Rolling Out The Red Carpet For Putin While US Troops “Invade” D.C.

A detailed recount mixed with meme comedy to mark our times at Week 32 of 2025 featuring source material from Gundam Gquuuuuux, Jentry Chau Vs The Underworld, Star Trek Lower Decks, and Hailey’s On It

Aug 17, 2025

Ukraine/Russia War Watch - That Meeting Could Have Been An Email

All eyes were on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska, on Friday for a meeting between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin. Based on initial reporting, Putin and Trump aim to lock in Russia’s land gains in Ukraine, a move that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has condemned. During Monday’s DC press conference, Trump said Zelensky will not attend the Alaska summit, which he confused the American state with a part of Russia. At the same time, Trump said he will try to get some of Ukraine’s territory back for Kyiv but warned there will be some land swapping between the warring countries. He added the summit would be a "feel-out meeting, " claiming he would know exactly whether a deal could be made within two minutes. According to the Telegraph, Ukraine is softening its position to allow ceding territory currently occupied by Russia to the invading nation. Meanwhile, European leaders planned to hold another meeting with Trump ahead of Friday’s Alaska summit.

As Ukraine is bogged down in ceasefire talks, the rest of Europe is arming up. Based on radar analysis, the FT revealed Europe’s weapons factories “are expanding at three times the rate of peacetime.” Even though Europe is mostly sidelined from the Trump-Putin talks, nearly all EU leaders signed a joint statement defending Ukraine’s freedom to decide its own future, with the sole exception being Hungary’s autocrat, Viktor Orban. Zelensky rejects Russia’s proposal for Ukraine to withdraw from the entire eastern region of Donetsk in exchange for a ceasefire deal, arguing, “For Russians, Donbas is a springboard for a future new offensive.” By the end of Tuesday, there were reports that Trump would hold a virtual meeting with Zelensky and European leaders before talking with Putin. Meanwhile, Russia is suspected of being involved in the recent hack concerning the computer system that manages US federal court documents.

European leaders were cautiously optimistic after a virtual call with Trump, who told them the goal of the summit is to obtain a ceasefire between Moscow and Kyiv. French President Emmanuel Macron stated that any territorial issues would require Zelensky’s approval, and security guarantees would need to be part of any ceasefire. Meanwhile, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said the US president “largely shares” European positions on Ukraine. During the call, Zelensky told Trump that "Putin cannot be trusted," while Axios reported Polish President Karol Nawrocki "reminded Trump of the Battle of Warsaw, exactly 105 years ago, when Poland fought together with Ukrainians against the Bolsheviks in Russia.” Trump then threatened that Vladimir Putin would face “very severe consequences” if he didn’t agree to a ceasefire, while also hinting at a potential three-way meeting with Zelensky if the first one was successful. According to the Telegraph, Trump was preparing to offer Putin access to rare earth minerals to incentivize him to end the Ukraine war.

According to The Times of London, the US and Russia are proposing “a West Bank-style occupation of Ukraine”. On Thursday morning, Zelensky visited No. 10 Downing Street for talks with UK PM Keir Starmer. The Kremlin announced Trump and Putin would have a one-on-one meeting, with only translators beside them, as Vladimir Putin praised “energetic and sincere efforts” from the Trump administration to end the Ukraine war. In addition, Putin suggested that both countries can make a deal on nuclear arms control. On Trump’s side, he said there is a chance his “chess game” with Putin might fail, while hoping for a second meeting for Russia and Ukraine to "divvy up " land. Making things worse for Ukraine, Russia has broken the defensive line at Dobropillia, north of the Ukrainian stronghold of Pokrovsk in the Donetsk region.

