Does Trump mean what he just said about Gaza?

The Logoff is a daily newsletter that helps you stay informed about the Trump administration without letting political news take over your life. Subscribe here.

Welcome to The Logoff: Donald Trump dominated headlines last night and today with his proclamation that the US would “take over” Gaza and remove the Palestinians who live there. That plan — potentially invading and definitely occupying a foreign territory for many years, displacing millions of inhabitants — sounds like a massive development, a major shift in American foreign policy and the Israel-Hamas war.

Except it’s almost certainly not happening. There is zero indication that the administration is taking any serious steps toward a foreign invasion. Instead, administration officials are quickly walking back Trump’s declaration. The White House press secretary said Wednesday that the US would neither send troops to Gaza nor fund its reconstruction — effectively rendering Trump’s statement void.

So why are you writing about it? Because it’s a very useful reminder of how to effectively understand the Trump administration.

• Beware the shiny object: So often, Trump says something wild that takes everyone’s focus and stirs up outrage — and then it gets walked back. It takes all of our attention, but we end up right where we started.
• Mind the gap between what Trump says and what his administration does. When Trump says something outlandish, wait to see if anyone acts on it. That’s a much better way to keep calm and focused on what matters.
• Don’t lose the big story: Trump right now is attempting to massively expand his power over the US government, and he’s using that expanded power to make policy moves with ramifications at home and all over the world. That’s the Trump story to keep tracking. I’ll do my absolute best to help.

And with that, it’s time to log off …

I have been trying (with mixed success) lately to read before bed, rather than watching TV or, worse, doomscrolling. I find I end the day more calmly, and I wake up the next morning with more clarity on what needs to be done. Plus, I don’t wake up in the middle of the night to the voice of Michael Scott. I find pre-sleep reading pretty easy once I’m engrossed in a book, but I often struggle to start a new one. If you can relate, I have a solution: Vox’s amazing book critic, Constance Grady, has suggestions for books that will grab your attention and keep it.