Trump-Mamdani Love Fest: How Long Will It Last?

Written By Guest User

Plus: White House Sets Deadline For Ukraine & AI-Enabled Kids Toy Gives Sex Advice

Good evening,

Before we get to today’s headlines, here’s a glimpse of what’s ahead for all of us this weekend in our weekly ‘Cheers to the Freakin’ Weekend’ section.

What We’re Watching:

What We’re Reading:

What We’re Eating:

  • Mosh: Baked goods from Madonia Bakery ~Arthur Avenue in the Bronx 🇮🇹🗽

  • Jill: A persimmon from her parents’ neighbors’ garden

  • Lauren: The Salt Line ~Bethesda, MD

  • Sam: Cauliflower from Miznon ~Toronto location

🚨 ONE IMPORTANT THING

Trump Sets Thursday Deadline For Ukraine To Accept Peace Plan

President Trump urged Ukraine to accept a new U.S.-crafted 28-point peace framework by Thanksgiving, even as President Zelensky warned Friday the plan forces Ukraine to choose between “losing dignity or risk losing a major partner.”

  • Trump said in an interview on Fox News Friday that the deadline is “an appropriate time,” adding Ukraine is “losing land” and could “lose in a short period of time.”

    • He also said the U.S. has no plans to lift sanctions on Russia while waiting for a response to the peace plan.

The proposal, which would grant Russia a number of their demands more than three years after launching the offensive war, has raised alarms among Ukraine’s allies.

THE 28 POINTS
The plan includes a massive reduction of Ukraine’s army and ceding territory to Russia that is not even currently occupied — red lines for Ukraine. The nation would also need to agree to never join NATO, however, a “decisive coordinated military response” would follow any further Russian incursions onto Ukrainian territory.

  • U.S. Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll presented Zelensky with the plan Thursday, drafted by Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev.

  • “Either a difficult 28-point plan, or an extremely difficult winter, the most difficult one — and further risks ahead. A life without freedom, dignity, and justice, and being forced to trust someone who has already attacked us twice,” Zelensky added in his 10-minute Friday address.

U.S. officials have told reporters the Thursday deadline is more of a goal than a firm requirement, NBC News reports. Zelensky said Ukrainian officials are holding calls with U.S. and European leaders to ensure Kyiv’s core positions are considered.

🚨 ONE THING WE’RE FOLLOWING

Tariffs Leading To Higher Holiday Prices; Small Businesses Fear Survival

A number of small businesses are telling Mo News that this holiday season is about one thing: survival — and next year could be much worse. As holiday decorations go up across the country, companies that make them are facing financial strain unlike anything they’ve seen in years.

  • Tariff-related costs are already pushing up prices — artificial Christmas trees are expected to cost 10-20% more, and holiday lights could jump as much as 63%.

Jared Hendricks, owner of Village Lighting Company in Utah, told Mo News that businesses have been absorbing costs as long as they can, but warned that the industry is nearing a breaking point. “I think everybody’s objective this year is just to survive, but that’s not sustainable,” he said.

BUSINESSES THROWN OFF BALANCE
Hendricks relies on long-time suppliers in China and Southeast Asia and says U.S. manufacturers simply can’t produce these goods at scale. He had already placed orders months before the tariffs. However, the tariffs then increased costs by as much as 150%.

  • “When April hit and we were already in production for product that we’d paid deposits for, invested in raw materials, and negotiated pricing — and out-of-left-field unplanned cost increase of anywhere from 20 to 150% was just not doable for us,” Hendricks explains.

There are four million retail establishments in the U.S., according to the National Retail Federation, and 98% are small businesses with fewer than 50 employees. Many now feeling the same pressure Hendricks describes.

  • Many of Village Lighting’s products require components from a dozen different suppliers abroad before being assembled in a final factory before being shipped to the U.S. — manufacturing capabilities or a supply chain that the U.S. can replicate.

Christmas products have historically come from abroad, Hendricks says. Why? “They will never be manufactured here because the supply chain is too complex. And the labor involved in doing our kind of products just isn’t feasible for the U.S. market.”

IMPACT ON CONSUMERS
Companies are now being forced to raise prices to stay afloat. “We’ve had to pay a tax in advance on all the products,” Hendricks said. “That wasn’t part of the budget. We have to recoup that. We have to, where possible, where we felt like there was any room, adjust pricing.”

  • 🚨 The Supreme Court is currently weighing whether many of the tariffs are lawful, since it’s Congress — not the president — that has the constitutional authority to levy taxes on Americans.