“HIGH STAKES!!!” That was what Trump posted on social media as he left for Anchorage, as the world watches with baited breath to see what happens next. Giving the first hints to the leaders talks, Trump said he will not discuss economic deals with Putin, adding, “I’m not here to negotiate for Ukraine.” In more soundbites from the US president, Trump said he is optimistic that "something’s going to come of it,” boasting that Putin “wants a piece” of US economic success, and he would “walk away” if there is no deal with the Russian leader. After Trump touched down in Alaska, he literally rolled out the red carpet for Putin’s arrival and shook hands at the airport. Following a warm greeting on the tarmac, Putin shrugged when a reporter asked him whether he would stop killing Ukrainian civilians. As Trump and Putin met, Zelensky called on Russia to "end the war that it itself has started,” saying Ukraine is counting on America. In a surprising move, former Trump rival Hillary Clinton said she would nominate Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize if he ends the Ukraine war without giving territory to Russia. Initially billed as six to seven hours of one-to-one talks, the three-to-three conversation ended after three hours. According to Russia’s ambassador to the United States, Alexander Darchiev, the atmosphere during the closed-door talks was generally positive. Afterwards, Trump and Putin held a brief press conference with hundreds of American and Russian reporters. Putin spoke first, saying he greeted Trump as a “neighbour” and delved into a history lesson on Alaska, as well as mentioning the presence of Russian Orthodox churches in the US state. Pressing on Trump’s ego, Putin jabbed at the Biden administration, and affirmed Trump’s claim that the Russia-Ukraine war would not have started if Trump were president, saying the meeting is “long overdue.” During the remarks, Putin said, “Russia is interested in ensuring that the settlement in Ukraine is long-term. I hope that today’s agreements will be a starting point for achieving peace in Ukraine.” When it's Trump’s time to speak, he said the talks made they made "some headway,” saying he will call NATO leaders and Zelensky after the meeting. Moreover, Trump described the US intelligence community’s finding that Russia meddled in the 2016 election as a “hoax.” In a rare moment, Putin spoke in English, inviting Trump to Moscow, which Trump called interesting but would “get a little heat on that one.” Among the other “highlights” of the ten-minute talk, Putin claimed he is "sincerely interested" in putting an end to the conflict, but adds that Russia needs to eliminate the "primary causes" of the conflict. Putin warned Ukraine and Europe should not “sabotage” the talks, describing his relationship with Trump as "business-like." On Trump’s side, he said "many points were agreed to," but there were "a few" remaining issues left unaddressed. He adds that there is one that “is the most significant," without specifying what it is. They left the conference after talking for 10 minutes, taking no questions from reporters. Interestingly enough, Trump said the Putin summit was productive but "we didn't get there" on a Ukraine deal, with both men giving hints that more talks will happen. The scheduled luncheon between the two delegations was cancelled following the “no-deal,” with Trump returning to Washington immediately.

In his first interview following the Putin summit, Trump rated it a 10 out of a possible 10 when asked by Fox News, and urged Zelensky to make a deal with Russia. Following Trump’s calls with European leaders and the Ukrainian president, Zelensky said he will travel to Washington on Monday to meet Trump, and backs a trilateral meeting with the US and Russia. Moreover, Zelensky told Trump to step up pressure on Moscow, emphasizing the need for real peace and not a pause between Russian assaults. According to an Axios reporter, Trump told Zelensky and NATO leaders that Putin does not want a ceasefire, but prefers a comprehensive agreement to end the war. On Truth Social, Trump says the best way to end the Ukraine war is to go directly to a peace agreement, not a “mere ceasefire agreement,” directly aligning himself with Putin’s narrative. Trying to flatter the US president, UK PM Keir Starmer said Trump should be “commended,” adding that the end of the Ukraine war is closer than ever before. Italy’s PM, Georgia Meloni, said the summit included the discussion of security guarantees against further Russian aggression, noting it was where the “most interesting developments” happened in Alaska. The WSJ reported Trump told European leaders that he is open to security guarantees for Ukraine, as the FT wrote about Putin reiterating his “core demands” of seceding Donetsk and Luhansk to Russia in exchange for a frozen front line. Based on multiple news outlets, Trump seems to back the land swap plan, a move Zelensky rejected during the leaders call.

Ahead of the Monday meeting, Zelensky said Russia's continued refusal to accept a ceasefire agreement "complicates" efforts to achieve a sustainable peace agreement. It was then announced that a who’s who of European leaders will join Zelensky next Monday, including European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Italian PM Giorgia Meloni, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron, UK PM Keir Starmer, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, and Finland’s President and Trump whisperer Alexander Stubb. NPR obtained State Department documents left over in a business center of an Alaskan hotel, which revealed previously undisclosed and potentially sensitive details about the Anchorage summit, including the details of a luncheon with “His Excellency Vladimir Putin.” During a press conference, Zelensky said Ukraine will not give up any territory that Russia has not captured. US special envoy Steve Witmoff said Russia and his country had agreed on security guarantees for Ukraine, while Secretary of State Marco Rubio said a temporary ceasefire deal is not off the table. In some less important information we learned about the Trump-Putin summit, a letter from Melania Trump raising concerns about kidnapped Ukrainian children was delivered to the Russian leader.

