Weekend News Recap
Keeping you up to date on pressing news from May 2 – 5.
Welcome back to Ghost Reader – a publication to help you stay informed when you don’t have the time, access or energy to keep pace with today’s news cycle.
This newsletter consolidates hours of reading into about 10 minutes. And we still know your time is limited. Jump to certain sections or topics. It’s synthesized from many sources and in each section, you’ll find links to free access and subscription-based gift articles for credibility and deeper reading.
Here’s what you can look forward to this edition:
High-Impact Events: An update on the war between Israel and Hamas.
Executive Orders & Legislative Impacts: A recent executive order to place a 100% tariff on foreign-produced films, as well as the Trump administration’s most recent tactic to encourage migrants to self-deport.
Federal Government Operations: A recap of how the National Endowment for the Arts rescinded grants to hundreds of arts groups, as well as President Trump’s recent directive to restore Alcatraz to an operational prison.
Human Experience & Rights: President Trump’s social media post of himself as Pope and a recent study on global “flourishing.”
Good for the Soul: A spotlight on the nonprofit organization Girls on the Run.
Let’s get into it.
High-Impact Events
Catch me up on the latest between Israel and Hamas
Over the weekend, Israel’s Security Cabinet unanimously approved a plan to seize the remainder of the Gaza Strip in what Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said would be an “intensive military operation” to defeat Hamas.
What should I know?
About the past few weeks: After a fragile eight-week truce between Israel and Hamas collapsed on March 18, Israel resumed airstrikes against Hamas in Gaza. Around the same time, Israel also started to withhold humanitarian aid into Gaza as a negotiation tactic, including a ban on food, fuel, and medical supplies. With aid still withheld, Gaza’s population is now at risk of famine.
About the operation: A senior Israeli official said it’s called “Gideon’s Chariots” and aims to subdue Hamas and secure the release of all remaining Israeli hostages. The plan would be implemented following President Trump’s visit to the Middle East next week to “provide a window of opportunity” for a hostage deal. In preparation for the operation, the Israeli army started to call up tens of thousands of reserve soldiers to “intensify and expand” its fight against Hamas.
What will happen to Palestinian civilians: Netanyahu said in a video on social media that Palestinians will be moved during the “powerful” new operation. He also said Israeli forces would not launch raids and then retreat - they will remain in Gaza. While details are still limited, the plan would move Gaza’s entire population to the south of the territory.
Attempts to provide aid: U.S. and Israeli officials are discussing a mechanism to deliver aid to Gaza that bypasses Hamas, with an announcement to potentially come this week. While details are still forthcoming, it’s reported that an unnamed private foundation would manage the aid and delivery of humanitarian supplies into Gaza. Sunday, the United Nations rejected that proposal for aid distribution, though, saying the plan was “dangerous” and appeared to “reinforce control over life-sustaining items as a pressure tactic.” They said the proposal would mean large parts of Gaza – including the less mobile and most vulnerable people – would continue to go without supplies.
Some numbers: Since the conflict began following the October 7, 2023 Hamas terrorist attack on Israel, more than 51,000 people have been killed in Gaza via Israel’s counter-offensive (according to the Palestinian Health Ministry). There are also 59 Israeli hostages still under Hamas’ captivity.
What the hostages’ families are saying: Monday, the hostages’ families issued a “red alert” over Israeli’s operation to expand further into Gaza. In a statement, the Hostages Families Forum Headquarters said, “The expansion of military operations puts every hostage at grave risk. It also threatens the lives of our soldiers and deepens the toll on countless Israeli families already carrying the burden of this war.”
Executive Orders & Legislative Impacts
Let’s talk about tariffs on movies
Sunday, President Trump announced a 100% tariff on movies produced outside the U.S. In his announcement, he invoked another “national security threat” and said the American film industry is “dying a very fast death” due to incentives other countries are offering to filmmakers.
