Trump Calls For U.S. To Take Control Of Gaza
Plus: US Education Dept.'s future, El Salvador offers to take in U.S. criminals, & LA wildfire costs
Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up!
Good morning,
If you're like me, you'll be watching the Super Bowl this weekend for everything except the actual game... From the commercials and Kendrick Lamar’s halftime show, to how many times the camera will cut to Taylor Swift, there is plenty to entertain!
And this year’s game will have a never-before layer: the President of the United States will be AT the game!
White House officials told reporters that President Trump will be down in New Orleans to watch Super Bowl LIX among more than 75,000 fans.
I can only imagine how his Secret Service detail is feeling... 😳
Now, the real question: Will Trump or Swift get more screen time?
Have a good one!
Lauren (Producer)
PS: Thank you to everyone who completed our recent survey. We took your feedback and slightly revamped our format. Enjoy!
🌙 STRUGGLING TO GET QUALITY SHUT EYE? LOOK NO FURTHER THAN BEAN DREAM
We’ve all been there: one night of bad sleep can leave you cranky and exhausted. Over time, poor rest can take a toll, leading to weakened immunity, trouble concentrating, and even increased risk of high blood pressure. But there’s good news for tossers and turners: Beam Dream is here to help!
What is Beam Dream? A delicious nighttime drink crafted with natural sleep-promoting ingredients to help you fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer. A clinical study revealed Dream helped 93% of users get a more restful night’s sleep and wake up feeling more refreshed.
Packed with five natural sleep-promoting ingredients (CBD, reishi, magnesium, L-theanine, and melatonin), zero added sugar, and only 15 calories, Beam has what you need to avoid sleepy side effects.
Simply sip 30 minutes before bed, then drift into your deepest night’s sleep.
And now, Beam’s best-selling Brownie Batter flavor is back! This fan favorite has sold out three times, so don’t miss your chance to try it. Use code MONEWS at checkout to get up to 40% off and discover how better sleep can transform your day.
🚨 ONE THING MAKING GLOBAL HEADLINES
Trump Proposes U.S. Take Ownership of Gaza, Says Palestinians Should Move
In a shocking announcement Tuesday, President Trump proposed that the U.S. take control of the Gaza Strip to oversee its redevelopment after the nearly 2 million Palestinians who live there are resettled elsewhere—permanently.
“We will own it and be responsible for dismantling all of the dangerous unexploded bombs and other weapons on the site,” Trump said at a joint news conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday.
Under the plan, Trump said the U.S. would “level destroyed buildings and “create an economic development that will supply unlimited numbers of jobs and housing for the people of the area.”
The comments came after Trump suggested the permanent relocation of Gaza’s Palestinian residents to neighboring countries, calling the strip "a demolition site.”
Nearby countries like Egypt and Jordan, proposed as potential relocation destinations for Palestinians, have rejected the idea of accepting a large influx of refugees. Trump says it is time for them to reconsider the plan.
And what could come after:
Bottom Line: Given the practical, logistical, political and monetary challenges of such a plan, including the forced relocation of 2 million Palestinians, the potential long-term US troop commitment, and the unanimous opposition from Arab countries, and other nations to such a plan, this is unlikely to move forward. More likely, this is Trump proposing a provocative plan to get the conversation moving about post-war planning, given Hamas is still running Gaza and Palestinian face a potentially decades-long rebuilding effort.
🚨 ONE IMPORTANT THING
Inside Trump’s Push To Abolish The Department Of Education
President Trump discussed his plan to issue an executive order calling on Congress to abolish the Department of Education. Congressional approval is required to abolish any federal agency.
Legislation to eliminate the agency would require a supermajority of 60 votes to pass in the Senate, requiring support from at least seven Democrats — a highly improbable scenario.
Despite that, Thomas Massie (R-KY) recently re-introduced a bill that would eliminate the department by the end of 2026.
It is part of a broader effort, led by Elon Musk, to shrink federal agencies and cut government staffing – as was done in the past week with USAID.
THE PLAN
The new order reportedly involves directing the Education Secretary to develop a downsizing strategy and pushing Congress to pass legislation to abolish the department, which was created in 1979 under President Jimmy Carter.
Short of complete elimination, the Trump administration is also considering significant unilateral cuts to programs and staff within the Department of Education. This includes executive actions to shut down programs not protected by federal law.
Trump emphasized that closing the department would give states more control over education.
However, states already handle most aspects of curriculum and school funding.
THE ARGUMENT
Trump argued that shifting more power to the states could improve student test scores. He appeared to reference the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA), a global test administered to 620,000 students across 81 countries in 2022.
Data shows the U.S. ranked 6th in reading (up from 8th in 2018), 10th in science (up from 11th), and 26th in math (improving from 29th). Trump asserted the U.S. was in last place.
