Author: admin

  • ‘Project Hail Mary’ Trailers Blasts Off To 400M Views, Pic Set for Comic-Con

    ‘Project Hail Mary’ Trailers Blasts Off To 400M Views, Pic Set for Comic-Con

    Amazon MGM Studio’s trailer Project Hail Mary posted some outer space-like numbers, pulling in 400 million global views in its first week.

    According to WaveMetrix, that’s the most views in one week for a trailer of an original movie (non-sequel/remake). It’s also the biggest trailer launch ever in the history of Amazon MGM Studios (that is for MGM, Amazon, or even the combined banner).

    Directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller celebrated the milestone on Twitter, but they also spilled the beans that they’re going to be at San Diego Comic-Con with star Ryan Gosling, author Andy Weir and scribe Drew Goodard.

    In the pic, Gosling plays science teacher Ryland Grace who wakes up on a spaceship light years from home with no recollection of who he is or how he got there. As his memory returns, he begins to uncover his mission: solve the riddle of the mysterious substance causing the sun to die out. He must call on his scientific knowledge and unorthodox ideas to save everything on Earth from extinction… but an unexpected friendship means he may not have to do it alone.

    The movie is produced by Amy Pascal, Gosling, Lord, Miller, Weir, Aditya Sood and Rachel O’Connor.

    EPs are Patricia Whitcher, Drew Goddard, Lucy Kitada, Nikki Baida, Sarah Esberg, Ken Kao

    The movie also stars Sandra Hüller, Lionel Boyce, Ken Leung, Milana Vayntrub

    Earlier this morning, we reported that Amazon MGM Studios’ The Accountant 2 is the second most watched movie on Prime Video pulling in 80M global viewers since dropping on June 5.


    Continue Reading

  • Martin returns to MotoGP action at Misano test

    Martin returns to MotoGP action at Misano test

    https://www.motogp.com/en/news/2025/07/09/martin-returns-to-motogp-action-at-misano-test/753818

    Aprilia’s #1 is back on the RS-GP25 ahead of his anticipated return to racing, with a one-day outing at Misano

    Related topics

    LATEST-NEWS

    Jorge Martin was back on Aprilia Racing’s RS-GP25 at the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli, as the reigning MotoGP World Champion took part in a private test ahead of his anticipated return to Grand Prix action.

    Watch some of the action above and then see what Martin had to say in our exclusive interview with the #1!

    Jorge Martin lapping around Misano with the RS-GP25

    Jorge Martin lapping around Misano with the RS-GP25

    Jorge Martin lapping around Misano with the RS-GP25

    Jorge Martin lapping around Misano with the RS-GP25

    Jorge Martin lapping around Misano with the RS-GP25

    Jorge Martin lapping around Misano with the RS-GP25

    Jorge Martin lapping around Misano with the RS-GP25

    Jorge Martin lapping around Misano with the RS-GP25

     

    Continue Reading

  • TikTok launches the TikTok Cycling Race and renews its partnership with the Tour de France and the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift

    TikTok launches the TikTok Cycling Race and renews its partnership with the Tour de France and the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift

    TikTok, official supplier of the Tour de France and the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift for two years, is renewing its partnership with these two races, highlighting the platform’s commitment to sharing sport differently, and more specifically cycling, by offering immersive and unique content to its users, both curious and passionate. In 2024, the official account @TourDeFrance attracted over 1.6 million followers, while videos posted under #TourDeFrance have garnered more than 818 million views. This enthusiasm is explained by TikTok’s ability to showcase cycling from a different perspective with a wide variety of content: behind-the-scenes of the race, rider preparations, key moments, exclusive interviews…

    On July 10, 2025, TikTok will host the first edition of its race called the TikTok Cycling Race. Launched during the official 6th stage, the race will cover the final 30 kilometers between Bayeux and Vire Normandie, starting from Saint-Michel-de-Montjoie. Two teams, each composed of 10 members — content creators, media figures, and iconic French personalities — will compete in an atmosphere that is both competitive and unifying. Supervised by coaches and guided by captains from the TikTok community, participants will experience what it’s like to be a true Tour de France rider: collective strategy, dedicated jerseys, professional equipment, and total immersion in the world of the Grande Boucle. Focused on self-improvement and inclusion, this first edition will be sponsored by @mariedivinekouame, multiple track cycling world champion and an inspiring figure in French cycling.

