We have a look at what’s on the road for the Trump administration within the assembly between President Trump and Russia’s President Putin, in addition to what it means for the president to “federalize” Washington.
ADRIAN MA, HOST:
To listen to extra about that deliberate assembly between President Trump and President Putin, we flip to NPR political correspondent Danielle Kurtzleben who’s been following the story. Good morning, Danielle.
DANIELLE KURTZLEBEN, BYLINE: Hey, good morning.
MA: We simply heard the view from Ukraine. However from the Trump administration’s perspective, what do they wish to accomplish with this assembly in Alaska?
KURTZLEBEN: Properly, in fact, they need any progress they’ll make on peace in any respect. I imply, Trump has actually, actually – it is arduous to overstate it. He is talked up his capability as a world peacemaker on the marketing campaign path. He bragged about his relationship with Putin, saying that that might assist him finish this warfare. He stated repeatedly on the marketing campaign path that he would finish this warfare inside a day of taking workplace, and that didn’t occur, clearly. However he has not let up. He talks about this battle quite a bit. He is intervened in it quite a bit by way of lengthy telephone calls with Putin, having Zelenskyy over to the White Home, which infamously ended with a shouting match.
And as Putin saved bombarding Ukraine, Trump began criticizing him extra. All of which is to say that Trump has talked an enormous recreation right here, and that was even earlier than his latest fixation on profitable a Nobel Peace Prize, with Trump attempting to intervene in all types of conflicts worldwide. Now, one different factor that is fascinating right here is that after opposing help to Ukraine for a very long time, some in his personal occasion – together with some MAGA Republicans – at the moment are supporting Trump in his assist of Ukraine, which is only a huge theme of this 12 months, congressional Republicans falling in line behind no matter Trump says.
MA: So let’s follow the Republicans for a bit longer right here as a result of there is a standoff between Texas Republicans and Democrats, which retains going. And Republicans there wish to redraw voting maps to achieve 5 seats for the following midterm elections. And to keep away from that, Democratic lawmakers have fled the state. Are you able to inform us the place issues stand now?
KURTZLEBEN: Proper. Properly, these Democrats went to a couple blue states like Illinois, Massachusetts, New York. And in the meantime, Texas Governor Greg Abbott, a Republican, responded by ordering their arrest. Now, Texas Legal professional Basic Ken Paxton added to that on Friday, submitting a lawsuit to take away 13 of the fleeing Democrats from their seats. Now, will any of this work for these Democrats? As our colleague Rachel Treisman reported, walkouts are simply not nice at getting outcomes like stopping laws, however they’re nice at getting consideration on a difficulty. And this has positively performed that for redistricting.
MA: Proper. I imply, we have heard that some blue states would possibly reply in variety, however can they actually do this? I imply, will the maths work of their favor?
KURTZLEBEN: Properly, that is two totally different questions. Can they? They will attempt. California Governor Gavin Newsom has stated that if Texas redistricts, nicely, he is simply going to maneuver ahead with having California maps redrawn to learn Democrats. And that might contain a referendum this November for voters to approve these maps. So he is pushing forward on that. In the meantime, another blue state governors have additionally stated they’re open to this type of retaliatory redistricting. However it’s simply not potential to know what the maths would appear like. The Home proper now’s so intently divided. This might go any course.
MA: To show to a distinct concern in Washington, D.C., proper now, not too long ago, a DOGE staffer was assaulted right here final week throughout an tried carjacking. And President Trump stated he needed to quickly federalize the district to carry crime beneath management. Are you able to speak about what which means precisely and the way wouldn’t it work?
KURTZLEBEN: Properly, it’s extremely unclear. Friday, Trump stated there could be elevated federal legislation enforcement on D.C. streets for every week. Now, I requested the White Home for extra particulars and did not get any, however we will hear extra quickly. Yesterday, Trump posted on social media that on Monday, there’s going to be a White Home press convention that can, quote, “primarily cease violent crime” in D.C. Now, we should always word that the district says violent crime is definitely down considerably this 12 months within the metropolis. However plenty of what Trump has talked about may be very a lot crime-related and never in regards to the different many components of working a metropolis, like, you recognize, roads, trash assortment, security nets. The crime facet of that is, in fact, nonetheless an enormous deal. And Trump has additionally talked about taking up the town and eliminating house rule, which is D.C.’s capability to manipulate itself, elect its personal officers. Now, once more, we do not know what he’ll announce tomorrow, however there’s an excellent likelihood it should trigger plenty of backlash right here within the district, on the very least.
MA: That is NPR political correspondent Danielle Kurtzleben. Thanks once more, Danielle.
KURTZLEBEN: In fact. Thanks.
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