President Donald Trump has authorized special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to negotiate directly with Hamas terrorists, as revealed in a "60 Minutes" report airing on CBS. The disclosures also detailed Trump's threat to cut off all U.S. aid to Colombia amid an escalating feud with Colombian President Gustavo Petro over U.S. strikes on suspected drug traffickers. The reporting window for these developments spans from 11:01:47 PM UTC on October 19th, 2025, to 12:01:47 AM UTC on October 20th, 2025. Witkoff and Kushner reportedly worked to convince Hamas that hostages had become a liability, not an asset, for their release. Both envoys also doubled down on the assertion that Israel was not committing genocide, despite Kushner noting the conflict zones resembled "a nuclear bomb had been set off," according to "60 Minutes." Separately, President Trump attacked Colombian President Gustavo Petro, calling him "an illegal drug leader" and vowing to cut all U.S. payments and subsidies to Colombia, misspelling the country's name. This followed Petro's accusation that the U.S. murdered a Colombian civilian fisherman in a September 15 military strike, an accusation Washington attributed to a "narco-submarine." In response to Trump's accusations, Petro called the U.S. President "rude and ignorant" and contrasted his socialist values with Trump's perceived greed, urging him to read "One Hundred Years of Solitude" to learn about loneliness and arrogance. Meanwhile, former DOJ lawyer Erez Reuveni stated in a "60 Minutes" interview that he was ordered by a superior to argue against a defendant's return to the U.S. by falsely claiming the individual was an MS-13 gang member and terrorist. Judge Emil Bove, a senior DOJ official, disputed Reuveni's claims, calling them a "mix of falsehoods and wild distortions of reality." Vice President JD Vance expressed optimism regarding a Russia-Ukraine resolution, stating, "We’re going to keep on walking down pathway for peace." However, he acknowledged that the timeline remains uncertain. In domestic political advertising, 11 campaign ads aired on a Washington, D.C. FOX affiliate during the Commanders-Cowboys game, highlighting various races and issues. Concerns over potential conflicts of interest for Kushner and Witkoff, given their business dealings with Gulf states and Qatar's role in the Israel-Hamas ceasefire, were raised by Lesley Stahl on "60 Minutes." In a separate matter, the FBI is reportedly involved in an unspecified investigation, as indicated by "BrandiKruse" on X. An activist at a "NO KINGS" rally in Chicago was reported to have made violent threats against ICE agents, though the reporter noted this was an isolated incident from a small minority. The U.S. is also reportedly bailing out Argentina for $20 billion, a move questioned by "Inside Politics" regarding GOP budget hawks. Former acting Attorney General Peter Keisler commented on the justice system, stating, "If the government acts against us, we will at least have the opportunity to go to a neutral decision-maker, present evidence and legal argument." Senator Rand Paul raised concerns about individuals being killed without evidence of a crime. Meanwhile, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin reported taking a ride with Top Gun pilots at Naval Air Station Fallon. In international relations, the U.S. previously ceased aid payments to Colombia due to its drug production, as reported by The Wall Street Journal. Emissaries Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner were en route to Israel. Senator Katie Britt's bill to label Russia a state sponsor of terrorism for kidnapping Ukrainian children was gaining support, with a hearing scheduled for the following week. Pete Hegseth was reported to be flying in an FA-18 Super Hornet. California's gaming tribes expressed concerns over apps like Robinhood and Kalshi. The U.S. Department of Defense confirmed a lethal kinetic strike against an ELN vessel involved in illicit narcotics smuggling.
