A man who was adopted searched for his birth parents with the help of a court-appointed worker. His birth mother gave some information but refused to reveal his father's name. Later, he contacted a man named Roger, also listed as a possible father, who believed he was the father and welcomed contact.
Key Facts
The man grew up in a loving adoptive family but faced challenges after his adoptive mother’s illness and father’s death.
In 1995, his birth mother agreed to one anonymous phone call but did not reveal her or his father’s name.
His caseworker found two men named as possible birth fathers because his birth mother had lied during the adoption process.
The man contacted the second possible father, Roger, who believed he was the father and shared personal details.
Roger had been told by the birth mother about a pregnancy but later was told it was not true and they separated.
Roger welcomed the relationship, introduced the man to his family, and wanted to build a bond after years apart.
The man’s search was complicated by his birth mother’s initial secrecy and conflicting information.
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Rotavirus cases have increased across the US recently, especially affecting young children. The virus causes severe diarrhea and vomiting, which can lead to dehydration and require hospitalization. The CDC recommends vaccination as the best way to protect children.
Key Facts
Positive rotavirus tests rose from about 6% to just over 7% recently.
Rotavirus mainly infects children under 5 but can also affect older people with weak immune systems.
Symptoms include watery diarrhea, vomiting, fever, stomach pain, and signs of dehydration.
The virus spreads through contact with stool-contaminated hands, surfaces, or food.
Handwashing helps reduce spread but does not fully stop it.
The rotavirus vaccine protects 85-98% against severe illness and hospitalization.
Each year in the US, rotavirus causes tens of thousands of hospital visits and up to 60 deaths in young children.
Cases usually peak in April and then decline through May and summer.
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Steve Bannon supports the idea of President Donald Trump serving a third term, saying Trump is the true leader of the Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement. President Trump has also mentioned the possibility of running for a third term but says it is too early to decide.
Key Facts
Steve Bannon called for a third term for President Trump at an event in Washington, D.C.
Bannon said Vice President JD Vance is not the main leader of the MAGA movement.
Bannon believes Trump will be president again in 2028 despite the two-term limit in the 22nd Amendment.
President Trump said in March 2025 that many people want him to run for a third term, but it is too early to think about it.
Trump has suggested there could be ways to have a third term, calling it a "constitutional movement."
Earlier this year, Trump said he was “not allowed” to run again but hinted at possible changes.
The White House defended Trump’s time in office and suggested Americans would benefit from him staying longer.
The 22nd Amendment currently limits presidents to two terms in office.
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Since returning to office, President Donald Trump has pardoned many white-collar criminals, forgiving their fines and penalties. This has reduced money going into the Crime Victims Fund, which helps victims of violent crime pay for expenses like medical bills and funeral costs.
Key Facts
The Crime Victims Fund is supported by fines and penalties from federal criminal cases, mostly white-collar crimes.
Money from this fund helps local programs for domestic violence, rape crisis, and child abuse, as well as direct support for victims of gun violence.
President Trump pardoned 117 people in his second term, many before their fines were paid, costing the fund at least $113 million.
The largest single loss was a $100 million fine from HDR Global Trading (BitMEX), which was pardoned hours before payment was due.
Presidential pardons with “remission of fines” (debt forgiveness) are unusual; none in Trump’s first term had this, but a third of pardons in his second term do.
Large corporate fines make up most of the funds for the Crime Victims Fund, and their loss threatens its stability.
Some pardoned individuals never had fines set by courts because they were pardoned before trial.
Criminal fines already deposited cannot be refunded once in the fund, based on a recent court ruling.
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is facing serious leadership and staffing problems 14 months after President Donald Trump appointed Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as health secretary. Around 80% of top CDC director positions are empty, causing delays and lower productivity in important health work. Recently, Trump nominated Erica Schwartz as CDC director to help fix the situation, but her appointment requires Senate approval.
Key Facts
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. became US health secretary about 14 months ago.
About 80% of the CDC’s top director jobs are currently vacant.
Many senior officials have resigned, citing concerns about politicized health decisions.
Nearly 2,400 CDC employees have left or been fired since Kennedy’s appointment.
CDC work has slowed, and data collection on important health issues like infant mortality has been disrupted.
Kennedy’s leadership has included cuts to vaccine programs and questioning vaccine safety despite scientific evidence.
