What it will take to end the war in Gaza; what’s in the MLK Files?

Summary

Here’s a Scoop: Episode Summary – “What it will take to end the war in Gaza; what’s in the MLK Files?”

In the July 22, 2025 episode of NBC News' evening podcast Here’s the Scoop, host Yasmin Vossoughian delves deep into two pressing issues: the ongoing war in Gaza and the recent controversial release of FBI files related to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. This comprehensive episode offers listeners a nuanced exploration of these topics through expert interviews, on-the-ground reports, and insightful analysis.

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1. The Ongoing War in Gaza: Struggle for Peace

Current Situation on the Ground

The episode opens with a stark depiction of the dire circumstances in Gaza. Yasmin Vossoughian introduces the segment by highlighting the severe humanitarian crisis:

“Health workers warning that the hunger crisis is entering a, quote, death phase. With the Gaza health ministry saying 100 Palestinians were killed just this past weekend while seeking the limited aid that's allowed in...”

Expert Insight with Richard Engel

To provide a deeper understanding, NBC News Chief Foreign Correspondent Richard Engel joins the discussion. Engel paints a grim picture of the situation:

“People are starving, people are bombed. People don't know where to go to find safety. I speak to people in Gaza every day, or almost every day. It seems hopeless. I think for a while the people in Gaza were able to kind of hold on and feel that we have so much solidarity and we will never give in. But their will is starting to break.” (01:23)

Engel elaborates on the complexities of delivering aid to Gaza:

“It's not difficult. You want to get people aid, you can get people aid. It's just not the system that's set up. The system that's set up is Israel has locked Gaza with a ring of steel and is only allowing certain convoys to get in there...” (01:53)

He underscores the dangers faced by aid workers:

“It's about a thousand people dead now so far, shot and killed while coming to collect aid.” (02:55)

Engel also shares his personal experiences entering Gaza, highlighting the extensive destruction:

“We were there for the day and drove around Rafah and just utter devastation... And it was uninhabitable then. The infrastructure is so torn up, the buildings are so torn up.” (03:10)

Pathways to Peace with Aaron David Miller

Shifting focus to potential solutions, Aaron David Miller, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and former State Department analyst, provides a strategic outlook:

“When it comes to the Middle East, I don't like the word pessimist. I guess I would describe myself as Jack Kennedy described himself as an idealist without illusion. And on Gaza, I have a pretty grim sort of outlook...” (04:28)

Miller identifies three critical challenges:

1. Governance of Gaza: Determining who will govern Gaza post-conflict.
2. Preventing Resurgence: Ensuring that Hamas or other groups do not regain power.
3. Humanitarian Reconstruction: Addressing the extensive humanitarian needs and rebuilding efforts.

He also speculates on the potential role of former President Donald Trump in mediating peace:

“What would compel him would be his conclusion that the Netanyahu government was not serious at all about ending this war...” (07:29)

Role of Regional and International Actors

Miller emphasizes the necessity of involving Gulf states and neighboring countries in peace efforts:

“All of the countries you mention, particularly Israel's treaty partners, Jordan and Egypt... have done nothing to impose a single cost or consequence on either on Israel or on the United States.” (08:54)

He suggests a bold approach where Trump collaborates with leaders like Muhammad bin Salman to foster regional peace:

“Here's what I need, but here's my hand. What is required is boldness along with ownership.” (10:19)

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2. Release of the MLK Files: Unveiling Historical Secrets

Controversial Release and Timing

Transitioning to historical revelations, Yasmin Vossoughian discusses the release of over 230,000 pages of FBI documents related to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination. The timing of this release has sparked controversy, particularly among King's family members.

