Qatar Woos Trump, and Israeli Officers Privately Admit Gazans Near Starvation

Summary

The Headlines – Episode Summary: "Qatar Woos Trump, and Israeli Officers Privately Admit Gazans Near Starvation"

Released May 14, 2025 | Host: Tracy Mumford | The New York Times

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Qatar’s Renewed Alliance with President Trump

Tracy Mumford opens the episode by highlighting a significant shift in U.S.-Qatar relations. Once criticized by former President Trump for Qatar’s leadership and alleged extremist ties, the emirate has rebranded itself through substantial investments and hosting global events like the 2022 World Cup. This transformation has positioned Qatar as a key mediator in Middle Eastern conflicts, notably between Israel and Hamas post-October 7th.

The pinnacle of this renewed relationship is Qatar’s offer of a $440 million luxury jet to President Trump, potentially serving as the new Air Force One. Trump expressed mixed feelings about the gift:

Donald Trump (02:09): "Taking sacks of goodies from people who support Hamas, the Muslim Brotherhood, Al Jazeera, all the rest of that’s not America First. [...] It just isn’t America First."

This proposal has sparked widespread criticism across the political spectrum. Conservative voices like Ben Shapiro and Laura Loomer have condemned the gesture, while Democrats and ethics experts question Qatar’s intentions. Maggie Haberman, White House correspondent, provides further insights into the controversy and the broader implications of Trump’s Middle East tour.

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President Trump’s Surprising Lift of Sanctions on Syria

In a bold and unexpected move, President Trump announced the cessation of sanctions against Syria at 03:02. This decision aims to provide an economic lifeline to a nation ravaged by over a decade of civil war.

Donald Trump (03:02): "The sanctions were brutal and crippling and served as an important, really an important function nevertheless, at the time. But now. It’s their time to shine. We’re taking them all off, and people."

Ben Hubbard, reporting from Damascus, describes the immediate public reaction:

Ben Hubbard (03:25): "They were chanting. There were fireworks going off. They were honking their horns. They were blasting music from their cars. [...] there was just this kind of elation in the country."

The U.S. sanctions, initially imposed to topple Bashar Al Assad’s regime, severely restricted Syria's access to international banking and essential imports. Hubbard explains the economic strangulation:

Ben Hubbard (03:59): "They really strangled the economy. They cut off Syria from the international banking system. [...] It really just kind of ground down the economy."

Despite skepticism about Syria's new government—led by a leader with past ties to Al Qaeda—Trump's decision was influenced by Turkish and Saudi Arabian leaders advocating for regional stability. Hubbard adds:

Ben Hubbard (04:23): "A stable Syria will prevent a lot of the problems that have come out of Syria over the last 13 years. [...] Having a stable central government in Damascus could hopefully prevent a lot of these problems."

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Dire Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza Amid Israeli Blockade

Shifting focus to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Tracy Mumford reveals alarming reports that Israeli military officers privately warn of impending starvation in Gaza. Despite public assurances of sufficient supplies, the Israeli Ministry of Defense remains silent, contradicting statements from UN-backed aid groups and eyewitnesses.

A poignant account from a 71-year-old retiree underscores the severity:

"All he ate on a recent day was a bit of fava beans from a can and that over the course of the war he's dropped from 210 pounds to 130. He also said his daughter, who recently gave birth, can't breastfeed because she's not eating enough and there's no baby formula available either."

Humanitarian efforts are stalled by Israel's refusal to allow U.S.-based aid to enter Gaza, despite readiness to provide life-saving supplies. During an emergency UN Security Council meeting (07:25), the UN’s humanitarian chief accused Israel of imposing "inhumane conditions," with 14 out of 15 council members urging immediate aid access—only the United States abstained.

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AI’s Role in Radiology: From Hype to Collaboration

Geoffrey Hinton, a leading AI expert, had previously predicted the obsolescence of radiologists due to advancements in artificial intelligence.

Geoffrey Hinton (07:25): "People should stop training radiologists now. It’s just completely obvious. Within five years deep learning is going to do better than radiologists because it’s going to be able to get a lot more experience."

Contrary to Hinton's forecast, institutions like the Mayo Clinic have successfully integrated AI to enhance, rather than replace, human expertise in radiology. Tracy Mumford describes how AI accelerates tasks such as disease prediction and image analysis:

"One kidney measurement that used to take a radiologist up to 30 minutes to do is now done in seconds."

This synergy allows radiologists to focus on more nuanced tasks like advising on treatment plans and patient interactions. The Mayo Clinic has expanded its radiology team by 55%, incorporating a dedicated AI team of 40 professionals. The head of the clinic's digital programs envisions a future where:

"Five years from now, it will be malpractice not to use AI, but it will be humans and AI working together."

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Cannes Film Festival Implements New Dress Code

Concluding the episode, Tracy Mumford shifts to cultural news, reporting on the Cannes Film Festival’s latest regulation: a strict no-nudity dress code for celebrities on the red carpet. This marks a departure from recent trends where high-fashion outfits featured significant skin exposure.

