May 23, 2026

Hi All, just sent out my free weekend update. The big story this week is growing Ukrainian competence in both long-range and medium-range strike. Here is a primer explaining the difference and why both matter. open.substack.com/pub/phillips...

ON HEROES' DAY, RUSSIA STRUCK A FUNERAL PROCESSION IN SUMY: On May 23, Ukraine's Heroes' Day, a Russian drone struck a funeral procession in Sumy, killing one man and wounding 14 people.

THE SBU STRUCK A FUEL TRANSFER STATION THAT SUPPLIED AIRPORTS: Specialists from the SBU’s “Alpha” Special Operations Center struck the “Vtorovo” Linear Production and Dispatch Station (LPD) in the Vladimir region of Russia.

NEWS OF THE DAY UKRAINE DESTROYED KEY KALIBR CRUISE MISSILE CARRIER: On May 23, Ukrainian forces struck the Russian warship Admiral Essen for the fourth time, and this time confirmed its destruction, along with a small missile hovercraft, during a combined attack on the port of Novorossiysk.

Interested to find out what an Oreshnik missile is, and where it landed? Join our 150k community from all around the world in supporting groundbreaking journalism Follow along through the link

It struck the city of Bila Tserkva, located 80 kilometers (about 50 miles) south of the capital.

For the first time, Russia used the Oreshnik hypersonic missile against Kyiv Oblast, a medium-range ballistic missile capable of carrying nuclear or conventional warheads that Russia claims no existing air defense system can intercept.

NEWSFLASH: Russia’s scariest attack yet Hypersonic missiles and hundreds of drones damaged museums, a metro station, an ambassador’s home, and Ukraine’s first-ever McDonald’s.

Putin is a sadist and a maniac. He is a threat to all of humanity. There needs to be active resistance. News from Ukraine needs to be shared. People need to keep their focus. Despite a sleepless night, I’m still here. And I’m grateful to everyone who continues to stand with us.

The moment of one of today’s Russian strikes on #Kyiv. I can see that fewer and fewer people are reading news from Ukraine. I understand that on a Sunday morning, people don’t want to read about war. They want to sleep a little longer, drink good coffee, and sit in the sun. I understand that.

The terminal is one of Russia’s key oil export facilities in the Black Sea region and is used to support the army of the aggressor state.

On May 23 and during the night of May 24, units of Ukraine’s Defense Forces carried out strikes against a number of key Russian military targets. An oil pier at the Tamanneftegaz terminal in Russia’s Krasnodar region was hit. According to preliminary information, an oil loading stand was damaged.

According to the president, unfortunately, not all of the ballistic missiles were intercepted. The largest number of strikes occurred in Kyiv, and Kyiv itself was the main target of this Russian attack.

At least 83 people have been injured since the beginning of the day. Unfortunately, there are also fatalities. It was a heavy attack - 90 missiles of various types were launched, many of them ballistic missiles - 36 in total. In addition, there were 600 drones.

“Putin can barely even pronounce the word “hooray” properly anymore, mumbling his words, yet he still keeps “winning” against residential buildings with his missiles. He launched his “Oreshnik” missile at Bila Tserkva. They’re genuinely deranged,” - president Zelenskyy.

Russia struck Bila Tserkva, a city in the Kyiv region, with an “Oreshnik” missile overnight. The missile was launched from the Kapustin Yar test range. According to reports from the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, three garages burned down in Bila Tserkva as a result of the attack.

This is Yevhen. Just yesterday, he opened his café in Kyiv. Today, he serves coffee through shuttered windows after russian attack, with his mother beside him offering sweets. This is how Ukrainian businesses survive during the war.

The 'Vtorovo' LDPS (Linear Dispatch Pump Station) in the Vladimir region of russia after a drone raid by Ukrainian SBU 🔥 While Russia destroys homes, markets, and kills civilians, Ukraine targets the Russian oil and gas industry - the beating heart of Russia’s war machine.

Kyiv citizens today 😢

At least 2 people were killed in russian attack on Kyiv last night. Almost 70 are known to be injured so far. Search and rescue operation continues‼️

Kyiv right now ‼️ Fuck russia!

