Newsroom Briefing | July 21st, 2025

Olga Nesterova
Jul 21
10 min read

Hunter Biden Breaks Silence in Candid Channel 5 Interview

Hunter Biden, son of former President Joe Biden, gave a rare and emotionally raw interview with Channel 5 that has quickly gone viral. In the conversation, he opens up with surprising candor about his personal struggles, public scrutiny, current state of politics in the United States, and the Democratic establishment. Three standout clips from the interview are making the rounds online—offering a rare, unfiltered look at his side of the story.

Watch the full interview or the viral clips to get a better sense of Hunter’s tone, vulnerability, and the broader context behind his comments.

Kremlin Floats Possible Putin–Trump Meeting in Beijing This Fall

The Kremlin announced Monday it would not rule out a meeting between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump if both attend the September summit in Beijing. While unofficial, the prospect of a Putin–Trump sit-down—potentially alongside Chinese President Xi Jinping—raises global eyebrows and would create a striking geopolitical tableau.

Picture it: Putin, Trump, and Xi—three strongmen, one stage. The imagery alone would speak volumes about the shifting dynamics of global power.

Trump Admin Says Trade Quality Matters—Despite Chaotic Track Record

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent claimed Monday that the Trump administration is prioritizing the quality of trade agreements over speed, as an August 1 deadline looms before steep tariffs kick in. But the statement rings hollow: the administration’s trade strategy has been plagued by poorly drafted letters, minimal coordination with allies, and a failure to deliver the promised “90 deals in 90 days.”

Reality Check: This isn’t careful diplomacy—it’s a breakdown in it. The administration’s disjointed approach has left key allies frustrated and trade partners confused, casting doubt on any claim of thoughtful deal-making.

Canada–U.S. Relations Take Center Stage in Ottawa Senate Visit

Prime Minister Mark Carney met today in Ottawa with a bipartisan group of U.S. senators—Ron Wyden (OR), Lisa Murkowski (AK), Maggie Hassan (NH), and Catherine Cortez Masto (NV)—to emphasize the importance of the Canada–U.S. trade relationship. Discussions included the impact of Canadian businesses in their states, transformations in Canada’s steel industry, and efforts to bolster continental security and border control. Both sides committed to jointly addressing the fentanyl crisis. As Canada continues negotiating a new trade and security agreement with the U.S., senior Canadian officials are actively engaging in Washington, with further talks scheduled this week.

Carney and King Abdullah II Deepen Canada–Jordan Ties with $28.4M Security and Aid Commitment

Prime Minister Mark Carney met with King Abdullah II of Jordan today in Ottawa, marking their first in-person meeting since Carney took office. The two leaders reaffirmed the strong Canada–Jordan relationship, with discussions focused on enhancing trade, defense, and economic cooperation.

Carney announced a $28.4 million Canadian commitment to support Jordan’s border security and development efforts. The funding will assist Jordanian forces in counter-terrorism and crime prevention, rebuild border infrastructure with Canadian steel, and provide humanitarian support for refugees through education, healthcare, and job programs.

The leaders also discussed regional instability, emphasizing the urgency of a ceasefire in Gaza, increased humanitarian aid, and the need for long-term stability in Syria. King Abdullah expressed gratitude for Canada’s support, with both leaders pledging to maintain close contact.

Ishiba Vows to Stay On as LDP Suffers Historic Loss in Both Houses

Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru has pledged to remain in office despite his coalition losing its majority in the upper house following yesterday’s elections. His Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its partner Komeito had already lost the lower house last October, marking the first time since 1955 that the LDP coalition has been out of power in both chambers.

Economic frustration—especially over rising rice prices—drove voter discontent, following earlier corruption scandals. While the center-left Constitutional Democratic Party held its ground, conservative populist parties, including the anti-immigrant Sanseitō, made notable gains.

This shift could complicate Ishiba’s push for a U.S. trade deal amid looming 25% tariffs from Washington. Sanseitō's surge signals voter backlash against recent pro-immigration policies, though the party hinted it may cooperate with the ruling bloc on select issues.

