The Bulletin
WORLD IN BRIEF
- Trump dealt three back-to-back legal blows: A federal judge dealt President Donald Trump another blow Friday afternoon, stopping his administration from deporting any illegal immigrant to a country they didn't come from. Here's what you need to know.
- Bank of America could cancel these accounts: Bank of America customers across the country could be at risk of losing access to their funds if they fail to meet certain activity requirements. Know the rules.
- Musk vows to hand out $1 million checks: Elon Musk has said that more $1 million prizes will be issued on Sunday, two days before voters cast ballots in the Wisconsin Supreme Court election. Meanwhile, Democratic Party of Wisconsin is accusing the SpaceX CEO of a "blatant felony".
- Social Security changes: The Social Security Administration is making a major change to its services that could impact Republican states the most. Find out which ones.
- Did Hegseth include wife in sensitive meetings? A new report says Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth brought his wife to "sensitive" meetings with foreign officials. Find out more.
- Trump moves to formally shut USAID: The Trump administration informed Congress on Friday that it plans to eliminate nearly all the remaining positions at the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Scroll down to today's deeper read to understand how these cuts are impacting Ukraine's civilians.
Greenland as 51st State: What US Taking Over Arctic Island Could Look Like
The rundown: President Donald Trump has repeatedly spoken about his quest for the U.S. to take over Greenland—Newsweek has spoken to experts to break down what this could look like. Here's what they said.
Why it matters: The president has said he wants the autonomous territory in the Kingdom of Denmark to be under the control of the U.S. Some experts are skeptical this could happen and politicians in Greenland and Denmark have firmly rejected the idea, but the U.S. administration appears undeterred. Legal scholar William C. Banks, who specializes in national security law at New York's Syracuse University, called the idea of Greenland becoming a U.S. state "almost surely a pipe dream of Trump." A commonly cited opinion poll, carried out by Verian, commissioned by the Danish newspaper Berlingske and Greenlandic daily Sermitsiaq, showed that 85 percent of Greenlanders do not want to become part of the U.S. Backlash has already begun with an anti-Trump protest taking place outside the U.S. consulate in Nuuk, Greenland, earlier this month.
Read more in-depth coverage:
JD Vance Warns There's 'Very Strong Evidence' China, Russia Want Greenland
TL/DR: While Trump's messaging has mainly focused on "acquiring" Greenland, he has not ruled out using military action.
What happens now? At an Arctic forum in Murmansk in northern Russia, President Vladimir Putin warned that U.S. efforts to take over Greenland would have global impact.
Deeper reading Greenland as 51st State: What US Taking Over Arctic Island Could Look Like
Five Recession Indicators Now Raising Alarm in the US
The rundown: While the Trump administration is optimistic about the country's growth prospects—Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick going so far as to say Americans should "absolutely not" prepare for a recession—economists are voicing gloomy forecasts.
Why it matters: With input from U.S. economists, Newsweek has identified the five key indicators that experts are monitoring to evaluate the likelihood of an economic downturn: consumer confidence, credit card late payments and default rates, business uncertainty, trade policy uncertainty index and inflation expectations. The Conference Board's latest Consumer Confidence Index, arguably the most commonly consulted measure, saw a 7.2-point drop between February and March. While inflation has shown signs of easing towards the Fed's 2 percent target, confidence that this trend will continue remains low.
Read more in-depth coverage:
Economist Compares Uncertainty Under Trump to 2008 Crash
TL/DR: Beyond the warning signs on the horizon, establishing that the country is in the grips of a recession will require U.S. GDP to fall.
What happens now? With cuts to the federal government—the country's largest employer—showing no signs of abating, and an ever-expanding list of countries and goods covered by the administration's tariffs, economists will be watching closely to see if either could tip the balance towards a recession.
Deeper reading Five Recession Indicators Now Raising Alarm in the US
Israeli Official Says Neither Israel nor Hamas Will Rule Gaza After War
The rundown: In the midst of a renewed Israeli military campaign and a U.S. proposal to take ownership of the Gaza Strip, a senior Israeli diplomat has told Newsweek that the country had no plans to govern the war-battered Palestinian territory once Hamas was defeated. Find out more.
