissidents including Vladimir Kara-Murza, in a multinational deal that set two dozen people free.
The trade unfolded despite relations between Washington and Moscow being at their lowest point since the Cold War after Russian President Vladimir Putin’s February 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Negotiators in backchannel talks at one point explored an exchange involving Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny but after his death in February ultimately stitched together a 24-person deal that required significant concessions from European allies, including the release of a Russian assassin, and secured freedom for a cluster of journalists, suspected spies, political prisoners and others.
President Joe Biden trumpeted the exchange, by far the largest in a series of swaps with Russia, as a diplomatic feat while welcoming families of the returning Americans to the White House. But the deal, like others before it, reflected an innate imbalance: The U.S. and allies gave up Russians charged or convicted of serious crimes in exchange for Russia releasing journalists, dissidents and others imprisoned by the country’s highly politicized legal system on charges seen by the West as trumped-up. ...
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Things to know about the largest US-Russia prisoner swap in post-Soviet history
It marks the largest prisoner exchange in post-Soviet history, in a deal involving 24 people, including Evan Gershkovich and Paul Whelan.
apnews.com
August 1: Russia prisoner exchange news | CNN
Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and former US Marine Paul Whelan were among two dozen detainees that were released Thursday as part of a historic prisoner swap.
www.cnn.com
Schumer vows Supreme Court reform will be 'a very big priority' if Democrats win election
In an interview with NBC News, Schumer tore into a “derelict” Chief Justice John Roberts for enabling an ethical and substantive “morass” that he said is forcing Congress to intervene.
www.nbcnews.com
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro cancels Hamptons fundraising trip ahead of Kamala Harris picking running mate
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro is among six candidates who had calls with Vice President Kamala Harris' vetting team this week.
www.cbsnews.comAppeals court upholds Donald Trump's gag order as he again presses judge to exit hush money case
Two months after his felony conviction, Donald Trump still isn’t allowed to say everything he wants about his historic hush money criminal case.
apnews.com
Blinken: Overwhelming evidence Venezuela opposition won election
The US secretary of state insists Venezuelans' votes in the recent presidential election "must count".
www.bbc.com
Vance defends Trump over former president’s false claims about Harris’ racial identity | CNN Politics
Republican vice presidential nominee JD Vance on Thursday defended Donald Trump’s false comments about Kamala Harris’ racial identity, saying that it was “totally reasonable” for his ticket mate to describe the vice president as someone who “pretends to be somebody different, depending on the...
www.cnn.com
Beyond Paul Whelan, who else was released in the US-Russia prisoner swap
In the largest prisoner exchange with Russia since 2010, four U.S. residents were released.
www.usatoday.com
Biden deserves credit for Russia prisoner swap, but… - Washington Examiner
Joe Biden deserves credit for bringing Evan Gershkovich home, but Russia arrested the journalist after the president traded Viktor Bout for Brittney Griner.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Republicans want to bash Kamala Harris on policy, Trump isn't helping
Republican senators say they're focused on attacking Kamala Harris on policy, but Donald Trump can't help himself from talking about her race.
www.usatoday.com
Hugs and tears as Evan Gershkovich and other US citizens return home
Evan Gershkovich, Paul Whelan, and Alsu Kurmasheva are greeted by President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris in Maryland.
www.bbc.com
Paul Whelan heads home, after 2,043 days in a Russian prison
The BBC’s Sarah Rainsford recalls phone conversations with the ex-US marine while he was imprisoned in Russia.
www.bbc.comSenate rejects legislation that would expand child tax credit and restore business tax breaks
Senators are heading home for the month after failing to advance a bill to expand the child tax credit and restore some business tax breaks.
apnews.com
Alsu Kurmasheva's family still in 'disbelief' she's free after Russian prisoner exchange
Journalist Alsu Kurmasheva's family still in 'disbelief' that she's free in Russian prisoner exchange.
Biden celebrates prisoner deal and importance of allies in key moment for his legacy | CNN Politics
Thursday’s massive multi-country prisoner swap with Russia – touted by the US as the largest since the end of the Cold War – marked a major diplomatic achievement and legacy-defining moment for President Joe Biden less than six months before he leaves office.
www.cnn.com
U.S. recognizes opposition candidate Edmundo González as winner of Venezuelan presidential election
The announcement from the U.S. government came amid diplomatic efforts to persuade Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro to release vote tallies.
www.cbsnews.com
Trump wants to stop taxing Social Security benefits. Here’s what that could mean for seniors | CNN Politics
A few weeks after promising to eliminate taxes on tips, former President Donald Trump has unveiled a second proposal for targeted tax relief. The beneficiaries this time would be senior citizens, an influential voting bloc.
www.cnn.com[URL...
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How Ukrainians are responding to heated Trump-Zelenskyy meeting
When Ukrainian news channels reported on the volatile exchange at the Oval Office, the war-battered country almost immediately rallied around their leader. Imtiaz Tyab reports.
Continue reading...Future of military aid to Ukraine, minerals deal uncertain, sources say
Washington — U.S. military aid to Ukraine could be in jeopardy after a contentious Oval Office meeting Friday between President Trump, Vice President JD Vance and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, according to administration officials familiar with the discussions.
The day started on a positive note, with Mr. Trump joking with Zelenskyy, a guest book signing and warm conversation in the Oval Office.