Kyiv right now ‼️ Russian bastards attacked the city with ballistic missiles.

Kyiv right now‼️ damaged residential buildings, and fires in several districts.

You don’t say

The important question that has to be asked: open.substack.com/pub/joycevan...

In a functioning democracy, we could count on the government to give us something approximating the truth after a fatal shooting outside the White House. But in whatever transitional system we’re in now, we automatically assume the regime is lying to us.

Once we know what exactly happened, I will then report on the “shots fired in DC”.

NYT reporting that a proposed Trump-backed memorandum with Iran would reportedly release $25 billion in frozen Iranian assets www.nytimes.com/live/2026/05...

Shots fired near the White House.

Not sure why anyone is doing road trips this weekend. These are not normal times. With travel costs looking like a hostage situation, it’s time for folks to get real creative with their staycations. At this point, “vacation” means grilling in your backyard and pretending it’s a resort. Just sayin.

Why didn’t I share Trump’s truth social post about an imminent Iran deal as though it were fact? Oh, I dunno. From the Chief National Security reporter at Reuters:

How did I only just discover that Don Jr is marrying the daughter of a prominent Epstein enabler? Her late dad, a banker, wrote Epstein a reference letter calling him "a gentleman of the highest integrity" to help get him tax breaks &… his island. Can’t make this stuff up.

The NY Times apparently thinks fairness in journalism means having no values at all. Trump assaults one of the key factors in America's rise to global leadership — immigration — and the best the Times can do is call it a “risky pivot.”

This is why the war in Iran was always a fool’s errand. Trump was never going to commit the necessary resources to actually win it. Now, we’re apparently getting ready to leave with an emboldened Iran and a Middle East that’s in a worse position than when we started.

Gerald Ford vetoed a bill to name a courthouse in his own hometown after him. Harry Truman explicitly declined to have roads or buildings named for him. George Washington refused to have his face on coinage. That was the American tradition—until now. @andycraig.bsky.social

Poverty is a policy choice. Concentrated wealth is a policy choice. Inequality is a policy choice. None of it is natural or inevitable. Remember: We have the power to build a system that serves the many, not the powerful few.

Noah Wyle stopped by my office this week and we talked about how for profit medicine is putting money ahead of patients and workers - and how we need to do more to support health care workers when they see corners being cut and want to speak up.

Two more weeks

Leonard Leo’s Opus Dei network in DC youtube.com/shorts/-dm9k...

Hawaii just passed a groundbreaking law directly challenging Citizens United and corporate money in politics 👀

We'll see what Judge Mehta has to say about this motion. There's no adversary here. Back when Trump's DOJ tried to vacate the charges against Mike Flynn, the judge asked for a third party to weigh in. They decided not to drop the charges, forcing Trump to pardon Flynn instead.

Join us at CSU on June 13 for a high-stakes Democratic Gubernatorial Candidate Forum featuring: 🔹 U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet 🔹 Attorney General Phil Weiser Moderated by Jesse Paul. Free to attend, but registration is required! 👇

Maryland may finally be on course to redraw its congressional map to gain an extra seat for Democrats in the U.S. House, after its state senate leader said he was in favor of redistricting – a prospect that he’s opposed much to the chagrin of Democrats. www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/...

“My only regret,” Rhodes said in the days after Jan. 6, “is that they didn’t bring rifles.” “We could have fixed it right then and there.” www.lawfaremedia.org/article/oath...

At some point we’re going to need a new term, because a lot of us no longer recognize what this has become.

I’m progressive and definitely to the left politically, but I’m getting to the point where I don’t even want to call myself “left” anymore. Too many on the far left into a space that feels openly anti-Black, especially anti-Black woman, and openly hostile toward Jewish folks. 1/2

Cargill workers reject contract, are shut out from their jobs

Tolerance of traitors is self-sabotage. Imagine how much safer and more prosperous we would be if Trump and his Jan. 6 co-conspirators were in prison where they belong.