The Bulletin

• Trump announces 'Gold Card' visa program: President Donald Trump announced a new visa program for investors coming to the United States on Tuesday that would cost applicants $5 million. Get more details.

• China told to drop marriage age: A national political advisor has called on China to lower the legal marriage age to boost its declining birth rate—yet analysts tell Newsweek such a move is unlikely to sway young Chinese. More about it.

• IDR student loan application taken off website: The U.S. Department of Education has removed the online application for income-driven repayment (IDR) plans, preventing borrowers from enrolling, recertifying or adjusting their repayment terms through the federal website. Here's what borrowers should know.

• Glitzy Gaza video draws backlash: President Trump's video posted on Facebook of a Gaza reborn as a lavish resort replete with golden images of himself and including a beach scene with Israel's prime minister has drawn scorn and fury on social media in the Arab world.

• Pope Francis health: Pope Francis remains in a critical but stable condition and was resting Wednesday in the hospital as Catholics gather in Rome to pray for him.

• US naval base in Italy on lockdown: A U.S. naval airbase in Sicily, Italy was on lockdown Wednesday morning due to an unspecified situation at an entry control point. Know more.

The rundown: House Republicans took a crucial step towards implementing Donald Trump's "big, beautiful bill" on Tuesday, narrowly passing a budget resolution supporting his legislative agenda with a 217 to 215 vote. Here's more about the budget.

Why it matters: All House Democrats opposed the passage of the bill on Tuesday, while only one Republican voted against it—Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky. The resolution is seeking $4.5 trillion in tax breaks and $2 trillion in spending cuts over the next 10 years, measures that have met opposition from Democrats and made some Republicans uneasy. The budget resolution does not contain a bill eliminating taxes on tips, as some have mistakenly claimed on social media. The president wants Congress to act to extend its 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which is set to expire at the end of the year; he also wants to add new tax policies, including eliminating taxes on tips, Social Security benefits and overtime wages.

Read more in-depth coverage:
How Social Security Is Impacted by House Republicans Budget Resolution

TL/DR: While a series of posts on social media claimed that Congress passed Trump's promised "no tax on tips" bill, the framework only sets the way for lawmakers to move forward with such plans—but includes no policy prescription.

What happens now? It would take weeks before any of Trump's promises—including tax breaks—become law, with any bill having to go through the House and the Senate before being finalized. The two chambers have passed their own versions of the legislation, and it's still to be seen which one they would agree on.

Deeper reading Was No Tax on Tips Bill Passed? House Republican Budget Resolution Explained

The rundown: The MeidasTouch Podcast, a progressive, anti-Trump show hosted by three brothers—Brett, Ben and Jordan Meiselas—became America's most popular podcast this month, knocking off Joe Rogan after a prolonged period of domination by conservative or pro-Trump voices. See how the numbers compare.

Why it matters: MeidasTouch is an American progressive media company and describes itself as a "pro-democracy news network." They officially ranked as the number one podcast in the U.S. in February, according to Podscribe data, with 57.7 million downloads and views per month, an increase of 120 percent. A month into the second Trump administration, the rise of the left-leaning MeidasTouch podcast may be signaling a shift in tone among Americans. It comes as Trump's approval rating fell by 13 points, 33 days into his term, according to a recent IPSOS poll.

Read more in-depth coverage:
Joe Rogan Dethroned by Anti-Trump Podcast in the Charts

TL/DR: Asked if he believes the rise of MeidasTouch signals a shift in how Americans are consuming political media under the new administration, Meiselas said "Absolutely."

What happens now? According to data from Social Charts, on YouTube MeidasTouch received 272.9 million views in the past 30 days. The latest Playboard YouTube Chart data saw them overtake Fox News and land in the top spot. "We want to compete with and beat Fox in viewership every single day—and be the country's leading source of information," Meiselas said.

Deeper reading Exclusive: Anti-Trump Podcaster Who Dethroned Joe Rogan Wants to Beat Fox News

The rundown: Anger over President Trump's tariffs and threats to turn Canada into America's 51st state has prompted some Canadians to boycott U.S. products and avoid traveling to the country. Here's what we know.

