WSJ What’s News: “The Art of the Peace Deal”

Date: October 10, 2025
Host: Kate Bullivant (The Wall Street Journal)

Main Theme

This episode dives into President Trump's surprising diplomatic breakthrough in brokering a peace deal between Israel and Hamas, which marked a major shift in Middle East politics. Additional segments cover domestic legal battles over National Guard deployment, early signs of economic distress among American car owners, internal Republican tensions over renewable energy in Iowa, and the announcement of the Nobel Peace Prize. The tone is brisk, informative, and tightly focused on breaking developments.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Trump’s Middle East Diplomatic Breakthrough

[00:17 – 06:16]

• Major development: Israel has approved a US-brokered agreement with Hamas, paving the way to free hostages and establish a ceasefire in Gaza.
• Netanyahu’s Statement: Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu publicly credited Trump, Steve Witkoff, and Jared Kushner for making the deal possible.
  • Quote: "We couldn't have achieved it without the extraordinary help of President Trump and his team, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner." (Goldman Sachs Markets Podcast Host, 01:37)
• Deal’s Immediate Steps:
  • Israeli forces are set to withdraw from parts of Gaza, with a ceasefire to follow almost immediately.
  • Early next week: prisoner and hostage exchange, including 20 living Israeli hostages and some bodies of deceased (total of 48, but not all due to Hamas' uncertainties about locations).
  • The deal was rushed; many contentious issues, like Gaza’s future governance and demilitarization, remain unresolved.
• Unique Approach:
  • Trump’s diplomatic style involved “declaring victory” before many details were finalized, creating public and political pressure for parties to follow his lead.
  • Quote: "He really turned kind of classic diplomacy on its head... He basically declared victory first... daring, like, say no to me after he had announced it." (Anat Peled, 04:14-04:41)
  • Trump pressured both Netanyahu and Hamas (the latter via regional Arab and Muslim states: Qatar, Egypt, Turkey), forcing momentum even if details were lacking.
• Next Challenges:
  • Stage two (demilitarization, international governance) is unresolved. Notably, a "board of peace" possibly chaired by Tony Blair is proposed.
  • Ongoing risk: whether Trump will sustain engagement to push through the hardest parts.

Notable Quote:

• “A lot of the more tricky issues were not even touched... the demilitarization of Gaza and international governance of Gaza, so that, all of those things are kind of explosive issues.” (Anat Peled, 02:57)

2. US Forces' Role in Israel and Gaza Ceasefire

[03:25 – 03:58]

• US Central Command is leading an international stabilization force, setting up a civil-military coordination center in Israel.
• Main goals: monitor the ceasefire, manage transition to civilian rule in Gaza, and facilitate humanitarian aid.

3. National Guard Deployment Blocked in Chicago

[06:16 – 07:30]

• Federal judge blocked President Trump’s National Guard deployment to Illinois for at least two weeks, citing potential civil unrest.
• Over 500 troops had already been sent; Illinois governor welcomed the ruling while the White House remained silent.
• Context: Part of a broader pattern of federal and state-level conflict over emergency powers.

4. Government Shutdown and Health Care Funding

[07:30 – 08:30]

• Ongoing government shutdown has both parties debating how to extend ACA (Obamacare) subsidies with new income caps.
• Debate centers on whether to limit aid to families earning $200,000 or less, rather than having an uncapped benefit.
• The Senate is adjourned until Tuesday; the shutdown is likely to continue, delaying essential reporting (e.g., September’s Consumer Price Index).

5. Justice Department Indicts New York Attorney General

[08:30 – 09:01]

• Letitia James, NY Attorney General, indicted for bank fraud and false statements—a notable reflection of the Trump administration’s efforts to retaliate against officials from Trump’s earlier terms.
• The charges are linked to mortgage fraud allegations, with James denying wrongdoing and set for court on October 24.

6. Subprime Auto Loan Delinquencies on the Rise

[09:30 – 10:55]

• Subprime auto loan delinquencies hit record highs; 1.73 million vehicles repossessed last year (most since 2009).
• Economists see this as a clear sign of growing economic stress among lower-income Americans, with inflation and unemployment worsening.
• Quote: "Economists and analysts generally consider auto loans to be among the last things to falter among borrowers... You'll continue to pay your car loan because you need your car. So it is a specific sign of distress that we're seeing higher delinquencies." (Ben Glickman, 10:15-10:47)

7. Trump and Republican Tensions over Renewable Energy

[10:55 – 12:01]

• Trump administration’s hostility toward wind power is creating pushback in Iowa, where wind is a huge employer and keeps power prices low (59% of state’s electricity in 2023).
• Offshore wind projects have been stalled; the administration threatens to make federal permitting more difficult, risking investment and jobs.
• While Trump supports Iowa’s biofuels, he remains adamantly anti-wind.
  • Quote: “Any time you see a windmill, you’ll say they have bad energy costs.” (Trump, cited by Kate Bullivant, 12:01)

8. Nobel Peace Prize Awarded to Venezuelan Opposition Leader

[12:01 – 12:31]

• Maria Corinna Machado recognized for her ongoing fight for democracy in Venezuela, praised as a "brave and committed champion of peace."

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Trump’s diplomatic style:
  • “He basically declared victory first. He announced the deal first...daring, like, say no to me after he had announced it.” (Anat Peled, 04:14-04:41)
• On economic stress and auto loans:
  • “People might not pay back, you know, a loan on like a TV that you bought...but you’ll continue to pay your car loan because you need your car.” (Ben Glickman, 10:25)
• On Iowa’s wind power politics:
  • “Any time you see a windmill, you’ll say they have bad energy costs.” (Donald Trump, cited at 12:01)
• On unfinished parts of the peace plan:
  • “A lot of the more tricky issues were not even touched.” (Anat Peled, 02:57)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [00:17] – Main headline: Peace deal brokered by Trump
• [02:09] – Ceasefire process and phases of the peace plan
• [03:25] – US troop deployment and role in Israel
• [04:14] – Trump’s negotiating tactics and challenges ahead
• [06:16] – National Guard deployment blocked in Illinois
• [07:30] – Government shutdown and ACA subsidy debate
• [08:30] – NY Attorney General Letitia James indicted
• [09:30] – Record subprime auto loan delinquencies and economic outlook
• [10:55] – Wind energy controversy in Iowa; Trump’s stance on renewables
• [12:01] – Nobel Peace Prize awarded to Maria Corinna Machado

Tone and Style

The episode is facts-first, with brisk back-and-forth commentary. Language is accessible but firmly anchored in Wall Street Journal’s even-handed, analytic tone, with journalistic neutrality and clarity.

Conclusion

This episode captures a dramatic shift in Middle Eastern diplomacy engineered by President Trump, highlighting the blend of brash tactics and unfinished business that characterize his foreign policy. Domestic segments underscore continued legal, economic, and energy sector tensions in the US—underscoring the complex, interlinked crises facing American and global audiences.