White House Increases Pressure on Russia with New Oil Sanctions
The U.S. Treasury Department has announced new sanctions targeting Russia’s oil sector, aiming to increase pressure on Moscow and potentially push President Vladimir Putin into peace talks with Ukraine. This move comes after President Donald Trump confirmed that a planned meeting with Putin to discuss an end to the war in Ukraine was called off.
"Now is the time to stop the killing and for an immediate ceasefire," said Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent in a statement. "Treasury is prepared to take further action if necessary to support President Trump's effort to end yet another war. We encourage our allies to join us in and adhere to these sanctions."
The two companies being sanctioned are Rosneft and Lukoil, along with some of their subsidiaries. Despite the ongoing conflict, both companies are valued at over $50 billion each and are among the largest listed on the Moscow Stock Exchange.
A senior White House official told NBC News that Trump was following his gut on the timing of the sanctions. Last week, relations between Washington and Moscow seemed to be warming after Trump held a call with Putin and did not approve Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's request for long-range Tomahawk missiles.
However, Trump's latest peace push hit a roadblock during a call between Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, according to senior figures on both sides.
U.S. Expands Lethal Strikes on Alleged Drug-Smuggling Boats in Eastern Pacific
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that the military launched a second lethal strike in as many days against what he described as vessels involved in drug trafficking operations in the eastern Pacific. The first strike, which occurred on Tuesday, reportedly killed two people, while the second attack resulted in the death of three men labeled as "narco-terrorists." These strikes mark the first such actions in the eastern Pacific since the Trump administration began targeting vessels it claims are involved in drug trafficking.
Hegseth stated that missions would continue, characterizing the military actions as similar to those against the terror group Al Qaeda.
White House's East Wing to Be Fully Demolished for Trump’s Ballroom
The entire East Wing of the White House will be demolished "within days," according to two Trump administration officials. This demolition is part of a significant expansion of the ballroom construction project that Trump described earlier this year, claiming it would not interfere with the current building and would pay total respect to the existing structure.
The East Wing, constructed in 1942 during Franklin D. Roosevelt's presidency, has typically been used by the first lady and her staff. Trump stated that the new construction will accommodate up to 900 people, with the total cost estimated at around $300 million. Trump and private donors will cover the expenses.
Some ICE Recruits Arrived to Training Without Full Vetting
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has placed new recruits into its training program before completing the agency's vetting process, according to current and former Department of Homeland Security officials. These oversights come as ICE rushes to hire federal immigration officers to carry out Trump's mass deportation policy.
ICE officials later discovered that some recruits failed drug testing, had disqualifying criminal backgrounds, or did not meet the physical or academic requirements to serve. At the training academy in Georgia, staff found one recruit previously charged with strong-arm robbery and battery from a domestic violence incident. They also found that some recruits had not submitted fingerprints for background checks, as required by ICE's hiring process.
Additional Politics News
- A three-judge panel appeared skeptical of the Trump administration's arguments regarding the president's judicially unreviewable power concerning the deployment of the National Guard in Los Angeles.
- Illinois is attempting to crack down on federal officers who try to disguise their vehicles in pursuit of undocumented individuals.
- Republicans are pushing back on Trump's idea of importing beef from Argentina, with some making direct pleas to the White House to reverse course.
- Dr. Mehmet Oz suggested that Trump has a plan to replace the Affordable Care Act, though no specifics were provided.
- Senior Republican lawmakers predicted that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's new policy restricting communication between Pentagon personnel and Congress will crash and burn.
Climate Central Releases Updated Weather and Climate Disaster Database
The Trump administration made significant cuts to climate science, leading to the discontinuation of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s billion-dollar weather and climate disaster database. However, researchers at the non-profit Climate Central have worked to reproduce the data outside of government.
Climate Central hired a researcher who left the federal government in protest of the decision. The organization released a new version of the database, showing that 14 weather events exceeded $1 billion in damages in the first six months of 2025. The Los Angeles fires topped the list with a cost of $61 billion, making them the most expensive wildfire event on record. The data highlights the growing economic impact of weather and climate disasters.
Staff Pick: Data Rain Check
The Trump administration's cuts to climate science have led to the loss of critical research. However, efforts by organizations like Climate Central show that some projects can live on even after being canceled. This initiative serves as a reminder of the importance of continued climate research and data collection.
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