A U.S.-China deal is hinted at and Hamas releases an American hostage: Weekend Rundown

The White House on Sunday touted a “China trade deal” — without providing details — after two top U.S. officials alluded to a potential agreement with China following talks between the two countries in Switzerland over the weekend.

“U.S. Announces China Trade Deal in Geneva,” read the White House’s headline for a transcript of Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer’s remarks to reporters.

Bessent and Greer had struck an optimistic tone regarding the state of a potential trade agreement with China, noting that the administration would provide additional details on Monday. While Greer referred to an “agreement” and “deal,” neither official provided details. China has not yet publicly weighed in on whether the two countries have struck a deal.

“I’m happy to report that we made substantial progress between the United States and China in the very important trade talks,” Bessent told reporters, adding that “the talks were productive.”

Hamas says it will release American hostage

Hamas agreed to release Edan Alexander, a dual U.S. and Israeli citizen believed to be the last living U.S. citizen who remains captive in Gaza, weeks after saying it had lost contact with the group holding him hostage.

His release is part of “the steps being taken to achieve a ceasefire, open the crossings, and allow aid,” Khalil al-Hayya, head of Hamas’ negotiating team, said in a statement. Al-Hayya did not provide information on Alexander’s condition.

Steve Witkoff, the U.S. special envoy to the Middle East, confirmed the agreement to NBC News and said he is traveling to Israel to secure Alexander’s release.

The news comes as disagreements on how to approach the situation in Gaza, as well as on Iran, have led to tension between U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, according to two U.S. officials, two Middle Eastern diplomats and two other people with knowledge.

While Netanyahu wants to continue a military approach, Trump sees an opportunity to make a deal with a now-weakened Iran, the sources told NBC News.

‘Meet the Press’

Top Trump adviser Stephen Miller on Friday said the administration is “looking at” ways to end due process protections for unauthorized immigrants in the U.S.

When asked whether he would support suspending habeas corpus for undocumented immigrants, Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., dodged the questions, ultimately telling NBC News’ “Meet the Press” he did not think the issue would come before Congress.

Meanwhile, Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., spoke about the state of the Democratic Party following the 2024 election.

Klobuchar reflected on Joe Biden suspending his re-election campaign last year and endorsing Kamala Harris just months before the election.

“Yes, we would have been served better by a primary. But we are where we are,” Klobuchar said. “I’m not interested in going backwards in time. I’m interested in going forward.”

Politics in brief

• Special delivery: The Trump administration is preparing to accept a superluxury Boeing 747-8 jumbo jet from the royal family of Qatar as a gift to be used as the new Air Force One for presidential travel until shortly before Trump leaves office.
• Musk’s reprieves: Regulatory problems that have dogged tech billionaire Elon Musk and his business empire in recent years have begun to melt away under the Trump administration.
• ICE trouble: Three House Democrats could face arrest over an incident during an oversight visit to an Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention facility in New Jersey, a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security suggested.
• Lost in translation: Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff broke with long-standing protocol by relying on Kremlin-provided translators during three high-level meetings with Russia’s Vladimir Putin, officials told NBC News.

How Leo became the unexpected pope

Once the Sistine Chapel’s doors are sealed, cardinals attending the conclave swear an oath of “absolute and perpetual secrecy,” as do all Vatican staff assisting them, including cooks, cleaners and drivers.

But there have since been some clues from insiders as to how a relatively obscure American Augustinian, who was not widely discussed ahead of the event, moved minds and ended up as pope.

Cardinal Wilton Gregory said that “a lot of dialogue occurred at mealtime, coffee breaks, those moments when you can engage in smaller groups,” hinting that it was in these moments that Cardinal Robert Prevost, soon to become Leo, thrived.

“It wasn’t that he stood up and made this overwhelmingly convincing speech that just wowed,” said Gregory. “I don’t remember any particular intervention, but I do believe he engaged quite effectively in the smaller group conversations.”

Notable quote

The conclave that saw Pope Leo XIV unexpectedly emerge as the new leader of the Catholic Church ended after just 33 hours of deliberation.

Grocery shoppers brace to pay more for eggs, meat and other staples

Egg prices are stabilizing after a sharp run-up earlier this year, but grocery shoppers are already getting used to shelling out more for those and other pantry staples.

After peaking at $6.55 in mid-March, a dozen eggs sold for an average of $5.45 nationwide as of the week ending April 19, according to the latest data available from the market research firm NIQ. The ongoing decline is welcome news for consumers, but it comes amid higher prices for a number of pantry staples even as inflation overall has cooled.