10/26: Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan

This week on *Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan*, as President Trump and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent embark on their trip to Asia, Bessent joins the program to discuss several pressing issues.

Topics include the ongoing Chinese tariffs, the TikTok deal, and concerns surrounding the government shutdown at home.

In addition, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries also appears to share his insights on the government shutdown and its implications.
https://www.cbsnews.com/video/102625-face-the-nation/

Former VP Kamala Harris leaves door open for 2028 presidential run, according to new interview

WASHINGTON — Kamala Harris isn’t ruling out another run for the White House.

In an interview with the BBC posted Saturday, Harris said she expects a woman will be president in the coming years, and it could “possibly” be her. “I am not done,” she said.

The former vice president revealed that she hasn’t decided whether to mount a 2028 presidential campaign but dismissed the suggestion that she’d face long odds.

“I have lived my entire career a life of service and it’s in my bones. And there are many ways to serve,” she said. “I’ve never listened to polls.”

Harris has recently given a series of interviews following the September release of her book, *107 Days*. The book looks back on her experience replacing then-President Joe Biden as the 2024 Democratic presidential nominee after he dropped out of the race. She ultimately lost to Republican President Donald Trump.

In an interview with The Associated Press last week, Harris, 61, also made clear that running again in 2028 is still on the table. She said she sees herself as a leader of the party, including in pushing back against Trump and preparing for the 2026 midterms.

Asked in an Oct. 17 interview with AP whether she had plans for a 2028 bid, Harris said, “I haven’t decided. Sincerely. I have not decided. I may or I may not. I have not decided.”

When asked specifically whether she still wanted to do the job itself, she used the past tense, saying, “It’s a job I wanted to do.” However, she noted that the only way to achieve it is “to run” and win.

Meanwhile, political jockeying among Democrats for the 2028 presidential contest appears to be playing out even earlier than usual. Several potential candidates are already taking steps to get to know voters in key states, including California Gov. Gavin Newsom, term-limited Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, and California Rep. Ro Khanna.

Upward of 30 high-profile Democrats could ultimately enter the primary.
https://abc7news.com/post/former-vice-president-kamala-harris-leaves-door-open-2028-presidential-run-according-new-bbc-interview/18074008/

US, China reach ‘framework’ of trade deal, Bessent says

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Sunday that the U.S. and China will likely avoid 100 percent American tariffs on Chinese goods after negotiators settled on a plan for a possible trade agreement.

Bessent told NBC News’ Kristen Welker that “after two days of negotiations” with Chinese International Trade Representative Li Chenggang in Malaysia, a “framework” has been established to move forward. This development suggests progress in easing trade tensions between the two nations.

The proposed framework aims to reduce the likelihood of full tariffs being imposed, which could have significant impacts on both economies. Further details are expected as discussions continue.
https://thehill.com/policy/international/5573659-us-china-trade-agreement-bessent/

Marjorie Taylor Greene’s Pivot From Trump, Explained

Marjorie Taylor Greene, the firebrand Georgia Republican, has been breaking ranks with President Donald Trump and the GOP leadership in Congress on an increasingly long list of issues.

She wants Congress to end the government shutdown by agreeing to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits.

Additionally, Greene has demanded the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files and called for a pathway to citizenship for immigrants.

She has also blasted the White House’s funding of wars in Ukraine and Israel.

Most recently, she torched the…
https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2025-10-26/marjorie-taylor-greene-s-trump-pivot-explained

Trump lands in Malaysia for first stop in high-stakes Asia trip

Trump was then seen talking to spectators and waving both Malaysian and U.S. flags before taking off in his limousine, The Beast, with Anwar.

He is now headed to the Kuala Lumpur Convention Center, where a peace signing ceremony will take place to formally end the conflict between Thailand and Cambodia that erupted over the summer.

Earlier, Trump had announced that he would be signing the peace deal “immediately” upon landing in Kuala Lumpur.

