Putin Agrees To Partial Ceasefire In Ukraine After Call With Trump
Plus: Chief Justice responds to Trump's impeachment calls & NASA astronauts' splash down
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Good afternoon,
Suni and Butch are coming home today! The NASA astronauts have been stuck in space for over 9 months and are set to splash down off the Florida coast around 6 p.m. ET — you can watch it here!
The SpaceX capsule carrying them is expected to travel through space, burst through the atmosphere, and ultimately fall back to Earth under parachutes.
The two astronauts were unable to return to Earth as originally planned on the Boeing Starliner after the spacecraft experienced problems on its test flight to the International Space Station, turning their week-long trip into a months-long one.
NASA has scheduled a press conference at 7:30 p.m. ET (link here) with agency and SpaceX officials to discuss the mission.
Lauren
Producer
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🚨 ONE IMPORTANT THING
Putin Agrees To Partial Infrastructure Ceasefire With Ukraine; Gaza Strikes End Hope For Lasting Deal
It appears we are now slightly closer to the end of the three-year old war in Ukraine. President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke by phone for two hours on Tuesday about the U.S.-proposed 30-day ceasefire deal. The two leaders appeared to make some progress on what they’re calling an "energy and infrastructure ceasefire.”
Ukraine has already agreed to the broader ceasefire deal, but Russia has yet to fully commit to a full end to the fighting.
The Kremlin said after the meeting that Putin accepted a proposal for both sides to stop targeting each other’s energy infrastructure for 30 days– and followed up by relaying those orders to the Russian military. Russia has done tens of billions of dollars in damage to Ukrainian infrastructure since Putin launched the invasion in 2022.
The White House readout said "that the movement to peace will begin" with this infrastructure deal.
PUTIN’S CHESS
Putin brought up concerns that Ukraine could use a truce to rearm and mobilize forces. According to reports, Putin is demanding the U.S. stop weapons deliveries to Ukraine during a ceasefire. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has accused the Russian leader of "prolonging" the war in order to gain more territory, while costing lives. Following reports of the call, he told reporters that Ukraine is open to any proposals that lead to a sustainable and just peace, but stressed the need for transparency and for Ukraine to be involved in talks.
March 17, 2025 look at Russia-Ukraine war. Via: Institute for the Study of War
Putin and Trump also discussed the Middle East and agreed that "Iran should never be in a position to destroy Israel."
CHECK-IN ON GAZA
A ceasefire between Israel and Hamas is over, two months after it began. Early Tuesday local time, Israel launched extensive airstrikes on the Gaza Strip following the collapse of ceasefire negotiations with Hamas — marking the heaviest attacks since January.
Israel says they killed “numerous mid-level and senior-ranking” Hamas terrorists in the strikes. The Hamas-run health authority says more than 400 people have died and 550 injured, including women and children, but the group does not distinguish between militant and civilian deaths.
Concerns are growing over the fate of 59 hostages still held by Hamas in Gaza, fewer than half of which are believed to be alive. Families of the Israeli hostages said in a statement that “the Israeli government has chosen to give up on the hostages.”
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu cited Hamas’s “repeated refusal” to accept a new ceasefire offer from the U.S., or release hostages, as the reason for renewed military action. Hamas, in turn, accused Israel of unilaterally ending the ceasefire, adding that the attacks put hostages in Gaza at risk.
Israeli officials warned that strikes will continue with increasing force until Hamas agrees to the terms of a second phase of the ceasefire.
A proposed “bridge deal” for negotiations included the release of five hostages — one being American Edan Alexander — in exchange for a significant number of Palestinian prisoners, but U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff deemed Hamas’s response to it as “unacceptable.”
The initial ceasefire —mediated by Qatar, Egypt, and the U.S. — began on January 19, and led to Hamas’ release of nearly 40 hostages (living and dead) and Israel’s release of approximately 1,800 Palestinian prisoners. Negotiations for a second phase have hit a stalemate.
