Zelenskyy to Meet Trump in Washington Monday After Putin Summit Fails to Deliver Ceasefire

Ukrainian leader seeks stronger U.S. and European security guarantees as Trump signals direct peace agreement could be the key to ending the Russia-Ukraine war.

WASHINGTON, D.C. | Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will meet with U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday in Washington, days after Trump’s high-stakes summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska ended without securing a ceasefire in the Ukraine war.

Zelenskyy confirmed the upcoming meeting in a post on X early Saturday, writing: “On Monday, I will meet with President Trump in Washington, D.C., to discuss all of the details regarding ending the killing and the war. I am grateful for the invitation.”

The announcement came after a lengthy phone call between Zelenskyy and Trump, which also included European leaders for part of the discussion. According to Zelenskyy, the call lasted over 90 minutes, with roughly an hour focused on bilateral talks between Kyiv and Washington.

Assessing Redistricting Claims from Texas, New York Governors

In the battle over Texas’ redistricting plan to pick up Republican House seats, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott have made competing claims.

Hochul, a Democrat, said at an Aug. 4 briefing, “Congressional districts are never redrawn mid-decade as they are, but here they are, flagrantly breaking the rules so they can hold on to power.” Districts have been redrawn mid-decade many times, but that’s usually due to legal challenges — making Texas’ mid-decade redistricting without court action rare. 

Abbott, a Republican, said in an Aug. 5 appearance on Fox News, “There are no states more gerrymandered than California, Illinois, and New York. … I don’t think those states can gerrymander any more than they have.” Illinois is among the most skewed states for partisan congressional maps, but California and New York get favorable marks in analyses from nonpartisan organizations.

The fracas began because, ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, President Donald Trump had said he wanted Texas state lawmakers to redraw congressional district lines to pick up Republican House seats. The move could touch off a redistricting arms race since some Democratic governors have threatened to counter with redistricting in their states if Texas Republicans move forward with their plan.

RFK Jr.’s Vaccine Court Spin

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. accused the Vaccine Court of corruption and bias, but experts say his assertions misrepresent the law, the data, and the program’s history.

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. misrepresented the country’s compensation program for those who are harmed by vaccines, alleging that it’s biased and corrupt and falsely claiming that a person can’t sue a vaccine company “no matter how negligent they are.” He also incorrectly said there is “zero incentive” for vaccine companies to produce safe vaccines.

Kennedy, who has long criticized the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program as an anti-vaccine activist with Children’s Health Defense, announced in a long X post on July 28 that he intends to “fix” the program. He claimed it “has devolved into a morass of inefficiency, favoritism, and outright corruption” and “routinely dismisses meritorious cases outright or drags them out for years.”

As we’ll explain, several experts objected to some of these descriptions, even if they acknowledged flaws in the current system.

In subsequent interviews with the conservative commentator Charlie Kirk and Newsmax, Kennedy also incorrectly described the options for petitioners to pursue civil litigation and wrongly described vaccine makers as having no incentive to prioritize safety.

Emmys 2025 Voters’ Guide: The Early Frontrunners Poised to Make Awards History

With powerhouse debuts, record-breaking nominations, and beloved series staging comebacks, the 77th Primetime Emmy Awards could deliver one of the most unpredictable races in years.

The countdown to the 77th Primetime Emmy Awards is on, and this year’s field is shaping up to be one of the most competitive in recent memory. With a mix of first-time nominees, record-setting freshman series, and fan favorites looking for their first drama wins, the 2025 Emmys promise high drama both on-screen and on the ballot.

Lucian Grainge Slams Drake’s ‘Not Like Us’ Lawsuit as “Groundless and Ridiculous”

UMG chief fires back after months of silence, calling rapper’s defamation claims over Kendrick Lamar diss track “farcical” and “nonsensical” in court filing.

NEW YORK | After months of silence, Universal Music Group chairman and CEO Lucian Grainge has broken his public silence in the legal battle with Drake, issuing a sharp rebuttal to the rapper’s defamation lawsuit over the release of Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us.”

In a declaration filed late Thursday with the Southern District of New York — and obtained by 'TELL IT LIKE IT IS' Entertainment News — Grainge called Drake’s claims that he orchestrated a plot to damage the Canadian superstar’s brand “farcical,” “nonsensical,” and “indeed ridiculous.”

