The Bulletin

Welcome to the Bulletin,

• Trump's hush money trial: Former President Donald Trump lost his third attempt in a week to delay his hush money-related charges from heading to trial on Monday. Here's why.
• NATO aircraft activated: NATO jets were scrambled after Russia launched large-scale missile strikes on Ukraine overnight on Thursday. Learn more.
• Tornado destruction in Louisiana: At least one tornado and a powerful line of storms tore through the Deep South on Wednesday, causing "widespread and catastrophic" damage in parts of Louisiana, local officials reported. Watch this video footage captured in Slidell.
• Japan's PM to address Congress: Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will head to Capitol Hill to address lawmakers today to reinforce strong US-Japan ties.
• In the ongoing war in Ukraine, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed to reporters on Wednesday that Kyiv is planning a fresh counteroffensive in its war with Russia.

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As the 2024 presidential election looms ever closer, more Americans believe President Joe Biden can better protect Social Security than Donald Trump, according to new polls. Social Security has become a key talking point in the run-up to November's poll, with Biden and Trump having both expressed different viewpoints on how to fund it.

Why it matters: The polling, conducted exclusively for Newsweek by Redfield and Wilton Strategies, surveyed 4,000 eligible U.S. voters between April 6 and 7 this year. When asked which of the two presidential candidates they trusted more, 41 percent said Biden, while 36 percent indicated they preferred Trump. Only 5 percent said they trusted both equally, while 12 percent said they did not know. With the exception of Gen-Z, all generations demonstrated a preference for Biden. The polling comes as the Social Security Administration (SSA) faces a dire funding cliff that could significantly reduce benefits if lawmakers do not take action within the coming decade.

Read more in-depth coverage:

America's Social Security Timebomb

Social Security Payment of $4,873 to Go Out in Next Few Days

New York Kept Social Security From Some Kids, New Documents Reveal   

TL/DR: The polling shows the desire to fix Social Security is on the minds of American voters and could be a key decider in November's election.

What happens now? If predictions are accurate, the two vital trust funds that help pay for Social Security benefits are expected to run out by around 2034. Experts have warned that time is running out for lawmakers to fix the problem. "We may need a bipartisan, bicameral Fiscal Commission to protect Social Security. We cannot wait another five years," current senior fellow at the Bipartisan Policy Center told Newsweek.

Deeper reading Joe Biden Receives Social Security Boost

An expert has said that China's latest attempt to infiltrate U.S. infrastructure—the Volt Typhoon hacking system—is bigger than anything China has unleashed before and has surprised the entire cybersecurity industry.

Why it matters: The U.S. government says Volt Typhoon is designed to weaken U.S. computer systems if America and China go to war. Daniel Cuthbert, who sat on the UK Government Cyber Security Advisory Board, told Newsweek the system is difficult to defeat because it uses "living off the land" technology and threatens anybody in the CNI [Critical National Infrastructure] world. FBI Director Christopher Wray told a U.S. committee hearing in January that Volt Typhoon was "the defining threat of our generation."

Read more in-depth coverage:

China Accused of Major Cyber Hack on NATO Ally

US Charges China-Backed Hackers With 14 Years of Cyberattacks

Beijing Responds to Trump's Covert CIA Operation Targeting China

TL/DR: China is placing massive hacking systems in place in case it ever goes to war with the U.S.

What happens now? Cuthbert said it was a mistake to think that China was only targeting the U.S. "It doesn't just pose a threat to the US. It poses a threat to anybody in the CNI [Critical National Infrastructure] world," Cuthbert said. Steve Morgan, founder of Cybersecurity Ventures, told Newsweek the consequences of Volt Typhoon "could have been catastrophic." "The hacking has amped up each and every year and there is no end in sight," he said.

Deeper reading How China is Hacking America

Former President Donald Trump insists that overturning Roe v. Wade, the landmark Supreme Court abortion-rights ruling, was only about "states' rights."

