Israel delays vote to approve ceasefire in Gaza after officials announced a deal. President Joe Biden warns in his farewell address that the United States is developing an oligarchy. Additionally, a billionaire’s role in helping recruit a coveted quarterback to Michigan parallels the political landscape.
Here’s what you need to know today.
Israel delays ceasefire vote; Hamas says it is committed to reaching an agreement
A ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas was announced yesterday, which would end 15 months of fighting in the Gaza Strip and free dozens of hostages held there. However, clashes broke out this morning over the final details, delaying the Israeli vote to approve the deal.
After planning to vote today, Israel has said its cabinet will not meet to approve the deal with Hamas, claiming the militant group was creating a “last-minute crisis.” This morning, Hamas said it was “committed to the ceasefire agreement announced by the mediators.”
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office did not provide further details on the claimed issue. Far-right Israeli officials have expressed strong opposition to the ceasefire agreement.
According to Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, whose country hosted months of intense negotiations, the agreement would be gradual and would allow the withdrawal of Israeli forces to the Gaza border. Palestinians would then be able to return to their homes, humanitarian aid would be sent to the enclave and hospitals and healthcare centers would be rebuilt, he said.
Under the first phase of the agreement, Hamas is expected to gradually release a total of 33 of the 96 hostages who remain held in Gaza after being taken captive on October 7. A senior US administration official said two Americans would be among the first hostages. released. Israel will also release 1,000 Palestinian prisoners who were not involved in the October 7 attacks, and an unspecified number of Palestinian prisoners will also be released abroad or in Gaza.
The war has destroyed Gaza’s infrastructure and displaced most of its population. Health officials in the enclave said Israeli forces have killed more than 46,000 Palestinians.
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Biden says goodbye with a series of warnings
With less than a week left in office, President Joe Biden bid farewell to the nation with a speech in the Oval Office. After celebrating some of his key achievements while in office, Biden offered a series of warnings about threats to American democracy, including a growing “oligarchy taking shape.”
The so-called oligarchy, which seemed clearly aimed at billionaire Elon Musk and Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, is one of “extreme wealth, power and influence that literally threatens our entire democracy, our basic rights and freedoms, and a fair opportunity to Let everyone get ahead,” Biden said. The president also warned of “the possible emergence of a technology industrial complex,” criticized social media platforms for “giving up on fact-checking” and advocated for safeguards for artificial intelligence. Biden also took some hits at Donald Trumpalthough he never referred to the president-elect by name.
Biden also used his speech to highlight the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas and other key achievements such as persistent job growth, lower prescription drug costs and investments in clean energy to fight climate change. Serving as president, he said, has been “the greatest honor of my life.”
More political news:
- Six of Trump’s top job candidates faced hearings yesterday, including Pam Bondi for attorney general, Marco Rubio for secretary of state and John Ratcliffe for CIA director. Here are seven takeaways of them.
- Today there are confirmation hearings for Doug Burgum, Trump’s pick to lead the Department of the Interior; EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin; Eric Scott Turner, Secretary of Housing and Urban Development; and more. Follow our live blog for updates throughout the day.
- Rudy Giuliani is ready to return to court A trial begins today to determine the fate of some of his most valuable assets: his condo in Florida and the New York Yankees World Series rings.
- The Biden administration is considering ways to maintain TikTok available in the US, in case the app ban goes into effect on Sunday.
- Spokesman Mike Johnson impeached Republican Rep. Mike Turner as chairman of the House Intelligence Committee.
- Vivek Ramaswamy, who is slated to work alongside Elon Musk to help cut government spending under Trump, is in talks about taking Vice President-elect JD Vance’s Senate seat in Ohio, two sources said.
- President Trump made several promises during his presidential campaign about what he would do on his first day in office. Here is a list.
- Former Presidents Obama, Clinton and Bush will not attend Trump’s traditional inaugural luncheon.
