This week, President Trump addressed a large assembly of top U.S. military commanders, diverting their strategic focus from global hotspots like Ukraine, Taiwan, Poland, and Denmark to domestic concerns. He singled out major American cities—San Francisco, Chicago, New York, and Los Angeles—suggesting they should serve as “training grounds for our military.”
The President, referring to these cities (all Democrat-led and largely opposed to his policies) as “crime-filled urban hellscapes,” declared his intention to “straighten that out one by one.” He emphasized that this domestic intervention would be a “major part for some of the people in this room,” framing it as “a war from within.”
This rhetoric touches upon a profound fear shared globally: the potential for a nation’s own military to be turned against its populace. America’s founders were deeply wary of a standing army being used to suppress dissent and establish tyranny, implementing safeguards to prevent such a scenario.
Historically, the deployment of military forces within U.S. borders has a complex and often racially charged past. A significant measure restricting domestic military operations was enacted post-Civil War, partly to appease Southern white supremacists who resisted federal interference with racially discriminatory laws. Later, during the 1950s and ’60s, the U.S. military and National Guard were dispatched to Southern states to enforce federal anti-discrimination laws amid widespread civil unrest.
However, as political science professor Peter Feaver notes, Trump’s current orders to deploy National Guard troops differ significantly; they target cities not currently experiencing widespread civil disturbances. This distinction makes a nonpartisan justification difficult, leaving room predominantly for a partisan interpretation of his actions.
During the Tuesday gathering, Trump reiterated his vision for the military, asserting, “With leaders like we have right here in this beautiful room today, we will vanquish every danger and crush every threat to our freedom.” The military commanders present maintained stoic, expressionless faces, adhering to strict rules of political neutrality.
MORE TOP NEWS
An attack occurred at a British synagogue in Manchester, England, on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar. An assailant rammed a car into pedestrians outside the synagogue before launching a stabbing spree, killing two people. Police officers intervened, shooting and killing the attacker within minutes. Security personnel and bystanders had successfully prevented the individual from entering the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation, where morning prayer services were underway. Authorities have classified this as an act of terrorism, highlighting escalating fears for Jewish communities in Europe and the U.S. amidst rising antisemitism linked to the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza.
Many Palestinians say ‘enough is enough’
Hamas has yet to formally respond to a cease-fire proposal from President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. This proposal largely favors Israel’s demands and provides no clear pathway to Palestinian statehood. Yet, after two years of brutal conflict that has claimed over 65,000 Palestinian lives (according to local health officials) and with Israel systematically restricting humanitarian aid, many Gazans desperately seek an end to the war.
Mahmoud Bolbol, a 43-year-old construction worker who has endured the war in Gaza City with his six children in their damaged home, pleaded, “Hamas must say yes to this offer — we have been through hell already.” The proposal includes elements Hamas previously deemed unacceptable, such as relinquishing control of Gaza. This places Palestinians in a difficult position between Israel and Hamas. Mahmoud Abu Mattar, a former accountant from Gaza City, expressed his disgust with negotiators: “The ones negotiating on my behalf are sitting in air-conditioned rooms. They are not the ones living in sand, walking half an hour to fetch water or searching for a bag of flour and getting killed.”
OTHER NEWS
- Three people were killed during Gen Z antigovernment protests in Morocco.
- In Madagascar, thousands of young people took to the capital’s streets, demanding the president’s resignation.
- Trump called the government shutdown an “unprecedented opportunity” to slash the federal bureaucracy through another round of mass layoffs.
- Stores in Denmark have reported huge increases in sales of emergency radios, rice, and canned mackerel since a wave of drone incursions unsettled the public.
- Rescuers in Indonesia said they would end the search for students trapped under a collapsed school in East Java.
- Australia expanded a sunscreen recall after regulators found that multiple brands delivered protection far short of their advertised SPF.
SPORTS
Tennis: Eva Lys explains the secret behind her rise up the WTA Tour — doing less.
Golf: A comedian apologized for leading a foul-mouthed chant at the Ryder Cup.
NUMBER OF THE DAY
996
— A high-octane work schedule (9 a.m. to 9 p.m., six days a week) that first gained infamy in China, and is now taking hold in California’s Silicon Valley. Though the term is new, working intense hours is a longstanding tradition in the tech industry.
MORNING READ
The World is counting down to the release of Taylor Swift’s 12th album, which was inspired by her record-breaking, headline-grabbing Eras tour — and her eventful offstage life. (She’s engaged to the American football star Travis Kelce, in case you haven’t heard.)
The promotional blitz for “The Life of a Showgirl,” which comes out today, will include an 89-minute “release party” at movie theaters worldwide this weekend. (One of my best friends is going in London!) It’ll feature the new music video for the song “The Fate of Ophelia” and a behind-the-scenes look at how the video was made.
Are you ready for it? Just to be sure, read up on Swift’s most iconic career moments.
AROUND THE WORLD
How they’re fighting loneliness in … New York
The desire for more human connection has created a business opportunity in modern bathhouses, where young people gather in saunas to take classes on “Self-Care Sweat” and “Gratitude.”
Melissa Kirsch, who writes for our sister newsletter, The Morning, took the plunge to understand why the bathhouse experience holds an enduring communal appeal.
“The ice baths were excruciating at first, but I eventually was able to stay in for several minutes,” Melissa said. “I spent the rest of the day feeling a weird sense of pride for having done something challenging.”
RECIPE
The top of this rustic mango Basque cheesecake may color unevenly as it bakes. Embrace this, as they do at La Viña in San Sebastián, Spain, the home of this newly-famous dessert. Every cheesecake is slightly different, but all are glorious.
WHERE IS THIS?
Where is this Carnival celebration?
- Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago
- Luanda, Angola
- Oruro, Bolivia
BEFORE YOU GO …
Just a quick note to say … thank you! Danke! Gracias! Shukran! 谢谢!
The World is now one week old. It’s been a roller coaster. Thanks for riding along with us. I know there have been glitches. For some of you on iPhones, the links to our app haven’t been working. We’re aware of the problem. It should be fixed soon.
I want to use this space in the Friday edition to send you into the weekend with what my teenagers call “inspo.” An amazing song. A book that changed me. A film that rocked my world. If you want to send me favorites from your part of the world, that would be cool.
I’ve got two things for you this week: I went to a screening of “Love+War,” a gripping documentary about my colleague Lynsey Addario. She’s a war photographer, mother and one of the bravest people I know. Those of us who are working parents are all familiar with work-life balance issues. Lynsey’s are off the scale. (Her husband, Paul, is the other hero of this story.) Do watch the trailer.
Finally, here’s James Brown to play us off, with his song “World.” Sit with it. It’s infused with despair about a troubled world. But it’s also a soulful cry for love and reconciliation. What else is there?
I think it could be the unofficial theme song of this newsletter.
Have a good weekend. — Katrin
TIME TO PLAY
Here are today’s Spelling Bee, Mini Crossword, Wordle and Sudoku. Find all our games here.
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