On today's podcast:
1) Tensions in Minneapolis escalated again Wednesday night after a federal officer shot a man in the leg during an attempted arrest. Homeland Security says the Venezuelan man fled in a vehicle, crashed, and then struck an officer with a shovel as two others joined the struggle. City leaders condemned ICE’s presence, urging the agency to “leave the state immediately,” while Police Chief Brian O’Hara warned of growing unrest. The shooting occurred as tensions between protesters and immigration enforcement officers continued to flare in the city following the fatal shooting of 37-year-old Renee Good last week.
2) Denmark said a “fundamental disagreement” remained after a high-stakes meeting with the US over Greenland as several countries including Germany said they’d send military personnel to the Arctic island. Foreign ministers from Denmark and Greenland met with US Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington, agreeing to establish a working group that’s set to gather within weeks to plot the way forward, while the US refrained from backing down on its demands. On Thursday, Germany’s “exploration mission” will arrive in Nuuk as European nations begin to work out how to ensure security in the region.
3) President Trump faulted Ukraine’s leader Volodymyr Zelenskiy as the main obstacle to an agreement to end the war Russia launched against his country four years ago. Trump, in an interview with Reuters on Wednesday, described Russian President Vladimir Putin as “ready to make a deal,” Reuters reported. When pressed on what was impeding a deal, Trump replied, “Zelenskiy,” Reuters said. Trump has oscillated between blaming Ukraine and Russia for failing to reach an accord, which he had claimed during his 2024 presidential campaign could be easily resolved. The US has prepared further sanctions should Trump decide to act on Russia’s continued rejection of a peace deal. US and Ukrainian officials have said they’ve made significant progress on a 20-point plan to end the fighting, however Kyiv and Moscow remain at an impasse over a number of issues including territorial control of areas Russia claims that remain under Ukrainian control.