The Bulletin

• Iran joins Russia and China in nuclear talks: Ministers from Iran, China and Russia met in Beijing on Friday, calling for an end to U.S. sanctions on Iran and the resumption of nuclear negotiations. Get more details.

• Video of JD Vance goes viral: Clips of JD Vance getting booed as he took his seat at a National Symphony Orchestra concert have gone viral. See the video.

• Plane on fire at Denver airport: Multiple videos on social media captured an American Airlines plane partially engulfed in flames at Denver International Airport on Thursday. Find out what happened.

• No taxes if you earn less than $150k: President Trump's goal is to eliminate taxes for people earning less than $150,000 per year, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has said. Here's what to know.

• Multiple Teslas set on fire in Germany: Several Tesla vehicles were set on fire in Germany on Friday, as protests against Elon Musk's car company continue across the world. More on the protests.

• Syria's four wars explained: It's been 14 years since the eruption of the nationwide protests in Syria that would devolve into a multisided civil war still raging today across the country. Learn here about it.

• Social Security update: A new proposal from a leading senior citizens group suggests that Social Security beneficiaries could receive checks worth just shy of $500 from money made by repaid overpayments. Learn more.

The rundown: Russia's war with Ukraine has escalated into a "nuclear crisis", with far-reaching implications for nuclear deterrence, nonproliferation, disarmament and the future of peaceful nuclear energy, a leading nuclear expert has warned.

Why it matters: Ukraine inherited the world's third-largest nuclear arsenal following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. Approximately 30,000 nuclear weapons were spread across Belarus, Kazakhstan, Russia and Ukraine, with Ukraine possessing nearly 1,900 strategic nuclear warheads and thousands of tactical nuclear weapons. However, three years later, Kyiv chose to denuclearize, signing the Budapest Memorandum and transferring the weapons to Russia. John Mearsheimer, the R. Wendell Harrison Distinguished Service Professor at the University of Chicago, told Newsweek that if "Ukraine had kept its nuclear weapons, Russia would not have invaded in 2022. Nuclear weapons are the ultimate deterrent."

Read more in-depth coverage:
China Reacts to Claim US Made Ukraine and Taiwan Give Up Nuclear Weapons

TL/DR: In 1993, political scientist John Mearsheimer published commentary titled "The Case for a Ukrainian Nuclear Deterrent", arguing that a nuclear Ukraine was imperative to maintaining peace with its neighbor, Russia.

What happens now? Mearsheimer painted a bleak picture for Ukraine's future, arguing that it has no viable alternative deterrence strategy that Russia would accept. Mariana Budjeryn, a senior research associate at Harvard's Belfer Center, however, sees an alternative. She argues that Ukraine's best defense would be a NATO-style framework—integrating Ukraine's military with European forces to a certain degree.

Deeper reading What If Ukraine Hadn't Given Up Its Nuclear Weapons?

The rundown: French finance minister Eric Lombard called U.S. President Trump's trade war "stupid" after the threat of 200 percent tariffs on alcohol imports from the European Union. Lombard said the Europeans would have to respond in kind. More about his trade war.

Why it matters: The U.S. is one of the largest importers of European wine and spirits, so the relationship is useful leverage for Trump in trade negotiations. France, in particular, benefits from strong wine exports to the U.S. On Thursday, Trump accused the EU of having "one of the most hostile and abusive taxing and tariffing authorities in the world, which was formed for the sole purpose of taking advantage of the United States." He was responding to the EU's newly announced tariffs on $28 billion of American imports: steel, aluminum, textiles, home appliances and agricultural products. Trump cited a 50 percent tariff on American whiskey in particular, and said the U.S. would "shortly" place a 200 percent tariff on all alcoholic products coming out of the EU.

Read more in-depth coverage:
How Trump's 200 Percent Tariff Threat Would Hit a Billionaire Ally

TL/DR: "It's a stupid war, but if we want to be able to negotiate, we have to put ourselves on equal terms, so we're also going to raise tariffs," Lombard said on Telematin Friday morning.