    The two competing teams:

    KM0 CYCLING TEAM (blue team) will be coached by creator @laura_lavry and captained by her sister, @orlaneeee_lvr. This team will include content creators such as @daetienne, @valfootoff, @pj_martini_reno, as well as the famous diver Alexis Jandard from @equipefra, @ouestfrance, and footballer Adil Rami representing @ligue1. Special guests like the renowned Colombian chef @juanarbelaezche and tennis player @payet_pauline will also complete this team.

    GAZIER CYCLING TEAM (yellow team) will be led by the twin brothers Grégoire (coach) and Antoine (captain), both content creators on the @ltdg_sports account. Alongside creators like @joggeuse and @oceane_dmg, who is also an Ambassador of the French Cycling Federation, as well as representatives from @parisbasketball, @eurosport_france, @velopack, and @harbatrunninglab. Finally, the famous Miss France 2021, @amandinepetitoff, and photographer @mathis_dumas will round out the team.

    The preparation of both teams is already underway and can be followed on the TikTok accounts of each participant, promising an exciting build-up full of energy, emotions, and memorable moments.

    EXCLUSIVE CONTENT TO DISCOVER AND A CONTEST TO BOOST ENGAGEMENT

    To keep the excitement going, users will be able to access exclusive content related to the competition, supported by a broad ecosystem of cycling enthusiasts and creators:

    • A dedicated mini-site, accessible from every video linked to the Tour de France, will provide easy access to all essential information: routes, teams, key dates…
    • A specially designed in-app space for the Tour de France will centralize all videos, highlights, and activations around the event, including the TikTok Cycling Race. This hub will make it easier for all cycling and sports competition fans to access content by using the hashtag #TourDeFrance, which has 103.7K followers.
    • A festive presence in the heart of the race, featuring two vehicles hosting creators and special guests.

    Thus, TikTok will bring the 2025 Tour de France to life like never before, offering an immersive dive behind the scenes of this legendary race and each of its stages.

    This year, TikTok is also launching a video contest from June 19 to August 3 to spark conversations around the Tour de France, inviting content creators and users to share their passion. To participate, they simply need to register on the dedicated page and post at least five videos using the hashtag #TourDeFrance. Winners will be selected based on the quality and engagement generated by their content.

     

    Jean-Patrick Cheylan, Chief Operations Officer, TikTok France:

    “The TikTok Cycling Race embodies our commitment to promoting sport in all its forms. By bringing an unprecedented race to the Tour de France, we are shaking up the norms to create an event within the event, placing the TikTok community at the heart of the race. It’s a new way to experience the competition, fueled by the energy of an engaged, creative, and inclusive community that celebrates sport in its own way.”

    Julien Goupil, Director of Media and Partnerships at A.S.O.:

    “Our partnership with TikTok is part of a desire to complement our existing setup with varied formats. This collaboration reflects a shared ambition: to bring the Tour de France and the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift to life in a different and complementary way, thanks to the creativity and spontaneity that characterize the platform. During the previous edition, videos with the #TourDeFrance hashtag amassed 818 million views. This partnership fully aligns with our commitment to promoting the event to everyone, everywhere in the world.”


    Continue Reading

  • Travis Kelce bids farewell to cherished pastime as it reaches ‘end’

    Travis Kelce bids farewell to cherished pastime as it reaches ‘end’



    Travis Kelce currently in talks to end favourite pastime

    Travis Kelce is currently in talks to end one of his many important pastimes in order to focus on something that has always been very close to his heart.

    The 35-year-old Kansas City Chiefs’ tight end, who is gearing up for his return to the training camp, opened up on Wednesday, July 9, about the fate of his New Heights podcast.

