Trump Pushes Hamas Disarmament, Ukraine Peace Talks, A Year Of DOGE - Up First Recap

Podcast: Up First

Published: 2025-12-30

Duration: 14 minutes

Summary

President Trump demands Hamas disarmament, while Ukraine seeks long-term US security guarantees amidst peace talks. Despite efforts to reduce government size, spending remains high after a year of the Doge initiative.

What Happened

President Trump met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at Mar-a-Lago, emphasizing the need for Hamas to disarm as part of moving forward with the Gaza ceasefire plan. Despite Israeli airstrikes in Gaza, Trump asserted that Israel has adhered to the ceasefire terms completely. The discussions also included warnings to Iran regarding its nuclear program, with Trump expressing openness to a deal while maintaining a readiness to act if Iran rebuilds its capabilities.

Ukraine is embroiled in accusations from Russia about an attempted drone attack on President Vladimir Putin's residence, which Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky denies. Zelensky contends these accusations aim to undermine peace talks. He was in Florida for discussions with President Trump, who expressed his anger over the alleged attack despite the lack of independent verification.

Amidst ongoing tensions, peace talks between Ukraine and Russia continue to face challenges. Zelensky aims to strengthen diplomatic efforts with U.S. and European allies, insisting on a peaceful resolution while preparing for potential Russian aggression.

The Department of Government Efficiency, known as Doge, was initially aimed at shrinking government size and cutting spending. However, despite its ambitious goals, the initiative fell short as federal spending increased, largely due to entitlement programs and defense spending.

Elon Musk's departure from Doge marked a decline in the initiative's prominence, though the mindset of reducing government size persists within federal agencies. The initiative's impact on the workforce was significant, with estimates suggesting over 317,000 federal employees were laid off in 2025.

Despite Doge's intention to save a trillion dollars, the federal deficit is expected to increase significantly due to tax cuts and increased spending on Trump's priorities. The administration continues efforts to cut spending, but the expected savings have not materialized.

Key Insights