The Bulletin

• Mahmoud Khalil faces major blow: A federal immigration judge in Louisiana ruled Friday that Columbia University graduate student Mahmoud Khalil's deportation case can move forward. Find out more.

• Trump and Musk assassination threats: Federal authorities have charged a man with making online threats to assassinate President Donald Trump and tech billionaire Elon Musk. Here's what we know.

• Trump hit by legal setback: The Trump administration suffered a blow on Friday after a judge issued a temporary injunction preventing it from slashing Maine's federal school lunch funding in a bid to force the state to ban transgender students from competing in girls' sports.

• Menendez brothers' resentencing: A judge on Friday ruled that Erik and Lyle Menendez's resentencing hearings can proceed, despite opposition from the Los Angeles County district attorney.

• Does SAVE Act stop married women from voting? The Safeguarding American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act will require all people registering to vote to bring proof of citizenship in person to a voter registration site. Find out how it will impact married women.

• DOJ arrests Democratic lawmaker: Massachusetts state Representative Christopher Flanagan, a Democrat for the First Barnstable District, was indicted by the Department of Justice in an alleged fraud and cover-up scheme. Here's what to know about the case.

• Marjorie Taylor Greene faces probe: Democrats are calling for an investigation into Marjorie Taylor Greene's purchase of stocks during the recent market dip. Find out why she is under the scanner.

The rundown: President Donald Trump has seen his approval rating steadily decline in his second term. Newsweek breaks down the numbers behind Trump's polling decline.

Why it matters: The president began his second White House term more popular than ever. Polling by Quantus Insights from January showed that Trump's approval rating stood at 54 percent in the days following his inauguration. Since then, the approval rating has steadily been on the decline, with 50 percent now saying they disapprove and 47 percent approving, according to a Quantus poll. The ratings signal that Trump's honeymoon period could be over. Despite Trump's partial pause, the tariffs have driven fears of a potential recession, which has taken a hit on the president's approval ratings. Thomas Gift, an associate professor of political science and director of the Centre on U.S. Politics at University College London, told Newsweek that Trump's handling of the tariff situation has alienated many voters

Read more in-depth coverage:
Donald Trump Suffers Quadruple Approval Rating Blow

TL/DR: The trend comes as Trump has struggled in the polls on the economy, once a strong topic for the president.

What happens now? Polls have shown negative sentiment around Trump's handling of the economy grow. The latest Harris X poll revealed a sharp decline in public support for Trump's handling of the economy and inflation.

Deeper reading How Donald Trump's Approval Rating Has Sunk, in Charts

The rundown: Texas Governor Greg Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton were spreading "hateful misinformation" regarding proposals for a new Islamic themed settlement in the state, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the largest Muslim advocacy group in the United States, told Newsweek. Here's what prompted the conflict.

Why it matters: The East Plano Islamic Center (EPIC) announced that it wants to build a new Muslim-themed town, dubbed "EPIC City," on a 402-acre piece of land covering parts of Collin and Hunt counties. However, the project is being fiercely opposed by Abbott, who in February responded to the proposals on X, formerly Twitter, writing: "Sharia law is not allowed in Texas." In March, Abbott said the proposed settlement had "serious legal issues" and was being investigated by "a dozen state agencies" along with the Texas attorney general. In a statement provided to Newsweek, Andrew Mahaleris, Abbott's press secretary, said: "CAIR is an antisemitic hate group whose leaders openly praised Hamas ruthlessly killing innocent Israelis during the October 7 massacre."

Read more in-depth coverage:
Greg Abbott Issues Warning Over New Texas City

TL/DR: East Plano Islamic Center resident scholar Yasir Qadhi: "EPIC City is going to be a role model community of thousands of Muslims living well-integrated.”

What happens now? The EPIC City project remains in the preliminary stage and a formal planning application has not been submitted. It is unclear what impact the stringent opposition from prominent Texan Republicans will have on the plan.

