US Officials Travel to Gaza

What's Happening

International

US Officials Travel to Gaza

What's going on: Special envoy Steve Witkoff and US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee are scheduled to visit Gaza today. The duo plans to inspect food distribution sites, meet with local Palestinians, and report back to President Donald Trump. The visit comes after Trump publicly broke with his sometimes ally, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and said there is “real starvation” in Gaza and “we have to get the kids fed.” His remarks come as Israel faces mounting international pressure over the growing hunger crisis in the region. In just the past week, three new countries have announced plans to recognize Palestine as a state — a symbolic move, but one that shows growing frustration with the situation. Netanyahu has rejected claims of starvation as Hamas-orchestrated exaggerations and said Israel has let aid into the region.

What it means: Trump’s shift is echoing through the GOP, with some senior Republicans backing Israel, while key MAGA voices voice criticism. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) just became the first congressional Republican to use the word “genocide” when talking about Gaza. Axios also reports that an increasing number of Gen Z conservatives want the US to pull back its financial support for its strongest Middle East ally and don’t think it fits in with Trump’s “America First” messaging. Still, the Trump admin has not indicated major policy changes and maintains that the fastest way for the war to end is if Hamas agrees to an unconditional surrender.

Related: More US Jews Are Pushing Israel To Provide More Aid to Gaza (AP)

Economy

Trump's Trade Deadline Came With a Twist

What's going on: Last night, President Donald Trump’s midnight deadline for countries to strike trade deals with the US or face steeper tariffs came and went, but not without a plot twist. Just hours before the clock ran out, the White House rolled out a sweeping new trade policy that resets baseline tariffs for nearly every country starting Aug 7. The administration kept its so-called “universal” 10% tariff, but will now apply it only to countries where the US runs a trade deficit — which, of course, is most of them. Trump also pulled what some analysts are calling a classic “TACO” move: He announced a 90-day pause on higher tariffs for Mexico (known for sending the US key exports such as steel, beer, and avocados). Meanwhile, Canada — major supplier of crude oil and car parts — saw its tariffs jump today from 25% to 35%.

What it means: Trump had already formalized trade agreements with top US partners, including the EU, Japan, the UK, and India. Countries that didn’t make deals? They’ll face the full brunt of the new duties. Experts say the new plan shows a lot of “restraint” for an administration that’s never met a tariff it didn’t like. The US economy has held up better than expected — this week’s GDP numbers beat forecasts, and the dollar is on track for its best month since 2022. Some experts say Trump may be getting what he wanted out of the trade war. Still, others caution that levies’ ripple effects may not be fully visible yet. Many companies stocked up on goods ahead of the deadline, so any economic strain could take a few months to show up.

Related: Tariffs Went to Court Yesterday — And Judges Seemed Skeptical (CNN)

Health

The Summer Scaries Are Real

What's going on: If the Swiftian salt air wasn’t a tip-off, it’s August. Yes, a month known for back-to-school sales, the sweet smell of SPF, and… being extremely hot. No, not in a fun, look-at-my-contouring way. Actually, this summer has been hot enough to melt the concealer right off your face, with temperatures in some regions spiking to 120 degrees Fahrenheit. The Atlantic compared it to winter, because so many are stuck inside watching Too Much in front of their A/C. Meanwhile, new research shows extra heat exposure may be making us sicker — even if we’re lucky enough to be able to stay inside during the worst of the high temps, unlike many tradespeople and the unhoused. Doctors and therapists report increased irritability and worsening conditions, calling it summer seasonal affective disorder. Yes, literal summertime SAD(ness).

Tell me more: The outlook isn’t exactly improving, and while touching grass usually cures some of those woes, it’s not worth risking heatstroke in the 100+ degree sauna that is “outside.” And where are our normal coping mechanisms? Full OOO-status. There’s still no “song of the summer” to speak of (unless you count the Jet2Holiday jingle), and we’ve gone from “brat summer” to the “summer of the crash out.” Despite these anomalies, experts say it’s not too late to turn things around, before August slips away like you know what. In these troublingly warm summer months, therapists say it’s more important than ever to stay cool, both physically and mentally. So, play in a sprinkler, eat some watermelon, and listen to your body — whatever takes you to a happier, more chill place.

Related: Where Has All The Good TV Gone This Summer? (The Hollywood Reporter)

Settle This

What was flown in from Chicago to the Vatican just for Pope Leo XIV?

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