Victoria Coates

I think it's more of a drawdown in these early phases and also important that Israel is being asked to release some number of Palestinian prisoners. This is standard. It happened in the last deal for hostages, which was in November of 2023. So that is going to happen as well. But it's important that Prime Minister Netanyahu has said that they are not going to relinquish control of

I think it's more of a drawdown in these early phases and also important that Israel is being asked to release some number of Palestinian prisoners. This is standard. It happened in the last deal for hostages, which was in November of 2023. So that is going to happen as well. But it's important that Prime Minister Netanyahu has said that they are not going to relinquish control of

of the periphery of the Gaza Strip. They are going to retain the right to go back in if Hamas violates this. And so it's a very big if that Hamas is actually going to behave itself and not do something that would bring the Israelis back in.

of the periphery of the Gaza Strip. They are going to retain the right to go back in if Hamas violates this. And so it's a very big if that Hamas is actually going to behave itself and not do something that would bring the Israelis back in.

I just think it's fair. I mean, they're obviously not identical by any stretch of the imagination. But in this case, what you've had is, as I said, since November of 2023, no movement on the hostages whatsoever. And a number of hostages killed in that intervening 14 months.

I just think it's fair. I mean, they're obviously not identical by any stretch of the imagination. But in this case, what you've had is, as I said, since November of 2023, no movement on the hostages whatsoever. And a number of hostages killed in that intervening 14 months.

And what has changed is in early December of last year, you know, six weeks ago, you had President Trump make a very strong statement that the hostages needed to be let go now or there would be hell to pay. And he has repeated that strong statement. He has empowered his good friend Steve Witkoff to be Middle East envoy to carry out these negotiations.

And what has changed is in early December of last year, you know, six weeks ago, you had President Trump make a very strong statement that the hostages needed to be let go now or there would be hell to pay. And he has repeated that strong statement. He has empowered his good friend Steve Witkoff to be Middle East envoy to carry out these negotiations.

Somebody that, you know, our interlocutors in the Middle East knows speaks for the president-elect. And that has created motion. So I think you're going to see the Biden administration try to take all sorts of credit for this. But the fact of the matter is it was the change in tone out of President Trump that brought this into being. And the other kind of cruel reality here is

Somebody that, you know, our interlocutors in the Middle East knows speaks for the president-elect. And that has created motion. So I think you're going to see the Biden administration try to take all sorts of credit for this. But the fact of the matter is it was the change in tone out of President Trump that brought this into being. And the other kind of cruel reality here is

is that the window to get the hostages out has been closing. We know that more and more of them are dying. The conditions they're under are dire. So if not now, if it was becoming a real possibility, it would be never. So I think that's why President Trump took the actions he did.

is that the window to get the hostages out has been closing. We know that more and more of them are dying. The conditions they're under are dire. So if not now, if it was becoming a real possibility, it would be never. So I think that's why President Trump took the actions he did.

We think there are four alive. And so the question is whether they would be part of this original Trosh. We don't have those names yet or whether they would come out in phases as well.

We think there are four alive. And so the question is whether they would be part of this original Trosh. We don't have those names yet or whether they would come out in phases as well.

It's a really chaotic situation, and your listeners will be forgiven. There are so many. We have South Korea, we have Japan, we have Germany, we have France. All of these governments are sort of falling into chaos, largely because their populations feel that the governments are not responding to the issues that are important to them, and particularly in Canada.

It's a really chaotic situation, and your listeners will be forgiven. There are so many. We have South Korea, we have Japan, we have Germany, we have France. All of these governments are sort of falling into chaos, largely because their populations feel that the governments are not responding to the issues that are important to them, and particularly in Canada.

You know, Prime Minister Trudeau, who has been the card-carrying poster child for a woke liberal agenda, very extreme policies on immigration, on gender issues, all of these things has become deeply unpopular to the point of 23% popularity, which is pretty bad.

You know, Prime Minister Trudeau, who has been the card-carrying poster child for a woke liberal agenda, very extreme policies on immigration, on gender issues, all of these things has become deeply unpopular to the point of 23% popularity, which is pretty bad.

And as you said, Krista Freeland, their finance minister and deputy prime minister, has resigned essentially based on the catastrophic economic situation. And I think you're seeing the Liberal Party really fall apart What is the catastrophic financial situation in Canada?

And as you said, Krista Freeland, their finance minister and deputy prime minister, has resigned essentially based on the catastrophic economic situation. And I think you're seeing the Liberal Party really fall apart What is the catastrophic financial situation in Canada?