Leland Vittert’s War Notes: Big Night ‼️

Encourage friends and family to subscribe to War Notes here.

NewsNation Chief Washington Anchor and On Balance host Leland Vittert was a foreign correspondent for four years in Jerusalem. He gives you an early look at tonight's 9 p.m. ET show, delivered straight to your inbox.

Big Night ‼️

Kiddie Stroll: Our good friend Jillian Michaels joins tonight on one of the most disturbing stories of late.

📰The New York Times reports a law handcuffing law enforcement from approaching young (underage) women in lingerie is a boon to sex traffickers and pimps.
Zoom out👀: The toxic sympathy problem continues — underage girls are the victims.

🤝President Trump has his biggest meeting of his presidency tonight and Thursday morning in South Korea.

🌎It's all about world dominance…
- 🥇America has it
- 😳But China wants it
😀He sounded pretty optimistic about the meeting earlier:
- 🎤"I think we're gonna have a great meeting with President Xi of China, and a lot of problems are gonna be solved," said Trump. "I think we're gonna have a very good outcome for our country and for the world, actually. I think it's important for the world."

🏆So far, Trump has racked up a series of wins on his trip across Asia — but none of it will mean anything if he fails to get a deal.

✅His goals are clear —
- ✍🏼Finalize a deal to end the trade war with China
- ⬆️Increase U.S. access to critical minerals
- 🌾Convince China to buy more U.S. agricultural products
- 📱Finalize the TikTok sale
In addition➕: Trump must make President Xi realize he will not allow China to replace America as the dominant force in the world.
✅Xi wants —
- 🛑Stop U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods
- 📱Avoid export restrictions on American technology
- ➡️Move Washington closer to Beijing's position on Taiwan
  - ‼️China wants to take Taiwan just as badly as Putin wants Ukraine.
    - 🛑Trump cannot let that happen.

Watch tonight📺: NewsNation's Robert Sherman in South Korea

And Ambassadors Max Baucus and Kurt Volker tell us who has the stronger hand.

Light at the End of the Tunnel?🌄

💡We might be seeing light at the end of the tunnel — things might be starting to move on Capitol Hill.

👍🏻Senate Majority Leader John Thune said bipartisan talks have "ticked up significantly."
- 👀 But Democrats are telling a different story.
- 🎤This was Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer today:
  - "There are occasional talks between Democrats and Republicans on this issue, but our Republican colleagues don't seem to be offering anything different than what their leadership has had so far. We hope that will change."

My sources🧾: Democrats are looking for a way out either this week or next.

🤷🏼‍♂️Expect more than just a handful of Democratic senators to "defect" and vote to reopen — I am told there is safety in numbers

‼️The longer the Democrats keep the government shut down, the worse it gets for them.

🥗42 million Americans who are relying on SNAP will soon not have food.
🎤Listen to what Thune had to say to Democrats today:
- "SNAP recipients shouldn't go without food. People should be getting paid in this country. … This isn't a political game. This is real people's lives we are talking about. And you all have just figured out 29 days in oh, 'There might be some consequences!' 'There are people running out of money.'… My aching back. You finally realized this thing has consequences."
📈CNN Harry Enten reports the GOP net approval rating is up five points.

Watch tonight📺: Chief Resource Officer for Harvesters Community Food Network Elizabeth Keever, who is on the frontlines of the SNAP crisis.

And NewsNation's Chris Cillizza and NOTUS Politics reporter Jasmine Wright.

WATCH ON BALANCE WEEKNIGHTS AT 9P/8C

Every night during On Balance, Leland Vittert asks "why?" about the most pressing matters of the day, with an intellectual, balanced and sometimes irreverent take on the news.

Make sure to let us know your thoughts on social media and by replying to this email.

See the latest videos and coverage from On Balance