In the second term, Trump faced a wave of cases. Critics say judge-shopping tied to Marc Elias bent justice toward politics. Trump calls it rampant and political. Reforms are urged in Breaking the Law.

In the Oval Office, Trump and Zelensky traded barbs. Downing Street insiders felt dread. A day earlier, Starmer hosted a warm Trump reception; Zelensky was rebuked by a US VP for not thanking, alarming allies.

Pence urged Trump to impose swift secondary sanctions on Putin, and press a broader peace after Alaska. He cited a Zelenskyy–Trump meeting and urged Senate action to keep leverage.

Kseniya Alexandrova, 30, Russian model, died when an elk crashed through the windshield of her Porsche; her husband survived.

Zelensky heads to DC for a high-stakes meeting with Trump as Europe’s leaders confirm attendance to show unity on long-term military aid and Ukraine’s EU bid. The EU pledges sanctions if Russia persists; Kyiv backs trilateral Ukraine-US-Russia talks with no land concessions.

Oleksandr Merezhko says the Trump–Putin talks resemble Munich 1938, warning Washington is in Moscow's trap by dropping a ceasefire and backing Putin's peace plan.

After the Alaska summit, Trump backs a broad peace framework over a ceasefire; Kyiv remains divided as Zelensky plans a Washington meeting.

The Digest, 8/17/2025 @1200PM, CDT

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