NATIONAL NEWS

U.S. to Deport Permanent Residents Tied to Haitian Gangs

Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced Monday that the United States will deport some U.S. permanent residents found to have supported or collaborated with Haitian gang leaders linked to a designated foreign terrorist organization.

UAE Repatriates Afghan Evacuees Before Trump’s Promise of Help

Days before President Donald Trump pledged to assist Afghan evacuees stranded in the United Arab Emirates, the Emirati government had already begun sending them back to Afghanistan, according to a leaked State Department cable seen by Reuters.

Pentagon Ends Marine Deployment in Los Angeles Amid Protests

The Pentagon confirmed Monday it will end the deployment of approximately 700 active-duty Marines sent to Los Angeles last month "to protect federal property during protests against Trump’s immigration crackdown".

Mayor Criticizes ICE Use of Masks in Raids

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass condemned the use of masks by ICE agents during recent immigration raids, saying the tactic created a “reign of terror” in local communities.

ICE to Build Nationwide Tent Camps with $45B in New Funding

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is racing to build tent cities across the country after receiving $45 billion in new funding, with plans to expand detention capacity from 40,000 to 100,000 beds by the end of the year, the Wall Street Journal reported. 450K per bed?!

FDA Appoints Biotech Leader as Drug Evaluation Director

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has appointed George Tidmarsh, a seasoned biotech executive and longtime Stanford University professor, as Director of the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research.

Trump Seeks to Block FTC Democrat’s Return

On Monday, the Trump administration asked a U.S. appeals court to block a court order that reinstated Democratic FTC Commissioner Rebecca Slaughter, following Trump’s failed attempt to remove her.

Republicans Question Big Tech Over Submarine Cables

Three Republican House lawmakers have asked the CEOs of Alphabet, Meta, Amazon, and Microsoft whether their companies have taken adequate steps to address national security concerns related to submarine communications cables.

Mass Deportations Could Impact U.S. Construction Industry

U.S. homebuilders are preparing for quarterly earnings amid rising costs, high interest rates, and fears that Trump’s mass deportation plans could create labor shortages in the construction sector.

Judge Faces GOP Pressure in Maxwell–Epstein Case

A federal judge under Republican scrutiny for blocking Elon Musk’s government review team from accessing Treasury records will now decide whether to release grand jury testimony in the Ghislaine Maxwell case.

Wildfire Surge Sparks Criticism of Trump-Era Cuts

Current and former U.S. Forest Service employees blame Trump-era workforce reductions for the agency’s staffing shortages, as the U.S. faces record-breaking wildfires this year.

FAA Investigates Near-Miss in North Dakota

The FAA is investigating a near collision last week between a SkyWest Airlines jet and a U.S. Air Force plane over North Dakota. The commercial jet landed safely after executing a go-around during its approach to Minot.

Trump Admin Threatens Action Over Mexico Flight Restrictions

The administration said it will retaliate against Mexico after the Mexican government cut flight slots and forced cargo carriers to relocate operations—impacting several U.S. airlines.

Alaska Airlines Grounds Planes After Software Outage

Alaska Airlines temporarily grounded all flights overnight due to a software failure, causing delays and service disruptions.

Trump Pushes for Return to 'Redskins' and 'Indians' Names

President Trump urged the Washington Commanders and Cleveland Guardians to revert to their former names—Redskins and Indians—claiming, without evidence, that Native Americans support the move.

Fed Renovation Draws Trump Criticism

As the Trump administration escalates its criticism of Fed Chair Jerome Powell, the Federal Reserve released a video tour and details of its $2.5 billion headquarters renovation, now a target of White House scrutiny.

According to Semafor, White House Deputy Chief of Staff James Blair said the Trump administration plans to visit the Federal Reserve’s headquarters this week to review the renovation project.

SEC and Labor Dept. Eye Retirement Market Rules

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission is coordinating with the Labor Department to establish guardrails if retirement plans gain broader access to private market investments, according to the SEC chief in a Monday CNBC interview.