But the episode has raised questions about whether Zelenskyy can move forward toward a peace deal, and whether the U.S. will or should pause...
Continue reading...The day started on a positive note, with Mr. Trump joking with Zelenskyy, a guest book signing and warm conversation in the Oval Office.
But the episode has raised questions about whether Zelenskyy can move forward toward a peace deal, and whether the U.S. will or should pause...
Zelenskyy and Trump clash as White House meeting crumbles into contentious exchange
President Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy appeared before cameras in the Oval Office before what was supposed to be a luncheon and the signing of a historic deal to give the United States access to Ukraine's wealth of minerals. As Ed O'Keefe reports, it quickly turned into a loud argument involving the two presidents and Vice President JD Vance.
Continue reading...Trump administration approves nearly $3 billion arms sale to Israel
Washington, D.C. — The Trump administration has approved a major nearly $3 billion arms sale to Israel, bypassing a normal congressional review to provide the country with more of the 2,000-pound bombs that it has used in its war against Hamas in Gaza.
In a series of notifications sent to Congress late Friday, the State Department said it had signed off on the sale of more than 35,500 MK 84 and BLU-117 bombs and 4,000 Predator warheads worth $2.04 billion.
The State Department approved Israel's purchase of Caterpillar D9 Bulldozers and related...
Continue reading...In a series of notifications sent to Congress late Friday, the State Department said it had signed off on the sale of more than 35,500 MK 84 and BLU-117 bombs and 4,000 Predator warheads worth $2.04 billion.
The State Department approved Israel's purchase of Caterpillar D9 Bulldozers and related...
Chaos and unproven theories surround Tates' release from Romania
The abrupt departure of the Tate brothers by private jet has left a fresh trail of confusion and unanswered questions in its wake.
Continue reading...'I didn't want to be in a bad stripper film': Sex workers eye Oscars success
The strippers, dancers and actresses of Anora give us their take on the film's realism - and its limits.
Continue reading...Elon Musk takes familiar fraud, waste claims to Joe Rogan with DOGE discussion
In one of his first in-depth interviews since joining the U.S. government, Elon Musk pushed a variety of claims about waste and fraud but offered little new information or insight into the work of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), NBC News reported.
In a wide-ranging, three-hour discussion with podcaster Joe Rogan published Friday, Musk revisited well-trodden grievances about news outlets and billionaire Democratic donor George Soros. He also touched on whether he thinks private aerospace contractors have secret propulsion technology...
Continue reading...In a wide-ranging, three-hour discussion with podcaster Joe Rogan published Friday, Musk revisited well-trodden grievances about news outlets and billionaire Democratic donor George Soros. He also touched on whether he thinks private aerospace contractors have secret propulsion technology...
Tim Scott highlights opportunity agenda as Black History Month draws to a close
For Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina, opportunity didn't come without a struggle.
"To anyone who believes that opportunity ought not come with headwinds, I don't know where you live, but it ain't reality," the 59-year-old mused to a crowd on a recent afternoon overlooking the U.S. Capitol.
Raised by a single mother in North Charleston, Scott described being plagued by low self-esteem after failing several courses in high school, including civics. He credits his faith for a reversal in political fortune.
Scott is the longest-serving Black senator...
Continue reading..."To anyone who believes that opportunity ought not come with headwinds, I don't know where you live, but it ain't reality," the 59-year-old mused to a crowd on a recent afternoon overlooking the U.S. Capitol.
Raised by a single mother in North Charleston, Scott described being plagued by low self-esteem after failing several courses in high school, including civics. He credits his faith for a reversal in political fortune.
Scott is the longest-serving Black senator...
Iowa governor signs bill removing transgender protections from civil rights code
Iowa Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds signed a bill on Friday that removes protections for transgender people in the state’s civil rights code.
While not every state has protections for transgender people, Iowa Democrats added them to the civil rights code in 2007.
Iowa is the first state to remove gender identity protection from its state civil rights code.
The new law follows President Donald Trump's executive orders only recognizing two sexes, restricting sex change operations and restricting trans people in the military, as well as state...
Continue reading...While not every state has protections for transgender people, Iowa Democrats added them to the civil rights code in 2007.
Iowa is the first state to remove gender identity protection from its state civil rights code.
The new law follows President Donald Trump's executive orders only recognizing two sexes, restricting sex change operations and restricting trans people in the military, as well as state...
Analysis: Trump-Zelensky row signals major crisis for Nato
Doubts are growing about the US commitment to European security outside Ukraine, says the BBC's Jeremy Bowen.
Continue reading...Oscar-tipped Japanese MeToo film not shown in Japan
Shiori Ito became the face of Japan's MeToo movement after she accused a prominent journalist of rape.
Continue reading...Czech firefighters tackle large toxic train fire
A train transporting benzene, a carcinogen, derailed and caught fire on Friday, prompting a large emergency response.
Continue reading...What it was like in the room during Oval Office shouting match
BBC reporters witnessed the extraordinary exchange between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky firsthand.
Continue reading...Luigi Mangione's Pennsylvania attorney argues search, arrest were illegal
A defense attorney for Luigi Mangione, the man charged with killing the CEO of UnitedHealthcare, insists a police search and arrest late last year were illegal.
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