Drake’s lawsuit, filed earlier this year, alleges that Grainge and UMG were complicit in promoting and releasing “Not Like Us” — a track Lamar dropped through UMG’s Interscope Records division — as part of a larger scheme to tarnish Drake’s reputation following their high-profile rap battle. The rapper’s attorneys have sought UMG’s contract with Lamar and details of unverified allegations against him, pointing to supposed internal coordination at the label.

Grainge dismissed the accusations outright, noting that UMG has invested “hundreds of millions of dollars” into Drake’s career, including purchasing the majority of his recording catalog and music publishing rights. “The proposition that I was involved in… reviewing and approving the content of ‘Not Like Us’… or directing the promotion of those materials is groundless,” Grainge wrote.

The British music executive emphasized that as CEO of a publicly traded, multi-national corporation operating in over 60 countries, his responsibilities involve global strategic oversight — not micromanaging individual track releases. “I had never heard ‘Not Like Us,’ nor seen the cover art or music video, until after their release,” Grainge asserted.

In a separate filing, UMG’s legal team characterized Drake’s motion as “a transparent attempt” to harass the label and force unnecessary discovery, calling the idea that Grainge personally influenced a diss track “absurd.”

The legal fight is the latest high-profile clash in the ongoing Drake vs. Kendrick Lamar feud — one that has spilled far beyond music streaming platforms and into the courts, potentially reshaping the intersection of artistic expression, corporate music politics, and celebrity litigation.

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-- By Lakisha Brown

© 2025 JWT Communications. All rights reserved. This article may not be republished, rebroadcast, rewritten, or distributed in any form without prior written permission.

Gianna Paul Earns Second Consecutive Spot on Prestigious Hermann Trophy Watch List

Alabama soccer star recognized among nation’s elite players after stellar 2024 season, eyeing college soccer’s highest honor in 2025

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. | Alabama forward Gianna Paul has once again been recognized among the nation’s best, earning a coveted place on the 2025 Hermann Trophy Watch List for the second straight year, the United Soccer Coaches announced Thursday.

The Hermann Trophy – presented annually by the United Soccer Coaches and Missouri Athletic Club (MAC) – is the most prestigious individual award in NCAA Division I soccer, given to the top male and female players as voted on by college coaches nationwide. Paul joins a select group of 43 elite athletes, including returning All-Americans and First Team All-Region honorees.

The semifinalists for the 2025 award will be revealed December 2, following the conclusion of All-American voting.

AUM Men’s Soccer Welcomes Owen Burnett as New Assistant Coach

MONTGOMERY, Ala. | Auburn University at Montgomery (AUM) Men’s Soccer has strengthened its coaching staff with the appointment of Owen Burnett as the program’s new Assistant Coach. Head Coach Matthew Thorne expressed enthusiasm for the hire, citing Burnett’s high-level playing background, coaching experience in the ACC, and strong leadership qualities as key assets for the program.

“We are delighted to have Owen join our staff,” said Thorne. “Owen has valuable experience in the ACC, and more importantly, his character is the perfect fit for our program. He will be a tremendous addition to Men’s Soccer and our University as a whole.”

Burnett, a native of Pennington, New Jersey, is a graduate of Christopher Newport University where he earned a degree in Business Management. As a forward for the Captains, Burnett appeared in 42 matches, scoring five goals — including three in the 2021 season — and making a career-high four starts that year.

Auburn to Celebrate Bo Jackson at Iron Bowl, Marking 40 Years Since Heisman Glory

Tigers to honor legendary two-sport star during rivalry clash with Alabama, commemorating his record-setting 1985 season.

AUBURN, Ala. | Auburn University will pay tribute to one of its most iconic athletes this fall when it honors Bo Jackson at the Iron Bowl, commemorating the 40th anniversary of his historic 1985 Heisman Trophy-winning season.

Widely considered one of the greatest athletes in American sports history, Jackson excelled in football, baseball, and track during his Auburn career from 1982 to 1986. His dominance on the football field culminated in a 1985 campaign that saw him rush for 1,786 yards — the second-highest single-season total in Southeastern Conference (SEC) history at the time — along with 17 touchdowns and an average of 6.4 yards per carry.

“Ever since he arrived on the Plains in 1982, Bo Jackson has represented Auburn in a world-class manner in his athletic, professional, and philanthropic endeavors,” Auburn Athletics Director John Cohen said. “Bo’s 1985 season ranks among the greatest in the storied history of Auburn and the Southeastern Conference. It is our privilege to honor Bo on the 40th anniversary of his Heisman Trophy season.”

