The Bulletin
WORLD IN BRIEF
- Trump tariff chart: President Trump imposed sweeping new tariffs on all imported goods and unveiled a detailed list of reciprocal duties targeting more than 60 countries. Here's the full list of countries affected.
- Tornado warning: Dozens of tornado warnings are still pouring out by the National Weather Service on Thursday morning, covering areas of the South and Midwest, as violent storms wreak havoc across multiple states. More on the warning.
- Iran threatens response if US attacks: Iran's foreign minister warned that his country will respond swiftly to any attack and criticized the European Union for failing to "oppose the provocative rhetoric" of U.S. officials. Know more.
- When is Musk resigning from DOGE? Elon Musk has indicated that he could step down as head of the Department of Government Efficiency once his term as a special government employee is finished. Get more information.
- Social Security 'war room' announced to fight Trump: Democratic senators on Tuesday announced a "war room" to fight changes at the Social Security Administration. Read about it here.
- Atmospheric river could trigger 1,000-year flood: An atmospheric river taking aim at the Midwest and parts of the South could exceed the 500- to 1,000-year average for rainfall in the area, meteorologists warned.
Will Trump's Tariff's Cost American Families $3,500 a Year?
The rundown: President Donald Trump's sweeping new global tariffs will cost the average American family more than $3,500 per year, according to an analysis from a group founded by former Vice President Mike Pence. Find out more.
Why it matters: Trump confirmed his next wave of tariffs Wednesday afternoon, affecting dozens of countries. This includes a baseline of 10 percent, with other tariffs that he calls reciprocal having higher rates of up to 50 percent for some nations. Among the major U.S. trade partners heavily affected by Trump's new tariff plans are China (34 percent, in addition to 20 percent tariffs already put in place by the Trump administration), the European Union (20 percent), and Japan (24 percent). Advancing American Freedom, a conservative advocacy group, said the additional costs associated with the president's proposed international tariffs will make the "American Dream unaffordable." The group has come out against the new tariff plans, suggesting they amount to a major tax hike.
Read more in-depth coverage:
Trump Puts Tariffs on Islands Inhabited Only by Penguins
TL/DR: Trump's plan to impose more tariffs on goods imported into the U.S has unsettled markets and risks sparking a global trade war.
What happens now? The 10 percent baseline tariffs will take effect April 5, with the reciprocal tariffs coming into force April 9.
Deeper reading Will Trump's Tariff's Cost American Families $3,500 a Year? What to Know
Senator Raises Alarm Over People Not Receiving Social Security
The rundown: Senator Elizabeth Warren has said people in Massachusetts have been marked as not receiving Social Security benefits as the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) investigations continue at the Social Security Administration (SSA). Here's what to know.
Why it matters: Writing on X, formerly Twitter, Warren said: "I'm hearing from Social Security recipients in MA who've been marked as 'not currently receiving payments,' on the Social Security website." DOGE has been tasked with streamlining government and reducing fraud and wasteful spending on the direction of President Trump. The nonofficial government department entered the SSA in February, a move that has been highly controversial. So far, DOGE's work has prompted the reduction of the SSA's workforce, changes to identity proofing requirements, and large-scale revisions of the federal agency's database.
Read more in-depth coverage:
Social Security Map Shows States Most Impacted by Trump Rule Change
TL/DR: Some 70 million Americans receive benefits from the SSA every month.
What happens now? Social Security payments are made monthly, with the next payment date being April 9.
Deeper reading Senator Raises Alarm Over People Not Receiving Social Security
Texas Independence Group Says 'Big Tech' Silencing Texit Push
The rundown: The Texas Nationalist Movement (TNM), which is campaigning for Texas to leave the United States, has claimed 80 percent of the group's emails that reference its name or Texan independence are being diverted into its subscriber's spam folders on Gmail. Get more details.
