8/18 to 8/24, 2025

Welcome back, everyone. It’s been another week of heavy headlines and lighter notes at the edges. We’ve got famine denials and draft fights in Israel, the haunting return of a Ukrainian POW, the Menendez brothers making yet another courtroom appearance, and the United States saying very little where it matters most. And then—because this is This Week, Basically, hosted by Robyn Davies—we’ll also make room for trains, tunes, and a rising star trying not to burn out. Let’s get into it.

Let’s begin with the hardest story: Gaza.

A new U.N.-backed food security report concluded that famine has taken hold in Gaza City and surrounding areas. That means widespread, extreme hunger affecting hundreds of thousands of people. International condemnation came quickly; European governments voiced outrage, aid groups said their worst fears had been confirmed. But from Washington? Silence. Neither the White House nor the State Department issued a direct response .

Israel, for its part, rejected the report outright. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called it “an outright lie,” insisting that Israel had gone to “unprecedented lengths” to allow aid into Gaza . The U.S. ambassador in Tel Aviv went even further, accusing Hamas of stealing supplies and mocking the report on social media. Critics say that without American pressure, Israel has no incentive to change course. And so, nearly two years into this war, the famine deepens. Families describe feeding their kids little more than canned beans twice a day, while prices for basic food remain out of reach . Analysts warn the silence from Washington may be the loudest message of all: Israel can carry on, and America won’t stop it.

And as that war drags on, another fault line in Israeli society is widening. For decades, ultra-Orthodox men were exempt from military service. They were expected to study Torah instead of carrying rifles. But now, with Gaza burning and Israel’s army exhausted, those exemptions are being challenged—and the backlash is fierce.

In Jerusalem, protests have turned fiery—literally. Ultra-Orthodox demonstrators set dumpsters ablaze, rabbis shouted defiance from balconies, and police responded with water cannons spraying “skunk water,” a chemical stench designed to disperse crowds . Some young men admit they’ve received draft notices but plan to ignore them, even if that means jail. Secular Israelis are furious: their children are dying in combat while others refuse to serve. Polling shows many ultra-Orthodox would enlist if their communities didn’t ostracize them, but rabbis are digging in. And politically, the issue threatens Prime Minister Netanyahu’s coalition, since the ultra-Orthodox parties are key to his grip on power. With more than 60,000 dead in Gaza and Israel’s own military stretched thin, this fight over who serves could reshape the country itself.

Meanwhile, in Ukraine, the war has scarred not only the battlefield but entire generations. Serhiy Hrebinyk, a 25-year-old Ukrainian soldier, has finally come home after more than three years in Russian captivity. He was captured in Mariupol in 2022 and shuffled through four different prisons .

He’s alive, but he isn’t the same. Tortured, beaten, half-starved, his right ear permanently damaged by a guard’s punch—his face and spirit carry the weight of what he endured . He barely talks about it with his mother, preferring silence to recounting daily abuse. Sometimes he tells lighter stories: reading “The Three Musketeers,” or winning extra rations in chess tournaments organized by guards. But trauma lingers. His mother says she’s just grateful to have him back, even if the boyish son she once knew feels gone. Serhiy’s struggle mirrors that of Ukraine: battered, scarred, but determined to keep going. His generation, shaped by war, will decide what Ukraine looks like when the fighting stops.

From one courtroom to another: the Menendez brothers are back in the news. Erik and Lyle Menendez, who shocked America in 1989 when they killed their parents in their Beverly Hills mansion, have been denied parole after 36 years in prison.

Separate panels rejected their bids last week, citing misconduct behind bars. Erik was faulted for drugs, a contraband cellphone, even a tax fraud scheme. Lyle faced similar accusations of illegal cellphone use and was described as having “antisocial traits,” though the board acknowledged he’d shown remorse . Both brothers were originally sentenced to life without parole but were resentenced earlier this year, which opened the door to this week’s hearings. They’ll have another shot in a few years, but for now, they remain in prison. Their case, once tabloid fodder, has been reignited in pop culture—thanks to documentaries, TV dramatizations, and even new evidence suggesting their father was abusive. But the parole boards weren’t convinced, and the brothers stay behind bars .

Closer to home, let’s pivot to something more hopeful. Down on the Gulf Coast, Amtrak has restarted passenger rail between New Orleans and Mobile, Alabama, for the first time since Hurricane Katrina. They’re calling it the “Mardi Gras Service,” and the first trains rolled out this week to cheering crowds .

It’s not fast; topping out at about 79 miles per hour, it takes four hours to cover the route. But riders don’t care. For many, it’s about history, connection, and healing. One passenger said seeing the gleaming cars again felt like “one more step toward recovery” after the devastation of Katrina . The train snakes past shipyards, marshes, and small towns, making stops in Mississippi before rolling into New Orleans. Tickets are cheap—sometimes as low as $15—making it more affordable than gas and parking. For families, it’s also about the experience: traveling together, looking out the window, and letting someone else do the driving. After years of lobbying and delays, the Gulf Coast is once again linked by passenger rail.

And finally, let’s end with music. Lola Young, a 24-year-old British singer, is having her breakthrough with the messy, raw pop-soul that’s resonating across TikTok and festival stages . Her hit “Messy” has been everywhere, and her new album—cheekily titled I’m Only Fucking Myself—drops in September.

But Lola’s story isn’t just about fame. It’s about whether she can survive it. Diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder and ADHD, she’s candid about addiction and mental health struggles . Onstage, she channels torment into art, following in the footsteps of icons like Amy Winehouse and Billie Eilish. Offstage, she wrestles with burnout, mood swings, and the grind of constant touring. Her manager, who once worked with Winehouse, says he’s determined not to let history repeat itself. The hope is that Lola can make it big without breaking. And with her blend of humor, honesty, and hooks, she just might.

So that’s the week: famine denied, faith tested, freedom scarred, and parole denied. But also: trains reborn and pop stars rising. A reminder that every week mixes the bleak with the bright.

That’s all for now. This is This Week, Basically. I’m Robyn Davies. Thanks for listening, and I’ll catch you next time.