The Bulletin
WORLD IN BRIEF
- U.S. aircraft carrier nearing Iran: New satellite imagery shows the USS Carl Vinson entering the Indian Ocean via the Malacca Straits, marking a significant step in the U.S. military's increased presence in the region. See the image.
- New Trump impeachment bid is imminent: Texas Democratic Representative Al Green has said he will bring articles of impeachment against President Trump in the coming weeks, in a renewed attempt from the vocal critic of Trump to bring charges against him. Read more.
- Egg prices under Trump's tariffs: As egg prices begin to ease, a new tariff strategy from Trump could complicate the market recovery. Here's how.
- Russian bomber intercepted by F-35 jet: Footage circulated on social media shows a very close encounter between a United States stealth fighter jet and a pair of Russian military aircraft, including a bomber, near Alaska. Know more.
- Howard Lutnick on automation: U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick appeared at odds with himself when addressing automation in new U.S. factories and the lack of labor-guaranteed jobs as concerns about the impact of tariffs remain high. Here's his full remarks.
Trump Addresses Whether He Crashed Markets On Purpose
The rundown: President Donald Trump has denied that he intended to crash the stock market after he previously posted a video on Truth Social about him crashing the market on purpose. Read his full remarks.
Why it matters: Trump's tariffs and shakeup of global trade has rattled global and domestic markets, with Wall Street tanking over the past few days, marking the worst days for the U.S. stock markets since 2020. Trump posted a TikTok video on Friday, claiming he is playing a "secret game" that could "make you rich." The video claimed that Trump is looking to "push cash into treasuries, which forces the Fed to slash interest rates in May, and those lower rates give the Fed the ability to refinance trillions of debt very inexpensively." When confronted on Sunday about the video, Trump said, "that's not so," and stressed that he wants to "solve the deficit problem that we have with China."
Read more in-depth coverage:
Trump's Tariffs Offer Mortgage 'Silver Lining'
TL/DR: The president addressed the matter while aboard Air Force One, during a press gaggle with reporters as he returned to Washington, D.C., after playing golf all weekend in Florida.
What happens now? Trump has not indicated whether he will repeal the tariffs or tweak them in the coming days. Meanwhile, trading futures for the Dow Jones, S&P 500, and Nasdaq continue to trend further down ahead of the markets opening on Monday morning.
Deeper reading Donald Trump Addresses Whether He Crashed Markets On Purpose
Florida vs. California: How Two States Are Facing the Insurance Crisis
The rundown: California and Florida have for years been the canary in the gold mine for a homeowner insurance crisis that experts warn might soon spread to many more states across the country. Learn more.
Why it matters: The homeowners insurance crises in California and Florida have drastically different causes, but they have one element in common: both coastal states are particularly vulnerable to natural disasters, with wildfires in California and hurricanes in Florida. In both states, the pool of available insurers has shrunk considerably in recent years, as carriers have preferred dropping policies instead of risking paying enormous claims that could easily put them out of business. Homeowners are ultimately the ones who are suffering the most from these dynamics, finding themselves torn between paying thousands of dollars a year in insurance or "going bare"—risking losing everything should a disaster strike.
Read more in-depth coverage:
Home Insurance Crisis: Are These States Next?
TL/DR: Despite facing similar challenges, the two states are experimenting with wildly different solutions—once again becoming examples for the rest of the country of the dos and don'ts of a crisis that is expected to spread across the nation.
What happens now? Jesse Keenan, a professor of sustainable real estate and urban planning at Tulane University, said that “both states, overall, have been reluctant to tell local governments where they should be driving their growth in terms of land use and zoning decisions, "and ultimately that's what needs to be done to manage a lot of risk.”
Deeper reading Florida vs. California: How Two States Are Facing the Insurance Crisis
Iran Puts Army on High Alert Over US Threats: Report
The rundown: Iran's armed forces have been placed on high alert by order of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in response to U.S. President Donald Trump's recent threats against Tehran, according to a Reuters report citing an Iranian official.
Why it matters: Iran has firmly rejected direct negotiations with the U.S. over its nuclear program but remains open to indirect talks through Oman, a neutral intermediary. The unnamed Iranian official emphasized that such talks offer "a chance to evaluate Washington's seriousness about a political solution with Iran." This suggests that while the path to resolution could be rocky, diplomatic discussions could proceed if the U.S. signals intent for diplomacy. Iran has stipulated that any direct talks would only occur once Trump's "maximum pressure" policy on Tehran is lifted. Meanwhile, Russia has condemned U.S. threats of military strikes against Iran on, calling them "unacceptable," and urged restraint.
