Daniel Estrin
Appearances
Apple News Today
What new election results tell us about how attitudes are shifting
We spoke with several eyewitnesses who took part in the protests, who said people are fed up with all of the conditions that they're under from the war with Israel, from Israeli displacement orders. People feel that there are no more safe places to go. And people in Gaza tell us that demonstrators spontaneously went to the streets and demanded the fall of Hamas rule in Gaza.
Apple News Today
What new election results tell us about how attitudes are shifting
We saw a rare protest in 2019 by Palestinians protesting Hamas for their living conditions. That protest was quashed with arrests and beatings. And then during this war, we have seen open criticism by Palestinians accusing Hamas of not doing enough to protect them from Israel's retaliation for the October 7th attack in 2023.
Apple News Today
What new election results tell us about how attitudes are shifting
But these protests we saw last week were rare and were daring and were definitely something new.
Apple News Today
What new election results tell us about how attitudes are shifting
It's really hard to tell whether protests in Israel against the Israeli government and its policy of continuing the war will sway the Israeli government to change course. It's hard to say whether the anti-Hamas sentiment we saw on the streets in Gaza will convince Hamas to change course.
Apple News Today
What new election results tell us about how attitudes are shifting
What we do know is that these protests on both sides come at a major inflection point in the war, where Israeli civilians and Palestinian civilians in Gaza were saying that they're fed up. Whether their leadership will listen to them is an open question.
Consider This from NPR
Trump's Plan for Gaza: American intervention and mass relocation
Audacity is what Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Trump celebrated at the White House. Netanyahu gave Trump a golden pager commemorating Israel's exploding pager attack last year against Hezbollah in Lebanon. Then Trump floated his proposal to empty Gaza and take it over. And Netanyahu praised Trump.
Consider This from NPR
Trump's Plan for Gaza: American intervention and mass relocation
He's right. Palestinian leaders in Saudi Arabia have rejected the removal of Palestinians from Gaza. Former Israeli officials are casting doubt on the viability of a U.S. takeover. Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.
Consider This from NPR
Trump's Plan for Gaza: American intervention and mass relocation
The U.S. is now involved in two Middle Eastern negotiations, one to get Hamas to give up its control of Gaza and release all Israeli hostages. and another to get Saudi Arabia to establish ties with Israel. Former Israeli Foreign Minister Shlomo Ben-Ami wonders if Trump could be employing a negotiating tactic.
Consider This from NPR
Trump's Plan for Gaza: American intervention and mass relocation
Trump's endorsement of expelling Palestinians from their land helps Netanyahu stay in power and keep together his far-right allies, who have threatened to walk away because they want Israel to resume fighting in Gaza. Israeli columnist Nadav Eyal.
Consider This from NPR
Trump's Plan for Gaza: American intervention and mass relocation
Palestinian envoy to the United Nations, Riyad Mansour, said Palestinians want to rebuild Gaza after a devastating war, not abandon Gaza.
Consider This from NPR
Trump's Plan for Gaza: American intervention and mass relocation
Trump said he wants to help Palestinians by sending Gaza's nearly 2 million residents to other countries.
Consider This from NPR
Trump's Plan for Gaza: American intervention and mass relocation
In Gaza City, which has been largely destroyed in the recent war, NPR producer Anas Baba asked young Palestinians what they want. But Sam Abdelraouf, 29, said, even if there were a place a million times better than Gaza, even if life there would be luxurious, I would still live among the rubble and in tents here. I do not know how to describe what our love for Gaza means.
Consider This from NPR
Trump's Plan for Gaza: American intervention and mass relocation
Another man, 30-year-old Yahya Barakat, said he'd take Trump up on the offer. He said, my home is gone, my life is gone, my future is gone. If I find a country that provides me with safety and a good life, I will leave my homeland.
NPR News Now
NPR News: 04-30-2025 2PM EDT
In the year since last Memorial Day, 456 people, mostly soldiers, were killed or died of their wounds, according to Israeli government figures. At one memorial ceremony, the father of a soldier killed in Gaza yelled at the Speaker of Parliament, blaming Israeli leaders for the soldier's death. At another tribute, protesters threw rocks at Israelis marking Palestinian and Israeli victims.
NPR News Now
NPR News: 04-30-2025 2PM EDT
Polls show a little more than half of Israelis want the Gaza war to end through a hostage release deal with Hamas. A bit less than half want to continue the war or are unsure. In Gaza, dozens were killed in new Israeli strikes Wednesday, according to health officials. Daniel Estrin, NPR News, Tel Aviv.
NPR News Now
NPR News: 05-28-2025 1AM EDT
Trump has used social media to create several days of tariff whiplash. On Friday, he floated the idea of 50 percent tariffs on EU goods starting June 1st. Sunday, after EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said she had spoken to Trump, he posted that he had agreed to postpone the tariffs to July 9th.
NPR News Now
NPR News: 05-28-2025 1AM EDT
Now, he has written on social media he was, quote, extremely satisfied with the 50 percent tariff, adding he will set rates if he and the EU are unable to make a deal. Trump added that the EU has now reached out to set dates to negotiate tariff rates. His deadlines for tariffs on China and many other countries will come this summer.
NPR News Now
NPR News: 05-28-2025 1AM EDT
If deals are not reached by those dates, tariffs are set to ratchet upward. Danielle Kurtzleben, NPR News, the White House.
NPR News Now
NPR News: 04-16-2025 1PM EDT
The new Israeli proposal is to pause the war in Gaza for a month and a half, free about half of Hamas's living Israeli hostages within the first week and negotiate the disarmament of militant groups. A Hamas official tells NPR the group rejects the proposal. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because Hamas was still preparing a formal response to mediators.
NPR News Now
NPR News: 04-16-2025 1PM EDT
But in a statement, Hamas and other Palestinian groups said their weapons were for self-defense. They said the ceasefire proposal did not include guarantees to end the war and withdraw Israeli troops from Gaza. Israel's defense minister says Israel is changing tactics and won't withdraw troops from areas they capture in Gaza. Daniel Estrin, NPR News, Tel Aviv.
NPR News Now
NPR News: 04-02-2025 7PM EDT
In a video, Netanyahu said Israeli troops are establishing a third security corridor that will cut across southern Gaza. It will run parallel to a border zone with Egypt, further bisecting the territory. Netanyahu said in Hebrew, this is a tactic to pressure Hamas to free Israeli hostages. Netanyahu said the more they refuse, the more the pressure will increase until they do.
NPR News Now
NPR News: 04-02-2025 7PM EDT
Israel's military says it has encircled an area of southern Gaza and killed Palestinian militants. Gaza health officials say Israeli troops have killed scores of Palestinians in the past day. Daniel Estrin, NPR News, Tel Aviv.
NPR News Now
NPR News: 03-25-2025 5PM EDT
Videos posted on social media show crowds chanting, out, out, out, Hamas go out. Protesters called for media coverage, chanting, where is the media? Eyewitnesses say thousands took part in the demonstration in Beit Lahya in northern Gaza, which began as an anti-war protest.
NPR News Now
NPR News: 03-25-2025 5PM EDT
One protester who requested we only use his first name, Ibrahim, to speak freely against Hamas, told NPR, Hamas is not taking us into account. It has two million people in Gaza who need to live. He called on Hamas to release the Israeli hostages and leave Gaza. Over the years, Hamas has cracked down on dissent, but open criticism has grown during the war. Hamas did not break up the protest.
NPR News Now
NPR News: 03-18-2025 4PM EDT
Ceasefire negotiations reached a dead end in recent days. Israel and Trump's envoy, Steve Witkoff, had been laying down new terms for Hamas. The terms were to release half of the living hostages Hamas has in Gaza and then to begin discussing the end of the war after that.
NPR News Now
NPR News: 03-18-2025 2PM EDT
Senior Hamas official Bassem Naim, based in Qatar, told NPR that mediators have not presented Hamas with a new framework for a ceasefire. Naim says the U.S. must, quote, intervene immediately to stop this aggression, and for Israel to adhere to a January agreement to enter talks for a permanent end of the war. Daniel Estrin, NPR News, Tel Aviv.
NPR News Now
NPR News: 03-18-2025 2PM EDT
Israel's offensive is dubbed Operation Strength and Sword. An internal Israeli government memo obtained by NPR says, Israel is returning to intensified fighting in Gaza. Israel says its offensive is to press Hamas to accept a proposal by President Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff for the release of more Israeli hostages. Hamas offered a counterproposal last week, which the U.S. and Israel rejected.
