— Aubrey Plaza, explaining why she still hasn’t seen herself on White Lotus. Celebs, they’re just like us.
What's Happening
International
Israel Rescues Bedouin Hostage From Gaza Tunnels
What's going on: On Tuesday, Israeli forces freed Qaid Farhan Alkadi, a 52-year-old Bedouin Arab who had been held deep within Hamas’ tunnel network beneath Gaza. Alkadi, a father of 11, was the eighth hostage — and first Arab Israeli — to be rescued alive by Israel since the war began. “Suddenly, I heard someone speaking Hebrew outside the door, I couldn’t believe it,” Alkadi told Israel’s president. “People are suffering there. Do everything you can to bring people home.” Alkadi was abducted from his security job at a kibbutz and held for 326 days. Israeli soldiers stumbled into Alkadi by chance while searching the tunnels for Hamas fighters, according to two senior officials who spoke anonymously to the New York Times.
What it means: The news of the rescue was a welcome update in Israel after 10 months of war. Israel says it believes 108 hostages remain in Gaza, with over 40 presumed dead. In November, 105 others were freed during a weeklong cease-fire in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. As international mediators scramble to broker a cease-fire to secure the release of the remaining hostages, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu continues to face strong domestic criticism for failing to bring more hostages home. His government's offensive has killed more than 40,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza Health Ministry run by Hamas and displaced 90% of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents, worsening the humanitarian crisis.
President Trump Was Just Re-Indicted On Federal Election Charges
What's going on: Former President Donald Trump was just indicted (again) for his alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election. The revised indictment follows the Supreme Court’s July decision that granted former presidents broad immunity for official acts in office — which derailed the case. Special Counsel Jack Smith tweaked his initial indictment as a result to stay within the scope of the court’s ruling, but kept the same four charges against Trump in place. That includes conspiring to defraud the US, obstructing the certification of the election on Jan 6, and depriving millions of their right to have their votes counted. Trump has already pleaded not guilty in this case, and didn't mince words in a post on Truth Social yesterday, saying Smith is “deranged” and resurrecting "a 'dead' Witch Hunt."
What it means: The Supreme Court’s ruling meant that any “official acts” Trump took during his time as president wouldn’t be counted against him — but the parties involved had differing views on what qualifies as “official.” Before this new indictment, Trump’s lawyers and Smith’s prosecutors were just days away from submitting their interpretations of how the high court’s decision affected the case. Anticipating this, Smith removed some information in the indictment related to Trump’s interactions with a Justice Department ally. He seemed to acknowledge that the high court’s decision shielded Trump from charges involving interactions with officials (see how “official” is baked right in the name there?). This was the most glaring difference from the first indictment, but much of the rest remains the same. What happens next is up to the courts but it’s unlikely that this case will be resolved before the November election.
What's going on: Earlier this month, about 60 people experienced a first-of-its-kind dinner at a prison just outside Cleveland, Ohio. Incarcerated men at the Grafton Correctional Institution cooked and served a five-course meal to members of the public using fruits and vegetables grown onsite. On the menu: roasted salmon with a béarnaise sauce and braised garden greens, along with a corn cake for dessert with blueberry compote and Chantilly cream. Yes, chef. The farm-to-table dinner was hosted by EDWINS, a nonprofit founded by Chef Brandon Chrostowski that teaches culinary arts and hospitality skills to prisoners in over 600 prisons and jails nationwide. The program aims to equip participants with the techniques and certifications needed for fine dining jobs. Most of EDWINS’ graduates seem to have found the recipe for success: nearly all secured employment and less than 1% returned to prison, according to program data.
What it means: Stigma against formerly incarcerated people can make the transition back into everyday life an uphill battle. Which is why programs like this one are essential to helping with their reintegration into society and finding a job. A 2021 report from the Brookings Institution found that more than a quarter of a million people released from prison can’t land a stable job within their first year out. Nearly 75% of former inmates are arrested again within three years of their release. A director for reentry services in southwest Ohio said one of the major barriers for formerly imprisoned people is falling behind on skills and knowledge, a gap that can develop after just two years behind bars.
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Extra Credit
Read
Jane and John seem like a perfect match. Both are creatives who want the same things, including a happy, fulfilling life together. But over the course of their 14-year marriage, motherhood and domestic duties force Jane’s successful writing career to take a backseat — all while John’s filmmaking aspirations propel forward. When their marriage collapses, John seems like the obvious culprit, but as the title of Sarah Manguso’s novel implies,Liars is about two people. Meaning, there’s more than one side to the story.
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An increasing number of schools are banning cellphones, citing students' mental health and concentration being at risk. Where do you stand?
Looking for a crossword that’s not impossible to solve? You’re in luck. This one even offers hints when you get stuck. The faster you finish, the better your score — and the more impressed the group chat will be. Go on.