    Travis and his brother Jason confirmed that their podcast is coming to an end for the time being, allowing the 37-year-old to focus more on his career.

    Jason confirmed, “We have come to the end of the road,” as they will wrap up the third season of their popular show on July 23.

    “Travis is going to training camp, as you all know. Whenever training camp starts, we take a hiatus from the pod, because it’s nearly impossible to do a podcast while somebody’s in training camp.”

    In response to his brother’s claim about the podcast, Travis couldn’t help but cheer on in excitement about his new venture.

    For the unversed, the NFL star has previously been occupied with the love of his life, Taylor Swift, in Florida and New York, and is now all set to return to the game.

    Continue Reading

  • The M4 Mac Mini Is the Best Value I’ve Found From Apple. And It’s $100 Off Right Now for Prime Day

    The M4 Mac Mini Is the Best Value I’ve Found From Apple. And It’s $100 Off Right Now for Prime Day

    I bought the M4 Mac Mini last month after reading CNET laptop expert Joshua Goldman’s review on the tiny machine. I was looking for a computer that would increase my productivity and better organize my workflow. In four weeks of usage, I’ve found it to be the best value for money among Apple’s lineup. For less than $600, you can get a more powerful computer than the $999 MacBook Air. Even better, it’s now selling for $100 off for Amazon Prime Day. As a result, you can buy an M4 Mac Mini for as low as $500. That’s a fantastic deal for work-from-home employees and creatives. 

    The M4 Mac Mini, Apple’s smallest computer, is an easy recommendation for me since it’s one of CNET’s picks for the best desktop computers of 2025. It’s also our go-to for the best cheap desktop alternative to a MacBook or iMac. Right now on Amazon, it’s currently discounted by 9%, and Prime members can get an additional $46 off when you apply the on-page coupon. That’s close to the lowest price we’ve seen on this powerful computer.

    LAPTOP DEALS OF THE WEEK

    Deals are selected by the CNET Group commerce team, and may be unrelated to this article.

    The M4 Mac Mini has been my best tech investment this year

    mac-mini-m4-01

    The M4 Mac Mini plus Apple’s current crop of USB-C Magic accessories makes for really nice portable computing solution. Add a portable monitor and you’re set. 

    Josh Goldman/CNET

    I’ve been joyfully surprised by M4 Mac Mini’s value proposition and how wonderful it has been to work from a desk for me. As a freelance remote worker, I travel for at least 10 days every month, so I need a portable computer. Based on my lifestyle, I should be recommending the M4 MacBook Air. But it’s the remaining 20 days of the month that I need to work harder than usual to work on new pitches, deliver approved stories, sort admin tasks, coordinate for hardware, research for my work and more. All of this requires immense organization and productivity, and the M4 Mac Mini has helped make my life easier.

    The smallest Apple computer doesn’t compromise on power. It features a 10-core CPU and 10-core GPU, 16GB of unified memory and a 256GB solid-state drive for storage. It’s very powerful for a $599 machine and a bargain at $500. You likely won’t be able to find similar reliability and power on a Windows machine for $500. I’ve tried and failed. And no, I’m not forgetting that the Mac Mini doesn’t come with a display or a mouse and keyboard. 

    I paired my M4 Mac Mini with a 27-inch LG UltraGear monitor (currently down to $180) and a Logitech mouse and keyboard combo — all for under $200. The UltraGear’s big screen is quite useful for research and multitasking, as well as watching movies. 

    The M4 Mac Mini can be equally excellent for both home office and content creation needs. As CNET’s Goldman wrote in his review, “The Mini can fit in your hand and be everything from an everyday home office computer to a full-on professional content-creation machine — and an easily portable one at that — with support for up to three 6K-resolution displays.” 

    My buying recommendation

    The M4 Mac Mini was launched in November 2024, and it’s now available at a $100 discount, which is close to the lowest price we’ve seen. The small Apple computer offers a superb value proposition for remote workers and content creators alike. If you’ve been on the fence about getting a PC for home like me, I’d say pick up a M4 Mac Mini and see the difference for yourself.