Sentencing in Breonna Taylor Case Draws Criticism

A former Louisville police officer was sentenced Monday for violating Breonna Taylor’s civil rights during the fatal raid. Trump’s Justice Department asked the judge to impose a sentence of just one day.

U.S.–EU Trade Deal Faces August Deadline

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said he is confident a U.S.–EU trade deal can be reached before the August 1 deadline, after which tariffs are scheduled to take effect. Seeing is believing.

White House Boasts “Prevented WWIII” in Top 10 List

In a press release touting its accomplishments, the White House listed “preventing World War III” as one of its top 10 deliverables. Here are the screenshots of the administration’s claimed achievements.

*Tap on the top left photo to expand it, then scroll left to keep reading.

Foreign Aid Cuts Leave Global Water Projects Half-Finished

Reuters reports that Trump administration foreign aid cuts have left dozens of global water and sanitation projects incomplete—creating serious risks for the vulnerable populations they were meant to help.

Bessent Suggests Fed Review, Won’t Comment on Powell’s Fate

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Monday the Federal Reserve as an institution needs to be evaluated for effectiveness. He declined to confirm reports that he advised Trump not to fire Jerome Powell, calling it the president’s decision.

Call to Release More Epstein Records and Grant Immunity

One of Jeffrey Epstein’s former attorneys called on the Justice Department to release more investigative records and to grant immunity to Epstein’s former girlfriend so she can testify fully about his crimes.

Heritage Foundation Founder Dies at 83

Edwin Feulner, founder and longtime president of the influential Heritage Foundation, has died at 83, the organization announced in a statement.

DEFENSE

Lt. Gen. Stephen L. Davis, the Department of the Air Force’s top internal watchdog, has been nominated to lead Air Force Global Strike Command, which oversees the service’s bomber fleet and intercontinental ballistic missiles.

The Senate voted on July 17 to confirm Space Force Gen. Michael A. Guetlein to his new role as direct reporting program manager for President Donald Trump’s Golden Dome missile defense initiative.

Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Gregory L. Masiello has officially assumed leadership of the expansive multiservice, multinational F-35 program—stepping into the role at what may be a pivotal moment in the program’s evolution.

Lawmakers from both chambers of Congress are pressing the Pentagon to take the threat of cheap, small drones more seriously—urging the military to get effective counter-UAS systems into the hands of U.S. troops as quickly as possible.

In a historic first, U.S. Air Force F-35s recently operated from the Philippines during the latest iteration of Exercise Cope Thunder.

Iran suffered a major setback following the killing of top military leaders by Israel and a U.S. strike on its nuclear facilities. Still, a wave of high-value weapons seizures reveals Tehran’s renewed efforts to arm its proxy militias across the Middle East.

Back in March, military and industry representatives from the U.S. and U.K. launched Joint Project Vanaheim, a collaborative initiative aimed at shaping the future of counter-small UAS (C-sUAS) capabilities. Yet just four months later, new threats have emerged that Vanaheim has not even begun to address—underscoring how rapidly the battlefield is evolving.

Next month, service members from across the U.S. military will gather at Camp Atterbury in Indiana for a “Top Gun” school focused on first-person kamikaze drones—the same type of system currently aiding Ukrainian forces against Russian invaders.

NATO members that do not operate the F-35 have expressed interest in supporting maintenance and repair operations for alliance aircraft within their countries, according to Michael Williamson, president of Lockheed Martin International, speaking at the Royal International Air Tattoo on July 18.

York Space Systems, a key supplier for the Space Development Agency’s proliferated satellite constellation, announced it is acquiring ATLAS Space Operations, a provider of ground station software.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has proposed that military bases in Indiana and New Jersey could temporarily house detained immigrants without affecting military readiness. This week, he notified members of Congress from both states about the potential plan to use Camp Atterbury and Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst as detention sites.

Belgium will acquire 11 additional F-35 Joint Strike Fighters from Lockheed Martin, increasing its planned fleet to 45. Defense Minister Theo Francken announced the decision after securing parliamentary approval for the Strategic Vision Plan, which outlines an increase in defense spending to 2% of GDP by 2025, rising to 2.5% in the 2030s.

