MNI POLITICAL RISK - Trump Hits Russian Oil Giants w/Sanctions

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Executive summary:

• President Donald Trump will make an announcement at 15:00 ET 20:00 BST.  Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt will brief for the first time since October 6 at 13:00 ET 18:00 BST.
• Secretary of State Marco Rubio is travelling to Israel to shore up the Gaza peace deal. 
• Government shutdown Day 23: Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) will jam Democrats with a bill to pay troops. Democrats, expected to block the bill, are convinced that Trump's intervention is required to break the deadlock. However, with Trump set to depart on a three-country trip to Asia, that moment may not come until early November. 
• Trump imposed new sanctions on Russia, targeting the country's two largest oil companies. Trump’s move suggests he may be edging closer to synchronising with a more hawkish Congress, which has punitive sanctions legislation pending and has teed up three additional bills to ramp up pressure on Russia.
• Trump said he could strike a deal with Chinese President Xi Jinping that covers the majority of pressure points in the bilateral relationship. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent confirmed the White House is weighing new export restrictions against China.
• The Trump administration is preparing a new probe into pharmaceutical pricing.
• Trump defended his agricultural tariffs amid criticism from farm-state Republicans.
• Capitol Hill meetings failed to restart talks on crypto regulation.
• The Trump administration widened its military campaign against Venezuelan cartels.
• Poll of the Day: More Americans blame Trump and Republicans for the shutdown than Democrats. 

Please find the full article attached below: US DAILY BRIEF