What the federal Dept. of Ed. does: With a $79 billion budget and 4,400 employees, the agency oversees $1.6 trillion in federal student loans, enforces and implements special education programs, and manages Title I programs for low-income students.
Already, dozens of employees were placed on administrative leave as part of a broader Trump administration purge of diversity and inclusion staff.
NOT THE FIRST TIME
Trump has long criticized the department. During his first term, he proposed merging the Departments of Education and Labor into a single agency. Despite Republican control of Congress, the proposal did not gain traction.
On the campaign trail this summer, Trump said, “We will drain the government education swamp and stop the abuse of your taxpayer dollars to indoctrinate America’s youth with all sorts of things that you don’t want to have our youth hearing.”
Public support for the education department remains strong, with a Wall Street Journal poll showing 61% of voters oppose its elimination.
MORE FROM WASHINGTON
📌 Gabbard and RFK Jr. make it out of committees, on to full Senate votes (THE HILL)
📌 Senate confirms Pam Bondi as US attorney general, putting Trump ally at Justice Department’s helm (AP)
📌 20,000 federal workers take "buyout" so far, official says (AXIOS)
📌 FBI agents sue Trump administration over Jan. 6 scrutiny and potential layoffs (CBS)
📌 Treasury says Musk’s DOGE has not rejected payments in first attempt to clarify access granted to critical system (CNN)
📚 ONE INTERNATIONAL THING
El Salvador's President Offers To Jail U.S. Criminals, Including American Citizens
Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced Monday evening that El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele has offered to take in U.S. deportees, and even house “dangerous American criminals” in Salvadoran prisons.
Rubio described the agreement as “the most unprecedented and extraordinary migratory agreement anywhere in the world.”
INSIDE THE OFFER
According to a State Department statement, El Salvador will continue cooperating with the return of Salvadoran nationals residing illegally in the U.S., in addition to accepting deportees from any country, including members of gangs such as MS-13 and Tren de Aragua.
Several other countries have pushed back on taking back their citizens who are caught in the U.S. illegally.
There’s more: Bukele also went an unprecedented step in offering to house incarcerated U.S. citizens and legal residents in Salvadoran jails.
A State Department advisory describes conditions in Salvadoran prisons as “harsh and dangerous,” while the Human Rights Watch has criticized it for being inhumane due to overcrowding with poor access to food and water.
TRUMP’S TAKE
Trump on Tuesday expressed support for sending some incarcerated Americans to foreign countries, “if we had the legal right to do it.”
Trump alleged that other countries have made similar proposals, despite Rubio saying, “No country has ever made an offer of friendship such as this.”
Legally, sending American citizens – including those convicted of crimes – to foreign prisons would likely be deemed unconstitutional under the Eighth Amendment, which prohibits cruel and unusual punishment.
🤔 ONE THING WE’RE FOLLOWING UP ON
State Farm Seeks Avg. 22% Insurance Rate Hike To Offset California Wildfire Payouts
State Farm, California's largest insurance provider, is asking state regulators to approve an emergency rate hike — 22% on average for homeowners and 15% for renters.
In a letter to the state's insurance commissioner, the company stated it has already paid out $1 billion, after receiving 8,700 claims, and expects to pay out significantly more.
State Farm warned that without additional capital, its credit rating could be downgraded, jeopardizing more than 2.8 million policies held by Californians.
If approved, the new rates would take effect on May 1. By law, insurance companies in California must get regulatory approval for rate increases exceeding 7%.
ZOOM INTO THE FIRES
The recent wildfires killed 29 people and destroyed at least 16,000 structures, with estimated costs between $28 billion and $35 billion, according to risk analysis firm Verisk. AccuWeather projected that total losses — including economic impacts such as job losses and inflation — could reach $250 billion to $275 billion.
As of January 30, insurance companies have paid out $4.2 billion related to more than 31,000 claims.
Of those, about 14,400 claims have only been partially paid.
In March 2024, State Farm canceled 30,000 homeowner policies across California, including nearly 70% of policies in the Palisades zip code disproportionately impacted by the wildfires.
Residents unable to secure private fire insurance can apply for California’s FAIR Plan, a temporary safety net for those left uninsured. However, FAIR Plan policies are often more expensive than other insurance. Plus, now facing what may be the most costly disaster in its history, the FAIR Plan is reportedly running out of funds.
MORE FROM THE U.S.
📌 Remains of all 67 victims of the deadly plane and chopper collision near DC have been recovered (AP)
📌 It’s about to be very stormy across the U.S. Why and where it will be worst. (WASHINGTON POST)
📌 US Postal service stops accepting packages from China (CBS NEWS)
ICYMI FROM THE 📲
In case you missed it… One thing Canada and Mexico can agree on: they like each other more than their shared neighbor right now.