The Trump Show: Series 2 - Occupy D.C.

Since last Sunday, Trump has pledged to evict homeless people in Washington, DC, and jail criminals, while the White House initially declined to explain what legal authority Trump has to achieve his eviction plan. The president cited increasing violent crime in DC and cases of homeless people sleeping on the street, despite the fact that violent crime in the nation’s capital has decreased to the lowest point in decades, and advocacy groups say most homeless people don’t live on the street. Prompting fears of a federal takeover, FBI agents were dispatched for overnight shifts to combat carjackings and prevent crime in DC, as the US military prepared to activate hundreds of National Guard troops towards the country’s capital. By Monday morning, Trump made his plans to occupy DC clear. Aside from deploying 800 members of the National Guard, the city’s police department is under federal control. Trump designated AG Pam Bondi to oversee the federal takeover of the capital’s Metropolitan Police Department, adding he plans to call in active-duty military troops if needed, while Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stands nearby. The president also threatened to expand his efforts to other cities, including Chicago, while DC Mayor Muriel Bowser struck a diplomatic tone as local officials could do little to block an expected 30-day takeover. Concerning the story that Trump wants everyone to look away from, a federal judge denied the DOJ’s attempt to unseal all Epstein-related grand jury material. The NYT reported that Harvard is nearing a deal with Trump, with a potential landmark $500 million settlement on the line. In a move everyone who knows about the far-right in America has expected, the Supreme Court was formally asked on Monday to overturn the landmark same-sex marriage ruling by Kim Davis, a former clerk who refused gay couples. After brutally defunding public broadcasting, More Perfect Union reports the White House is partnering with PragerU, an openly conservative education company, which could be eyed as a substitute for PBS. Meanwhile, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum vowed the US army will “never set foot” in Mexican territory.

Despite previous reports that the US is easing its human rights criticism of Israel, Russia, and El Salvador, the opposite is happening for Brazil and South Africa. According to leaked drafts obtained by the Washington Post, the US government’s accusations lean towards Trump’s contested claims about perceived political foes, including former Brazilian leader Jair Bolsonaro’s coup trial and allegations of “white genocide” against Afrikaners. The Washington Post also revealed a new Pentagon plan that would create a military “reaction force,” which would be adopted for civil unrest. With National Guard troops beginning to patrol the streets of DC, Trump said the homeless living in the city would have places to stay, and would go to jail if they refused. Taking the latest steps in opening a Ministry of Truth, the Trump regime ordered another review of Smithsonian museums, aiming to target “divisive or ideologically driven language.” This comes days after the institution temporarily removed and restored references to Trump’s impeachment. As Texas Republicans are holding a second session to dare rebellious Democrats to return to the state, state AG Ken Paxton is seeking to arrest Beto O’Rourke over his financial support of the Texas Democrats. In other headlines, a judge mandated that ICE needs to improve its Manhattan holding cell conditions, Mexico expelled 26 cartel figures wanted by US authorities in a deal with the Trump administration, former senator Sherrod Brown has decided to get a seat in the Senate next year in Ohio, and a White House UFC cage fight is confirmed to take place on the South Lawn next year.

On Wednesday, Trump announced he would host the upcoming Kennedy Center awards months after taking over the cultural institution. Some of the awardees include Gloria Gaynor, Kiss, and Sylvester Stallone. In some legal developments, an appeals court ruled to allow the Trump regime to withhold billions in foreign aid, while a judge cast doubt on a DOJ lawsuit that sued all 15 Maryland-based federal judges. Melania Trump started a legal beef with Hunter Biden, with the First Lady threatening to sue Hunter Biden for $1 billion following Joe Biden's son's claim that she was introduced to Trump by Jeffrey Epstein. Outside of America, JD Vance is causing political chaos in the UK despite being on vacation. From Vance meeting far-right Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, non-stop protests by Brits against the US VP, ex-Tory Chancellor George Osborne arranging Vance’s Cotswolds holiday, to him fishing with David Lammy, which could get the UK Foreign Secretary fined for doing so without a license.

