Morning Brief

Here are the stories shaping the day:Former President Joe Biden has been diagnosed with an “aggressive form” of cancer.The House Budget Committee on Sunday approved a motion to advance the bill to enact many of President Donald Trump’s key agenda items, marking one more step toward final passage of the mammoth bill.Federal officials confirmed on May 18 that they are sending a team to investigate the deadly Mexican Navy tall ship crash at the Brooklyn Bridge on Saturday night.On the first day of his reign as pontiff Pope Leo XIV appealed to conservatives who felt disillusioned by his predecessor and vowed to unify the church while preserving its history.🍵Health: Emerging data shows that living with humility greatly benefits both oneself and others, and even leads to exceptional success.—☀️ Get clarity and inspiration with The Epoch Times Morning Brief, our flagship newsletter written by U.S. national editor Ivan Pentchoukov. Sign up here.

Here are the stories shaping the day:The Supreme Court heard arguments on the Trump administration’s request to lift nationwide injunctions placed on the president’s birthright citizenship order. The decision could determine how judges can address presidential actions. Here are the takeaways from the hearing.The Department of Health and Human Services plans to stop recommending routine COVID-19 vaccines for children, teens, and pregnant women.Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill that made the Sunshine State the second to ban fluoride from its drinking water systems.New Jersey rail engineers have threatened to strike on Friday over a salary dispute, potentially halting service to 350,000 riders in the New Jersey and New York area.🔬 Science: Researchers examining mice and plants found tiny amounts of light are being emitted from living specimens as part of their metabolism. The study suggests all lifeforms, including human beings, have a similar “glow” that seems to diminish upon death.—☀️ Get clarity and inspiration with The Epoch Times Morning Brief, our flagship newsletter written by U.S. national editor Ivan Pentchoukov. Sign up here.

Here are the stories shaping the day:President Donald Trump announced more than $243.5 billion in economic deals between the United States and Qatar on Wednesday, including a $96 billion agreement for Boeing to sell up to 210 jets to Qatar Airways.President Trump met with Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa on Wednesday after the president announced that he would lift sanctions on Syria.Drug overdose deaths in the United States dropped sharply in 2024, falling to their lowest level since before the pandemic.We asked the parents of autistic children to weigh in on RFK Jr.’s plan to find the cause. Here’s what they said.🍵 Culture: Why training students’ head, hands, and heart matters.—☀️ Get clarity and inspiration with The Epoch Times Morning Brief, our flagship newsletter written by U.S. national editor Ivan Pentchoukov. Sign up here.

Here are the stories shaping the day:Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan was indicted by a federal grand jury on Tuesday. She was arrested last month and accused of helping an illegal immigrant evade Immigration and Customs Enforcement.President Donald Trump said he will terminate the sanctions against Syria to give the country’s de facto new leaders “a chance at greatness.”An effort in Taiwan to recall politicians seen as selling out the island’s interests to communist China is gaining ground, raising the possibility of a major setback for Beijing’s hopes of subjugating Taiwan by co-opting its government.The German government has banned the Kingdom of Germany group and arrested four of its leaders.🍵 Health: Turmeric lowers blood pressure. Here’s how to get the most out of this superfood.—☀️ Get clarity and inspiration with The Epoch Times Morning Brief, our flagship newsletter written by U.S. national editor Ivan Pentchoukov. Sign up here.

Here are the stories shaping the day:The United States and China reached a 90-day agreement aimed at relieving trade tensions between the two countries.  Here’s what we know about the deal.A total of 1,800 Florida Highway Patrol troopers are the first in the nation to receive federal credentials under an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agreement allowing them to arrest illegal immigrants on their own.President Trump raised the possibility of flying to Turkey later this week to join planned peace talks between Russia and Ukraine.💉U.S. officials are recommending that adults aged 60 and up not receive the only available chikungunya vaccine after reports that older individuals who received the shot suffered severe symptoms typically associated with the chikungunya virus. Two of the patients died.🍵 Health: The Rise and Fall of Synthetic Food Dyes—☀️ Get clarity and inspiration with The Epoch Times Morning Brief, our flagship newsletter written by U.S. national editor Ivan Pentchoukov. Sign up here.