    Want to check out the competition? We’ve rounded up the best desktop computer deals from the likes of HP, Lenovo, Dell and, naturally, Apple. And if this desktop isn’t up to your tastes, you can check out the best laptop deals. 


    Continue Reading

  • Max Verstappen looks back on ‘incredible successes’ as he reacts to Christian Horner’s Red Bull exit

    Max Verstappen looks back on ‘incredible successes’ as he reacts to Christian Horner’s Red Bull exit

    Max Verstappen has paid tribute to outgoing Red Bull Racing team boss Christian Horner, reflecting on their “incredible successes” and “breaking countless records” together.

    Red Bull announced on Wednesday that Horner had left his role with immediate effect after more than 20 years at the helm – the Briton guiding the outfit into their first F1 season back in 2005.

    Verstappen stepped up to Red Bull from sister team Toro Rosso in the early stages of the 2016 campaign and won on his debut at the Spanish Grand Prix, marking the start of a hugely successful run.

    Since then, Verstappen has added 64 more victories, 116 more podiums and 44 pole positions, while winning the 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024 Drivers’ Championships on the bounce.

    A few hours on from the news of Horner’s departure being confirmed, Verstappen posted a short statement via his social media channels.

    “From my first race win, to four World Championships, we have shared incredible successes,” read Verstappen’s note. “Winning memorable races and breaking countless records. Thank you for everything, Christian!”

    As such, Verstappen will have a new team boss from the upcoming Belgian Grand Prix, with Laurent Mekies moving over from Racing Bulls to take Horner’s spot.

    Mekies will in turn be replaced as Racing Bulls Team Principal by experienced engineer Alan Permane, who joined the team at the start of 2024 as their Racing Director.

    Continue Reading

  • Obesity-Linked Exosomes May Drive Tumor Aggressiveness in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

    Obesity-Linked Exosomes May Drive Tumor Aggressiveness in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

    Metabolic disorders, such as type 2 diabetes (T2D) and obesity, can drive tumor aggressiveness in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), according to study data published in BMC Cancer. The findings build on emerging research investigating the role of exosomes in cancer aggressiveness.1

    Breast cancer cell | Image Credit: © Mopic – stock.adobe.com

    “Obesity and [T2D] are very common and already known to worsen many cancers,” Pablo Llevenes, lead author and PhD candidate in biomolecular pharmacology at Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, said in coverage by Medical Xpress. “Our research shows one clear biological way, via exosomes, how being obese can make a deadly breast cancer subtype even more aggressive.”2

    About 15% of all diagnoses of BC in the United States are TNBC, an aggressive subtype with few treatment choices since tumor cells lack human epidermal growth factor receptor 2, progesterone, and estrogen receptors. The absence of these common targets makes TNBC particularly difficult to treat, leaving patients with treatment options limited to cytotoxic agents like chemotherapy. The 5-year relative survival rate for TNBC is approximately 91%; however, this rate drops dramatically to about 12% for distant metastases.1-3

    There is growing interest in how TNBC is affected by metabolic disorders like T2D and obesity, which are both linked to more aggressive cancers and worse outcomes. Obesity is a chronic inflammatory condition that impairs how tissues respond to insulin. This ongoing inflammation leads to metabolic changes and the release of pro-inflammatory molecules—such as interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and leptin—into the bloodstream. These circulating factors can interact with tumors and their surrounding environment, helping to drive cancer growth and progression.1

    “However, the key causal elements that connect obesity-driven, systemic insulin resistance to increased metastatic burden and tumor progression remain poorly understood,” the authors wrote.1

    Researchers hypothesized that exosomes—small vesicles present in plasma or released by adipose tissue—may play a role in promoting tumor growth and aggressiveness, particularly in the context of obesity-driven metabolic dysfunction. To investigate this, they used a high-fat diet (HFD)–fed C57BL/6J mouse model to examine how obesity-related insulin resistance affects exosome production and function. Their focus was on how these exosomes influence the behavior of E0771 breast cancer cells, a commonly used model for TNBC, especially in the context of metabolic disease.1

