The Bulletin
WORLD IN BRIEF
- Kremlin confirms US talks: The Kremlin said top Russia officials will hold talks with the U.S. in Saudi Arabia Tuesday on restoring ties and on the war in Ukraine, the Associated Press reported. More updates here.
- Presidents' Day: Presidents' Day is today for the federal government and in states that celebrate the holiday honoring former President George Washington. Here's a list of places that are open and closed in observance of the holiday.
- Poilievre rejects Trump's suggestion: Canada's Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre rebuked President Trump's repeated suggestion that Canada should become the 51st U.S. state on Saturday. Read his full remarks.
- US ally responds to China's threat: The Philippines said on Friday that it never pledged to remove a missile system deployed by its ally, the United States, as China threatened to take necessary countermeasures. Find out more.
- Ohio Governor's race: Vivek Ramaswamy has filed his paperwork and set the date to start his bid for governor of Ohio, replacing current Republican Governor Mike DeWine, who cannot run again due to term limits. Here's a look at his chances of winning.
- Weather warnings: There are winter storm warnings and advisories in place across 21 states, with up to 3 feet of snow expected to hit in some places. See the affected regions.
War on Drug Cartels Ramps Up at America's Blue Border
The rundown: Fentanyl overdoses have been at crisis levels in New Mexico for the past three years. State leaders are calling for a mix of punitive and community-based strategies to combat the fatal drug amid a White House push to seal off the Southern border. Know their proposed strategies.
Why it matters: The most recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reveals that in 2023, fentanyl accounted for 66.7 percent of drug-related deaths in New Mexico. Democrat Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham supports stronger penalties for traffickers but opposes militarizing the U.S.-Mexico border, while Republicans back President Trump's border military presence. Local leaders argue that militarization won't curb fentanyl smuggling, which primarily occurs via trucks and boats. Instead, they advocate for increased funding for drug detection technology and mental health services.
Read more in-depth coverage:
How US Spy Planes Are Tracking Mexican Drug Cartels
TL/DR: Representative Teresa Leger Fernández, who represents New Mexico's 3rd Congressional District, has called for increased federal funding for fentanyl detection and enforcement.
What happens now? Despite differing political approaches, one thing is clear: New Mexico is facing an urgent crisis, and leaders across the political spectrum will need to find common ground to prevent further loss of life while navigating around Trump's plans to carry out large-scale mass deportations.
Deeper reading War on Drug Cartels Ramps Up at America's Blue Border
Europe Panics as Trump Reshapes US Foreign Policy
The rundown: Mere weeks into his second term, President Donald Trump's message for Europe is clear—and unpalatably delivered for many of Washington's continental allies. Know more.
Why it matters: At the Munich Security Conference, U.S. Vice President JD Vance delivered a blunt message to Europe, criticizing the continent's reliance on Washington for defense spending. Vance argued that Europe's greatest threat wasn't external, but an "enemy within," and called for a drastic increase in military expenditure, pushing for a 5 percent GDP contribution. Many European officials were taken aback by his rhetoric, especially since he did not address Ukraine, a key issue at the conference.
Read more in-depth coverage:
Trump May Meet Putin in February in Stunning Setback for Ukraine, Europe
TL/DR: "Genuine shock" flashed through the audience, Oleksiy Goncharenko, a Ukrainian lawmaker, told Newsweek, despite some attempts among senior figures to brush off the unexpected rhetoric.
What happens now? While the U.S. demands more from Europe, the future of Ukraine’s involvement in peace talks remains uncertain, raising concerns among European leaders about being sidelined in negotiations.
Deeper reading Europe Panics as Trump Reshapes US Foreign Policy
Home Insurance Crisis: Are These States Next?
The rundown: The property insurance crisis weighing on homeowners in California and Florida could soon loom over other states where the risk of devastating natural disasters is growing, experts warned. Find out which states are next.
Why it matters: Major insurers are withdrawing, making home insurance harder to find and more expensive. While California and Florida attempt to address the issue through regulation and market strategies, the crisis may soon affect states like Louisiana, Texas, Colorado and Idaho, where extreme weather, wildfires and droughts are rising. Massachusetts, Louisiana and Texas have seen significant insurance rate increases. In Massachusetts, home insurance rates soared by nearly 16 percent in 2023 after a record number of insured natural disasters, news platform Patch reported. While Colorado and Kansas face wildfire risks.
