Tim Pierce

The order dismantled several government offices, including VOA's parent organization, the US Agency for Global Media. Trump criticized VOA for promoting biased content and what he calls divisive propaganda.

The order calls for the reduction or elimination of non-essential components and functions within USAGM with significant layoffs and termination of employment for some staff, including those at VOA and its affiliates. Trump's order followed heightened scrutiny of VOA's coverage, particularly its portrayal of Hamas.

The order calls for the reduction or elimination of non-essential components and functions within USAGM with significant layoffs and termination of employment for some staff, including those at VOA and its affiliates. Trump's order followed heightened scrutiny of VOA's coverage, particularly its portrayal of Hamas.

USA GM head Kerry Lake released a video on social media last week exposing how much money the agency is costing taxpayers.

USA GM head Kerry Lake released a video on social media last week exposing how much money the agency is costing taxpayers.

Catch us up here. Yeah, good morning, John. We've got a pretty full plate for a Monday morning. Let's start with probably the biggest news of the weekend, President Trump's announcement that the United States has launched a strike on Iran-backed Houthi terrorists in Yemen, killing at least 19. The U.S. military attacked by air and sea, destroying missiles, drones and missile defense systems.

Catch us up here. Yeah, good morning, John. We've got a pretty full plate for a Monday morning. Let's start with probably the biggest news of the weekend, President Trump's announcement that the United States has launched a strike on Iran-backed Houthi terrorists in Yemen, killing at least 19. The U.S. military attacked by air and sea, destroying missiles, drones and missile defense systems.

The immediate purpose of the attack was to open the shipping lanes in the Red Sea, which the Houthis have obstructed for months now. But the strike was also clearly meant to send a signal to Iran that the Trump administration is taking a more aggressive approach to the region.

The immediate purpose of the attack was to open the shipping lanes in the Red Sea, which the Houthis have obstructed for months now. But the strike was also clearly meant to send a signal to Iran that the Trump administration is taking a more aggressive approach to the region.

Trump named the Houthis a foreign terrorist organization at the end of his first term, a distinction Joe Biden later reversed. Trump touched on this changing dynamic on Saturday, saying that Biden's attempt to clear the Red Sea was pathetically weak, so the unrestrained Houthis just kept going.

Trump named the Houthis a foreign terrorist organization at the end of his first term, a distinction Joe Biden later reversed. Trump touched on this changing dynamic on Saturday, saying that Biden's attempt to clear the Red Sea was pathetically weak, so the unrestrained Houthis just kept going.

The president also issued a warning to Iran, saying support for the Houthi terrorists must end immediately.

The president also issued a warning to Iran, saying support for the Houthi terrorists must end immediately.

Well, Trump explicitly said that American attacks on the Houthis would continue and increase in severity if the terror group continued to, quote, threaten the American people, their president, who has received one of the largest mandates in presidential history or worldwide shipping lanes.

Well, Trump explicitly said that American attacks on the Houthis would continue and increase in severity if the terror group continued to, quote, threaten the American people, their president, who has received one of the largest mandates in presidential history or worldwide shipping lanes.

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth echoed Trump's warning on Sunday, telling the Houthis that the United States assault would be unrelenting until the group laid down its arms. And Hegseth also issued a warning to Iran during an interview with Fox News's Maria Bartiromo.

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth echoed Trump's warning on Sunday, telling the Houthis that the United States assault would be unrelenting until the group laid down its arms. And Hegseth also issued a warning to Iran during an interview with Fox News's Maria Bartiromo.

Yet Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin are expected to speak this week for the second time since Trump took office in January. As you mentioned, this is a pretty high-stakes call because last week Ukraine agreed to a temporary ceasefire, and that ceasefire will take effect once Putin also agrees. But as always, we won't know what Putin's going to do until after he does it.

Yet Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin are expected to speak this week for the second time since Trump took office in January. As you mentioned, this is a pretty high-stakes call because last week Ukraine agreed to a temporary ceasefire, and that ceasefire will take effect once Putin also agrees. But as always, we won't know what Putin's going to do until after he does it.

However, things seem to be moving in a positive direction. Steve Witkoff, the U.S. special envoy, met with Putin late last week and told CNN's Jake Tapper that the meeting was positive and solutions-based.