The Bulletin

• Pope Francis' funeral: As tradition dictates, the camerlengo—alongside three appointed assistants—will determine the timing for when the late pontiff's body will be brought into St. Peter's Basilica for public viewing. Get more details.

• The next Pope: With the passing of Pope Francis, the Catholic Church is preparing for a transition that will determine its direction for the foreseeable future. Will the next pope continue Francis's progressive reforms, or will the cardinals pivot back toward theological conservatism? Read here.

• Japan sends ships to new China-funded naval base: Japan, which is a key United States ally in the Indo-Pacific region, became the first foreign country to visit a China-funded naval base in Cambodia, located near the South China Sea, since its reopening. Learn more.

• Trump vows to make America 'more religious': President Trump promised on Sunday in a Truth Social post that he would help make the United Sates "more religious." Read his full remarks.

• Trump admin 'screw up' with Abrego Garcia: Sen. John Kennedy, a Louisiana Republican, called the Trump administration's deportation of Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia a "screw up" during a Sunday appearance on NBC News' Meet the Press. Know more.

The rundown: Pope Francis has died, but the transformative impact of his papacy—marked by structural reforms that some view as a return to the Church's roots, and others as a further departure from them—will endure as his lasting legacy. Read more.

Why it matters: His papacy focused on modernizing the Church through structural reforms, gender inclusivity and expanding representation from the global south. He softened stances on homosexuality and contraception, allowed women to vote in key assemblies, and emphasized a more collaborative, humble exercise of authority. However, Francis faced criticism for not delivering major reforms on clergy sexual abuse. His outspoken political views—supporting migrants and criticizing nationalism—often sparked controversy. While his efforts angered traditionalists, many credit him with reshaping Catholicism into a more global and socially engaged institution.

Read more in-depth coverage:
Pope Francis: His Life in Photos

TL/DR: "His election in 2013 will be seen as a kind of tectonic shift in the life of the Church," Michael Sean Winters, a longtime writer for the National Catholic Reporter told Newsweek.

What happens now? After Francis is laid to rest, the College of Cardinals enters a conclave to elect his successor. The process, held within the Sistine Chapel, requires a two-thirds majority vote. The newly elected pope will emerge onto St. Peter's Basilica's balcony, delivering his first blessing to a world awaiting the next chapter in the Catholic Church's history.

Deeper reading How Pope Francis Radically Reshaped the Catholic Church

The rundown: U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is unlikely to keep hold of his position for much longer, the Pentagon's former top spokesperson has said, as the Department of Defense contends with "total chaos" in the wake of further reported leaks of sensitive military information and high-profile firings. Here's what to know.

Why it matters: John Ullyot, said in an opinion piece penned for Politico, published on Sunday that "it's hard to see Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth remaining in his role for much longer." Ullyot resigned from his position at the Department of Defense's top spokesperson last week. Ullyot said the Pentagon's most senior ranks were "near collapse," and accused Department of Defense officials close to Hegseth of launching "smear" campaigns against three senior staffers fired earlier this month. "In short, the building is in disarray under Hegseth's leadership," Ullyot said. Meanwhile, according to a Sunday report from The New York Times, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth shared "detailed information" about forthcoming strikes in Yemen on March 15 in a private Signal group chat that included his wife, brother and personal lawyer.

Read more in-depth coverage:
White House Responds to Pete Hegseth Second Signal Chat Reports

TL/DR: The reported existence of a second Signal chat in which Hegseth allegedly shared highly sensitive military information is the latest in a series of developments that have put his management and judgment under scrutiny.

What happens now? The Pentagon's acting inspector general is reviewing Hegseth's Yemen initial strike disclosures on the Signal chat that included top Trump aides, however, it's unclear whether this review has uncovered the second Signal chat. This review was initiated in response to a joint bipartisan request from the Senate Armed Services Committee leadership.

Deeper reading Pete Hegseth Unlikely to Remain Defense Secretary: Ex-DOD Spokesperson

The rundown: President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday new measures to lower the costs of prescription drugs, which include increasing competition and creating transparency. Find out more about it.

