Politics and views in the United States.

UN Security Council passes a ceasefire resolution as the US warns Israel against ground operations in Rafah and top Israeli officials cancel a DC trip. Trump's bond is slashed by two thirds, but his first criminal trial starts in three weeks.

TRANSCRIPT

Welcome to 2024 Talks, where we're following our democracy in historic times.

Today this council spoke out to bring about an immediate and sustainable ceasefire, secure the immediate release of all hostages, and help alleviate the tremendous suffering of Palestinian civilians in Gaza.

UN Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield says the U.S. would not veto a resolution for a Gaza ceasefire lasting through the rest of Ramadan, with release of hostages and urgent humanitarian aid.

The rest of the Security Council voted for it.

In response to letting it pass, Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu canceled the D.C. trip by two top advisers.

Israeli Cabinet member and Netanyahu rival Benny Gantz is already in Washington as the White House lobbies against a ground offensive in Raffa.

On ABC, Vice President Kamala Harris warned it could impact U.S. relations.

We have been clear in multiple conversations and in every way that any major military operation in Raffa would be a huge mistake.

Over the weekend, Congress passed a $1.2 trillion appropriation to fund the government through the rest of the fiscal year.

Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders voted against it because it stripped out funding for the U.N. agency providing Palestinian aid.

Tens of thousands of people are starving.

UNRWA is trying to feed them.

Sadly, tragically, many members of Congress seem to be happy to be part of this starvation caucus.

Critics in the U.S. and Europe have blocked UNRWA funding because a small number of its employees appear to have worked with Hamas.

But another progressive, New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, also voted no and accused Israel of genocide.

If you want to know what an unfolding genocide looks like, open your eyes.

It looks like the forced famine of 1.1 million innocents, children eating grass as their bodies consume themselves, while trucks of food are slowed and halted just miles away.

A New York court has cut by two-thirds the bond former President Donald Trump must pay to appeal his civil conviction for business fraud.

The court also gave him 10 more days to post bond, which Trump says he would do.

So I greatly respect the decision of the appellate division and I'll post either $175 million in cash or bonds or security or whatever is necessary very quickly within the 10 days.

And I thank the appellate division for acting quickly.

A separate New York court says Trump's first criminal trial for making and covering up hush payments to a porn star will start in three weeks.

I'm Farah Siddiqui for Pacifica Network and Public News Service.

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