Why it matters: "I can assure you one thing," Israeli Deputy Consul General in New York Tsach Saar told Newsweek. "We don't want to be in Gaza in the postwar situation. We don't want to be there. It will not be Hamas. It will not be Israel." The comments came as Israel pressed on with a new offensive in Gaza, scrapping a ceasefire deal that failed to reach its second phase amid dueling accusations from both sides of the conflict. Meanwhile, uncertainty lingers over a territory that has been under Hamas rule for nearly 18 years. Saar said Israel was studying a number of potential plans for Gaza, including those being broadcast from the White House.
Read more in-depth coverage:
Map Shows Proposals for Relocating Gaza's Palestinians
TL/DR: Saar acknowledged that "Hamas still controls the Gaza Strip," even if its power "is definitely degraded."
What happens now? With Israel having already established effective control over large parts of Gaza, Trump's controversial proposal has also prompted Arab nations to scramble for an alternative solution.
Deeper reading Israeli Official Says Neither Israel nor Hamas Will Rule Gaza After War
Europe's Population Crisis: The Nations Getting Smaller
The rundown: Europe has long faced the problems associated with shrinking populations, with some nations, particularly in Eastern Europe, dealing with a "dual demographic challenge." Find out what's driving this population crisis.
Why it matters: Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Estonia, Bulgaria, Serbia, Moldova, Croatia and Montenegro are the 10 European countries with the lowest population growth rates. This refers to the average annual percentage change in population, resulting from a surplus or deficit of births over deaths and the balance of migrants entering and leaving a country. While countries in Eastern Europe are particularly badly affected, the entire continent is grappling with low fertility rates and aging populations. Some European countries have seen massive population increases because of immigration, despite still struggling with fertility rates. These include the United Kingdom, Austria and Sweden.
Read more in-depth coverage:
America's Birth Rate Sparks Fears for the Economy
TL/DR: Indeed, the "main reason" for the low population growth of the 10 countries mentioned earlier is "outmigration," according to the deputy director of the Vienna Institute of Demography, Tomas Sobotka.
What happens now? Public health and policy expert Poonam Muttreja, who is the Executive Director of the Population Foundation of India, told Newsweek that the likes of Latvia and Lithuania face a "dual demographic challenge" with "very low birth rates and high emigration."
Deeper reading Europe's Population Crisis: The Nations Getting Smaller
How Trump's Approval Rating During Second Term Compares to His First
The rundown: Donald Trump is more popular now than he was at the same point in his first term, according to new polling.
Why it matters: Gallup's latest poll, conducted between March 3-16 among 1,002 adults, shows Trump has improved on his approval ratings since his first term. Overall, 45 percent of Americans now approve of Trump's performance, up from 42 percent during his first term in 2017—a modest gain of 3 percentage points. Gallup's poll suggests that Trump's rise in popularity is largely driven by increased support from men, Black Americans, Hispanics, and Gen Z voters. Trump's boost in popularity comes despite polls showing that his approval rating on his handling of the economy is firmly in the negative. This rise in support indicates that he has a strong base of voters who continue to back him.
Read more in-depth coverage:
Map Shows Donald Trump's Approval Rating in Each State 2 Months Into Term
TL/DR: Donald Trump's increased popularity at this stage in his political career is significant because it demonstrates his resilience and appeal, despite facing numerous challenges, including legal battles and inflation.
What happens now? If Trump's popularity continues to rise, it could strengthen the Republican Party's position heading into the 2026 midterms and beyond. Democrats may be forced to reassess their messaging and voter outreach strategies.
Deeper reading How Donald Trump's Approval Rating During Second Term Compares to His First
How Trump's USAID Cuts Are Impacting Ukraine's Civilians
It's an icy February morning in Vinnytsia, a city in western Ukraine where families displaced by the war have found refuge. For Maryna, 42, the struggle to rebuild a life shattered by conflict is far from over.
A mother who fled from Kherson with her son describes the emotional and physical toll of displacement. "After moving to Vinnytsia, I was looking for any opportunity to adapt. The war took away my home and my sense of stability and the hardest thing was seeing my child suffer," she told Newsweek.
