The Bulletin

• Democratic Sen. meets Kilmar Abrego Garcia: Democratic Sen. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland says he finally met with Kilmar Abrego Garcia during his trip to El Salvador on Thursday. Here's what to know.

• Houthis warn Saudi Arabia and UAE: A member of Yemen's Ansar Allah, also known as the Houthi movement, has told Newsweek the group is prepared to fend off any enemy operations amid reports that government forces were readying a large-scale offensive.

• List of nationwide anti-Trump protests: A series of nationwide protests against Trump and his policies are set to take place on April 19 in all 50 U.S. states, while other protests will take place in upcoming days. Here's what to expect.

• Federal employee alleges stalking, threats: A federal employee who described DOGE's actions within the federal government has said he was stalked and threatened by an unknown person while he was compiling his disclosure on the department. Get more details.

• China accuses U.S. of interfering in its Latin America ties: The United States is increasingly interfering in China's relations with Chile, seeking to restrict Beijing's access to resources in the minerals-rich Latin American nation and pressuring it to curtail space cooperation with China, the Chinese embassy in Chile has said.

• Who is FSU shooting suspect Phoenix Ikner? Law enforcement officials have identified 20-year-old Phoenix Ikner—the son of a Leon County deputy sheriff—as the suspect in a shooting at Florida State University on Thursday that left two people dead and at least five injured. Know more.

The rundown: The deepening of President Donald Trump's trade war with China could push the country—the second-largest holder of U.S. debt—to dump its Treasury holdings, sending mortgage rates skyrocketing for millions of Americans. Learn more.

Why it matters: Just weeks ago, the 10-year yield rose by 50 basis points to 4.49 percent, the biggest weekly jump since 2001. This happens when someone sells bonds—lots of them, in this case. While it is not known precisely where the spike in activity came from, its timing suggests that Beijing may have been behind it. China is the U.S.' second-largest foreign creditor after Japan. About a decade ago, China used to hold even more U.S. debt, at over $1.3 trillion. As of early 2025, it is estimated to have about $760 billion. Considering the ongoing trade war with the U.S., it is hard to predict what it could now do with them.

Read more in-depth coverage:
China's Economy Grows Faster Than Expected Despite Trade War Fears

TL/DR: "China seems willing to sell U.S. treasuries, even if it means absorbing capital losses," Olivier Blanchard, the Robert M. Solow Professor of Economics emeritus at MIT, wrote in a post on X on April 10.

What happens now? For China, a sudden sell-off of U.S. Treasuries would also be extremely costly, increasing the value of its currency and, thus, the cost of Chinese exports even further. Meanwhile, the only keys to the exit door from this trade war "are in President Trump's desk drawer," said Steve H. Hanke, who served on President Ronald Reagan's Council of Economic Advisers.

Deeper reading China Move Could Send US Mortgages Climbing

The rundown: President Trump's net approval on handling immigration has fallen drastically in the space of a few weeks, according to polls.

Why it matters: Trump's approval ratings are taking a hit as his administration faces legal scrutiny and criticism for flying out migrants to a notorious prison in El Salvador without due process. An April Echelon Insights survey of 1,014 likely voters found that 54 percent approve of Trump's actions on immigration, with 44 percent disapproving, giving the president a net score of plus 10 points. A previous Echelon Insights poll of 1,007 likely voters, conducted March 10-13, found that Trump had a net approval score of plus 18 points (57 percent approve to 39 percent disapprove). The April survey was conducted April 10-14, and the results have a margin of error of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points, as do the March results.

Read more in-depth coverage:
Trump's Reason Behind Alien Enemies Act Contradicted By New Intel

TL/DR: The poll also found that 70 percent of respondents said they are either somewhat or very concerned about immigration, tied for first place with Trump's tariff plans.

What happens now? Trump officials said they will continue to push back against a U.S. Supreme Court ruling ordering the administration to "facilitate" Garcia's release and return. El Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele said he will not return Garcia to the U.S.

