This week’s guide to government and politics in under 10 minutes

I CEASEFIRE LEADS TO RELEASE OF HOSTAGES AND PRISONERS

Thousands of people are returning home and beginning to rebuild in Gaza following a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. As part of the agreement, Hamas has released all 20 surviving Israeli hostages, while Israel is releasing over 1,900 Palestinian prisoners and detainees. The bodies of 28 deceased hostages are also being returned. Israeli forces have withdrawn to agreed-upon positions, and humanitarian aid shipments into Gaza are expected to increase. Talks over Gaza’s future governance are ongoing. President Trump’s peace plan calls for Hamas to disband and disarm, with an international force upholding the ceasefire. The U.S. military plans to deploy up to 200 troops to Israel to support stabilization efforts in Gaza.

>> Discover more details from President Trump’s Gaza peace plan here.

I GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN ENTERS SECOND WEEK

Today marks Day 13 of the ongoing government shutdown. The House remains out of session. Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) says the Senate must pass the House GOP’s continuing resolution to reopen the government. Senate Democrats are pushing their own version, which would extend expiring Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credits. Democrats argue that without the extension, some ACA plan holders could see premiums increase as much as 75%. Meanwhile, President Trump has authorized the Pentagon to use existing funds to ensure active-duty military receive paychecks this week.

>> Find out more about what a continuing resolution is and how they work here.

I CALIFORNIA BANS ULTRA-PROCESSED FOODS IN SCHOOL MEALS

California will become the first U.S. state to phase out ultra-processed foods from school meals. Governor Gavin Newsom (D) signed legislation last week to initiate the phaseout, which is scheduled to occur over the next 10 years. The law requires the state’s health department to define “ultra-processed foods of concern” and “restricted school foods” by 2028. Schools must start phasing out those foods by July 2029 and stop selling them entirely by July 2035. This builds on last year’s law banning six synthetic food dyes from school meals.

>> More on how states are regulating food additives here.

I WHITE HOUSE BEGINS SHUTDOWN LAYOFFS

Federal agencies have begun implementing layoffs due to the shutdown, according to OMB Director Russell Vought. An OMB spokesperson called the cuts “substantial.” More than 4,100 federal workers across multiple agencies, including HHS, Treasury, and Energy, have received notices. The American Federation of Government Employees, the largest federal employee union representing about 820,000 workers, has announced a lawsuit challenging the legality of the layoffs under the Antideficiency Act.

>> Hear how the shutdown is affecting government services here.

I 22 STATES IN OR NEAR RECESSION

According to Moody’s Analytics, 22 states are either in or on the verge of a recession. The states experiencing a recession are spread across the country, with a higher concentration around the Washington D.C. area. The Moody’s report cites federal job cuts as the primary driver of those states’ economic troubles. Combined, the states Moody’s assesses to be in a recession account for about one-third of the country’s GDP.

>> Learn more about how government policy relates to economic security here.

Stay ahead of the stories driving national conversations