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In today’s issue:
▪ Israel, Hamas agree to hostage, prisoner release
▪ Spanberger, Earle-Sears face off in Virginia debate
▪ Dems’ shutdown position improves
▪ Katie Porter’s ‘unhappy’ interview
Israel and Hamas have agreed to a ceasefire deal aimed at bringing an end to the war in Gaza, President Trump announced Wednesday night, a day after the conflict hit its two-year mark.
The president said both sides agreed to the first phase of the 20-point plan he rolled out last month alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, including a hostage and prisoner release as well as Israel pulling back troops in the enclave.
“This means that ALL of the Hostages will be released very soon, and Israel will withdraw their Troops to an agreed upon line as the first steps toward a Strong, Durable, and Everlasting Peace. All Parties will be treated fairly!” Trump said in a post on Truth Social.
The deal will include a halt to fighting, the release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners and aid entering the Gaza Strip, an official from Qatar, one of the nations helping negotiate the deal, said in a post online.
People familiar with the matter told The Associated Press that Hamas plans to release all 20 living hostages within days, and the Israeli military will withdraw from most of Gaza.
“With God’s help we will bring them all home,” Netanyahu wrote on social media, referring to the hostages.
Hamas issued a statement saying it agreed to “an end to the war on Gaza” and expressing appreciation for Trump’s efforts “aimed at ending the war once and for all.”
Netanyahu’s office said the prime minister and Trump spoke on Wednesday and congratulated each other on reaching a deal. He said he will convene the Israeli government Thursday to approve the agreement.
A senior White House official told CBS News that once the Israeli Cabinet approves the deal, Israel must withdraw to a certain point within 24 hours. After that, a 72-hour clock for the hostages’ release begins.
The White House believes the hostages will be released on Monday, the official said.
Trump said he may go to the Middle East this weekend, adding he’d “most likely” go to Egypt but leaving open the possibility of visiting Gaza.
Netanyahu’s office has also invited Trump to address the Knesset. The Jerusalem Post reported the president is expected to visit Israel Sunday.
The agreement comes just a day after the second anniversary of Hamas’s Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel that killed approximately 1,200 people and resulted in 250 being taken hostage.
Trump put increasing pressure on Netanyahu to accept a deal after Israel’s strike last month against Hamas leaders residing in Qatar. The president unveiled his proposal last week and Netanyahu endorsed it.
A coalition of leaders from Arab, Gulf and Muslim-majority countries put pressure on Hamas to accept the deal, The Hill’s Laura Kelly reported.
▪ The Hill: Here’s what’s in Trump’s 20-point proposal for peace in Gaza.
▪ The Associated Press: World leaders express hope over peace deal.
The announcement also comes on the eve of the Nobel Peace Prize being announced. Trump has openly coveted the prize, touting his efforts at securing deals to end multiple conflicts around the world.
“This is a GREAT Day for the Arab and Muslim World, Israel, all surrounding Nations, and the United States of America, and we thank the mediators from Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey, who worked with us to make this Historic and Unprecedented Event happen. BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
Israel had become increasingly isolated as criticism mounted over its prosecution of the war against Hamas. Gaza health officials report that more than 60,000 Palestinians, at least half women and children, have been killed in the fighting since the war began.
Although Israel and Hamas agreeing to the first phase of the deal is a major breakthrough, it’s unclear if other sticking points remain that could prevent the war coming to a permanent end.
One aspect of the president’s plan includes Hamas agreeing to disarm and giving up power in Gaza, where it has ruled for the past two decades. A separate “Board of Peace” would oversee the territory, led by Trump.
The militant group hasn’t agreed to completely do that, and Netanyahu has remained steadfast that he won’t allow the creation of a Palestinian state. If Hamas does agree to give up power, it would be one of the most dramatic and consequential developments in the Middle East in decades.
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres praised the deal unveiled Wednesday, saying the U.N. would assist with its implementation.
“I urge all stakeholders to seize this momentous opportunity to establish a credible political path forward towards ending the occupation, recognizing the right to self-determination of the Palestinian people, leading to a two-state solution to enable Israelis & Palestinians to live in peace & security,” Guterres said.
“The stakes have never been higher,” he said.
Smart Take with Blake Burman
I spoke with Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.), the ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee, as the news of the breakthrough in the Middle East was beginning to unfold.
“I think it’s a huge positive. If that first step can be taken to get the hostages released, I think that would be an enormous step forward,” Smith told me. “Still a long way to go to get to peace in the Middle East, but I think the peace plan that President Trump laid out is the path that needs to be followed,” he added.
