Axios

The Trump administration promises to spell out its vision for America's agriculture, but in the meantime, the president indicated on Tuesday that land should be owned by some Americans and farmed by migrant workers.

Why it matters: The debate over who can farm America's land has been historically linked to racism, xenophobia and, oftentimes, exploitation of farmers of color.

Special envoy Steve Witkoff and President Trump discussed plans for the U.S. to significantly increase its role in providing humanitarian aid to Gaza in a meeting Monday evening at the White House, according to two U.S. officials and an Israeli official with knowledge of the issue.

Why it matters: Negotiations for a ceasefire are stuck, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is moving towards significantly expanding the war. U.S. officials are concerned about more bloodshed but have yet to firmly object. The new food aid plan Trump promised last week is also not yet finalized.

President Trump spoke on Tuesday with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and discussed the ceasefire ultimatum Trump set for Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to Ukrainian officials.

Why it matters: Trump's deadline to Putin will expire on Friday. If the Russian president doesn't agree to a ceasefire by then, the U.S. will impose new sanctions on Russia for the first time since Trump returned to office.

Arrests by U.S. immigration agents dropped by nearly 20% in July, amid the backlash to President Trump's push to dramatically boost the number of detentions, according to new data that the Trump administration disputes.

Why it matters: The decline followed protests over the waves of raids by masked immigration agents in June — particularly in Southern California — that led to court orders that have hindered some Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations, at least for now.

An Illinois Holocaust museum that uses AI technology to create "interactives" with Holocaust survivors is expanding its offering and including a project with a Tutsi survivor of the Rwandan genocide.

Why it matters: It's the first-ever non-Holocaust interactive interview for the Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center in Skokie, Ill., and signals that Holocaust museums are using the technology to bring attention to more recent genocides.

The Trump administration appears to have changed a policy that previously stated that states and cities that boycott Israeli companies could be ineligible for disaster relief funds, it emerged on Monday.

The big picture: An April Department of Homeland Security notice stated that recipients were prohibited from "limiting commercial relations specifically with Israeli companies" in order to qualify for assistance, but this wording was not included in a later August version outlining the terms and conditions for FEMA applicants.

Brazil's Supreme Court ordered the house arrest of former President Jair Bolsonaro on Monday as he awaits trial over an alleged coup plot to overturn his 2022 election loss, which the Trump ally denies.

Why it matters: The move is likely to infuriate President Trump, who has demanded that Brazil drop criminal charges against Bolsonaro in a letter threatening to impose a 50% tariff on Brazilian imports.

President Trump on Monday threatened to further raise tariffs on India over the nation's purchases of Russian oil, accusing the country of profiteering.

Why it matters: Having failed to strike a trade deal with India, after months of saying one was imminent, Trump is now going on the offensive against a long-standing ally.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government unanimously voted Monday to fire Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara, who is currently prosecuting him for corruption.

• The Supreme Court immediately issued an injunction blocking the move.

Why it matters: This is the first time an Israeli government has ever voted to fire an attorney general. The move sparked immediate accusations Netanyahu was seeking to protect himself and his aides.

House Speaker Mike Johnson visited a settlement in the occupied West Bank on Monday as part of a private visit to Israel organized by a pro-Israel advocacy group, according to two Israeli officials.

Why it matters: While many Republican Congress members have visited West Bank settlements, it is highly unusual visit for a speaker of the house to do so.

More than a dozen House Democrats have now signed onto a letter urging the Trump administration to recognize a Palestinian state, and at least one plans to introduce a pro-statehood resolution, Axios has learned.

Why it matters: The surge in efforts to secure Palestinian statehood is a byproduct of lawmakers' discomfort towards the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

Republican-leaning states, once at the forefront of laws helping undocumented students pay in-state college tuition, are trying to roll back that access thanks to pressure from President Trump.

Why it matters: Around 8% of the nation's estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants are under 18, and the ending of in-state tuition would make college unaffordable if those laws are reversed.