The Bulletin
WORLD IN BRIEF
- Trump's call with Mark Carney: President Donald Trump has predicted he will have a "great relationship" with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney following his victory in the country's federal election. Here's what Trump said.
- 50501 protests against Trump: Grassroots organization 50501 is mobilizing for another major national protest on Thursday, May 1, as part of its ongoing resistance against President Trump's second term. Here's a list of participating cities.
- US travel warning for North Korea: The U.S. has updated its travel advisory for North Korea, warning Americans not to travel the country under any circumstances. Here's what to know.
- SSA lists changes made under Trump: The Social Security Administration (SSA) has highlighted its "key accomplishments" in the first 100 days of President Trump's administration. Know here.
- Houthis claim attacks caused loss of US aircraft: Houthi forces in Yemen claimed their drone attacks had forced a U.S. fighter jet to fall off the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman in the Red Sea, an incident that has drawn attention to the intensity of engagements in the region. Find out more.
- Russia deepens connections with North Korea: Construction has begun on a new bridge across the border river between Russia and North Korea. Know more.
US and Ukraine Sign Rare Minerals Economic Deal: What to Know
The rundown: The United States and Ukraine finalized an agreement Wednesday granting Washington privileged access to Ukraine's rare-earth natural resources. Get more details.
Why it matters: Wednesday's agreement is a strategic move by Kyiv aimed at reinforcing President Donald Trump's support in ongoing ceasefire negotiations with Russia. The deal gives U.S. firms priority access to new investment projects involving key resources such as aluminium, graphite, oil and natural gas. Ukrainian officials view the agreement as vital to maintaining Trump's goodwill as his administration intensifies efforts to broker an end to the war launched by Russia's full-scale invasion more than three years ago.
Read more in-depth coverage:
Map Shows Rare Earth Treasure Trove Hidden in America's Backyard
TL/DR: The agreement comes after Trump repeatedly called for Ukraine to reimburse the U.S. for its military aid.
What happens now? Ukrainian Minister of the Economy Yulia Svyrydenko said in a post on X: Together with the United States, we are creating the Fund that will attract global investment into our country."
Deeper reading US and Ukraine Sign Rare Minerals Economic Deal: What to Know
Trump Impeachment Proposal Rejected by Top Democrat Leader
The rundown: A leading Democrat has rejected his colleagues' efforts to impeach Republican President Donald Trump. Here's what we know.
Why it matters: Trump was impeached twice during his first term as president, but acquitted by the Senate in both cases. But Democrats appear divided over how to combat Trump in his second term. Rep. Shri Thanedar, a Michigan Democrat, introduced seven articles of impeachment against Trump on Monday. They accuse the president of obstruction of justice, abuse of executive power, usurpation of appropriations power, abuse of trade powers and international aggression, violation of First Amendment Rights, creation of an unlawful office, bribery and corruption, and tyrannical overreach. Three House Democrats—Reps. Robin Kelly of Illinois, Kweisi Mfume of Maryland and Jerry Nadler of New York—asked to be removed as cosponsors of the impeachment resolution on Tuesday.
Read more in-depth coverage:
Steve Bannon Raises Alarm Over Trump Impeachment
TL/DR: "Impeachment is, at times, a tool that can be used. This president is no stranger to that; he's been impeached twice," Representative Pete Aguilar, the chair of the House Democratic Caucus, told reporters in the Capitol on Tuesday.
What happens now? Thanedar's effort to impeach Trump is unlikely to go anywhere while Republicans have a majority in the House and Senate. Democratic leaders have not said whether they would move to impeach Trump if they win back the House and Senate in next year's midterm elections.
Deeper reading Donald Trump Impeachment Proposal Rejected by Top Democrat Leader
Elon Musk Responds to Report Tesla Board Wants to Replace Him as CEO
The rundown: Elon Musk has responded to a report from The Wall Street Journal that the Tesla board was seeking to replace him as CEO, calling it a "deliberately false article." Find out what he said.
Why it matters: On Wednesday, the newspaper published an article claiming several Tesla investors and board members "got serious about looking for Musk's successor" in late March as controversy swirled around his role within President Donald Trump's administration. The publication said a number of Tesla's eight-strong board had contacted several executive search firms to discuss working on the formal process to select a new CEO. Tesla refuted the claims, in a post on X, formerly Twitter, Musk wrote: "It is an EXTREMELY BAD BREACH OF ETHICS that the Wall Street Journal would publish a DELIBERATELY FALSE ARTICLE and fail to include an unequivocal denial beforehand by the Tesla board of directors!"
