Happy Monday and welcome to today’s edition of Common Sense with Ally Sammarco. Only two more days until 2026. Let’s break down the latest news and politics.
Netanyahu Meets Trump as Gaza Ceasefire Remains Fragile…Netanyahu is meeting with Trump in Florida to discuss the next phase of the Gaza peace plan as the current ceasefire—the first of three stages—continues to unevenly hold. While Israeli forces have pulled back inside Gaza, clashes and strikes persist in Gaza and Lebanon, and negotiations for phase two haven’t begun. The presence of at least one remaining hostage and continued violence emphasize how tentative this “ceasefire” still is.
Common Sense takeaway: Ceasefire or not, the violence isn’t over—and having Trump and Netanyahu meet in Florida doesn’t change that. One hostage remains, bombings continue, and phase two talks haven’t even started. Peace is still a long way off.
Ukraine Talks Stall as Kremlin Undercuts Diplomacy….President Trump held a “positive” call with Vladimir Putin after meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at Mar-a-Lago, where both sides claimed they were close to a deal to end the war. But the Kremlin quickly undercut that momentum, accusing Ukraine of an attack Zelenskyy flatly denied—calling it a fabrication designed to justify further Russian aggression. While Trump has floated security guarantees for Ukraine, Russia’s hardline territorial demands and willingness to distort events continue to block any real path to peace.
Common Sense takeaway: Talks stall again because Russia isn’t serious about peace—and Trump’s calls aren’t changing that. Ukraine wants security, Russia wants land, and the Kremlin is happy to lie to justify more aggression. Promises alone won’t end this war.
Major Winter Storm Brings Wind, Snow, and Ice Across the U.S…..A powerful winter storm is moving east, bringing blizzard conditions, dangerous winds, and significant ice to large parts of the country. The Midwest is seeing heavy snow and whiteout conditions, with blizzard warnings in parts of Iowa, Wisconsin, and Michigan and wind gusts reaching 65 mph in some areas. The Northeast faces a major ice threat, with ice storm warnings from New York into Vermont that could down trees and power lines and make travel extremely dangerous. Lake effect snow is expected to hammer parts of upstate New York and northeast Ohio through much of the week, with some areas possibly seeing up to three feet of snow.
Common Sense takeaway: Blizzard conditions in the Midwest, ice in the Northeast, and feet of snow in some areas mean travel will be dangerous and power outages are likely to occur. Don’t underestimate it. take precautions, and stay safe!
Anthony Joshua Survives Fatal Crash in Nigeria….British heavyweight boxer and Olympic gold medalist Anthony Joshua survived a high-speed car crash in Nigeria that killed two other passengers, authorities said. The Lexus SUV he was riding in struck a stationary truck on the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway after losing control during an overtaking maneuver. Joshua, who was seated in the rear, suffered only minor injuries and is receiving medical care. Police say speed was a contributing factor, and the crash remains under investigation.
Common Sense takeaway: Just a few days after his very public and profitable fight with Jake Paul, Joshua almost lost his life in a car accident. This just goes to show that reckless driving does not care who you are. He is very lucky to be alive.
That’s it for today. Thanks for reading Common Sense with Ally Sammarco. Check back tomorrow for more.
Which of my proposed highway signs rings the loudest bell?
Only Stupids Speed
Only Stupid Speeds
Just Because You Can't Drive Doesn't Mean You Can Speed
The last one I sent to the local police, 3 months ago and they put a police car at the beginning of a 60 KLM per hour Highway construction zone countless days and he made hundreds of flashing light stops.
I'm so good at making 4x8 ft coreplast signs and waving them for the past 30 years, I should be arrested.
They trigger people to the tipping point of many changes, including getting two people elected, Canada sending rockets to the Ukraine, Free Train Forever during a transit strike and many more. When and where to do it for 2 hours is important, especially to waiting traffic at stop lights.
The picture of trump is so flattering. He looks like a muppet character, the grumpy old man. Can’t remember his name.