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TL/DR: The move comes just days after the president paused delivery on a shipment of bombs to Israel over concerns about the continuing attack on Gaza resulting in a heavy civilian death toll.
President Joe Biden has reportedly informed congressional lawmakers that he intends to send Israel a military aid package worth more than $1 billion. The move comes just days after the president paused delivery on a shipment of bombs to Israel over concerns about the continuing attack on Gaza resulting in a heavy civilian death toll.
Why it matters: Despite international outcry over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and increasing tensions among Democrats over U.S. support for Israel, Biden signed into law last month $14 billion in Israeli military aid as part of a larger $95 billion national security package. The Associated Press reported on Tuesday night that the White House is planning to send Israel a fresh shipment of mortar rounds, tank ammunition, and tactical vehicles, citing three congressional aides who spoke on the condition of anonymity.
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Army Major Resigns Over Biden's Response to Israel
What happens now? As the White House has yet to officially confirm the reported transfer of new weapons, the timeline for when Israel might receive the new weapons is unclear.
TL/DR: The results in Maryland and Nebraska continue the trend of Haley still receiving sizable votes in the GOP primary despite dropping out of the race in March in the wake of Super Tuesday.
Donald Trump continues to see possible warning signs for his White House bid as significant numbers of people are still voting against him in the GOP primary.
Why it matters: On Tuesday, the presumptive 2024 Republican candidate continued his domination in the primaries with resounding victories in Maryland, Nebraska, and West Virginia, winning 80 percent, 79.6 percent, and 88.4 percent of the votes in the respective states. While Trump easily secured the GOP presidential nomination, there have been signs that the former president is struggling to fully win over Republicans beyond his MAGA base as waves of voters continue to support Nikki Haley.
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Donald Trump Critic Handed Election Win
What happens now? The GOP Kentucky caucus and Oregon primary will be held on May 21. The Republican National Convention, where Trump will be confirmed as the 2024 nominee, will occur in Milwaukee in July.
TL/DR: "Robert Kennedy, Jr. is going to impact the race, but how he will impact it is tough to predict," David B. Cohen, a professor of political science at the University of Akron, told Newsweek.
With six months until the 2204 election, questions remain about how much of an impact independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will have on the outcome.
Why it matters: Kennedy, who began his White House bid challenging President Joe Biden in the Democratic primary before changing to an independent, is considered a longshot presidential candidate. Polls frequently suggest he is hovering around 10 percent in support. Kennedy has the family name of a Democratic dynasty, combined with a long history of environmental activism. However, polls are split on whether Kennedy's White House run is more likely to damage Trump's or Biden's campaigns.
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RFK Jr. Gets Boost in Ballot Fight
What happens now? Predicting Kennedy's role in the 2024 election is difficult when considering who will vote for him.
TL/DR: The U.S. has for decades observed a "one China principle" in which it acknowledges—but does not necessarily agree with—Beijing's claim that it represents Taiwan and China.
China has issued a strong protest and an ominous warning after news broke Tuesday that the U.S. and Taiwan navies had recently conducted joint drills in secret.
Why it matters: Washington is Taipei's main armed supplier. However, the two sides maintain a low profile when it comes to military cooperation and training to avoid a spike in tensions with the People's Republic of China, which considers Taiwan its territory despite never having governed there. According to the sources, the secret drills included "basic" actions like refueling and communications and took place in secret at some point last month. China urges the U.S. to cease military ties with Taiwan and adhere to the one-China principle.
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US Ally Intercepts Chinese Naval Vessels
What happens now? In light of China's threats and increasing military activities in nearby waters, Taiwan has doubled down on defense by raising its military budget, increasing compulsory military service to one year, and building out indigenous weapons programs while continuing major purchases from Washington.
TL/DR: As the number of births declines year-on-year, many childless Americans are not planning to have any children.
The issue of falling birthrates in the U.S. doesn't seem to bother a large chunk of America's population, polling conducted for Newsweek by Redfield & Wilton Strategies found, with 42% saying they are "not at all concerned."
Why it matters: The CDC says the general fertility rate has reached a historic low after decreasing almost yearly since 2014. Fewer than 3.6 million babies were born in the U.S. in 2023, the lowest annual tally since 1979. Neal Shah, founder and CEO of health-tech startup CareYaya, told Newsweek that the lack of desire to have children is due to various factors, saying, "2024 is a tough time to be a young adult."
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America's Population Time Bomb
What happens now? Experts have previously told Newsweek that combined with America's aging population, a substantial economic and societal shift is likely on the horizon as the general population ages.
I Thought They Cremated My Son. Four Years Later, the FBI Called
My son David Jaxon Page was 20 years old when he was killed during an officer-involved shooting while in mental health crisis.
It was September 2019. We used the Return To Nature Funeral Home in Colorado Springs to cremate him because that's the brochure we were given when the police came to do the official notification and interrogation.
A few days later, I asked if I could identify my son, particularly given the circumstances of his death. Return To Nature said I couldn't because they had already cremated him.
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