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It’s the Monday before Memorial Day weekend. Who thinks the House will pass Trump’s agenda by the end of the week? *nervous laugh* Let me know your thoughts.

In today's issue:

• Trump’s critical calls with Putin, Zelensky
• Vance at the Vatican
• Biden thanks well-wishers after cancer diagnosis
• GOP’s next steps to pass Trump agenda

⛪ AT THE VATICAN

Vance met two popes in one month:

^ That *has* to be some kind of record.

Vice President Vance met with Pope Leo XIV this morning after attending his inaugural Mass on Sunday.

How did the meeting go?: The Vatican says it was “cordial.” They discussed religion, religious freedom and international issues.

Tidbit: Vance passed along a letter from President Trump and first lady Melania Trump inviting the pope to visit the White House. 📸 Photo of the letter handoffVance also gave the pope a Chicago Bears jersey.

Meanwhile, on this episode of the very-real ‘Let’s Make a Deal’: President Trump spent his morning trying to negotiate an end to the Russia-Ukraine war. He held a critical call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, followed by a call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Trump has vowed to end the conflict but has had little success so far.

Vance weighed in on expectations for the meeting: “We’re more than open to walking away,” Vance told reporters. “The United States is not going to spin its wheels here. We want to see outcomes.” He also speculated that Trump would ask Putin, “are you serious? Are you real about this?”

^ From Vance: “I think the president’s going to say to President Putin, ‘Look, are you serious? Are you real about this?’ Because the proposal from the United States has always been: Look, there are a lot of economic benefits to thawing relations between Russia and the rest of the world, but you’re not going to get........

© The Hill