Wednesday, November 26th, 2025 - Ukraine peace talks; Bolsonaro’s failed DIY escape; 9/11 cover-up; Healthcare goes up; Congress panic buttons & more

Today’s Headlines: Ukraine’s peace talks are… somehow happening. Zelensky has mostly accepted Russia’s 28-point plan, with “minor” tweaks, and might swing by the U.S. to finalize it. Meanwhile, Army Secretary Dan Driscoll met Russia’s delegation in Abu Dhabi, where Sergey Lavrov warned they won’t accept changes that differ from whatever secret “understanding” Trump and Putin supposedly made in Alaska. Over in Venezuela, Trump labeled President Nicolás Maduro the head of a terrorist organization while also planning to call him. The administration insists they’re not plotting to “shoot or snatch” him but will continue blowing up drug-running boats.In Brazil, Bolsonaro tried to melt off his ankle monitor with a soldering iron and was re-arrested for attempted escape — yet Trump claims he talked to him “last night” and expects to meet him soon. Unless Trump plans to take a meeting in a Brazilian prison, it looks like Jair was maybe making a break for the U.S. embassy before being forced to start serving his 27-year sentence. Israel reportedly killed Hezbollah’s new top commander, Haytham Ali Tabatabai, in Beirut, which would not calm anything down. In other news, newly uncovered documents show NYC knew how toxic the air around Ground Zero was and still let thousands of first responders breathe it in. Almost 10,000 have died from related illnesses. Truly shocking behavior from Rudy Giuliani’s New York (said no one). Healthcare premiums are spiking nationwide, and Trump was planning to announce a two-year extension of Obamacare subsidies — until Speaker Mike Johnson told him House Republicans weren’t on board. Hope those early retirements come through! The Justice Department wants to unseal grand jury transcripts from the Epstein and Maxwell cases under the new transparency law. And finally, with threats against lawmakers rising, the House is doubling security funding: members will now get $20k a month for personal protection and access to a new silent-alert app.

Resources/Articles mentioned in this episode:

CNN: Ukraine talks gain momentum as US and Russian officials meet in Abu Dhabi

Axios: Scoop: Trump ready to talk with Maduro over Venezuela drug strikes

NYT: How a Sabotaged Ankle Monitor Ended Bolsonaro’s House Arrest

WSJ: He Was Rebuilding Hezbollah—Until an Israeli Missile Found Him in Beirut

NBC New York: FDNY firefighters demand answers on newfound documents detailing toxic dust after 9/11

Reuters: Trump plans to propose extending Obamacare subsidies, report says

AP News: Justice Department renews bid to unseal Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell grand jury materials

Axios: U.S. House ramps up security as lawmakers' fears rise

Morning Announcements is produced by Sami Sage and edited by Grace Hernandez-Johnson

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