DeProgram with Ted Rall and John Kiriakou: “Ukraine, Now 22% Off!”

Same gold chair, different tone—Zelensky is better dressed and gets a friendly reception at the White House and JD Vance remains silent. Zelensky and Trump express hope that today’s talks with Ukrainian and European leaders at the White House could lead to trilateral talks with Vladimir Putin to bring an end to Russia’s war in Ukraine. On the “DeProgram show with political cartoonist Ted Rall and CIA whistleblower John Kiriakou,” we bring you up to date on the latest developments and what they really mean.

• Russo-Ukrainian War: Trump tells Ukraine to give up on Crimea, but says Putin has agreed to NATO-like security guarantees from the US and Europe for Ukraine and the rest of Europe. Is Russia saving face? Trump says no to ceasefire—he wants a full deal. What would one look like? Meanwhile, Russian strikes Sumy, injuring 74.

• Democrats Return to Texas: Rep. Yassamin Ansari and young Democrats push for a 2026 Texas flip. Republicans and Democrats are now fighting to redraw the maps mid-decade, either to help or block Trump's agenda. California, New York, New Jersey, New Hampshire and Maryland are among the Democrat-led states prepared to launch countermeasures to the Texas plan.

• Trump Targets Voting Systems: Trump threatens to ban voting machines and mail-in ballots, citing fraud, alarms election officials. Critics warn of suppressed turnout, especially among minorities. His push for paper ballots faces logistical and legal hurdles as 2026 nears.

• Newsmax’s $67M Settlement: Newsmax settles a $67M defamation suit over 2020 election falsehoods, signaling media accountability. The payout follows Dominion’s legal wins, but Newsmax’s financial stability remains under scrutiny.

• MSNBC’s Name Change: MSNBC rebrands to MS Now to counter declining viewership and compete with streaming platforms. Insiders suggest a shift toward centrism to appeal to younger audiences. The potential name change sparks debate over its progressive legacy.

• Paris Braces for Extreme Heat: Paris prepares for 122-degree heatwaves, prompting water rationing and cooling centers. Climate models warn of worsening urban heat islands throughout Europe. Infrastructure upgrades lag, raising fears of widespread disruption.

• Iran’s Mass Arrests: Iran detains over 20,000 for alleged espionage for Israel. Human rights groups slam the arrests as a pretext for political purges.

• Israel Isolated: Israel’s plan to take over Gaza City draws global condemnation, with Netanyahu vowing to “finish Hamas” even after Hamas agrees to a 60-day ceasefire and hostage release. Meanwhile, the Trump administration has denied intervening to ensure the release of Tom Artiom Alexandrovich, a senior Israeli cyber security official who was arrested earlier this month in Nevada as part of an undercover law enforcement operation targeting “child sex predators”.