Michael Birnbaum

Pardoned by Trump, Rod Blagojevich has new job: lobbying for Bosnian Serbs The former Democratic governor of Illinois was previously pardoned by Trump for corruption charges.

"Fired" by Trump on the Celebrity Apprentice. Sentenced to prison for corruption. Prison sentence commuted by Trump in 2020 and pardoned in February.

Now, Rod Blagojevich has a new gig: Foreign agent for the Republic of Srpska.

w/ @bethreinhard.bsky.social @mbirnbaum.bsky.social

wapo.st/4jhVWaA

Trump foreign aid cuts leave Ukrainians in limbo and asking why A U.S.-funded organization to help war veterans is one of many organizations that have abruptly lost funding and can no longer carry out their work.

Distressed Ukrainian troops, veterans and families — including some on the brink of suicide — relied on a U.S.-funded hotline to get help. After Trump suspended almost all U.S. foreign aid programs for 90 days, the line went dark. @siobhanogrady.bsky.social www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/0...

Johnson aide advised against subpoena of star Jan. 6 witness over concerns about ‘sexual texts’ from lawmakers The move was intended in part to prevent the release of sexually explicit texts that lawmakers sent Cassidy Hutchinson.

WAPO EXCLUSIVE: Johnson aide advised against subpoena of Cassidy Hutchinson over concerns about ‘sexual texts’ lawmakers sent her www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...

How Trump’s security clearances order could make the U.S. vulnerable President Donald Trump’s plan to grant temporary security clearances to anyone he chooses opens the door to breaches and even espionage, experts say.

The decision will hand the keys to the government’s most cherished secrets to whomever Trump desires: how Trump’s security clearances order could make the U.S. vulnerable www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...

Thanks so much, Stephanie!

Files detail bid to contain fallout from Tulsi Gabbard meetings with Assad Gabbard’s 2017 trip to Syria, where she met with authoritarian leader Bashar al-Assad, is expected to be a focus of questions from senators weighing her nomination to be director of national intellige...

EXCLUSIVE: Internal files detail frantic bid to contain fallout from Tulsi Gabbard meetings with Syrian dictator Assad. Her 2017 trip is expected to be a focus of questions from senators weighing her nomination to be director of national intelligence.

www.washingtonpost.com/investigatio...

Under the Rotunda, a historic concentration of wealth salutes Trump Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos and other billionaires were given pride of place behind Trump as he was sworn in as the 47th president

The Capitol Rotunda saw a concentration of wealth on Monday so rare as to be historic: a caste of magnates worth more than $1 trillion, gathered to salute Trump. w/ excellent new teammate @cqzakrz.bsky.social
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...

The Post Announces New White House Team

Some news: I'm joining the @washingtonpost.com's White House team to cover Trump alongside an all-star crew. Largest White House team in Post history. Couldn't be more excited. www.washingtonpost.com/pr/2025/01/2...

In Greenland, a cold shoulder for Trump, but curiosity about U.S. ties Greenland residents spoke to The Washington Post about President-elect Donald Trump’s proposed acquisition.

GREENLAND IS NOT FOR SALE but might it be for rent?

The great Bill Booth among the Trump-curious in Nuuk

Pictures by Sebastien Van Malleghem

wapo.st/3PFkayo

Live briefing: Israel and Hamas agree to ceasefire, including release of Israeli hostages, senior U.S. official says The first phase of the agreement brokered by the United States, Qatar and Egypt will halt, for now, a 15-month war that changed the Middle East.

Breaking news: Israel and Hamas have agreed to a ceasefire deal, in a major breakthrough including the release of Israeli hostages, a senior U.S. official said Wednesday, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive negotiations.

More than 360 tons of mustard gas. A swimming pool of sarin precursors lost "due to traffic accidents." The race is on to find Syria's missing chemical weapons, and @jobywarrick.bsky.social tells you everything you need to know. www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...

Syrian rebels regrouped, seized on weakness of government’s key allies The rebels have made stunning gains against President Bashar al-Assad’s forces, with Russia, Iran and Hezbollah distracted by other conflicts.

Syrian rebel fighters’ lightning advance was aided by better organization, the weakening of Bashar al-Assad’s military allies and, possibly, luck: Few expected the Syrian army to collapse as quickly as it did. www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/1... @leloveluck.bsky.social & @kareemf.bsky.social

U.S. officials say their effort will give Kyiv breathing room. But more than ever, they're frustrated about what they call Kyiv's delays in expanding the draft. "It’s just a question of math and physics," one person told me. with Missy Ryan and Siobhan O'Grady.

Biden surges arms to Ukraine, fearing Trump will halt U.S. aid Biden’s Ukraine directive has stirred debate, as some officials worry it will cut too deeply into American stockpiles and jeopardize military needs elsewhere.

NEW: The White House is engaged in an 11th-hour scramble to provide Ukraine with billions of $ in additional weaponry, a massive effort that is generating internal concerns about its potential to erode U.S. stockpiles and sap resources from other flash points. www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...

Biden races to boost Ukraine’s position before Trump takes office As Kyiv braces for the potential of difficult talks with Russia, Biden hopes providing land mines and allowing longer-range attacks will strengthen its hand.

Inside Biden's race to boost Ukraine's position before Trump takes office. Some allies ask why it didn't come earlier, when Kyiv was in a better position. Delay “gives Russia a sense of impunity,” Kurt Volker says. By Yasmeen Abutaleb, me, Ellen Francis www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...

American businessman makes play for Russian natural gas pipelines An American businessman is seeking to acquire the Swiss company that controls Russia’s Nord Stream 2, according to documents obtained by The Washington Post.

A U.S. businessman with past ties to Russia says he'll "de-Russify" the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline if he buys it. But “there is nothing about a Nord Stream 2 revival that is in U.S. interests right now,” a U.S. official tells @washingtonpost.com www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/1...