Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey have met with Hamas leaders to urge acceptance of President Trump’s Gaza peace plan, which proposes releasing 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, surging humanitarian aid, phasing out Israeli presence, and disarming Hamas. Trump has given Hamas three to four days to respond, threatening dire consequences if refused, with expectations of a positive but reserved Hamas reply. It is hard not to become cynical at the release of peace deals given the recent history of Israel outright rejecting any reasonable negotiations, but perhaps this time, Israel will be willing to be compliant.

The UN Security Council has approved expanding the security mission in Haiti to a new military force with up to 5,500 personnel, including soldiers, to combat escalating gang violence. This transformation, supported by the US and Panama but with abstentions from Russia and China, aims to address Haiti’s political instability and humanitarian crisis, with the force authorized for one year. The momentum behind rallying international forces to address the Haitian crisis had all but fizzled out, but it appears that there may be increased interest in finding a resolution by countries in the Americas. The people of Haiti deserve to have a functional and popular government as opposed to being subjected to the tyranny of gang leaders.

Madagascar’s President Andry Rajoelina dissolved his government in response to widespread Gen Z-led protests demanding an end to power and water cuts, but demonstrators returned to the streets, leading to police using tear gas. The unrest has resulted in at least 22 deaths and 100 injuries, prompting UN condemnation of excessive force by security forces and calls for the release of arrested protesters. Increasingly, Gen Z is unleashing its own brand of FAFO on corrupt government leaders, and we can simply hope from a distance that the long-needed reckoning against corrupt elites is upon us.

President Trump has secured a deal with Pfizer granting the company a three-year exemption from proposed pharmaceutical tariffs in exchange for lowering drug prices, including a 50% discount on certain products via a direct-to-consumer website called TrumpRx. Pfizer will also provide reduced prices for Medicaid enrollees and invest $70 billion in US research, development, and manufacturing. Once again, we will tout the effectiveness of tariffs as a political strategy, as this appears to be another positive outcome of forcing the hand of capital by using the tools only the federal government has.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth addressed top military leaders, criticizing ‘woke’ culture and announcing directives to raise physical standards, toughen grooming rules, lift engagement restrictions, and eliminate racial quotas. President Trump supported these changes, emphasizing a stronger military focused on merit and warrior spirit, amid concerns over a potential government shutdown affecting troop pay. It does appear that these types of reforms help orient the Department of War toward its essential mandate, which is to equip the nation with the fighting force needed to deter aggression, create internal cohesion, and attract those who are best suited to prepare for and wage war.

US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer affirmed that the administration will continue imposing tariffs using alternative legal authorities even if the Supreme Court rules against the use of emergency powers for such measures. The administration plans to rely on Section 301 of the US Trade Act of 1974 and Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, which have been used previously for tariffs on goods like cars, steel, aluminum, copper, and lumber. This stance comes ahead of a November Supreme Court hearing on tariffs applied under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, with potential implications for US trade policy uncertainty. This is a cogent reminder of the fact that political maneuvers generally follow the “if there’s a will, there’s a way” cliché. It will be interesting nonetheless to see how the court rules.

A Kansas judge dismissed Attorney General Kris Kobach’s lawsuit against Gov. Laura Kelly’s administration for refusing to provide SNAP data to the federal government, ruling the case not ripe due to an ongoing USDA appeal. The dispute involves potential loss of $10.4 million in administrative funding, though no funds have been withheld yet, and Kobach is considering an appeal. I understand why so many political leaders are attempting to demonstrate they are opponents to Trump; however, it seems as though their posturing is clouding their ability to do what is best for their constituents.

Oklahoma’s three-day Operation Guardian along Interstate 40 led to the arrest of approximately 125 commercial truck drivers, many accused of being in the country illegally, in a joint effort with federal agencies. The operation targeted drivers with licenses from states that issue them regardless of immigration status, aiming to enhance road safety and compliance at ports of entry. It is useful as we think about the enforcement of federal immigration law to not focus so much on arresting undocumented workers but to take the more meaningful and aggressive step of punishing employers who are leveraging people’s status to engage in unscrupulous labor practices.

Baltimore Councilman Mark Conway accused Mayor Brandon Scott of stalling a bill that addresses chronic absenteeism in public schools by withholding funding, claiming it’s political retaliation for prior criticism. The bill, sponsored by nearly all council members since January, remains unfunded, prompting calls for mediation to prioritize improving student attendance and education. The bill aims to conduct a study on the causes of chronic absenteeism among public school students, focusing on factors such as potential home-related issues, to develop strategies for improving classroom attendance and education outcomes. As we routinely see in our coverage, students are really struggling throughout the country, and it will be interesting to see if an approach like this really helps get kids in the classroom.

The Memphis Safe Task Force, initiated by President Trump to combat crime, has begun operations with involvement from multiple local, state, and federal agencies, including the National Guard and additional troopers. Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris criticized the deployment as unconstitutional, arguing it requires legislative approval and evidence of rebellion, which is absent. While the constitutional question lingers, it will be worth keeping an eye on how this impacts day-to-day life in Memphis, particularly as it relates to violent crime, as every year 260 people are murdered in the city on average over the last 10 years.