In a notable moment during the trip, the Emir of Qatar joined Trump on Air Force One as they traveled to Asia.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/white-house/3864308/trump-lands-in-malaysia-first-stop-asia-trip/

Navy Begins Evacuating Families From Guantánamo Bay Ahead of Hurricane Melissa

The base commander announced on Saturday an expansion of the previous evacuation order.

This updated directive now includes “non-mission-essential U.S. citizens.”

Officials urge all affected personnel to comply promptly with the new instructions.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/25/us/politics/guantanamo-bay-hurricane-melissa-evacuations.html

‘Republicans should be embarrassed’: Ex-Trump official rips GOP for losing shutdown fight

Former White House press secretary Sean Spicer criticized Senate Republicans after Democrats blocked a bill that would have guaranteed pay for military and federal workers during the ongoing government shutdown.

“Senate Republicans should be embarrassed by how bad they’re messaging this,” Spicer, who served as President Trump’s first press secretary, said Friday on his podcast, in remarks highlighted by The Daily Beast.

“They should have been out on the steps last night with military members and Border Patrol,” he added.

The measure, known as the Shutdown Fairness Act of 2025, was introduced by Senator Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) but fell short of the 60 votes needed to advance, with a final tally of 54-45.

The bill aimed to ensure continued pay for “excepted” federal employees, including active-duty troops, TSA agents, park rangers, air traffic controllers, and Border Patrol officers.

Spicer accused Republicans of failing to defend their position forcefully, calling their actions “literally the lamest response” he had ever seen. “The idea that they voted and bolted is an embarrassment to the Republican Party,” he said.

Meanwhile, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) dismissed the bill as a “ruse,” arguing it would give Trump budget director Russell Vought undue authority.
https://www.rawstory.com/sean-spicer-2674232081/

Venezuela dice prepararse para el despliegue de Estados Unidos que se acerca a sus costas

El ministro de Defensa de Venezuela, Vladimir Padrino López, advirtió este viernes que su país continúa preparándose ante lo que calificó como una “amenaza militar” que se acerca “cada día más” a sus costas. Esta declaración hace referencia al reciente despliegue de fuerzas navales de Estados Unidos en el mar Caribe.

Padrino aseguró que las tropas venezolanas se mantienen “inquebrantables, decididas y muy definidas a seguir defendiendo cada centímetro del territorio nacional”. Además, sostuvo que Venezuela enfrenta “la peor amenaza en más de 100 años” y señaló al Pentágono por el envío hacia la zona del portaaviones USS Gerald Ford, el más grande de la flota estadounidense.

“Nos estamos preparando todos los días. Estamos enfrentando una amenaza militar del despliegue aeronaval de los Estados Unidos, cada día acercándose más a las costas venezolanas”, expresó el ministro.

Asimismo, añadió que la Fuerza Armada Nacional Bolivariana (FANB) y las instituciones del Estado, todas controladas por Nicolás Maduro, se mantienen enfocadas en “la defensa de la nación”, a la que consideró “realmente amenazada” por lo que describió como “un despliegue inédito de medios aeronavales de una de las potencias más grandes del mundo”.

Padrino también acusó a Washington de realizar ejecuciones extrajudiciales en el Caribe y el Pacífico, aludiendo a operaciones estadounidenses contra presuntas embarcaciones vinculadas al narcotráfico. Sin embargo, no presentó pruebas de esas afirmaciones.

Por su parte, el Pentágono confirmó el viernes el envío del USS Gerald Ford y su grupo de ataque al área de responsabilidad del Comando Sur de Estados Unidos. Según el portavoz del Departamento de Defensa, Sean Parnell, la medida responde a una orden del secretario de Defensa, Pete Hegseth, para “reforzar la capacidad de detectar, monitorear y desmantelar actores y actividades ilícitas que comprometen la seguridad y prosperidad del territorio estadounidense”.

En un comunicado, el Pentágono precisó que el despliegue forma parte de una estrategia para “desmantelar las organizaciones criminales transnacionales” y ampliar las operaciones antinarcóticos en el Caribe.

