Originally published at: https://peakprosperity.com/daily-digest/trump-putin-plan-in-person-peace-summit-democrat-governors-form-rfk-jr-counter-alliance/
Geopolitics
Following a meeting with President Trump at the White House, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reportedly supported Trump’s proposal for an immediate ceasefire along current front lines. Zelensky also proposed trading thousands of Ukrainian drones for Tomahawks, while Trump highlighted U.S. drone capabilities and expressed a preference for ending the war. Moscow has stated that a ceasefire would require Ukrainian withdrawal from regions claimed by Russia, an end to Western military aid, recognition of Russia’s borders, and Ukraine’s abandonment of NATO aspirations. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has expressed support for Zelensky’s ceasefire proposal, stating it aligns with Ukraine’s goals of achieving peace while maintaining territorial integrity.
Relatedly, Trump and Putin reportedly held a phone call discussing an end to the war, future U.S.-Russia trade, and high-level advisor meetings led by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, with an in-person summit planned in Budapest, Hungary. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán confirmed that preparations are underway to host the event and stated that Putin could enter despite an International Criminal Court warrant, positioning Hungary as a potential peace broker. Some analysts have expressed skepticism about the summit’s potential effectiveness, citing previous failed peace negotiations, as noted in reports from Russian media.
Meanwhile, Russian forces reportedly captured villages in the Kharkiv and Dnipropetrovsk regions, including Pishchane, Tykhe, Pryvillia, Borovskaya Andreyevka, Peschanoye, Moskovskoye, Balagan, Novopavlovka, and Alekseyevka, advancing toward key logistics hubs like Kupiansk. Russia has also reportedly launched over 300 drones and 37 ballistic missiles targeting Ukraine’s power grid, prompting Ukrenergo to impose nationwide rolling blackouts affecting all but two regions ahead of winter. This marks the fourth consecutive winter of outages since the 2022 invasion, which Moscow has described as part of a strategy to destabilize infrastructure, with strikes reported in southern Odessa, Kiev, and other areas.
Economy
Gold prices reached $4,300 per ounce while Bitcoin fell below $110,000 following a reported $19 billion crypto liquidation, described as the largest in history. Analysts have attributed this divergence to a potential U.S. strategy to revalue gold reserves in order to address deficits, inflation, and declining foreign demand for treasuries amid fragmenting energy trade outside the dollar. Macro expert Luke Gromen has noted that eroding petrodollar dominance—with nations like India and China settling oil in alternatives—positions gold as a neutral replacement, as evidenced by a rising gold-to-oil ratio. Former bond analyst Josh Mandel has suggested that Washington could mark its official gold holdings—8,100 tons valued at $42 per ounce since 1971—to market rates, potentially reaching $16,000 per ounce to bolster the monetary base. Gromen has described this approach as a way to restore credibility before integrating stablecoins and Bitcoin, which he views as complementary assets comprising 20% of liquid net worth for risk management. However, some crypto analysts have attributed Bitcoin’s decline to natural market corrections and over-leveraged positions rather than deliberate suppression, according to financial media reports.
Charlie Kirk
Google search data reportedly shows unusual pre-assassination queries from Israel and Washington, D.C., targeting figures linked to the September 10 killing of Charlie Kirk, including suspect Tyler James Robinson, Timpanogos Regional Hospital—where Kirk was taken despite lacking trauma capabilities—and surgeons such as Steven Neilman and Robert Patterson. Searches for Utah medical examiner Dedra Amaro also reportedly originated from Israel in late June 2025, clustered around mid-July, which some have said raises questions about prior knowledge amid reports of multiple assailants and security lapses. Fact-checking organizations have cautioned that such search data can be misinterpreted and may reflect coincidental activity rather than evidence of premeditation.
US Politics
The Department of Justice under Attorney General Pam Bondi filed an amicus brief supporting warrantless police entries into homes for welfare checks, as in the Case v. Montana lawsuit, where officers entered William Trevor Case’s residence without a warrant, leading to him being shot. The Montana Supreme Court upheld the entry based on reasonable suspicion of need for aid, despite officers’ doubts and failure to seek a warrant; a Harvard Law Review study indicates such warrants are approved in 93% of cases within minutes. This position reportedly contrasts with the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2021 unanimous ruling in Caniglia v. Strom, which rejected broad “community caretaking” exceptions absent imminent harm. Law enforcement advocates have argued that such entries are necessary for quick responses to potential emergencies to ensure public safety.
Federal courts will reportedly shift to limited, unpaid operations starting October 20 due to exhausted funds from the ongoing government shutdown, now in its third week. Under the Anti-Deficiency Act, most staff will be furloughed except for essential constitutional functions, with judges continuing work but many civil and criminal cases delayed. Jury trials and electronic systems like PACER will reportedly persist using non-appropriated funds, though administrative offices will close amid warnings of prolonged strain on caseloads. Some conservative lawmakers have described the shift as an overreaction, suggesting alternative funding options could be explored to maintain full operations.