    The study found that exosomes derived from HFD-induced obese, insulin-resistant mice had significantly different molecular content compared with those from lean, insulin-sensitive controls. When taken up by BC cells, these altered exosomes triggered notable molecular and phenotypic changes, including the promotion of a mesenchymal-like state—a hallmark of increased cancer aggressiveness.1

    The model’s validity was confirmed through standard metabolic testing, including oral glucose tolerance tests and intraperitoneal insulin tolerance tests, which demonstrated impaired glucose clearance and insulin response. Additionally, the HFD group showed significant weight gain, consistent with obesity and systemic insulin resistance.1

    “The differential effects observed between exosomes derived from visceral adipose tissue and plasma suggest that circulating exosomes may have a more pronounced impact on promoting a mesenchymal and metastatic phenotype in TNBC cells,” the authors concluded. “Future research should explore therapeutic strategies targeting specific signaling pathways, such as Rac1, to mitigate the pro-metastatic effects of obesity-driven insulin resistance.”1

    REFERENCES
    1. Llévenes P, Chen A, Lawton M, et al. Plasma exosomes in insulin resistant obesity exacerbate progression of triple negative breast cancer. BMC Cancer. July 9, 2025. Doi:10.1186/s12885-025-14447-8
    2. Aggressive breast cancer triggered by obesity-related blood signals, study shows. Medical Xpress. July 9, 2025. Accessed July 9, 2025. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-07-aggressive-breast-cancer-triggered-obesity.html
    3. Gerlach A. Sacituzumab govitecan-hziy plus pembrolizumab improves PFS in patients with metastatic triple-negative breast cancer. Pharmacy Times. April 24, 2025. https://www.pharmacytimes.com/view/sacituzumab-govitecan-hziy-plus-pembrolizumab-improves-pfs-in-patients-with-metastatic-triple-negative-breast-cancer

    Continue Reading

  • Best Pokémon deals: Shop Prime Day deals on games, cards, and more

    Best Pokémon deals: Shop Prime Day deals on games, cards, and more

    The best Prime Day Pokémon deals

    Pokémon Shining Pearl on white background

    Squishmallows 14-inch Chansey Plush

    Prime Day is officially here, and it’s the best time of year to indulge in deals on some of your favorite items, like Pokémon games, cards, plushies, and more. If you’re looking for the best Prime Day Pokémon deals on all of the above, we’ve gathered them below on one handy list.

    Because many of us are Pokémaniacs just like you (several members of the Mashable shopping team are still playing Pokémon GO in the year 2025), we’ve taken the time to vet each of the deals and make sure they’re actually a decent discount.

    SEE ALSO:

    100+ Prime Day deals — get record-low prices on Apple, Ninja, and Samsung

    Below, find some of our favorite deals on Pokémon cards, games, and more that you can snag before the Prime Day rush sets in. You’ll be catching ’em all before the shopping event even gets here.

    Best Pokémon deal

    Why we like it

    If you’re a big Eevee fan, or even if you just love shiny things, this TCG box set will be right up your alley. It comes with a full-art promo card featuring Eevee ex, a playmat with Eevee and its multiple evolutions, a fuzzy Eevee deck box, 15 booster packs, and 65 card sleeves. It also comes with a code card for Pokémon TCG Live that you can use to unlock digital cards. Really, the gorgeous box is another reason to grab this beautiful collection while it’s on sale, too. Just look at those colors.

    Best Pokémon game deal

    Why we like it

    Return to the Sinnoh region in this Switch remake of the classic Game Boy Color game Pokémon Pearl. It’s been completely remade from the ground up with new sprites, 3D graphics, and additional content for a reimagined version of the game that followed the original Pokémon Red and Blue on the Game Boy. There’s additional content like Secret Base building, Pokémon fossils, and more. Whether you missed the originals or want a chance to return to the classic world, this discount lets you do so while saving some cash.