Susan Monarez was the only CDC director confirmed by the Senate under President Trump but was fired by Kennedy after less than a month.
President Trump recently nominated Erica Schwartz, former deputy surgeon general, as CDC director, pending Senate confirmation.
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President Donald Trump will speak at a Turning Point USA event in Arizona to encourage young voters to support Republicans in the upcoming midterm elections. The event aims to increase voter turnout among young people as support for Trump among this group is weakening.
Key Facts
President Trump is the main speaker at a Turning Point USA event in Arizona.
The event is called “Build the Red Wall.”
It will be held at a church in Arizona on Friday.
The goal is to boost Republican voter turnout for the midterm elections.
Support among young voters for President Trump is currently decreasing.
Turning Point USA is a group focused on engaging young conservative voters.
The midterm elections will determine control of Congress.
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Senate Republicans are frustrated because Speaker Mike Johnson has not allowed a Senate-approved bill to fund the Department of Homeland Security to be voted on in the House. They worry the government may soon run out of money to pay federal workers affected by the partial shutdown.
Key Facts
The Senate passed a bill to fund most of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
Speaker Mike Johnson has not brought this bill to the House floor for a vote.
Senate Republicans are losing patience with Speaker Johnson’s decision.
The delay risks the White House running out of money to pay federal workers.
The funding issue is related to a partial government shutdown affecting DHS employees.
Federal workers at DHS may not receive their pay if funding is not approved soon.
The dispute shows tension within the Republican party about handling government funding.
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This article reviews recent events involving various American political and cultural figures, highlighting unexpected outcomes and shifts in their public standings. It notes struggles and successes in politics, law enforcement, sports, and entertainment, along with unusual or surprising moments in these areas.
Key Facts
Vice President JD Vance campaigned for Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who lost by 16 points, and participated in unsuccessful Iran talks.
U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro failed to secure indictments for six Democratic lawmakers and filed to vacate convictions of Proud Boys and Oath Keepers leaders.
Sam Altman, CEO of an AI company, responded to a violent attack connected to AI fears by sharing a family photo and calling for calm.
Fred Ridley, chairman of Augusta National Golf Club, presented the Masters trophy to Rory McIlroy, practicing beforehand as it was his first time doing so.
Pentagon official Pete Hegseth mistakenly read a Pulp Fiction movie quote instead of a biblical scripture during a military prayer service.
The Dallas Wings drafted Azzi Fudd as the first overall pick, highlighting salary differences under new and old contracts compared to teammate Paige Bueckers.
The article revives Newsweek's "Conventional Wisdom" feature, which tracks rising or falling public figures in politics and culture using arrows as a visual guide.
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The article discusses Tucker Carlson’s recent support for Islam and sharia law, contrasting it with the historical conflicts between Christianity and Islam. It argues that the relationship between these two religions has been marked by long periods of conflict and competition, from early Islamic expansions to events like the Crusades and 9/11.
Key Facts
Tucker Carlson has shown support for Islam and sharia law on his show and in public comments.
Carlson has visited many Arab countries, made propaganda films, and considered buying a house in Qatar.
He called Hamas a political group rather than a terrorist one and downplayed attacks by Islamist extremists.
Historically, Christian and Islamic societies have had long and bitter conflicts, including the Crusades.
The Crusades were partly a response to Islamic conquests of Christian and Jewish territories.
The 17th-century Battle of Vienna stopped the Ottoman Empire’s advance into Europe.
Early American history includes conflicts with North African Muslim pirates, known as the Barbary Wars.
The 9/11 attacks were carried out by Islamist extremists using ideas from Islamic texts.
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New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani plans to open a city-run grocery store in East Harlem. Some local store owners and others are concerned that the new store might hurt existing small businesses and doubt if the plan will work well.
Key Facts
Mayor Zohran Mamdani is a member of the Democratic Party and identifies as a democratic socialist.
He announced the grocery store plan during a rally celebrating his first 100 days in office.
The grocery store will be owned and operated by the city government.
The location for the first store is in East Harlem, a neighborhood in New York City.
Local bodegas and supermarkets have pushed back, meaning they are worried about the plan.
Critics question whether the city-run store will be practical and successful.
They also worry it could financially hurt small, local businesses already in the area.