GLOBAL NEWS

Israel–Palestine Conflict Intensifies

Ground Offensive in Central Gaza: Israel launched its first ground operation in Deir al-Balah since the war began. The offensive follows one of the deadliest days for Palestinians seeking food aid—67 killed in northern Gaza, and 32 more near a southern aid site, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.
UN Accusations: The World Food Program says Israeli tanks and snipers opened fire on civilians near aid convoys. Israel claims it fired only “warning shots” at what it called an “immediate threat.”
West Bank Church Attack: U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee visited a Christian village where a church was attacked earlier this month, calling it an “act of terror.” Clerics blame Israeli settlers. Israel has not commented.

Iran

Nuclear Talks Resume: Iran will reopen negotiations with France, Germany, and the UK on Friday. The talks follow European threats of renewed international sanctions if Iran doesn’t reengage by the end of August.
Mass Deportations of Afghans: Iran is now deporting up to 30,000 Afghans per day, citing economic strain and alleged Afghan espionage for Israel. The UN refugee agency warns the scale of deportations is alarming.

South Korea

Severe Flooding and Landslides: At least 18 people have died due to torrential rain causing widespread floods and landslides across the country.

Democratic Republic of Congo

Ceasefire with M23 Rebels: The DRC government and the M23 rebel group signed a ceasefire on Saturday, aiming for a formal peace deal by August 18. The U.S. and UN praised the Qatar-facilitated agreement as a step toward lasting stability.

China

Exit Bans on U.S.-Connected Individuals:
- Wells Fargo has halted employee travel to China after a U.S.-based executive was barred from leaving.
- Separately, a Chinese American man was blocked from exiting after failing to disclose prior U.S. government work.
Neither Beijing nor Washington has publicly commented.

Brazil

U.S. Visa Ban on Top Judge: Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced visa restrictions on Supreme Court Judge Alexandre de Moraes, accusing him of persecuting ex-president Jair Bolsonaro and censoring dissent.
Brazil Responds: President Lula da Silva called the U.S. move “unacceptable interference” in Brazil’s judiciary.

France

X Refuses to Cooperate with Data Probe: Elon Musk’s platform X (formerly Twitter) said it will not comply with a French probe into alleged data mismanagement, accusing the government of a politically motivated attack on free speech.
France reportedly requested access to X’s algorithm and user data, but has not explained the basis for its investigation.

Follow @onestpress on Bluesky (or X) for live updates.

TODAY IN HISTORY

356 BCE – The Temple of Artemis Burned Down
One of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus (in present-day Turkey), was destroyed by arson committed by Herostratus, who reportedly did it for fame.
1861 – First Battle of Bull Run (U.S. Civil War)
The first major battle of the American Civil War was fought in Virginia. Confederate forces defeated Union troops, shattering hopes of a quick war and signaling a long, bloody conflict ahead.
1925 – Scopes "Monkey Trial" Verdict
Tennessee teacher John T. Scopes was found guilty of violating state law by teaching evolution in schools. The trial, featuring Clarence Darrow and William Jennings Bryan, highlighted tensions between science and religion in American life.
1969 – Neil Armstrong Walks on the Moon
At 10:56 PM EDT, Neil Armstrong became the first human to walk on the Moon during NASA’s Apollo 11 mission. His words—“That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind”—echoed around the globe.
2007 – Final Harry Potter Book Released
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, the seventh and final book in J.K. Rowling’s series, was released worldwide, selling over 11 million copies in the first 24 hours.

WHAT ELSE

European Parliament Delegation in the U.S.
A delegation from the European Parliament began its official visit to the United States today, with discussions expected to focus on trade, defense, and transatlantic cooperation.
South American Leaders Meet in Santiago
Chilean President Gabriel Boric hosted the leaders of Brazil, Colombia, Spain, and Uruguay in Santiago for a high-level meeting centered on the state of democracy in the region.
Philippine–U.S. High-Level Talks
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. met today with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. He is scheduled to meet President Donald Trump in Washington, D.C. tomorrow for further talks on security and economic ties.