    Mashable Deals

    Best Pokémon plush deal

    Why we like it

    Do we really need to explain why we like Chansey in Squishmallow form? Chansey may be a normal-type Pokémon, but in the form of this plush, it’s abnormally adorable. Plus, there’s maybe no better Pokémon suited to the Squishmallow treatment, which is why we’re happy to see our round friend in this extremely huggable form and on sale for under $20.

    More Pokémon deals

    The best Prime Day deals, hand-picked by Mashable’s team of experts

    Continue Reading

  • Texas flooding death toll climbs to 119 as search for more people continues | Texas floods 2025

    Texas flooding death toll climbs to 119 as search for more people continues | Texas floods 2025

    The number of people who have died from the flooding in Texas continues to rise, with at least 119 dead throughout the state, officials said on Wednesday morning.

    Search crews continue to look for people, as residents and news organizations question the government’s alarm and warning systems.

    In Kerr county, the area that was worst affected by last Friday’s flood, officials said on Wednesday morning that 95 people had died. The other 24 people who have died are from surrounding areas. The Kerr county sheriff said 59 adults and 36 children had died, with 27 bodies still unidentified.

    People are slowly returning to their properties to survey the damage from the devastating flash flood, as local officials continue with rescue, recovery and cleanup efforts.

    There are 161 people believed to be missing in Kerr county due to the flash floods, making up the majority of the 173 missing in the entire state. Camp Mystic, the all-girls Christian camp that was gravely affected by the flood, still has five campers and one counselor missing.

    As cleanup efforts continue, more and more people are scrutinizing the government’s alert system to warn people before the flood. Journalistic investigations have revealed that first responders asked that a mass-alert system in Kerr county be triggered on Friday morning. The alert system sends text messages and “delivers pre-recorded emergency telephone messages” to some people in the area.

    Dispatchers delayed a 4.22am request from volunteer firefighters for an alert to be sent, saying they needed special authorization, according to reporting from Texas Public Radio (TPR) based on emergency radio transmissions they reviewed. Some residents received flood warnings within an hour. Others told TPR they did not receive an alert until 10am – nearly six hours after first responders’ request. A separate story from KSAT confirms TPR’s reporting.

    There are inconsistencies regarding local officials’ response. In his first press conference on 4 July after the flood, the Kerr county judge said the area did not have an emergency alert system.

    “I believe those questions need to be answered, to the families of the missed loved ones, to the public, you know, to the people who put me in this office. And I want that answer and we’re going to get that answer,” the Kerr county sheriff, Larry Leitha, said.

    skip past newsletter promotion

    “We’re not running, we’re not going to hide. That’s going to be checked into at a later time.”

    There are no outdoor weather sirens to blast alerts in some communities in the area. Since 2015, Kerr county officials have applied for grants for a flood warning system, the New York Times reported. For years, officials have also warned the series of summer camps in the area of incoming floods by word-of-mouth. A Change.org petition was launched after the flood for an early warning siren system and has more than 35,000 signatures.

    Rescue and recovery efforts are continuing. The Kerr county sheriff’s department is working on rescue and recovery efforts, the sheriff said, adding that it was an “all hands on deck” situation.

    During Wednesday’s press conference, local officials asked people to be careful and give search crews space during their efforts. “We are using very heavy equipment” to search and clear up fallen trees and debris, a sheriff official said.

    On Sunday, the Trump administration declared the flooding a “major disaster” and deployed federal resources to assist the state.

    Continue Reading

  • Gaza, Iran, and a Nobel Prize: Trump and Netanyahu meet in Washington

    Gaza, Iran, and a Nobel Prize: Trump and Netanyahu meet in Washington

    President Donald Trump sounded confident on Sunday when he told a reporter that a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas could be reached by the end of the week.

    Israel has reportedly proposed a 60-day ceasefire and the return of 10 living and 18 deceased hostages, out of approximately 50 remaining Israeli hostages, of whom 20 are believed to be alive. Hamas continues to push for a permanent end to the conflict.