Vanessa Friedman, The Times’ fashion critic, speculates on the motives:

"Organizers may be trying to keep the attention focused on the films rather than on the eye-grabbing outfits."

The festival also bans overly cumbersome attire, such as extravagant trains, to facilitate smooth movement and theater access. This policy change arrives as filmmakers like Tom Cruise, Spike Lee, and Wes Anderson premiere their latest works. Cannes remains a pivotal event for Oscar hopefuls, with the studio behind last year’s Palme d'Or winner, Honora, eyeing a sixth consecutive win.

For more insights on the festival’s highlights and anticipated films, listeners are directed to nytimes.com.

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Tracy Mumford wraps up the episode, ensuring listeners are informed and engaged with the day's critical headlines.

Transcript

[Feeding America Representative]

This podcast is supported by Feeding America. Food banks are stretched thin and communities across the country are feeling it. Grocery prices are rising, Congress is considering budget cuts to food aid, and hunger is surging to levels not seen in over a decade. Your emergency gift to Feeding America's community Response campaign will help food banks meet this moment. Let's come together and help neighbors facing hunger. Give [e-mail] Community response.

[Tracy Mumford]

From the New York Times, it's the headlines. I'm Tracy Mumford. Today's Wednesday, May 14th. Here's what we're covering tonight. The Emir of Qatar is set to host President Trump for a lavish dinner at his palace. As Trump continues his Middle east tour, his visit will mark a dramatic turnaround. Eight years ago, Trump railed against Qatar's leadership and denounced what he called their extremist ideology. Now Trump calls the emir a gentleman and a friend. In recent years, Qatar's managed to basically remake its image on the world stage, thanks in part to massive investments it's made from its natural gas wealth. A big part of the makeover was the World Cup. In 2022, it hosted the soccer championship, the most popular sporting event on the planet, and that put it on the map for a lot of people. Qatar outspent its rivals to get the hosting gig, sparking accusations of corruption. The country has also become a mediator in the region, most notably between Israel and Hamas following October 7th. And Qatar's spent millions of dollars on lobbyists in D.C. and elsewhere. One of those was Pam Bondi, who is now Trump's attorney general. Now Qatar may be looking to shore up its relationship with the US even further with the gift of a $440 million luxury jet that could be used as Air Force One. Trump said yesterday he would be stupid not to accept it. Even for some of the president's staunchest defenders, that's a step too far.

[Donald Trump]

Taking sacks of goodies from people who support Hamas, the Muslim Brotherhood, Al Jazeera, all the rest of the that's not America First. Like, please define America first in a way that says you should take sacks of cash from the Qatari royals. It just isn't America First.

[Tracy Mumford]

Conservative podcast host Ben Shapiro, right wing influencer Laura Loomer and others have blasted the idea, adding to a chorus of outrage and alarm from Democrats and ethics experts who have questioned the motives behind a GIF like this coming from Qatar. Today on the Daily Times, White House correspondent Maggie Haberman has more details about the controversy surrounding the plane. Also on President Trump's Middle east trip.

[Donald Trump]

I will be ordering the cessation of sanctions against Syria in order to give them a chance at greatness.

[Tracy Mumford]

The president made a surprise announcement that the US Will lift its sanctions on Syria, throwing an economic lifeline to the country that's been devastated by a decade of civil war.

[Donald Trump]

The sanctions were brutal and crippling and served as an important, really an important function nevertheless, at the time. But now. It's their time to shine. It's their time to shine. We're taking them all off, and people.

[Ben Hubbard]

Were singing, they were chanting. There were fireworks going off. They were honking their horns. They were blasting music from their cars. And there was just this kind of elation in the country.

[Tracy Mumford]

My colleague Ben Hubbard was in Damascus when news of Trump's announcement broke. He says there's no timeline on when the sanctions will actually be lifted, but people were ecstatic at just the idea. The US Put the sanctions in place years ago to punish the country's now ousted dictator, Bashar Al Assad. And Syria's new government had been hoping they'd be lifted since they've made it nearly impossible to start rebuilding.

[Ben Hubbard]

They really strangled the economy. They cut off Syria from the international banking system. So you cannot use your ATM card, you cannot use a credit card here. If you're a Syrian living abroad, you can't transfer money to your relatives here, at least not through normal bank channels. It made it very difficult to import many, many different kinds of goods, industrial machinery, all sorts of things, and it really just kind of ground down the economy.

[Tracy Mumford]

Ben says Trump has been skeptical of the new Syrian government. Its president once led a branch of Al Qaeda before he broke ties. But Trump seems to have been persuaded by the leaders of Turkey and Saudi Arabia to roll back the sanctions.

