Ceasefire Abroad, Purge at Home
Tentative peace in Gaza, and a view from inside Russ Vought's mass layoffs. Plus: Qatar comes to the heartland. RFK goes from Tylenol to tinfoil. And a Q&A with Sen. Elissa Slotkin.
Watch my conversation with Michigan Senator Elissa Slotkin.
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Lately I’m fielding a lot of questions about the long term effects of arming federal troops to face off against civilians in American cities. Senator Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) understands the implications and dangers this poses.
Before serving in Congress she did three tours in Iraq. She held senior positions at the Pentagon and White House under both Presidents Bush and Obama. She now serves on the Senate Armed Services and Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committees.
Her assessment was sobering. She told me the deployment of the military against Americans “is one of those strategic and irreversible things” that over time makes civilians untrusting of the Pentagon and our own government. She walked through how this use of force resembles authoritarian playbooks she’s witnessed abroad, and warned about the risk of spiraling violence when soldiers who are trained to protect against threats abroad, not for domestic law enforcement, face off against crowds.
On why we’re seeing such aggressive force against protesters, her answer was direct: “Leadership climate is set at the top.”
We also addressed the designation of ANTIFA as a terrorist group and the government shutdown. I spoke with her Thursday, but had to cut our conversation short when she was called to vote. Still, what we covered is worth your time. You can watch that interview at the very top of this newsletter.
In the newsletter we also cover: Trump’s new tariff on China tanks the Dow; the Gaza ceasefire holds and starts the countdown to hostage release; Russ Vought starts his work as grim reaper; Trump didn’t win the Nobel Peace Prize; a judge bars federal agents from attacking protestors in Illinois; and what is RFK going off about now?
Here Are Your Headlines:
Breaking: Trump today announced a new 100% tariff on Chinese goods entering the US, plus export controls on “any and all critical software,” to go into effect November 1. (That would make the tariff rate 130%.) He’s apparently angry about China’s new, strict export controls on rare earth minerals, which are critical for all kinds of modern tech. The country controls about 70% of the world’s supply of these minerals. Trump’s threat sent the stock market tumbling.
Double Check: Trump visited the Walter Reed medical center today for what the White House called a “routine yearly check up.” It’s his second annual checkup this year. He also had an “annual physical examination” in April, in which doctors apparently concluded his “frequent victories in golf events” helped him remain “fully fit.” We’ll update on his undoubtedly excellent health when we know more.
Peace At Last? A ceasefire is in effect in Gaza, according to Israel’s military. It began at 5am EST (12pm local time) and so far is holding. This begins the 72 hour clock for the return of all hostages. Here’s what this means — and what’s next.
Troops Out: Israel’s troops have “completed the first phase withdrawal” pulling their troops back to agreed upon lines in Gaza. That’s according to US special envoy Steve Witkoff, who posted on X that CENTCOM has confirmed this is complete. It’s a partial withdrawal that leaves Israel in control of over half of Gaza’s territory. An IDF spokesperson confirmed “troops will continue to be present in various areas of the Gaza Strip,” and will defend themselves.
Hostages: Hamas now has 72 hours to return the remaining hostages. The Red Cross, which is prepared to assist with the release, warned today that it had not received any details on when, where, or how the hostages would be released. And today Netanyahu publicly implied that Hamas may not know the locations of, or be able to retrieve, some of the bodies of deceased hostages. “We will work to locate all of them as soon as possible,” Netanyahu said.
The Situation: 48 hostages are believed to still be in Gaza. Of the 47 taken during the attack, 20 are presumed alive; 25 are presumed dead; the status of the final 2 is unknown. The list includes one taken before Hamas’ attack on October 7, 2023. Eleven of those still in captivity were taken from the Nova Festival. Some are believed to be in very ill health. You can read more about them here.
Those Recovered: 207 hostages have been recovered over the last two years. 140 were released as part of earlier ceasefire deals; 8 were rescued by Israel’s military; 56 were recovered dead; 3 escaped captivity before accidentally being killed by Israel’s military.
Reactions: There is wary excitement on both sides of the conflict. Palestinians in Gaza are reacting to the ceasefire with hope and trepidation. Reuters posted a video that shows what appear to be thousands of people walking north, almost all of them men. “We are happy just to return to where our homes were,” one man told Reuters, “even over the rubble.” Others began pulling bodies from the rubble in areas now safe to enter. “Everything still feels uncertain,” a young man told the New York Times. “Will they tell us to leave again?” On the other side of the conflict, in Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square, crowds erupted into celebrations at the ceasefire announcement, popping champagne and crying — this time with joy. Einav Zangauker, the mother of hostage Matan, said, “I have prayed for these tears.” “It’s happening, it’s happening!” The aunt of two hostages said. “We were so afraid, and now I’m crying tears of happiness, not tears of fear.”
Prisoners: Israel put out a list of Palestinian detainees to be released as part of the agreement. Of the 250 prisoners on the list, 115 will be released in East Jerusalem or the West Bank and 135 will be deported. Some have been in prison since the 1980s. According to the ceasefire deal, Israel will ultimately release almost 2,000 prisoners and detainees. The list does not include Marwan Barghouti, a political figure beloved by some Palestinians and jailed by Israel for 2002 attacks that killed five Israelis. This was expected to be a sticking point but it’s one of many disagreements that was overcome to reach this ceasefire.
