The White House is moving ahead with its plan to significantly reduce the federal workforce.

Also this week, Robert F. Kennedy Jr was confirmed as the Secretary for Health and Human Services in a 52-48 vote, even after several senators raised concerns about his record of an anti-vaccine activism.

And in global news, Donald Trump spent time on the phone with both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and hopes negotiations to end the war will begin immediately.

The ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas came under strain this week as Hamas announced that it would delay the release of three hostages in Gaza on Saturday in exchange for more Palestinian prisoners being held in Israel.

We discuss all this and more during the News Roundup.

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