    Negotiations between the two sides are being conducted indirectly, with Qatar and Egypt leading the talks. The calculus on the part of the US and Israel appears to be that, with Iran and its proxy forces in the region significantly weakened, Hamas will be ready to make more concessions.

    These talks are taking place against the backdrop of a worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza, with daily reports of Israeli troops displacing Palestinians and firing on hungry, desperate people trying to get food as Palestinian children struggle with starvation, malnutrition, and disease. Israeli soldiers have also been killed in recent fighting.

    Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is making the rounds in Washington, DC, this week. It’s his third visit since Trump returned to office, more than any other foreign leader.

    At a dinner at the White House on Monday evening, Netanyahu presented Trump with a copy of a letter nominating him for the Nobel Peace Prize. Trump has repeatedly expressed his interest in getting the peace prize — an accolade that President Barack Obama received early in his presidency — and has cited his “peacekeeping” efforts in the Middle East, including attacks on Iran’s nuclear facilities, as justification.

    Ending the war in Gaza, Trump believes, would cement his legacy. But he has to convince Netanyahu to agree to that. To get the latest on where things stand between Trump and Netanyahu, Today, Explained co-host Noel King spoke to Michael Koplow, chief policy officer at Israel Policy Forum.

    Below is an excerpt of their conversation, edited for length and clarity. There’s much more in the full podcast, so listen to Today, Explained wherever you get podcasts, including Apple Podcasts, Pandora, and Spotify.

    Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu have run hot and cold on each other since Trump took office in January. Where do things stand between them right now?

    Right now, it seems that their relationship is at a high point. But even in the past six months, we’ve seen significant ups and significant downs.

    On the one hand, this is now Prime Minister Netanyahu’s third visit to the White House in President Trump’s second term, and that would indicate that these two men have a closer relationship than any other two leaders on the face of the planet. But these visits have not always been so harmonious, and they’ve not always been so great for Prime Minister Netanyahu, particularly the second visit.

    On that second visit, Prime Minister Netanyahu seemed to be blindsided in the Oval Office in front of cameras by a number of things that President Trump said. He was blindsided on tariffs when he had come to Washington ostensibly to try to remove any tariffs that President Trump was going to put on Israel. And not only was he not successful in doing so, President Trump sat in front of the cameras and talked about how the United States gives Israel $4 billion a year, and that’s a lot of money and it should get something in return.

    He was also blindsided in that meeting on the issue of Iran. President Trump announced in that meeting that the United States was going to enter into direct talks with Iran, something that Prime Minister Netanyahu was certainly opposed to. Now we know how that turned out two months later, but at the time, it was seen as a pretty significant signal that President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu were not on the same page.

    In addition to the awkwardness of that second visit — during President Trump’s last visit to the Middle East, he went to Saudi Arabia, he went to Qatar, he went to the UAE. He made a huge production out of those visits, talking about how much he loved the region, but he didn’t go to Israel and many people interpreted that as a snub. Was it?

    I don’t think it was a snub. I think that he went to the region because he wanted to come home with high-profile, visible demonstrations of US strength and demonstrate that he could bring deals back home. Ultimately, he thinks of himself as a dealmaker, and there were all sorts of trade deals and promises for investment to be found in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar. Those were not going to be found in Israel.

    He took that trip to the Middle East back in May. What’s changed since then?

    The biggest thing that has changed is the campaign against Iran, where you had 12 days of Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear and military facilities and personnel, and then you had the very high-profile US strike on the three Iranian nuclear sites at Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan.

    In Israel and certainly within the administration — and I share this assessment — that campaign is viewed as being incredibly successful. And unlike when President Trump traveled to the region, this is a case where Israel presents him with a big and visible win and he’s touting it as much as he can.

    So Israel gives him a win on Iran, and now, as President Trump is wont, he’s looking for another win. On Sunday, he tells reporters that a deal on Gaza is close. What do you think he’s trying to telegraph and what happens if he’s wrong? Does he take it out on Netanyahu?