In a remarkable moment, we were able to watch some of this unfold in real time. Secretary of State Marco Rubio handed a note to the president during a White House event and in front of reporters, and the president then signaled a deal was near.
The announcement we got on Wednesday is a major moment, and the next 48 hours should tell us a whole lot more about what the details look like, what we could expect next and its impact on the region.
Burman hosts “The Hill” weeknights, 6p/5c on NewsNation.
3 Things to Know Today
1. Republican senators blocked a measure to halt the U.S. military’s strikes against boats off the coast of Venezuela that Trump alleges are trying to smuggle drugs into the U.S. The military has conducted four strikes against alleged drug trafficking boats since early September.
2. Trump is scheduled to undergo a medical exam during a visit to Walter Reed Medical Center on Friday as part of his routine yearly checkup, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said.
3. A man has been arrested in connection with the deadly Palisades fire that struck Los Angeles in January, killing at least a dozen people and destroying thousands of homes. He was charged with destruction of property by means of fire.
Leading the Day
VIRGINIA DEBATE: Virginia Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears (R) will have potentially her last best moment to turn the commonwealth’s gubernatorial race around when she faces off against former Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D) tonight on the debate stage.
The debate will be the only time throughout the race in which the two candidates appear on the same stage at the same time. It will be hosted by Nexstar Media Group, which owns The Hill, and air on its local NBC affiliate WAVY-TV. The event will take place at Norfolk State University, a historically Black university in Virginia.
Spanberger has maintained a comfortable lead over Earle-Sears throughout the general election period. She leads by 7 points in the Decision Desk HQ polling average and has led in almost every poll.
Earle-Sears has also dealt with internal turmoil in her campaign, replacing her campaign manager in mid-July as she struggled to keep up with Spanberger. That raised alarm bells among some Virginia Republicans who said a big shake-up was needed for Earle-Sears to stay competitive.
She may have gotten that opportunity over the past week as controversy erupted surrounding Jay Jones, the Democratic nominee for state attorney general. Jones, who is running against incumbent Attorney General Jason Miyares (R), sent texts in 2022 in which he said he hoped for violence against then-state House Speaker Todd Gilbert (R).
“Gilbert, hitler, and pol pot,” Jones wrote in one text first reported by National Review. “Gilbert gets two bullets to the head.”
Jones has apologized for the messages and said he wishes he could take them back, but pressure has been building on him to drop out of the race. So far, Jones hasn’t given indication that he might exit.
The controversy could have implications for the other major statewide races next month, including for governor and lieutenant governor.
Earle-Sears quickly released an ad highlighting ties between Spanberger and Jones. Spanberger has said she reached out to Jones to express her “disgust” with the messages and called on him to take responsibility for them but didn’t explicitly call for him to drop out, as Republicans have been urging her to do.
This has placed Spanberger in a difficult spot after a relatively smooth campaign without major challenges. The Hill’s Julia Manchester reports how the controversy will cast a shadow over tonight’s debate.
Spanberger will likely be asked by the moderator or Earle-Sears (or both) about whether Jones should drop out and will have to navigate her answer to avoid giving her opponent potentially more reason to go after her.
The challenge for Earle-Sears will be to have a breakout moment by going on offense.
Earle-Sears has leaned into cultural issues as outgoing Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) did four years ago, but she hasn’t found a central topic to give her campaign the jolt it needs. She may need to come out swinging to get that boost.
The candidates are likely to discuss other issues like the government shutdown and the cuts from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which plays an outsized role in Virginia given the large number of federal workers who live and work there.
Spanberger will likely press Earle-Sears on her ties to Trump. Earle-Sears seemed to criticize Trump a few years ago when she said he had become a liability to the GOP, but during the campaign she has said she would be honored to receive his endorsement.
▪ VPM: Spanberger making play for rural voters.
▪ Politico: Republican group invests additional $1.5 million in Virginia race.
NJ TAKEAWAYS: Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-N.J.) and Republican Jack Ciattarelli faced off in a tense final debate Wednesday in New Jersey’s gubernatorial race, the only other one taking place in the country this year.
Both candidates aggressively went after the other, with Sherrill tying Ciattarelli to Trump and Ciattarelli slamming Sherrill over the cheating scandal that took place while she was at the U.S. Naval Academy.
Affordability was the key topic in the debate, as polls have shown the economy is the top issue for New Jersey voters. Sherrill reiterated her pledge to declare a state of emergency on utility costs on the first day of her administration and go after landlords responsible for high rent prices.
