The Bulletin
World in Brief
Welcome to the Bulletin,
- Trump's support among independents drops: According to a new poll, Donald Trump's polling among independent voters is tumbling ahead of the presidential election. Find out more.
- Malaysian military helicopters collide: Two Malaysian navy helicopters crashed midair during a rehearsal on Tuesday for a naval parade, killing all 10 crew members on board. Learn more.
- GOP congressman's office vandalized: U.S. Representative John Carter's Washington, D.C., office was vandalized on Monday with a "Free Gaza" message and red liquid splattered at the entrance, the Texas Republican's office told Newsweek. Find out why.
- Frost warnings: The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued frost weather warnings in 15 states across the country. See which states are affected.
- In the ongoing war in Ukraine, Ukraine will receive coveted long-range missiles from the U.S. after the House of Representatives gave Kyiv more than $60 billion in aid.
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Ex-Trump Lawyer Says Former President Testifying Would 'Significantly Increase' Chance of Conviction
Donald Trump testifying in his hush-money trial would "significantly increase" the chance that he is convicted, according to one of his former attorneys.
Why it matters: Tim Parlatore, who worked for Trump on several cases until May 2023, made the comment during an appearance on Kaitlan Collins' CNN show. Watch the clip. Joyce Vance, a former U.S. attorney, said, "If he testifies, he will be subject to relentless and free-ranging cross-examination by a highly skilled prosecution team in Manhattan."
Read more in-depth coverage:
Donald Trump Trial Update: Key Players From Opening Arguments
Michael Cohen's Latest Move Blasted By Legal Analysts
Donald Trump Will Be Forced to Listen to Secret Recording
TL/DR: Former Trump attorney Tim Parlatore says that Trump "should not" testify in his hush money trial as the jury could be "much more likely to convict" him.
What happens now? While he is not obligated to testify, Trump told reporters on April 12 "I'm testifying." Trump’s hush money trial resumes today with more testimony. Also, Judge Juan Merchan will consider whether Trump violated his gag order in a hearing today.
Deeper reading Trump Testifying Would 'Significantly Increase' Chance of Conviction—Lawyer
Republican Infighting Is Getting Uglier
Infighting in the Republican Party has increased in recent months due to divisions over foreign aid and Mike Johnson's speakership—and passing the $95 billion package providing military assistance to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan on Saturday did nothing to quell dissent.
Why it matters: 101 Republicans voted in favor of the bill, while 112 Republicans voted against it. Some hard-right Republicans argued that Congress should focus on increased U.S.-Mexico border security. Texas Republican Rep. Tony Gonzales described some of his colleagues who voted against the bills as "scumbags." Many Republicans, including outspoken Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, have been vocal in their opposition to sending further aid to Ukraine, leaving Greene to introduce a motion to vacate GOP Speaker Mike Johnson.
Read more in-depth coverage:
The Grim Implication of Speaker Mike Johnson's Ukraine Pivot
MAGA Tears Into Mike Johnson: 'False Prophets'
Marjorie Taylor Greene Is Taking Down Mike Johnson
TL/DR: GOP tensions over foreign spending and Speaker Mike Johnson have ramped up recently.
What happens now? Political science professor Todd Landman told Newsweek that "division" in the party is "getting worse, not better" because of the aid bill, which allocates $61 billion for Ukraine’s war efforts.
Deeper reading Republican Infighting Is Getting Uglier
Ukraine on Brink of Losing Key Strongholds Before Western Aid Arrives
Ukraine's advocates had been long warning about the urgency of further Washington aid to fight Vladimir Putin's aggression. Time is equally of the essence as to whether the $61 billion package agreed by the House of Representatives on Saturday can be deployed quickly enough to stem Russian momentum on the battlefield.
Why it matters: Given Russia's recent territorial gains, including the capture of Avdiivka and pressure on Chasiv Yar, the aid's timely deployment is crucial. The U.S. aid package is expected to boost morale and provide much-needed artillery shells, combat aircraft and air defense systems. However, experts note that this package alone may not ensure Ukraine's victory, emphasizing the need for additional manpower and strategic mobilization to recover lost territory.