What happens now? More turbulence is to come. Trump said he would impose reciprocal tariffs around the world on April 2 as he seeks to equalize terms with all of America's trading partners.

Deeper reading French Minister Slams Trump's 'Stupid' Tariffs, Threatens 'Equal' Response

The rundown: A map by Newsweek has outlined the extent of the decline of American shipbuilding, which President Donald Trump wants to rejuvenate. Here's what else the map reveals.

Why it matters: Trump announced in his Congress speech a new maritime office in the National Security Council to revitalize both military and commercial shipbuilding. It comes as a report published this week by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) a Washington think tank, highlights China position as the world's dominant player in shipbuilding, posing economic and security challenges for the United States. The U.S. Navy has only four active public shipyards. Meanwhile, China has at least 35 sites with known ties to military or national security projects, according to CSIS researchers.

Read more in-depth coverage:
Rare Video Shows China's Game-Changing Weapon for 'D-Day'

TL/DR: China's largest state-owned shipbuilder, the China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC), built more commercial vessels by tonnage in 2024 than the entire U.S. shipbuilding industry had since WW2, the CSIS said.

What happens now? Trump's comments follow calls in February by four major labor unions for the U.S. to boost American shipbuilding and enforce tariffs and other "strong penalties" against China for its dominance in the sector.

Deeper reading Map Shows America's Shipyards Disappear as China's Naval Empire Rises

The rundown: The United States is now engaged in trade wars with both allies and adversaries, with President Trump citing a range of grievances—from the fentanyl trade to "unfair" duties on American exports. Here's what to know.

Why it matters: The administration's latest move to hike a blanket tariff to 20 percent, prompting another round of retaliatory measures from China, comes as Chinese officials reportedly struggle to secure high-level bilateral talks on specific steps to lift the duties. David Roche, strategist at Quantum Strategy, said that unable to generate enough capital to fund its own production, the U.S. "hoovers up other countries' savings" thanks to the dollar's role as the global reserve currency. This steady influx of foreign money allows the U.S. to sustain a trade deficit—importing more than it exports without fixing its economic imbalances. He also challenged Trump's tariffs on foreign steel and aluminum, arguing that they won't bring factory jobs back to the U.S.

Read more in-depth coverage:
Trump Shuts Out China on Economy Talks

TL/DR: Chinese Commerce Minister He Yongqian on Thursday reiterated Beijing's call for dialogue, warning that "threats and coercion will only be counterproductive."

What happens now? Chinese Commerce Minister He Yongqian on Thursday reiterated Beijing's call for dialogue, warning that "threats and coercion will only be counterproductive." Meanwhile, Chinese officials insist the country's economic fundamentals remain strong and have again set a 5 percent GDP growth target.

Deeper reading Trump's Economic War With China Gets Pushback

The rundown: Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York went off on members of her own party Thursday amid a looming government shutdown, saying, "American people, whether they are Republicans, independents, Democrats, are up in arms about Elon Musk and the actual gutting of federal agencies across the board." Read her full remarks.

Why it matters: The House passed a continuing resolution (CR) this week in efforts to keep the government funded. President Trump strongly encouraged GOP lawmakers to push it through. While speaking on CNN Thursday, Ocasio-Cortez said: "This continuing resolution codifies much of this chaos that Elon Musk is wreaking havoc on the federal government." Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said that he will vote to pass the CR because the alternative—allowing a government shutdown—is the worse option. In multiple posts on X, the senator from New York said that a federal stoppage "would be a gift" to Trump.

Read more in-depth coverage:
Could a Government Shutdown Help Push the US Into Recession?

TL/DR: The CR now has to pass through the Senate at or before 11:59 p.m. Friday for the government to avoid shutting down.

What happens now? The Senate needs to green-light the CR before Friday ends to avoid a shutdown. If passed, the spending plan will fund the government through September.

Deeper reading AOC Rages at Democrats for 'Betrayal' Amid Government Shutdown Talks