Why it matters: Texan nationalists want Texas to become an independent republic, as it was briefly between 1836 and 1845. TNM leader Daniel Miller told Newsweek the issue with Gmail "has reached a critical stage" where the group is "effectively blocked" from communicating with a large body of its supporters who signed up to receive emails. In a Facebook post, the TNM said: "Our web development team was investigating why so many of our emails are landing in SPAM folders for Gmail users." Speaking to Newsweek, a spokesperson for Gmail said they had not received a Sender Contact Form from the TNM outlining the issue in detail, stating: "We can't look at this comprehensively under the hood without more information."
Read more in-depth coverage:
Mega March: Photos and Video Show Thousands at Rally in Texas
TL/DR: Texan nationalists have scored a number of major wins over the past year, which saw the Republican Party of Texas calling for a referendum on whether the state should "reassert its status as an independent nation" in its 2024 policy platform.
What happens now? Gmail has requested additional information about the issue from the TNM, after which it said it will be able to investigate further.
Deeper reading Texas Independence Group Says 'Big Tech' Silencing Texit Push
Map Shows New Alliance Growing on China's Doorstep
The rundown: A growing network of military partnerships is reshaping the security dynamics in Asia as countries around the South China Sea and the western Pacific enhance cooperation in response to China's expansive maritime claims and assertive actions. Learn more.
Why it matters: A Newsweek map highlights these emerging links between countries that, while not all formally allied, are drawing closer through practical security arrangements such as weapons deals, access agreements, and joint defense initiatives. Central to this shift is the Philippines, facing increasing Chinese incursions into its exclusive economic zone. In response, the Philippines has strengthened partnerships with countries like Japan, South Korea, India and Australia, focusing on defense cooperation. Japan has provided military assistance, and South Korea has upgraded its relationship with Manila. India has supplied missile systems, while Australia's role has evolved from counterterrorism to territorial defense.
Read more in-depth coverage:
US Boasts 5,000-Strong Force on China's Doorstep: 'Ready Now'
TL/DR: General Romeo Brawner Jr., head of the Philippines' Joint Chiefs of Staff, reported an average of 286 Chinese vessels operating daily last year within the EEZ, up from 190 in 2021.
What happens now? This growing network highlights regional realignments against China’s maritime claims and tensions over territorial disputes, with the U.S. coordinating closely with Japan and South Korea.
Deeper reading Map Shows New Alliance Growing on China's Doorstep
How Much You Need To Work To Afford Mortgage Payments in Each State
The rundown: American homeowners need to work an average of 10 days per month just to be able to cover their mortgage payment, according to a new study by Realtor.com.
Why it matters: The number of workdays required varies wildly from state to state: in one of the country's most sought-after places to live, Hawaii, it goes up to 17—a whole week more. Meanwhile, in the Midwest and Southeast, many homeowners work about seven or six days a month to afford their mortgage payments. The states where homeowners need to work the highest number of days to be able to cover their monthly mortgage payments are Hawaii (17), California (15), Massachusetts (15) and Montana (15.) The states with the lowest number of required workdays were Kansas (7), Missouri (7), Indiana (7), Illinois (7), West Virginia (7), Michigan (7), and Ohio (6).
Read more in-depth coverage:
US Housing Payments Hit Record High
TL/DR: Skyrocketing home prices, historically low inventory, and stubbornly high mortgage rates are squeezing aspiring homebuyers out of the market and weighing heavily on those who managed to step on the property ladder in recent years.
What happens now? An economic downturn this year could bring both good and bad news for homebuyers and homeowners. Mortgage rates typically fall during a recession, Hannah Jones, senior economic research analyst at Realtor.com said, as investors lean on bonds for reliable returns versus bigger, riskier investments.
Deeper reading How Much You Need To Work To Afford Mortgage Payments in Each State
Will Trump's Tariffs Be Good for America? Newsweek Writers' Verdicts
During the campaign, President Donald Trump focused much of his rhetoric on the economy around tariffs, saying that he would impose them on a number of countries around the world in his first 100 days in order to bring industry back to U.S. shores and fight unfair trade practices.
Promises made, promises kept as the president announced sweeping tariffs today on nations including China, the European Union, Vietnam, India, Japan and South Korea. Each country faces different rates for their products based on what Trump called "cheating" and their existing tariffs on U.S. goods.