El grupo naval se une a un contingente ya presente en la región, que incluye tres buques de asalto y transporte anfibio, aviones de combate F-35B, aeronaves de patrulla P-8 y drones MQ-9 que operan desde una base en Puerto Rico.

Durante las últimas semanas, la administración del presidente Donald Trump ha intensificado sus operaciones marítimas en el Caribe y el Pacífico. Ha afirmado haber destruido varias embarcaciones y neutralizado a personas presuntamente vinculadas al narcotráfico cerca de las costas de Venezuela y Colombia. Estas acciones, según los gobiernos de ambos países, constituyen ejecuciones extrajudiciales.

### Otra “narcolancha” atacada en el Caribe

El secretario Hegseth informó este viernes que el Ejército estadounidense hundió otra lancha en el Caribe, supuestamente operada por la organización criminal conocida como Tren de Aragua. En este hecho murieron seis personas que, de acuerdo con Washington, eran “narcoterroristas”.

En respuesta, Nicolás Maduro anunció un nuevo ejercicio militar de 72 horas en las costas del país, con la participación de la FANB, milicianos y cuerpos policiales. Afirmó que la maniobra busca reforzar la defensa del territorio frente al “acoso y las provocaciones” de Estados Unidos, mientras que insiste en que el despliegue naval estadounidense constituye una amenaza directa a su soberanía.
https://eldiariony.com/2025/10/24/venezuela-dice-prepararse-para-el-despliegue-de-estados-unidos-que-se-acerca-a-sus-costas/

Apple, Google, Amazon, Microsoft & Meta are all donors to Trump’s White House ballroom project

Renovations have recently begun on the White House in Washington, D.C., as the building’s East Wing was demolished to make way for the construction of a new ballroom. This highly anticipated project marks a significant update to the historic residence.

The new ballroom is being funded through a combination of private donations, including contributions from former President Donald Trump and a group of prominent corporate donors. Notably, some of the biggest names in the technology industry are among the financial backers supporting this initiative.

The White House recently disclosed the full list of companies and individuals financially donating to the ballroom project, as reported by CNBC. The list features a diverse range of influential corporations and foundations, reflecting broad support from various sectors.

Among the corporate donors are:

– Apple
– Google
– Amazon
– Microsoft
– Meta Platforms
– Altria Group Inc.
– Booz Allen Hamilton Inc.
– Caterpillar Inc.
– Coinbase
– Comcast Corporation
– Hard Rock International
– HP Inc.
– Lockheed Martin
– Micron Technology
– NextEra Energy Inc.
– Palantir Technologies Inc.
– Ripple
– Reynolds American
– T-Mobile
– Tether America
– Union Pacific Railroad

In addition, several prominent individuals and foundations have also contributed, including:

– Adelson Family Foundation
– Stefan E. Brodie
– Betty Wold Johnson Foundation
– Charles and Marissa Cascarilla
– Edward and Shari Glazer
– Harold Hamm
– Benjamin Leon Jr.
– The Lutnick Family
– The Laura & Isaac Perlmutter Foundation
– Stephen A. Schwarzmann
– Konstantin Sokolov
– Kelly Loeffler and Jeff Sprecher
– Paolo Tiramani
– Cameron Winklevoss
– Tyler Winklevoss

This collaboration of corporate and private contributions underscores the significant interest and investment in the White House renovation project, particularly the new ballroom that promises to enhance the historic site’s functionality and appeal.
https://www.shacknews.com/article/146504/apple-google-amazon-microsoft-meta-trump-donation

Amid the Rubble of the East Wing, Lessons in How Trump Exercises Power

From the first day of his second term, President Trump has adopted an ends-justify-the-means approach to his presidency.

This strategy reflects a focus on achieving goals by any means necessary, often prioritizing results over traditional norms or processes. Such an approach has generated significant discussion and debate regarding its implications for governance and policy-making.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/24/us/politics/east-wing-trump-power.html

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