Why it matters: The 1973 decision found that abortion was a constitutional right and ensured legal access to the procedure nationally for 49 years before being upended in 2022 by the court's conservative majority, which includes several Trump-appointed justices. Trump's stance on abortion has shifted significantly over time, from being a Democrat in favor of abortion rights to a Republican opposing them. Despite taking credit for moves against Roe v. Wade, he now disappoints conservatives by refusing to support a federal abortion ban as the presidential election nears.

Read more in-depth coverage:

Donald Trump Faces Conservative Rebellion Over 'Abortion Rights' Remarks

Donald Trump Reveals Abortion Plan as He Faces Problem in Florida

Donald Trump's Abortion Policies Aren't as Unpopular As You Might Think

TL/DR: "People forget fighting Roe v. Wade was, right from the beginning, all about bringing the issue back to the states," Trump says in the video posted to Truth Social on Wednesday night.

What happens now? Political experts have suggested that support for restrictive anti-abortion laws may be a major liability for Republicans in November, especially as the issue may appear on the ballot in several swing states and could potentially inspire massive turnout by Democratic voters.

Deeper reading Trump Shifts From 'Pro-Life' Champ to Say Roe Solely About 'States' Rights'

Kim Jong Un toured North Korea's top military institute on Wednesday and reaffirmed his goal of creating the "world's strongest army," state media said, amid sky-high tensions with the United States and its allies. He also urged cadets to perfect the art of winning wars, the official Korean Central News Agency reported on Thursday.

Why it matters: Recently, Kim has been seen leading military drills, including tank, artillery, and paratrooper exercises, labeled by state media as defensive actions against the U.S.-South Korea alliance. Despite numerous U.N. sanctions, North Korea continues ballistic missile tests. The U.S. criticizes Moscow and Beijing for shielding Pyongyang from additional sanctions at the Security Council. Both North Korea and Russia deny allegations of arms trading, which would breach further U.N. sanctions.

Read more in-depth coverage:

US Ally Launches Spy Satellite Against North Korea

North Korea Claims New Hypersonic Missile Milestone

US Ally Issues Ominous Warning to North Korea

TL/DR: Kim was pictured inspecting maps and models of South Korea in a pointed message to the U.S. ally.

What happens now? Long-time observers say Kim will likely continue missile tests as the United States heads into its presidential election this fall, to extract concessions for his troubled economy. Analysts say Kim may be on a war footing, but he is not short of friends. Zhao Leji, the Chinese Communist Party's No. 3 official, was scheduled to arrive in Pyongyang on Thursday for a three-day visit to mark "China-DPRK Friendship Year," according to the Foreign Ministry in Beijing.

Deeper reading Kim Jong Un Threatens North Korea's Enemies With 'Death Blow'

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has warned against taxpayers potentially missing out on certain tax credits refunds when filing their taxes this year, including the Child Tax Credit and the Child & Dependent Credit.

Why it matters: The federal agency is urging low- to moderate-income families, especially those who don't usually file a tax return, to use IRS Free File—the IRS's tool to do your taxes online for free—to prepare their tax return. Taxpayers with an adjusted gross income of $79,000 or less in 2023 can use IRS Free File to process and submit a simple tax return free of charge. The agency also encourages students just entering the workforce or who may have only worked part-time, as well as all eligible parents of qualifying children born or welcome through adoption or foster care in 2023. These last taxpayers may qualify for the Child Tax Credit.

Read more in-depth coverage:

IRS Offers Help to Americans Filing Taxes

IRS Extends Deadline for Taxpayers in 2 States

IRS Updates Taxpayers on Receiving Direct Deposit

TL/DR: The federal agency is urging low- to moderate-income families to use IRS Free File to prepare their tax returns.

What happens now? The official deadline for filing a tax return or requesting an extension is Monday, April 15—in just about four days. Taxpayers in Maine and Massachusetts have a due date of April 17, while those who have requested an extension have until October 15.

Deeper reading IRS Warns Against Missing Out on Child Tax Credits