This short note opens the Comment section on Sunday, November 23, 2025.
The recording of my Saturday livestream is here: Hubbell Livestream 11/22.
Chaos regarding the Ukraine peace plan
There is one story that must be noted. On Thursday, the Trump administration “leaked” a 28-point “peace proposal” to end Russia’s war on Ukraine. The proposal read like a Russian “wish list” and included phrasing and syntax that suggested it was originally drafted in Russian.
On Saturday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio began telling US lawmakers that the plan was not a US-sponsored peace initiative but instead a “Russian proposal.” See Politico, Lawmakers say Rubio distanced US from peace plan.
Per Politico,
““He made it very clear to us that we are the recipients of a proposal that was delivered to one of our representatives,” said Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.). “It is not our recommendation. It is not our peace plan. It is a proposal that was received, and as an intermediary, we have made arrangements to share it — and we did not release it. It was leaked.”’
The flip-flop was a staggering embarrassment for the US.
And then it got worse.
WaPo reported late Saturday that Trump said Zelensky must accept the proposal by Thanksgiving Day, or Zelensky could “continue to fight his little heart out.”
The WaPo article then went out of its way to say that the plan was drafted by US real-estate developer turned diplomat Steve Witkoff.
Per WaPo,
The plan was drafted by Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, and Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev. It was presented to Zelensky on Thursday.
Chaos reigns, and US credibility in foreign affairs is nonexistent. That is what happens when you put a New York City real estate developer (Steve Witkoff) in charge of foreign affairs and have a Secretary of State (Marco Rubio) who is so weak that he has no influence with the president.
More on this development tomorrow!
Pro-democracy protest photos
Washington, D.C.
Stop the Regime: The crowd was in the thousands, not more than 10,000. but it was quite riveting. The organizers were happy with the size of the crowd and the donations that had helped to make it happen… i saw a number of young people, and they continued to keep coming as I started to leave at 2 pm.
DC, Stop the Regime, from reader Chris H.
Culver City, CA
Massachusetts North Shore Democrats at this week’s (weekly) Bearing Witness Ice Protest at the facility in Burlington, MA.
It was my first time attending, and I was so impressed at the size of the crowd and how organized it was. You can see the ICE building to the right.
Chandler, AZ
Fall Freedom Event, Boston:
Silver Spring, MD:
Annual Thanksgiving Parade in Silver Spring, MD. Jamie Raskin always walks in the parade. This year, there were neighbors marching in the parade each with quotes from the Declaration of Independence.
Our little town of Groveland, MA standout:
Los Angeles, CA: Bridge Brigade:
Framingham MA Visibility Brigade
Standouts are now cold and windy here in MA but people are committed to being visible.
Charlotte, NC:
The photo shows the Saturday morning Charlotte’s Southend with about 40 protesters, many of them younger, first time protesters. Everyone has some line at which they say “enough” and the CBP/ICE invasion of our city has pushed many over their line. It’s so beautiful to see our city turning out.
Daily Dose of Perspective
The Iris Nebula (NGC 7023) is a reflection nebula, illuminated by a central young star. The nebula is located approx. 1,400 light-years from Earth, and is 6 light-years across. Photo taken from my backyard in Los Angeles, CA with a Celestron Origin.
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