News Above the Noise—Week of October 12, 2025
1. The Latest on the Israel-Hamas Ceasefire
The ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas is holding as 48 Israeli hostages, 20 of whom Israel believes are alive, are expected to be released on Monday in an exchange for Palestinian prisoners. Humanitarian groups are preparing to deliver aid to Gaza, which faces severe devastation, food shortages, and a declared risk of famine. Meanwhile, thousands of displaced Palestinians are returning home to northern Gaza and Khan Younis as Israeli forces begin partial withdrawals. On Monday, President Donald Trump is set to address Israel’s parliament. Follow live updates here.
2. A Very, Very Expensive Way to Reduce Crime
The deployment of National Guard troops to major American cities has received fierce backlash, with some categorizing it as authoritarian overreach. The administration views the move as a necessary protection for federal law enforcement operating in the area. Beyond ideological disagreements about the deployments, there’s a financial aspect being overlooked, argues Marc Novicoff in The Atlantic: the National guard deployments are a very, very expensive way to reduce crime. Based on the current spending trends, the deployments could end up costing American taxpayers roughly two-thirds of a billion dollars. That’s a hard pill to swallow for an administration that ran on rooting out ‘waste, fraud, and abuse.’ Read Novicoff’s piece here.
3. Social Ties Help You Live Longer. What Does That Mean for Introverts?
Research has shown social connection to be a major factor in aging well. For many that simply means maintaining their friendships, hobbies, and family connection as they age. But what are introverts or those who don’t have those connections to maintain? Turns out there is hope! Experts say that when it comes to socialization, quality over quantity is the path to victory. For 4 tips on the best way to maximize the benefits of socialization, click here.
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