NPR News Now
NPR News: 05-13-2025 7AM EDT
When the Henyos were asked to dunk their faces in cold water, their heart rates dropped more than non-divers, due to a lifetime of training. When it came to the genetics, everyone on the island, Henyos and non-Henyos, basically had the same genes, including two that stood out.
NPR News Now
NPR News: 05-13-2025 7AM EDT
One related to cold tolerance, and one related to blood pressure that may offer protection from preeclampsia and other conditions like stroke.
NPR News Now
NPR News: 05-13-2025 7AM EDT
Melissa Allardo is an evolutionary geneticist at the University of Utah. She says the extreme diving of the Henyos has changed not just their bodies, but those of everyone else on the island who are descendants of divers. Ari Daniel, NPR News.
NPR News Now
NPR News: 03-04-2025 3PM EST
The World Health Organization says it helped evacuate the 29 children needing specialized medical care, including for cancer. King Abdullah of Jordan told President Trump in the Oval Office last month that Jordan will take in a total of 2,000 children needing medical care.
NPR News Now
NPR News: 03-04-2025 3PM EST
It was the Jordanian king's response to Trump's call for Jordan and countries in the region to absorb Gaza's entire population. Arab countries are rejecting the idea. Egypt is hosting a summit of Arab countries to discuss alternative plans for rebuilding Gaza without a mass displacement of Palestinians. Daniel Estrin, NPR News, Tel Aviv.
NPR News Now
NPR News: 05-29-2025 4PM EDT
President Trump's Special Envoy Steve Witkoff said the U.S. is presenting a new proposal. An Israeli source briefed on it, but not authorized to speak publicly, tells NPR the U.S. is suggesting a 60-day ceasefire with the release of 10 living Israeli hostages and 18 bodies of those who died or were killed in captivity. Israel did not immediately comment on the proposal.
NPR News Now
NPR News: 05-29-2025 4PM EDT
Hamas says it received Witkoff's proposal and is studying it. Hamas has said it's willing to release 10 hostages, but wants international mediators to guarantee there would be talks on ending the war. Daniel Estrin, NPR News, Tel Aviv.
NPR News Now
NPR News: 05-29-2025 4PM EDT
We travel to sites all around the world where there is microbial life, we think, living that's going to be useful for things like carbon capture or helping corals or improving agriculture.
NPR News Now
NPR News: 05-22-2025 6PM EDT
NPR's Camilla Dominovsky explains the resolution now heads to President Trump for his signature.
NPR News Now
NPR News: 05-22-2025 6PM EDT
Existing home sales fell in April, signaling more bad news for the housing market. As NPR's Laura Wamsley explains, low sales figures are a symptom of economic uncertainty.
NPR News Now
NPR News: 05-22-2025 6PM EDT
A mixed close on Wall Street today. The Dow was down one point. The Nasdaq closed up 53 points. You're listening to NPR News in Washington. Scientists say they've found a way to sample DNA across an entire country out of thin air. Empire's Ari Daniels says it may lead one day to tracking the health and well-being of the world's biodiversity.
NPR News Now
NPR News: 05-22-2025 6PM EDT
Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Jack Spear. Authorities today raided the Chicago home of the man suspected of killing two people outside a Jewish museum in the nation's capital last night. Police say the man chanted, free Palestine, as he was detained. NPR's Jennifer Ludden reports the two people killed were a young couple about to become engaged.
NPR News Now
NPR News: 05-22-2025 6PM EDT
The annual hurricane forecast has been released by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. And with warmer than usual ocean waters, forecasters say they expect it to be a busy season. While perhaps not at last year's level, forecasters are predicting a 60 percent chance of above normal activity. with 13 to 19 named storms, 6 to 10 of which they say are expected to become hurricanes.
NPR News Now
NPR News: 05-22-2025 6PM EDT
Last year was the third costliest hurricane season on record. The Atlantic hurricane season officially gets underway on June 1st. Crude oil futures prices settled lower today as investors weigh a report that OPEC is discussing a production increase for July, oil down 37 cents a barrel to 61.20 a barrel.
NPR News Now
NPR News: 05-22-2025 6PM EDT
The Swastik now faces federal murder charges and other charges. Officials say the shooting is also being investigated as a possible hate crime. The Senate has voted to undo the waiver that allows California to require zero-emission vehicles. It's a controversial move in part because there's a debate over whether Congress is actually following its own rules.
NPR News Now
NPR News: 03-20-2025 5PM EDT
One of the hardest parts of this study was getting the babies into the fMRI machine.
NPR News Now
NPR News: 03-20-2025 5PM EDT
That's Yale cognitive neuroscientist Nick Turk-Brown. His team showed infants a series of images they'd never seen before while snapping photos of their brains, including the hippocampus.
NPR News Now
NPR News: 03-20-2025 5PM EDT
Tristan Yates is a cognitive neuroscientist at Columbia. The more active the hippocampus was when seeing an image for the first time, the more likely babies were to remember it later, meaning that infants seem to form memories. Whether we can retrieve them later in life remains an open question. For NPR News, I'm Ari Daniel.
NPR News Now
NPR News: 04-17-2025 2PM EDT
The National Labor Relations Board is a small, independent federal agency that investigates and adjudicates complaints of unfair labor practices. Daniel Berulis works for the NLRB's IT department. In a disclosure to Congress and other federal overseers, he says Doge appears to have gotten access, right before a big chunk of sensitive data was removed from the agency and records were deleted.
NPR News Now
NPR News: 04-17-2025 2PM EDT
Why was that done? And that's a purposeful effort. That doesn't just happen. Logs don't just disappear.
NPR News Now
NPR News: 04-17-2025 2PM EDT
While the NLRB tells NPR they have no record of Doge's access and that an internal investigation concluded there was no security breach, Barula says the suspicious activity he noticed warrants further investigation. Jen McLaughlin, NPR News.
NPR News Now
NPR News: 04-17-2025 2PM EDT
It's a shame. It's a horrible thing, horrible that things like this take place.
NPR News Now
NPR News: 05-15-2025 8AM EDT
and to expand the areas where it will distribute food and supplies. Israeli officials have declined requests for comment. The United Nations and its partner groups have run humanitarian aid distribution in Gaza until now. They have refused to cooperate with the new aid system, calling it a military plan to force civilians into a concentrated zone. Daniel Estrin, NPR News, Tel Aviv.
NPR News Now
NPR News: 05-15-2025 8AM EDT
The Trump administration is leading an effort with Israel's support to resume aid to Gaza using a new organization called the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, run by a US military veteran. The aim is to deny aid to Hamas members, whom Israel and the US say steal it. The group says it has received Israeli approval to take over aid operations in Gaza by the end of the month.
NPR News Now
NPR News: 02-06-2025 4PM EST
The military says over three months, the soldier beat bound and blindfolded Palestinian detainees and struck them with his weapon, which he documented with his cell phone. Other soldiers participated, but they were masked, and the army says it doesn't know who they are. The soldier was sentenced to seven months in prison in a plea bargain.
NPR News Now
NPR News: 02-06-2025 4PM EST
The Israeli military says it's the first conviction of a soldier during the Gaza war. and it says it shows a commitment to accountability. This case took place at a facility inside Israel, where there have been widespread accounts of severe abuse by soldiers, including life-threatening assault. No soldiers have been convicted for any abuses committed inside Gaza. Daniel Estrin, NPR News, Ramallah.
NPR News Now
NPR News: 03-23-2025 5PM EDT
The Israeli military says it has launched an offensive near Rafah in southern Gaza. Medics report heavy fighting from Israeli ground troops. Palestinians only recently returned to live in that area during a ceasefire. Now Israel is ordering them to leave to a zone along the coast. Hamas says among those killed in Israel's latest strikes was one of the last Hamas political leaders based in Gaza.
NPR News Now
NPR News: 03-23-2025 5PM EDT
All of this is part of Israel's return to war, to pressure Hamas to release hostages under more favorable terms to Israel. Israel says its security cabinet reviewed plans for continuing an aid blockade on Gaza and increasing the military campaign. Daniel Estrin, NPR News, Tel Aviv.
