U.S. and world news for Feb. 13

Trump and Putin talk about ending Ukraine war

The presidents of the U.S. and Russia have held a 90-minute phone conversation that included discussion of ending the war that Russia started when it invaded Ukraine. Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin agreed to meet in the near future, and President Trump said that President Putin invited him to visit Russia and he invited Putin to visit the U.S. In Brussels, Defense Secretary Hegseth said that in a peace agreement brokered by the Trump Administration Russia would be allowed to keep the Ukrainian territory it captured when it invaded and that Ukraine would be blocked from becoming a member of NATO.

Trump becomes chairman at Kennedy Center

Donald Trump has become the chairman of the board at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington. The vote to bring him onboard came after he fired some members of the center’s bipartisan board and installed his own loyalists. Although Trump said that the vote for him to become chairman was unanimous, reporting on CNN said that a few board members either voted “no” or abstained from voting. Trump said he wants to change both the look of the iconic building and the programs the arts center presents.

Gabbard sworn in

Tulsi Gabbard has been sworn in as director of national intelligence a few hours after being confirmed by the Senate. The confirmation vote was divided along party lines, with former Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell being the only Republican to vote against her. Gabbard has been criticized for meeting with former Syrian Dictator al-Assad despite evidence that he imprisoned thousands of Syrian citizens and used poison gas to kill thousands of others. She also has expressed sympathetic views toward Russia.

Republicans release new budget with $4.5 trillion in tax cuts

 Republicans in the House have unveiled their new budget plan that calls for about $3 trillion in federal spending and allows for about $4.5 trillion in new tax cuts, most of which would go to wealthy people and corporations. The plan includes about $1.5 trillion to $2 trillion in federal spending cuts. The House Republican budget plan also would increase the nation’s debt ceiling by $4 trillion. Senate Republicans have been working on their own budget plan that would treat tax cuts separately from spending in areas such as defense and energy.

Producer prices go up  The Producer Price Index (PPI) increased 0.4% in January the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. The PPI tracks what producers of goods and services receive for what they produce. The PPI increase follows a similar increase in the Consumer Price Index that the bureau reported yesterday and indicated that inflation has risen to 3%. For the 12 months ended in January, prices for things other than foods, energy, and trade services advanced 3.4%. In January, there was a 10.4% increase in the index for diesel fuel. Prices for fresh and dry vegetables fell 22.3%.

Hamas says it is committed to ceasefire deal

Hamas sad today that it is committed to the ceasefire deal that has been reached with Israel over Gaza and plans to release more hostages on Saturday. Israel did not immediately respond to the Hamas statement. Israel had accused Hamas of violating the deal and warned that it would resume the fighting in Gaza if Hamas did not release the hostages it holds on Saturday. Hamas said it was Israel that was violating the deal. Hamas charged Israel with withholding humanitarian aid.