Morning Brief: Trump Plots Chicago Crackdown, Russia Stalls Peace Talks, Spain Invites Migrants

Following a dramatic drop in crime in Washington, D.C., President Trump signals he may launch similar federal crackdowns in other crime-ridden cities like Chicago. Moscow pushes back on a swift timeline for a trilateral peace summit as the White House remains confident in President Trump’s diplomatic efforts. Spain’s pro-immigration policies make it a European outlier, but growing public backlash and government corruption scandals suggest a rightward shift is coming.

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Trump Eyes Chicago for Next Crime Crackdown

Topline: After a successful federal takeover of Washington, D.C., has led to a dramatic drop in crime, President Trump is now signaling he may use the city as a blueprint for similar crackdowns in other crime-ridden cities.

It has been nearly two weeks since the federal government took control of the D.C. police force, and the results have been stark. Carjackings are down over 80%, robberies have plummeted by over 40%, and there has not been a single homicide in the city for the last ten days. The White House reported Sunday that nearly 1,000 arrests have been made. “Washington, D.C. is SAFE AGAIN!” Trump posted on social media.

The president now says he may expand the crackdown nationwide. “Chicago’s a mess,” Trump said. “We’ll straighten that one out probably next … and then we’ll help with New York.” The threat has prompted furious backlash from Democrats. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker called it “an authoritarian power grab,” while Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson said his city would “rise up against tyranny.”

The administration’s law and order push also saw the FBI raid the home of former National Security Advisor and vocal Trump critic John Bolton on Friday. The DOJ is reportedly investigating whether Bolton illegally shared classified documents using a private email server. “No one is above the law,” said FBI Director Kash Patel.

Russia Pushes Back on Swift Peace Summit

Topline: Moscow is tamping down expectations for an imminent trilateral peace summit, even as the White House expresses confidence that President Trump’s diplomatic efforts are bringing the war in Ukraine closer to an end.

While President Trump has pushed for an immediate meeting between himself, Vladimir Putin, and Volodymyr Zelensky, Moscow says the talks have not progressed enough. “Putin is ready to meet with Zelensky when the agenda would be ready for… a summit,” Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in an interview with NBC News. “And… this agenda is not ready at all.”

Despite the apparent slowdown, the White House remains confident. “We’re going to eventually be successful or we’ll hit a brick wall,” Vice President JD Vance said Sunday. “And if we hit a brick wall, then we’re going to continue this process of negotiation of applying leverage. This is the energetic diplomacy that’s going to bring this war to a close.”

To avoid derailing the sensitive negotiations, the U.S. appears to be keeping its strategy close to the vest. The Wall Street Journal reported that the Pentagon has blocked Ukraine from using long-range missiles to strike inside Russian territory for the past month. According to CBS News, DNI Tulsi Gabbard has also ordered that information on the talks be withheld from the “Five Eyes” intelligence-sharing alliance.

Spain’s Pro-Immigration Stance Sparks Backlash

Topline: While much of Europe cracks down on immigration, Spain’s left-wing government is making it easier for migrants to gain residency, but growing public backlash and corruption scandals suggest the country’s outlier status may not last.

Spain’s socialist government has pursued a pro-immigration policy, particularly for migrants from Latin America who share a common language and culture and can apply for citizenship after just two years. While this has provided an economic boost, nearly 20% of the country’s population is now foreign-born, leading to growing social tensions.

Recent flashpoints include riots in the town of Torre Pacheco after a Moroccan immigrant beat a local pensioner, and a vote in the town of Jumilla to ban public Islamic religious festivities to “defend the Christian character of Spain.”

The socialist government is also dropping in the polls as it faces a raft of corruption scandals that reach all the way to the Prime Minister’s wife. With the populist right Vox party polling well, Spain is predicted to shift to the right in its next election, likely aligning its immigration policies with the more restrictionist trend seen across the rest of Europe.