NPR News Now
NPR News: 04-05-2025 8PM EDT
A lawyer for Netanyahu says President Trump invited the Israeli leader to the White House this coming Monday, the first world leader scheduled to meet Trump since the U.S. imposed tariffs on many countries. Netanyahu wants Trump to reverse the new 17% tariff on Israeli imports. Netanyahu is currently in Hungary. When he arrived this week, Hungary withdrew from the International Criminal Court.
NPR News Now
NPR News: 04-05-2025 8PM EDT
The court has an arrest warrant out for Netanyahu for alleged crimes in the Gaza war. Daniel Estrin, NPR News, Tel Aviv.
NPR News Now
NPR News: 03-02-2025 6PM EST
Presidential Envoy Steve Witkoff. There was no immediate U.S. comment. Hamas says the newest proposal is an attempt to evade the original deal and called for immediate talks for the second stage of the ceasefire. In response to Hamas's position, Israel says it's blocking all further goods and supplies to Gaza. Daniel Estrin, NPR News, Tel Aviv.
NPR News Now
NPR News: 03-02-2025 6PM EST
The first phase of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire is now over. The two sides were meant to negotiate a second phase with talks on a permanent end of the war. Israel has announced a new proposal to extend the ceasefire by seven weeks and for Hamas to release half of its hostages at the start and then hold talks toward a permanent end of the war. Israel says it's a proposal from U.S.
NPR News Now
NPR News: 05-17-2025 8AM EDT
Each winning image is a dramatic, intimate portrait of research. In one, a scientist kneels in a forest, beaming at eight tiny frogs in her hands. In another, a researcher crouches atop a foggy mountain as he measures the cloud forming around him. And then there's the riveting photo that Emma Vogel, a spatial ecologist at the University of Tromsø, took aboard a little boat in a Norwegian fjord.
NPR News Now
NPR News: 05-17-2025 8AM EDT
Behind him is a large fishing boat and hundreds of seagulls. Over his shoulder, you can just make out... A killer whale surfacing.
NPR News Now
NPR News: 05-17-2025 8AM EDT
Vogel studies how whales interact with fisheries. To her, this image captures the patient intensity of fieldwork. Ari Daniel, NPR News.
NPR News Now
NPR News: 02-14-2025 8PM EST
American Sagid Dekelhen is among the hostages to be released tomorrow. In exchange, Hamas expects Israel to release 36 Palestinians convicted for deadly attacks against Israelis and to release more than 300 Palestinians arrested in Gaza during the war. Earlier this week, Hamas had said it would delay the hostage release, alleging ceasefire violations by Israel, which Israel denied.
NPR News Now
NPR News: 02-14-2025 8PM EST
The dispute was resolved. Keith Siegel, an American hostage freed this month, credited President Trump with his release.
NPR News Now
NPR News: 02-14-2025 8PM EST
President Trump... You are the reason I am home alive. Your leadership and strength will ensure the agreement is honored by all sides. Daniel Estrin, NPR News, Tel Aviv.
NPR News Now
NPR News: 02-07-2025 8PM EST
Speaking at a press conference, Trump was unclear about his own role in Doge's actions, but seemed to say he had given Musk wide reign.
NPR News Now
NPR News: 02-07-2025 8PM EST
He added several times that he wants Doge to target the education department and the military for cuts. Trump did say he doesn't plan on having Musk make changes to Social Security or Medicare, but added that the administration would be looking for fraud in those programs. Danielle Kurtz-Lehman, NPR News, the White House.
NPR News Now
NPR News: 03-31-2025 5PM EDT
Israel's security cabinet has approved a new road for Palestinians bypassing a big Israeli settlement near Jerusalem. Israel says the road would allow for Israeli building in the heart of the West Bank in an area known as E1. In the past, the U.S. opposed Israeli building there because it would make it hard to establish a contiguous Palestinian state. The Trump administration issued no comment.
NPR News Now
NPR News: 03-31-2025 5PM EDT
Khalil Abourish is the mayor of the Palestinian village of Bethany in the area.
NPR News Now
NPR News: 03-31-2025 5PM EDT
The Israeli monitoring group Peace Now says the road would allow Israel to annex a large area of the West Bank. Daniel Estrin, NPR News, Tel Aviv.
NPR News Now
NPR News: 05-26-2025 11AM EDT
It's important not to panic because some of the way that these apps rate food additives in the ingredients list, it's a little bit overblown. This may not be a safety concern or a reason not to eat the food.
NPR News Now
NPR News: 03-24-2025 5PM EDT
Multiple studies show no link between immigration and violent crime. On April 2nd, when this new tariff goes into effect, Trump also plans what he calls reciprocal tariffs on countries around the world. Danielle Kurtzleben, NPR News.
NPR News Now
NPR News: 03-24-2025 5PM EDT
Both people spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the classified military plans. They said the plans would have major forces occupy Gaza, pushing Palestinians into a small zone designated for civilians, and that Israel is examining options for the military to take control of distributing food at a minimal caloric amount.
NPR News Now
NPR News: 03-24-2025 5PM EDT
Both people who reviewed the plans said it was unclear if or when the plans would be carried out, or if they were a negotiation tactic to pressure Hamas to release more Israeli hostages. The military said it would not comment on future operational plans. It has announced it's mobilizing another army division for ground operations. Daniel Estrin, NPR News, Tel Aviv.
NPR News Now
NPR News: 03-24-2025 5PM EDT
Trump said countries buying the oil and gas would pay the tariff. This is not how tariffs work. An American tariff would be paid by a company in America importing foreign goods. The reason for the new tariff, Trump wrote, is violent immigrants from Venezuela. Trump claims, without evidence, that the Venezuelan government purposely sent criminals to the U.S.
NPR News Now
NPR News: 01-19-2025 8PM EST
The rally celebrated Trump's November win while also maintaining the MAGA identity of a movement that's continually fighting.
NPR News Now
NPR News: 01-19-2025 8PM EST
The hours-long rally featured performances from Kid Rock and the Village People, as well as appearances from actor Jon Voight and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk. Supporters will return on Monday to the arena, where they will be able to watch a live stream of Trump's inauguration after it was moved inside due to cold weather. The inauguration parade has also been moved inside the arena.
NPR News Now
NPR News: 03-17-2025 2PM EDT
Israel is not yet ready to commit to an end of the war, with Hamas still ruling Gaza. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he wants to fire his domestic intelligence chief because he has lost trust in him. The security chief has been a main proponent of a hostage release deal with Hamas. Daniel Estrin, NPR News, Tel Aviv.
NPR News Now
NPR News: 03-17-2025 2PM EDT
Israel is demanding the immediate release of 11 out of the 24 living hostages still held in Gaza. The U.S. is calling for an exchange of hostages and Palestinian prisoners and an extension of the ceasefire for many weeks to try to reach a permanent end of the war. Hamas says it will release one living American Israeli hostage, but is demanding immediate talks on permanently ending the war.
NPR News Now
NPR News: 11-11-2024 3PM EST
Netanyahu's corruption trial has gone on for more than four years. He's charged with granting favors to media moguls in exchange for positive press coverage and lavish gifts. Netanyahu denies wrongdoing, and he's scheduled to take the witness stand for the first time on December 2nd. But his lawyers are asking the court for a two-and-a-half month delay.
NPR News Now
NPR News: 11-11-2024 3PM EST
They say Netanyahu could not properly prepare because of Israel's assassinations of Hamas and Hezbollah officials, Gaza hostage negotiations, Israel's intensified war against Hezbollah in Lebanon, and strikes by Iran and Israel on each other's territory. Critics say Netanyahu cannot properly lead the country while on trial and should step down. Daniel Estrin, NPR News, Tel Aviv.
NPR News Now
NPR News: 03-10-2025 5PM EDT
Trump's envoy Adam Boehler held secret direct talks recently with Hamas, which he spoke about on CNN yesterday.
NPR News Now
NPR News: 03-10-2025 5PM EDT
Boehler also told Israeli public broadcasting that Hamas is proposing a 5-10 year truce with Israel, with the U.S. ensuring no Hamas tunnels or military activity in Gaza — and without Hamas involved in governing Gaza. It's the first time details have emerged about a proposed timetable for Hamas laying down its arms. Hamas has not commented publicly. Daniel Estrin, NPR News, Tel Aviv.
NPR News Now
NPR News: 03-28-2025 4PM EDT
The Metals Company is a Canada-based mining startup. They plan to collect nickel and cobalt from the deep ocean floor. The firm says those metals can be used in electric car batteries, but critics say deep-sea mining is unproven and could harm the marine environment.
