Dispatch Politics Roundup: FDA Shake-up, Ukraine Drone Deal, and Trump's Beijing Visit

This weekly roundup from The Dispatch covers four major developments. First, Marty Makary’s turbulent 13-month tenure as FDA commissioner ends amid controversy and a policy break with President Trump on vaping regulations. Second, the U.S. and Ukraine are negotiating a strategic partnership to develop attack drones, allowing Ukraine to monetize its expertise to fund its war against Russia, though critics note this overlooks defensive capability gaps. Third, the article challenges the growing bipartisan skepticism toward GDP growth, arguing that both leftist 'degrowth' advocates and populist right-wing critics dismiss economic output metrics to the detriment of sound policy. Finally, President Donald Trump arrives in Beijing for a high-stakes three-day summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, marking the first in-person meeting between the two leaders since 2017. This diplomatic engagement occurs against a backdrop of heightened tensions, including ongoing trade disputes and conflicts in the Middle East, signaling a potential shift in U.S.-China relations after years of adversarial rhetoric.