The Bulletin

• Iran warns of threat to sabotage US nuclear deal: Iran's Foreign Ministry has issued a pointed warning against efforts to derail diplomacy as U.S.-Iran nuclear talks advance into a critical technical phase, saying the country is on high alert to face Israeli threats. Read more.

• California high-speed rail: California's high-speed rail project has solved an issue that could have prevented it from building vital parts of its infrastructure. Find out more.

• Florida woman posed as ICE agent: A Florida woman allegedly impersonated a federal immigration officer in an attempt to kidnap her ex-boyfriend's wife. Know more.

• Mpox found in North Carolina sewage: Health providers and the public have been urged to be on the alert for mpox cases after particles were detected in several sewage samples in North Carolina. Read more about the warning.

• Florida could take tourism money to pay for tax refunds: The state of Florida could divert tax revenue usually used for tourism marketing into tax refunds, as part of a bill making its way through the state legislature. Here's what to know.
• Trump, Russia aligned on Crimea: Russia's position on the ownership of Crimea—that it is not up for discussion—is "fully" consistent with U.S. President Trump's, the Kremlin said.

The rundown: Detroit's comeback after decades of decline could now be undermined by the impact of President Trump's tariffs on the American car manufacturing industry, experts warned. Here's how.

Why it matters: In the 1950s, when General Motors employed hundreds of thousands of Americans, Detroit grew to become the fifth largest in the country, with over 1.8 million residents. But by the 1970s, the U.S. auto industry and the so-called Big Three—General Motors, Ford and Chrysler (now Stellantis)—were experiencing severe economic distress. But since the COVID-19 pandemic, Detroit has experienced an unexpected resurgence. With car manufacturing at the city's core, new levies on steel, aluminum and imports could spike production costs, trigger layoffs and stall housing growth. Auto-related tariffs threaten not only car affordability but also Detroit's economic momentum, putting thousands of jobs—and the city's comeback story—at risk.

Read more in-depth coverage:
Nissan Responds to Trump Tariffs with Agile, In-Your-Face Marketing

TL/DR: "There are so many households here connected to the automotive industry in some way. If the tariffs result in the 'Big Three' and their suppliers laying off local employees, then that won't net out positively for the home market activity this year," Michigan-based Redfin agent Desiree Bourgeois told Newsweek.

What happens now? Pat Ryan, CEO of the car shopping app CoPilot, does not doubt that the Trump administration's tariffs will result in higher costs for American automakers. "Tariffs will push car prices up in the short term. In the long term, they will create a complicated, expensive process for automakers as they look to shift their entire production to the U.S.”

Deeper reading Will Tariffs Spell the End of Detroit's Resurgence?

The rundown: The Californian economy has overtaken Japan's to become the fourth-largest by GDP in the world. Know more.

Why it matters: That is according to data from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), a fact highlighted by the California governor's office as it battles President Trump's trade policies. The IMF put Japan's GDP at $4.02 trillion in 2024. That compares to California's GDP of $4.1 trillion for the same year, according to the BEA's figures. It places the state behind only the United States, China, and Germany in global rankings. "California isn't just keeping pace with the world—we're setting the pace," Governor Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, said in a statement. "Our economy is thriving because we invest in people, prioritize sustainability, and believe in the power of innovation."

Read more in-depth coverage:
California Is America's Engine. Tariffs Risk Stalling It

TL/DR: California would be pursuing its own trading agreements with foreign partners, Newsom added, and seeking exemptions for California-made products.

What happens now? According to recent analysis by the policy research firm Trade Partnership Worldwide, California is set to be hit hardest by the tariffs so-far announced by Trump. Estimates suggest the state could pay over $170 billion in import taxes in 2025, assuming that import demand remains flat from 2024.

Deeper reading California Overtakes Japan to Become Fourth Largest Economy in World

The rundown: A federal judge in Maryland has ordered President Donald Trump's administration to facilitate the return of a 20-year-old Venezuelan man who was wrongly deported to El Salvador. Here's what to know.

Why it matters: U.S. District Judge Stephanie Gallagher, who was appointed by Trump, issued an order on Wednesday stating that the man's removal violated a previous court settlement. A class action lawsuit was filed in 2019 on behalf of immigrants who entered the U.S. as unaccompanied minors. They sued the government to have their asylum applications heard while they remained in the country, and the parties later settled in 2024. But the plaintiffs say that Trump's administration deported one of the migrants—referred to as "Christian" in court records—to El Salvador in March in breach of the settlement agreement.

Read more in-depth coverage:
Half of Americans Think Kilmar Abrego Garcia Should Return to US: Poll

TL/DR: Gallagher described the removal as a "breach of contract."

What happens now? The Trump administration argued that his deportation did not violate the settlement because "his designation as an alien enemy pursuant to the AEA [Alien Enemies Act] results in him ceasing to be a member."

Deeper reading Trump Judge Orders White House to Return Deported Migrant

The rundown: An American warship sailed through a narrow sea corridor between China and Taiwan on Wednesday, Newsweek has learned, in a subtle show of force by the Trump administration amid geopolitical and trade tensions with Beijing. Learn more.

Why it matters: The USS William P. Lawrence, and Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer "conducted a routine Taiwan Strait transit April 23 (local time) through waters where freedoms of navigation and overflight apply in accordance with international law," a spokesperson for the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command told Newsweek in an email. The William P. Lawrence's passage was partially visible on vessel-tracking platforms, including MarineTraffic. In a statement released Thursday, the People's Liberation Army's Eastern Theater Command said it had dispatched naval and air forces to monitor the American ship's movements. An accompanying video showed a Chinese navy sailor watching the William P. Lawrence from its starboard side.

Read more in-depth coverage:
China Deploys Aircraft Carrier Group in Warning to US and Ally

TL/DR: Beijing says self-ruled Taiwan is part of Chinese territory, a position the island's government—and a large majority of its citizens—reject.

What happens now? The U.S. and China are locked in a strategic competition that is manifesting in a full-blown trade war. During Trump's first presidency, the Pentagon approved monthly Taiwan Strait transits—the trend is likely to continue. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other top Trump officials have expressed concerns that Chinese President Xi Jinping will order a military offensive against Taiwan before the end of the decade.

Deeper reading Trump Sends US Warship to China's Coast

The rundown: Polish President Andrzej Duda said both Ukraine and Russia will need to "step down" and "compromise" in order to reach a peace deal and end Moscow's war, and that neither side will be able to claim victory. Read his full remarks.

Why it matters: His comments come as U.S. President Trump threatens to walk away from the peace process his administration is brokering unless there is substantial progress soon. That could also mean the loss of U.S. military support for Ukraine, which has been vital to its defense against Russia's invasion. The dispute over Crimea was one of the reasons a meeting in London to discuss American peace proposals was downgraded, as U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio pulled out. "It has to be a compromise," Duda told Euronews in an interview published on Thursday morning, referring to a deal that would end the conflict.

Read more in-depth coverage:
Russia Says Zelensky Wants to 'Torpedo' Ukraine Peace Talks

TL/DR: Poland is one of Ukraine's strongest allies in Europe.

What happens now? Trump remains optimistic that a deal can happen, telling reporters in the Oval Office on Wednesday that he thinks "we have a deal with both" Russia and Ukraine despite the tensions with Zelensky. The first major step to peace would be a ceasefire.

Deeper reading Poland Urges Ukraine, Russia 'Compromise' as Trump Threatens to Walk Away