NPR News Now
NPR News: 03-28-2025 4PM EDT
For more than a decade, most of the world's countries have been working together to draw up regulations for a deep-sea mining industry. That effort is part of the International Seabed Authority. But the United States is not a member of the group and isn't bound by its rules. Greenpeace calls the company's intent to work with the U.S., quote, a slap in the face to international cooperation.
NPR News Now
NPR News: 03-28-2025 4PM EDT
The U.S. Department of Commerce didn't immediately comment on the matter. For NPR News, I'm Daniel Ackerman.
NPR News Now
NPR News: 05-02-2025 5PM EDT
The White House budget proposal includes sharp cuts to an array of agencies like the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation, and the Internal Revenue Service. The proposal would match those non-defense cuts with increases to defense spending.
NPR News Now
NPR News: 05-02-2025 5PM EDT
All told, the White House proposes increasing defense spending by 13 percent, as well as a 65 percent increase in spending on homeland security. That money would go in part towards mass deportations, as well as completing the border wall. The president's budget is only a proposal. Congress passes spending bills.
NPR News Now
NPR News: 05-02-2025 5PM EDT
However, Trump has shown he's willing to act unilaterally via executive orders at his Department of Government efficiency. Danielle Kurtzleben, NPR News.
Up First from NPR
USAID Ruling, Ukraine On Trump Putin Agreement, Gaza Ceasefire Collapse
Well, a senior Hamas official told us that mediators were actually holding ceasefire talks with Hamas in the wee hours of the morning Tuesday when these surprise Israeli strikes began. And an Israeli official tells us deception was the point. It began around 2.10 in the morning. Israel launched its first strikes, took about 10 minutes. This happened after weeks of preparations.
Up First from NPR
USAID Ruling, Ukraine On Trump Putin Agreement, Gaza Ceasefire Collapse
These plans were kept inside a closed circle of the Israeli military. And it came as a surprise to many Israelis and the public, too. Many recently freed hostages spoke out yesterday about this return to war. We counted more than half of the living Israeli hostages recently freed by Hamas, said the move endangered the lives of other hostages still in Gaza.
Up First from NPR
USAID Ruling, Ukraine On Trump Putin Agreement, Gaza Ceasefire Collapse
Well, the old ceasefire deal was struck under the Biden administration, and Israel sees itself as having leeway to try to extract new ceasefire terms under President Trump. That's exactly what Trump's Mideast envoy, Steve Witkoff, tried to do. He presented a proposal last week for new ceasefire terms for Hamas to release more hostages before the talks to end the war began.
Up First from NPR
USAID Ruling, Ukraine On Trump Putin Agreement, Gaza Ceasefire Collapse
And Israel said it's returning to war now to pressure Hamas to agree to those terms.
Up First from NPR
USAID Ruling, Ukraine On Trump Putin Agreement, Gaza Ceasefire Collapse
Well, a Hamas official tells us that the group's main demands still remain. And those main demands are to go back to the original terms of the deal brokered under Biden and to begin discussing the permanent end of the war. You have to understand, A, that in recent months, aid supplies were surging back to Gaza under the ceasefire. And Hamas was beginning to recover.
Up First from NPR
USAID Ruling, Ukraine On Trump Putin Agreement, Gaza Ceasefire Collapse
And Israel saw that Hamas was benefiting from the lack of war. and from talks continuing in recent weeks without giving up more hostages. And so here we are.
Up First from NPR
USAID Ruling, Ukraine On Trump Putin Agreement, Gaza Ceasefire Collapse
It does benefit him politically because he has this deadline. He has to pass a national budget in two weeks or his government could collapse. And so returning to war allows him to convince his far-right ally, Itamar Ben-Gvir, to rejoin the coalition now. It strengthens his coalition. He can support a new budget.
Up First from NPR
USAID Ruling, Ukraine On Trump Putin Agreement, Gaza Ceasefire Collapse
It allows Netanyahu to distract from a move he tried to fire his domestic security chief, which is sparking street protests. We could see this round of strikes in Gaza lasting another couple weeks until Netanyahu can pass a budget. and until he has more flexibility to maybe resume a ceasefire then.
Up First from NPR
New Gaza Aid Group Faces Criticism, Harvard President Speaks Out, DEI Rollbacks
Thank you, Michelle.
Up First from NPR
New Gaza Aid Group Faces Criticism, Harvard President Speaks Out, DEI Rollbacks
Israel started letting in limited quantities after a nearly three-month total ban. There was intense pressure from the U.S. to let food in because of malnutrition and warnings of a famine. But just this effort to get a little amount of food into Gaza has been chaotic. The United Nations World Food Program delivered flour and supplies to bakeries.
Up First from NPR
New Gaza Aid Group Faces Criticism, Harvard President Speaks Out, DEI Rollbacks
And just a couple of days ago, they were overwhelmed by hungry crowds and looters. There were reports of a shootout and the bakery shut down. And aid officials I'm speaking with are concerned that this could be a preview of what's to come as this new U.S.-backed group gets ready to deliver food to big crowds of hungry people.
Up First from NPR
New Gaza Aid Group Faces Criticism, Harvard President Speaks Out, DEI Rollbacks
The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation is a new entity. It involves American contractors. And instead of having food distributed in hundreds of points across Gaza, this group is going to be restricting that to four new zones with Israeli soldiers guarding the perimeter and private contractors giving out boxes of food to families once a week. And
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New Gaza Aid Group Faces Criticism, Harvard President Speaks Out, DEI Rollbacks
It says that it's begun distributing its first food boxes at one site yesterday, and it's going to be ramping up activities. But all the major aid groups in Gaza and the United Nations are refusing to cooperate. Jake Wood is the U.S. Marine veteran who directed the group. He abruptly resigned just as they were getting started. He said the plan cannot follow principles of humanity and neutrality.
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New Gaza Aid Group Faces Criticism, Harvard President Speaks Out, DEI Rollbacks
And there really is not a lot of transparency about this group, Michelle. A private U.S. security company run by a former CIA officer is involved. It's posted a job posting online saying they'll train people on the job. And the group won't say where its funding is coming from. Israel's opposition leader is alleging that Israel is secretly funding the group.
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New Gaza Aid Group Faces Criticism, Harvard President Speaks Out, DEI Rollbacks
It's really an idea that was devised by Israeli military veterans since the early days of the Gaza War to separate civilians into guarded zones to feed those civilians and to starve Hamas. Now, Israeli officials have also said publicly that the aim here is to get Palestinians to move south near Egypt as a step toward moving people to other countries.
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New Gaza Aid Group Faces Criticism, Harvard President Speaks Out, DEI Rollbacks
Israel's allies in Europe say that would be forcible mass displacement and they oppose it. And Hamas is warning Palestinians not to take food from this new U.S.-backed group. So it puts Palestinians in a really difficult position. They're starving. They're telling us that some would refuse to take part and others, they're desperate and they would go get that food.
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New Gaza Aid Group Faces Criticism, Harvard President Speaks Out, DEI Rollbacks
There does seem to be some movement toward a temporary ceasefire and a hostage deal. There's been a flurry of statements from Israel and Hamas yesterday and today. An Israeli negotiating team is expected to be in Cairo today, but it is too soon to be optimistic.
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New Gaza Aid Group Faces Criticism, Harvard President Speaks Out, DEI Rollbacks
You're welcome.
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Trump's Talk With Putin, Israel's Incursion, Weather Service Budget Cuts
While Israeli strikes have expanded across Gaza, Israel has ordered a mass evacuation of civilians in southern Gaza in Khan Yunis. It's affecting around a quarter of Gaza's territory, according to the United Nations. A Palestinian journalist there has sent us footage of people fleeing by foot.
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Trump's Talk With Putin, Israel's Incursion, Weather Service Budget Cuts
One young man, Tahir Farah, was carrying a big yellow water can on his shoulders and a pile of mattresses. What happened to this country? It's no longer livable in this land, he says. No food, no drinking water, no education, no health care, just displacement and humiliation and destruction. And every day we're dying, he says.
