This week on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan," Vice President JD Vance joins as President Trump heads to the Middle East amid the critical moment in the Israel-Hamas peace deal and at home, as the ongoing government shutdown drags on. Plus. Egyptian foreign minister Badr Abdelatty joins.

President Trump's promise to send $2,000 tariff dividend checks to most Americans will require legislation to accomplish, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Sunday. Why it matters: Trump's oft-repeated plan to pay a tariff dividend has become more prominent as the administration battles an affordability crisis. --- What they're saying: "We will see. We need legislation for that," Bessent said in an interview with Fox News's "Sunday Morning Futures." This is a developing story.

Sen. Tim Kaine defended Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, urging House Democrats to stick to their chamber rather than focus on the party's Senate leadership.

The possibility of a meeting between US President Donald Trump and Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin in Budapest is real, but no significant results should be expected from it—Russia simply wants to stall for time by continuing the war.

In an exclusive interview with Meet the Press, Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) says that his push to release the Jeffrey Epstein files is “not about Donald Trump” and instead about fighting for “transparency.”

In an exclusive interview with Meet the Press, Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) defends Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer after more than a dozen House Democrats call him to step down.

Fresh off its immigration raids into Los Angeles and Chicago, the Department of Homeland Security has launched its operation in Charlotte and has New Orleans in its sights. Why it matters: The high-profile operations have led to surges in arrests. But they've also galvanized local resistance efforts, and created a playbook for activists in other cities when ICE comes to town. --- * "In Chicago, we pushed back as hard as we could," said Brandon Lee, of the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights. * "We're going to work to make sure that the local leaders in North Carolina and wherever else they take their road show of terror after this are as prepared as can be for what's coming." The big picture: Operation Midway Blitz, which targeted undocumented immigrants in the Chicago area, resulted in 3,000 arrests, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said on Oct. 30. * The operation in Chicago mirrored prior activities in Los Angeles, where Border Patrol also joined ICE on its mission. * President Trump told "60 Minutes" in a recent interview that he wants to see more aggressive tactics in operations across the country, but blamed "liberal judges" for restricting immigration agents. * White House Deputy Chief of staff Stephen Miller set a 3,000 arrests per day goal in May. The latest public data shows that even with these targeted operations, the agency is falling short. Zoom in: In Chicago, activists set up a rapid response team of volunteers, and rallied support from local elected officials, business and faith leaders. * Documenting enforcement: Part of the rapid response volunteer network's role was to film officers making arrests, so they could document any potential excessive uses of force or other violations. * Targeted demonstrations: At least one demonstration blocked the entrance at the Broadview processing facility that was holding immigrants for extended periods of time before they were transferred to permanent detention facilities. * Legal challenges: In the court room, litigators sued the administration over the use of tear gas in the city, the detention conditions at Broadview and for how federal agents made arrests. One case, over warrantless arrests, led to a judge ordering the release of more than 600 people on bond. Between the lines: Sanctuary cities and jurisdictions are top targets for the immigration crackdown, White House Border Czar Tom Homan has said in multiple interviews. * But resistance to these raids is growing beyond activists and civil rights lawyers. Local business leaders and clergy have joined in calls to halt the aggressive enforcement tactics. * "At every turn, activist judges, sanctuary politicians, and violent rioters have actively tried to prevent our law enforcement officers from arresting and removing the worst of the worst," said DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. What's next: "What we've seen in Los Angeles, what we've seen in Chicago are forces violating people's constitutional rights and wrecking havoc on entire communities," said Liz Barber, director of policy and advocacy at the ACLU of North Carolina. * Her ACLU affiliate is already in conversation with colleagues in Chicago and Southern California about legal strategies and reviewing cases in those jurisdictions. * "We do see the pattern... probably, the biggest things are going to be use of force, detention conditions and racial profiling."