Here are the stories shaping the day:Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy responded to Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday, agreeing to meet him in Turkey on May 15.President Donald Trump said he will sign an executive order on Monday morning to require drug companies to charge the United States the same low price they charge other nations.The Hamas terrorist group said it would release Edan Alexander, the last living American hostage in Gaza, in an effort to establish a cease-fire with Israel and resume aid delivery into the war-torn territory it controls.The United States has taken a major step toward breaking Beijing’s stranglehold on critical minerals by helping broker a cease-fire in the Democratic Republic of Congo.🍵 Health: Magnesium could relieve fibromyalgia and migraines. Here’s how it works.—☀️ Get clarity and inspiration with The Epoch Times Morning Brief, our flagship newsletter written by U.S. national editor Ivan Pentchoukov. Sign up here.

Here are the stories shaping the day:The U.S. and U.K. struck a tentative trade deal.Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost was elected pope on May 8, becoming Pope Leo XIV. Here’s what we know about the first American pope.As China’s ailing economy increasingly faces headwinds, Chinese Communist Party leader Xi Jinping has again called on young Chinese to look for work in the countryside.🍵 Health: Six exercises to strengthen hands and increase functional abilities—☀️ Get clarity and inspiration with The Epoch Times Morning Brief, our flagship newsletter written by U.S. national editor Ivan Pentchoukov. Sign up here.

Here are the stories shaping the day:A federal judge has blocked the Trump administration from deporting illegal immigrants to Libya.The National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services have launched a joint initiative to build a secure, real-world data platform aimed at uncovering the cause of autism spectrum disorder.The election of the Catholic Church’s next pope began Wednesday as 133 cardinals from all over the world took an oath of secrecy and were locked in the Sistine Chapel. Roughly three hours later, black smoke emanated from the chimney atop the Chapel, signaling that the first vote had been cast but had failed to reach the necessary consensus.—☀️ Get clarity and inspiration with The Epoch Times Morning Brief, our flagship newsletter written by U.S. national editor Ivan Pentchoukov. Sign up here.

Here are the stories shaping the day:The Supreme Court allowed the U.S. military to ban troops who identify as transgender, while litigation challenging the prohibition plays out.President Donald Trump hosted Canada’s new prime minister, Mark Carney, at the White House on Tuesday for high-stakes talks focused on trade and security. Here are five takeaways from the meeting.The REAL ID deadline is today. Here’s what you need to know.China’s communist regime began a secret project during President Donald Trump’s first term, That is to weaken the United States through scaling up production of fentanyl precursors, then shipping them to Mexico and Canada for manufacturing and distribution across the border.—☀️ Get clarity and inspiration with The Epoch Times Morning Brief, our flagship newsletter written by U.S. national editor Ivan Pentchoukov. Sign up here.

Here are the stories shaping the day:The House of Representatives passed a bill aimed at ending Beijing’s persecution of the spiritual group Falun Gong.Harvard University will no longer be eligible for government grants, according to a senior White House official.China’s six largest banks have posted first-quarter reports with a significant drop in both earnings and profits.Online scammers have entered the age of AI, using cloned voices to dupe unwitting Americans.—☀️ Get clarity and inspiration with The Epoch Times Morning Brief, our flagship newsletter written by U.S. national editor Ivan Pentchoukov. Sign up here.

Today’s top news:President Donald Trump said he has no plans to reduce tariffs on Chinese goods in order to bring about negotiations.In the same interview, the president shut down speculation about serving a third term and named two best contenders to replace him in 2028.Experts say China’s economy is in a recession and that the U.S. tariffs could trigger a depression.Warren Buffett urged long-term investors not to be shaken by short-term swings and focus on fundamentals amid recent market volatility.—Get clarity and inspiration with The Epoch Times Morning Brief, our flagship newsletter written by U.S. national editor Ivan Pentchoukov. Sign up here.