Biden's Final Warning, a Ban on Red Food Coloring & Hope for Gaza

Here's what to know for the week ending January 17, 2025. And parents, take note of a new ban on red food colorant that affects many children's products, including cough syrups and candy. More on that below.

But first, Gaza.

ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER Benjamin Netanyahu's Security Cabinet approved an agreement Friday that would pause fighting in Gaza and release some hostages, beginning as early as Sunday. The deal needs to now be approved by the full Israeli government.

Under the agreement, Israel will release 95 Palestinian prisoners, most of whom were being held without charges. The group includes several children, with the youngest being 16. Among the adults, 25 men under age 21 and 70 women will be released. In another power move, Israel's prison services – rather than the International Red Cross – says they will handle the exchange to prevent "public expressions of joy." During the last round of prisoner release in December 2023, Israeli forces threatened families who celebrated in the streets when their loved ones returned home.

Far-right minister Itmar Ben-Gvir, who recently admitted to repeatedly attempting to derail Gaza ceasefire negotiations, threatened to resign if the deal goes through, saying he would return if fighting resumes. Analysts suggest Israel may not proceed to Phase Two of the deal, with Netanyahu potentially resuming military operations once Israeli hostages are secured.

The death toll among Palestinians has reached at least 46,000 – a figure that leading institutions, including the medical journal The Lancet, consider significantly understated.

A temporary pause in fighting will offer a glimmer of hope to the millions still trapped inside Gaza, but what then?

Israel's relentless bombing has destroyed or severely damaged every hospital and university in Gaza. The destruction extends to farmland, greenhouses, cemeteries, homes, and businesses. Gaza is uninhabitable.

Not only that – but this agreement does nothing to address the decades of oppression Palestinians have experienced at the hands of the Israeli government – and would continue to be subject to.

A must-read from Truthout:

"With the brutal blockade of Gaza still in place, the ceasefire deal will not bring an end to the genocide — the blockade in itself constitutes an act of genocide... [a ceasefire] would lay bare the total destruction that Israel has wrought on the besieged strip. According to a UN report, it could take 350 years for Gaza to rebuild if it remains under a blockade. Just cleaning Gaza's rubble could take 15 years, according to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), not to mention thousands of tons of unexploded ordnance that remains scattered across the Strip. It will take Gaza generations to heal, with over 50,000 dead, 100,000 maimed, 2 million displaced, over 20,000 children lost or missing under rubble and thousands more orphaned."

TIK-TOK YA... STOP?

The Supreme Court ruled Friday to uphold a ban on TikTok, resolving questions about the app's future in the U.S. amid concerns over its Chinese ownership.

The government argues that American users' data remains vulnerable to exploitation by the Chinese, creating a national security risk. According to the DoJ, the ban takes effect Sunday, when new downloads and updates will no longer be available in app stores, eventually rendering the app unusable.

The Information reports TikTok is considering a complete shutdown this weekend just to show how disruptive a ban would be.

F*CK THE OLIGARCHY

In his farewell address to the nation this week, President Biden warned the U.S. is veering toward an oligarchy controlled by "tech billionaires." He was referring to Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, and Jeff Bezos, who wield massive power and are aligning with Trump in what resembles a bid for unchecked global influence.

Musk donated $200 million to Trump’s campaign, bought Twitter, reinstated Trump, and turned the platform into a hub for rampant misinformation. Zuckerberg, set to host a Trump inaugural event, announced last week that Meta will stop fact-checking, pushing Facebook and Instagram closer to Twitter’s trajectory. Both Zuckerberg and Bezos have contributed $1 million to Trump’s inauguration fund, and Amazon has secured exclusive rights to a Melania Trump documentary.

Following Meta's decision to nix fact-checking, a new initiative called Free Our Feeds wants to create a platform resistant to billionaire influence. The group is fundraising for a three-year plan to transform X-alternative Bluesky into an open-source platform that protects user data from commercialization. Tens of thousands have flocked to Bluesky since Trump won in November, angry over Musk's sinister influence over the election.

RED DYE BAN

Peggy Sue was right: the red ones are bad for you. This week, the FDA banned Red No. 3, an artificial colorant found in products like strawberry milk, candies, and children's medicines, citing cancer risks observed in rats. While humans would need to consume unusually large quantities of the dye to face similar risks, experts note that the toxins have an "additive effect." The recommended daily allowance for children equals approximately 12 red gummy bears a day. Just 12.

BIRD FLU ADVISORY

The CDC is urging medical laboratories to expedite flu test processing from hospitals following an outbreak of avian flu (H5N1) in livestock and dairy cows. The agency wants to identify human cases of bird flu within 24 hours to prevent potential spread as a precaution. The virus, a subtype of influenza A, currently shows no signs of human-to-human transmission. Of the 67 confirmed cases in humans, none resulted from person-to-person contact.

INAUGURATION

Due to severe weather conditions, Monday's inauguration will move from its traditional outdoor setting to the Capitol Rotunda. With temperatures forecast in the low 20s and wind chill reaching single digits, this marks the first indoor ceremony since Ronald Reagan's 1985 inauguration. After the ceremony, Trump will head to the Capitol One Arena to meet supporters.

ALL THE PRESIDENT'S MEN & WOMEN

Ahead of Monday's transition of power, Trump's cabinet nominees progressed through confirmation hearings this week despite initial Republican criticism. Unlike his first term, when Trump nominated experienced individuals who later resigned or criticized his leadership, his current picks are loyal supporters who will prioritize Trump, not the country. As the Senate minority, Democrats have limited power to block the appointments.

The Washington Post on why Republicans are rolling over much faster this time around:

"The display of fealty on Capitol Hill reflects Trump's far greater command over the Republican Party than when he was first sworn in to office in 2017. In 2016, Republican senators had outperformed Trump on the ballot and felt little debt to the political novice. This time, almost every incoming senator in a competitive race underperformed Trump, and the party has been remade in his image."

Key nomination developments:

• Defense Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth, despite facing sexual assault allegations and expressing opposition to women in military service, has gained support from Republican senators. When questioned about Israel's actions in Gaza, Hegseth said: "I support Israel destroying and killing every last member of Hamas."
• Pam Bondi, the Attorney General nominee who still falsely claims the 2020 election was stolen and advocates pardoning January 6 defendants, also appears headed for confirmation.
• Treasury and Interior nominees are also moving ahead.
• More controversial picks, including vaccine skeptic Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. for HHS, have not met with the Senate yet.

CALIFORNIA WILDFIRES UPDATE

Firefighters have made progress containing Los Angeles area fires because of cooler temps and slower winds. At least 27 are dead and 31 still missing, with thousands still without power. Experts warn of potential toxic air contamination from burned materials, including plastic and batteries, compounding concerns about persistent smoke and ash.

Can't they just dump ocean water or wildfires? It's complicated.

LAST BUT NOT LEAST, SOMETHING TO MARVEL AT

Two astronauts, stranded on the International Space Station for seven months due to technical issues took their first spacewalk this week, capturing a stunning image of Earth and the Milky Way.

According to Accuweather, because astronauts in space orbit the Earth every 90 minutes, they get to experience 16 sunrises and 16 sunsets every day.