Two years after October 7th, Americans are rethinking the Israel-Palestine conflict. Support for a two-state solution has fallen, and approval of Israel’s actions in Gaza has hit record lows. At the same time, more Americans, especially younger ones, support recognizing Palestinian statehood. Then, we look at the perfection illusion online. From flawless bodies to curated success, social media has fueled comparison and anxiety, leaving many feeling they’ll never measure up. And, in this week’s fun fact, we’re talking sports collectibles — and what really drives Americans to keep them.
After two years of war in Gaza, Israel and Hamas have reached a deal and the conflict appears to have ended but many doubt that lasting peace is possible, and support for a two-state solution has dropped sharply. In the U.S., approval of Israel’s military actions in Gaza has reached record lows, especially among younger and Democratic voters, while more Americans now support recognizing Palestinian statehood. These shifts show a clear change in how people see Israel and Palestine after two years of war.
Next, we look at online perfection. From perfect bodies to luxury lifestyles, social media has blurred the line between real life and what’s staged. Constant exposure to other people’s highlight reels makes it easy to compare and feel like you’re falling short. With some Americans saying that much of what they see online is fake or exaggerated, the internet often looks more like fantasy than reality.
And, in this week’s fun fact, we’re talking sports collectibles — from signed baseballs to vintage cards, Americans love holding onto pieces of sports history.