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I just got home from a massive anti-Trump demonstration in Washington, D.C.—the largest since Trump launched his federal takeover of the city. Over a thousand people marched from Dupont Circle to the White House and around the National Mall, demanding a free D.C. What made today so powerful was its peaceful nature: no violence, just unity and determination. I was proud to be one of the only journalists on the ground covering it. Mainstream media was absent in a way that was striking, leaving it to independent voices to document what really happened. From Dupont Circle to the gates of the White House, the chants for freedom echoed louder than the military presence. Tonight, I’ll be in the so-called “high crime” areas, where military presence is expected to escalate, and the Wall Street Journal is reporting that the National Guard may carry weapons. This is the reality on the ground, and I’ll be there to show you what’s happening. If you value independent reporting like this—being on the streets, documenting what others won’t—consider subscribing. It’s what allows me to keep showing up, night after night, where the story really is. Here are some videos from today’s protest: Here’s the rest of the news you missed today: At the Alaska summit, Putin demanded Ukraine withdraw from Donetsk and Luhansk as a condition for ending the war, offering Trump a freeze along the remaining frontline in Kherson and Zaporizhzhia. Luhansk is almost fully under Russian control, but Ukraine still holds key areas of Donetsk, including Kramatorsk and Sloviansk. Zelenskyy has rejected any territorial concessions, and European allies reaffirmed that Ukraine’s borders must not be changed by force. Melania Trump penned a letter to Vladimir Putin today urging him to end the conflict in Ukraine:
Following Trump’s meeting with Putin, Ukrainian officials voiced alarm over Trump’s softened tone after Putin demanded full control of Donetsk and Luhansk to end the war. On Truth Social, Trump said he wanted a direct peace agreement rather than a ceasefire. A senior Ukrainian official called this “a stab in the back,” while another said Trump “just wants a quick deal.” Oleksandr Merezhko, chair of Ukraine’s foreign affairs committee, called the outcome “awful,” warning it looked like Trump had aligned with Putin to push Ukraine toward capitulation, despite Trump and Rubio framing the summit as an effort to press Putin into an immediate ceasefire with consequences if he refused. NPR reported that eight pages of US summit planning documents were left in a hotel printer in Anchorage before the Trump-Putin meeting. They included schedules, phone numbers of officials, and a menu for a planned lunch “in honor of his excellency Vladimir Putin.” The papers revealed a planned two-on-two meeting with Trump’s aide Steve Witkoff, later expanded to include Marco Rubio. The meeting ran nearly three hours, replacing the lunch, and the planned one-hour press conference was cut to 12 minutes. The documents were produced by Trump’s chief of protocol, Monica Crowley, who was later photographed shaking Putin’s hand. West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey said he is deploying 300–400 National Guard troops, with equipment and training, to Washington, D.C., at the Trump administration’s request. The move follows Trump’s earlier deployment of 800 Guard members and federal agents to the capital, part of his push to increase military and law enforcement presence in the city. Residents have reported new checkpoints and patrols around neighborhoods and tourist areas. Democrats denounced the escalation, calling it an illegitimate power grab, while Morrisey said the mission showed West Virginia’s “commitment to a strong and secure America.” National Guard troops in Washington, D.C., are reportedly preparing to carry weapons after being initially deployed without them. RFK Jr, now Trump’s health secretary, denied claims he is planning a 2028 presidential run after Trump influencer Laura Loomer accused his team of laying groundwork for a campaign. Kennedy called it “a flat-out lie,” pledged loyalty to Trump, and defended aide Stefanie Spear as a “loyal warrior” for the administration’s “Make America Healthy Again” agenda. California Democrats unveiled a new congressional map that could give them five additional House seats, countering Republican efforts in Texas to add five seats of their own and escalating the national redistricting battle. Thousands are protesting Republican redistricting plans in 34 US cities on Saturday under the banner “Fight the Trump Takeover,” with the main rally in Austin, Texas. The GOP proposal, pushed by Trump, would add five House seats in Texas, prompting Democrats to flee the state to block a vote. California’s governor, Gavin Newsom, said Democrats there would counter with new maps if Texas proceeds. Organizers, backed by groups like Indivisible, MoveOn, and the DNC, frame the protests as a national fight for democracy, with more mass actions planned through Labor Day. ***ICE GESTAPO ABUSE!**** Sarah Shaw, a New Zealand mother living legally in Washington state, and her 6-year-old son were released after spending over three weeks in US immigration detention. She was detained at the Canadian border when returning home because her travel permit had expired, despite valid documents for her son. Shaw and her child were transferred 2,000 miles away to a Texas detention center, where conditions were described as harsh and isolating. Her lawyer called the detention unnecessary and inhumane, noting Shaw had a clean record and a paperwork error led to her case. Air Canada suspended all flights after 10,000 flight attendants went on strike over pay and scheduling, disrupting travel for about 130,000 passengers daily. The Canadian government ordered binding arbitration to end the dispute, extending the current contract until a new deal is reached. The strike has halted 700 daily flights, threatening the economy, while unions accused the government of siding with the airline. Passengers can request refunds, credits, or rebooking, though options are limited during peak summer travel. Marah Abu Zuhri, 20, evacuated from Gaza to Italy on a humanitarian flight, died in Pisa from severe malnutrition. She was among 31 critical patients flown this week, as UN agencies warn famine is unfolding in Gaza with 227 malnutrition-related deaths since October 2023 and thousands still awaiting evacuation. Four masked thieves stole an estimated $2m in diamonds, Rolex watches, gold, and other items in a 90-second smash-and-grab at a Seattle jewelry store. Surveillance footage shows them breaking in with hammers, looting six display cases, and threatening staff with bear spray and a stun gun before fleeing in a getaway car. No injuries were reported, but the family-owned store remains closed as police investigate.
See you this evening from D.C. — Aaron |
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