Monday, the White House appeared to walk back the announcement via a statement that said “no final decisions on foreign film tariffs have been made.”
What should I know?
The details: While still unclear, in his social media post, Trump authorized the Department of Commerce and U.S. Trade Representative to “immediately begin” the process of imposing a 100% tariff on all films produced abroad that are then sent into the United States. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick replied, “We’re on it.” No information on how the tariffs would be implemented was provided.
Lingering questions: Most importantly if the tariffs are actually happening. Beyond that, if the tariffs would apply to movies on streaming services and those in theaters, or if they would be calculated based on production costs or box office revenue. Also, how a tariff on movie production would ripple into other sectors of the economy.
How Hollywood responded: Mostly with confusion and a “wait and see approach.” Many industry sources doubt a tariff of this nature could actually be implemented, arguing movies are intellectual property and a service – not a good; and that services are not ordinarily subject to tariffs in the same ways goods can be.
Still, there might be a legitimate underlying rationale: Despite the unlikely implementation, it is true that movie and TV production is leaving Hollywood and heading to production locations with tax incentives that make filming cheaper. Governments around the world have increased credits and cash rebates to attract productions, and all major media companies – including Walt Disney, Netflix, and Universal Pictures – have filmed overseas in recent years. In 2023, about half of all spending by U.S. producers on movie and TV projects with budgets of more than $40 million went outside the U.S. And in the last decade, film and television production has fallen by nearly 40% in Hollywood’s home of Los Angeles, CA.
An interesting ranking: According to a ProdPro survey of Hollywood executives, the most preferred places to film are currently Toronto, Britain, Vancouver, Central Europe, Australia, and then California.
Catch me up on the latest self-deportation tactic
Monday, the Trump administration announced it will offer a $1,000 stipend and travel assistance to migrants who voluntarily “self-deport” from the U.S.
What should I know?
About the announcement: Made by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the statement said stipends and potential airfare for migrants who voluntarily self-deport would cost less than actual deportation. DHS claimed the average cost of arresting, detaining, and deporting someone without legal status is currently about $17,000. DHS did not provide details about how the funds would be provided or what proof would be required to show a person returned to their home country.
Some context: The Trump administration has tried to encourage migrants to leave the U.S. voluntarily by threatening steep fines, stripping legal protections, and deporting migrants without due process to prisons in Guantanamo Bay and El Salvador. Additionally, in March, the administration launched a rebranded app called CBP Home to help facilitate self-deportation. The app – previously called CBP One – was originally used by the Biden administration to allow migrants to enter the U.S. legally.
What else DHS said: That people who choose to leave “may help preserve” their ability to return legally. As part of the announcement, DHS said those who “submit their intent to voluntarily self-deport” will also be de-prioritized for detention and removal ahead of their departure as long as they “demonstrate meaningful strides in completing that departure.”
The broader context: Today’s announcement came as the Trump administration continues to push on its highest priority from the 2024 campaign. According to DHS, the administration has deported around 152,000 people since President Trump resumed office. This figure is lower than the 195,000 the Biden administration deported from the same timeframe (February – April) last year.
What policy advisors and immigration lawyers are saying: Immigration experts and advocates have warned against self-deportation, raising questions about the legitimacy of possible legal return to the U.S. In March, a policy analyst with the U.S. Immigration Policy Program at the Migration Policy Institute told NBC News the important word in DHS’ statement is “may.” Similarly, Heidi Altman, vice president of policy at the National Immigration Law Center, said “For many people who leave the United States, there may never be a lawful option for return, or re-entry may be barred for many years. Forcing or coercing people into leaving their homes and their loved ones carries political, moral, and economic costs.”
Federal Government Operations
Talk to me about the NEA
Hundreds of arts groups across the U.S. received emails late Friday notifying them of the withdrawal and termination of grants previously awarded by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA).
What should I know?