Why it matters: The president signed an executive order on Tuesday telling the Department of Health and Human Services to take steps to lower drug prices. Juliette Cubanski, the deputy director of the Program on Medicare Policy at KFF, a nonprofit health policy research organization, praised Trump's efforts, but said his measures do not include anything "that will quickly translate to lower drug prices on a broader scale without more concrete legislative or regulatory action." Meanwhile, Stacie B. Dusetzina, Ph.D., a professor in the Department of Health Policy and an Ingram professor of cancer research at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, called out the administration's FDA layoffs.

Read more in-depth coverage:
How Trump's Pharmaceutical Tariffs Could Send Drug Prices Soaring

TL/DR: This was one of Trump's campaign promises before last year's election following efforts to reduce costs during his first term.

What happens now? Trump's order is supposed to "improve upon" former President Joe Biden's Inflation Reduction Act, which aimed to reduce drug prices for people with Medicare and reduce drug spending by the federal government.

Deeper reading Will Donald Trump Succeed in Lowering Drug Prices? Experts Weigh In

The rundown: Israel is considering a "limited strike" on Iran's nuclear facilities in the coming months, despite U.S. President Trump's rejection of large-scale military action at the moment. Find out more.

Why it matters: Reuters reported that Israel recently presented Washington with several military options, including some timed for late spring or summer. A senior Israeli official said no final decision had been made, but a smaller operation that wouldn't require full U.S. backing is now more likely. Meanwhile, a senior Iranian security official has said that Tehran has credible intelligence suggesting Israel is planning an attack on its nuclear sites, according to state media. Iranian officials have previously vowed to retaliate against any aggression. Trita Parsi, a Middle East analyst told Newsweek that Israel's "intense determination to sabotage diplomacy" could take the form of "assassinations, sabotage, and other attacks inside the country" designed to provoke Iran and derail the negotiations.

Read more in-depth coverage:
Iran Reaching 'Better Understanding' with US in Nuclear Talks—Diplomat

TL/DR: According to a new Reuters report, Israeli military options under consideration require minimal U.S. support, marking a shift from earlier, more expansive strike proposals.

What happens now? U.S.-Iran nuclear talks are set to resume this week, with technical teams set to discuss uranium enrichment and other core issues. Any Israeli military move could shift the trajectory of those negotiations.

Deeper reading Israel Mulls Strike on Iran Despite Trump's Caution

The rundown: Patty Morin, the mother of Rachel Morin who was killed by an undocumented El Salvadoran migrant in 2023, told Newsweek in emailed remarks on Sunday that Sen. Chris Van Hollen, a Maryland Democrat, did not contact her family in the wake of her daughter's violent murder. Get more details.

Why it matters: Morin told Newsweek on Sunday that "Van Hollen has not contacted our family and has not provided support in the wake of my daughter's murder by an illegal immigrant from the same country as Abrego Garcia." Her daughter Rachel, a 37-year-old mother of five, was reported missing by her boyfriend on August 5, 2023, after she failed to return from a walk. Authorities then discovered Rachel's body the following day. Morin criticized the Maryland Democrat for making Abrego Garcia a priority. "Yet the Maryland Democratic senator is willing to spend American taxpayer money to travel to El Salvador and put the interests of a known illegal immigrant before that of his constituents in Maryland," she said.

Read more in-depth coverage:
Van Hollen Suggests He's OK With Deporting Abrego Garcia With Key Condition

TL/DR: "What happened to the Morin family was awful and unacceptable. I cannot imagine losing a child like they lost Rachel, and I said at the time that my heart goes out to the Morin family," the senator told Fox News Sunday.

What happens now? A legal battle over Abrego Garcia's fate continues to play out in the courts. Whether he is ultimately returned to the U.S. remains to be seen, but even if he is, it is likely that he'd ultimately be deported to a third country. More Democrats have said they will fly to El Salvador to push for his return, but the partisan pressure hasn't yielded any results. Meanwhile, Trump administration critics will likely continue to raise concerns about respect for due process especially in the context of deportation cases moving forward.

Deeper reading Exclusive: Van Hollen Never Reached Out About Daughter's Murder—Patty Morin