Trump's Plan for Gaza Sparks Diplomatic Concerns Ahead of Key Meeting

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Trump's Plan for Gaza Sparks Diplomatic Concerns Ahead of Key Meeting

What's going on: Shortly after his meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (golden pager and all), President Donald Trump will sit down with another Middle Eastern leader today: King Abdullah of Jordan. The biggest item on their agenda? Gaza. Last week, Trump announced his plan for US “ownership” of the war-torn territory. Yesterday, Trump took his proposal one step further, by saying Palestinians would have no right to return once the US redeveloped Gaza and they’d “have much better housing.” (His administration's officials said just last week that relocation wouldn’t be permanent.) Enter King Abdullah. Trump has said Egypt and Jordan (which is already home to the largest Palestinian diaspora in the world) would have to take in the Palestinians from Gaza.

What it means: Trump’s Gaza proposal has led to global confusion and alarm, and nearly everyone, from members of Congress to US allies, is scrambling to figure out if he's serious. It's unclear whether this plan is feasible, as experts have noted that forcibly relocating an ethnic group violates international law, could require US military presence in the Middle East (which is politically unpopular), and Hamas has said it will not turn over control of Gaza. Not to mention, Egypt and Jordan have both rejected the plan, saying the relocation of more than 2 million people would threaten to destabilize their countries and pose new security challenges. In response to the chaos, Arab leaders are preparing for an emergency summit in two weeks to discuss Trump’s proposal. Meanwhile, Trump’s persistence on the issue comes at a time when the fragile ceasefire between Hamas and Israel could break at any moment.

Related: A Super Bowl Performer Was Detained for Their Protest. Now They’re Banned for Life (USA Today)

Health

Health Cuts Temporarily Blocked as Scientists Warn of Crippling Impact

What's going on: A federal judge temporarily blocked President Donald Trump's plan to slash billions in research funding to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) on Monday just hours after 22 states sued to stop it. The NIH had planned to cap “indirect costs” — funds that cover essentials like lab equipment and maintenance by 15%, a move that universities and medical centers say would gut key medical research. Scientists warn in the lawsuit that the cuts would derail medical advancements, stating that “cutting-edge work to cure and treat human disease will grind to a halt.” While scientists view these costs as essential, some Republicans have called them unnecessary.

What it means: The judge ordered the NIH to continue grant payments and provide compliance reports within 24 hours. Before the injunction, scientists warned the cuts could undermine facilities tackling critical health issues like cancer and heart disease, while also exacerbating existing disparities in women’s health. A 2023 analysis found that just 8.8% of NIH grants from 2013-2023 went to women’s health research, even as the agency's overall budget grew. The funding cuts also coincide with the NIH's decision to end a decades-long initiative aimed at diversifying the biomedical workforce. Experts argue that curbing diversity narrows the pool of contributors and the scope of the research, potentially leaving valuable discoveries untapped.

Related: Social Media Is Full of HPV “Cures.” Spoiler: They're Not FDA-Approved (USA Today)

Tech

The Billionaire Boys Are Fighting

What's going on: Elon Musk is giving new meaning to the phrase “if you can’t beat them, join them.” The Wall Street Journal reports that Musk and a group of investors have made a $97.4 billion offer to take control of the nonprofit overseeing OpenAI. Musk told the WSJ “it’s time for OpenAI to return to the open-source, safety-focused force for good it once was.” The bid comes against the backdrop of Musk’s lawsuit against OpenAI, which accuses the company of abandoning its original mission by forming a for-profit division and working with Microsoft, its largest backer, to dominate AI innovation. OpenAI has refuted his claims, alleging that Musk (a co-founder and early investor) had once supported the for-profit model but exited when he couldn't take charge. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman declined Musk’s offer via X: “No thank you but we will buy twitter for $9.74 billion if you want.”

What it means: Musk’s latest move has everyone wondering: Was this a power play, a legal strategy, or just another chapter in his AI grudge match? Especially since his $97.4 billion bid barely scratches OpenAI’s recent $157 billion valuation. After helping President Donald Trump win the election, Musk seemed positioned to take the lead on shaping America’s AI policies — until Altman and Trump pulled the rug out from under him. They unveiled Stargate, a joint venture aiming to invest up to $500 billion over the next four years to build data centers across the country. Musk, of course, was quick to cast doubt over their plans. The tech billionaires have no off switch.

Related: Experts Say French President Emmanuel Macron Dropped the Ball With Strange Deepfakes of Himself (BBC)

Your Political Briefing

The week in political chaos.

Off the hook: The Department of Justice is expected to drop the federal corruption charges against Democratic NYC Mayor Eric Adams, according to media reports. Plot twist: President Trump's immigration policies may play a role.

Not so strange bedfellows: From internet obscurity to “Youth Whisperer” of the American right — how one man entered Trump’s inner circle.

Immigration response squad: The president wants to deputize some federal IRS workers to help with…immigration enforcement. Just in time for tax season. 

Succession. The GOP’s version: Trump declined to endorse his VP JD Vance to be the 2028 GOP presidential nominee. Awkward. 

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Start your Tuesday off right with Typeshift, a fun new game that challenges you to create words from a set number of letters. Warning: It’s very addicting. Start playing.