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Trump's Talk With Putin, Israel's Incursion, Weather Service Budget Cuts
And I want to just tell you a few details of some of those who were killed. A paracycling team in Gaza is reporting their teammate, 33-year-old Ahmed Al-Dali, was killed. And a colleague of ours from Gaza says his longtime neighbor, Hatem Abu Samra, an older gentleman, he survived more than 19 months of war killed. He was just killed in a strike in his home in central Gaza.
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Trump's Talk With Putin, Israel's Incursion, Weather Service Budget Cuts
I should add, there was a spontaneous march yesterday in Gaza where people were protesting the war and chanting anti-Hamas slogans.
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Trump's Talk With Putin, Israel's Incursion, Weather Service Budget Cuts
There is international pressure Israel is responding to. It allowed in a small number of trucks of baby food into Gaza so far. That's after nearly three months of a blockade. Gaza on the brink of famine. The UN says that's not enough. The leaders of the UK, France and Canada put out that extraordinary statement you referred to. I want to read you a few lines.
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Trump's Talk With Putin, Israel's Incursion, Weather Service Budget Cuts
They say the level of human suffering in Gaza is intolerable. The denial of essential supplies to civilians risks breaching international law. They say if Israel does not cease the renewed military offensive and lift restrictions on aid, they're threatening to take action. Steve, this is a big shift in rhetoric from these major allies.
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Trump's Talk With Putin, Israel's Incursion, Weather Service Budget Cuts
And Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has responded saying their statement rewards Hamas.
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Trump's Talk With Putin, Israel's Incursion, Weather Service Budget Cuts
Well, the prime minister of Qatar who is hosting the talks says the talks have gone nowhere because of fundamental differences between Israel and Hamas. We've spoken to three people briefed on the talks, including an Egyptian official and a Hamas official. They spoke on condition of anonymity to give details. They say, we are looking at the same longstanding impasse.
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Trump's Talk With Putin, Israel's Incursion, Weather Service Budget Cuts
Israel wants a temporary ceasefire and the release of some hostages. And Hamas wants much more. They want international guarantees that a temporary ceasefire would lead to the permanent end of the war. And the people we spoke to said the U.S. refused to promise Hamas those guarantees. But we will have to see. Israeli and Hamas negotiators are still in Qatar.
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Trump's Talk With Putin, Israel's Incursion, Weather Service Budget Cuts
You're very welcome.
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Wrongly Deported, DOGE And Agency Data, Harvard Defies The White House
A lot. So the whistleblower's name is Daniel Beroulis, and he's one of the people who manages the NLRB's cloud. That's the virtual servers that host almost all the agency's data. So when Doge arrived, he says they demanded the highest level access, the so-called God tier accounts. And then weird stuff started happening.
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Wrongly Deported, DOGE And Agency Data, Harvard Defies The White House
He saw a big spike in data leaving the agency, something that almost never happens. Meanwhile, security and monitoring tools were turned off. A bunch of records were deleted. He even started to notice login attempts from a Russian IP address that had the right username and password. Listen to how he describes it.
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Wrongly Deported, DOGE And Agency Data, Harvard Defies The White House
So it's difficult to prove exactly what happened, but Barula says he and his colleagues agreed it looked like a breach and that the agency's data could have been compromised.
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Wrongly Deported, DOGE And Agency Data, Harvard Defies The White House
Yeah, so it's a small independent agency, but it is really important for workers' rights. It investigates and adjudicates unfair labor practice complaints. So if a group of employees believes they were wrongfully fired, they might call in the NLRB to look into it. It also protects the rights of employees to unionize.
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Wrongly Deported, DOGE And Agency Data, Harvard Defies The White House
So in the course of their investigations, Michelle, they gather really sensitive data from lists of people interested in forming a union to witness statements, maybe even corporate secrets. Okay.
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Wrongly Deported, DOGE And Agency Data, Harvard Defies The White House
Yeah. So there currently are several ongoing NLRB cases involving Musk's companies, including SpaceX and Tesla. That was really concerning to some of the labor law experts that I spoke to. He said that he will recuse himself from anything involving his companies, but we haven't really seen any evidence that's true so far.
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Wrongly Deported, DOGE And Agency Data, Harvard Defies The White House
If he got access to information about how the government was building those cases, or private statements from witnesses even, it could give him a real leg up in court, for one.
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Wrongly Deported, DOGE And Agency Data, Harvard Defies The White House
Absolutely, Michelle. According to my reporting and a lot of public evidence, this seems like a trend. First, there are over a dozen court cases where government witnesses have outlined Doge's mishandling of sensitive data at agencies like the Treasury Department or the IRS.
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Wrongly Deported, DOGE And Agency Data, Harvard Defies The White House
I also heard from aides in Congress, and they say there are ongoing investigations into other reports of Doge removing data from agencies for unknown reasons. Part of the reason Brulis came forward was to inspire others to speak up.
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Wrongly Deported, DOGE And Agency Data, Harvard Defies The White House
The rule list provided a lot of technical data we have not seen before, but this could be just one piece of the puzzle.
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Arrest In UnitedHealthcare CEO Killing, Netanyahu Trial, Jay-Z Rape Allegations
Well, here at the courthouse, it is full of the prime minister's security guards. There are pro and anti-Netanyahu demonstrators outside the courthouse. In the courtroom, Israeli cabinet ministers and lawmakers from Netanyahu's party came to support him as he's giving his witness testimony. I am on the ground floor of the courthouse.
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Arrest In UnitedHealthcare CEO Killing, Netanyahu Trial, Jay-Z Rape Allegations
We've been watching Netanyahu's testimony on a big screen where journalists are gathered. Netanyahu is testifying one floor below me in a small underground fortified courtroom. That's because it is wartime. And just yesterday, there was a rocket fired from Yemen that hit a building in Israel. There are security concerns. But it is a really momentous day.
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Arrest In UnitedHealthcare CEO Killing, Netanyahu Trial, Jay-Z Rape Allegations
The police started investigating Netanyahu in 2016. And finally, for the very first time, he's taking the witness stand. And on the witness stand, Netanyahu said he's been waiting eight years for this day to present the truth.
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Arrest In UnitedHealthcare CEO Killing, Netanyahu Trial, Jay-Z Rape Allegations
What are the charges Netanyahu faces? He's charged with bribery, fraud, and breach of trust. There are three separate cases that he is facing. They all involve his dealings with wealthy media moguls, a Hollywood producer, owners of media outlets. He's accused of using his influence as a prime minister to help their business interests.
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Arrest In UnitedHealthcare CEO Killing, Netanyahu Trial, Jay-Z Rape Allegations
And in exchange, he's accused of accepting tens of thousands of dollars worth of champagne, cigars... and also secret deals to give him and his family flattering news coverage. What's it like seeing him testify?
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Arrest In UnitedHealthcare CEO Killing, Netanyahu Trial, Jay-Z Rape Allegations
It is extraordinary. I mean, on the witness stand, he started with an opening speech talking about how the momentous events in Syria means that his aides may need to pass him special notes as he gives his testimony. I mean, it's really extraordinary seeing an acting prime minister on trial in the middle of war. He began by saying the charges are an ocean of absurdity.
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Arrest In UnitedHealthcare CEO Killing, Netanyahu Trial, Jay-Z Rape Allegations
He said the only thing that matters is his role as defender of Israel. And when he was asked about the accusations that he sought positive press coverage and got cigars and champagne, he said he does not live a lavish life. He can't finish his cigar because of all the work he does. He says he goes to bed at 1 or 2 a.m. every day.
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Arrest In UnitedHealthcare CEO Killing, Netanyahu Trial, Jay-Z Rape Allegations
And about press coverage, he said all he would have to do to get good press coverage would be to say he supports creating a Palestinian state.
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Arrest In UnitedHealthcare CEO Killing, Netanyahu Trial, Jay-Z Rape Allegations
Yes, and he says he can juggle it all. I mean, although he did try to delay this day in court for several months, he and his lawyers argued because of the wars and the conflicts Israel is facing on multiple fronts, it should be delayed a couple months. In fact, he was unsuccessful. So he'll be testifying three days a week, six hours a day. It'll last for many weeks.
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Arrest In UnitedHealthcare CEO Killing, Netanyahu Trial, Jay-Z Rape Allegations
And he will be battling, he will be using this trial as part of this public battle to shape his image as a warrior for Israel in the middle of a war, surviving as Israel's longest-serving prime minister in history, especially at this extraordinary time with, in Syria, extensive Israeli bombing campaign inside Syria.