Read more in-depth coverage:
Economist Warns Insurance Crisis Can Break U.S. Economy
TL/DR: There are states where there's little risk of extreme weather events and property insurance rates have remained stable in the past few years, including Ohio and the Pacific Northwest, where premiums remain more affordable.
What happens now? Experts warn that the lack of resources in these states may exacerbate the problem, impacting homeowners and local economies.
Deeper reading Home Insurance Crisis: Are These States Next?
Ukraine's NATO Ally 'Ready' To Deploy Troops
The rundown: The United Kingdom would be "ready and willing" to deploy British troops in Ukraine as part of a potential peace deal, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer declared Sunday. Find out more.
Why it matters: Europe is "facing a once-in-a-generation moment for the collective security of our continent," Starmer warned in an article for The Telegraph, emphasizing the broader stakes of the conflict started by Russia nearly three years ago. Starmer said the United Kingdom is "ready to play a leading role" in accelerating work on security guarantees for Ukraine, pledging further military support beyond the £3 billion ($3.7 billion) per year already committed until at least 2030. The declaration marks a significant change in position from the U.K. on direct military involvement.
Read more in-depth coverage:
Trump Aide Lays Out 4 Key Tenets to Talks With Putin Over Ukraine
TL/DR: There will be talks between Russia and the U.S. aimed at bringing an end to Russian President Vladimir Putin's war—talks from which Kyiv has been excluded, according to Ukrainian officials.
What happens now? Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in Saudi Arabia on Monday where officials from Russia and the U.S. are expected to hold talks on the nearly three-year conflict. Observers of the conflict worry President Trump may strike a deal with Putin that pressures Ukraine to abandon its aspirations to join NATO and cede its currently occupied territories, effectively capitulating to Moscow's demands.
Deeper reading Ukraine's NATO Ally 'Ready' To Deploy Troops
Does Elon Musk Have Access to IRS Taxpayer Data? What We Know
The rundown: Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is attempting to gain access to an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) system that holds personal taxpayer data on millions of Americans, The Washington Post reported, citing three people familiar with the matter. Get into more details.
Why it matters: Access to IRS taxpayer data is strictly regulated under federal law. Only IRS employees involved in tax enforcement, audits, collections and taxpayer services are authorized to access these records. While IRS employees have tightly restricted access to the system, Musk's DOGE initiative has sought entry into the database, raising concerns over the potential misuse of sensitive information. Musk justified DOGE's interest in the IRS system by saying some federal employees had acquired significant wealth beyond their official salaries. Musk and DOGE have not specified what federal data they have already acquired or how it has been used.
Read more in-depth coverage:
Will IRS Tax Refunds Be Impacted by Trump's Audit? What To Know
TL/DR: Previously, DOGE has been criticized for actions seen as infringing on privacy and security, with lawmakers expressing concerns over its expanding reach.
What happens now? The IRS is reviewing the request, and according to The New York Times, it is still determining the exact terms under which a DOGE staff member, Gavin Kliger, would work at the agency as a senior adviser to the acting commissioner.
Deeper reading Does Elon Musk Have Access to IRS Taxpayer Data? What We Know
Department of Education Helps Students With Disabilities. Don't Let It Disappear | Opinion
If the U.S. Department of Education disappears, millions of students with disabilities will face even greater barriers to getting the education they deserve. They are our neighbors, classmates, friends, and family members. When we take away the protections and resources that make education possible, we don't just fail them—we fail as a society.
In 1971, before federal protections for people with disabilities existed, states were free to exclude children with disabilities from their public schools—and many did. Millions of children were denied an education, not because they couldn't learn, but because our society didn't believe they were worth educating. That changed because of federal action. Parents, led by my organization, The Arc, fought in court and won. Their victory laid the foundation for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), securing the right to a free, appropriate public education for students with disabilities, regardless of the nature or severity of their disability.
Now, access to that right is in jeopardy, and parents across the country are alarmed.
