The Bulletin
WORLD IN BRIEF
- Vancouver attack: The suspect in a car-ramming attack that killed 11 people and injured dozens at a Filipino festival in Vancouver on Saturday has been charged with eight counts of second-degree murder. Know more.
- US deploys missiles amid tensions: The United States deployed anti-ship missiles on a strategic Philippine island during a drill while a Chinese aircraft carrier staged a show of force against the allies in the nearby waters. Read more.
- ICE arrests nearly 800 migrants: The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency has arrested almost 800 migrants as part of a new collaboration with local law enforcement. Find out more.
- US says Houthi capabilities degraded: The U.S. military has announced it has reduced the Houthis' attack capabilities by more than half, in an operational update after six weeks of relentless airstrikes. Learn more.
- Gene Hackman's cause of death confirmed: The final autopsy for actor Gene Hackman has been released by the Office of the Medical Investigator in New Mexico, confirming that signs point to heart failure as the likely cause of death. Get more details.
- Susan Collins faces reelection trouble: Senator Susan Collins, a Maine Republican, is facing significant headwinds as she angles for reelection in the 2026 midterm, according to recent polling—with Democrats eyeing her seat as one of their best pickup opportunities.
- In the Russia-Ukraine war, Russia has launched its largest wave of strikes on Ukraine since Thursday, when Trump urged his Russian counterpart to halt attacks on Moscow's neighbor, according to an independent investigative Russian news outlet.
Trump's Mass Deportations Are Pushing US Farms to Breaking Point
The rundown: President Donald Trump's mass deportation plans are pushing American farms to a "breaking point," experts warned.
Why it matters: Martin Casanova, founder of THX, a program that connects consumers with farmworkers, told Newsweek. "We are dangerously close to a breaking point. In 2022, an estimated 15 million tons of produce were left unharvested in the U.S.—enough for 30 billion daily servings." The crisis facing U.S. agriculture is not just a political issue but an economic one. Labor shortages in the sector are already contributing to rising food prices. Farms are struggling to find enough workers to harvest crops, which results in lower yields, a tight supply and higher costs for consumers. Perishable crops, such as fruits and vegetables, are particularly vulnerable. Casanova added that restrictive immigration policies exacerbate these shortages, while expanding legal entry programs could help ease the crisis.
Read more in-depth coverage:
Trump Says Millions of Illegal Immigrants Could Be Allowed to Return
TL/DR: A key aspect of Trump's immigration agenda is the removal of millions of undocumented immigrants, with a focus on the immediate deportation of individuals who were in the U.S. illegally, especially those with criminal records.
What happens now? Business leaders have made it clear that they will advocate for comprehensive immigration reform to secure the workforce needed in vital sectors. The Trump administration remains firm on its stance regarding deportation, but with the agricultural industry facing immense pressure, it's clear that any comprehensive solution will need to address labor shortages in key sectors, ensuring that U.S. farms and businesses can survive.
Deeper reading Trump's Mass Deportations Are Pushing US Farms to Breaking Point
JB Pritzker Strikes Gavin Newsom Contrast as Democrats Eye 2028
The rundown: llinois Gov. JB Pritzker called out "do-nothing Democrats" in a speech on Sunday night and offered a contrasting viewpoint to California Gov. Gavin Newsom, as the potential rivals lay the ground for 2028. Read his full remarks.
Why it matters: While Pritzker continued to attack Trump in his speech, he also focused on what he says are shortcomings in his own party, assailing Democrats for listening to "a bunch of know-nothing political types" instead of everyday Americans. Without naming names, he called out members of his party for "flocking to podcasts and cable news shows to admonish fellow Democrats for not caring enough about the struggles of working families. "Those same do-nothing Democrats want to blame our losses on our defense of Black people, of trans kids, of immigrants, instead of their own lack of guts and gumption," Pritzker said.
Read more in-depth coverage:
AOC Beats Kamala Harris in Key Area With Democratic Voters—New Poll
TL/DR: The two-term governor has taken up the fight against President Trump and his Republicans, casting himself as one of the Democratic Party's leaders in its pushback against the administration.
What happens now? Pritzker has yet to say whether he will run for the governor's office again in 2026, but the billionaire Hyatt heir has been laying the groundwork for a potential presidential campaign for years.
Deeper reading JB Pritzker Strikes Gavin Newsom Contrast as Democrats Eye 2028
Doctor Responds to RFK Claims About Autism Research: 'Trying To Gaslight the Public'
The rundown: A doctor on TikTok has gone viral in a video countering National Institutes of Health (NIH) director Jay Bhattacharya's claim that scientists are afraid to ask questions about the cause of autism. Read more.
