The Bulletin

• Layoffs on the cards: Many companies have announced they will be laying off employees in March. Check if your employer is on the list.

• Internet decodes Marco Rubio's body language: Secretary of State Marco Rubio's body language during Friday's disastrous meeting between President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is raising eyebrows online. Here's why.

• Spain's birth rate improves: Spain's birth rate has gone up for the first time in a decade, and it's largely thanks to immigration, several population experts have said.

• European nuclear weapon? French President Emmanuel Macron has said he is ready to start discussions for nuclear deterrence for Europe in response to the threat posed by Moscow.

• Ohio health care plan: Over 500,000 fewer Ohioans are benefiting from public health care than two years ago, thanks to the expiration of COVID-era safeguards on coverage. Details here.

• Gen Z's debt problem: Generation Z are entering adulthood with more financial burdens than any previous generation, according to a new survey.

• Scam texts hitting drivers: Drivers nationwide have been receiving fraudulent texts claiming they have unpaid toll fees, but the texts are a scam designed to steal one's data. Here's how you can be safe.

The rundown: President Donald Trump has had a whirlwind of a first month in office, delivering on his campaign promise to wholly remake the government and dismantle the federal bureaucracy. But less than 40 days in, that honeymoon might be coming to an end. Find out why.

Why it matters: By a number of metrics, Trump just saw his worst week since returning to the office five weeks ago. Several concerning economic indicators this week have raised concerns about a slowdown — a flashing red light for a president who had vowed to prioritize the cost-of-living crisis that helped get him elected. Although Wall Street had an initially positive reaction to Trump's victory, the stock market has since given up those gains on concerns over tariffs, mass deportations and sticky inflation readings. "The Trump Administration's five-plus weeks in office have been a 'tour-de-force' where domestic and international issues have come quickly," Republican strategist Matt Klink told Newsweek.

Read more in-depth coverage:
Donald Trump Approval Rating Compared to Joe Biden, According to Polls

TL/DR: All of these developments were enough to make even some of Trump's most vocal supporters wondering aloud if this what they voted for.

What happens now? "While not directly responsible for a still struggling economy, Donald Trump will be held accountable by voters whose top concern is their family's economic well-being," Klink added.

Deeper reading Donald Trump's Worst Week Yet

The rundown: The prospect of cuts to Medicaid, America's largest public health insurance program, has prompted action across several U.S. states.

Why it matters: A budget blueprint narrowly approved by the House of Representatives this week could slash $880 billion over a decade from federal health and energy programs. As of October last year, more than 72 million people across the country had Medicaid coverage. Legislative work has already begun in Oregon to protect Medicaid enrollees. Democrats in New Hampshire also hosted a roundtable discussion with healthcare experts and local leaders to discuss the potential impact of the cuts. It is not only Democrats sounding the alarm. In Nevada, Republican Governor Joe Lombardo signaled his concern regarding potential Medicaid cuts in a letter to Democrat and GOP leaders in the state.

Read more in-depth coverage:
Donald Trump Adviser Hints at Medicaid Cuts

TL/DR: The bill instructs the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which oversees Medicaid, to slash $880 billion in mandatory spending—although the bill did not specifically mention Medicaid.

What happens now? The resolution now moves to the Senate, where it is expected to face substantial opposition from Democrats but could ultimately pass because of Republicans' control of the chamber.

Deeper reading Medicaid Cuts Spark Fears, Action Across US States

The rundown: The push for securing American access to rare earth elements has become a key feature of the early foreign policy agenda of the second Trump administration. Find out what's driving this agenda.

Why it matters: The 17 rare earth elements—15 lanthanides, plus scandium and yttrium—possess unique magnetic and electrochemical properties, making them integral for many varieties of modern technology, and critical for multiple industries, including defense and green energy. China currently exercises an effective monopoly over the rare earth supply chain, according to the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies. The need for rare earths beyond China has introduced a new dimension to negotiations over Ukraine's future, with Trump now attempting to cash in on America's generosity toward the country since the launch of Russia's full-scale invasion. In early drafts of the agreement, Trump had sought $500 billion in profits from Ukraine's rare earths.

Read more in-depth coverage:
Map Reveals Where World's Rare Earth Minerals Are Located

TL/DR: Many of these are utilized in graphics processing units and other hardware essential for artificial intelligence, including high-performance magnets in data center cooling systems.

What happens now? Ensuring American access to rare earths appears to be a through line of Trump's entire foreign policy agenda, as well as many of his domestic pursuits such as establishing "America's global leadership in AI technology innovation."

Deeper reading Donald Trump's Quest To Obtain Rare Earth Elements Explained

The rundown: The U.S. forces skipped NATO's biggest exercises this year, including one exercise just miles from Ukraine last month. European nations going it alone took on a fresh significance as U.S. President Donald Trump and his administration rewrote Washington's relationship with the continent. Inside the changing relations between the U.S. and Europe.

Why it matters: The Steadfast Dart drills at the southeastern training ground of Smârdan throughout February were designed to show how a British-led multinational force could operate in a crisis. But Trump's pullback has shaken European nations badly and raised questions over how the continent could defend itself in a real crisis without the U.S. backing. The continent's leaders have still struggled to summon the political clout to significantly boost military spending. To be clear, the U.S. has not said at this point that it is abandoning Europe, where it still has tens of thousands of active personnel. But the president himself has spoken of halving the U.S. defense budget. The U.S. accounts for two-thirds of NATO defense spending.

Read more in-depth coverage:
NATO Allies React to Donald Trump's Heated Confrontation With Zelensky

TL/DR: The U.S. has demanded that each member state dedicates 5 percent of gross domestic product to defense. The current NATO threshold stands at two, and several countries still fall short of this.

What happens now? "Very vulnerable" is how Europe would be without U.S. support, Ed Arnold, a senior research fellow at Britain's Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) defense think tank, told Newsweek.

Deeper reading Why Europe Can't Defend Itself Without Donald Trump

The rundown: Every year, thousands of immigrants take the U.S. naturalization test as part of the process to becoming American citizens. Take our quiz to test your knowledge.

Why it matters: Studies have shown that many natural-born U.S. citizens struggle with the test. The citizenship test, administered by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, consists of two parts: an English language test and a civics test. The civics portion includes questions about U.S. history, government, and laws. Many applicants face a 10-question test—needing to correctly answer at least six questions to pass.

Read more in-depth coverage:
Can Trump Persuade Rich Foreigners to Spend $5M for 'Gold Card' Visa?

TL/DR: Studies have shown that many natural-born U.S. citizens struggle with the test.

What happens now? A 2018 survey by the Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation found that only about 36 percent of Americans could pass the civics portion, while the official pass rate for immigrants is around 91 percent, according to USCIS data.

Deeper reading Would You Pass the US Citizenship Test? Take the Quiz