The Texas Democrats made their clearest signal yet that they are poised to end their redistricting walkout, with the terms being that the Texas Legislature ends its first special session on Friday, and California Democrats introduce their expected proposal that could offset GOP gains in Texas. Hours later, California Governor Gavin Newsom called a special election in November over the “Election Rigging Response Act.” If the bill is approved, the Democrats can bypass the independent commission, which controls the map-drawing process, and draw the gerrymandered maps by themselves. Outside the Newsom announcement rally, Border Patrol agents were outside to intimidate people. As Trump continued his quest for the Nobel Peace Prize, Trump cold-called a Norwegian minister to ask about the Nobel Peace Prize. In DC, dozens were arrested by federal police as the city police chief ordered more cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. Meanwhile, AG Pam Bondi orders the DC mayor to recognize the current DEA chief as the city’s new “emergency police commissioner.” Continuing Florida’s cruelty streak, Governor Ron DeSantis announced plans to open a second immigration detention facility dubbed “Deportation Depot.” In the HHS, the department revived a childhood vaccine safety task force, fulfilling a long-sought demand from anti-vaccine activists. Concerning other news, a judge struck down the regime’s guidance against diversity programs at schools and colleges, the Supreme Court cleared the way for a Mississippi law that requires parental consent to use social media, PBS slashed its budget by 21% following federal funding cuts, and the US announced charges and sanctions against alleged members of Mexico’s United Cartels.

Following Pam Bondi’s appointment of a new “emergency police commissioner,” DC leaders pushed back at the decision, with Mayor Muriel Bowser and DC Attorney General Brian Schwalb saying the order was unlawful and suggesting they would not comply. Responding to developments in her post, DC Police Chief Pamela Bowser said the order to upend the command structure would be a dangerous threat to law and order. Taking one step further, Schwalb sued the Trump regime over its attempted takeover of the city’s police. By the afternoon, a district judge did not issue a ruling but got the attorneys of both sides to hash out an agreement that preserves local control of the police department. The judge also added that Trump likely has the legal authority to order police help with immigration enforcement. Hours later, the Trump regime makes a partial repeat by allowing the current DC police chief in control of her department. In a new memo, Pam Bondi directed the DC police to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement agencies regardless of any city law. As Gavin Newsom and his social media team continue their trolling game, California Democrats released their new gerrymandered map that would give them an upside advantage. In a highly unusual arrangement, the Washington Post reported DHS Secretary Kristi Noem for free at the Coast Guard commandant’s home. RFK Jr announced he would not run for president in 2028, saying his loyalty belongs to President Trump. We also learned that Tom Cruise has declined a Kennedy Center Lifetime Achievement Award from Donald Trump, following a recent announcement that he is hosting the awards next year.

Over the weekend, officials say more National Guard troops will come to DC, with many of them ordered to carry weapons in the upcoming days. In addition, three Republican-led states said they would send up to 750 National Guard troops to join the 800 already deployed in DC. Meanwhile, the Washington Post reported ICE documents that reveal billions to be spent on beds in mega-facilities and detention centers, all to double immigrant detention space this year.

Trade Off - Benefits For Nvidia

Coming into the week, US VP JD Vance told Fox News that Trump is considering slapping China with additional tariffs over its purchase of Russian oil, while chipmakers Nvidia and AMD agreed to pay the US government 15% of Chinese AI chip sales revenue in exchange for obtaining export licenses for China. The FT further reported that the US president has negotiated “a little deal” with Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, opening the door for the chipmaker to sell other advanced AI chips to China for a fee. Speaking of trade tensions between the US and China, Washington extended the tariff pause with Beijing for another 90 days, pushing the deadline to November. Days after calling for the firing of Intel's CEO Lip-Bu Tan, Trump called a Monday meeting with him a “success” in a major tone shift. At the same time, Trump said he would nominate loyalist and Heritage Foundation member E. J. Antoni as commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics after sacking his predecessor for allegedly manipulating job-related data.

