Trump's Ninth Week in Office Brings Bold Moves and Big Conversations

President Donald Trump's ninth week in office is shaping up to be another whirlwind of activity, with a highly anticipated phone call scheduled with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The agenda? Reportedly inching closer to a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia, a feat that, let’s be honest, feels like trying to land a plane while building it mid-air.

U.S. special envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff expressed optimism about the progress, telling CNN on Sunday, "Nobody expected progress this fast. This is a highly, very complicated situation, and yet we're bridging the gap between two sides." The envoy didn’t shy away from acknowledging the challenges but seemed hopeful about the upcoming discussion between Trump and Putin.

Witkoff's remarks follow a promising meeting in Saudi Arabia last week, where U.S. and Ukrainian officials agreed on terms for a potential ceasefire with Russia. Witkoff later met with Putin in Moscow for what he described as "positive" and "solution-based" discussions. It seems like diplomacy might actually be getting its act together for once.

Meanwhile, two American astronauts stranded on the International Space Station for nine months are finally on their way back to Earth, thanks to a rescue mission launched by SpaceX, the brainchild of tech billionaire Elon Musk. Astronauts Suni Williams and Barry Wilmore had originally signed up for an eight-day mission, but a spacecraft malfunction turned their space adventure into an extended stay. Musk's team reached the ISS over the weekend, kickstarting the astronauts’ long-awaited journey home.

Trump didn’t miss the opportunity to take a swipe at former President Biden, blaming him for the astronauts' prolonged isolation. "The most incompetent president in our history has allowed that to happen to you, but this president won’t let that happen," Trump declared, showcasing his signature flair for drama.

On the immigration front, Trump’s administration is pushing forward with mass deportation efforts, invoking the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to deport members of the Tren de Aragua gang. A U.S. judge has ordered these deportations to halt, but Trump managed to fly hundreds of gang members to El Salvador before the order was issued. El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele, clearly enjoying the moment, posted a video of the arrivals on social media with the caption "Oopsie… too late," complete with a laughing emoji. Let’s just say subtlety isn’t his strong suit.

Despite judicial pushback, Trump’s administration remains defiant. With 89 executive orders signed since January 20, Trump has already outpaced his predecessors in making bold moves—a fact that will certainly keep the headlines buzzing.