Why it matters: Zachary Rubin, an Illinois-based pediatrician with specialties in allergies and immunology, explained that Bhattacharya—with the backing of Secretary of Health and Human Services (HSS) Robert F. Kennedy Jr.—did scientists a disservice with his claims. In a press conference, Bhattacharya said science on autism has not been "rigorous," adding that "scientists are afraid to ask questions—basic questions that parents want answers to." In a phone interview with Newsweek on Thursday, Rubin said he believes Kennedy is mischaracterizing what the HHS secretary calls an autism "epidemic." Rubin added: "When people call this an epidemic and the rates have been increasing, we have to recognize a lot of this has to do with us changing our diagnostic criteria to be much more inclusive."
Read more in-depth coverage:
Thousands Sign RFK Jr. 'Autism Registry' Petition
TL/DR: Rubin, who has more than 1.8 million followers on TikTok, said he feels a sense of duty to clarify "misleading" information.
What happens now? Rubin said that the administration has sewed "doubt and confusion" on autism spectrum disorders. "My concern is that the community is being stigmatized in harmful ways," he said.
Deeper reading Doctor Responds to RFK Claims About Autism Research: 'Trying To Gaslight the Public'
Kremlin 'Ready' for Ukraine Talks as Trump Criticizes Putin Again
The rundown: The Kremlin emphasized its "readiness" for direct peace talks with Ukraine, but said it is waiting for a signal from Kyiv. Learn more.
Why it matters: It follows comments by U.S. President Trump urging Russian President Vladimir Putin to stop attacking Ukraine, and that he was disappointed by the leader in Moscow. "There were such words [from Trump]. A special military operation continues," Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, reported TASS, a Russian state news agency. "The president has repeatedly confirmed the readiness of the Russian side to start the negotiation process with Ukraine without any conditions in order to enter a peaceful channel." Peskov also said the Kremlin was waiting for a signal "from Kyiv" that it was also ready for direct talks.
Read more in-depth coverage:
Kim Jong Un Breaks Silence on North Korean Troops Fighting for Russia
TL/DR: Trump is attempting to close a peace deal he is brokering to end Russia's war on Ukraine, but has threatened to walk away unless progress is made very soon.
What happens now? The diplomacy continues, led by Trump's Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, who met with Putin for the fourth time on Friday. Trump has given the process a couple of weeks before his patience expires, so there is pressure on Ukraine and Russia to get around the table and show there is a clear path to peace and keep the U.S. involved.
Deeper reading Kremlin 'Ready' for Ukraine Talks as Trump Criticizes Putin Again
Is Gen Z Abandoning Trump?
The rundown: Once seen as a wild card with surprising appeal among disillusioned young voters, President Trump is now facing a sharp decline in support from Generation Z, according to new polling.
Why it matters: Newsweek analyzed the latest results from major pollsters since early March that included age-specific approval ratings and found that Trump's standing among the youngest voters is currently at 37 percent approving, while 58 percent disapprove of his job performance. That signals that Trump's support among Generation Z voters has tailed off since the 2024 election, when 47 percent of voters aged 18-29 cast a ballot for him, up from 36 percent in 2020. The New York Times and Siena College recorded the lowest approval rating, with 26 percent of Gen Z voters expressing support and 69 percent disapproving. Melissa Deckman, CEO of the Public Religion Research Institute, noted that "economic anxiety among Gen Z may be a driver of Trump's declining approval ratings.
Read more in-depth coverage:
Trump's Approval Rating With Men Turns Sour
TL/DR: Across the board, the majority of polls show Trump's approval hovering between 30 percent and 40 percent, with disapproval frequently exceeding 60 percent.
What happens now? Some analysts argue that Gen Z's frustration with Trump isn't solely economic and is rooted in a deeper distrust of institutions and authority, which they see Trump as embodying rather than challenging.
Deeper reading Is Gen Z Abandoning Donald Trump?
Former FCC Chairs: In the Name of the First Amendment, Trump's FCC Attacks Its Principles | Opinion
As former chairmen of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)—one appointed by a Democrat, the other by a Republican—we have seen firsthand how the agency operates when it is guided by its mission to uphold the public interest. But in just over two months, President Donald Trump and his handpicked FCC Chair Brendan Carr have upended 90 years of precedent and congressional mandates to transform the agency into a blatantly partisan tool. Instead of acting as an independent regulator, the agency is being weaponized for political retribution under the guise of protecting the First Amendment.
Their actions fall into two categories. First, the president used executive orders (EOs) to strip the agency of its independence, making it subservient to the White House. Second, the chairman has exploited the commission's powers to undermine the very First Amendment rights it is supposed to uphold.
Congress established the FCC in 1934 as an independent agency, designed to be "free of the policy aims of the Executive branch" as noted in a 2015 Senate report. But on Feb. 18, President Trump overturned that mandate with an EO requiring all independent agencies to obtain White House approval for "all proposed and final regulatory actions." The following day, a second EO granted the FCC chairman—and all other Trump-appointed agency heads—unilateral authority to determine whether "ongoing enforcement [actions] in their regulatory review is complaint with the law and Administration policy." This process bypasses the other Senate-confirmed commissioners and effectively hands the White House control over the FCC's enforcement decisions.
