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Donald Trump's legal team referred to his time in the White House as his "first term" in office in a recent court filing.
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Welcome to the Bulletin,
- Pompeo speaks on VP speculation: Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who served under ex-President Donald Trump, was asked on Wednesday about potentially being chosen as Trump's running mate. Here's what he said.
- Easter weekend weather: Despite spring's recent arrival, eight states will face snowfall on Easter Sunday this weekend. Check the forecast.
- Fox calls out Trump's fundraising efforts: Donald Trump's fundraising efforts are no match for President Joe Biden's massive sold-out event on Thursday in New York City, Democratic strategist Jessica Tarlov said during an episode of The Five on Fox News. Here's what Tarlov said.
- China sends Taiwan a message: Beijing has warned Taipei not to "stir up trouble" as Taiwan prepares to hold military drills in a group of front-line islands just a stone's throw from China's shores. Get the latest.
- Beyoncé goes country: Beyoncé released her anticipated country album, "Cowboy Carter," which features cameos from Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson, Miley Cyrus and Linda Martell. The album has received praise from critics.
- In the ongoing war in Ukraine, Poland scrambled fighter jets to protect its airspace on Friday as Ukraine was hit with a barrage of Russian missiles and drones. Get the latest.
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TL/DR: Figures of the average margin of victory in the 16 special elections in 2024 show a swing in Republicans' favor.
Republicans appear to be overperforming in elections this year compared to former President Donald Trump's performance in the 2020 presidential election. Go behind the numbers.
Why it matters: Despite a high-profile defeat from Democrat Marilyn Lands in the Alabama state House, the GOP fared marginally better in the 2024 special elections. Polling suggests the November presidential election will likely be close between Biden and Trump, while close margins have previously decided victory in key swing states. With numbers tight in the House of Representatives, every single seat will likely count when the new Congress meets in January.
Read more in-depth coverage:
Donald Trump Is Winning Back Anti-Trump Republican Donors
Democrats' Retirement Problem Is Worse Than Republicans'
Joe Biden Gets Bad News Out of Swing State
What happens now? Despite the overperformance, Thomas Gift, founding director of the Centre on U.S. Politics at University College London, told Newsweek he remains skeptical that special elections could indicate a broader trend and is “unlikely to be a good bellwether for 2024."
TL/DR: The U.S.'s nuclear arsenal could be in a precarious position in a freshly dangerous world by the start of the next decade.
Washington views its nuclear deterrent as crucial to national security, prioritizing a credible and ready nuclear arsenal since the atomic age. However, with aging nuclear assets and growing threats from China and Russia, there are worries about timely modernization, raising concerns for future security amidst unpredictability.
Why it matters: The US is modernizing its nuclear arsenal with new Sentinels, Columbia-class submarines, B-21 Raiders, and F-35s equipped with advanced nukes. Delays risk vulnerability, emphasizing the need for timely upgrades amidst global tensions. Heather Williams from CSIS stresses the importance of political continuity and a clear vision for the US's nuclear policy, particularly in deterring threats from Russia, China, and North Korea, while reassuring allies dependent on the US deterrent.
Read more in-depth coverage:
US and Ally Move To Block North Korea's Nuclear Weapons Program
NATO Nation Shares Nuclear Update
Russia's Nuclear Arsenal Continues to Expand and Modernize: US Intel
What happens now? The 2023 Strategic Posture Review, presented to Congress, emphasizes the urgent need for decisions to confront threats from two nuclear-armed adversaries expected between 2027 and 2035. Failure to act jeopardizes the future backbone of US and NATO national security.
TL/DR: Russia is the world's third-largest oil producer, accounting for more than 12 percent of global crude oil production, according to Statista.
Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian oil hubs and refineries are putting in peril President Vladimir Putin's oil industry—the cornerstone of his country's economy—recent developments suggest.
Why it matters: Gasoline production in Russia has fallen after a series of strikes by Kyiv on the country's oil refineries, figures show. Rosstat, Russia's Federal State Statistics Service, said that in the week ending March 24, the nation's production of motor petrol fell by approximately 7.4 percent to 754,600 tons compared to the week prior, when production was at 815,300 tons, local media reported. Sources reveal imports surged to nearly 3,000 metric tons in the first half of March, a significant increase compared to 590 tons in February and none in January. Recent strikes have forced refinery shutdowns, including Rosneft's Kuibyshev facility.
Read more in-depth coverage:
Russia's Top Oil Buyer Deals a Blow to Putin
Putin Deploys Private Army to Guard Oil Assets Decimated by Drones
Russia's Oil Is Getting Stranded at Sea
What happens now? Russia's reserves of resilience and ingenuity look set to be severely tested. The speed and quality of the repairs at Kstovo, Ust-Luga, and Tuapse will be key indicators of Moscow's readiness," said Sergey Vakulenko, a nonresident scholar at the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center.