The details: The update came from a generic “arts.gov” email address and appeared in grantees’ inboxes hours after President Trump proposed eliminating the agency in his recent “skinny budget” to Congress. In the email, grantees were told the NEA is updating its grant-making policy priorities to focus on projects that “reflect the nation’s rich artistic heritage and creativity as prioritized by the President,” and thus terminating awards that fall outside those priorities.
What is included in the priorities: Based on the email, projects that focus on the following will continue to be grant-funded: Those that elevate HBCUs and Hispanic-serving institutions; celebrate the 250th anniversary of American independence; foster AI competency; empower houses of worship to serve communities; assist with disaster recovery; foster skilled trade jobs; make America healthy again; support the military, veterans, and Tribal communities; make the District of Columbia safe and beautiful; and support the economic development of Asian American communities.
Some numbers: Since its founding by Congress in 1965, the NEA has awarded $5.5 billion in grants. It is the largest funder of the arts in the U.S., but one of the smallest federal agencies. The agency is currently funded at $207 million – according to the NEA, that amounts to 0.003% of the total federal budget.
What comes next: Grant recipients were told they can appeal the decision within seven days. Beyond grant cuts, the NEA is among a group of “small agency eliminations” proposed by President Trump’s 2026 Discretionary Budget Request submitted to Congress last week. Eliminating the agency would require a majority in Congress. Check out the May 2 edition of Ghost Reader to learn more about the budget request and how Congress will use it to inform upcoming budget legislation.
I heard Trump wants Alcatraz to be operational again
Over the weekend, President Trump said he wants Alcatraz – a small island in the San Francisco Bay that served various roles throughout history (including a fort, military prison, federal maximum-security penitentiary, and now a popular tourist destination overseen by the National Park Service) – to be converted back into a prison.
What should I know?
A brief history of Alcatraz: Originally the land of the Ohlone people indigenous to the San Francisco Bay Area, the island was named La Isla de las Alcatraces after a Spanish Navy officer who arrived in 1775 thought the large pelicans that lived there were gannets (called alcatraces in Spanish). Later, the island became a U.S. naval defense fort after the Mexican-American War of 1848. The U.S. military also used the island to hold prisoners, including confederate sympathizers during the Civil War and Hopi Native Americans who resisted the government’s land decrees and mandatory education programs in 1895. By 1912, it was rebuilt as an official military prison. In 1933, the Justice Department made the island a maximum-security federal penitentiary, partly in response to a rise in organized crime during prohibition. The prison closed in 1963 – its facilities were crumbling and it would have cost $3 - $5 million to restore. It was then purchased by the National Park Service in 1972 and turned into a tourist attraction.
What Alcatraz is most known for: Commonly referred to as “The Rock,” it was known to house some of the most dangerous and notorious criminals in U.S. history. It gained notoriety for its tough conditions, being nearly impossible to escape, and high-profile prisoners such as Al “Scarface” Capone and George “Machine Gun” Kelly.
The details: Sunday evening, Trump posted on Truth Social a directive for the Bureau of Prisons, Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Department of Homeland Security to “reopen a substantially enlarged and rebuilt prison” on Alcatraz Island to “house America’s most ruthless and violent offenders.”
What the post said: First, it said to “REBUILD, AND OPEN ALCATRAZ.” Then, in an apparent dig at judges who ruled against Trump administration priorities it said, “When we were a more serious Nation, in times past, we did not hesitate to lock up the most dangerous criminals, and keep them far away from anyone they could harm. That’s the way it’s supposed to be. We will no longer be held hostage to criminals, thugs, and Judges that are afraid to do their job and allow us to remove criminals, who came into our Country illegally.”
The rationale: Following the post, Trump told reporters his Alcatraz plan was “just an idea” to counter the “radicalized judges [that] want to have trials for every single – think of it – every single person that’s in our country illegally.”
The response: Following Trump’s comments, a Bureau of Prisons spokesperson told the Associated Press the Bureau will “comply with all presidential orders,” but did not explain how it would reopen the prison while it resides under the National Park Service.
