The Bulletin

• Luigi Mangione in court: Murder suspect Luigi Mangione appeared in court on Friday afternoon for his first hearing since being charged in the fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. More details here.

• Birthright executive order: President Donald Trump's recent executive order seeking to end birthright citizenship for children of non-citizen parents has faced immediate legal pushback.

• U.S. threatens to cut Ukraine's Starlink access: U.S. negotiators have reportedly threatened to cut off Ukraine's access to Starlink if an agreement on minerals cannot be reached. Know more.

• Impact of mass layoffs: Current and former NOAA scientists and officials warned that large, indiscriminate cuts to the agency could have major consequences.

• Winter weather warnings: Winter weather warnings have been issued in four states, with blowing snow expected to hit some areas this weekend. Find out which states may be impacted.

• Setback for DOGE? A New York federal judge issued a preliminary injunction preventing members of Department of Government Efficiency from accessing the Treasury Department's central payment system. Here's what we know.

• Trump's 'favorite' newspaper fact-checks him: The New York Post, which Trump has described as his once "favorite newspaper," fact-checked his comments about the Russia-Ukraine war on its front cover.

• New coronavirus discovered: A new bat coronavirus that has the capacity to spread to humans, similar to the one that caused the COVID-19 pandemic, has been discovered. Know more.

The rundown: Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó has nothing but praise for U.S. President Donald Trump, having developed a strong relationship during the first Trump administration and seeing only positives from the initial month of Trump's second term. Read Szijjártó's exclusive interview with Newsweek.

Why it matters: Touting Hungary as "kind of Trump before Trump," Szijjártó sees the two countries increasingly aligned on policy and worldview. Asked if Europe should be more involved in the Ukraine peace talks, Szijjártó said, "would pro-war politicians be invited? We are very happy that President Trump and President Putin took the time to talk to each other." On Trump's first month of presidency, he said cutting the "channels of financing when it comes to USAID was the best thing so far." I think that cutting these channels, President Trump made a huge service to the world, Szijjártó added.

Read more in-depth coverage:
Trump Gave Europe Three Weeks to Sign Off on Ukraine 'Surrender': MEP

TL/DR: We have been doing the same things as President Trump has been doing. We were kind of Trump before Trump, Szijjártó said.

What happens now? With Trump back in office, Hungary is seeing the political landscape shifting more to suit its views and ambitions.

Deeper reading 'Trump Before Trump': How Hungary Foreshadows America's Right-Wing Embrace

The rundown: The man who drafted the proposal for a stimulus check to be sent to American households from Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) savings told Newsweek that if the proposal comes to be, he hopes it will incentivize Americans to report government waste or fraud that they might witness firsthand.

Why it matters: Led by billionaire Elon Musk, DOGE has recommended mass layoffs in the federal government as a means to eliminate $2 trillion yearly in funding to major U.S. agencies. Azoria investment CEO James Fishback has proposed that Americans should receive a stimulus check from some of the savings, and he recently created a Google Doc that addresses the benefits and common questions related to the argument. The check would be "funded exclusively with a portion of the total savings delivered by DOGE." The more DOGE saves, the bigger the DOGE Dividend check is, and that is a very powerful incentive for people to step up and report government waste, Fishback said.

Read more in-depth coverage:
What Legislators Think About DOGE Stimulus Checks

TL/DR: Trump and Musk have expressed their consideration for the proposal, but some voices in Congress are more hesitant about the idea.

What happens now? Fishback's proposal remains in its early stages and would require congressional approval before any checks are issued. Fishback told Newsweek that he's currently in Washington, D.C., to further discuss his proposal and has met with officials in the federal government.

Deeper reading DOGE Stimulus Check Creator Wants it to Motivate People to Report Waste

The rundown: President Donald Trump's support for his handling of the economy has significantly declined, according to recent polling data.

Why it matters: Previous polling showed that the economy was the most important issue to voters in the 2024 election—with many casting their ballots for Trump, hoping he would fulfill his pledge to curb inflation while revitalizing U.S. trade and industry. But recent data shows prices rising, leaving voters dissatisfied with Trump's management of the economy. According to a Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted between February 12 and 18, 53 percent of Americans believed the economy was on the wrong track, up from 43 percent in the organizations' January 24 to 26 poll. Other polls have also shown Trump's approval rating on the economy dropping.

Read more in-depth coverage:
Is Trump Polling Worse on The Economy Than Any Recent President?

TL/DR: Once a cornerstone of his administration's appeal, his economic policies are now facing growing criticism from voters as the nation grapples with rising inflation and economic uncertainty.

What happens now? The effects of Trump's wide-ranging economic agenda, which includes lowering taxes and increasing tariffs on major U.S. trading partners, are expected to become clearer in the coming months.

Deeper reading Donald Trump's Support Over Handling of Economy Evaporates

The rundown: Data from the World Population Review for the U.S. and the World Health Organization (WHO) for Europe reveal that America continues to struggle with significantly higher obesity rates when compared to European countries. See the map comparing obesity rates in U.S. states and European countries.

Why it matters: The color-coded visualization shared by Brilliant Maps shows that in many U.S. states, obesity rates exceed 30 percent, with some surpassing 40 percent. Southern and Midwestern states, such as Mississippi and West Virginia, report the highest levels, while Western states like Colorado and Hawaii have comparatively lower rates, though still above most European nations. Comparatively, obesity rates in most European countries remain below 25 percent, with some nations, particularly in Southern and Western Europe, reporting levels under 15 percent. A range of dietary, cultural, and lifestyle factors contribute to the disparity.

Read more in-depth coverage:
SNAP Benefits Face Cuts as RFK Jr. Goes After Junk Food

TL/DR: The map gained viral attention on Reddit's r/europe subreddit from people interested in comparing their home stats to other locations.

What happens now? While this data paints a concerning picture for the U.S., there are signs of improvement. For the first time in over a decade, American obesity rates showed a slight decline in 2023. Nationally, obesity rates fell from 46 percent in 2022 to 45.6 percent in 2023.

Deeper reading Map Reveals How Obesity Rates in the U.S Compares to Europe

The rundown: Several conservatives are pushing efforts to overturn the Supreme Court ruling that enshrines same-sex marriage in the United States, with conservative Christian lawyer Mat Staver declaring, "It's not an if, it's just a matter of when." Learn more about their plan.

Why it matters: June marks the 10th anniversary of the landmark Supreme Court decision Obergefell v. Hodges, which ruled that same-sex couples have the right to marry and that states cannot prohibit them. Some lawmakers, including an Oklahoma State Senator, and other anti-LGBTQ activists have pushed for the case to be overturned. Supreme Court Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito have signaled in a court dissent that the case should be reconsidered. Earlier this year, Idaho Representative Heather Scott, proposed a draft memorial urging the U.S. Supreme Court to reconsider Obergefell v. Hodges, in a bid to "restore federalism."

Read more in-depth coverage:
Will Supreme Court Overturn Gay Marriage? How Obergefell Could Fall

TL/DR: A majority of Americans support same-sex marriage, though a 2024 Gallup poll found Republicans are less likely to back it than Democrats.

What happens now? As of now, there is no case before the Supreme Court directly seeking to overturn Obergefell.

Deeper reading Conservatives Push to Overturn Same-Sex Marriage: 'Just a Matter of When'