Ciattarelli said he would pull New Jersey from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, a multi-state compact to try to lower greenhouse gas emissions, that he said is costing the state $1 billion per year. He also outlined his plan to lower the cost of childcare and improve housing affordability.
The most intense moment came when the candidates were asked about how they would bring more jobs to the state. Sherrill attacked Ciattarelli’s past working for a firm that she alleged contributed to the opioid crisis, while Ciattarelli went after Sherrill over her not being allowed to walk at her Naval Academy graduation ceremony.
“First of all, shame on you,” Ciattarelli said.
“Shame on you,” Sherrill shot back.
Still, whether the debate will move the needle in the race meaningfully remains to be seen.
Polling increasingly suggests the race could be close. Sherrill leads by 5 points in the Decision Desk HQ average.
The Hill’s Caroline Vakil and Julia Manchester have the takeaways from the second and final debate.
PORTER INTERVIEW CONTROVERSY: Former Rep. Katie Porter (D-Calif.) is facing backlash from several of her opponents in the California gubernatorial race after a tense interview with a reporter.
Porter, who has narrowly led the crowded field in a few polls, tried to end the interview with CBS News correspondent Julie Watts after she asked the former House member what she would say to the 40 percent of California voters who supported Trump to win their votes.
“How would I need them in order to win, ma’am?” Porter responded.
As Watts continued to press her on whose votes she may need to win to emerge victorious, particularly if she faces another Democrat in the general election, Porter signaled that she wanted to cut the interview early.
“I don’t want to keep doing this. I’m going to call it. Thank you,” she said, later adding she didn’t want to continue doing the interview if Watts would ask “seven follow-ups” to every question.
“I don’t want to have an unhappy experience with you, and I don’t want this all on camera,” Porter said.
A few of Porter’s opponents jumped on the opportunity to go after her over the exchange.
Former California State Controller Betty Yee (D) said in a post on social platform X that Porter “doesn’t have the temperament” to be governor.
“As a candidate, I welcome the hard questions—the next governor must be accessible and transparent,” Yee said. “No place for temper tantrums. No place for dodging the public’s right to know.”
Former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra said he’s “not interested in excluding any vote,” while former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa (D) said the state needs a leader who will “solve hard problems and answer simple questions.”
Despite Porter’s slight lead in recent polling, the race seems to be a jump ball, particularly since former Vice President Kamala Harris chose not to run for the office. Candidates are generally receiving support in the high teens at most, suggesting much room for each of them to grow their support. Whichever two candidates receive the most votes in next year’s primary will advance to the general election, regardless of party affiliation.
TRUMP EXPANDS ARREST CALLS: Trump’s battle with Illinois and Chicago officials reached a new level Wednesday when he called for Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker (D) and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson (D) to be arrested as they oppose his crackdown on the city.
“Chicago Mayor should be in jail for failing to protect [Immigration and Customs Enforcement] Officers!” Trump posted on Truth Social. “Governor Pritzker also!”
Trump has been clashing with both leaders for months as he’s floated sending in the National Guard to Chicago to address what he argues is out-of-control crime and danger for Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials. The president federalized hundreds of members of the Illinois National Guard over the weekend and directed members of the Texas National Guard into the city as well.
Illinois and Chicago quickly sued over the deployments, arguing that they violate the state’s sovereignty. A federal judge is set to hold a hearing on the lawsuit on Thursday.
A federal appeals court ruled Wednesday to uphold a pause on Trump sending the Oregon National Guard into Portland, though it restored his power to call them into federal service.
Pritzker and Johnson made clear that they won’t be deterred by Trump’s call for their arrests.
“I will not back down. Trump is now calling for the arrest of elected representatives checking his power. What else is left on the path to full-blown authoritarianism?” Pritzker posted on X.
“I’m not going anywhere. I’m going to stay firm as the mayor of this amazing city, which was voted nine years in a row the best big city in America, and we’re going to defend all of Chicago,” Johnson told CNN in an interview.
Trump’s post is a further escalation in both his monthslong battle with Chicago and his calls for some of his political opponents to face legal action. It came on the same day that former FBI Director James Comey pleaded not guilty to two charges in a case that has stoked broader fears of the president going after his political foes.
Days before Comey was indicted, Trump posted on Truth Social calling on Attorney General Pam Bondi to pursue charges against Comey, New York Attorney General Letitia James (D) and Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.).
While Trump has said he doesn’t have a “list” of people he wants to see face charges, he expects other indictments to come.