Deeper reading Donald Trump's Approval Rating Over Immigration Is Tumbling

The rundown: Under America's new trading framework, and the continually expanding list of nations and goods subject to President Trump's tariffs, many states will be forced to spend billions more to sustain their current levels of imports. Find out which ones.

Why it matters: According to analysis by economic policy research firm Trade Partnership Worldwide, cited by ABC News, California will be hit hardest by the tariffs in 2025. California—the nation's largest importer, particularly of computers and other electronic products—is projected to pay more than $170 billion in import taxes in 2025 if the current tariffs stay in place. California is followed by Texas at $82.7 billion and Illinois at $41.9 billion, with almost every other state expected to pay over $1 billion in import costs. The estimates were based on 2024 import data for each state, and assume that import demand will remain flat. The predictions were compiled prior to Trump's announcement of a 90-day pause on all reciprocal tariffs, as well as the hikes to China's tariff rate imposed since April 2.

Read more in-depth coverage:
Trump Tariffs Could Hit These US States Hardest

TL/DR: The effects will not be felt equally across the U.S., with the structure of each states' economy and their import-reliance dictating how significant these will be.

What happens now? Aside from those on China, which has continued to respond to Trump's tariffs with retaliatory moves of its own, the reciprocal tariffs have been paused for 90 days following Trump's April 9 announcement. The administration stating the move is intended to give other countries an opportunity to propose more favorable trade agreements with the U.S.

Deeper reading Map Reveals States Worst Impacted by Trump's Tariffs

The rundown: Ukraine and U.S. have signed a memorandum on a minerals deal, Kyiv said. Know the details.

Why it matters: It marks the first advancement towards an agreement that was thrown into jeopardy by rounds of tense talks and the disastrous White House visit by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky earlier this year. Ukraine's economic minister Yulia Svyrydenko said in a statement late Thursday that Kyiv and Washington had "taken a step" towards inking an "economic partnership agreement" on Ukrainian rare earth minerals. Svyrydenko said that the memorandum was an indicator of the "constructive joint work of our teams," adding that there was a commitment to seeing through a deal "that will be beneficial to both our nations."

Read more in-depth coverage:
Map Shows World's 10 Largest Rare Earth Element Reserves

TL/DR: Ukraine's economic minister Yulia Svyrydenko said in a statement late Thursday that Kyiv and Washington had "taken a step" towards inking an "economic partnership agreement" on Ukrainian rare earth minerals.

What happens now? Trump said on Thursday that he believed a deal could be signed next week.

Deeper reading US and Ukraine Sign Minerals Deal Memorandum: What To Know

The rundown: President Donald Trump said he is "not in a rush" to authorize military action against Iran, emphasizing a preference for diplomacy but warning that Tehran must not acquire a nuclear weapon. Read his full remarks.

Why it matters: Trump's remarks signal a potential shift in tone amid rising tensions with Iran. Speaking alongside Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni at the White House on Thursday, Trump responded to reports that he discouraged an Israeli strike on Iran's nuclear infrastructure, stating, "I wouldn't say waved off. I'm not in a rush to do it," while adding that Iran still has a chance "to live happily without death." Meanwhile, Oman has ended speculation over the location of the second round of talks between Iran and the U.S. by officially confirming that the meeting will be held this Saturday in Rome.

Read more in-depth coverage:
Iran Defies Trump As He Raises Nuclear Stakes

TL/DR: While the administration maintains a "maximum pressure" policy, the president's public openness to dialogue comes just as U.S.-Iran diplomacy resumes.

What happens now? A second round of talks are scheduled for Saturday. The Rome talks could help determine whether diplomacy with Iran is still viable. Trump's measured comments suggest flexibility, but his administration's hardline position leaves little room for compromise.

Deeper reading Trump: 'Not in a Rush' to Strike Iran, It Can 'Live Happily Without Death'