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A Whistleblower Takes on DOGE
I went to, you know, obviously immediately try to validate that this was not legitimate copying. And so I first went to the dev team, validated that nobody was working on the systems at that time. It was like an early morning. So it did make sense for them anyway.
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A Whistleblower Takes on DOGE
Instructions to drop it, to not file the report. It was one of those situations where it just, it bothered everybody that was involved in my agency and especially my department to do that. And so there was a lot of concern amongst us about that.
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A Whistleblower Takes on DOGE
I had my timeline, my handwritten. Let me get that out before we start.
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A Whistleblower Takes on DOGE
I fell in love. I found the first video game I could play, and it broke. And then I fixed it by just learning every little bit about how the hardware works and what parts are broken and what's doing what.
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A Whistleblower Takes on DOGE
I wouldn't be able to live with myself otherwise. To know that this data was out there, it's going to impact these cases. It's going to cost people their real livelihoods. And for that to happen with nobody knowing what happened, that's the biggest travesty of all. And I believe with all my heart that this goes far beyond just case data.
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A Whistleblower Takes on DOGE
I know that there are other admins at other agencies I've spoken to who have seen similar behavior. And they are uncomfortable speaking up. They're uncomfortable reporting it because at the end of the day, they have families. They have things on the line that have been implicitly threatened. Standing up like this, I'm not hopeful for the outcome for me.
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A Whistleblower Takes on DOGE
What I'm hopeful is that people look and say, hey, somebody else did it. I can do it too. And if enough people stand up... It can form a movement. And these practices that they're breaking security and violating and stealing data without anyone knowing, it can be stopped.
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A Whistleblower Takes on DOGE
Be transparent. If you have nothing to hide... Don't delete logs. Don't be covert about your entrance to agencies. Be open. Because that's what efficiency is really about. If this is all huge misunderstanding, then just prove it. Put it out there. That's all I'm asking.
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A Whistleblower Takes on DOGE
I remember the moment vividly. I was at home, and I got a call from my boss saying, hey, My boss wants us to come in next week. It's possible Doge will show up.
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A Whistleblower Takes on DOGE
The agency that I work at, they have a very specific mission. They are really the voice of the downtrodden and unincorporated worker. When they try to make working conditions better for themselves or their coworkers and management comes in and punishes them or fires them, that's where the NLRB steps in.
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A Whistleblower Takes on DOGE
The instructions given were very specific. And that was, do not log the accounts, don't log the access, and stay out of our way.
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A Whistleblower Takes on DOGE
to give somebody a global admin account and not log or not track their activities or access. That's keys to the kingdom. I'm going to close my eyes now and trust you. That's something that you just don't do. It violates every core concept of security and best practice.
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A Whistleblower Takes on DOGE
When I saw this tool, I... Immediately panicked. Just for lack of a better term, I kind of had a conniption and said, whoa, whoa, whoa.
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A Whistleblower Takes on DOGE
They didn't want to interface with us, the admins. They wanted system access to the cloud. That's what they were there for.
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A Whistleblower Takes on DOGE
From what I saw, these tools have a very specific use, what you would call part of a hacker toolkit.
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A Whistleblower Takes on DOGE
I saw that there was a good 10 gigabyte spike within a matter of maybe two hours that lined up right about the time that they had their access accounts. It would represent data that was being copied from within our system to outside of our system. And for it to spike like that, that's across the board probably the number one indicator that you've been breached.
Up First from NPR
Trump On TikTok Ban, N. Korean Soldiers in Ukraine, Obesity Drug Shortage Ends
Good morning, everyone. Scott Simon here, and we hope you've had a great holiday week. Before we begin Up First today, a special thank you to our NPR Plus subscribers. Now, if you haven't heard of NPR Plus, it's a new way to support NPR through a simple recurring donation that unlocks sponsor-free listening to every episode of Up First, plus special perks for more than 25 NPR podcasts.
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Trump On TikTok Ban, N. Korean Soldiers in Ukraine, Obesity Drug Shortage Ends
And mixed feelings after the FDA declares the end of an obesity drug shortage.
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Trump On TikTok Ban, N. Korean Soldiers in Ukraine, Obesity Drug Shortage Ends
A law forcing TikTok sale or closure is set to go into effect January 19th, just one day before President-elect Trump's inauguration.
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Trump On TikTok Ban, N. Korean Soldiers in Ukraine, Obesity Drug Shortage Ends
And here's Bobby Allen joins us. Bobby, thanks for being with us. Thanks, Scott. What is Donald Trump asking the Supreme Court to do?
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Trump On TikTok Ban, N. Korean Soldiers in Ukraine, Obesity Drug Shortage Ends
How might this affect the Supreme Court's review of TikTok?
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Trump On TikTok Ban, N. Korean Soldiers in Ukraine, Obesity Drug Shortage Ends
Now, don't worry. Up first, we'll continue to be freely available to all because NPR is public media. That's the core of what we are. But we also look to you, the public, to help fund the service. We need a lot of people and equipment to get this podcast out to you each morning. And, of course, that costs money.
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Trump On TikTok Ban, N. Korean Soldiers in Ukraine, Obesity Drug Shortage Ends
Bobby, this case has been gathering steam for a number of years. How did it come to this?
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Trump On TikTok Ban, N. Korean Soldiers in Ukraine, Obesity Drug Shortage Ends
Any indication of why he changed his mind?
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Trump On TikTok Ban, N. Korean Soldiers in Ukraine, Obesity Drug Shortage Ends
Bobby, how might this affect the millions of Americans who use the app each and every day?
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Trump On TikTok Ban, N. Korean Soldiers in Ukraine, Obesity Drug Shortage Ends
And Paris Technology correspondent Bobby Allen, thanks so much. Thanks much, Scott.
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Trump On TikTok Ban, N. Korean Soldiers in Ukraine, Obesity Drug Shortage Ends
Western officials say the soldiers are being assigned to missions that have little chance of succeeding. And here's Brian Mann has been following developments in Kiev. Brian, thanks for being with us.
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Trump On TikTok Ban, N. Korean Soldiers in Ukraine, Obesity Drug Shortage Ends
Why North Korean soldiers alongside Russians in the first place?
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Trump On TikTok Ban, N. Korean Soldiers in Ukraine, Obesity Drug Shortage Ends
So please do your part for public media and sign up for NPR Plus at plus.npr.org today. That's plus.npr.org. Thank you. And now on with the show. President-elect Donald Trump wants a chance to weigh in on the TikTok saga once he assumes office.
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Trump On TikTok Ban, N. Korean Soldiers in Ukraine, Obesity Drug Shortage Ends
And what do these assaults by North Korean troops look like?
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Trump On TikTok Ban, N. Korean Soldiers in Ukraine, Obesity Drug Shortage Ends
Brian, what can you tell us about those reports of North Korean soldiers taking their own lives?
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Trump On TikTok Ban, N. Korean Soldiers in Ukraine, Obesity Drug Shortage Ends
You did say Russia is gaining ground. What does it look like for Ukraine?
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Trump On TikTok Ban, N. Korean Soldiers in Ukraine, Obesity Drug Shortage Ends
Brian Mann in Kiev, thanks so much.
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Trump On TikTok Ban, N. Korean Soldiers in Ukraine, Obesity Drug Shortage Ends
And Paris Pharmaceuticals correspondent Sydney Lupkin joins us. Sydney, thanks so much for being with us.
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Trump On TikTok Ban, N. Korean Soldiers in Ukraine, Obesity Drug Shortage Ends
But I gather the ending of a drug shortage is eliciting mixed feelings.
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Trump On TikTok Ban, N. Korean Soldiers in Ukraine, Obesity Drug Shortage Ends
That's a big difference.
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Trump On TikTok Ban, N. Korean Soldiers in Ukraine, Obesity Drug Shortage Ends
Why does the FDA think the shortage is over this time?
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Trump On TikTok Ban, N. Korean Soldiers in Ukraine, Obesity Drug Shortage Ends
But Sydney, aren't a lot of people taking compounded obesity drugs already?
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Trump On TikTok Ban, N. Korean Soldiers in Ukraine, Obesity Drug Shortage Ends
What are those patients going to do?
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Trump On TikTok Ban, N. Korean Soldiers in Ukraine, Obesity Drug Shortage Ends
We'll have more on that story. Also, North Korean soldiers fighting with Russia against Ukraine.