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Caitlyn Jenner, a transgender woman, said she asked President Donald Trump for help after a new passport policy required passports to show sex as male or female based on birth sex. Jenner received a passport with the male marker, which has made it hard for her to travel and vote. She said she wrote to President Trump but did not get a response.
Key Facts
The Trump administration implemented a policy restricting passport sex markers to male or female based on birth sex.
The Supreme Court allowed this policy in an emergency ruling in November 2025.
Caitlyn Jenner’s renewed passport showed a male sex marker despite her documents showing female.
Jenner told commentator Tomi Lahren this policy affects her ability to travel internationally and vote.
Jenner said she asked President Trump for help by writing a letter but has not received a reply.
The policy is part of a broader approach by the Trump administration affecting transgender rights, including healthcare, sports participation, and military service.
Human Rights Watch warns the policy may increase discrimination risks against transgender people.
Legal challenges to the passport policy are ongoing.
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Anthropic's CEO, Dario Amodei, will meet with White House chief of staff Susie Wiles to discuss resolving a dispute between the company and the Pentagon. The meeting aims to find a way for the U.S. government to use Anthropic's advanced AI model, Mythos, despite current restrictions.
Key Facts
Anthropic is an AI company led by CEO Dario Amodei.
The company developed an AI model called Mythos, which is very advanced and can bypass some cybersecurity defenses.
The Pentagon blacklisted Anthropic after Amodei refused to let the AI be used without limits.
Parts of the U.S. government, including intelligence agencies and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), are testing the Mythos model.
The Treasury Department and other agencies want access to the model.
Anthropic is suing the Pentagon over the blacklist.
The meeting with the White House could help restart talks after a legal and political disagreement.
Anthropic has hired consultants connected to President Trump’s circle, which may help in reaching a deal.
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Dr. Jill Biden placed a $35,000 bid during a charity auction to appear in the second season of the TV series *Heated Rivalry*, a show about queer hockey. Though she did not win the role, she supported the LGBT Community Center and shared her experience on social media.
Key Facts
Dr. Jill Biden is a fan of the queer hockey series *Heated Rivalry*.
She bid $35,000 at the NYC LGBT Community Center’s annual fundraiser to appear in the show’s second season.
The auction package sold twice at $125,000 each, so Biden did not get the role.
The show is based on the *Game Changers* book series by Rachel Reid.
Creators Jacob Tierney and Brendan Brady received a Cultural Impact Award at the event.
The second season will adapt Rachel Reid’s novel *The Long Game* and will air on HBO Max in April 2027.
Filming for season two starts this summer with returning and new cast members.
The event also featured honors for Brooks Brothers CEO Ken Ohashi and a performance by Melanie C of the Spice Girls.
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Flags are being flown at half-staff in Kansas and Tennessee on April 17 to honor two emergency service members who died in the line of duty. Governor Laura Kelly of Kansas and Governor Bill Lee of Tennessee issued orders for the tributes, which last from sunrise to sunset.
Key Facts
Kansas flags are half-staff for firefighter and former deputy sheriff Carl “Levi” Evans, who died during training from a medical emergency.
Tennessee flags are half-staff for Deputy Sheriff Landon Faulkner, who died from injuries in a car crash on April 10.
The Kansas order follows Executive Order #20-30 and applies statewide.
The Tennessee order is under the Honoring Hometown Heroes Act and affects the State Capitol and all state office buildings.
Faulkner’s visitation and funeral services are scheduled for April 17 in Dunlap, Tennessee.
Faulkner donated his organs after death to help others.
Faulkner’s family requested donations to a GoFundMe account instead of flowers.
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Congresswoman Lauren Boebert said she would not meet with "King George" when asked about the British monarch's upcoming visit to the U.S. She appeared confused because the current king is Charles III, not King George, and her comment referenced King George III from the American Revolutionary War.
Key Facts
Lauren Boebert is a Republican lawmaker from Colorado and an ally of President Donald Trump.
Boebert refused to meet with "King George" during a brief interview on Capitol Hill.
The reporter and Boebert both incorrectly referred to the current British king as "King George."
The current British monarch is King Charles III, who will make a state visit to the U.S. from April 27 to 30.
King Charles III will address Congress and attend a White House state dinner hosted by President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump.
Boebert’s comments referenced King George III, the king during the American Revolution.