Read more in-depth coverage:
DOGE: What Did Elon Musk Get Done in 100 Days?
TL/DR: Musk's close association with Trump sparked demonstrations against Tesla in a number of states and a global boycott campaign.
What happens now? Musk subsequently said on a conference call last week that he would start allocating much more of his time to Tesla from May.
Deeper reading Elon Musk Responds to Report Tesla Board Wants to Replace Him as CEO
Exclusive: Bishop Strickland Reveals Worry Over Growing Divide Between US and Vatican
The rundown: Joseph Strickland, the former bishop of the Diocese of Tyler, Texas, told Newsweek that he was deeply concerned over who would be chosen to succeed Pope Francis as leader of the Roman Catholic Church and the growing divide between the U.S. and the Vatican. More on what he said.
Why it matters: Francis, who died at the age of 88 and was buried on Saturday in the St. Mary Major Basilica in Rome, was considered by many a liberal and progressive leader of the church. During his papacy, Francis argued to combat climate change and advocated for social justice while trying to open the church to LGBTQ+ communities. For these efforts, he was often criticized by conservative forces within the church, including Strickland, who in a letter sent from Mar-a-Lago in March accused Francis of failing to "refuse" the "siren call of sodomy." Strickland is concerned that the conclave, which is gathering on May 7, will continue Francis' legacy. He did not have a specific name in mind for whom he would like to be elected as the next pope, but he had an idea of the qualities needed for the role.
Read more in-depth coverage:
Next Pope Update: Four Main Contenders Emerge
TL/DR: "What worries me is the deeper moral and spiritual divide between the prevailing culture in the United States and the truths the Church is called to proclaim."
What happens now? The conclave is expected to comprise 135 cardinals under the age of 80. They are scheduled to gather inside the Sistine Chapel on May 7, remaining there until a two-thirds majority backs the same candidate to become the next pope.
Deeper reading Exclusive: Bishop Strickland Reveals Worry Over Growing Divide Between US and Vatican
Student Loans: What Resumption of Payments Means for Taxes, Social Security
The rundown: In less than a week, millions of student loan borrowers who have not been keeping up with their payments will face forced collections, meaning their wages, Social Security and tax refunds could all suffer. Here's what to know.
Why it matters: The resumption of payments will impact more than 5 million borrowers who are currently in default, the Education Department said, adding that another 4 million borrowers are late in making payments. It ends a years-long pause in forced collections that began during the coronavirus pandemic. Experts that have spoken to Newsweek have said borrowers will need to take quick action to avoid financial penalties. Failing to make a student loan payment on time can eventually lead to default. Once your loan goes into default, the full remaining balance of your loan, along with any accrued interest, becomes immediately due, which is known as "acceleration."
Read more in-depth coverage:
Student Loan Changes in May 2025: What Borrowers Should Know
TL/DR: "The Department of Education is not a creditor you want coming after you," Adem Selita, co-founder of The Debt Relief Company, told Newsweek. "The consequences of not paying student loans back can be quite severe."
What happens now? As of May 5, defaulted borrowers will become subject to wage garnishment to collect their outstanding balances. Meanwhile, if you don't pick a repayment plan, your loan servicer will put you on the Standard Repayment Plan (a 10-year fixed payment repayment plan), which may result in a higher monthly payment.
Deeper reading Student Loans: What Resumption of Payments Means for Taxes, Social Security
What Happens When Teachers Are Replaced With AI? This School Is Finding Out
The 8:15 a.m. scene in front of the school that sits on a dusty, sun-soaked residential street in Brownsville, Texas, just across the border with Mexico, looks much like any other elementary or middle school in that chaotic period before the morning bell. Groups of tousled boys and girls get off the bus or otherwise trickle, saunter and dawdle into a nondescript building where they will spent the next few hours, in theory, learning. These kids, though, seem more jubilant than might be expected for a Tuesday morning in April.
The days of dodging class or suffering from a lack of motivation appear to be a thing of the past at Alpha School, a private pre-K through eighth grade institution that utilizes personalized artificial intelligence to teach an entire day of core academic lessons in just two hours.