Andrea Mitchell’s Analysis

Andrea Mitchell, NBC's chief Washington and foreign affairs correspondent, provides critical insights into the release:

“The reason it is particularly suspicious is that they had given the files to the family... Instead they were released just yesterday, very suddenly.” (11:29)

Mitchell suggests that the release might be a strategic distraction amidst the President's ongoing challenges:

“That raised the suspicion that this was a distraction attempt to try to take attention away from the Epstein files issue which has been dogging the President.” (12:05)

Family's Perspective and Historical Context

The King family's concerns center around the historical context and the potential misuse of the released information:

“Dr. King was being followed by the FBI... There was... government surveillance... to undermine the civil rights movement.” (13:11)

Mitchell emphasizes that much of this for the public remains obscure:

“I don't think it's known. And so many generations have passed...” (13:37)

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3. Additional Headlines: Economic Struggles, Environmental Challenges, and Tributes

Economic Impact of Tariffs on the Auto Industry

The episode touches on the significant financial strains tariffs are imposing on major car manufacturers:

• Stellantis: Reported a $2.7 billion loss in the first half of the year due to tariffs.
• General Motors: Faced a 35% drop in profits, attributing much of the decline to a $1.1 billion tariff impact. GM anticipates further challenges in the coming months without planning specific price increases.

Environmental Concerns: The Heat and Corn Sweat

A discussion on the extreme summer heatwave highlights the phenomenon of "corn sweat," where crops release moisture, increasing humidity and exacerbating heat indices, particularly in agricultural regions like Iowa and Illinois. This contributes to intense heat conditions, with some areas experiencing temperatures over 110 degrees.

Tribute to Ozzy Osbourne

The episode concludes with a heartfelt tribute to Ozzy Osbourne, the legendary frontman of Black Sabbath, who passed away at 76. Vossoughian celebrates his monumental contributions to heavy metal music and his enduring legacy:

“Ozzy took the stage one final time a few weeks ago with his old bandmates back in Birmingham... leaves behind a legacy that's part metal part mayhem and all heart.” (16:45)

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Conclusion

This episode of Here’s the Scoop adeptly navigates complex international conflicts and historical revelations, providing listeners with a thorough understanding of the multifaceted issues at play. Through expert interviews and detailed reporting, Yasmin Vossoughian ensures that the audience remains informed and engaged with the stories that shape our world.

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For those looking to stay informed on critical global issues and significant historical developments, this episode of Here’s the Scoop offers invaluable insights and comprehensive coverage.

Transcript

[Yasmin Vesugian]

Hey, everybody. Welcome to here's the scoop from NBC News. I'm Yasmin Vesugian. Today on the show, the MLK files are released, but why now? Plus, General Motors profits are way down and corn is sweating, but so are we. Up first, though, we're talking about Gaza and the ongoing war. President Trump has said he'll withdraw the US from UNESCO, that is the UN Agency that provides in part education. And around the world, the President says it's due to anti Israel bias. All of this happening while Gazans are continuing to suffer. Health workers warning that the hunger crisis is entering a, quote, death phase. With the Gaza health ministry saying 100 Palestinians were killed just this past weekend while seeking the limited aid that's allowed in. The Israeli military said it fired warning shots in Israel, disputing those casualty numbers. Now, though, there is this renewed pressure on Israel to end the war. The UK and 25 international partners calling for a ceasefire. But some say it's just not enough. Richard Engel is here with us now. He's NBC News chief foreign correspondent. Hi, Richard.

[Richard Engel]

It's great to. You know what I say? It's great to be here. It's great to be with you.

[Yasmin Vesugian]

Yeah.

[Richard Engel]

But I'm anxious to get out of this suit and go back to work.

[Yasmin Vesugian]

I have to say though, it's nice to see you in the flesh and see that you're safe. I want to talk Gaza. What is the situation like on the ground right now?

[Richard Engel]

People are starving, people are bombed. People don't know where to go to find safety. I speak to people in Gaza every day, or almost every day. It seems hopeless. I think for a while the people in Gaza were able to kind of hold on and feel that we have so much solidarity and we will never give in. But their will is starting to break.

[Yasmin Vesugian]

Why does it seem to be so incredibly difficult to get aid to these Palestinians that desperately need it right now?