An important caveat: Aside from the several millions of dollars estimated for restoration in 1963 that contributed to the penitentiary’s closure, at the time, the Bureau of Prisons also noted its isolated location made operating costs nearly three times higher than other federal prisons due to supplies needing to be shipped in.
Human Experience & Rights
Let’s recap Trump’s comments on being the next Pope
Late Friday, President Trump shared an AI-generated image of himself in traditional papal clothing on social media. Shortly after, the White House account reposted the image on X.
What should I know?
Some context: Since the death of Pope Francis on April 21, the Catholic community has awaited the process that will determine who succeeds him. That decision will be made during the papal conclave set to begin Wednesday (May 7). See the April 21 edition of Ghost Reader for more context on the conclave process.
How Trump factors in: Only a few days after he attended Pope Francis’ funeral on April 26, Trump joked with reporters that he’d like to be the next Pope. He also said when it comes to who should be the next Pope, he would choose himself. A few additional days later, he posted the AI-generated image of himself as Pope on social media.
The response: In acknowledging the pope is the spiritual leader of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics, some politicians, Catholic church leaders, and other influential voices were quick to criticize Trump and the White House for sharing the AI-generated image; while others avoided the topic. Below are a few of the more notable comments.
Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi wrote in a social media post Saturday the image “offends believers, insults institutions and shows the leader of the global right enjoys being a clown.”
The New York State Catholic Conference said “There is nothing clever or funny about this image, Mr. President. We just buried our beloved Pope Francis and the cardinals are about to enter a solemn conclave to elect a new successor of St. Peter. Do not mock us.”
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops declined to comment, as did Vatican spokesperson Matteo Bruni.
Why we’re highlighting this: First, because there is a large population across the world that identifies as Catholic – it is a notable time for that group with Pope Francis’ passing and the upcoming conclave. Second, because Christians – who make up about 62% of the U.S. and which Catholicism is a denomination of – are split on Trump’s performance, according to a recent Pew Research Center study. In the recent poll, 51 percent of respondents who identified as Christian said they disapprove of Trump’s performance, while 48% approve. Trump’s strongest support comes from White evangelical Christians at 72% approval. In the recent poll, 58% of Catholics reported disapproving of Trump.
Some history to be aware of: Although Trump attended Pope Francis’ funeral, the two had a complicated relationship. While alive, Pope Francis frequently spoke out against Trump’s mass deportation efforts and approach to immigration, saying the practice “damages the dignity of many men and women, and of entire families.” During Trump’s first term as president, Pope Francis also referred to the president’s efforts to build a wall along the border of Mexico as “not Christian.”
Let’s talk about global flourishing
Last Wednesday, a substantial body of research on human “flourishing” was published based on the first year of data from the Global Flourishing Study. The findings presented a varying view of well-being across countries, with some scoring higher than others.
What should I know?
What “flourishing” entails: In context of the Human Flourishing Program - the Harvard program this study is part of - human flourishing is based on five central domains: happiness and life satisfaction, physical and mental health, meaning and purpose, character and virtue, and close social relationships.
About the study: It’s a five-year project led by Byron Johnson (Baylor University) and Tyler J. VanderWeele (Harvard University) in collaboration with Gallup. It poses about 100 questions to more than 200,000 people across 22 countries on six continents. It combines answers to questions regarding several domains of well-being – such as health, happiness, meaning, character, social relationships, and material prosperity – and then calculates a composite flourishing score for each country. The first wave of data was released in February 2024 and second wave in April 2025. The analysis released last week focused on the first wave of data from 2024.
