The Bulletin

• Trump to slash USAID staff: On Thursday, the Trump administration unveiled a plan to significantly reduce staffing for U.S. aid projects worldwide, as part of its efforts to dismantle the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). The plan would cut the number of workers to fewer than 300 from the current thousands of staff.

• Khamenei rejects U.S. negotiations: Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei dismissed the prospect of negotiations with the United States, stating that past experience has shown such talks are neither "smart, wise, nor honorable." Know more.

• DOGE federal cuts: The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), created by President Trump, is recommending significant cuts to the federal government, changing everything from student loans to humanitarian relief. Here's what's at risk.

• China hoards gold amid trade war: The Chinese are gobbling up gold despite its record-high price as U.S.-China trade tensions enter a fresh phase. Find out more.

• Trump impeachment articles filed: Democratic Representative Al Green announced Wednesday he would file articles of impeachment against Trump, saying the president's recent comments about Gaza "will live in infamy." Here's what happens next.

• Social Security boost proposed: The Trump administration will implement "the largest tax cut in history" through a series of actions, including eliminating taxes on Social Security for seniors, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Thursday. Get more details.

The rundown: America is less than three weeks into the second Trump administration, and Democratic leaders are still licking their wounds after an election that saw them lose both the White House and Senate. Here's how they're scrambling to respond.

Why it matters: Frustrated progressives are urging party leaders to fight back against Trump's sweeping changes, but Democratic leadership has been criticized as out of touch, reactive and unprepared. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, 84, has become a focal point for discontent, with viral clips highlighting the party's ageing leadership. Meanwhile, Democratic governors like J.B. Pritzker and Gretchen Whitmer, alongside younger figures like Chris Murphy and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, are positioning themselves as potential new leaders. Democrats face not only an organizational challenge but also a messaging crisis, struggling to match Trump's dominance in alternative media.

Read more in-depth coverage:
Pete Buttigieg's Chances of Winning Michigan Senate Primary: Poll

TL/DR: Frustrated, angry and tired, liberals are on the hunt for their next shot-caller.

What happens now? As calls for a "fighter" grow, Democrats are searching for their next Obama to take on Trump’s agenda.

Deeper reading Democrats Search for a Voice. Any Voice.

The rundown: The Supreme Court could overturn its landmark 2015 ruling that established a nationwide right to same-sex marriage if a case addressing the matter is brought before it, experts told Newsweek. Find out what they said.

Why it matters: Last month, Idaho lawmakers approved a resolution that called for the Court to undo its Obergefell v. Hodges decision that declared a constitutional right for same-sex couples to marry. Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito, two conservative justices who dissented in Obergefell v. Hodges, have suggested that the decision should be reconsidered. Kate Shaw, a law professor at the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School and constitutional law scholar, told Newsweek that the resolution from Idaho lawmakers "seems purely symbolic" since the Court can revisit Obergefell only if there is a "live dispute."

Read more in-depth coverage:
New Republican Measure Aims to Get Supreme Court to End Same-Sex Marriage

TL/DR: Gallup polling shows that a majority of Americans continue to believe marriage between same-sex couples should be legal (69 percent), though support has declined slightly from the record high of 71 percent recorded in 2022 and 2023.

What happens now? A case that specifically addresses same-sex marriage could come before the Supreme Court and affect the Obergefell decision, but it's not known when that might happen.

Deeper reading Will Supreme Court Overturn Gay Marriage? How Obergefell Could Fall

The rundown: A Bering Air flight with 10 people onboard went missing over Nome, Alaska, late on Thursday, the Nome Volunteer Fire Department said. Get more details.

Why it matters: The Cessna 208B Grand Caravan aircraft was flying from Unalakleet, on the western coast of Alaska, to the city of Nome and was last reporting information at 3:16 p.m. over the Norton Sound, according to FlightRadar data. The plane is believed to have vanished from the radar some around the coast of Nome to Topkok, White Mountain fire chief Jack Adams told Alaska's News Source. U.S. Coast Guard Alaska also posted about the incident, saying the aircraft "was 12 miles offshore transiting from Unalakleet to Nome when its position was lost."

Read more in-depth coverage:
DC Plane Crash Update: Reagan National to See Reduced Flight Arrivals

TL/DR: The Nome Volunteer Fire Department reported the missing plane on social media, adding that the department, along with the National Guard, Coast Guard and troopers are carrying out an "active ground search."

What happens now? Emergency services will continue their search and update reports with further information.

Deeper reading Bering Air Flight Goes Missing Over Alaska: What We Know

The rundown: It's been months since North Korean troops advanced to Russia's southwestern Kursk region in the war against Ukraine. But after reportedly suffering heavy losses and withdrawing, questions remain about Kim Jong Un's next move. Find out here.

Why it matters: Observers suggest Kim will stick close to key ally Russian President Vladimir Putin while perhaps sidling back toward Chinese leader Xi Jinping. There may also be fresh opportunities for the regime in Pyongyang to reconnect with the U.S. under President Donald Trump. But however Kim plays his political cards, there is little doubt among experts that the North Koreans will be back in action against Ukraine, likely after regrouping, retraining or rotating in fresh troops. International watchers believe North Korea is, or will be, receiving economic aid and a hand-up with its weapons development programs from Russia in exchange for munitions, missiles and troops.

Read more in-depth coverage:
Better Armed, but No Helmets: How North Koreans Fought Ukraine

TL/DR: At this point, it likely makes sense in Pyongyang to continue to prop up Russia's war effort, specifically in Moscow's long-running attempts to dislodge Ukrainian troops from Kursk.

What happens now? Bryden Spurling, a senior research leader in defense and security, said that Pyongyang could be seeking more modern equipment from Russia like aircraft or submarine technology. Samuel Ramani, an associate fellow at the London-based Royal United Services Institute think tank, believes that North Korea could also benefit from Russian-designed guided bombs and missiles.

Deeper reading Kim Jong Un's Next Move After North Koreans' Retreat in Ukraine

The rundown: President Donald Trump and tech billionaire Elon Musk's crackdown on the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) contradicts how the conservative manifesto Project 2025 suggested the agency should operate. Learn more.

Why it matters: Trump has repeatedly denied any connection to Project 2025, which outlines how a potential Republican administration could overhaul the federal government, despite multiple members of his Cabinet being involved in drafting the manifesto. The dismantling of USAID suggests Trump is not following all the recommendations in Project 2025 and that Musk has an even greater influence on the president. The Trump administration has announced plans to gut the agency and merge it with the State Department. Thousands of employees are set to lose their jobs by the end of Friday as part of the move.

Read more in-depth coverage:
Federal Workers Sue Trump Over USAID: 'Unconstitutional and Illegal'

TL/DR: USAID is an independent agency that delivers billions of dollars in foreign humanitarian aid.

What happens now? USAID said in a statement on its website that, by the end of Friday, all direct-hire personnel at the agency will be placed on administrative leave globally, except for those responsible for "mission-critical functions, core leadership, and specially designated programs."

Deeper reading Elon Musk's Crackdown on USAID Splits With Project 2025 Agenda