Speaking of the shutdown, Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought halted $11 billion in funding for projects in Democratic-led cities, including New York City, San Francisco, Boston, and Baltimore, amid the government shutdown.
Lastly, President Trump stated that the U.S. will reject and vote against a proposed International Maritime Organization global carbon tax on shipping emissions, which he called a “Green New Scam” that would raise costs for consumers. The framework targets net-zero emissions by 2050 for vessels over 5,000 tons through fuel standards and fees effective in 2027. The administration issued a joint statement threatening retaliation against supporting member states to protect American economic interests. The proposed tax is reportedly now dead in the water.
Energy
The Department of Energy released a Fusion Science and Technology Roadmap under its Build-Innovate-Grow strategy, aiming for commercial fusion power by the mid-2030s through coordinated research, infrastructure, and public-private partnerships. Developed with input from over 600 stakeholders, the plan addresses challenges in materials, plasma confinement, and plant engineering to enhance U.S. energy security and align with President Trump’s executive order on domestic production. Private investments exceeding $9 billion already support prototypes, with the roadmap setting milestones dependent on congressional funding. Some experts have expressed skepticism about the mid-2030s timeline, citing historical delays in fusion development.
Health
Fifteen Democratic governors from states including California, New York, and Washington, plus Guam, formed the Governors Public Health Alliance to coordinate guidance on vaccines, emergencies, and threats. They cited diminished trust in federal information under Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The coalition, facilitated by nonprofit GovAct, plans public recommendations and meetings with experts such as former CDC Director Mandy Cohen, building on state efforts like pharmacist vaccine prescribing. The Department of Health and Human Services criticized the move, attributing eroded public trust to past Democratic policies such as school closures and mask mandates during COVID-19. HHS officials have defended the current administration’s approach as evidence-based efforts to rebuild trust in health guidance.
Sources
Zelensky Backs Ceasefire Along Front Lines, Admits Mutual Hatred for Putin
Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky has said Russian President Vladimir Putin hates him, and the feeling is mutual.
Source | Submitted by Rodster
Gold Rips, Bitcoin Slips: The Gold-First Theory Reshaping 2025’s Monetary Order
Gold is ripping, Bitcoin slipping. This is becoming the story of 2025.
Source | Submitted by kenwdelong
Suspicious Pre-Shooting Google Searches from Israel and D.C. Target Kirk Assassination Key Figures
And it turns out people are Google searching this regional hospital from Israel and Washington, D.C. They’re Google searching the medical examiner from Washington, D.C., and Israel. And now we find out they’re Google searching the surgeons at that regional hospital from Israel, and they’re all on this around the same time cluster.
Source | Submitted by Barry Silverthorn
Ukraine Faces Nationwide Blackouts After Russian Missile Barrage Targets Power Grid
Due to the difficult situation in the power system, emergency power cuts have been introduced in all regions of Ukraine.
DOJ Backs Warrantless Police Raids on Gun Owners’ Homes in Supreme Court Clash
The Department of Justice under Attorney General Pam Bondi is advancing an argument that threatens to hollow out the Fourth Amendment’s core protection: that Americans may be secure in their homes against warrantless searches.
15 Democratic Governors Form Health Alliance to Counter RFK Jr.’s Policies
“We can no longer rely on the information coming out of Washington, DC, but our states are coming together to unequivocally state that science still matters,”
Trump and Putin Plan High-Level Talks to End Ukraine War
Trump and Putin set up more high-level diplomatic meetings as well as an in-person meeting between the two where an end to the Ukraine war is expected to be negotiated.
Federal Courts Shift to Limited, Unpaid Operations as Shutdown Depletes Funds
“Until the ongoing lapse in government funding is resolved, federal courts will maintain limited operations necessary to perform the Judiciary’s constitutional functions,”
DOE Accelerates Fusion Revolution: National Roadmap Targets Commercial Power by Mid-2030s
“Fusion is real, near, and ready for coordinated action,”
Zelensky Pitches Ukrainian Drones for US Tomahawks as Russia Seizes More Villages
Zelensky offered “thousands” of Ukrainian drones in exchange for receiving Tomahawks
Trump Slams IMO’s Global Shipping Carbon Tax as ‘Green New Scam,’ Vows U.S. Rejection
“The United States will NOT stand for this Global Green New Scam Tax on Shipping, and will not adhere to it in any way, shape, or form.”
Hungary Prepares to Host Trump-Putin Summit in Bid to End Ukraine War
“Preparations are in full swing” for a big anticipated near-future summit between Presidents Trump and Putin
OMB Director Vought Halts $11 Billion in Funding to Key Democratic Cities
OMB Director Russ Vought just HALTED $11 BILLION in projects to the blue cities
In addition to sources submitted by community members, the following were also used in the creation of this report: The Kyiv Independent, The Moscow Times, CNBC, FactCheck.org, Law Enforcement Today, Fox News, RT, Russian Ministry of Defense, The Guardian, and HHS.