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Trump On TikTok Ban, N. Korean Soldiers in Ukraine, Obesity Drug Shortage Ends
Could insurance coverage for the name brand ZepBound get better now that the compounded versions are off the table?
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Trump On TikTok Ban, N. Korean Soldiers in Ukraine, Obesity Drug Shortage Ends
NPR Pharmaceuticals correspondent Sidney Lepkin, thanks so much.
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Trump On TikTok Ban, N. Korean Soldiers in Ukraine, Obesity Drug Shortage Ends
And that's up first for Saturday, December 28th, 2024. I'm Scott Sein. And I'm Daniel Estrin. Our producer is Michael Radcliffe. He had assistance from Gabe O'Connor and Ryan Bank. Our director is Andrew Craig.
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Trump On TikTok Ban, N. Korean Soldiers in Ukraine, Obesity Drug Shortage Ends
Andy Huther is our technical director with engineering support from Zach Coleman, David Greenberg, and Arthur Halliday-Lorent.
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Trump On TikTok Ban, N. Korean Soldiers in Ukraine, Obesity Drug Shortage Ends
Specifically, Flushing Meadows Park in Queens, New York. It's near one of the most diverse inhabited areas in the world.
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Trump On TikTok Ban, N. Korean Soldiers in Ukraine, Obesity Drug Shortage Ends
I was just thinking I haven't seen one in a while.
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President Trump's 2026 Budget, Gloomy Economic Outlook, Secretary of State's New Role
Thank you, Scott.
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President Trump's 2026 Budget, Gloomy Economic Outlook, Secretary of State's New Role
Well, first off, it would make some big cuts to non-defense spending. It would cut those by nearly one quarter. Now, that is a big category. It includes education, transportation, scientific research. So it's a deep and broad swath of cuts. And then in turn, there are some big spending additions. Trump wants to boost defense spending by 13 percent to a trillion dollars per year.
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President Trump's 2026 Budget, Gloomy Economic Outlook, Secretary of State's New Role
And not only that, but he's proposing a 65 percent boost to homeland security spending. And that would go in part to mass deportations and completing the border wall, his signature issues. I should add, though, that this is not a full budget. It's an outline and it doesn't include mandatory spending. That's those big social safety net programs like Medicare and Medicaid.
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President Trump's 2026 Budget, Gloomy Economic Outlook, Secretary of State's New Role
A more detailed full budget that's coming in the coming months.
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President Trump's 2026 Budget, Gloomy Economic Outlook, Secretary of State's New Role
Well, Trump is proposing some really deep cuts to a few agencies. He proposes cuts of more than 50 percent at the Environmental Protection Agency and the National Science Foundation. He also proposes cuts at the Internal Revenue Service, at the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration or NOAA.
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President Trump's 2026 Budget, Gloomy Economic Outlook, Secretary of State's New Role
I mean, really, if it's an agency that doesn't do immigration or defense, there's a good chance that Trump wants to cut it. He also proposes some cuts to education, although the administration did take care to specify that they don't propose cutting Head Start funding.
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President Trump's 2026 Budget, Gloomy Economic Outlook, Secretary of State's New Role
Well, that's because there's a lot of culture war in this budget and a lot of programs are argued against on those grounds. Now, in this short document, the phrase DEI, for example, shows up 31 times. WOKE shows up 12 times and so on. Cuts from NOAA are justified because of that agency's climate work. The budget says that some programs, quote, radicalize students against markets.
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President Trump's 2026 Budget, Gloomy Economic Outlook, Secretary of State's New Role
So in that way, the budget is very Trumpy. But that said, there are some traditionally fiscal conservative moves in here. For example, the budget proposes moving a bunch of federal programs like rental assistance out of the federal government and to the state and local level. I talked to Jessica Riedel. She's a budget expert at the Right-Leaning Manhattan Institute.
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President Trump's 2026 Budget, Gloomy Economic Outlook, Secretary of State's New Role
And as a fiscal conservative, she likes some parts of this budget, but she said the cuts should be going to deficit reduction. And instead, they're going toward defense.
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President Trump's 2026 Budget, Gloomy Economic Outlook, Secretary of State's New Role
You're right. This is just the starting point of a conversation with Congress, and presidents don't usually get to call the budget shots. But the fact that Trump keeps trying to cut spending on his own changes things. I talked to Brendan Duke at the left-leaning Center for Budget and Policy Priorities. Here's how he put it.
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President Trump's 2026 Budget, Gloomy Economic Outlook, Secretary of State's New Role
There have been some court challenges to Trump's attempted cuts so far, but congressional Republicans, they haven't really pushed back on those moves. So this budget could be a roadmap for things to come from the Trump White House.
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President Trump's 2026 Budget, Gloomy Economic Outlook, Secretary of State's New Role
Thanks, Scott.
Up First from NPR
Occupy Gaza Plan, Ukraine Ceasefire Talks, China Economy
and that Israel is examining options for the military to control the distribution of food, which would be limited to a minimum caloric amount. Now, both people who reviewed these plans said it's unclear if they would really be carried out or if they're just a negotiation tactic to pressure Hamas to release more hostages. In fact, it might be both, getting some hostages free and
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Occupy Gaza Plan, Ukraine Ceasefire Talks, China Economy
Hamas captivity initially, but then gradually moving toward full military rule over Palestinians in Gaza, which would go far beyond what Israel has stated as its war goals. The military told me it would not comment on future operational plans.
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Occupy Gaza Plan, Ukraine Ceasefire Talks, China Economy
We don't know. Trump administration officials did not return my requests for comment. We do know that Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu discussed Israel's military operations in Gaza yesterday. We also know that President Trump's Mideast envoy, Steve Witkoff, has acknowledged that Bibi Netanyahu's return to war is not what many Israelis want.
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Occupy Gaza Plan, Ukraine Ceasefire Talks, China Economy
He talked about that in a podcast interview with commentator Tucker Carlson, published Friday.
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Occupy Gaza Plan, Ukraine Ceasefire Talks, China Economy
And indeed, there have been daily protests in the streets here saying the return to war only benefits Netanyahu's right-wing coalition and endangers hostages in Gaza.
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Occupy Gaza Plan, Ukraine Ceasefire Talks, China Economy
Some are seeing this as something that should have been done already and that can actually lead to the defeat of Hamas. We spoke with Amir Avivi, who's a former deputy commander of the military's Gaza division.
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Occupy Gaza Plan, Ukraine Ceasefire Talks, China Economy
So he's saying a few months, but other Israeli defense officials and analysts who I spoke with are more skeptical about that. Also, Dan Shapiro, a top Pentagon official on Mideast policy under the Biden administration, spoke with us. They're saying, OK, well, once Israel occupies Gaza, then what? This could mire Israeli soldiers in Gaza for decades.
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Occupy Gaza Plan, Ukraine Ceasefire Talks, China Economy
And we're hearing from reservist soldiers already. They're exhausted after more than a year of war and very skeptical that this could actually change the picture fundamentally.
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Occupy Gaza Plan, Ukraine Ceasefire Talks, China Economy
Well, I've spoken to two people who they reviewed the classified plans and they spoke to me on condition of anonymity to discuss them. The plans would have Israeli forces occupy Gaza, entering at multiple points, pushing Palestinians into a small zone designated for civilians and
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Biden Cancer Diagnosis, Escalation In Gaza, Kentucky Storm Recovery
Good morning, Leila.
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Biden Cancer Diagnosis, Escalation In Gaza, Kentucky Storm Recovery
Israel had been threatening to expand the war if a deal with Hamas was not reached by the time President Trump left the region late last week. And now that officially has begun. The operation is called Gideon's Chariots. It began Sunday. Just in the last few days, more than 100 people have been killed on average every day, according to Gaza health officials. NPR's Anas Baba is in Gaza City.
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Biden Cancer Diagnosis, Escalation In Gaza, Kentucky Storm Recovery
He's been watching Palestinians flee this heavy bombardment from northern Gaza. They're fleeing by donkey cart and by foot. The people here, they look desperate, pale.
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Biden Cancer Diagnosis, Escalation In Gaza, Kentucky Storm Recovery
Anas spoke with one man who was fleeing, Wael al-Kilani. And that man described intense bombing and shelling. He said he was fleeing planes who were striking, artillery fire, tanks, Israeli military dropping flyers ordering evacuations from the area. The Israeli military spokesman says that unlike earlier in the war where troops were going in and out of areas in Gaza...