Enforcement: The US is sending around 200 troops to Israel. They’ll reportedly form part of a team of other nations, NGOs, and private corporations who will collectively monitor and support the ceasefire.
Visit: Trump announced today he will visit Israel and Egypt Monday. He will speak to Israel’s legislature then travel to Egypt to sign the peace agreement.
Uncertain Future: The current ceasefire deal only addresses parts of the overarching peace plan proposed by Trump. Among the most contentious points apparently left for future negotiations is who, exactly, will govern Gaza in the future. A Hamas official today said the group is prepared to step aside but would remain “on the ground.” Hamas has also not agreed to give up its weapons nor pledge itself to peaceful coexistence, which Israel calls a red line. “Hamas will disarm,” Netanyahu insisted today, “and Gaza will be demilitarized. If this can be achieved the easy way, all the better. If not, it will be achieved the hard way.” Arab mediators reportedly believe Hamas can be convinced to partially disarm.
More Info: You can read the full text of Trump’s 20-point plan here. The BBC has an analysis of Israel’s troop withdrawal map, showing the multiple lines to which they will withdraw, here. The New York Times interviewed almost 100 people in Gaza in an attempt to re-contact some of the over 700 people there it spoke to over the last two years. You can read their stories here. And find a first person account of what it was like being held captive by Hamas, here.
The Cuts Begin: The Trump administration has started to make good on its promise to use the shutdown as justification for sweeping layoffs of government workers. White House Budget Director and Project 2025 alum Russel Vought announced he started firing people today. This is the first mass firing during a shutdown in modern history, according to Bloomberg.
Who’s At Risk: According to earlier reports from the White House, workers are at risk of being fired if their funding lapsed as a result of the shutdown and their work is “not consistent with the President’s priorities.” As of now, it’s unclear who exactly has been let go, or will be fired. The layoffs reportedly include workers from the Departments of Health and Human Services, Commerce, and Homeland Security. Members of the News Not Noise audience also tell me employees at the Department of Education have begun receiving reduction in force notices as well, including in the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education. One Department of Education employee tells me these dismissals will create “chaos that has tangible implications,” adding “we are afraid and exhausted and overwhelmed. We are so tired of being used as political pawns.”
Fighting Back: Federal workers’ unions today asked a judge to halt the firings. The American Federation of Government Employees, a union representing over 800,000 government workers, said “it is disgraceful that the Trump administration has used the government shutdown as an excuse to illegally fire thousands of workers who provide critical services to communities across the country.”
Meanwhile: At least one person might be gaining a job soon. Barron Trump is reportedly being considered for a leading role at TikTok.
You Win Some, You Lose Some: The Nobel Peace Prize has officially been awarded — not to Trump, who openly campaigned for it, but to María Corina Machado, a Venezuelan opposition leader. The Committee said Machado deserved the award “for her tireless work promoting democratic rights for the people of Venezuela and for her struggle to achieve a just and peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy.” In an emotional phone call with the Nobel Committee, Machado insists “this is the achievement of a whole society. I’m just one person. I certainly do not deserve this.”
Graceful Loser: Trump called Machado to congratulate her, even as the White House’s communications director complained that the decision “proved” the Nobel Committee “place politics over peace.” In turn, Machado dedicated the award to “the suffering of Venezuela and to President Trump.”
Intrigue: Several senior Republican lawmakers, including then-Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL), wrote to the Nobel Committee in August 2024 in support of Machado’s nomination. Interestingly, the Committee is investigating the possibility that their decision leaked early, after bets in favor of Machado skyrocketed on the popular online prediction market Polymarket. (You may remember something similar happening before Trump’s election victory in November, too.)
Not Unanimous: Many Trump supporters were unhappy with the win. Far-right activist Laura Loomer complained Machado was “actively stoking and promoting violent regime change in Venezuela.” Some on the left are similarly disgruntled with Machado’s victory, with one historian of Latin America arguing she is “completely aligned with the most militarist and darkest face of US imperialism.”
Not-So-Friendly Fire: Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro said one of the boats destroyed by the US military — which the Trump administration claims, without evidence, was operated by members of a Venezuelan drug gang — was carrying Colombian citizens. Not Venezuelans. Two US officials told the New York Times that Colombians were killed in at least one of the US military’s attacks on small boats in the region.
Friend Indeed: Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth today announced Qatar will be allowed to build a facility at an Air Force base in Idaho. After substantial blowback, he then issued an “important clarification” that “Qatar will not have their own base.” So what’s happening? Qatar will send pilots to Idaho to be trained on flying F-15 fighter jets. (They will not build their own base.) Hegseth also acknowledged Qatar’s “substantial” role in the Gaza peace deal, suggesting this training is a reward for their work (could this also be a thank you for a gift of a certain Qatari jet?). In any case, even training their pilots on US soil is an extraordinary move, historically granted only to America’s closest allies, like NATO countries and Singapore. The right is freaking out, unsurprisingly. “Joe Biden was criticized for a Chinese balloon flying over our airspace,” one GOP consultant noted. “They’re giving Qatar an entire f’ing air base.”
Pushback? One of Idaho’s senators, James Rich, is the chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee. We imagine he might have something to say about this.
Missed Opportunity:
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