[Richard Engel]

It's not difficult. You want to get people aid, you can get people aid. It's just not the system that's set up. The system that's set up is Israel has locked Gaza with a ring of steel and is only allowing certain convoys to get in there. And they're using this Israeli and US Backed group with American mercenaries to distribute aid. And people are getting killed when they trying to collect aid. I speak with aid workers all the time who say, we're ready, we could do this and we could do this without getting to Hamas.

[Yasmin Vesugian]

Allowed to operate in Gaza.

[Richard Engel]

None of them were allowed to operate. They can't operate there. And they don't want to cooperate with this current setup, which has Palestinians coming to these aid collection points only to be shot. They don't want to be part of that because then you're legitimizing the system, which clearly isn't working. It's about a thousand people dead now so far, shot and killed while coming to collect aid.

[Yasmin Vesugian]

Western journalists are still not allowed into Gaza without an IDF companion.

[Richard Engel]

That's not like you can just call up the IDF and say, take me into Gaza. It's very rare that the IDF takes journalists in, but they do.

[Yasmin Vesugian]

The one time you went in, what did you see?

[Richard Engel]

So I used to go into Gaza a lot. A lot.

[Yasmin Vesugian]

Before October 7th.

[Richard Engel]

Before October 7th, I would spent months at a time in the west bank in Gaza and often overnight there. And it wasn't that complicated, frankly. Since October 7th and since Gaza was closed off, I've been inside with the Israeli military one time. And it's a dog and pony show. They take you and they show you what they want to show you, but they can't hide the destruction. And nor were they trying to hide the destruction. So we were there for the day and drove around Rafah and just utter devastation.

[Yasmin Vesugian]

And when was this?

[Richard Engel]

This was months ago.

[Yasmin Vesugian]

Yeah.

[Richard Engel]

And it was uninhabitable then. The infrastructure is so torn up, the buildings are so torn up. It needs to be leveled and rebuilt, leveled and rebuilt. But there has to be the will to do it.

[Yasmin Vesugian]

Richard Engel, thank you.

[Richard Engel]

Thank you.

[Yasmin Vesugian]

So how could this war end? If it does, I'm going to turn now to Aaron David Miller. He's a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and also a former State Department analyst, advisor and negotiator. Hi, Aaron.

[Aaron David Miller]

Hey, Yasmine. It's great to be here with you.

[Yasmin Vesugian]

Thanks for being with us. Let's talk about what's continuing to happen in Gaza on the ground. And I think the overarching question here is how does this end?

[Aaron David Miller]

You know, when it comes to the Middle East, I don't like the word pessimist. I guess I would describe myself as Jack Kennedy described himself as an idealist without illusion. And on Gaza, I have a pretty grim sort of outlook because the three problems that are necessary to resolve I don't think are any closer to resolution, nor do I see the key actors as willing to step up to deal with them. Number one is who or what is going to govern Gaza? Will Hamas, according to the Israeli Prime Minister and his concept of total victory, be demolished? Will the senior leadership be expelled and what remains of the military organization dismantled. Question number one. Number two, who or what is going to guarantee no resurgence by Hamas or any other Palestinian group in Gaza? Number three, the toll, the humanitarian catastrophe we're witnessing, the degree of suffering, malnutrition, the absence of access to potable water, sanitation. Who or what is going to address not just the humanitarian issue, but the costs and consequences of reconstruction?

[Yasmin Vesugian]

The situation that you describe and the reports that we're getting in of extreme starvation, one in three people going without food, and what many people around the globe are looking for, and especially the Palestinians right now, is an end to it all. And you've written on some social media that you think really the only person that can bring an end to this war is President Trump. Why would he be inclined to do so when it didn't seem like the Biden administration had any inclination to end this war during their own time in the White House?