Read more in-depth coverage:
Ukraine Buoyed by Double Aid Boost
Here's What Israel, Taiwan, and Ukraine Are Getting Under the Aid Package
Ukraine War Map Shows Stalled Russian Advances
TL/DR: Kyiv's forces are eagerly awaiting an injection of aid passed by the U.S. House of Representatives before they lose more territory.
What happens now? "The artillery shells will help solidify the front, and the air defense systems and munitions will help slow Russia's effective campaign of destroying key infrastructure," said Faintuch. "But Ukraine will still need additional funding bills to resume significant offensive operations and retake lost territory in the future."
Deeper reading Ukraine on Brink of Losing Key Strongholds Before Western Aid Arrives
North Korea Activates 'Nuclear Trigger' System in Counterattack Drill
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un led a tactical drill on Monday to simulate a nuclear counterattack, the country's state media said on Tuesday, a day after neighboring militaries reported the launch of multiple ballistic missiles off the Korean Peninsula's eastern waters.
Why it matters: The official Korean Central News Agency blamed sky-high tensions on the peninsula on the "extreme war fever" of the United States and its ally South Korea, which are in the middle of their own combined air drill. The show of force was "a clear warning signal to the enemies as it was conducted at a time when the enemies' military confrontation racket against the DPRK is being committed with extremely provocative and aggressive nature."
Read more in-depth coverage:
Map Tracks North Korean Ballistic Missiles in the Sea of Japan
The Missiles That Could Give US Ally the Edge Over China
Kim's North Korea Test New 'Super-Large Warhead' for Nuclear Missile
TL/DR: Kim Jong Un reportedly lauded the precision of the weapons system, likening it to "the firing of a sniper's rifle."
What happens now? North Korea watchers believe Kim intends to ramp up the frequency of military drills in the coming months to extract sanctions concessions from the U.S. in a significant presidential election year.
Deeper reading North Korea Activates 'Nuclear Trigger' System in Counterattack Drill
Poll Seeks to Unravel Why Gen Z Appears More Anti-Israel Than Others
A recent poll reveals a generational divide on Israel's actions against Hamas, with many in Gen Z viewing Israel as the oppressor due to its greater power. The poll's release —commissioned by Summit Ministries and conducted by Scott Rasmussen's RMG Research—coincides with anti-Israel protests nationwide, most notably at Columbia University.
Why it matters: The poll found that only 42 percent of those aged 18-24 don't believe Israel's wealth and power make their campaign unjust. The poll also indicated that 61 percent of Gen Z voters believe that Hamas is a terrorist group. This shift in perspective among young Americans could reshape discussions on foreign policy and education's role in shaping political views, emphasizing the impact of academic narratives on student beliefs.
Read more in-depth coverage:
Jewish Student Says Pro-Palestinian Protesters Have Joined 'Nazi Party'
Columbia Protest and Antisemitism Allegations—What We Know, What We Don't
Jewish Students Told to Leave Columbia After Passover Warning
TL/DR: "Gen Z is so embarrassed about being American that a large swath of them have become terrorist sympathizers," said Dr. Jeff Myers, president of Summit Ministries.
What happens now? The poll results dovetail with complaints among conservatives that elite universities focus too much on the oppressed-oppressor narrative, whereby the latter is boiled down to the group that has more wealth and might. As university protests continue, administrations face challenges in managing campus safety and free speech. The debate over educational influence on political views will likely intensify.
Deeper reading Poll Seeks to Unravel Why Gen Z Appears More Anti-Israel Than Others
Roman Emperor's Death Site May Have Finally Been Discovered
Archaeologists say they may have discovered the death site of the Roman Empire's founder in southern Italy.
Excavations carried out by researchers from the University of Tokyo at the northern foot of Mount Vesuvius have uncovered part of a building that they believe was used by Augustus, Rome's first emperor, who ruled from 27 B.C. until his death A.D. 14 at the age of 75.
Historical sources indicate that Augustus died in a villa on the north side of Vesuvius—and that this building subsequently served as a memorial site in his honor. But the location of the villa has yet to be conclusively identified.
