U.S. Envoy Meets Putin in Fresh Ukraine Peace Push; Controversial Strike, Tennessee Race and a Watergate Recast

Here are the top developments to watch today: a U.S. special envoy will meet President Vladimir Putin as Washington and Kyiv push for a negotiated end to the war in Ukraine; congressional and legal scrutiny grows over a follow-up U.S. strike on an alleged drug-running vessel; a high-stakes special election unfolds in Tennessee; and influential conservatives are mounting a campaign to recast the legacy of Watergate.

Diplomatic push for a fragile peace

President Donald Trump said there is a "good chance" for a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine as his special envoy, Steve Witkoff, travels to the Kremlin. U.S. officials say Witkoff will present a version of a plan that has been accepted by Ukrainian negotiators and seek concessions from President Vladimir Putin. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has emphasized that key "tough issues" remain unresolved and spent the weekend rallying European support in Paris.

“It is clear that Russia does not want peace, and therefore we need to make Ukraine as strong as possible,” EU foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas told reporters, calling this a potentially pivotal week for diplomacy.

Putin signaled a willingness to hold "serious" talks after Kyiv and its allies requested adjustments to the proposed settlement, but he has shown little indication of abandoning the hard-line demands tied to the plan under discussion.

Controversy over follow-up strike on alleged drug boat

The White House confirmed that U.S. forces conducted a second strike in early September on a vessel they say originated in Venezuela. Officials say the follow-up attack killed survivors of an initial U.S. strike on the same boat. Some legal scholars and lawmakers have argued the second strike could amount to a war crime, prompting bipartisan oversight from Congress.

Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) and Ranking Member Jack Reed (D-R.I.) said they will pursue "vigorous oversight" to determine the facts. Leaders of the House Armed Services Committee also said they are working across party lines to compile a full account of the operation in the SOUTHCOM region.

Tennessee special election attracts national attention

Voters in the 7th Congressional District, west of Nashville, are choosing a successor to Rep. Mark Green after his resignation. The race has drawn heavy spending and top-tier campaign appearances: former President Trump joined Republican nominee Matt Van Epps for a tele-rally, while Democrat Aftyn Behn has campaigned with former Vice President Kamala Harris and DNC Chair Ken Martin. AdImpact estimates roughly $6 million in candidate and super PAC spending.

Although the district leans Republican and Trump carried it by 22 points in 2024, Democrats view a window of opportunity given slumping approval for the president and recent Democratic gains elsewhere.

Other national headlines

• The White House released a summary of an MRI the president underwent; his doctor described him as in "excellent" health.
• Retailer Costco sued the administration, asking the Court of International Trade to rule tariffs collected under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act unlawful.
• Sen. Chuck Schumer said several of his New York offices received bomb threats via email with the subject line "MAGA." In Indiana, at least 11 Republicans reported swatting and other threats after pressure on state lawmakers over a new congressional map.
• An appeals court upheld a ruling disqualifying Alina Habba from serving as acting U.S. attorney for the District of New Jersey.

Culture, crime and briefings

• Rapper Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson addressed his feud with Sean "Diddy" Combs and discussed a secret video tied to an upcoming Netflix documentary.
• A federal jury found a blogger liable for defaming and harassing Megan Thee Stallion but limited damages to under six figures.
• Corrections testimony said Luigi Mangione was under "constant watch" after his arrest to avoid an "Epstein-style" incident.
• A visitor who climbed into a lion enclosure at a zoo was fatally attacked.
• Federal authorities joined the search for a fugitive Virginia high school coach wanted in a child sex-abuse image and solicitation probe; officials warned he may be armed.
• Apple announced its top artificial intelligence executive will step down and retire in 2026.

Watergate gets a modern reinterpretation

Watergate has long served as shorthand for presidential misconduct and the importance of accountability. Now, some influential conservative voices — including figures close to the president — are arguing that Watergate was an orchestrated effort by the "deep state" and hostile media to topple a popular Republican. Reporters Tyler Kingkade and Ben Kamisar examined the movement to rehabilitate Richard Nixon and how that reinterpretation is reshaping public memory of the scandal.

The developments today span diplomacy, legal scrutiny, high-stakes politics and cultural flashpoints. We'll continue to follow each story as it evolves.