The Bulletin
WORLD IN BRIEF
- Who Is Syria's Ahmed al-Sharaa? Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, the former Islamist insurgent who was once the target of U.S. counterterrorism operations, has taken another step towards full acceptance under Trump. Read more about him.
- Custom McDonald's greets Trump: As the Saudis work to impress Trump during his trip to Riyadh this week, they've set up a custom-built mobile McDonald's truck designed to support the presidential visit. Get more details.
- New North Korean destroyer under construction: New satellite imagery shows North Korea is building another destroyer for its navy. See the image.
- Update on Menendez brothers' sentences: A Los Angeles judge on Tuesday reduced the murder sentences of brothers Erik and Lyle Menendez, who were convicted of killing their parents in 1989. Find out more.
- Florida Patrol gets immigration authority: Republican Governor Ron DeSantis has announced that the Florida Highway Patrol can conduct immigration operations independent of the Trump administration. Here's what to know.
- China's plans to woo Europe: Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian on Monday brushed off European Union complaints about treatment by Beijing, instead touting half-a-century's progress in economic ties. Learn more.
Trump Compares Qatar Gift to Statue of Liberty
The rundown: President Donald Trump has defended accepting a Boeing 747 from Qatar, comparing it to the Statue of Liberty, which was gifted to the U.S. from France. Get more details.
Why it matters: Qatar's gift of a $400 million Boeing jet has sparked legal and ethical scrutiny and criticism from both Democrats and Republicans. Several of Trump's allies, including Senators Josh Hawley and Rand Paul, have broken with the president over his plans to accept the plane. Trump has repeatedly made the case for accepting the jet amid delays to Boeing's Air Force One program. Speaking to Fox News' Sean Hannity on board Air Force One during his trip to the Middle East on Tuesday, the president complained that Air Force One was not as nice as the planes flown by some Arab leaders. He also cast the jet as a win for American taxpayers while the government waits for Boeing to deliver a replacement for Air Force One.
Read more in-depth coverage:
Trump Calling Qataris 'Funders of Terrorism' Resurfaces Amid Jet Fury
TL/DR: "We're the United States of America. I believe that we should have the most impressive plane," he continued, adding, "Some people say, 'Oh, you shouldn't accept gifts for the country.' My attitude is why wouldn't I accept a gift?"
What happens now? Trump is visiting the Middle East on the first major foreign trip of his second term. He is expected to wrap up his stay in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday and head to Qatar, where he is to be honored with a state visit. He is also scheduled to visit the United Arab Emirates.
Deeper reading Donald Trump Compares Qatar Gift to Statue of Liberty
Russia Parcel Bomb Plot Uncovered in NATO State
The rundown: German federal prosecutors said three Ukrainian nationals have been arrested in Germany and Switzerland for allegedly plotting parcel bomb attacks on behalf of the Russian state. More on the incident.
Why it matters: Russian sabotage is a substantial concern across Europe, particularly among NATO allies such as Germany. Agents of the Russian state have been linked to a number of arson attacks. The three men "declared their willingness to commit arson and explosive attacks on the transport of goods in the Federal Republic of Germany to one or more persons allegedly acting on behalf of Russian state agencies," the prosecutor's office said in a release. "To this end, the accused were to send parcels from Germany to recipients in Ukraine with explosive or incendiary devices that would ignite during transport." The men accused of planning acts of sabotage were identified only as Vladyslav T., Daniil B., and Yevhen B.
Read more in-depth coverage:
Four Signs Russia Could Be Preparing for War With NATO
TL/DR: Russian sabotage is a substantial concern across Europe, particularly among NATO allies such as Germany. Agents of the Russian state have been linked to a number of arson attacks.
What happens now? German authorities arrested Vladyslav T. on May 9 in Cologne and Daniil B. on May 10 in Konstanz. The Swiss attorney general's office arrested Yevhen B. in Thurgau on May 13 and he will be transferred to Germany.
Deeper reading Russia Parcel Bomb Plot Uncovered in NATO State
Republicans Propose No Regulation of AI for the Next 10 Years
The rundown: House Republicans added a new provision to their sweeping budget bill that would block states from regulating artificial intelligence for the next decade—a move that could upend hundreds of state-level AI laws and reshape the national debate over tech oversight. Read more.