🚨 ONE THING THAT’S ESCALATING
Chief Justice Roberts To Trump: Calling For Judge’s Impeachment Is Inappropriate
The battle between the White House and the judicial branch escalated on Tuesday. U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts responded with strong language to President Trump’s Truth Social post calling for the impeachment of a federal judge he is unhappy with.
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“For more than two centuries, it has been established that impeachment is not an appropriate response to disagreement concerning a judicial decision. The normal appellate review process exists for that purpose”
Roberts’ response
Background: Trump is frustrated with U.S. District Judge James Boasberg., who temporarily paused the president’s use of the 1798 Alien Enemies Act so he can determine if the move is constitutional. The president asserts that the law allows him to deport suspected Venezuelan gang members without going through the courts. The President called the judge hearing the case a "radical left lunatic,” who he says Congress needs to immediately impeach.
Quick update on the case: On Tuesday, Judge Boasberg held a hearing to find out whether or not two deportation flights that took off on Saturday night violated his orders – given the same night – to halt such deportation efforts. DOJ lawyers continued to withhold details on the exact departure times of the flights, arguing that sharing those details would be “inappropriate” since the administration did not violate Boasberg’s 7:25 p.m. written order. The issue is, the judge gave an oral ruling from the bench around 45 minutes earlier.
Up next: Boasberg told the DOJ to send him the exact flight timings by tomorrow. He said the information can be sealed — not public.
HOW WE GOT HERE
Over the weekend, Trump announced he was using the Alien Enemies Act to deport nearly 300 detained migrants to El Salvador. Hours later, Judge Boasberg — an Obama appointee — put a temporary restraining order on the move, until he could determine if it was constitutional for Trump to invoke the act. It resulted in a tense exchange Monday between the judge and the DOJ on whether the Trump administration followed judicial orders.
The Roberts rebuke: Trump has praised Roberts in the past, who last summer wrote the Supreme Court opinion granting presidents’ broad immunity for actions taken during the presidency. It helped Trump in the case he was facing regarding alleged election interference crimes.
Following a joint address to Congress this month, Trump was seen thanking the Chief Justice, saying, "Thank you again. Won't forget it."
We will see what Trump has to say in response to Roberts’ latest statement.
⏳ SPEED READ
🚨NATION
📌 Trump revokes Secret Service protection for adult Biden children Hunter and Ashley (FOX)
📌 Getting paid not to work: Federal probationary workers are being reinstated but put on paid leave (CNN)
📌 DOGE gains access to US Institute of Peace after Trump administration overhauls board (POLITICO)
📌 Texas midwife charged with illegally performing abortions (AXIOS)
📌 Vance will lead G.O.P. fund-raising, an apparent first for a sitting vice president (THE HILL)
🌎 AROUND THE WORLD
📌 Germany poised to unlock €3B Ukraine aid after historic spending deal (POLITICO)
📌 Antarctic base "under control" after researcher accused colleague of assault, South Africa says (CBS)
📌 Parents of missing Pittsburgh student ask Dominican police to declare her dead (ABC)
📱BUSINESS, SCIENCE & TECH
📌 BYD’s shares rally after rolling out new technology it claims charges EVs in five minutes (CNBC)
📌 Amazon is removing an Echo privacy setting that keeps Alexa recordings from the company (USA TODAY)
📌 Fed likely to pause rate cuts with clouds gathering over the economy (THE HILL)
🎬 SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT
📌 Actor Tracy Morgan leaves Knicks game in wheelchair after throwing up in courtside seat (FOX)
📌 Lollapalooza 2025 lineup announced with Doechii, Sabrina Carpenter (CBS)
ICYMI FROM THE 📲
In case you missed it… We got the trailer (!) for Adam Sandler’s return to the role of Happy Gilmore in “Happy Gilmore 2,” set to premiere on Netflix on July 25, 2025.
The sequel features several original cast members including Julie Bowen and Christopher McDonald, alongside new additions like Bad Bunny and NFL star Travis Kelce. 🍿