BIG: The US is in early talks with the Taliban about possibly re-establishing a small US military presence at Afghanistan’s Bagram Air Base for counterterrorism missions.

The Taliban hasn’t agreed, and Afghan officials have rejected any US troop return while leaving open economic and political cooperation.

Discussions also include prisoner exchanges and economic ties, but no plans are in place yet.

Source: WSJ

A federal judge dismissed Trump’s $15B defamation suit against The New York Times as overly long and political but allowed him to refile a shorter, more focused version within 28 days.

IDF says two Hezbollah operatives were killed in airstrikes in southern Lebanon.

Lithuanian Defense Minister:

NATO border in the North East is being tested for a reason.

PS. Türkiye set an example 10 years ago.

Some food for thought.

Trump administration is considering launching a website, possibly branded as “TrumpRx,” to help Americans buy discounted prenoscription drugs directly from pharmaceutical companies.

The plan aims to cut prices in line with other countries and bypass middlemen like pharmacy benefit managers.

Source: Bloomberg

Trump on his call with Xi:

We talked about trade, war, Russia-Ukraine and Gaza. We had a good call.

Reporter: Russian jets entered Estonian airspace. Do you see that as a threat to NATO?

Trump: I don't love it when that happens. Could be big trouble. They will brief me about that.

Trump on the media:

They take a story and they make it bad. I personally think that is illegal.

Trump:

When 97% of the stories are bad about a person. That is no longer free spech. That is just cheating.

Trump:

We ordered more B-2 bombers, by the way. We ordered some more of the updated version. Not that we needed that. We just need the plane because it is so flawless.

Trump:

I think China's Xi will work with us to help with the Russia-Ukraine war.

Trump:

We are talking to Afghanistan about getting back Bagram.

BREAKING: Portugal will officially recognize the State of Palestine on Sunday.

Trump:

I don't want to make money from the war in Ukraine. But we are making money because they are buying our weapons.

Trump:

We will have something very big coming up soon about autism. Autism is totally out of control.

Trump on the hostages:

Young people don't die. You know they just don't die. They can take a lot.

Reporter: The UN concluded that Israel committed genocide in Gaza.

Trump: October 7 was a genocide, too. What do you think about that? That was genocide at the highest level.

Trump: Be quiet. You are really obnoxious.

Reporter: I am not obnoxious. I am trying to ask you a question.

Trump: You are really obnoxious. I will not talk to you until I call on you. Who else?

Trump introduces his "gold card."

Trump to ABC's Jonathan Karl:

You can't sit back and think you're a wonderful person. You're not a wonderful person.

Frankly, you're a terrible reporter.

Trump to a reporter:

I wish you would speak more clearly. Give it to me again.