WSJ What’s News Episode: U.S. Leaves Cease-Fire Talks, as Starvation Grips Gaza
Release Date: July 25, 2025
Host: Azhar Sukri
Source: The Wall Street Journal

Introduction

In this episode of WSJ What’s News, host Azhar Sukri delves into a range of pressing global and political issues, highlighting the United States' evolving political landscape, significant business mergers, and the dire humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza. The episode provides insightful analysis, exclusive interviews, and on-the-ground reporting to keep listeners informed about developments that are shaping the world.

President Trump’s Popularity Boosted by Economic Perception

Azhar Sukri opens the discussion with a focus on a recent Wall Street Journal poll revealing that President Donald Trump's popularity remains robust, largely buoyed by positive perceptions of the economy.

• Poll Highlights:

  • Economic Optimism: Aaron Zitner reports, "In this poll, 47% of people rate the economy as excellent or good. We haven't seen a number like that ever since we started this current polling program in 2021" (01:28).
  • Decreasing Inflation Concerns: There is a noticeable decline in the number of people attributing major strains to inflation.
  • Steady Job Approval: Despite economic improvements, Trump maintains a steady job approval rating of 46%, consistent with previous polls (01:28).

• Political Dynamics:

  • GOP Support: Among Republican voters, 88% express support for Trump, even as a majority oppose his tariff policies and tax legislation.
  • Shift in Trade Policy: With upcoming trade talks with China, Trump appears to be pivoting towards negotiating deals, especially in the technology sector, moving away from earlier aggressive tariff strategies (02:00).

Skydance and Paramount Merger Receives Regulatory Approval Amid Controversy

A significant business development covered in this episode is the approval of Skydance’s $8 billion merger with Paramount Global by U.S. regulators. This approval comes on the heels of a lawsuit settlement involving claims of biased journalism practices.

• Merger Details:

  • The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) required Skydance to commit to unbiased journalism, reflecting diverse ideological perspectives of American viewers (05:14).
  • Joe Flint explains, "Skydance committed to unbiased journalism that their editorial decision making would reflect the, quote, varied ideological perspectives of the American viewers" (05:44).

• Controversies:

  • Bias Concerns: An FCC commissioner, Anna Gomez, voiced fears that the approval process may have compromised press freedom (05:44).
  • Impact on CBS: The cancellation of "Stephen Colbert's Late Show" by CBS has stirred speculations linking it to the Skydance deal, especially given Colbert's criticism of Trump (06:34).

Gaza Crisis: Cease-Fire Talks Collapse as Starvation Looms

A significant portion of the episode is dedicated to the escalating humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where peace talks have stalled, exacerbating food shortages and malnutrition.

• Cease-Fire Talks Breakdown:

  • US Negotiators Exit: US officials have left Gaza peace talks, citing Hamas's unwillingness to ceasefire (07:43).
  • Humanitarian Impact: Middle East reporter Feliz Solomon provides a harrowing account of life in Gaza, highlighting severe food shortages and increasing malnutrition, especially among children (08:15).

• On-the-Ground Reports:

  • Food Scarcity: Individuals are forced to ration their food intake drastically. One woman in Al Mawasi subsists on a single small meal each day, supplemented by a pinch of salt to alleviate headaches from hunger (09:22).
  • Healthcare Strain: Medical professionals report a surge in malnutrition cases and complications in treating war-related injuries due to insufficient nutrition (08:15).

• Historical Context and Current Blockade:

  • Since March, Israel has cut off supplies to Gaza, alleging that Hamas diverts aid for military purposes—a claim Hamas denies. The initial ceasefire allowed some aid to enter, but the subsequent blockade has led to severe shortages (10:04).

• International Response:

  • Criticism of Aid Distribution: Over two dozen countries, including the UK and Canada, have criticized Israel’s limited aid deliveries, described as "drip feeding" (12:02).
  • Potential Airdrops: Discussions are underway among Arab officials, Israel, and the United States about resuming airdrop deliveries, signaling the deteriorating situation (12:02).

• Israel’s Stance:

  • Israel maintains that the crisis is orchestrated by Hamas, asserting that the release of hostages and adherence to their terms would alleviate the shortages (12:58).

International Developments: France’s Recognition of Palestine and Southeast Asia Border Clash

Beyond Gaza, the episode touches upon other significant international events impacting global politics and security.

• France Recognizes Palestine:

  • Emmanuel Macron’s Announcement: French President Macron declared that France will officially recognize Palestine as an independent state, aiming to apply diplomatic pressure on Israel to pursue peace (14:10).
  • Reactions: Israel has denounced the move, while US Secretary of State Marco Rubio labeled it a setback to peace efforts (14:10).

• Thailand-Cambodia Border Conflict:

  • Escalating Violence: A deadly border clash between Thailand and Cambodia has persisted for two days, involving heavy artillery and rocket fire, resulting in casualties and mass displacement of around 120,000 people (14:10).
  • Diplomatic Efforts: An emergency meeting of the UN Security Council is scheduled to address the potential escalation into a broader conflict (14:10).

Conclusion

Azhar Sukri wraps up the episode by summarizing the critical developments covered, emphasizing the interconnectedness of political, economic, and humanitarian issues shaping the current global landscape. The episode underscores the urgency of the Gaza crisis, the shifting dynamics in U.S. politics, and significant international diplomatic efforts, providing listeners with a comprehensive overview of the most impactful news stories of the day.

Notable Quotes:

• Aaron Zitner: "In this poll, 47% of people rate the economy as excellent or good. We haven't seen a number like that ever since we started this current polling program in 2021." (01:28)

• Nick Kostov: "Bernard Arnault wants a deal, obviously between the US and the EU. I don't think he's a complete perfectionist about what this deal looks like." (03:43)

• Joe Flint: "Skydance committed to unbiased journalism that their editorial decision making would reflect the, quote, varied ideological perspectives of the American viewers." (05:44)

• Feliz Solomon: "...there is a sharp spike in diagnosed cases of malnutrition. Many, many children are being diagnosed with malnutrition, some of them very severely." (08:15)

Produced by: Daniel Bark and Kate Bullivant
Supervising Producer: Sandra Killoff
Host: Azhar Sukri

Stay informed with WSJ What’s News as we continue to provide in-depth analysis and updates on the stories that matter most.