No part of the new media ecosystem was more ascendant, more powerful and more influential in shaping public debate than MAGA was six short months ago. * It helped elect President Trump to a second term, defend Trump, pressure and punish any Republican who didn't back Trump. MAGA was Trump, and Trump was full MAGA. Why it matters: MAGA is now mired in conflict over Israel, white nationalism, purity tests and disputes among its biggest personalities. * It's still overwhelmingly pro-Trump — but less relevant in shaping the president's agenda, and less capable of uniting to shape perception and dominate conversation on the right. These days, MAGA can spend more time eating its own than feasting on liberals or establishment Republicans. --- The big picture: Many Americans are unaware of the fracturing because they don't watch Tucker Carlson videos, or listen to Ben Shapiro podcasts, or debate America First on Rumble or X. They see flickers of MAGA fires when the mainstream media picks up on feuds, notably Carlson vs. Shapiro over Israel and hate. * But as Axios has shown in earlier deep dives, MAGA wholly dominates Republican media, much like Fox News and the National Review did at their apex. * "MAGA was my idea — MAGA was nobody else's idea," Trump told Fox News' Laura Ingraham this past week. "I know what MAGA wants better than anybody else. And MAGA wants to see our country thrive." With power and clout come turmoil, conflict and rivalry. In this case, it's unfolding over what it means to be truly America First when Trump, MAGA's titular and spiritual leader, focuses attention on Israel or Venezuela as working-class voters are hurting in America. Fights over this are spilling out, well, everywhere: * Nick Fuentes and young white nationalists are rising in power, often saying racist and misogynistic things unapologetically. Trump's open warfare with Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), who has pushed for releasing Jeffrey Epstein files, reflects her America First purity over Trump fealty. In a long, bitter post Friday night, Trump called her "'Wacky' Marjorie" and said he's un-endorsing her. She replied: "I don't worship or serve Donald Trump. ... I remain America First and America Only!!!" On Saturday, Trump called her "Marjorie 'Traitor' Green." She said that "a hot bed of threats against me are being fueled and egged on by the most powerful man in the world." * MTG's rift with Trump signals a split between MAGA and America First. The two were mostly synonymous for years. But America Firsters like her now think MAGA indulges Trump too much on foreign engagement, especially Israel. * "America First America Only!!" Greene posted on X Saturday. "AFAO!!!" She told NBC News this past week: "I'm America First, America Only. Hardcore." Carlson and others are increasingly critical of Trump for supporting Israel so lavishly. They argue this is a massive distraction and total violation of America First principles. * Steve Bannon and other MAGA personalities see working-class voters — the foot soldiers of their movement — getting slammed by the rich and powerful who spend a lot of time with Trump. * Bannon told us Trump "knows his movement's base better than anyone — but a lot of his base feel [he's spending] too much time on Palestine and not enough on East Palestine," Ohio. Bannon pointed to a Charlie Kirk post from a month before his assassination, calling for "urgency" on six issues — all domestic and appealing to Gen Z. There's a sense that MAGA's most powerful topic — free speech — seems a little fraudulent or fake now that its leader has power in Washington. * "The most dispiriting fact of the last nine months is that huge proportions of the institutional Republican Party all kind of hate free speech every bit as much as the left does," Tucker Carlson told the N.Y. Times. "They are every bit as censorious as some blue-haired, menopausal Black Lives Matter activist. And I just didn't know that. And I'm disgusted. I feel betrayed. I take it personally." * And there are accusations that people around Trump use the MAGA banner for personal profit. "During [a] recent visit in DC, the talk of everyone was how overt the corruption was," Mike Cernovich, a longtime online MAGA voice, posted on X. "It's at levels you read about in history books. In nearly every department. Lots of, 'Do people just think Democrats will never win and they'll all get away with this?' " Behind the scenes: Even some MAGA loyalists are lamenting the access tech CEOs and Wall Street executives have to the Oval Office, and Trump's focus on crypto, the White House ballroom and foreign jet-setting, sources tell Axios' Tal Axelrod, our MAGA media expert. * Raheem Kassam, one of the top online MAGA voices, wrote in The National Pulse, which he founded: "President Trump, many people are saying, must quickly return to his own populist roots and campaign pledges, rather than entertaining the Big Pharma or Big Bank bosses." Trump won as a champion of the working class but governs, and pals around with, the upper of the upper class. Trump's support of unfettered AI and H-1B visas — two of the top issues for his billionaire tech and investment friends — irritates MAGA purists. Bannon dismisses these friends as the "tech bros" and "corporatists." But those are the people often dining with Trump and bending his ear, shaping his mind. * White House deputy press secretary Kush Desai said: "President Trump's one and only focus is doing what's best for the American people, and the only special interest guiding his decision-making is the best interest of the American people." What we're watching: The MAGA mess isn't a huge problem yet for Trump because he commands extraordinary loyalty from its biggest personalities with the largest followings. He sits out the messiest fights and ignores the anti-Israel backlash. * In some ways, it's a bigger problem for Vice President Vance, as he positions himself as the heir apparent. Vance, unlike Trump, is more chronically online and fluent in true MAGA. Fuentes, who criticized Trump in 2024, and Vance have gone at each other. And no successor can count on the fervency Trump engenders. * Alex Pfeiffer, former White House deputy communications director for Trump, told us when asked about Vance: "Noise online is just that: noise. There will always be disagreements within the conservative movement. That's nothing new. Vice President Vance's job isn't to weigh in on the various feuds within the podcast circuit, but instead to help execute the President's agenda, which he has been deftly doing." What's next: Expect the MAGA conflict to widen this week. * Trump welcomes Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to the White House on Tuesday. * The House plans to vote on releasing Epstein files, an issue that led to his breakup with Greene and rare disappointment from notable portions of his base. The bottom line: MAGA remains powerful. But it's not the united force it was six months ago. * Axios' Tal Axelrod and Marc Caputo contributed reporting ... Go deeper: "The resistance revitalized."