An interesting finding about wealth: Across the sample of 22 countries, the overall national composite flourishing scores decreased as G.D.P. per capita increased; meaning, the higher the income, the lower the flourishing score. The only high-income countries that ranked in the top half of composite flourishing were Israel and Poland. Most of the developed and wealthier countries in the study reported less meaning, fewer and less satisfying relationships and communities, and fewer positive emotions than their less wealthy counterpart countries. Many of the countries that reported high overall composite flourishing may not have been rich in economic terms but tended to be rich in friendships, marriages, and community involvement, including religious communities.
Some other findings: The analysis also found the following:
In a consistent result across countries, those who attend religious services regularly reported considerably higher flourishing.
In many countries, flourishing steadily increased with age, with the youngest group surveyed (ages 18 – 24 years) reporting the lowest levels of flourishing. This was true for the United States, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Germany, Mexico, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.
Wealthier nations seem to not be doing as well in the areas of relationships, meaning, and character.
What this may tell us: That flourishing cannot be reduced to health, life satisfaction, and financial security; and that while the more humanistic aspects of flourishing – like happiness, character, meaning, and social relationships – are important for individuals, they are also increasingly important for societal flourishing.
A few tips: According to an analysis by Arthur C. Brooks, author of the “How to Build a Life” column in The Atlantic, the following can be leveraged to increase flourishing based on his review of the study outcomes:
Relationships: Prioritize them before everything else. When possible, avoid using technology for interaction with loved ones and focus on face-to-face contact.
Develop your “inner life”: While it might seem countercultural, broad spirituality can be considered as the beliefs, practices, and experiences one maintains, tied to religion or not. Individuals can consider what this means in their own lives to help transcend day-to-day challenges and find greater purpose and meaning.
Try to move beyond material comforts: A certain level of material comfort is necessary for health, safety, and well-being. Beyond that, though, the study finds money can’t buy happiness; and money without meaning actually decreases individual and societal “flourishing” scores.
Good for the Soul
I usually don’t write about personal anecdotes in this newsletter. Today, I’m making an exception to highlight a nonprofit I volunteer with – Girls on the Run – following a 5K over the weekend that celebrated everything participants accomplished this spring.
What should I know?
About Girls on the Run (GOTR): It’s a youth-based development program that aims to inspire girls to be joyful, healthy, and confident via an age-appropriate curriculum that integrates movement (especially running). It positions itself as reaching girls at a critical stage, aiming to strengthen their confidence at a time society starts telling them they’re not enough. It focuses on the critical connection between physical and emotional health, addressing the whole girl at a time it’s needed most.
The impact: In a recent study on the program’s outcomes, 97% of participants said they learned critical life skills including resolving conflict, helping others, and making intentional decisions. In the same study, 85% said they’d improved in confidence, caring, competence, character development, and connection to others; and 40% reported increasing their physical activity level from the start of the season to the end.
The program model: The organization is led by a headquarters staff and comprised of hundreds of “councils” at the local level that partner with schools and community centers to host GOTR sites in the community. Every site implements the same age-appropriate curriculum (one version for 3rd - 5th grade and a different version for 6th - 8th grade), with the “season” culminating in a site-based community impact project and council-wide 5K that brings together participants, families, volunteers, coaches, and staff to celebrate all the girls accomplished during their 10 – 12 week season.
About my experience: Saturday, nearly 2,000 girls participated in the Girls on the Run of Southeastern Suburban PA 5K, plus thousands of running buddies and hundreds of coaches, site liaisons, staff, volunteers, and fans. It was the definition of a joyful, authentic, and purposeful community event. Even more special for me, I completed the 5K as a running buddy for three girls from my team. For each, it was their first 5K. It was hot and there was a lot of water dumped on heads, but there were also tons of high fives with the crowd, smiles, laughter, and hopefully a newfound confidence in each of them about what they’re capable of when they crossed the finish line.
Interested in volunteering?: Check out if there is a GOTR community near you and explore the various ways to get involved and/or support the organization as a coach, volunteer, board member, site liaison, or sponsor.
And with that, we’ve kicked off another week. Until Wednesday, let’s keep working to create clarity in the chaos.
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