[Aaron David Miller]

Very good question. I've also written that unlike any other president or administration I worked for, from Jimmy Carter to Bush 43, no president over the last six months of a term has both sidelined the government of Israel and marginalized it, as well as making it central to Trump's strategy. In March, he, without Israeli acquiescence or approval, he opened up a dialogue with Hamas. Three meetings. He cut a deal with the Houthis, about which the Israelis learned after the fact that he removed sanctions on the Shara government in Syria over the objections of an Israeli prime minister. And in the company of that prime minister, he announced direct negotiations with Iran, which have not proven to be successful, to say the least. But again, going against what Prime Minister Netanyahu. So Donald Trump has demonstrated, frankly, what almost no president whose administration I worked for has demonstrated, which is a capacity to act independently without seeking Israel's approval or acquiescence. At the same time, however, and you saw it in the 12 Day War, Donald Trump's decision to break with his Republican and Democratic predecessors and with all the experts, I might add, who argued that if you strike Iranian nuclear sites, there will be a regional war. Well, there wasn't a regional war. Donald Trump reaped tremendous cred. But again, the question you asked needs to be followed by another one. And that is what. What motivates Donald Trump. So I think what would compel him would be his conclusion that the Netanyahu government was not serious at all about ending this war, a degree of embarrassment that the president was now perceived to be weak in the face of an Israeli government that continued its military operations that or if ending the war in Gaza was a road or a pathway to something else that would make Donald Trump fight with Israel worthwhile.

[Yasmin Vesugian]

We talk a lot about what America can do and what the president could do to feasibly end this war. Where are the Gulf states in this, Aaron? Where is Bahrain? Where is Egypt? Where is Qatar? Where is the uae? Where is Iran? Where are all these supposed allies of the Gazans as we're continuing to see the atrocities that are felt on the ground in Gaza?

[Aaron David Miller]

I've had a conversation with myself on this issue. It is extraordinary to me. All of the countries you mention, particularly Israel's treaty partners, Jordan and Egypt, who have suffered as a consequence of the Arab Israeli conflict, have done nothing to impose a single cost or consequence on either on Israel or on the United States. And they need to play a critically important role, not just in terms of reconstruction assistance. The Egyptians have a role to play with respect to trying to figure out a security structure in Gaza that makes sense, the Gulf states. You know, I muse what would happen if Donald Trump called up his good friend Muhammad bin Salman, AKA mbs, and said, we're going on a little trip and I want you to bring every Arab foreign minister with us. We're going to Jerusalem and you're going to stand before the Knesset and you're going to say to the Israeli people, I'm ready for a regional peace that can endure over time. Here's what I need, but here's my hand. What is required is boldness along with ownership. Here, Aaron.

[Yasmin Vesugian]

David Miller, from your mouth to whoever you believe in ears. We'll end on that note. Thank you.

[Aaron David Miller]

Thank you so much.

[Yasmin Vesugian]

All right, everybody, we're going to take a quick break. When we're back, what's in the MLK files? Stick with us. And we're back with here's the scoop from NBC News. After nearly six decades, the Trump administration has released more than 230,000 pages of FBI documents tied to the 1968 assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Now it's sparking backlash, especially from members of the King family. In a statement, King's children said in part, the files must be viewed within their full historical context. And critics are questioning the timing of this release, while others note that Trump had signed an order early on in his presidency to declassify records related to the assassinations of JFK, RFK and Dr. King. Here to help us make sense of it all is chief Washington and foreign affairs correspondent Andrea Mitchell. Hi, Andrea.

[Andrea Mitchell]

Hi, Asmon. Great to be with you.

[Yasmin Vesugian]

What do you make of this timing?

[Andrea Mitchell]

The reason it is particularly suspicious is that they had given the files to the family, the MLK family. They hadn't even gotten through them to take out something that they might have found objectionable, that was personal, that was conspiratorial and not accurate, or at least flag those things. And instead they were released just yesterday, very suddenly. And so that raised the suspicion that this was a distraction attempt to try to take attention away from the Epstein files issue which has been dogging the President.

[Yasmin Vesugian]

You've spoken with the family and they've looked through these hundreds of thousands of pages in the files. Is there anything that they shared with you that stood out to them?