Many of the cornerstones of the postwar liberal order are being shattered. The focus of Donald Trump’s second presidency has largely been about overturning liberal norms, whether that means running roughshod over the World Trade Organization with his global tariff offensive or publicly dismissing the United Nations as irrelevant and sanctioning the International Criminal Court. […]

President Donald Trump has pardoned two more people connected to the January 6th riot at the United States Capitol. The president pardoned Dan Wilson for a second time, this time for gun charges not related to the attack. Trump also pardoned Suzanne Kaye, another January 6th defendant who had been sentenced to prison for threatening FBI agents online.

Meet the Press moderator Kristen Welker joins Sunday TODAY’s Willie Geist to discuss the growing rift between President Donald Trump and his MAGA base over the release of the Epstein files.

President Donald Trump says he is withdrawing his support and endorsement of Georgia congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, who for years was one of his most ardent supporters. It comes amid a push by a bipartisan group of lawmakers, including Greene, to get more information released around the crimes of late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. NBC‘s Yamiche Alcindor reports for Sunday TODAY.

Nicolás Maduro faces drug-related charges in the U.S. and an American military buildup near his country.

Elsewhere, the president of Finland warned that a ceasefire in Ukraine is unlikely before the spring and urged European allies to keep up support.

This story was originally published by bioGraphic and is reproduced here as part of the Climate Desk collaboration. Alpine pennycress is a charming little plant. Its low-growing rosette of green leaves is topped by leggy stalks bearing clusters of pinkish-white flowers. As they develop, these flowers transform into beautiful flattened seedpods that, in the words of botanist Liz […]

1:10 Kyiv has also prepared a deal with France for “a significant strengthening of our combat aviation, air defense, and other defense capabilities,” Ukrainian president said.

Rain hammered the sprawling encampments across Gaza on Saturday, turning roads into rivers, soaking freezing families inside their tents, and forcing people to sweep dirty water from their shelters as it pooled around their beds and belongings

In a clear pattern, a machine designed to generate law and order morphs into an organization operating under lawlessness We have entered the openly repressive phase of the Trump presidency. The administration has moved beyond verbal attacks on civil society. It is now deploying coercive force against civic organizations and their leaders. While the attacks may seem contained for now, they are likely to grow. Research on other cases of democratic backsliding suggests that once coercion begins, regardless of how limited at first, escalation follows. In the months ahead, we should thus expect more, not less, government repression. To meet it, pro-democracy organizations, universities and law firms must bravely speak up against abuses of power while building the broadest possible coalition to stand up for fundamental rights. Community, labor and advocacy groups must also train their ranks in strategic nonviolence to resist provocations from the state and make repression backfire. Javier Corrales is Dwight W Morrow 1895 professor of political science at Amherst College. Daniel Altschuler is the managing director of the Freedom Together Foundation and holds a doctorate in politics from the University of Oxford. Continue reading...

“I’m not very optimistic about achieving a ceasefire or the beginning of peace negotiations, at least this year,” Alexander Stubb told the AP.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky has begun his visit to Greece.

Units of the Defence Forces struck facilities of the Novokuybyshevsk Oil Refinery in Russia’s Samara region and a storage site for UAVs belonging to the Russian Rubikon unit in the occupied Donetsk region.

Russia launched about 1,000 strike drones, nearly 980 guided aerial bombs, and 36 missiles of various types against Ukraine in one week.

YouGov/Economist polling over the past three months shows a clear downward trend in Trump’s standing with middle-class Americans.

Air Defense Forces destroyed 139 Shahed, Gerbera, and other types of drones out of 176 launched by Russia against Ukraine on the evening of November 15.

These widely condemned strikes are just the latest sign of Trump’s imperialist revival – and the collapsing of the rules-based world order The UK’s reported decision to restrict intelligence-sharing with the Pentagon on suspected drug-traffickers’ boats in the Caribbean is a modest yet symbolic act of resistance to Donald Trump’s imperialist revival. Britain is said to have objected to repeated, lethal US airstrikes on alleged smugglers off Venezuela’s coast – which have been widely condemned as illegal extrajudicial killings amounting to murder. The strikes appear to foreshadow direct US attacks on Venezuela itself. Trump makes no secret of his wish to topple Nicolás Maduro’s authoritarian, ostensibly leftist regime. Most Venezuelans support this aim, but not the means. Regime change forcibly imposed by a foreign power contravenes international law, unless it is authorised by the UN or undertaken in self-defence as a last resort. Legal or not, it never ends well. Continue reading...