The British royal visit marks the first state visit by a British monarch since Queen Elizabeth II in 2007.
Online reactions to Boebert’s remarks were mixed, with some supporting her stance and others pointing out the confusion.
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The Trump administration is changing how it shares information about immigration enforcement. After negative public reactions to large deportation efforts and flashy media tactics, the White House is now using a more low-key approach while continuing strong immigration enforcement.
Key Facts
The Trump administration is stopping dramatic publicity stunts about immigration enforcement.
Former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem used to appear with agents and promote arrests on social media.
Public opinion dropped due to harsh enforcement actions shown in media.
Chief of Staff Susie Wiles and deputy James Blair are leading the calmer communication approach.
Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller was involved in pushing aggressive tactics previously.
New DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin has focused on other issues like disaster relief instead of immigration media.
ICE deported over 400,000 people in fiscal year 2025 despite the change in messaging.
DHS has increased immigration detention spaces and local law enforcement agreements to support enforcement.
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Eric Swalwell’s campaign made payments totaling about $1,100 to the Cosmopolitan hotel in Las Vegas just before a video showing Swalwell in a hotel room was recorded. A forensic report confirmed the video is authentic and likely filmed at that hotel, but it does not confirm who paid for or used the room.
Key Facts
Swalwell’s campaign paid $1,079.40 to the Cosmopolitan hotel on July 12, 2021.
A video recorded early on July 13, 2021, shows Swalwell kissing a woman in a hotel room.
A forensic expert confirmed the video is genuine and not digitally altered.
The video matches features and layout of rooms at the Cosmopolitan hotel.
The campaign filings list the payment as “travel expenses” with the hotel’s address.
Swalwell suspended his run for California governor and resigned from Congress amid related allegations.
Swalwell declined to comment on the video or allegations.
The hotel is operated by MGM Resorts International, which was contacted for comment.
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The House of Representatives voted to extend Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitians, going against President Donald Trump’s attempt to end it. Meanwhile, President Trump’s immigration policies focus more on reducing legal immigration paths than on stopping illegal border crossings.
Key Facts
The House voted 224-204 to keep TPS for Haitians, with some Republicans joining Democrats.
Lawmakers from districts with many Haitian workers worried about impacts on healthcare and elder care.
President Trump’s immigration policy is reducing legal immigration more than illegal immigration.
The Cato Institute estimates about 72% of the current immigration reduction comes from legal channels.
Refugee admissions were suspended starting January 2025, causing a large drop in arrivals.
The administration plans a $100,000 fee on many new H-1B work visa petitions to reduce abuse.
Rules for foreign student visas are being tightened due to concerns about security and misuse.
The cuts mainly affect family and work visa categories, including immediate relatives of U.S. citizens.
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The U.S. House of Representatives voted on extending a national security surveillance law called Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA). The vote on an 18-month extension failed after some Republicans opposed it, leading to a short-term extension to keep surveillance powers in place while the debate continues.
Key Facts
Section 702 allows U.S. intelligence to monitor foreign targets outside the U.S. without a traditional warrant.
Americans cannot be targeted directly, but their communications can be collected if they contact monitored foreign targets.
The vote on an 18-month extension of Section 702 failed 197 to 228 in the House.
Speaker Mike Johnson first supported a longer five-year extension with changes but faced opposition.
A shorter, no-change (“clean”) 18-month extension also failed initially.
Twenty Republicans voted against moving forward with the 18-month extension.
The disagreement within the Republican Party caused the failure to pass a longer extension.
A temporary extension was passed instead to maintain surveillance powers while lawmakers continue negotiations.
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The IRS launched a new online tool called "Tax Debt Help" to assist individuals and businesses in understanding and resolving unpaid federal tax bills. This tool guides users through possible payment and relief options without requiring personal information.
Key Facts
The Tax Debt Help tool was introduced on April 16 by the IRS.
It helps taxpayers explore payment plans, temporary delays, or debt settlement options called offers in compromise.
Users answer simple questions to see options tailored to their financial situations.
No login or personal details like Social Security numbers are needed to use the tool.
The IRS aims to make tax compliance less confusing and reduce the need for calls or visits.
The tool is part of a larger effort to modernize IRS services and support more digital solutions.
Additional IRS resources remain available for those ready to apply for payment plans or manage their tax accounts.
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