Deeper reading Muslim Group Accuses Greg Abbott of 'Abusing Power' Over New Texas City

The rundown: The vast majority of Americans are concerned about the prospect of losing their job this year, a new survey found. Find out who can be impacted.

Why it matters: According to the survey of 1,115 workers by My Perfect Resume, 81 percent fear job loss this year, with 20 percent feeling "much more worried" about finding themselves unemployed in 2025 than they did in 2024. In fact, 76 percent of workers predict an increase in layoffs this year, while an overwhelming 92 percent are bracing for a possible recession. U.S.-based employers announced 275,240 job cuts in March—more than five years ago when the coronavirus pandemic hit, according to a report from job placement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas. Over the past two months, 280,253 layoffs across 27 agencies have been attributed to the Department of Government Efficiency. Patrice Williams Lindo, CEO at Career Nomad, said that workers are not being "dramatic" with their worries. Instead, they're "paying attention."

Read more in-depth coverage:
Fired Federal Workers Flood 'Brutally Competitive' Job Market

TL/DR: The report underscores a workforce increasingly hesitant to make career moves, driven by concerns over layoffs and economic downturns.

What happens now? Adriana L. Cowdin, entrepreneur and coach at Be Bold Executive Coaching, told Newsweek that while the job market currently inspires fear, it could still be "a temporary wave that stabilizes later in the year."

Deeper reading Americans Brace for Summer of Layoffs

The rundown: A highly anticipated rare earth minerals deal between the United States and Ukraine is in jeopardy as talks between the two countries have grown increasingly "antagonistic," Reuters reported. Find out what's the bone of contention.

Why it matters: Negotiations over the minerals deal have been marred by disagreements over the parameters of the deal, the scope of the U.S.'s demands and Ukraine's insistence that it will not sign an agreement that doesn't include security guarantees or bars it from seeking membership in the European Union. American and Ukrainian officials met on Friday to discuss the deal but that the chances of reaching one are slim given tension surrounding the talks. The tensions stem from the fact that the Trump administration's latest draft of the agreement is more far-reaching and expansive than the original proposal. It also does not include any U.S. security guarantees for Kyiv, which is a key sticking point for Ukraine.

Read more in-depth coverage:
Trump Envoy's Russia Trips: What We Know

TL/DR: Trump, for his part, has said the deal should help recoup the U.S. the billions of dollars in military assistance it has provided Ukraine in its fight against Russia.

What happens now? The U.S. and Ukraine will continue hammering out the details of a minerals agreement.

Deeper reading US-Ukraine Minerals Deal in Peril as Talks Grow 'Antagonistic'

The rundown: Proponents of school voucher programs tout them as a way to give students, access to a better education. However, a new report—Public Dollars for Private Schools: The State of Vouchers in 2025—delves into how voucher programs favor the privileged over students from lower-income households and how they threaten public education. Here's what you need to know.

Why it matters: According to the report, in some states with voucher programs, the cost of tuition at top-rated private schools far exceed the amount a voucher provides. "This gap creates a barrier for families with lower incomes to utilize the voucher for accredited, quality schools charging higher tuition," the report notes. The analysis also says the diversion of taxpayer dollars away from public schools has led to schools being shut down, teachers being laid off and the loss of other resources like extracurricular activities. There are also fears that Trump's dismantling of the Department of Education would lead to public schools—which the vast majority of students attend—being stripped of much-needed resources.

Read more in-depth coverage:
Map Shows US States With Private School Choice

TL/DR: There is evidence that voucher programs are largely being used toward tuition costs for students from wealthier families who were already in private school.

What happens now? Brian Jodice, national press secretary of the American Federation for Children, a school choice advocacy organization, told Newsweek that school choice is "about more than elite private schools" and academic outcomes are "excellent at schools far beyond that narrow cohort."

Deeper reading School Vouchers Promise Better Education—This Report Raises Doubts