The Bulletin

• Trump's support among swing voters eroding: President Trump's online sentiment among swing voters has dropped to its lowest level since December, according to an analysis by Impact Social.

• Brad Keith Sigmon's final words: Brad Keith Sigmon, 67, was executed by firing squad at the Broad River Correctional Institution in Columbia, South Carolina, at 6:08 p.m. Read his last statement.

• Toronto pub mass shooting: At least 12 people have been injured in a mass shooting at a pub in Toronto and three suspects remain at large, police have said.

• Americans warned about traveling to 126 destinations: The U.S. Department of State issued warnings for travelers heading to 126 destinations, including 21 places where U.S. citizens should not travel. Full list of countries under advisory.

• Trump reacts to Musk-Rubio 'clash': President Donald Trump was asked about a reported fiery meeting held by some of his Cabinet secretaries and billionaire Elon Musk. Read what he said.

• Two food safety committees axed: The U.S. Department of Agriculture disbanded two food safety advisory committees. Find out more.

The rundown: Donald Trump's silence on the housing affordability crisis during his first speech to Congress has troubled experts who worry that the issue is no longer a priority for the president. Find out what economists think.

Why it matters: As millions have been priced out of buying homes over the past few years, housing became an important issue for American voters during the 2024 presidential race. Trump ran on the campaign promise of lowering home prices and increasing inventory through mass deportations and deregulations of the construction sector. Trump's address to a joint session of Congress on Tuesday lasted more than 90 minutes—the longest in at least 60 years, according to NPR. However, the president never addressed the nation's ongoing housing affordability crisis.

Read more in-depth coverage:
Is the Housing Market Going to Crash in 2025? What to Know

TL/DR: For some housing and economic experts, the president's failure to mention the housing crisis was a disappointment.

What happens now? Daryl Fairweather, Redfin's chief economist, told Newsweek that within the real estate industry, builders are the most worried. "Builder confidence fell sharply in February, and is at its lowest level in five months. It will likely weaken again in March," Fairweather said.

Deeper reading Donald Trump's Silence on US Housing Crisis

The rundown: A group of Democratic lawmakers have penned a letter warning that personnel cuts at the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) could have "profound effects" on the delivery of tax refunds and other services. Find out more.

Why it matters: President Donald Trump's administration is pushing ahead with significant federal government staff cuts, which have already impacted thousands of workers across multiple agencies. The joint letter, signed by 130 Democratic lawmakers, has denounced the planned staffing cuts at the IRS. Some of the most notable signatories include Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren. The Democrats are not the only ones sounding the alarm. Some Republican lawmakers have criticized the mass layoffs. John Koskinen, a former IRS commissioner, told AP that a reduction of tens of thousands of employees could render the IRS "dysfunctional."

Read more in-depth coverage:
Map Shows States With Most IRS Offices Expected to Close After DOGE Cuts

TL/DR: In the 2023 fiscal year, the IRS employed 82,990 workers full time. There are also some part time workers, making the total number of employees around 90,000, according to the Associated Press.

What happens now? The Associated Press reported this week that half the IRS's workforce could be let go, through a mixture of incentivized buyouts, attrition and layoffs. Roughly 7,000 probationary employees of the federal agency were let go in February.

Deeper reading IRS Tax Refunds Warning Issued Over Cuts: 'Profound Effects'

The rundown: The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced on Friday that a State Department employee faces criminal charges, accused of sharing sensitive government information with people he met online, according to a criminal complaint.

Why it matters: The DOJ announced in a news release on Friday that State Department employee Michael Charles Schena, 42, had been arrested and charged with conspiring to collect and transmit U.S. national defense information to unauthorized recipients. Officials said that Schena, who worked at the State Department's headquarters in Washington, held top-secret security clearance and had access to classified information up to the secret level at his workplace. Schena is accused of providing unspecified "people he met online" with sensitive information in exchange for payments since April 2022, according to the criminal complaint.

Read more in-depth coverage:
US Soldiers Arrested by FBI, Accused of 'Betraying' Country to China

TL/DR: The case against Schena will be prosecuted by U.S. Attorneys Michael Ben'Ary and Gavin R. Tisdale, alongside DOJ national security trial lawyer Maria Fedor.

What happens now? If convicted, Schena could face a sentence of up to 10 years in federal prison.

Deeper reading US Official Accused of Leaking National Defense Secrets

The rundown: North Korea has produced a nuclear-powered submarine that may be able to carry up to 10 missiles, according to reports. Here's everything we know.

Why it matters: On Saturday, state media in the secretive country released images of leader Kim Jong Un next to a vessel it said could carry strategic guided missiles. Yonhap, a South Korean news agency, said this was the first time Pyongyang had publicly disclosed the construction of such a vessel. The outlet said he reviewed "a nuclear-powered strategic guided missile submarine" under construction, and it published images of the leader and his officials next to it. Yonhap reported that the term likely referred to a nuclear-powered submarine capable of launching ballistic missiles, commonly known as a ballistic missile submarine.

Read more in-depth coverage:
Russia, Iran, China and N. Korea Bond is "Global Problem", Says Trump Envoy

TL/DR: North Korea has an estimated fleet of up to 90 diesel-powered submarines, although most of them are aging and can launch only torpedoes and mines, not missiles.

What happens now? Moon Keun-sik, a South Korean submarine expert at Seoul's Hanyang University said North Korea could launch the submarine within two years to test its capability before its deployment, posing a possible a security risk to the U.S. The release of images of Kim next to the vessel coincide with Pyongyang's fiery rhetoric against the U.S. and South Korea, which are holding annual military drills set to begin on Monday.

Deeper reading North Korea Unveils Nuclear Missile Submarine for First Time

The rundown: President Donald Trump has accused Canada of "cheating" on tariffs as the U.S. and its northern neighbor continue to grapple with an emerging trade war. Read his remarks.

Why it matters: Trump's plan to impose stiff new tariffs on foreign countries has ignited a trade war on multiple fronts. In a post to Truth Social on Friday night, Trump accused Canada of "cheating" American dairy farmers under the terms of the USMCA. "In 2024, Canada retained Tariffs on various U.S. Goods, particularly in protected sectors like Dairy that are operated under a supply management system. Some examples of Canadian Tariffs on U.S. Dairy outside of the limited quota include: Milk: Up to 243% .... Butter: Up to 298% .... Cheese: Up to 245%." The tariffs to which Trump refers are part of a long-standing policy to protect the Canadian dairy industry.

Read more in-depth coverage:
List of Products Impacted by Delayed Tariffs Under New Trump Plan

TL/DR: Trump's post on Friday was far from the first time that he has complained about Canadian tariffs on American dairy products.

What happens now? The high Canadian tariffs on American dairy products outside of the USMCA quota are unlikely to disappear soon, regardless of whether Trump follows through on his threat to impose reciprocal tariffs. The North American trade war is also likely to continue, with the additional 25 percent U.S. tariffs on Canada and Mexico still set to go into effect next month.

Deeper reading Donald Trump Accuses Canada of 'Cheating' Amid Tariff War