Why it matters: If enacted, the measure would halt both existing and future state restrictions on a wide class of AI and automated decision-making systems, while also encouraging "legacy business systems" to adopt new AI-related technology. In congressional documents, the proposal reads: "No state or political subdivision may enforce any law or regulation regulating artificial intelligence models, artificial intelligence systems, or automated decision systems during the 10-year period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act."
Read more in-depth coverage:
Pope Leo XIV Issues Warning on AI
TL/DR: The proposal reads: "No state or political subdivision may enforce any law or regulation regulating artificial intelligence models, artificial intelligence systems, or automated decision systems during the 10-year period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act."
What happens now? The proposal's future hinges on further congressional review and whether the AI moratorium meets Senate reconciliation requirements for inclusion in the final bill.
Deeper reading Republicans Propose No Regulation of AI for the Next 10 Years
Macron Open to Deploying Nuclear Weapons Across Europe
The rundown: France is open to discussing the deployment of its country's nuclear weapons elsewhere in Europe, French President Emmanuel Macron has said.
Why it matters: According to 2024 figures from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, France has about 280 nuclear warheads that can be launched from its submarines or jets. During an interview with French broadcaster TF1 on Tuesday, Macron said the U.S. already has nuclear-armed aircraft in Europe and that "we are ready to open this discussion." Macron said that any expansion of France's nuclear deterrence to other European countries would be subject to conditions, including ensuring that the use of the bombs remains solely in the hands of the French president. "There has always been a European dimension that takes vital interests into account," Macron said.
Read more in-depth coverage:
How Is Europe Preparing for Life Without US in NATO
TL/DR: Macron is the leader of the only nuclear-armed country in the European Union, and his comments reflect uncertainty among European countries about the U.S.'s nuclear commitment to the Continent when confronted with the threat posed by Russia.
What happens now? While Macron has discussed how France's nuclear deterrent can protect Europe, Merz said in a joint press conference with the French president that there was no substitute for the U.S.'s nuclear guarantee for Europe.
Deeper reading Macron Open to Deploying Nuclear Weapons Across Europe
Democrat Ousts Republican in Election Upset
The rundown: The three-term Republican mayor of Omaha, Nebraska, was ousted by a Democrat in an election upset on Tuesday night. Know more.
Why it matters: Douglas County Treasurer John Ewing Jr., a Democrat and former deputy chief of police for Omaha, defeated Republican Mayor Jean Stothert, who was vying for a fourth term. Ewing will become Omaha's first black mayor. Ewing led Stothert by about 10,900 votes, with some 87,000 ballots recorded. The victory shows positive signs for the Democratic Party ahead of future elections, including the November 2026 midterms. Ewing's election marks the first time the city has had a Democratic mayor since 2013, when Jim Suttle was in office. Nebraska leans Republican, but Omaha is more mixed and is known as the "blue dot". President Donald Trump won the district in 2016, but lost it to the Democrats in 2020 and 2024.
Read more in-depth coverage:
Andrew Cuomo's Chances of Winning Democratic Primary
TL/DR: "Tonight, we embark on a new chapter," Ewing told supporters, according to the Nebraska Examiner. "Together we will build an Omaha that offers opportunity for the 'good life' — to everyone."
What happens now? Omaha is likely to emerge as a battleground area in the U.S. House of Representatives midterm elections next year. Republican Representative Don Bacon, who represents Nebraska's 2nd congressional district including Omaha and its suburbs, is up for reelection.
Deeper reading Democrat Ousts Republican in Election Upset
Rep. Stefanik: Educational Freedom Is the Key to Our Children's Future | Opinion
Among the many titles I am honored to hold, the most important title by far is mom. Like nearly all parents across New York state, I am deeply concerned about our failing education system and schools. In too many classrooms across New York and America, zip codes determine opportunity. That is not only unacceptable—it's un-American—limiting access to the American Dream for our next generations of kids.
For decades, families in underserved communities have watched their children fall behind in underperforming schools, with few alternatives and no voice in the system. It's long past time for that to change.
