Politics is a lot these days.
I'm Sarah McCammon, a co-host of the NPR Politics Podcast,
and I'll be the first to tell you what happens in Washington definitely demands some decoding.
That's why our show makes politics as easy as possible to wrap your head around.
Join us as we make politics make sense on the NPR Politics Podcast,
available wherever you get your podcasts.
Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Shea Stephens.
President Trump says he had a constructive phone call with Russian leader Vladimir Putin on Monday.
Putin wants concessions from Ukraine before agreeing to a permanent ceasefire,
while Trump has said he wants immediate negotiations to end the war in Ukraine.
The president says getting the two sides on the same page will not be easy.
Big ego's involved, I tell you.
Big ego's involved.
But I think something's going to happen.
And if it doesn't, I...
Just back away and they're going to have to keep going.
Trump had threatened to impose new sanctions if Russia failed to agree to a ceasefire deal,
but downplayed that threat during Monday's call.
Authorities in Southern California are seeking a motive for the weekend car bombing that damaged a fertility clinic and injured four people in Palm Springs.
More from NPR's Jason DeRose.