The Bulletin

• Hamdan Ballal assault: Calls have grown for the release of Palestinian filmmaker Hamdan Ballal—the co-director of the Oscar-winning documentary No Other Land— after his co-director said he had been assaulted by settlers and taken away by soldiers in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. More about it.

• Christians send warning over killings in Syria: One of the oldest and largest Christian communities in the Middle East faces renewed threats in a cycle of violence that has forced millions of Christians to flee the region over the past half-century. Learn more.

• Republican lawmaker slams UnitedHealthcare: A Republican lawmaker has gone after UnitedHealthcare over its Medicare plan, calling the insurance company the "worst offender" in the industry. Read the full remarks.

• Trump demands 'bad picture' of him be taken down: Colorado officials announced that a portrait of Trump displayed in the state Capitol will be removed following his claim that the image was "purposefully distorted." Get more details.

• Samsung co-CEO dies at 63: Samsung Electronics co-CEO Han Jong-hee has died at age 63 from cardiac arrest, the company announced Tuesday.

• Coca-cola recall issued: The FDA has issued a recall for certain Coca-Cola products after plastic was discovered inside the drinks. Find out more.

The rundown: Sales of vehicles made by Elon Musk's Tesla plummeted in the first two months of 2025 in the European Union (EU), industry group The European Automobile Manufacturers' Association (ACEA) said on Tuesday morning. Look at the numbers here.

Why it matters: Tesla has become the target of a violent backlash against Musk's politics, with arson and other attacks against showrooms, service centers, and factories in the U.S. and Europe. The FBI is treating American incidents as acts of domestic terrorism. The number of Tesla's new vehicle registrations in the EU dropped 49 percent year-on-year in January and February to 19,046. A day before the ACEA, auto research firm JATO Dynamics released data showing that Chinese-owned car brands outsold Tesla in Europe in February. Chinese-owned brands registered 19,800 new electric vehicles in Europe against Tesla's 15,700 units.

Read more in-depth coverage:
Exclusive: Tesla Investor Calls for Board To Oust Elon Musk as CEO

TL/DR: Tesla's troubles are unsettling some investors, who worry CEO Musk's actions are harming the company and its stock price by exposing it to unnecessary political risk.

What happens now? The auto industry is a target in the escalating tariff war between the U.S. and EU. Further tariffs from each side are due in April. The electric automaker's aging models are also under pressure from growing competition in Europe, as more, newer Chinese-made electric vehicles are registered.

Deeper reading Tesla Sales Plummet Amid Elon Musk Backlash

The rundown: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has forcefully denied allegations that he texted classified war plans to a group chat that accidentally included Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Atlantic. Here's what to know.

Why it matters: According to The Atlantic's report, Goldberg was added to a Signal group chat called "Houthi PC small group" that included high-ranking officials such as National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Vice President JD Vance, and Hegseth. The chat reportedly contained specific operational details about planned strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen. Hegseth made his denial while in Hawaii, where he is conducting official business including meetings with civilian and military leaders at Indo-Pacific Command. The incident raises serious questions about operational security within the highest levels of the national security apparatus, potentially compromising sensitive military operations.

Read more in-depth coverage:
Who is Jeffrey Goldberg? Pete Hegseth Sent Journalist War Plans

TL/DR: This apparent security breach has caused intense bipartisan concern and scrutiny in Washington, with lawmakers from both parties calling for immediate investigations.

What happens now? Despite the controversy, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt indicated no changes are expected to the president's national security team, noting that "President Trump continues to have the utmost confidence in his national security team."

Deeper reading Pete Hegseth Denies Texting War Plans to Journalist

The rundown: The Social Security Administration (SSA), under the direction of President Donald Trump, has unveiled a sweeping set of reforms aimed at boosting transparency and operational efficiency. Find out about the changes here.

Why it matters: The agency's announcement of its new "transparency initiatives" includes major changes to identity verification requirements, public disclosures of internal decision-making and detailed reporting on customer service metrics like call wait times. At the heart of the SSA's latest policy shift is a crackdown on identity verification fraud. Starting March 31, individuals applying for benefits or updating direct deposit information must either authenticate through their "my Social Security" online account or verify their identity in person at a field office. The changes have drawn a backlash, as they come at a time in which the SSA is pursuing significant workforce reductions, voluntary departures and staff reassignments.

Read more in-depth coverage:
Social Security Cuts Warning Issued by Republican: 'We're Not Being Honest'

TL/DR: "President Trump has been clear that good government must serve the People," Lee Dudek, the agency's acting commissioner, said in a statement shared on Monday.

What happens now? As the SSA moves forward with its reforms, attention is turning to the Senate confirmation of Bisignano, who is expected to carry forward Trump's vision for a more tech-driven, efficiency-focused agency.

Deeper reading Trump's New Plans for Social Security 'Transparency' Revealed

The rundown: Day-long talks in Saudi Arabia between the U.S. and Russia over a ceasefire in the Ukraine war were "difficult" but "constructive", a Russian official said.

Why it matters: Grigory Karasin, a member of the Russian delegation and head of the international committee of the Federation Council, gave the update to state news agency RIA. The delegations were discussing the technical details of a 30-day ceasefire on energy infrastructure already agreed by Moscow and Kyiv and a potential maritime ceasefire in the Black Sea. They met on Monday at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Riyadh for 12 hours. A joint statement on the meeting is expected on Tuesday, RIA reported. As the Russians return home, the U.S. will now hold more talks in Saudi Arabia with Ukraine. Delegations from Kyiv and Washington had also met on Sunday in Riyadh.

Read more in-depth coverage:
Trump Adviser Shares 'Central Issue' Holding Up Ukraine-Russia Peace Deal

TL/DR: "A very interesting, difficult, but quite constructive conversation took place with the U.S. expert team. They sat all day from morning until late at night," Karasin said on Tuesday morning.

What happens now? We await the Tuesday joint statement from the U.S. and Russia, and the outcome of the newest talks underway with Ukraine. A partial ceasefire appears imminent—but is not confirmed.

Deeper reading Russia Gives Update on 'Difficult' Ukraine Talks With U.S.

The rundown: Boom Supersonic is working to revive supersonic air travel with the Overture, a successor to Concorde, aiming to fly from London to New York in under four hours. Here's how.

Why it matters: After Concorde's retirement in 2003, Boom's Overture has sparked excitement with its ability to break the sound barrier without creating disruptive sonic booms. CEO Blake Scholl envisions faster flights that connect continents, allowing people to build global relationships and reducing the likelihood of conflicts. The Overture's estimated $5,000 ticket price is higher than traditional flights but could drop over time. A significant challenge for Boom is developing the Symphony engine, designed for clean, quiet supersonic travel. Despite technical hurdles, Boom's progress brings optimism for the return of commercial supersonic flight, opening new routes worldwide.

Read more in-depth coverage:
What Is the Boom XB-1? Civil Jet Makes History by Breaking Sound Barrier

TL/DR: "Imagine a future in which our children have friends from other continents that they actually spend time with and what that does for the world," Blake Scholl told Newsweek. "It's very hard to go to war with somebody you've met."

What happens now? After the successful tests in January, Boom plans to have Overture models rolling out in two years. The aim is for the planes to be passenger-ready in four years, meaning flights could take place by the end of the decade.

Deeper reading Supersonic Flight Could Link London to New York in 3.5 Hours