Tuesday morning news: August 19, 2025

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Trump meets with Zelenskyy, European leaders » President Trump says he’s called Russian leader Vladimir Putin to arrange a meeting between Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Germany’s chancellor says that meeting is slated to happen within the next two weeks, though there’s no agreement yet on where they’ll meet.

This development comes after Trump met with Zelenskyy and leaders from a handful of European countries at the White House Monday seeking a path to end Russia’s war on Ukraine.

TRUMP: I believe a peace agreement at the end of all of this is something that’s very attainable.

Zelenskyy left the meeting saying he’s ready to meet with Putin one on one. A three-way meeting with Trump could reportedly follow.

Zelenskyy says he and Trump discussed deterring future Russian attacks, with U.S. and European allies providing protections similar to those NATO gives its member nations.

ZELENSKYY: This is very important that United States gives such strong signal and is ready for security guarantees.

Trump says Ukraine will ultimately have to accept a peace deal that doesn’t involve regaining Crimea, a region Ukraine says Russia illegally annexed in 2014.

Much more on this story, a little later in the program.

Hamas accepts Arab ceasefire proposal » The terror group Hamas says it’s agreed to a new ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, a proposal brokered by Qatar and Egypt.

Hamas says the proposed deal calls for the release of 10 living hostages in Hamas captivity, as well as 18 dead hostages.

Israel says it’s received Hamas’s response, but its position isn’t changing: It’s calling for the release of all hostages and the total disarmament of Hamas. as the Israeli military plans to take control of Gaza City, which Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu calls Hamas’s last bastion.

Thousands of people in the area -like this man, interpreted through a translator- have left their homes amid the Israeli bombardment.

GAZAN: Our situation is tough… We have no money, no income, no work… I do not want to keep moving left and right endlessly.

The U.N. says more than 1.3 million Gazans need emergency shelter items. Israel’s military says it’s helping meet those needs while preparing to relocate residents out of the combat zone.

Texas Democrats end walkout » Texas Democrats have ended their walkout.

AUDIO: [Gavel bang] A quorum is present.

The state lawmakers who left to break quorum returned Monday.

The Republican-controlled state legislature is now in position to pass redrawn congressional maps, creating up to five new GOP-friendly seats for next year’s midterm elections.

From there, Democrat State Rep Jon Rosenthal -interviewed at a rally- says to expect a court fight.

ROSENTHAL: We may not have the numbers, but we will set up the court battle. These maps were already -the previous maps- are already in court, and so the new maps are clearly, boldly unconstitutional and illegal.

Texas lawmakers did not take action on any bills Monday. They get back to work tomorrow.

Leaders of several Democrat-run states are now pledging to redraw their district lines, too. Several more GOP-led states are also considering or moving forward with similar efforts.

Justice Department to start giving Epstein files to Congress » The Justice Department will start sharing documents from the Jeffrey Epstein investigation with Congress Friday.

Democrats have called for the Trump administration to come clean about the president’s relationship with Epstein, a disgraced financier who committed suicide in federal custody while awaiting a criminal trial six years ago.

Democratic Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett is criticizing the White House’s delay of its promise to release the Epstein files.

CROCK: This is a promise that I will tell you that was not made by Kamala Harris. It was not a promise that was made by Joe Biden. It was a promise that was made by Donald Trump.

But House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer says, according to testimony from former Attorney General Bill Barr Monday, President Trump has nothing to hide.

COMER: He believed that if there had been anything pertaining to President Trump with respect to the Epstein list that he felt like the Biden administration would have leaked it out.

The DOJ says it’ll take time to release all of the Epstein documents. That’s because they contain lewd material, and victims’ names must be redacted.

Trump seeks mail-in ballot ban » President Trump says he’s working to end mail-in voting before next year’s midterm elections.

TRUMP: We’re going to start with an executive order that’s being written right now by the best lawyers in the country to end mail-in ballots, because they’re corrupt.

In a social media post, Trump says his executive order will -quote- “bring honesty to the 2026 Midterm elections.”

Under the Constitution, though, Trump can’t do anything on his own when it comes to this issue. The Constitution gives states the right to administer elections in the manner of their choosing, though Congress can make or change voting regulations involving federal offices.

Business owners in North Carolina wrestling with Erin implications » In North Carolina’s Outer Banks region, business owners are deciding when to shutter their shops as Hurricane Erin churns off the East Coast.

TUCKER: There’s no reason to close. Is there? People need coffee.

Andrew Tucker owns Uglie Mugs in Avon. He tells WORLD he probably won’t close until Wednesday, when forecasters predict tidal flooding will start in earnest.

It’s the first hurricane of the season, and there’s a mandatory evacuation order in place. But one employee, Dawn, has never left the island for a hurricane. She says it’s too expensive to pay for several weeks of lodging if the roads are washed out.

DAWN: They just cannot predict Mother Nature. I'm sorry they could come close. But it's gonna do what it wants to.

Tucker says it’ll hurt to have the last good week of tourist season cut short, but people need to be safe.

I’m Mark Mellinger.

Straight ahead: what’s next for peace talks between Russia and Ukraine. Plus, supporting Ukrainian Christians caught in the crosshairs.

This is The World and Everything in It.

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