Right as the US allows Nvidia to export its H20 chips to China, Bloomberg reports Beijing has urged firms not to use the same processors, particularly for government-related purposes. At the same time, not only did China impose temporary duties on Canadian canola, but Beijing also imposed sanctions on two European banks as a countermeasure for previous economic sanctions. In America, inflation numbers were held steady at 2.7% compared to a year earlier. Many experts and economic watchers are worried about Antoni’s nomination, especially because the Trump loyalist said he suggested that the monthly jobs reports’ data are flawed and need corrections.

In case EJ Antoni’s nomination to lead the Bureau of Labor Statistics isn’t already bad enough, which is comfortably disturbing to many economists and to other casual observers with the Nazi ship background, NBC News spotted Antoni during the January 6 Capitol Riots back in 2021. Concerning new economic data, the US stock market tried to shake off a dour wholesale inflation report on Thursday, while China’s economy lost some momentum with lackluster retail sales and industrial output. In Narendra Modi’s first speech since the US slapped 50% tariffs, the PM vowed to build a “self-reliant India” and announced tax and regulatory reforms to benefit businesspeople and the middle class. According to Axios, the White House has a loyalty rating for more than 550 companies, which scores how well they promote Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill.” We also learned why Trump has recently cut sweetheart deals to Apple and Nvidia, because according to the latest ethics filing from the US president, he had between $615,000 and $1.3 million in Nvidia shares, and $650,000 to $1.35 million in Apple stock at the end of 2024.

Middle East War Watch - RIP Journalists

Joining the list of Western countries willing to recognize Palestine’s statehood in September, Australia’s Prime Minister Antony Albanese said his country will recognize a Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly. International outrage over the targeted assassination of five Al Jazeera journalists, including the correspondent Anas al-Sharif, grew on Monday. The IDF confirmed they conducted the killing, accusing al-Sharif of being a Hamas member despite denials from Al Jazeera and the slain journalist in the past. Al Jazeera called the killing “yet another blatant and premeditated attack on press freedom,” adding Israel has considered a “desperate attempt to silence the voices exposing the impending seizure and occupation of Gaza.” The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) says it is appalled by the news, with CPJ Regional Director Sara Qudah saying, “Israel is murdering the messengers. Israel wiped out an entire news crew. That's murder. Plain and simple.”

During back-to-back press conferences with international and Israeli reporters, Netanyahu told local journalists that “If we wanted to commit genocide, it would have taken exactly one afternoon.” Moreover, Netanyahu claimed Israel never halted aid from entering Gaza, even though his office announced the policy in March before reversing it 11 weeks later. On Wednesday, the Israeli destruction of Gaza's healthcare can be considered as “medicide,” while South Sudan had to deny reports that it is talking with Israel in its forced transfer of Palestinians. Within Israel, as Netanyahu hinted that ceasefire talks would focus on releasing hostages all in one go, members of the cabinet have pressured Israeli military chief of staff, Eyal Zamir, over his doubts on a Gaza City capture.

Israel is poised to approve a highly controversial 3,400-home West Bank settlement, which has been frozen for decades and would split the disputed region in half if the plan comes to fruition. The far-right finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich, spoke in the settlement of Ma’ale Adumim, saying, “This plan buries the idea of a Palestinian state. Anyone in the world today who tries to recognize a Palestinian state will receive an answer from us on the ground. Not in documents, not in decisions or declarations — but in facts.” More than 100 aid groups working in Palestinian regions, including the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, say Israel’s new rules for registering groups involved in delivering humanitarian assistance are dangerously “weaponizing aid,” and “designed to control independent organisations, silence advocacy and censor humanitarian reporting.”

On Friday, the far-right national security minister, Itamar Ben Gvir, taunted the prominent Palestinian prisoner, Marwan Barghouti, in his cell. House Democratic Minority Whip Katherine Clark called the Gaza war a genocide during a district event on Thursday, marking the most prominent Democrat yet to call Israel’s action in such terms. Behind the scenes, Israel has quietly engaged in talks to relocate Palestinians away from Gaza. According to the WSJ, Libya, South Sudan, Somaliland, and Syria were among the countries with which Israel has discussed such plans. On the streets of Israel, hundreds of thousands of Israelis responded to the call of hostage families for a general strike and protests, pressuring the government to agree to a ceasefire. In an Israeli TV broadcast, the ex-intelligence chief who headed military intelligence during the October 7th attack said 50 Palestinians must die for every person killed that day, adding, “it does not matter now if they are children.” The US government cut off visitor visas for people seeking medical help from Gaza, following far-right influencer Laura Loomer freaking out over a video of Gazan children coming to America for medical care.