  • This year, Hendricks is seeing clear signs of consumer pullback, but sales have not collapsed. The bigger concern is what happens next year. Holiday businesses, Hendricks says, are doing everything they can just to survive 2025 without massive price increases or shortages. But 2026 could look very different.

He says if tariffs stay in place, consumers should expect fewer products, higher prices, and more items out of stock next year.

🚨 ONE IMPORTANT WE’LL BE TALKING ABOUT THIS WEEKEND

Trump Sings Zohran’s Praises; Says NYC Mayor-Elect Can Call Him A Fascist

A surprising interaction from the Oval Office is making headlines Friday evening, after President Trump publicly shifted his tone on New York City’s incoming mayor Zohran Mamdani.

  • Trump said he’s “very confident” Mamdani can do “a very good job,” predicting the 34-year-old democratic socialist could “surprise some conservative people.”

The president even told reporters that even though Mamdani has views that are “way out there,” he would “absolutely” feel comfortable living in NYC under a Mamdani administration — especially after their White House meeting. The meeting captured the fascinating dynamic as the two try to reset their relationship after months of vicious attacks. Week ago Trump called Mamdani a “Communist” and a threat to NYC’s future.

MAKING HEADLINES:

  • Trump said the two “agree on a lot more than I would have thought” and pledged to “help him do a great job.” The change in tone comes after Trump threatened to withhold federal funding if Mamdani was elected — backing his opponent former Democratic NY Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

    • Trump even compared their unexpected overlap to his past alignment with Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) on trade.

  • He also brushed aside attacks from his allies, including the claim by NY GOP Gubernatorial Candidate, Rep. Elise Stefanik, that Mamdani is a “jihadist,” saying, “No, I don’t,” and calling the mayor-elect “a very rational person” who “wants to see New York be great again.”

Call me a fascist, kid: Asked if he still stands by calling Trump a “fascist,” Mamdani struggled to answer, but Trump jumped in: “That’s OK. You can just say it. It’s easier than explaining it. I don’t mind — I’ve been called much worse.”

Bottom line: Trump sees Mamdani as an impressive, young, charismatic outsider who focused on affordability and pulled off a remarkable win. We have talked about how the two men share certain characteristics as populists. Trump is giving him a chance, especially as Mamdani has portrayed himself as a pragmatist since winning the election. That said, this peace could be short-lived: each has signaled they’ll cooperate on affordability but won’t hesitate to go back on the offensive when necessary.

⏳ THE SPEED READ

🚨NATION

  • Coast Guard reclassifies swastikas and nooses as hate symbols after backlash (CNN)

  • Rep. Eric Swalwell announces his bid for California governor (AP)

  • Florida sheriff’s deputy killed, another injured in shooting while serving eviction notice: Officials (ABC)

  • Southern California storm brings more than 3 inches of rain to some areas (KTLA)

🌎 AROUND THE WORLD

  • Nigeria faces another school abduction after gunmen attack a Catholic institution (AP)

  • Indian fighter jet crashes at Dubai Air Show, pilot dead (FOX)

  • Grizzly bear on loose after attacking school group in Canada, injuring 11 (CBC)

  • Cop30 delegates ‘far apart’ on phasing out fossil fuels and cutting carbon (GUARDIAN)

📱BUSINESS, SCIENCE & TECH

  • Eli Lilly becomes the first pharma company to be worth more than $1 trillion (AXIOS)

  • Bitcoin continues downward slide that’s roiling markets, threatens to break below $80,000 (CNBC)

  • Starbucks union says 30 more US stores are joining week-old strike (CNBC)

  • French authorities charge X over Holocaust-denial comments by AI chatbot Grok (LE MONDE)

🎬 SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT

  • Frida Kahlo self-portrait sells for $54.7 million at Sotheby’s auction, setting new record for female artists (CNN)

  • Viola Davis and Ryan Coogler break down at Chadwick Boseman’s Walk of Fame star ceremony (ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY)

  • Miss Mexico, who sparked a walkout after host’s bullying, is crowned Miss Universe (NBC)

  • ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ band changes name after Cleto Escobedo’s death (PAGE SIX)

ICYMI FROM THE 📲

In case you missed it… A group of advocacy groups for children’s safety are advising against buying kids AI toys for the holidays this year, claiming the products can be dangerous.

  • One shocking example: Kumma, an AI-voiced teddy bear that draws from ChatGPT for answers, was recently pulled off shelves after it was found giving inappropriate answers to safety testers, such as explaining the term “kink” and giving advice on where to find knives.

Looks like The Twilight Zone was onto something…

Guest User
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