Well, howdy there, Internet people. It's Bell again. And welcome to the Roads with Bell.

Today is August 17th, 2025, and this is episode 104 of The Roads Not Taken, which is a weekly series where we go over the news that was unreported, underreported, didn't get the coverage we thought

it deserved or we just found it interesting. And then we go through some questions from y'all.

Today is August 17th and today is National Thrift Shop Day. And on this date in 1960, the trial of Francis Gary Powers started in the Soviet Union.

He was a U-2 pilot shot down over the country and was charged with espionage.

And starting with foreign policy. Trump and Putin had their peace summit. Putin got what he wanted, which was a delay, and Trump got nothing.

There was no deal. Trump is trying to spend a promise of a peace agreement and an abandonment of his ceasefire plan as a win in some way.

Putin mocked Trump in a very Russian way. And Republicans who believe the war wouldn't

have happened if Trump was in office took it as a compliment. When Putin said the hostilities

wouldn't have spiked between the U.S. and Russia, if Trump was in office, he was kind of saying

Trump wouldn't stand up to him. If you're wondering why you

would say this, it's because Russians find the talking point that the war wouldn't have

happened if Trump was in office hilarious and a display of American ignorance. Because the first

uniformed engagement between Ukrainian and Russian forces occurred during the Kurtz

straight incident under Trump and he did nothing. Hundreds were lost in a flash flood in Pakistan

and India. Thousands have fled their homes. Ukraine struck a Russian oil refinery

causing significant damage. A Russian ship reportedly carrying drone parts was also hit.

Molly has arrested some generals and a French national. The government is alleging a coup plot. After

Trump's failed strikes on Iran, European powers are trying to push Iran back to the nuclear

negotiating table. The International Court of Justice has determined nations are liable for fossil fuel harms.

U.S. military units are deploying across the Caribbean to counter drug groups.

Eric Prince of Blackwater Fame is deploying hundreds of contractors to Haiti.

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