1. UKRAINE LATEST: As U.S.-Ukraine officials kicked off talks in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, national security adviser Mike Waltz told CNN’s Alex Marquardt that the two sides were “getting there” in the meeting’s initial hours. Despite friction between the allies, both countries were signaling steady or slightly positive messages so far today. Ukraine’s Andriy Yermak said that “we’re ready to do everything to achieve peace.” The backdrop is that Ukraine launched its largest-ever barrage of drones attacking Moscow overnight (along with more familiar Russian strikes on Ukraine), per NBC. But but but: Bloomberg’s Alex Wickham and Alberto Nardelli have new reporting on Western security assessments of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s intentions that the Trump administration won’t like. These officials say Putin has “no intention to compromise on demands on land, peacekeepers and Ukraine’s neutrality in any peace talks,” and if Europe rejects his “maximalist” plans — which it surely would — Russia will keep up its invasion. The Kremlin denied that’s true. 2. 2026 WATCH: Former Rep. Katie Porter jumped into the California Democratic gubernatorial primary today, with a focus on holding Trump accountable, per POLITICO’s Melanie Mason. Her launch announcement also hits on the populist themes of fighting corruption and protecting consumers that first got her elected to Congress. This is her second straight statewide bid after falling short in last year’s Senate race. But Porter would probably drop out if Kamala Harris runs, per CNN’s Isaac Dovere. 3. FED UP: “Bowman Seen as Front-Runner for Fed’s Top Banking Cop,” by WSJ’s Nick Timiraos: “Advisers to President Trump have indicated to allies in recent days that Federal Reserve governor Michelle Bowman is the front-runner to serve as the central bank’s top cop on banking issues, according to people familiar with the matter. Some Republican lawmakers have urged the vice chair for bank supervision be filled promptly after growing irritated by suggestions in public and private from Chair Jerome Powell to leave the position empty.” 4. IN THE DOGE HOUSE: “Kenya HIV patients live in fear as US aid freeze strands drugs in warehouse,” by Reuters’ Aaron Ross, Tim Cocks and Vivianne Wandera in Nairobi: “The health clinic where Alice Okwirry collects her HIV medication … has been rationing supplies of antiretrovirals to one-month refills since the U.S. government froze foreign aid. On the outskirts of the city, meanwhile, millions of life-saving doses sit on the shelves of a warehouse, unused and unreachable. … [O]fficials in Washington have not authorised the release of money required to distribute the $34 million worth of medicine and equipment at the warehouse.” More DOGE fallout: “Republicans join bill to protect workers after DOGE firings,” by POLITICO’s Hailey Fuchs 5. MIDDLE EAST LATEST: The U.S. announced that it has helped bring Israel and Lebanon to the negotiating table for talks today about their shared border, which are also meant to help strengthen the cease-fire in place for the past few months, per Axios’ Barak Ravid. 6. IMMIGRATION FILES: Citing Trump’s national emergency declaration, DHS bypassed the usual bidding competition for an ad campaign praising Trump’s immigration crackdown, AP’s Adriana Gomez Licon reports. Instead, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem gave the first two contracts to firms with ties to Republican consultants. One went to Jay Connaughton, who has worked with Corey Lewandowski, while another — already totaling $16 million — seems to be linked to Mike McElwain. 7. ONE TO WATCH: Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) has been tasked with talking to the Trump administration about a plan for lifting the debt ceiling, POLITICO’s Jennifer Scholtes, Meredith Lee Hill and Jordain Carney scooped. Senate Majority Leader John Thune asked him to take the lead, but Kennedy says Trump doesn’t seem very focused on the debt limit yet. 8. HOUSE MONEY: “Trump administration backs off mandate addressing housing segregation and discrimination,” by CNN’s Nathaniel Meyersohn: “The mandate, Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH), requires states, cities and public housing agencies that receive federal funding from the Department of Housing and Urban Development to actively tackle housing discrimination and promote equal housing opportunities. … The Trump administration’s new AFFH rule requires jurisdictions only to certify that they took any action at all to promote fair housing.”
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