Netanyahu's Plan for Gaza Is Moving Forward

What's Happening

International

Netanyahu's Plan for Gaza Is Moving Forward

What’s going on: The Israeli Security Cabinet early on Friday approved Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s plan to occupy Gaza City, a move that Israeli officials estimate could displace around 1 million Palestinians. It’s part of Israel’s gradual military expansion to have full control of Gaza. The cabinet also adopted five principles for ending the war, including disarming Hamas and returning all living and deceased hostages. The military operation is at odds with many of Israel’s foreign allies who have put pressure on Netanyahu to bring peace to the region. Earlier this week, President Donald Trump declined to weigh in on what should happen next, saying only, “It’s up to Israel.” In a statement, Netanyahu’s office said Israel’s plan for Gaza City will allow the “provision of humanitarian aid to the civilian population outside the combat zones.” The distribution of aid is expected to come under scrutiny amid Gaza’s ongoing humanitarian crisis.

What it means: Analysts say Israel’s expanded offensive threatens to further escalate the war. Some of Israel’s military leaders, including the IDF chief, warned that a full takeover of Gaza could strain military resources and endanger hostages still held in the enclave. Netanyahu and others say that such action is necessary to achieve Israel’s long-term security goals, including to eliminate Hamas. Ahead of the cabinet’s vote, Netanyahu said Israel doesn’t intend to “keep” Gaza but to eventually transfer governance — though he hasn’t provided details on who would take over or when. Meanwhile, some Israelis want the government to prioritize a ceasefire that could free the remaining hostages. As international and domestic pressure mounts, the next phase of Israel’s military operation could carry significant humanitarian, military, and political costs.

Related: Plans for the Trump-Putin Summit Are Off to a Shaky Start (CNN)

Politics

Census and Sensibility

What's going on: Yesterday, President Donald Trump announced his (loose) plans to overhaul the US census to exclude undocumented immigrants from the national headcount. Analysts labeled it as the latest example of the administration’s broader push to reshape how the government gathers and reports data. Since his second term began, Trump has worked to influence key government statistics, from labor data to weather reports. He’s also scrubbed HIV stats from the CDC site and shut down USAID’s global health tracker. This follows his firing of the Bureau of Labor Statistics head, accusing her, without proof, of falsifying the most recent job numbers. Experts say this all raises serious concerns about the accuracy and trustworthiness of government data.

What it means: Analysts see Trump’s census push as part of a familiar pattern — if he doesn’t like the data, he tries to rewrite, spin, or erase it. Changing the census could have the biggest impact yet, since it determines how trillions in federal funding and political power are distributed. Although such changes face legal and practical hurdles, that hasn’t stopped the president before. Trump showed off his early data tactics in his first term (hello, Sharpiegate), but now experts say he’s doubling down. And in a moment of deep institutional distrust, politicizing numbers may further undermine confidence in facts and in the agencies producing them. 

Related: Trump Just Boosted Federal Law Enforcement’s Presence in DC (Politico)

Entertainment

Classic Shows Are Adjusting to a Modern World

What's going on: There’s nothing like turning on the TV after a long day and rotting on the couch. But America’s favorite form of escapism might be anything but — at least, when it comes to animated cartoons. Take the long-awaited reboot of King of the Hill: it jumps to 2025 and dives into real-life headaches like retirement stress and raising a son in the era of the toxic manosphere. While Hank’s small-“c” conservatism has always been a subtle undercurrent, recent episodes of South Park keep subtlety off the table (shocker). The new season opened by literally putting President Donald Trump in bed with Satan, mocking ICE, and taking aim at Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. And we’re only two episodes in...

What it means: These shows have always been cultural mirrors but through very different lenses. King of the Hill offers a nostalgic view of conservative American life, while South Park blasts everything with a sledgehammer of satire. What has changed is the comedy itself. The Hollywood Reporter notes these plotlines show us a “culture of comedy that has undergone an expansion (and revaluation) of what audiences collectively find funny.” During a time of intense partisan polarization, mixing politics with animation can also feel risky — some in Hollywood want to probably stay clear of the president’s public wrath. Whether viewers are ready for these modern updates? The ratings will tell us soon enough.

Related: Are John Oliver and Jay Leno Feuding? (USA Today)

Settle This

Famed statistician Nate Silver did the math, and figured out how early you really need to get to the airport for a domestic flight. How much time do you need?

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