The Bulletin

• Trump sent Ukraine new text for minerals deal: The Trump Administration sent Ukraine its new proposed text for a minerals deal on March 28, and consultations between Kyiv and Washington are underway, the Ukrainian foreign minister confirmed.
• Cory Booker's marathon Senate speech: Democrat Cory Booker is holding a marathon Senate floor speech, largely criticizing Trump administration policies and spending cuts. Follow it here.

• Iran will seek nuclear weapons if US attacks: Iran "will have no choice" but to seek nuclear weapons if attacked, an adviser to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has warned. Read his full remarks.

• Trump sends troops to Texas National Park: The Trump administration deployed hundreds of U.S. troops and armored vehicles to Big Bend National Park in West Texas. Find out why.

• Is Fortnite down? Fortnite servers are currently down as Epic Games rolls out its 34.21 update, which includes new content tied to a Mortal Kombat collaboration. The update, pushed live early on April 1, is part of Fortnite's annual tradition of themed April Fools events. Know more.

• US rejects Putin's proposal: The U.S. has criticized a Russian proposal for an interim administration in Ukraine to replace President Volodymyr Zelensky. Read more.

• China sends 'spy ship' to Australian waters: A high-tech" Chinese government research ship, which is reportedly capable of spying, was tracked sailing off the coast of Australia, a United States ally in the South Pacific Ocean. Learn more.

• US Arab allies join rare exercises with Israelis: Qatar and the United Arab Emirates have joined Israeli and U.S. forces to participate in the ongoing multinational air exercise Iniochos 2025 at the Andravida Air Base, Greece. Find out more.

The rundown: President Donald Trump faces a pivotal week as he plans to roll out his most significant round of tariffs, while elections in Wisconsin and Florida could serve as an indication of how voters feel about the opening months of his second term.

Why it matters: The Wisconsin election will determine whether the court will remain under 4-3 liberal control or flip to a conservative majority. The contest, which has become the most expensive judicial race in U.S. history, comes as the court is expected to rule on high-profile cases on abortion, union power, congressional redistricting and voting rules that could affect the 2026 midterms and 2028 presidential election. Polls show that voters are split over who to back in the Supreme Court race. But some have given Crawford a small lead. The latest AtlasIntel poll, conducted from March 27-31 among 542 respondents, gave Crawford a seven-point edge, with 53 percent support to Schimel's 46 percent. The poll had a margin of error of ±4 percentage points.

Read more in-depth coverage:
Elon Musk Says 'Future of Civilization' at Stake in Wisconsin Election

TL/DR: The ballot could change the ideological makeup of the court, which is currently controlled 4-3 by liberal justices.

What happens now? The election result is expected shortly after polling closes on April 1.

Deeper reading Donald Trump Faces Pivotal Week: What to Expect

The rundown: Tesla is facing continued pressure both financially and culturally, and for many of its top competitors, its space in the car market looks unstable. Read more.

Why it matters: Elon Musk's electric vehicle company has faced significant public backlash following the CEO's ever-tightening alliance with President Trump. This response, combined with a declining stock price, has rivals making moves to capitalize on the weakened brand. As a result, Tesla's stock is feeling the strain, not helped by Trump's aggressive tariff policy, which clamps down on foreign exports that make up much of Tesla's supply chain. Tesla's share price dropped 4 percent over the weekend. The stock is down 41 percent since the start of the year, 47 percent since Trump's inauguration, and 38 percent in the past month.

Read more in-depth coverage:
Tesla Stocks Dive After 'Takedown' Protests

TL/DR: In other words, a reported spike in sales of Tesla alternatives coincided with Musk's increasing political action in the early months of 2025.

What happens now? Tesla is expected to report its first-quarter delivery numbers on Wednesday. The statistics are likely to reveal the true impact of Musk's first few months of political power on the sales of his most important company.

Deeper reading Tesla Rivals See Their Chance to Overtake Elon Musk

The rundown: Experts have told Newsweek that the island chain strategy, which was formulated by the United States during the Cold War, remains relevant today in containing Washington's near-peer competitor, China, as Beijing attempts to push American forces further away from it. Learn more.

Why it matters: Kitsch Liao, associate director of the Atlantic Council's Global China Hub, said the island chain strategy is more about a balance of power projection, which consists of capability and resolve, as China's strategic guidance is increasingly aggressive toward the "far seas." The U.S. and its allies have to reconceptualize the fight for the island chains as one that "begins far left of bang," instead taking place in "phase 0" of the conflict, as a significant number of Chinese forces are optimized for peacetime "gray zone" postures, he explained. For China, the U.S. island chain concept entered its military strategy with Admiral Liu Huaqing, who is viewed as the "father of the modern Chinese navy," Liao told Newsweek.

Read more in-depth coverage:
China Tests Trump With Major War Games Around Taiwan

TL/DR: The maritime containment strategy is formed by three island chains in the Pacific Ocean.

What happens now? The strategic aim of China in the longer term will be projecting what he called "persistent sea control power" beyond the First Island Chain, which will seek to push U.S. forces further out into the Central Pacific Ocean around the Hawaiian Islands, Luck concluded.

Deeper reading Island Chains: Can the US's Cold War Strategy Still Contain China?

The rundown: U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio will reportedly meet with Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen on the sidelines of a NATO gathering in Brussels, as President Trump makes clear that he wants to take Greenland. Here's what we know.

Why it matters: The planned connection on Tuesday was reported by the Financial Times, citing two unnamed officials, and would be the first high-level U.S.-Denmark meeting in person since the new Trump Administration took office in January. There is a strong movement in Greenland for independence from Denmark, but little appetite to join the U.S. as a state. Greenland's new prime minister, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, issued a defiant message to Trump after the island's recent elections. Trump was asked by NBC News if he would authorize the use of military force to take control of Greenland. "I don't take anything off the table," Trump replied, adding that there is a "good possibility that we could do it without military force."

Read more in-depth coverage:
Trump Doesn't Rule Out Military Force to Take Greenland

TL/DR: Greenland is a self-governing Danish territory, rich in natural resources, including highly-prized rare earth minerals.

What happens now? Rubio and Rasmussen are set to meet in Brussels on Tuesday where Greenland is likely to be a major point of discussion.

Deeper reading Rubio to Meet Denmark Minister at NATO as Trump Demands Greenland: Report

The rundown: The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has issued an update on the "major cleanup" of death records being carried out by the government spending task force at the Social Security Administration (SSA). Get more details.

Why it matters: "For the past 4 weeks, @SocialSecurity has been executing a major cleanup of their records," the post reads on X, formerly Twitter. "Approximately 9.9 million numberholders, all listed age 120+, have now been marked deceased." DOGE confirmed that it has another 2 million records to go before the system update is complete. It follows a previous update from DOGE on March 24, which confirmed that more than 7 million Social Security number holders had been marked as deceased. The latest table posted by DOGE shows that more than 9.9 million records have been updated, including some 2.3 million that were registered as being between 120 and 129 years old; 3.1 million aged from 130 to 139; and another 4.4 million recorded as being more than 140 years old.

Read more in-depth coverage:
Social Security: How to Prepare for Changes to Benefit Access

TL/DR: DOGE has been conducting a "clean up" of the federal agency's death records.

What happens now? DOGE said on X that it continues to update the records, writing: "Another ~2 million to go."

Deeper reading DOGE's 'Major Cleanup' of Social Security Nears Huge Milestone