The Bulletin

• China steps in to replace USAID: China has provided a grant to help a Cambodian project clearing land mines and unexploded bombs days after the freeze on payments by USAID to its partners had forced it to suspend work. Here's what we know.
• Presidential immunity ruling: Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor has raised concerns that recent rulings by the court's conservative majority have jeopardized public confidence in the judiciary.

• Missing Bering Air plane found: The U.S. Coast Guard for the Alaska maritime region reported on Friday that it located an aircraft matching the description of the missing Bering Air plane. Find out more.

• Arms sales to Israel: The State Department informed Congress of its plan to sell over $7 billion in weapons to Israel, which includes thousands of bombs and missiles.

• When is the Super Bowl? The 2025 Super Bowl is Sunday at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, marking the eighth time the stadium has hosted the NFL's biggest event. Find out when and where to stream it.

• Iran's Supreme Leader responds to Trump: Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has dismissed the prospect of negotiations with the United States. Read his remarks.

The rundown: President Donald Trump's approval rating is better than most world leaders, according to a new poll conducted by Morning Consult between January 21 and 27. The poll showed Trump beating all but four world leaders. Take a look at how it compares with the approval rating of other world leaders.

Why it matters: Polls indicate strong public support for Trump's immigration agenda, which has included ramping up deportations, ending birthright citizenship and proposals to build facilities to house illegal immigrants at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The poll showed that Trump's approval rating stands at 52 percent, while 38 percent disapprove of him. Only four world leaders beat Trump in the rankings: Swiss President Karin Keller-Sutter, Argentine President Javier Milei, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Among the least popular world leaders were Canada's Justin Trudeau, with whom Trump has been embroiled in a row over tariffs.

Read more in-depth coverage:
Map Reveals Donald Trump's Favorability Rating by State

TL/DR: Trump's populairty on the world stage comes as polls show he is more popular than ever.

What happens now? Whether Trump's improved approval ratings will hold remains uncertain. Polling experts have told Newsweek that it is not uncommon for presidents to experience a "honeymoon period" in the polls when they first start their term and that his approval rating is likely to fluctuate.

Deeper reading Donald Trump's Approval Rating Is Better Than Most World Leaders

The rundown: A group of Democratic attorneys general sued President Donald Trump on Friday to block Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) from accessing sensitive personal data housed at the U.S. Treasury Department. Get more details.

Why it matters: The lawsuit comes after DOGE employees gained access to the Treasury's payments system, which controls trillions of dollars in federal disbursements for tax refunds, veterans' benefits, Social Security payments, Medicare, Medicaid and other services. It also houses a massive network of Americans' personal and financial information. Nineteen Democratic attorneys general filed Friday's lawsuit, which alleges that by granting Musk and his team access to the Treasury's payments system, the Trump administration violated federal law. Trump, on the other hand, has said that DOGE doesn't actually require the unprecedented access it has been granted.

Read more in-depth coverage:
Judge Declines to Block DOGE From Labor Department Data, Despite 'Concerns'

TL/DR: The purpose "is to allow DOGE to advance a stated goal to block federal funds from reaching beneficiaries who do not align with the President's political agenda," the complaint alleges.

What happens now? DOGE has drawn sharp criticism—and legal pushback—since President Donald Trump was inaugurated on January 20. The White House will likely seek to have the lawsuit dismissed.

Deeper reading 19 States Sue Trump To Block Musk's DOGE From Accessing Personal Data

The rundown: Donald Trump's nominee for FBI director, Kash Patel, is facing scrutiny after he submitted financial disclosures which showed he was paid $25,000 in 2024 by a U.S.-Russian film company tied to Kremlin-backed conspiracy content. Here's everything we know.

Why it matters: Patel is currently awaiting confirmation by the Senate to be Trump's FBI director. If confirmed, he would lead the agency tasked with countering Russian espionage, despite recently accepting money from a Kremlin-linked figure. Documents obtained by The Washington Post show that Patel received the money from Global Tree Pictures, a Los Angeles-based company run by Igor Lopatonok, a Russian national who also holds U.S. citizenship, whose previous projects include a pro-Russian campaign funded by a program created by Vladimir Putin. 

Read more in-depth coverage:
Vance Urges Support for Trump Cabinet Nominees With Tight Votes Likely

TL/DR: Patel is widely considered one of Trump's most controversial nominees, given his criticism of the FBI's investigation into the Trump-Russia scandal.

What happens now? Patel's confirmation process is expected to remain contentious, with Democrats strongly opposing his nomination while Republicans push for his approval. The Senate Judiciary Committee is set to vote on Patel's nomination next week after a vote last week was delayed by Democratic members of the panel.

Deeper reading Kash Patel Under Scrutiny Over Payment From Russian-Owned Film Company

The rundown: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signaled Friday he was willing to accept President Donald Trump's deal for continued military aid in the war against Russia in exchange for access to Ukraine's rare earth materials.

Why it matters: Zelensky defended accepting Trump's deal on Friday, telling Reuters that he was not "giving away" Ukraine's resources, but he was offering the U.S. a partnership. Zelensky's comments followed Trump's Monday remarks in which he said he sought the "security" of rare earth elements in exchange for the billions of dollars in aid supplied by the U.S. The Ukrainian leader has said that he is also discussing potentially using Ukraine's underground storage for U.S.-produced gas. The deal is likely to be the main talking point when Zelensky and Trump meet next week.

Read more in-depth coverage:
US Prepared to Ramp Up Sanctions on Putin: Trump's Ukraine-Russia Envoy

TL/DR: Trump has frequently criticized former President Joe Biden's spending on Ukraine during his presidential campaign.

What happens now? Trump has pushed back the timeline for the end of the Russia-Ukraine war to within six months. The president has said he is open to meeting with Zelensky in the next week, as long as it takes place in the U.S.

Deeper reading Zelensky Open to Trump's Rare-Mineral Partnership: 'Let's Do a Deal'

The rundown: President Donald Trump announced on Friday that he is firing most of the board of trustees for the Kennedy Center, and naming himself chairman. Here are the changes he has vowed to make.

Why it matters: Trump said he will be in charge of programming at the national cultural center going forward. One major change he promised, was that he planned to put an end to drag shows. The current chairman David M. Rubenstein was originally appointed to the board by President George W. Bush in 2010. He was subsequently reappointed by President Barack Obama and President Joe Biden. Trump, who has not identified who on the board he is firing aside from Rubenstein, claims he is terminating them because they don't share his vision for a "Golden Age" of the arts. There has already been a strong backlash to the announcement, with some asking if the president even has the legal power to fire the board and appoint himself.

Read more in-depth coverage:
Donald Trump Is Already in Reverse

TL/DR: The Kennedy Center offers educational programs and hosts the annual Kennedy Center Honors to celebrate significant contributions to the arts in America.

What happens now? Trump said he will "soon announce a new board" for the Kennedy Center.

Deeper reading Trump Appoints Himself As Chairman of Kennedy Center, Vows Major Changes