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Biden Cancer Diagnosis, Escalation In Gaza, Kentucky Storm Recovery
He says that any territory captured by Israel this time is going to remain under its control. Israel is threatening to gradually expand this new offensive until they reach a deal with Hamas to release hostages.
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Biden Cancer Diagnosis, Escalation In Gaza, Kentucky Storm Recovery
There are positive signs I'm seeing, but it is still too soon to tell. I spoke to a person briefed on the negotiations. who did not have authorization to speak publicly, but offered some details on condition of anonymity and said that the talks between Hamas and Israel are advancing.
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Biden Cancer Diagnosis, Escalation In Gaza, Kentucky Storm Recovery
They are discussing the details of what would possibly be a two-month ceasefire and around 10 Israeli hostages freed. They're discussing what kind of Palestinian prisoners would be released in exchange and negotiating international guarantees that Hamas is demanding. They want to see that this temporary ceasefire would include talks about a permanent end of the war. And the U.S.
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Biden Cancer Diagnosis, Escalation In Gaza, Kentucky Storm Recovery
says that it's actively engaged in these talks.
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Biden Cancer Diagnosis, Escalation In Gaza, Kentucky Storm Recovery
Well, there had been a total ban on food and all supplies into Gaza for nearly three months to pressure Hamas to release hostages. Now, Israeli officials say they are going to allow in a basic quantity of food to prevent starvation. Experts have been warning of looming famine. And Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been facing right-wing criticism in Israel about renewing this food.
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Biden Cancer Diagnosis, Escalation In Gaza, Kentucky Storm Recovery
And he said, look, we would not be able to continue to have international support for our offensive in Gaza if there is mass starvation. He said, we're going to take control of Gaza. We need to do it in a way that they won't stop us.
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Biden Cancer Diagnosis, Escalation In Gaza, Kentucky Storm Recovery
You're welcome.
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Trump In The Middle East, Hamas Hostage Release, Mulling Medicaid Cuts
I'm in what's known as Hostage Square in downtown Tel Aviv. Israelis are beginning to gather here in front of a large television screen. They're holding signs with the faces of other Israeli hostages still in Gaza. And they are hoping to see imminently the release of Idan Alexander being released from Gaza.
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Trump In The Middle East, Hamas Hostage Release, Mulling Medicaid Cuts
Then he is expected to be taken to an Israeli hospital where other released hostages have been admitted in the past.
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Trump In The Middle East, Hamas Hostage Release, Mulling Medicaid Cuts
He's 21 years old. He grew up in New Jersey and moved to Israel to serve in the Israeli military. He was captured by Hamas in the October 7th attack while he was guarding his army base. And today his mother is flying in from the United States with President Trump's envoy, Adam Boehler, to hopefully greet her son upon his release.
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Trump In The Middle East, Hamas Hostage Release, Mulling Medicaid Cuts
Well, Hamas is saying that these talks took place in recent days. And we spoke with a Hamas official who spoke on condition of anonymity. He's not authorized to speak publicly about this. He says that the U.S. did make promises in exchange for Alexander's release.
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Trump In The Middle East, Hamas Hostage Release, Mulling Medicaid Cuts
He hinted that that could be the release of some Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails and the ensuring some aid get into Gaza after the a 10-week Israeli blockade. Now, Hamas and President Trump also are publicly saying they hope this leads to talks toward ending the war in Gaza. And the Hamas official told us, we gave the Americans what they asked for.
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Trump In The Middle East, Hamas Hostage Release, Mulling Medicaid Cuts
They need to get the other side, meaning Israel, to give things too.
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Trump In The Middle East, Hamas Hostage Release, Mulling Medicaid Cuts
Well, Israel, its government claims it is not expected to give anything in return for this hostage release. And it says it will keep fighting the war even during any ceasefire talks. Today, hospital officials in Gaza said 16 people, including women and children, were killed in an Israeli strike.
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Trump In The Middle East, Hamas Hostage Release, Mulling Medicaid Cuts
And Leila, in Israel, many people today are angry, actually, that Trump is the one achieving results here, while their own leader, Benjamin Netanyahu, is not. There are still 20 more living hostages in Gaza, at least. There remains a dozen more. Lots of discussion in Israel today about Trump sidestepping Israel's leadership, whether that's with the U.S.
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Trump In The Middle East, Hamas Hostage Release, Mulling Medicaid Cuts
nuclear talks with Iran, Trump's truce with the Houthis in Yemen, which doesn't guarantee the Houthis stop attack Israel. And now this U.S. deal with Hamas while Israel is fighting Hamas.
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Trump In The Middle East, Hamas Hostage Release, Mulling Medicaid Cuts
You're welcome.
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Trump And The Constitution, Gaza Food Aid Plan, Sean 'Diddy' Combs Trial Begins
Israel's cabinet approved it last night, and it completely changes how the two million people of Gaza would get their food and their basic supplies. I got details from five people, including officials with knowledge of this plan. Each one of them spoke on condition of anonymity. because the details have not been officially released, and it's very sensitive.
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Trump And The Constitution, Gaza Food Aid Plan, Sean 'Diddy' Combs Trial Begins
But it's a plan to shut down hundreds of community kitchens and food distribution points across Gaza. And instead, Israel would allow for just around four to ten designated aid centers in southern Gaza.
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Trump And The Constitution, Gaza Food Aid Plan, Sean 'Diddy' Combs Trial Begins
Well, the centers are supposed to be run by an American security contractor in coordination with a new foundation recently established in Switzerland that we know very little about. Israeli soldiers would not run them, but they would guard the periphery of this zone. And Palestinians would be coming to these places registered and screened through facial recognition technology.
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Trump And The Constitution, Gaza Food Aid Plan, Sean 'Diddy' Combs Trial Begins
They'd pick up parcels for their family. Israel says this whole operation is an attempt to isolate aid from Hamas and to weaken the group. And an Israeli official tells us it's actually part of a bigger strategy to get Palestinian civilians to move en masse to a smaller, more consolidated area of Gaza so that the military can expand the territory that it's taking over in Gaza.
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Trump And The Constitution, Gaza Food Aid Plan, Sean 'Diddy' Combs Trial Begins
And the army is already starting to call up more soldiers.
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Trump And The Constitution, Gaza Food Aid Plan, Sean 'Diddy' Combs Trial Begins
They put out a statement together and they say basically this is not an acceptable aid plan. It's a military plan. They say you cannot use life-saving supplies to achieve military goals. They also say that large groups of people will simply struggle to reach these new aid centers. So think pregnant women or the elderly.
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Trump And The Constitution, Gaza Food Aid Plan, Sean 'Diddy' Combs Trial Begins
So what we're seeing is this serious standoff over the very basic necessities of life. And it's happening at a time of extreme desperation in Gaza. Israel has been banning food and supplies, everything, for more than two months into Gaza. This is the longest full blockade it has ever imposed. So bakeries are closed. Food kitchens are closed. Hunger is widespread.
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Trump And The Constitution, Gaza Food Aid Plan, Sean 'Diddy' Combs Trial Begins
Very good question. The Trump administration has not commented specifically on this plan. But President Trump has said that food needs to get into Gaza. He is coming to the region next week. I should note that a former U.S. official told me that Israel actually tried to implement a version of this aid plan under the Biden administration's tenure. But the Biden administration said no.
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Trump And The Constitution, Gaza Food Aid Plan, Sean 'Diddy' Combs Trial Begins
According to the International Laws of War, It said that anyone who needs aid must get aid. You cannot vet. You cannot fight a war through manipulating humanitarian aid. That's what the Biden administration said. But Trump has not made the same demands on Israel.
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Trump And The Constitution, Gaza Food Aid Plan, Sean 'Diddy' Combs Trial Begins
Yesterday, the Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen fired a missile at Israel. Israel failed to intercept it, and it landed around Israel's international airport near Tel Aviv. More than a dozen airlines have canceled flights. And the Houthis in Yemen say that they will continue to target Israel because Israel is expanding its offensive in Gaza. The Houthis say that the U.S.
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Trump And The Constitution, Gaza Food Aid Plan, Sean 'Diddy' Combs Trial Begins
struck targets in Yemen overnight, and Israel is vowing to strike back too.
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Trump And The Constitution, Gaza Food Aid Plan, Sean 'Diddy' Combs Trial Begins
You're welcome.