TL/DR: Lake Mead's water levels steadily rose throughout the beginning of this year but then declined throughout March.
As spring begins, many eyes are on Lake Mead. Snowmelt will trickle down from the surrounding mountains as the weather warms and feed into the reservoir.
Why it matters: The reservoir, which lies between Nevada and Arizona and is one of the Colorado River reservoirs, provides water for 25 million people in the region. However, years of prolonged drought and overconsumption of water have caused its water levels to be concerningly low in recent years. At the beginning of this year, Lake Mead's water level was 1,068.18 feet. With a steady increase through January and February, it peaked at 1,076 feet. However, since then, it has declined throughout March. This is not a surprise. The lake's water levels fluctuate seasonally.
Read more in-depth coverage:
Lake Mead, Lake Powell Water Levels Spark State Divides
How Lake Mead Water Levels Changed After 'Record-Breaking Rainfall'
Lake Powell's Changing Water Levels Revealed in Chart
What happens now? Snowpack levels this year are slightly above average so far. Most regions are between 90 and 100 percent snow-water equivalent, determining how much water a snowpack contains. By the end of 2024, water storage in Lake Mead is expected to be a bit lower than it was by the end of last year. Jennifer Pitt, the National Audubon Society's Colorado River program director, told Newsweek that water use will be greater than the water supply allows.
TL/DR: Elevated mortgage rates, one of the reasons buyers have stayed on the sidelines, are falling.
According to Freddie Mac, mortgage rates ticked down as of March 28, an encouraging sign for prospective homebuyers that a key obstacle to acquiring a house is easing.
Why it matters: The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 6.79 percent, a drop from the previous week's reading of 6.87 percent. A year ago, the rate for a home loan was 6.32 percent. In February, existing home sales improved by nearly 10 percent. High mortgage rates had kept sellers of this market segment subdued as homeowners were reluctant to put their properties with low rates on the market if that meant they would have to replace them with more expensive borrowing costs. However, mortgage rates hovering around 7 percent still prove to be a block for homebuyers.
Read more in-depth coverage:
Where Home Sales Are Bucking a Nationwide Trend
Mortgage Refinancing Stalls as Housing Market Struggles
Home Sales Collapse in Several States
What happens now? It is unclear how fast mortgage rates decline. Part of the reason rates have been elevated is the Federal Reserve hiking rates to two-decade highs to battle inflation. Mortgage experts say buyers are waiting for rates to drop before they plunge into homeownership. The Federal Reserve has signaled that it may slash borrowing costs this year, but the cut timeline is unclear. Should that happen, it could lead to a drop in mortgage rates, which lenders expect.
Florida Map Shows Where State Will Become Underwater From Sea Level Rise
Earlier in March, astrophysicist Neil DeGrasse Tyson published a post on X, formerly Twitter, which showed Florida and much of America's East and Gulf Coasts consumed by water. The post subsequently went viral, racking up 4.9 million views.
The TV scientist noted that Florida was relatively flat, making it "supremely susceptible to sea-level rise during climate change." Many of the replies questioned the truth of the projection, or climate change itself.
So is Florida really going to be entirely consumed by the Atlantic Ocean as sea levels rise?
The Full STORYTrending
Florida Map Shows Where State Will Become Underwater From Sea Level Rise
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Opinion
The Debate
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Ukraine Is Now 'Holy War,' Russian Church Declares
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Ukraine's Army Chief Issues 'Fatal' Warning to Russia Over New Offensive
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Putin 'Is Weak Now'—Former CIA Worker
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NATO Nation Scrambles Fighter Jets As Russian Missiles Rain Down on Ukraine
Days earlier, a Russian cruise missile fired at western Ukraine entered NATO member Poland's airspace.
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Entertainment
LeBron James 'Concerned' by Squatters Near His California Home: Report
A mansion near the Los Angeles Lakers star's Beverly Hills home has become the site of regular parties hosted by a group of alleged squatters.
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Diddy Update As Alleged Sex Workers Speak Out
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My Turn
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Life
Millennial Cringes Looking Back at Her Wedding Decor: 'We're Divorced Now'
Dakota Dunn told Newsweek about her aqua-toned, Chaco-laden wedding—and the aspect she shudders at most.
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Texas Bishop Slams Greg Abbott, Says Christians Have 'Duty to Resist'
Officials are awaiting a decision on legislation that would allow them to arrest and deport migrants without federal intervention.
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Americans Increasingly Want to Move to Another Country
New polling suggests the number of U.S. adults wanting to settle elsewhere has more than trebled in the past 50 years.
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U.S. News
California gets warning about sharks
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North Korea preparing spy satellite launch, South says
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Business
Homeowners in one state have days to apply for $500
The deadline is soon approaching for eligible homeowners to get an extra $500 off in their taxes.
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