💛 A quick favor, if you've got a second.
We're really happy that you chose to read one of our stories and sincerely hope you'll stick around to read more. We took our paywall down — for now — but that won't last forever, and when the gate goes back up, we'd love for you to already be on the inside.
It's free. So please enter your email here and don't forget to like and follow us on all of your favorite Social Media platforms!
President Donald Trump declared Thursday that an agreement has been struck requiring Hamas to disarm and Israel to withdraw from Gaza, though substantial implementation challenges and extended timeframes remain for ending the conflict in the Palestinian territory. A Hamas official confirmed Friday that the militant group had agreed to disarmament terms as a core component of the ceasefire arrangement, but Israeli officials provided no corresponding statement of acceptance.
Trump’s 20-point proposal requires Hamas to surrender weapons and eliminate its underground tunnel infrastructure, while stipulating Israeli troop withdrawals from Gaza and the establishment of a new Palestinian technocratic administration. The framework additionally calls for deployment of an international security presence and reconstruction efforts throughout the devastated Gaza region.
The White House announcement arrives nine months after a U.S.-brokered ceasefire agreement was initially signed, with negotiations between the two parties having stalled considerably over second-phase implementation details, particularly concerning Hamas disarmament and Gaza’s rebuilding.
Trump threatened Friday to withdraw the nomination of acting Attorney General Todd Blanche rather than acquiesce to Senate Republicans’ insistence on eliminating a controversial tax audit immunity settlement benefiting the president and his family members. Republican Senators John Cornyn of Texas and Thom Tillis of North Carolina have blocked advancement of Blanche’s confirmation vote, citing concerns about the IRS lawsuit agreement.
The president criticized Cornyn’s opposition, claiming the senator only raised objections to the $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund after endorsing Ken Paxton for Senate. Trump characterized those affected by the fund as having been “treated so badly” historically and said they deserved compensation.
Trump is relocating Friday’s Cabinet meeting to Camp David in Maryland for the first such session at the presidential retreat during his second term, following a cancelled May attempt due to inclement weather. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt characterized the gathering as “a lot of fun and something different for the Cabinet to experience together.”
Senior FIFA adviser Carlos Cordeiro resigned Friday from his position on the White House Task Force for the World Cup to protest the organization’s consideration of a private equity investment in the tournament. The former Goldman Sachs banker and ex-U.S. Soccer Federation president called the $20 billion commercial subsidiary proposal “a bad deal for football” and urged other senior FIFA staff to speak publicly against it.
The Trump administration announced this week that it is terminating a temporary Medicare prescription drug subsidy program, potentially increasing monthly costs for approximately 25 million beneficiaries beginning in 2027. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services stated the program, initially launched by the Biden administration in 2024 to reduce prescription drug expenses under the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act, would conclude as scheduled.
Federal officials contend the financial consequences for Medicare beneficiaries will be modest, though the decision invites political scrutiny in an election year when voters have identified cost-of-living concerns as paramount. Older adults, a demographic with historically high voter turnout, often depend on fixed incomes where medication expenses significantly affect household budgets.
More Stories
Senate reaches bipartisan agreement on stopgap funding bill ahead of midterm elections
Carville Threatens to Leave Democratic Party Over Far-Left Streamer Piker’s Rising Influence
Sanders Fires Back at Fetterman Over Endorsement Record, Claims Senator Out of Step With Voters