Biden-Trump poll, Gaza City evacuationsExBulletin

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Israel has again ordered the evacuation of Gaza City as it renews military operations there. Many residents, who had just returned to find their homes destroyed, are ignoring the order to evacuate Gaza's largest city, assuming there is no security in the south. The escalation comes after the US announced it would resume sending 500-pound bombs to Israel, which had been suspended in an effort to reduce civilian casualties in Gaza, according to US officials.

Palestinians search for survivors after an Israeli airstrike in the Rafah refugee camp, in the southern Gaza Strip, Thursday, October 12, 2023.

Hatem Ali/AP

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Hatem Ali/AP

Palestinians search for survivors after an Israeli airstrike in the Rafah refugee camp, in the southern Gaza Strip, Thursday, October 12, 2023.

Hatem Ali/AP

• Complete destruction, reports NPR's Hadeel Al-Shalchi from Tel Aviv First up. A local civil defense group said yesterday that the Gaza City neighborhood of Shujaiya is uninhabitable. Fatima al-Daama tells Al-Shalchi that while her family told her to leave, she said what the point was: Since nowhere is safe, you'd better die at home. At least I'm familiar with my neighborhood.
• The increased military activity comes as ceasefire negotiations look set to resume in Qatar with US, Egyptian and Qatari mediators.. According to multiple sources close to the talks, Hamas appears to be moving to a more gradual approach towards meeting its core demands in exchange for a six-week ceasefire, including a permanent end to fighting and a full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.

President Joe Biden has been under the microscope since his disastrous debate two weeks ago. The president embraced the spotlight at a rare solo press conference Thursday night, but he again stumbled, referring to Vice President Kamala Harris as Vice President Trump. He also faced many questions about whether Harris would be a better candidate to take on Donald Trump.

• NPR's Asma Khalid asked Biden if he still saw himself as a bridge to a new generation of Democrats, as he said during the 2020 campaign. Biden insisted that the situation had changed and made it clear that he would not withdraw from the race, even if his team hypothetically showed that Vice President Harris could fare better against Trump.
• However, after Biden's debate performance, the presidential race remains statistically unchanged, a new NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll reveals. NPR's Domenico Montanaro reports that we are in a “hyperpolarized landscape,” with people holding very fixed views of both men. But one thing that is clear in this latest NPR poll is this: Two-thirds of Americans find it more troubling to have a president who doesn't tell the truth than one who is too old for the job.

Dermatologists are sounding the alarm about a TikTok trend among teens and pre-teens called glass skin. The skincare craze is a multi-step routine in pursuit of a dewy, seemingly poreless, glass-like glow. Trying to achieve this look can backfire, causing irritated, red, itchy, red or burning skin for young children due to products like chemical exfoliants and retinol that have ingredients that are harsh on the skin. their skin, which is thinner than the skin of adults. Instead, Dallas-based dermatologist Elizabeth Houshmand recommends that young people keep their skin care routine simple: a gentle cleanser, moisturizer and sunscreen.

After the story

Some of the reusable items to avoid single-use plastics.

Zayrha Rodriguez/NPR

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Zayrha Rodriguez/NPR

This essay was written by Morning Edition producer Claire Murashima.

People go through millions of pounds of plastic every day. Much of it can take centuries to decompose. This level of waste inspired Plastic Free July, a movement that aims to engage individuals to reduce their consumption of single-use plastics.

I spoke with the founder of Plastic Free Julys, Rebecca Prince Ruiz, who gave up single-use plastics after visiting a recycling plant and seeing how much waste her town produced. I tried this challenge in 2019 by replacing my deodorant with one that came in a glass jar, buying reusable cotton rounds and using a menstrual cup.

I'm trying this again yesr. I'm giving up single use plastic for a week and reporting back Morning edition. Through this experiment, I hope to find more plastic alternatives that I can live with.

Here's my plastic-free game plan:
Stop online shopping and food delivery.
I fill my containers in most of my grocery store.
I keep a reusable food storage bag and silverware in my bag every time I leave the house.
Replace single-use plastics with plastic-free alternatives if any expire.

Do you want to take the challenge with me? Check out these tips from Prince Ruiz to set yourself up for success. And tune in to Morning Edition on July 26 to see if I complete the challenge.

Weekend elections

Lupita Nyongo as Samira in A Quiet Place: Day One from Paramount Pictures.

Gareth Gatrell/Paramount Pictures

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Gareth Gatrell/Paramount Pictures

Look what NPR watching, reading and listening this weekend:

Movies: Action-packed adventures, comedies, coming-of-age stories and more are taking over the big screen this summer. You don't want to miss the new cinematic cut, and luckily we've got you covered on what to watch until Labor Day.

TV: House of the Dragon is halfway through its second season. Whether you're just jumping in or you're all busy, here are all the episode recaps to make sure you don't miss a thing before Sunday night.

Books: Photographer Cory Richards came close to death while climbing the mountain and documenting some of the most dangerous places on Earth. He goes beyond his adventures and explores his struggles with mental health in the new memoir, The Color of Everything: A Journey to Calm the Chaos Within.

Music: Oh Good Lord Shaboozey has a lot to celebrate as his chart-topping hit A Bar Song (Tipsy) lands him a No. 1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100. He's the first black male artist to top both the chart as well as the Billboards Hot Country Songs chart.

Quiz: This week has been full of political news from a celebrity calling on President Biden to drop out of the 2024 Republican race. Test your knowledge and see if you can take this quiz.

3 things you need to know before you go

A lottery ticket vending machine is seen at a convenience store Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023, in Northbrook, Ill.

Name Y. Huh/AP

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Name Y. Huh/AP

A lottery ticket vending machine is seen at a convenience store Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023, in Northbrook, Ill.

Name Y. Huh/AP

1. Bread, milk and gun ammunition. People in many southern states can now buy ammunition from AI-powered vending machines at their local grocery stores.
2. Leave your checkbook at home if you're going to Target. The retailer announced it will stop accepting checks on July 15. Are we near the end of the paper check?
3. Researchers have identified why cats scratch furniture. They have some tips on how cat owners can stop the habit or at least curb the behavior.

This newsletter is edited by Obed Manuel.