Trump Nominates Dr. Erica Schwartz as New CDC Director 
Myanmar Grants Amnesty to Over 4,000 Prisoners Under New President Min Aung Hlaing 
U.S.-Iran War Talks Resume Amid Economic Pressure and Ceasefire Uncertainty 
South Korea Denies U.S. Intelligence Restrictions Over North Korea Nuclear Site Disclosure 
House Republicans Near Deal on FISA Extension with Limited Reforms 
Chile's Kast Unveils 40-Point Economic Reform Package to Boost Growth 
Russia Unleashes Massive Drone and Missile Barrage on Ukraine, Killing Civilians 
IMF and World Bank Resume Ties with Venezuela, Opening Door to Billions in Funding 
ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons to Exit Federal Government at End of May 
Federal Judge Dismisses DOJ Lawsuit Attempting to Block Hawaii's Climate Case Against Oil Giants 
U.S. and Philippines to Build 4,000-Acre Tech Hub Under Pax Silica Initiative 
Ukraine's Svyrydenko Returns from U.S. With Renewed Support and Diplomatic Momentum 
Pentagon Taps Auto Giants to Supercharge U.S. Weapons Production 
Iran Offers Partial Strait of Hormuz Access Amid U.S. Peace Talks 
DHS Shutdown Delays World Cup Security Planning Despite Full Funding Release 
Brazil's Former Intelligence Chief Alexandre Ramagem Released from U.S. Immigration Custody 
Russia Launches Deadly Missile and Drone Strikes Across Ukraine, Killing Three Including a Child 
Much has been said about the relationship of now-former President Donald Trump to the Russian President Vladimir Putin. However, a new book has claimed that Trump may have been groomed by the KGB for years.
The claims were made by investigative reporter Craig Unger in his new book titled, “American Kompromat: How the KGB cultivated Donald Trump And Related Tales of Sex, Greed, Power, and Treachery.” Unger also claimed that it was through convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein that gave Trump a connection to Putin. Unger’s book is said to be based on interviews with high-level intelligence sources, most notably former KGB major Yuri Shvets who shared what would be the first account by anyone within the circle of Soviet Intelligence regarding Trump’s connection with the Russian leader.
Most importantly, the book addresses the one question that remained unanswered throughout Trump’s presidency which was what his connection was to Putin and why did Trump seemingly go out of his way to appease the Russian leader. From having no response towards the reports of Russian bounties on American soldiers in Afghanistan to withdrawing soldiers from Syria and decreased the US’ presence in Germany.
Another notable instance was Trump’s reaction to Putin’s denial of the accusation that Russia had interfered in the 2016 election. This became a widely-investigated allegation with the appointing of Robert Mueller as special counsel. Shvets revealed that this goes back to the 1980s when the KGB began to view Trump as a possible asset that may be useful to the organization in Moscow.
“When people start talking about Trump’s ties to the KGB or Russian intelligence, some are looking for this super-sophisticated masterplan, which was designed decades ago and finally climaxed with Trump’s election as president of the United States,” said Shvets.
As Trump faces an impending Senate trial, Ohio Senator Rob Portman recently announced that he would be stepping down from his seat in the 2022 elections, warned against the Biden administration not seeking GOP support in COVID-19 relief. When pressed on whether Trump would run for president again in 2024, Portman said that he does not see the former president seeking to run again.
