The Lead
Grounds for Hope, Grounds for Mobilizing
by Marcia Merry Baker (EIRNS) — Nov. 24, 2025
Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Donald Trump conferred by phone on Nov. 24, an important part of whose conversation featured reference to the historical collaboration by their respective nations to fight fascism. This was raised by President Xi, who initiated the call, in connection with making clear the relationship of Taiwan to China. According to China’s report on the call, “Xi Jinping clarified China’s principled stance on the Taiwan issue, emphasizing that Taiwan’s return to China is an important component of the post-war international order, noting that China and the United States fought side-by-side against fascism and militarism, and should now work together to safeguard the achievements of the victory in World War II.” In response, President Trump expressed recognition that China played a “crucial role” during World War II, and said that the United States understands the importance of the Taiwan issue for China.
In Trump’s later post on Nov. 24, after reviewing topics discussed, including trade, and continuing their amity from Busan, Trump spoke of plans for 2026: “Now we can set our sights on the big picture. To that end, President Xi invited me to visit Beijing in April, which I accepted, and I reciprocated where he will be my guest for a State Visit in the U.S. later in the year. We agreed that it is important that we communicate often, which I look forward to doing.”
This instance of leadership collaboration between major nations is welcome and crucial, coming in the midst of a world situation that can be likened to a vast forest with multiple fires, which, when one is extinguished, others break out. That was the analogy used today for the strategic crisis we face, by Schiller Institute leader Helga Zepp-LaRouche. She put forward that nightmare image to make the point that we face a hopeless picture unless we end the geopolitical forces still in play, and instead, shift the world into a new architecture for economic development and security. That is the basis for hope, and the urgency for nations and individuals to mobilize in every possible way.
In particular, the Schiller Institute, The LaRouche Organization, and collaborators internationally, are initiating a drive in support of economic development, through mobilizing for a “Global Glass-Steagall.” That refers to discussion and action to provide credit for development and necessary economic functions, to restrict speculation and parasitical finance, and to take measures for bankruptcy reorganization and wipe-out of the gargantuan bubbles of unpayable, unworthy, and often criminal debt. The U.S. Banking Act of 1933, which enabled newly-elected President Franklin D. Roosevelt to carry out these measures—a model for today—was named for the law’s sponsors, Sen. Carter Glass (Virginia) and Rep. Henry B. Steagall (Alabama) .
On Ukraine, there are grounds for cautious hope, although the warhawks in Europe continue their grotesque demands for militarization to defend against Russia, or else. The Geneva talks on Nov. 23 between Ukraine and the United States, with some others present, have ended today, on the U.S. 28-point peace plan. U.S. spokesmen describe the results as positive so far, with some “adjustments” of points under discussion. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Nov. 24, in measured phrases, “We have read the statement following the discussions in Geneva. Some adjustments have been made to the text we saw earlier. We will wait. Apparently, the dialogue is continuing there, and some contacts will continue. So far, I repeat, we have not received anything officially.” Turkiye President Recip Erdogan phoned President Putin today, reiterating the offer of Istanbul for potential international talks on Ukraine, as well as discussing other topics.
Trump’s own comment on this morning on the Geneva talks was enigmatic, in his typical style: “Is it really possible that big progress is being made in Peace Talks between Russia and Ukraine??? Don’t believe it until you see it, but something good just may be happening.”
However, opponents are in motion. U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced Nov. 24 that the so-called Coalition of the Willing (willing to back perpetual war) will meet virtually tomorrow to review the status of the talks over Ukraine, and they voice objections. Warnings are coming from leaders in Hungary, Slovakia, and elsewhere that this pro-warfare front will try to sabotage settling the Ukraine crisis.
Meantime, there are grim updates from other fires burning near out of control. In the Caribbean today, the U.S. designation is now in effect asserting that the Cartel de los Soles is a “Foreign Terrorist Organization,” based in Venezuela, headed by Venezuela President Nicolás Maduro. This designation of an entity as a transnational drug trafficking group, announced Nov. 16 by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, is a legalism claimed by the Trump Administration, to rationalize U.S. unilateral lethal strikes on land or sea, without due process. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth last week praised the designation, for providing a “whole bunch of new options to the United States” for dealing with Maduro.
It is ominous that today the U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine was in Puerto Rico, to brief U.S. Southcom troops there, and then proceeded to Trinidad and Tobago, which has been collaborating with the U.S. Department of War. The U.S. Embassy in Port of Spain announced today that Caine will meet Nov. 25, with “Prime MInister Kamla Persad-Bissessar … on the vital importance of countering illicit trafficking and transnational criminal organizations.”
Appeals and objections continue to the U.S. heavy force deployment in the Caribbean, and presumed impending attack on Venezuela. For example, a letter to President Trump has been made public, from Prime Minister Gaston A. Browne of Antigua and Barbuda, sent Nov. 18. It stated, after giving reasons for not initiating attacks on Venezuela: “I urge you to follow your instincts, which as far as I have seen, are rooted in dialogue and negotiation. President Nicolás Maduro has publicly signalled willingness to talk. Dialogue may be slow, imperfect, and frustrating, but, as you know, it delivers fewer sorrows than the alternative.”
The situation in Gaza is an imperative to reverse, where the IDF continues killings, and likewise, Israeli settlers and authorities cause destruction and death in the West Bank. In Lebanon yesterday, the IDF bombed targets, extolling their murder of Haytham Ali Tabataba, a leader of Hezbollah.
The International Peace Coalition network of action is a crucial world platform for deliberation and mobilization. Join their next weekly meeting this Friday, Nov. 28.
Contents
Strategic War Danger
U.S. and Canada
- Senator Cassidy Speaks Out on Vaccine Medical Science, Opposes RFK’s New CDC Suggested Link to Autism (↓)
- Ukraine Talks of Change to Trump's 28-Point Peace Plan (↓)
Collapsing Imperial System
- Mexican Farmers Block Highways Again, Demanding Government Action, Not Words (↓)
- Israel Kills Senior Hezbollah Commander in Lebanon (↓)
- Gaza Humanitarian Foundation Is Formally Dead and Gone (↓)
New World Paradigm
- Presidents Xi and Trump To Meet in April, Today Discussed Taiwan, Past China-U.S. Joint Fight against Fascism (↓)
Science and Technology
Harley Schlanger Update
Watch The Daily Update with Harley Schlanger, a short video update available every weekday morning from The LaRouche Organization.