Johnson said he’s hopeful that the legal system will fix the “illegal” push from Trump to militarize Chicago.
▪ WGN9: “Pritzker to Trump: ‘Come and get me.’”
▪ NBC News: 500 National Guard troops arrive in Chicago.
When and Where
The president will host a Cabinet meeting at 11 a.m. and meet with Finnish President Alexander Stubb at 3 p.m.
The House willnot convene today. Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) will appear on C-SPAN at 8:30 a.m., taking calls from listeners.
The Senate willmeet at 10 a.m.
Zoom In
DEMS’ MOMENTUM RISES: The political winds seem to have shifted in favor of the Democrats, at least for now, as the government shutdown goes into its second week.
Early polling has shown the public is at least somewhat more likely to blame Trump and congressional Republicans for the shutdown than Democrats. It comes as some cracks have emerged within the GOP, including whether furloughed workers should receive backpay once the government reopens and whether to resist the extension of ObamaCare subsidies.
The Hill’s Mike Lillis and Brett Samuels report that this is putting Republicans on the defensive and boosting Democratic confidence that they will be able to stick together. Another attempt to approve the House-passed continuing resolution, backed by Republicans, failed Wednesday for the sixth time in a week.
In each vote, two Senate Democrats and one independent who caucuses with Democrats crossed the aisle to vote in favor, but no additional Democrats have defected through each round of voting. That’s disappointing news for Republicans who hoped to wear down Democrats’ resolve in having to vote again and again against reopening the government.
Republican leaders are still expressing confidence that they’re winning the shutdown battle, but Lillis and Samuels note a few things that have changed in recent days.
Several polls have shown Democrats taking less blame than Republicans for the shutdown, and some Republicans pushed back against a White House Office of Management and Budget memo suggesting furloughed workers might not receive backpay, despite the law requiring them to.
And while Trump had threatened widespread layoffs if Democrats didn’t vote to keep the government open, they haven’t happened yet.
A source close to the White House said concerns about the economy could press Trump to make a deal if the shutdown lingers. But they said it would require those outside the D.C. bubble to feel the pain and argued issues like air traffic controller shortages could hurt Democrats.
▪ The Hill: Worries grow over air traffic tumult as shutdown hits second week.
▪ The Hill: Trump says bill ensuring military pay during shutdown likely.
Elsewhere
MILLS SENATE BID SET: Maine Gov. Janet Mills (D) is reportedly poised to announce a Senate bid for Sen. Susan Collins’s (R) seat as soon as next week.
Multiple sources told Axios about the two-term governor’s plans and said an announcement would definitely come this month. If Mills enters, as has been speculated for months, she would be the latest high-profile recruit for Democrats and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) as they try to at least reduce the GOP’s majority in the body next year if not win back control.
Mills has been a popular governor as Democrats are hoping to finally oust Collins, a moderate Republican, after years of unsuccessful attempts. That includes in 2020, when then-state House Speaker Sara Gideon led Collins in many polls ahead of Election Day only for Collins to outperform expectations and comfortably win another term.
But Mills may not automatically clinch the nomination even if she’ll be an early favorite for it. A few other candidates are already in the race, most notably oyster farmer Graham Platner, who has leaned into a populist and progressive message to try to oppose Collins.
Despite never having sought public office before, Platner has gained some momentum, picking up endorsements from top progressives like Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.).
If Platner can continue to gain steam, Maine Democrats may be in store for a competitive primary ahead of another try to defeat Collins.
The Closer
And finally … It’s Thursday, and we’re back with our weekly Morning Report Quiz! Joan Kennedy, the first wife of the late Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.), died on Wednesday at 89 years old. With the passing of one of the last members of the generation of the family that included former President John F. Kennedy, here’s a quiz to test your knowledge on the Kennedy family.
Be sure to email your responses to jgans@thehill.com — please add “Quiz” to your subject line. Winners who submit correct answers will receive deserved newsletter fame on Friday.
What cause did Joan Kennedy advocate for much of her life?
1. Cancer research
2. Mental health awareness
3. Heart disease
4. Alzheimer’s
How many children did Joseph and Rose Kennedy, the patriarch and matriarch of the Kennedy family, have?
1. 5
2. 7
3. 9
4. 11
In which year did Edward Kennedy run for president, launching an unsuccessful primary challenge to then-President Carter?
1. 1972
2. 1976
3. 1980
4. 1988
Which of the Kennedy brothers was the oldest?
1. Joseph Kennedy Jr.
2. Edward Kennedy
3. Robert Kennedy
4. John Kennedy
