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Chapter 1: What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
News when you want it with Bloomberg News Now. I'm Nathan Hager.
And I'm Karen Moscow.
Karen, we begin with the latest from the Middle East. The U.S. and Iran are showing little signs of progress in ceasefire talks after one of the worst bursts of violence in the region in weeks. President Trump says negotiations are in the final stages, but Iran's foreign minister says there's been no tangible progress.
Chapter 2: What recent developments are impacting US-Iran relations?
The president says time is on his side.
When you look at hundreds of thousands of soldiers were killed in these various wars, they lasted many, many years. We're in there for a few months, and what we've done is amazing.
President Trump spoke from the Oval Office. Meanwhile, Iran-backed Hezbollah has rejected a U.S.-brokered ceasefire in Lebanon. Bloomberg's Zabir Abu Omar reports that's adding further complication to the peace process.
The hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah continue within the southern part of Lebanon, but also the northern parts in Israel. President Trump, on the other hand, has said that he did not see the rejection from Hezbollah. And as a matter of fact, he's been in touch with representatives who told the president that they wanted to have the ceasefire.
Chapter 3: What is the current status of the ceasefire talks in the Middle East?
Bloomberg's Abir Abu Omar reports Israeli strikes in Lebanon have killed at least eight people, according to the Lebanese health ministry. Israel says Hezbollah fired several rockets at its soldiers, but no one was hurt.
We have breaking news on Capitol Hill this morning, Nathan. The Senate has passed a $69.5 billion bill that gives more than three years of funding to two immigration enforcement agencies. The measure passed 52-47 after a marathon vote that saw Democrats try to corner Republicans on politically tricky amendment votes.
The bill passed the Senate after weeks of negotiations over funding for the Secret Service to secure President Trump's ballroom. That money was ultimately dropped from the package but drew rebuke from seven Republican senators.
Republicans also stripped out funds for the Justice Department that got bogged down by concerns about a now-defunct fund to compensate victims of alleged politically motivated prosecution.
Also on Capitol Hill, Karen, the House has approved a new round of aid to Ukraine and sanctions on Russia in a backhanded rebuke of President Trump's foreign policy.
The ayes are 226, the nays are 195. The bill is passed and without objection, the motion to reconsider is laid upon the table.
House Democrats forced a vote on the package through what's known as a discharge petition. That's a procedural tool that Republican leaders oppose. President Trump's raised questions about the cost of assisting Ukraine in its defense against Russia's invasion. That's put him at odds with moderate Republicans who signed the petition and joined with Democrats in advancing the bill.
Meanwhile, Nathan Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is proposing direct peace talks with Russian leader Vladimir Putin in an effort to end the war. He did so in a rare and combative open letter. Ben Sills is Bloomberg's managing editor for European Politics and Economy.
This is not a letter which is going to persuade Putin to come to the negotiating table. The tone of it is so incredibly assertive. I read it last night when it dropped and I was really quite struck by just how self-confident Zelensky sounds and how he's talking down to Putin. He's talking about how his drones hit St. Petersburg yesterday, the day before Putin turns up.
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Chapter 4: How is the US Senate addressing immigration enforcement funding?
I'm Karen Moscow.
I'm Nathan Hager. And this is Bloomberg.