Why it matters: According to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, the United States exported $349.4 billion of goods to Canada in 2024, making Canada its largest export market. While some experts told Newsweek that the economic impact of a potential boycott of American products in Canada is uncertain or likely to be short-lived, others pointed to signs of a more lasting shift in consumer behavior. They suggested that the boycott reflects a deeper change in Canadians' attitudes toward their southern neighbors since Trump's inauguration last month.

Read more in-depth coverage:
US Consumer Confidence Fell Sharply in February

TL/DR: According to a recent poll of 3,310 Canadians by the Angus Reid Institute between February 16 and 18, 85 percent said they were planning to replace or had already replaced U.S. products when shopping.

What happens now? Trump recently confirmed that the 25 percent tariffs on Canada will take effect next week following a 30-day pause agreed at the start of February. During a joint press conference with French President Emmanuel Macron, Trump said that the administration was "on time with the tariffs" and that this was moving on "rapidly."

Deeper reading US Companies Could Take a Hit From 'Buy Canadian' Boycott

The rundown: Ukrainian forces have advanced against Russian troops close the two major eastern cities of Pokrovsk and Toretsk, according to new reports, despite continued gains for Moscow elsewhere along the front line. Find out more.

Why it matters: Moscow has been steadily advancing toward the Ukrainian hubs of Pokrovsk and Toretsk for months. Both are in the eastern Donetsk region, part of the Donbas region that Moscow has claimed it has annexed from Kyiv but does not fully control. Russia has skirted around Pokrovsk, a city key to Ukrainian defenses in the east, rather than fighting inside the settlement. Further to the east, fighting has blazed on for months in and around Toretsk, a city providing a vital link for Ukraine to logistics bases at Kostiantynivka, to the northwest of Toretsk. Popular Ukrainian war-tracking blog, DeepState, reported on Tuesday that Ukrainian forces had advanced in Uspenivka, a village southwest of Pokrovsk.

Read more in-depth coverage:
Map Shows Ukraine's Rare Earth Minerals That Putin Wants To Sell to Trump

TL/DR: Fierce clashes have continued despite U.S. President Donald Trump entering negotiations with Russia for a ceasefire deal, cutting out Kyiv from talks in Saudi Arabia.

What happens now? It remains to be seen whether a ceasefire deal brokered by the U.S. will be agreed in coming weeks, and whether Ukraine will sign such an agreement. French President Emmanuel Macron, visiting Washington earlier this week, said that an agreement could be "feasible" within weeks.

Deeper reading Ukraine War Map Shows Kyiv Regain Ground in Two Major Strongholds

The rundown: America's least popular politician is the mayor of a large, economically critical city in a blue state—but not the one who was, until recently, under federal indictment. Find out who he is.

Why it matters: Nearly 800 miles west of New York City, where Mayor Eric Adams is fighting to keep his job after the Justice Department moved to drop his corruption case, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has seen his reputation collapse. A recent poll from M3 Strategies, conducted between February 20 and 21, showed the Democrat—who is just two years into his tenure—with a 6.6 percent approval, one of the worst showings for any major political figure in the country's history. The poll found that crime was, far and away, the top issue for Chicagoans, with 67 percent ranking it as the city's biggest problem.

Read more in-depth coverage:
Trump's DOJ Sues Illinois and Chicago Over Sanctuary City Policies

TL/DR: Johnson took office in May 2023. In October of that year, his approval rating was already down to 28 percent. Those numbers fell to 14 percent a year later, and then halved again in the four months since.

What happens now? Chicago residents won't elect a new mayor until 2027, but among the potential candidates, Johnson is the least popular likely contenders, with 80 percent of respondents in the M3 poll marking him "unfavorable." While the five other prospective candidates had less name recognition than Johnson, no one was as unpopular as the sitting mayor.

Deeper reading Is This the Least Popular Politician in America?