The Bulletin

• Kilmar Abrego Garcia's wife responds: Jennifer Vasquez Sura, the wife of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, has responded after the Trump administration revealed a second allegation of domestic abuse against the Salvadoran immigrant mistakenly deported in March. Here's what she said.

• Democrats could win first Texas Senate race: Democrat Colin Allred could defeat Republican Ken Paxton in a hypothetical battle for the U.S. Senate seat currently occupied by John Cornyn, according to GOP polling obtained by the Houston Chronicle.

• How China's rogue state allies may worry Beijing: China is in the midst of a public relations offensive to capitalize on America's withdrawal from the international stage, but its plan could be upended by its close strategic ties to Russia and North Korea, which are waging war together in Europe. Learn more.

• Luigi Mangione prosecutor recused from case: The top federal prosecutor in Manhattan has been recused from Luigi Mangione's case. Know more.

• Iran-US nuclear talks: A fourth round of nuclear negotiations between the United States and Iran has been postponed amid rising tensions and the threat of military action from President Trump, casting doubt on the future of diplomatic efforts to avoid war. Learn more.

The rundown: While Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine remains in the spotlight, President Vladimir Putin is quietly laying the groundwork for a potential conflict with NATO, reports suggest.

Why it matters: Russia is expanding its troop presence along stretches of its border with the West, ramping up its military spending at a record pace, and intensifying covert operations against the West. The Kremlin is planning to establish a new army headquarters in the Russian city of Petrozavodsk, about 100 miles east of the Finnish border, which will oversee tens of thousands of troops over the next several years. Moreover, Russia's military spending is increasing at a record pace, with expenditures expected to reach around 120 billion euros in 2025—more than 6 percent of the country's GDP. That's compared to 3.6 percent prior to the war. The Russian army is also set to expand to 1.5 million troops, while the volume of weapons and equipment stationed along the NATO border is expected to grow by 30–50 percent, according to BILD's Russia edition.

Read more in-depth coverage:
NATO Plotting 'Takeover' of Russia's Baltic Stronghold, Putin Aide Claims

TL/DR: NATO must "expect the unexpected" and prepare for a Russian attack, Dutch Admiral Rob Bauer, the alliance's military committee chief, said in Brussels last January.

What happens now? NATO must "expect the unexpected" and prepare for a Russian attack, Dutch Admiral Rob Bauer, the alliance's military committee chief, said in Brussels last January. Meanwhile, intelligence and military officials have warned in recent weeks that NATO member states must be ready for a potential conflict with Russia.

Deeper reading Four Signs Russia Could Be Preparing for War With NATO

The rundown: David Hogg, vice chair of the Democratic National Committee (DNC), told Newsweek he plans to keep fighting for the Democratic Party, even if he's ousted from his position. Read his full remarks.

Why it matters: Hogg, 25, who was elected to one of five DNC vice chair positions in February, has sparked backlash in recent weeks, after announcing that his political action committee, Leaders We Deserve, would invest some $20 million to support primary challengers against incumbent Democrats in safely blue districts. Despite the pushback, Hogg remains undeterred in his effort to push for change within the party. The DNC official nodded to the efforts of progressive Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a New York Democrat, and Senator Chris Van Hollen, a Maryland Democrat, to push back against the administration of President Trump and Republicans. "We are seeing great people step up, like Senator Van Hollen, that are showing they're not just sitting on their hands, Hogg said.

Read more in-depth coverage:
Democrats 'Failing to Meet the Moment,' Party Vice Chair Warns

TL/DR: "Obviously I would prefer that I not be removed; however, in the case that I am, I'm still going to fight to build the strongest Democratic Party possible," he said in a Thursday interview.

What happens now? Martin has proposed DNC rule changes that would mandate that party officers remain neutral in primary elections. If the rules are changed, Hogg could be forced to either step down from his PAC or resign from his DNC position.