Voterama 2025 - Bolivia’s Wild Election

On Sunday, Bolivian voters headed to the polls for the first round of the country’s general election right before celebrating the country’s bicentennial independence day. This election is a doozy, marked by the feud between incumbent President Luis Arce and his former political mentor turned rival, Evo Morales. Morales founded the Movement for Socialism (MAS) party, which has grown into a political powerhouse in the nation, and led the country from 2006 to 2019. However, suspicions of fraudulent activity to secure a victory in the first round of Bolivia’s 2019 election forced Morales to flee the country and led to the election’s annulification. A year later, former finance minister Luis Arce won the subsequent election and allowed Morales to return to Bolivia. However, the current president’s despotic management of candidacies in the 2021 local elections sparked discontent within the party, which fueled the feud between Morales and Arce. Tensions culminated with Morales announcing his candidacy in 2023, which prompted, among other things, legal challenges for the control of MAS, intra-party demonstrations, acts of violence, Arce somehow getting himself thrown out of the party he leads, and Morales losing support from most of the MAS base. With prolonged protests and election-related violence leaving Morales with a “reduced but radicalized” support base and quitting the race, as well as Arce announcing he isn’t running earlier this year, the MAS Party has thoroughly imploded. Trying to put on a brave face, the former Minister of Government, Eduardo del Castillo, is the MAS candidate running in this election, but has received abysmal results in pre-election polling.

Running against the MAS tenure include the National Unity Front’s Samuel Doria Medina, who is a businessman and former Minister of Planning, who is most favored by voters who have an intention to vote for someone. Others include former President Jorge “Tuto” Quiroga of the Revolutionary Left Front and Mayor of Cochabamba Manfred Reyes Villa of Autonomy for Bolivia running on the right, as well as Senate President Andrónico Rodríguez running on the left. But in a sense of how bad Bolivian politics has become, most polls consistently show voters either are undecided or want to cast a blank ballot, while 59% of voters consider Bolivia’s current situation “extremely bad.”

Because I’m Too Busy For Memeing: Some Other Important News From The Rest Of The World

Dateline Seoul, South Korea:

South Korea’s former first lady, Kim Keon Hee, was arrested on corruption charges, including violations of capital market and financial investment laws, as well as political funds laws. It comes after a Seoul Central District Court ruling granted an arrest warrant by a special prosecutor, citing the potential risk of evidence tampering. Kim’s arrest creates an unprecedented situation with both members of a former presidential couple being simultaneously in custody, given that her husband, Yoon Suk Yeol, is currently detained over his failed martial law attempt last December.

Dateline Naypyidaw, Myanmar:

According to a new UN report, independent investigators uncovered evidence of “systematic torture” conducted by Myanmar’s security forces. The Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar (IIMM) said the crimes include strangulation and electric shocks, as well as “burning of sexual body parts, other forms of sexual violence and summary executions of captured combatants or civilians accused of being informers.” Investigators say the “frequency and brutality” of such measures continue to escalate, including instances where the junta army detains children as young as two years old, often as proxies for their parents, and holds them in prisons documented with systemic abuse. Since the military junta took power from a democratically elected government in 2021, the UN report said tens of thousands of people have been detained.

Dateline Geneva, Switzerland:

Talks to finalize the first global plastics treaty collapsed on Friday due to disagreements between countries on how to tackle the crisis. Following more than 10 days of negotiations in the UN headquarters, many had hoped delegates from more than 180 countries could reach a deal following extended talks. The main conflict lies between more than 100 nations that call for the curbing of plastic production, and oil states like Russia and Saudi Arabia pushing for a focus on recycling. Many countries called for legally binding caps on plastic production and action to tackle toxic chemicals in plastics, while big fossil fuel countries argue the adoption of the 3Rs (Reduce, reuse, and recycle) is more effective than a gradual ban of plastic produts. In an unrelated fun fact, crude oil serves as the primary raw material for producing plastic. The UN negotiations mark the sixth round of talks on this issue in under three years, which began convening in 2022 as a response to the mounting scientific evidence concerning the risks of plastic pollution to human health and the environment.