[Ben Hubbard]

The argument by everyone who was trying to convince the United States to lift the sanctions was that a stable Syria is good for the region and it's good for the world. Even if you don't like this government and even if you have doubts about this president, a stable Syria will prevent a lot of the problems that have come out of Syria over the last 13 years. This includes mass migration of refugees to neighboring Arab countries and Turkey. This includes mass migration to Europe. And if the country can stabilize, then hopefully it will just be more secure. You've had, you know, terrorist organizations operating here. ISIS took over a huge part of the country. And so having a stable central government in Damascus that can provide basic services and that can ensure security could hopefully prevent a lot of these problems that have come out of Syria. During the war.

[Tracy Mumford]

In Israel. The Times has learned that some of the Israeli military's own officers are privately warning that Gazans are on the brink of starvation. Israel cut off food along with fuel and medicine to Gaza in March, saying it was part of a pressure campaign against Hamas. Since then, it's claimed in public that there are still plenty of supplies inside the territory. But behind the scenes, the Israeli officers have determined that if the blockade isn't lifted in the next few weeks, many people will simply run out of food to eat. The Israeli Ministry of Defense declined to comment on the predictions, though the dire timeline matches what aid groups have been saying. Just this week, a UN backed group that monitors malnutrition in Gaza said famine there is imminent and Gazans that the Times has talked with describe an increasingly bleak situation. One 71 year old retiree said all he ate on a recent day was a bit of fava beans from a can and that over the course of the war he's dropped from 210 pounds to 130. He also said his daughter, who recently gave birth, can't breastfeed because she's not eating enough and there's no baby formula available either. We have life saving supplies ready now at the borders. We can save hundreds of thousands of survivors, but Israel denies US access. Meanwhile, at an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council yesterday, the UN's humanitarian chief accused Israel of, quote, deliberately and unashamedly imposing inhumane conditions on civilians in Gaza. Fourteen of the council's 15 member countries called on Israel to immediately let aid in. The only one that didn't was the United States.

[Geoffrey Hinton]

I think if you work as a radiologist, you're like the coyote that's already over the edge of the cliff but hasn't yet looked down, so doesn't realize there's no ground underneath him.

[Tracy Mumford]

About a decade ago, Geoffrey Hinton, one of the world's leading experts in artificial intelligence, said he was so confident that AI was on the cusp of replacing human workers that he could predict which jobs would disappear first.

[Geoffrey Hinton]

People should stop training radiologists now. It's just completely obvious. Within five years deep learning is going to do better than radiologists because it's going to be able to get a lot more experience.

[Tracy Mumford]

Hinton said that analyzing medical imaging things like MRIs and CT scans was exactly the kind of work that computers would soon do better than humans. But that's not what happened. Amid a broader debate about if or when AI will steal our jobs, radiologists have become a kind of case study in how the technology can supercharge human experts instead of replacing them. The Times recently visited the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, where the radiology department has gone all in on AI while also boosting its staff. They use the new technology to predict disease, flag suspicious scans, or analyze tissue. For example, one kidney measurement that used to take a radiologist up to 30 minutes to do is now done in seconds. That has freed up the radiologists themselves to do things that AI isn't as good at, using their experience to advise surgeons to talking to patients or putting together treatment plans based on people's individual medical history. Since Hinton's prediction, the Mayo Clinic's radiology staff has grown by 55%. It now includes its own AI team of 40 people. The head of the clinic's digital programs has made his own prediction, saying, quote, five years from now, it will be malpractice not to use AI, but it will be humans and AI working together and finally, the Cannes Film Festival kicked off last night in the south of France with one last minute new rule for the celebrities walking the red carpet. The dress code now prohibits nudity. Obviously, stars have been showing a lot of skin for a long time with sky high slits revealing cutouts, sheer fabric, mesh, etc. On the red carpet, underwear is an outfit. But the so called naked dressing trend has been picking up speed in recent years with outfits cut down to just strategically placed beads. Or at the Grammys this year, one fully transparent nylon slip hiding truly nothing notably. The new dress code at Cannes also bans too much clothing, basically anything with a giant train that would make it hard for people to walk around you and get into the theater. The Times fashion critic Vanessa Friedman theorized that what the organizers may be trying to do is keep the attention focused on the films rather than on the eye grabbing outfits. So in that spirit, let's talk about the movies. There are a lot of big English language movies this year. What's traditionally been a showcase of global cinema, Tom Cruise's final Mission Impossible movie. They don't even put the number in the title anymore, but it's the eighth one premieres tonight. Spike Lee and Wes Anderson also have new films at Cannes and all eyes are peeled because this is where Oscar contenders usually emerge. Last year, Honora won the Palme d' or, the top prize at Cannes before it went on to win Best Picture. The studio behind Honora Neon has actually won five Palme d'Or in a row. It's hoping to go for six. For more about what to watch for at this year's Star studded but slightly more closed can go to nytimes. Com. Those are the headlines. I'm Tracy Mumford. We'll be back tomorrow.