Jackson became Auburn’s second-ever Heisman Trophy recipient, cementing his place in Tigers history. Over his collegiate career, he amassed 4,303 rushing yards, 4,575 all-purpose yards, and 43 rushing touchdowns. His legendary No. 34 jersey was retired in 1992 as part of Auburn’s football centennial celebration.

Following his Auburn career, Jackson went on to achieve rare dual-sport stardom, playing eight seasons in Major League Baseball with the Kansas City Royals, Chicago White Sox, and California Angels, as well as four seasons in the NFL with the Los Angeles Raiders. He was named the 1989 MLB All-Star Game MVP, the 1993 American League Comeback Player of the Year, and recorded 2,782 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns in the NFL before a hip injury in 1991 cut his football career short.

The Iron Bowl — Auburn’s annual rivalry game against Alabama — will serve as the perfect backdrop for honoring Jackson’s legacy, ensuring a packed stadium and a national television audience for the celebration. Fans can expect special tributes, video highlights, and appearances honoring his impact both on and off the field.

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-- By Masakela Rawls

© 2025 JWT Communications. All rights reserved. This article may not be republished, rebroadcast, rewritten, or distributed in any form without prior written permission.

China Eyes U.S. Undersea Sensor Network as Prime Target in Future Conflict, Analysts Warn

PLAN officers urge Beijing to develop offensive capabilities to sabotage America’s Integrated Undersea Surveillance System, citing vulnerabilities that could cripple U.S. anti-submarine warfare in the Pacific.

BEIJING | China’s navy is increasingly viewing America’s vast undersea sensor network as a critical target in any future conflict, with senior People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) officers advocating for an aggressive campaign to disrupt or destroy the system, according to a recent analysis from the U.S. Naval War College.

Submarines remain central to China’s naval deterrence strategy, but U.S. underwater surveillance — particularly the Integrated Undersea Surveillance System (IUSS) and its towed-array counterpart SURTASS — poses a significant threat to their stealth operations. Chinese military publications warn that this network of undersea microphones, mobile sensor ships, drones, satellites, and aircraft has created what they describe as an “integrated, three-dimensional surveillance system” capable of tracking PLAN submarines from port to patrol areas.

“If enough nodes are degraded, the system as a whole may lose its functionality,” said Ryan Martinson, a professor at the China Maritime Studies Institute, citing a candid November 2023 article in Military Art, an internal PLA journal.

Female Veterans in Congress Demand Defense Secretary Hegseth Resign Over Christian Nationalist Video

Democratic lawmakers — including decorated combat veterans — say Hegseth’s repost promotes anti-women, anti-LGBTQ views and undermines U.S. military readiness.

WASHINGTON | A coalition of female Democratic lawmakers, many of them military veterans, is calling for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to resign after he reposted a video from a Christian nationalist church whose pastors advocate repealing the 19th Amendment, banning women from combat roles, and criminalizing homosexuality.

The repost, which featured Hegseth’s endorsement — “All of Christ for All of Life” — sparked bipartisan concern but drew the sharpest condemnation from women who have served in uniform.

Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), an Army helicopter pilot who lost both legs in Iraq, called the views in the video “antiquated, flat out wrong, and dangerously designed to justify discrimination against women in uniform.” Duckworth accused Hegseth of incompetence and said he “should resign in disgrace immediately.”

Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (D-Pa.), an Air Force veteran, said the defense secretary’s promotion of such ideology was “unacceptable political-religious advocacy” that undermines women and the LGBTQ community. She accused the Trump administration of “erasing accomplishments and stripping hard-fought rights.”

Putin Demands Full Control of Donetsk in Ceasefire Proposal, Zelenskyy Rejects

Ukrainian president warns territorial concessions would embolden Moscow as U.S.-Russia talks exclude Europe and focus shifts to key battle for Pokrovsk.

KYIV, Ukraine | Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Tuesday that Russian President Vladimir Putin is demanding Ukraine withdraw from the remaining 30% of the Donetsk region it still controls as part of a proposed ceasefire — a condition Kyiv has flatly rejected.

Zelenskyy stressed that abandoning Ukrainian-held territory would be unconstitutional and strategically dangerous, arguing it would serve as a launchpad for future Russian offensives. “We will not leave Donbas. We cannot do this. Our territories are illegally occupied,” Zelenskyy declared during a press briefing in Kyiv.

The demand reportedly surfaced during diplomatic back-channel talks led by the United States ahead of a high-stakes summit Friday between U.S. President Donald Trump and Putin. According to Zelenskyy, American officials, including special envoy Steve Witkoff, conveyed that Russia was prepared to end the war — but only if both sides made territorial concessions.