WHAT WE'RE WATCHING
🇮🇱 All remaining Israeli hostages have been released. Hamas released all 20 living Israeli hostages as part of the Gaza peace deal brokered by the Trump administration. In exchange, Israel will free 250 prisoners serving life sentences and 1,700 detainees captured in Gaza. President Trump called it a “major step toward ending the war.”
🪖 Judge blocks Trump’s Guard patrols in Illinois. A federal judge ruled that National Guard troops sent by President Trump can stay in Illinois but can’t patrol or protect federal property. The Trump administration is appealing, citing authority under the Insurrection Act.
💵 Trump guarantees troop pay during shutdown. President Trump ordered War Secretary Pete Hegseth to use available funds to pay service members despite the Democrat-led shutdown. He accused Democrats of “holding the military hostage” and said he won’t let troops miss paychecks.
🧱 $4.5B awarded for Smart Wall expansion. The Department of Homeland Security approved $4.5 billion in contracts to expand the Smart Wall along the southern border. This system will add hundreds of miles of barriers, cameras, and sensors extending from Texas to California.
INSIDER RADAR
Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana said President Trump is “a giant of Jewish history,” comparing him to Cyrus the Great.
Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado dedicated her Nobel Peace Prize to President Trump, saying, “He deserves it… He’s the main supporter of this fight against the narcoterrorist cartel [running Venezuela].”
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) believes there's a "long way to go" before lasting Middle East peace.
Conservative commentator Steve Bannon compared Congress to Russia’s Duma, saying its role is mostly ceremonial and the White House rules it with an “iron fist.”
HOAX TRACKER
Candace Owens pushes another fake Charlie Kirk conspiracy
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QUICK AND IMPORTANT
Pop star Katy Perry and former Canadian leader Justin Trudeau are confirmed to be dating.
A university professor with suspected Antifa ties was arrested carrying a loaded gun at a Chicago anti-ICE protest.
At least 27 are dead after street battles broke out between Hamas fighters and armed clans in Gaza City.
Afghan forces claims to have killed 58 Pakistani soldiers during border clashes.
The most clicked link in our last newsletter was Laura Loomer reporting that GOP Senators were briefed on Qatari influence.
INSIDER EXCLUSIVE
Making animals healthy again
After harrowing revelations of Biden-era animal cruelty occurring in US labs, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has vowed to shut the experiments down for good…
THE MAIN STORY
Trump brokers an end to the Gaza war
_WHAT’S HAPPENING_
President Donald Trump has finalized an end to the Israeli-Hamas war, winding down just two years of conflict.
Hamas has agreed to turn over all the remaining hostages, and Israel will release nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) will also retreat to a pre-determined line of engagement, while not yet leaving Gaza.
The deal came about after intense pressure from the Trump administration on both Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Hamas to come to a deal.
_THE FACTS_
As part of the deal, Israel will release 1,700 Gaza prisoners captured since the war began and 250 Palestinians serving life sentences — some will be released into Palestinian-controlled areas, while others will be exiled.
Among them are terrorist leaders who orchestrated stabbings, bombings, and other deadly attacks.
Hamas will free all living Israeli hostages and return the bodies of the dead.
President Trump relied on envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to secure the agreement.
With Witkoff and Kushner present, Israel’s cabinet approved the deal — only religious-right ministers opposed.
Opposition leaders thanked Trump for brokering peace.
Trump later said he pressured Netanyahu to accept: “He was fine with it. He’s got to be fine with it. He has no choice.”
The Arab world also pushed Hamas to agree, with Qatar, Jordan, UAE, Indonesia, Pakistan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt issuing a joint statement of support.
The initial phase includes the hostage exchange and an IDF pullback — leaving Israel in control of roughly 53 percent of Gaza.
Hamas dropped its demand for a full Israeli withdrawal after Trump pledged the conflict wouldn’t resume.
Long-term peace remains uncertain: Israel demands Hamas disarm, while Hamas insists Israel leave Gaza entirely.
_OUR INSIGHTS _
To secure Hamas' agreement, Iran's allies — Hezbollah and the Syrian regime under Bashar al-Assad — needed to be neutralized or significantly weakened, and Iran itself had to be subdued. These objectives were achieved over the past year.
At the same time, Israel was preparing a major offensive in Gaza City, and President Trump had made clear he would not stop Israel if Hamas did not agree to a peace deal. And with major powers in the region also backing the deal, the terrorist group had no choice.
The peace deal is an indisputable win for President Trump. If it brings home Israeli hostages and ends the war, it will solidify his legacy as a peacemaker.
BIAS SPOTTER
How left and right outlets frame the Israeli hostages’ release
_LEFT_
Families’ grief amid celebration: Haaretz wrote that freed hostages reunited with relatives, while others were “shocked and dismayed” to learn that only four bodies of deceased hostages would be returned that day. Haaretz
Criticism of prisoner conditions: NBC News noted that among the 1,700 Palestinians released were doctors and journalists held without charge under administrative detention, a practice long condemned by rights groups. NBC News
_RIGHT_
Scenes of national unity: Breitbart described Israelis singing and dancing in Hostage Square as the last hostages crossed the border, calling it “one of the happiest days in Israel’s history.” Breitbart
Historic diplomatic achievement: The Daily Wire highlighted the end of "737 days of hell" for hostages in Hamas terror tunnels, framing Trump's 20-point peace plan as successfully bringing closure to families after more than two years of uncertainty. The Daily Wire
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_THE DAILY DEBATE_
📊 Who deserves the most credit for the peace deal?
POLLS RESULTS FROM YESTERDAY
Which do you think is a greater threat to the US?
⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ 🇶🇦 Qatar's growing influence (100)
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 💸 Soros dark money networks (923)
⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ 🤔 Unsure (84)
🇶🇦 Qatar: “Qatar is the greater threat because the DOJ is already focused on Soros.” — JB
💸 Soros: “Soros’s organizations have wicked tentacles that have impacted our judicial, political, and border security systems.” — Karla
🤔 Unsure: “Both. Foreign influence was recognized as dangerous by our Founding Fathers, and dark money to destabilize America is treason.” — DS
_POP QUIZ_
Who is pop star Katy Perry dating?
Today’s newsletter was written by Brandon Goldman, Anthony Constantini, and Ariel David. We scoured 100s of sources to bring you stories and insights you won’t find in the mainstream media.
See you tomorrow.