Los Angeles faces a long road to rebuilding
The road to recovery for Los Angeles-area communities devastated by the recent wildfires will be a years-long process. Just ask Mayor Steve Crowder, whose community of Paradise, California, suffered one of the worst wildfires in state history. In 2018, 90% of the town was destroyed and the population was reduced to 2,000 people. Six years later, the city is building about 500 homes a year and has a population of 11,000, Crowder said. A positive side is that the city has been rebuilt with more modern infrastructure and buildings that will be more resistant to future fires.
Los Angeles is just at the beginning of that journey. It may take weeks before residents can check their properties and more than a year before all debris and hazardous materials are removed. It could be several more years before water systems, power lines, roads and schools are fully rebuilt, and funding fights in Washington could cause delays. And for fire victims, insurance may not cover the full cost of rebuilding, as Crowder noted in Paradise. Read the full story here.
Southern California is now taking a break from the fierce Santa Ana winds that threatened the region this week. While strong winds are expected to return next week, the National Weather Service said they will not be as strong as when the fires broke out. As of last night, the Palisades Fire was at 23,713 acres and 21% contained, and the Eaton Fire was at 14,117 acres and 45% contained.
More coverage of the Los Angeles wildfires:
- fire officers identified the start of the Eaton fire to an area in the hills above Altadena, fueling speculation that a high-voltage transmission tower is to blame.
- What is the pink dust that is sprinkled on forest fires? It’s called Phos-Check and there is a reason for its bright tone.
- One of the reasons last week’s collision between a drone and a “Super Scooper” firefighting plane caused such a stir was that Los Angeles doesn’t have many spare parts to replace it. This is what you should know about the plane that is so “robust” and “reliable” that its design has barely changed in 55 years.
The transition away from Red No. 3
Say goodbye to Red No. 3, the synthetic dye that gives foods and beverages their bright cherry red color. Yesterday, the FDA announced a ban on the dye’s link to cancer in animals. Red number 3 is still used in more than 9,200 foods, including candy, cereals, cherries in fruit cocktails and strawberry-flavored smoothies, according to the Center for Science in the Public Interest.
Food safety advocates said they don’t anticipate any problems with quickly removing products with artificial colors from supermarket shelves. One big reason: Red No. 3 has long been banned in the European Union and some other countries, meaning many companies already sell products overseas that they can easily produce for American consumers. And last year, California became the first state to ban the dye. While the law would not come into effect until 2027, there were expectations that its effect could be seen sooner.
So how will red foods keep their bright color? One way is through natural alternatives such as beet or pomegranate juice. There is also a possibility that some manufacturers will simply change Red No. 3 to Red 40, Another dye that is associated with separate health problems..
read all about it
- The FDA has proposed a drastic reduction in the level of nicotine in cigarettes.
- Meta’s recent policy changes, seen as a shift to the right, has caused boycotts and an exodus of users from Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp.
- “Drug addict rats” they are eating narcotics seized and stored at police headquarters in downtown Houston, prompting a change in the storage duration of evidence.
- American “TikTok Refugees” are receiving a warm welcome on the Chinese social media platform RedNote.
Personnel selection: Politics, pockets and college football
I may make a living writing about politics and campaign finance, but I’m a huge sports fan. And when I heard the news that billionaire Larry Ellison partially funded the deal that helped move a prized quarterback recruit to Michigan, it hit me: The New World Order in College Football: NIL Collectives and the Ability of a wealthy donor to have such influence: it resembles the rise of super PACs that changed the game of money in politics. Having a mega-donor on their side to attract the top recruit in the country will be a huge help to Michigan and anyone else who can do the same. But the policy offers an important caveat: It’s not just about the moneyas the presidential candidate who spent the most, he lost two of the last three elections. — Ben Kamisarnational political reporter
NBC Select: Online Shopping, Made Easy
Are you having trouble learning a new language? An NBC Select reporter I spent six weeks testing different language learning apps. to find out how they all compare. Additionally, certified dermatologists recommend best shampoo for babies with sensitive skin.
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