Deeper reading Exclusive: David Hogg Says He'll Fight for Democrats Even If They Oust Him

The rundown: Millions of student borrowers protected by Biden-era policies remain in limbo regarding their loans as the Trump administration ramps up efforts to claw back unpaid education debts. Learn more.

Why it matters: Announced last week, the U.S. Department of Education is reinstating forced collections on unpaid loans for borrowers who are in default. But some borrowers, namely those who signed up for former President Joe Biden's Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) plan—which provides borrowers with more affordable payments and student loan forgiveness after two decades of repayments, or in some cases as little as 10 years—face an uncertain future when it comes to their repayments. Under Biden's SAVE plan, approximately 8 million enrollees are exempt from the May 5 deadline to select a payment plan and arrange their repayments. Lawsuits brought by Republican-led states prompted the Education Department to temporarily halt the plan in July 2024.

Read more in-depth coverage:
Student Loans: What Resumption of Payments Means for Taxes, Social Security

TL/DR: Under Biden's SAVE plan, approximately 8 million enrollees are exempt from the May 5 deadline to select a payment plan and arrange their repayments.

What happens now? Unfortunately for those enrolled in Biden's plan, it is looking increasingly unlikely under the current administration that SAVE will survive.

Deeper reading Millions of SAVE Borrowers In Limbo as Student Loan Collections Resume

The rundown: An American military satellite was reportedly "buzzing" its Chinese counterparts as China rapidly advances in a new space race to challenge U.S. leadership in this domain. Find out here.

Why it matters: COMSPOC, which is a commercial provider of space situational awareness software in Pennsylvania, said USA 324, a U.S. Space Force Geosynchronous Space Situational Awareness Program (GSSAP) satellite, was "checking out" two Chinese satellites recently. The American satellite was tracked making two close passes to China's TJS-16 and TJS-17 satellites on April 26 and 29, with a distance of 10.5 miles and 7.4 miles, respectively. It was not immediately clear why the U.S. Space Force's satellite maneuvered around the targets. USA 324, which was launched in January 2022, and other GSSAP satellites can track and observe objects in geosynchronous orbit more than 22,000 miles above the equator, NASA said.

Read more in-depth coverage:
China's 2030 Plan to Land on Moon

TL/DR: The U.S. Space Force was established in 2019 during the first administration of President Donald Trump, who said American superiority in space was "absolutely vital."

What happens now? It remains to be seen whether the American and Chinese military satellites will have further maneuvers around each other for close inspection and observation.

Deeper reading US Buzzes China's Military Satellites in Unfolding Space Rivalry

The rundown: As the United States tightens its trade posture under President Donald Trump, Mexico is making a bold infrastructure play with geopolitical and economic implications. Know more about it.

Why it matters: President Claudia Sheinbaum is overseeing a major expansion of the Port of Manzanillo—Mexico's largest and most strategic seaport—in a bid to transform the country into Latin America's leading maritime hub and a potential cornerstone of U.S. supply chains. The project, dubbed "Nuevo Manzanillo," is part of Sheinbaum's "Plan Mexico," designed to defy an International Monetary Fund forecast projecting a 0.3 percent economic contraction this year amid heightened U.S. tariffs. Already Mexico's busiest port and the third largest in Latin America, Manzanillo handled approximately 3.7 million containers in 2023. The expansion will quadruple its footprint from 1,112 acres (450 hectares) to 4,645 acres (1,880 hectares), adding four specialized terminals for containers, hydrocarbons, general cargo, and storage.

Read more in-depth coverage:
As the World Turns on Trump, Mexico's Claudia Sheinbaum Has Other Plans

TL/DR: Since returning to office, Trump has reintroduced sweeping tariffs under a new doctrine of "reciprocal trade."

What happens now? The port expansion is scheduled for completion by the end of Sheinbaum's term in 2030. While Mexico has so far avoided the brunt of Trump's renewed tariff blitz, the threat remains ever-present.

Deeper reading Mexico Expands Port in Cartel Territory, Courting China Amid Tariff Fears