[Andrea Mitchell]

No. But in general, what has been concerning them and supporters of the family for decades is that Dr. King was being followed by the FBI. That is well known, well established by J. Edgar Hoover, who was determined to prove that he was some kind of communist. It was back during that era and there were all kinds of conspiracy and false reports to try to undermine the civil rights movement. And he, of course, was the most prominent leader. Now, there's also a lot of potentially salacious information about his personal life where he was eavesdropped upon illegally and without any notification, presumably without warrants. We don't know exactly the circumstances, but those kinds of searches and eavesdropping are also very suspicious and there hasn't been any opportunity to rebut it.

[Yasmin Vesugian]

What I think is interesting, Andrea, is, you know, you talk about how it's been well documented, the government surveillance, when it comes to MLK Jr and his positioning within the civil rights movement. And you used the word undermine, how the government, it seemed, was trying to undermine the advancement of and the work that MLK Jr was doing. But I don't necessarily know if that's something that was known in the American public today.

[Andrea Mitchell]

I don't think it's known. And so many generations have passed and I mean, I'll never forget the night that he was killed in 1968. I was a very junior reporter at an all news radio station in Philadelphia. And as you remember, riots broke out.

[Yasmin Vesugian]

Wow.

[Andrea Mitchell]

So I went up and went out to get people's reactions and I was trying to get people to talk to me on my little portable microphone and bring back the tape. I mean, this is 1968. It's before we were digital. It's before a lot of things. And it was a terrible, terrible night.

[Yasmin Vesugian]

The family was not calling for the release of these MLK junior Files. Who is this, do you think? To placate.

[Andrea Mitchell]

That is a really good question, Yasmin, because conspiracy theorists have focused on other things. You know, I can't know this, but certainly circumstantially it would appear that this could be an attempt to hurry up the release without notification, proper notification to the family while they were still going through the papers. I know there was an executive order, but it was certainly not anticipated. But the timing is a little bit suspicious to a lot of people because of the focus on Epstein.

[Yasmin Vesugian]

Andrew Mitchell, thank you so much.

[Andrea Mitchell]

You bet. My pleasure.

[Yasmin Vesugian]

All right, let's get to some headlines. Early results are in and tariffs are taking a toll on car companies. Stellantis, the maker of Jeep and Chrysler, said yesterday tariffs hammered its bottom line, pushing it to a $2.7 billion loss in the first half of this year. Then General Motors this morning said Its profit fell 35%, driven in large part by a $1.1 billion hit from tariffs. The company said the pain is going to get worse in the second half as the import taxes work their way further into the economy. GM also saying it doesn't expect, and that is the key word, expect, any specific price hikes from tariffs. It is peak summer and the July heat wave is no joke. 62 million people are under dangerous heat alerts from northern Florida to the northern Plains. But it is not just the sun turning up the heat. It is the corn. Seriously, A phenomenon called corn sweat. Yeah, that is real. Happens when crops release the moisture into the air, cranking up the humidity. That moisture traps heat and makes it feel even hotter, especially in places like Iowa and Illinois. With the corn now at its tallest and incredibly thirsty, some areas could see heat indices topping 110decrees. Ozzy Osbourne, the bat biting, head banging Prince of Darkness, is dead. At 76, the Black Sabbath frontman helped birth heavy metal from the gritty streets of Birmingham, England, unleashing genre defining anthems like Paranoid and Iron Man. After getting booted from the band, he didn't slow down. He just hopped on a crazy train and launched a solo career that made him a legend twice over.

[Aaron David Miller]

Millions of people living as foes.

[Yasmin Vesugian]

In the 2000s, he traded leather pants for reality TV, mumbling and muttering his way into America's living rooms. On the Osbournes, even Parkinson's and addiction couldn't dim his roar. Ozzy took the stage one final time a few weeks ago with his old bandmates back in Birmingham. Survived by his beloved Sharon and their children, Amy, Kelly and Jack, Ozzy Lynn leaves behind a legacy that's part metal part mayhem and all heart. That's going to do it for us at Here's a scoop of from NBC News, I'm Yasmin Vesugin. We'll see you back here tomorrow with whatever the day may bring.