Read more in-depth coverage:
Iran and U.S. Threat of War: Seven Signs To Watch
TL/DR: As America's military presence continues to build up in the Middle East, Iran has issued warnings to several Persian Gulf countries, including Iraq, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Bahrain.
What happens now? With tensions escalating, the possibility of military action remains high. Iran's warnings to regional neighbors have increased fears of a broader conflict. The next few weeks could be critical. As the situation develops, both diplomatic and military paths remain fraught with risk.
Deeper reading Iran Puts Army on High Alert Over US Threats: Report
Soviet World War II-Era Submarine Discovered Off Russia's Pacific Coast
The rundown: A submarine that sunk during World War II has been discovered off the Pacific Coast, Russia's Pacific Fleet said Monday.
Why it matters: The Malyutka-class submarine went missing during the war in the Peter the Great Gulf, located on the southern coast of Primorsky Krai, Russia. The discovery ends a two-decade long search for the vessel, which sank with 22 crew members on board. Russian sailors found the Soviet M-49 submarine, which is believed to have sunk on August 16, 1941, having "disappeared without a trace," state-run news agency RIA Novosti reported. An M-63 submarine also sank in the same month while on a combat mission in the southwestern region of the gulf, the news agency said. The search for both submarines began 20 years ago. The Pacific Fleet's rescue vessel Igor Belousov found the M-49 sub using remote-controlled underwater vehicles.
Read more in-depth coverage:
Russia Fires Missile at Children's Playground in Deadly Strike
TL/DR: The M-49 was launched in early 1939, and joined the Pacific Fleet in November that year.
What happens now? Russia is building up its naval presence in the Asia-Pacific region, the Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy, Alexander Moiseyev, said in a statement to mark the Pacific Fleet's 293rd anniversary last year. "The main task of the Pacific Fleet's development today is further quantitative and qualitative strengthening of its combat readiness and combat capability and naval potential in the Asia-Pacific Region," he said, per Tass.
Deeper reading Soviet World War II-Era Submarine Discovered Off Russia's Pacific Coast
Colorado Area Evacuated, School Closed As Emergency Alert Issued
The rundown: An emergency alert has been issued for a small town in Colorado because of a possible loss of containment of a nearby oil and gas facility. More on the incident.
Why it matters: A loss of containment occurs when the structures designed to securely hold oil and gas fail, resulting in an unintended release. It can lead to fire, explosions and toxic exposure. Residents in Galeton, Weld County, about an hour's drive north of Denver, were ordered to evacuate late on Sunday night and Galeton Elementary School closed for Monday. The evacuation order, first reported by CBS News Colorado, covers a half-mile radius around the scene in the area of Weld County Road 41 and Weld Country Road 72. The order began at 11.40 p.m. local time on Sunday and ended at 1.40 a.m. on Monday. Galeton Fire Department's alert told Weld County residents firefighters are on site in the area of Weld County Road 41 and Weld Country Road 72.
Read more in-depth coverage:
The New Energy Security Threat Is the Coming Shortage of Critical Minerals
TL/DR: Galeton Fire Protection District said: "We appreciate everyone's patience and understanding as we work to make sure residents remain safe as crews work through this situation."
What happens now? Galeton Fire Protection District said it would post updates as soon as they are available.
Deeper reading Colorado Area Evacuated, School Closed As Emergency Alert Issued
Veteran Who Has Been in US Since He Was 4 Years Old Faces Deportation
Jose Barco, a U.S. Army veteran awarded a Purple Heart for his service in Iraq, is currently being held in a Texas detention center awaiting deportation after having lived in the United States for 35 years.
Barco, who is not a U.S. citizen but has served in the military, has a criminal record, having just completed his 15-year prison sentence the day after President Donald Trump's inauguration.
U.S. immigration officials recently tried to deport him, but he was turned away by Venezuelan authorities and now "is virtually stateless at this time, with his country of birth rejecting his admission and the country he shed blood for ordering him removed," Anna Stout, former mayor of Grand Junction, Colorado, who is helping the Barco family, told Newsweek in an email Sunday.