    There are two things that President Trump has consistently talked about in terms of his vision for the Middle East and what he wants to accomplish. One was preventing Iran from getting a nuclear weapon. And whether that has now been done definitively or not, President Trump is certainly treating it as if this is mission accomplished, and Iran is now not going to get a nuclear weapon.

    The second thing that he’s consistently talked about is bringing the fighting in Gaza to an end and expanding the Abraham Accords and bringing other countries into the circle of normalization, all of which I think in his mind is supposed to lead to the Nobel Peace Prize, which really I think is the goal that he seems to put above almost anything else in the realm of foreign policy.

    To accomplish that second one, he needs Prime Minister Netanyahu to go along with what he wants because there is no world in which the fighting in Gaza will end unless Prime Minister Netanyahu agrees to do it. If Prime Minister Netanyahu does not go along with it, there may be consequences, and it may be that President Trump eventually moves on.

    I think that what we’re seeing right now from Prime Minister Netanyahu is an effort to really extend the clock. The first part of this is a potential 60-day ceasefire in Gaza that will not bring a permanent end to the war, but will give President Trump the opening that he seeks at the moment. And if this negotiation is successful, then it also buys Prime Minister Netanyahu two months to figure out whether he wants to keep it going or whether, at the end of 60 days, the fighting in Gaza will resume.

    [Netanyahu] likes extending his options as much as he can, and so buying this time will be important and it will allow him to give the president something that the president is really demanding from him, and that should keep the heat off at least for a little bit.

    These two men have different motivations when it comes to the Palestinian people. Netanyahu doesn’t seem to care about Palestinians. He cares about Israel’s security. Trump wants a deal in Gaza because he likes doing deals. Do you think that Donald Trump cares what happens to the Palestinian people?

    When President Trump speaks about Palestinians, certainly during this term in office, he tends to do it with a degree of empathy that we don’t always see from him on other issues. It’s pretty consistent when he talks about Gaza for him to talk about the fact that Palestinians are suffering and that they deserve better. We don’t often hear that sort of language from Prime Minister Netanyahu and from many Israeli leaders.

    The problem is that for any real resolution to Gaza, you need some sort of political vision. President Trump often talks about how Palestinians deserve better lives and should have better lives. But it’s rare to hear him talk about how he thinks they will get there politically as opposed to this just being a quality of life issue.

    We saw it when he announced his “Gaza Riviera” plan during that first Netanyahu trip to Washington, and we saw it again even last night when President Trump got a question about two states, and he didn’t answer it. He punted it to Netanyahu. Netanyahu made it very clear that Israel does not see a Palestinian state as part of the Israeli-Palestinian political future.

    Both Trump and Netanyahu need this relationship. Trump needs Netanyahu. Netanyahu needs Trump. Who needs whom more, do you think?

    Netanyahu absolutely needs Trump more than Trump needs Netanyahu.

    The things that Trump wants right now from Netanyahu are things that would be nice to have. He wants to expand the Abraham Accords. He wants to have better coordination throughout the region. He wants his Nobel Prize. But ultimately, the United States has lots of other issues on its plate. The United States is a global superpower, whereas Israel is not. And the United States can work on all sorts of other things even if the Trump-Netanyahu relationship turns out to be poor and the coordination turns out to not be what President Trump wants.

    From Prime Minister Netanyahu’s side, the United States is indispensable, and there are all sorts of things that he wants that he has to have President Trump for. We saw this in practice with Iran, where Israel embarked on airstrikes on its own, but it was clear from the beginning that it needed the United States not only to buy into what Israel was doing but to actually step in and act.

    Ultimately, Prime Minister Netanyahu cannot afford to be on President Trump’s bad side, and I think that that’s going to cause him some difficult choices ahead when it comes to Gaza, where there’s no question that President Trump wants that war to end. Prime Minister Netanyahu also may want it to end, but he wants it to end on very specific and narrow terms. And if the two men end up crosswise on that question, Prime Minister Netanyahu really cannot afford to get into a rift with President Trump.

    Continue Reading