Matt Gagnon discussed the approval of Tulsi Gabbard as the director of national intelligence and the closure of the federal government’s buyout program, which affected 75,000 workers. He highlighted ongoing budget battles in Congress, with conservatives pushing for deeper cuts. Gagnon also discussed the challenges in the Palestinian situation, emphasizing the deep-seated hatred towards Israel and the lack of functional institutions in Gaza. He compared the post-war reconstruction of Japan and Germany to the current situation in Gaza, arguing that without established institutions, rebuilding efforts are unlikely to succeed.