The Bulletin

• Did Trump freeze air traffic hiring? Social media users have said that President Trump's freeze on hiring federal employees included air traffic controllers in the wake of a passenger jet colliding with a military helicopter near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. Find out if it's correct.

• Trump warns BRICS: President Trump has threatened BRICS countries, warning them against replacing the U.S. dollar as a reserve currency. Read his full remarks.

• DC plane passenger survives collision: American figure skater Jon Maravilla said he was denied entry to the American Airlines plane that collided with a military helicopter in Washington, D.C., because his dog was too large for carry-on. Read his story.

• Trump blames Obama, Biden for DC plane crash: President Trump criticized the administrations of Barack Obama and Joe Biden, along with diversity, equity and inclusivity initiatives within the Federal Aviation Administration and the Department of Transportation, while discussing the plane crash near Washington, D.C., on Thursday. Here's what he said.

• Russia may expand nuclear arsenal: Russia may expand and upgrade its nuclear arsenal if the United States continues to push ahead with the development of a missile defense system, a top Russian diplomat said in an interview published on Thursday.

• Musk's net worth drops: Elon Musk's net worth has taken a tumble since the start of the year due to a slight slowdown at one of his key companies. Learn more.

The rundown: Flight data recorders, also known as black boxes, have been recovered from the American Airlines plane that collided with an Army helicopter and crashed into the Potomac River on Wednesday night, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) confirmed to Newsweek. Get more developments.

Why it matters: A black box is a device that records flight data and sounds in the cockpit. According to Reuters, a black box weighs 10 pounds and contains an underwater locator beacon, a stainless steel or titanium "Crash Survivable Memory Unit" and a recording chip. NTSB confirmed to Newsweek that both black boxes have been recovered. The methodical nature of examination of the data means that while a very basic idea of what happened could become clear within days or even hours, it's more likely going to take weeks to get a more thorough understanding—and that's assuming the black boxes were not severely damaged by the explosion or crash.

Read more in-depth coverage:
Flight Attendants React to D.C. Plane Crash Tragedy Where 67 Presumed Dead

TL/DR: NTSB did not confirm how long it would take to reach a preliminary conclusion based on the data.

What happens now? Both the NTSB and the Pentagon have launched investigations into the crash. A preliminary conclusion based on the black box data could be available in the coming days.

Deeper reading DC Plane Crash Update as Black Boxes Found in Potomac River, NTSB Confirms

The rundown: Republican Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri said he is "worried" that his GOP counterparts will not back Trump nominee Tulsi Gabbard for national intelligence director. Get the details on her confirmation hearing.

Why it matters: Gabbard has faced uncertain waters since Trump announced her as his pick to lead the country's intelligence community as critics question her relationships with Russia and Syria. At her confirmation hearing before the Senate Intelligence Committee on Thursday, Gabbard, former Democratic U.S. representative from Hawaii, said: "Those who oppose my nomination imply that I'm loyal to something or someone other than God, my own conscious, and the Constitution of the United States." In a Fox News interview Thursday, Senator Josh Hawley expressed concern about Gabbard's nomination, saying, "I'm worried her nomination may be in jeopardy, and about what that will mean."

Read more in-depth coverage:
Tulsi Gabbard Plans to Follow Donald Trump's Business Arrangement

TL/DR: President Donald Trump's Cabinet nominees have succeeding thus far obtaining Senate confirmation.

What happens now? Assuming all Democrats vote against her, Gabbard can only afford to lose three Republican senators. Gabbard's confirmation vote will be held at a later date.

Deeper reading Republican 'Worried' Own Colleagues Won't Confirm Tulsi Gabbard

The rundown: The cost of owning a car—including buying a vehicle, paying for insurance and repairs, and filling up the tank at the gas station—could see a steep increase if President Donald Trump imposes significant tariffs on countries like Canada and Mexico, experts warned. Find out how.

Why it matters: The cost of owning a car in the U.S. is growing because new vehicles have, on average, higher price tags, repairs have become more expensive, and insurance premiums have increased due to costly maintenance and more risky behavior exhibited by drivers. According to data from the Department of Transportation, American drivers spent over $12,000 a year owning and operating their vehicles in 2023. LendingTree writer and licensed insurance expert Rob Bhatt told Newsweek, "Tariffs on any country that imports cars or car parts are likely to raise the costs of buying and/or repairing cars."

Read more in-depth coverage:
What Trump Tariffs on Mexico and Canada Could Make More Expensive

TL/DR: Growing costs are adding a significant financial burden on U.S. households, many of which are already struggling with the higher cost of living.

What happens now? According to Ivan Drury, Edmunds' director of insights, "unless there are countermeasures put in place to reduce the cost or offset" Trump's tariffs on countries like Canada, China, and Mexico, "the short-term effect will most certainly be an increased cost to U.S. drivers and businesses."

Deeper reading Trump's Tariffs Could Send Cost of Car Ownership Skyrocketing

The rundown: The Philippines offered China a deal on Thursday, demanding it stop its aggressive behavior in the South China Sea in exchange for the removal of a U.S. missile system in the nation. Get the details.

Why it matters: Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. told reporters that he will "return everything" if China stops its "aggressive and coercive behavior" in the contested South China Sea. China has increasingly sent armed coast guard ships to the waters near the Philippines to reinforce its territorial claims with law enforcement patrols, ramming maneuvers, and water cannons, as well as the use of high-power lasers against Philippine vessels. The president's remarks came after the Chinese Foreign Ministry urged Manila to quickly withdraw the Typhoon missile system to "correct the wrongdoing."

Read more in-depth coverage:
US Ally 'Actively Challenging' China in Contested Waters

TL/DR: The Philippines has hosted a U.S. Mid-Range Capability missile system, also known as Typhon, since April 2024.

What happens now? The Chinese Defense Ministry has said China's claims of sovereignty in the South China Sea are "indisputable." It remains to be seen how Beijing will respond to Manila's offer to remove the Typhon system.

Deeper reading US Ally Turns Tables on China Over Missile Complaints

The rundown: President Donald Trump's firing of independent watchdogs of U.S. federal agencies could lead to "the weaponization of nonpartisan offices" New York State Inspector (IG) General Lucy Lang told Newsweek. Find out more.

Why it matters: Federal IGs oversee the arms of the federal government, conduct investigations and audit potential malfeasance, fraud, waste or abuse by a government agency or its staff. Around a quarter of Inspectors General from federal agencies were dismissed last week, sparking criticism that it would pave the way for him to install loyalists for the non-partisan roles. The White House has defended the dismissals saying they would "make room for qualified individuals who will uphold the rule of law and protect democracy." But Lang said that federal IGs saved approximately $93.1 billion in 2023 and fears that efforts to investigate and audit waste, corruption and fraud, will be harmed.

Read more in-depth coverage:
Trump Faces Backlash Over Alleged Purge of Inspectors General

TL/DR: Amid criticism that the terminations did not go through the 30-day notice period required by federal law, Lang said that the IGs should still turn up for work.

What happens now? Top Democrats from House committees have signed a joint letter to Trump defending the independence of IGs and that removing them without notifying Congress violates the law, suggesting that the furor will rumble on. Meanwhile, it is unclear whom the Trump administration will appoint to replace the ousted watchdogs.

Deeper reading Why Donald Trump's Plan to Fire Government Watchdogs Might Not Work