The Bulletin

• Nuclear warning for Trump: Although President Trump has said he wants to get rid of nuclear weapons, the uncertainty he is creating over global alliances has made it likely more countries will consider them, nuclear weapons experts say.

• Musk's Starship rocket explosion: Elon Musk has reacted after his SpaceX rocket exploded shortly after being launched from Texas on Thursday. Here's a video of the rocket exploding that has gone viral.

• Tax filing returns: Tax season is well underway and U.S. taxpayers should be aware of various credits and deductibles that can reduce their overall tax bill. Here's a list of tax credits taxpayers can claim.

• Does the U.S. protect Japan? President Trump questioned why the U.S. protects its ally Japan and said the East Asian country "make a fortune out of us". Read his full remarks.

• Bannon accuses corporations exploiting tax cuts: Steve Bannon said during a Thursday episode of his War Room podcast that corporations "gamed the system" under President Trump's tax cuts during his first administration, which Trump has proposed to be made permanent.

• Musk issues USPS warning: Government adviser and tech billionaire Elon Musk has said the United States Postal Service should be privatized. Here's why.

The rundown: Despite his pro-business rhetoric on the campaign trail, some American executives are skeptical over the country's economic future under President Donald Trump. Here's what they have to say.

Why it matters: CEO concerns are largely centered around the president's on-again, off-again tariff plans, some of which have been enacted but others subject to temporary pauses and last-minute sector-specific concessions. Struggling to adapt to announcements regarding trade, and whether to treat them as threats that may not evolve into policy, has frustrated Hassane El-Khoury, CEO of ON Semiconductor. On the real impact of tariffs on foreign imports, Ford CEO Jim Farley said that 25 percent tariffs on Canada and Mexico would "blow a hole in the U.S. industry that we have never seen," and that what he had witnessed from the administration so far had been "a lot of costs and a lot of chaos."

Read more in-depth coverage:
Is Trump Causing a Recession? Economists Are Increasingly Worried

TL/DR: Amid federal workforce layoffs and concerns about the economic impact of his trade policies—which have already sparked panic in the U.S. stock market—several CEOs have voiced doubts about the president's agenda.

What happens now? Trump is set to host a meeting with several CEOs early next week, according to Bloomberg, including executives from HP, Qualcomm and Intel. A spokesperson for HP confirmed that the topics of discussion will include trade policy and manufacturing.

Deeper reading American CEOs Sour on Trump's Economy

The rundown: The FBI arrested two active U.S. Army soldiers and one former soldier for gathering sensitive military information that was then sold to China, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Oregon said. Here's what to know.

Why it matters: Jian Zhao and Li Tian, active-duty soldiers stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, and Ruoyu Duan, a former soldier, were on Thursday indicted by federal grand juries in the District of Oregon and the Western District of Washington, according to the announcement. Jian and Tian, who were both based out of Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington state, were charged with conspiracy to commit bribery and theft of government property. Jian is facing the same charges, along with an additional charge of conspiring to obtain and transmit national defense information to an individual who did not have the necessary authorization to access it.

Read more in-depth coverage:
US Ally in Asia Uncovers Huge Chinese Spy Network

TL/DR: Tensions between the United States and China, its main strategic rival, have surged in recent years over a plethora of issues including trade, human rights and the sovereignty of Taiwan and the South China Sea.

What happens now? A trial will take place to ascertain Zhao, Tian and Duan's innocence or guilt. The three suspects will have to decide whether to plead innocent or guilty to the various charges against them.

Deeper reading US Soldiers Arrested by FBI, Accused of 'Betraying' Country to China

The rundown: Amy Coney Barrett, one of President Donald Trump's nominees to the U.S. Supreme Court, has voted against him in key cases, including a March 5 decision to stop his cancellations of USAID contracts. Here's what that means.

Why it matters: Amy Coney Barrett has voted against Trump in several key Supreme Court cases. In March 2024, she sided with liberal justices to force the Trump administration to pay $2 billion to USAID contractors. She also joined liberals in allowing Trump's sentencing for hush money payments to proceed. Barrett dissented in Fischer v. United States over January 6 prosecutions, criticized the narrowing of obstruction statutes and urged calm in the insurrectionist case regarding Trump's ballot eligibility. She also broke with conservatives in a ruling on presidential immunity, stating Trump must stand trial if his constitutional challenge fails.

Read more in-depth coverage:
Amy Coney Barrett and John Roberts Become a Thorn in Trump's Side

TL/DR: Trump has a 6-3 conservative majority on the Supreme Court, including three judges he nominated during his first term.

What happens now? There are more than a dozen challenges to Trump's executive orders currently before the federal courts and several are expected to reach the Supreme Court, where Coney Barrett could play a pivotal role in deciding their outcome.

Deeper reading Was Amy Coney Barrett Trump's Biggest Mistake?

The rundown: The Five Eyes intelligence-sharing alliance, formed after World War II between the U.S., U.K., Canada, Australia and New Zealand, has been integral to global security for decades. However, under President Trump, tensions have emerged, with concerns over whether the U.S. will remain part of the alliance. Learn more.

Why it matters: Trump's policies, including strained relations with allies and a rapprochement with Russia, have led to fears that sensitive intelligence sharing could be jeopardized. Some members are considering limiting intelligence exchanges with the U.S., particularly over its stance on Russia. The future of the Five Eyes is uncertain, with some officials worried about erosion of cooperation. If the alliance fractures, remaining members may turn to bilateral intelligence agreements, potentially reducing U.S. access to critical information on China and Russia.

Read more in-depth coverage:
U.S. Cut Ukraine Off NATO's Intelligence Channel: Reports

TL/DR: In another possible path, the U.K., Canada, Australia and New Zealand could deem the U.S. an untrustworthy confidant and attempt to limit the intelligence it shares with Washington.

What happens now? U.S. allies outside the Five Eyes would likely respond to any breakdown of the alliance by strengthening their intelligence relationships with individual Five Eyes countries. It could present an opportunity for nations like Japan or South Korea, who could build on their ties with Australia, he said, but a fraying of the Five Eyes would likely also be seen as "a symbol of a fracturing international system that poses risks for them."

Deeper reading America-Led Spy Network Risks Collapse Over Trump-Russia Fears

The rundown: China is moving ahead with its goal of a manned lunar landing before the end of the decade while planning new missions to its Tiangong space station this year. Get more details.

Why it matters: With its end-of-decade moon mission fast approaching, key equipment, including the Long March 10 superheavy launch vehicle, the Lanyue crewed lunar lander, and a lunar spacesuit, has entered initial development, the People's Liberation Army Daily, the official news outlet of China's military, reported. The construction of the launch facilities for the manned mission in the southern island province of Hainan is progressing "in an orderly manner," the report said. Meanwhile, crews for the next two space station missions, Shenzhou-20 and Shenzhou-21, have been selected.

Read more in-depth coverage:
China's Quest for Supremacy Moves into Space

TL/DR: The country has set the goal of mounting a human mission by 2030 and has reportedly been in talks with its ally Russia about jointly developing a lunar base sometime in the next decade.

What happens now? The stage is set for a new space race. The United States also hopes to establish long-term human stays on the moon by 2030 as part of the Artemis program spearheaded by NASA and joined by multiple international partners. China plans to launch its next lunar lander, Chang'e-7, in 2026 to survey the moon's south pole, and search for water in soil samples.

Deeper reading China's 2030 Plan to Land on Moon