Good Morning! Today’s edition is 1,006 words, a 4-minute read.

What’s on tap: 

• Parasite problems halt livestock imports

• Red flag warnings in the Midwest

• Does exercising slow down time

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Big Stories

US-China Trade Deal

The United States and China agreed to cut tariffs for 90 days, with both sides reducing reciprocal tariffs by 115% down to 10%.

• Following weekend negotiations in Switzerland, Treasury Secretary Bessent announced that the US will reduce its tariffs to 30% and China will drop its duties to 10% during the pause. While both nations cut their rates by 115%, America's final percentage remains higher due to anti-fentanyl duties that stay in effect throughout the agreement period.

• The 90-day pause begins Wednesday, with both countries committing to continue discussions on economic and trade policy, including potential meetings in each nation or neutral locations.

• Both nations stated the goal of creating a "sustainable, long-term, and mutually beneficial economic and trade relationship" while working to address the US goods trade deficit with China, which stood at $295.4 billion in 2024.

Parasite Problems

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins shut down all livestock imports through the Mexican border after flesh-eating parasites were detected just 700 miles away.

• America eradicated the parasite nearly 60 years ago, but its northward spread in Mexico now threatens the $175 billion US cattle industry.

• The screwworm is actually a fly whose larvae burrow into livestock wounds, literally eating the animals alive. The last US outbreak took 30 years to control, prompting Rollins to call the current threat a "national security issue."

• This isn't the first recent scare – livestock imports were briefly halted in November after Mexico detected an infected cow near Guatemala. Trade resumed in February after the US ramped up its sterile fly program, which releases infertile males to crash the parasite population.

• Mexican officials call the ban unnecessary and say existing protocols already ensure imported cattle are screwworm-free. However, the suspension will continue month-by-month until surveillance shows the threat is contained.

Mayor of Jail Davao City

Former Philippines president Rodrigo Duterte has been re-elected as mayor of Davao City despite being imprisoned in The Hague since March.

• He's facing crimes against humanity charges for his deadly "war on drugs" that killed thousands during his presidency.

• The election victory reflects Duterte's enduring popularity in his family's hometown stronghold, where supporters held massive rallies demanding his return. His son Sebastian appears set to win the vice-mayor race, likely assuming mayoral duties while his father remains jailed in the Netherlands.

• The results come amid a fierce power struggle between the Duterte and Marcos families. Duterte's daughter, Sara, the impeached vice-president who faces corruption charges and threats against President Marcos Jr., saw mixed results for her allies in senate races, with opposition candidates performing better than expected.

• The senate elections matter because Sara Duterte needs allies there to avoid conviction in her impeachment trial. If found guilty by a two-thirds vote, she'd be barred from office, killing her 2028 presidential ambitions.

Quick Stories

US News

• Nine million Midwest residents face red flag warnings, with Minnesota already battling an out-of-control wildfire. Record temps, 45mph winds, and dry conditions are driving the warnings. (More)

• President Trump signed an executive order Monday to potentially lower drug costs, reviving a failed first-term idea. It would tie Medicare medication prices to the lowest prices other countries pay. (More)

• California Gov. Newsom wants cities to ban homeless camps from sidewalks and parks. He's releasing a model ordinance and $3.3 billion in funding to help communities build housing and treatment options for homeless residents. (More)

World

• Workers just found old Nazi documents in Argentina's Supreme Court basement. They came from Germany's Tokyo embassy in 1941 on a Japanese ship. Argentine customs had seized them after finding Nazi propaganda inside diplomatic pouches. (More)

• The Kurdish group PKK just announced they're disbanding and disarming, ending 40 years of fighting with Turkey. Their jailed leader Öcalan called for this in February. (More)

• PM Keir Starmer promises UK net migration will drop significantly over four years. New rules ban overseas care worker recruitment, tighten skilled worker visas, and cost employers more. (More)

Business & Economy

• US stock markets closed higher on Monday (S&P +3.26%, Nasdaq +4.35%, Dow +2.81%). The US-China trade deal boosted stocks to their best day since April 9. (More)

• McDonald's announced Monday that it's hiring 375,000 summer workers. As one of America's largest private employers, they claim that 1 in 8 Americans has worked there at some point. (More)

• NRG Energy is buying LS Power's generation assets for $12 billion, betting on booming electricity demand. Their stock jumped 17% on the news. (More)

Sports & Entertainment

• The Dallas Mavericks won the NBA Draft lottery despite having just a 1.8% chance. They'll likely pick Duke's Cooper Flagg first overall. San Antonio gets the second pick, followed by Philly, Charlotte, and Utah. (More)

• Michael Jordan is joining NBC as a special contributor to its NBA coverage for the 2025-2026 season. NBC hasn’t broadcast NBA games for 23 seasons. (More)

• The Cowboys will head to Philadelphia for the first game of the 2025 NFL season on Sept. 4. (More) Fox is launching Fox One streaming before the NFL season this year. Pricing will be announced later, but cable subscribers get free access to the new service. (More)

Science, Health, & Tech

• New EV startup Slate Auto just hit 100,000 reservations for its customizable electric pickup truck two weeks after unveiling it. The truck will cost under $20k after tax credits. (More)

• New research shows Antarctica hides massive mountain ranges beneath its ice, including the buried Gamburtsev range that's as big as the European Alps. (More)

• Three Dutch scientists calculated that Hawking radiation means the universe is decaying way faster than expected. The last star remnants will disappear in about 10^78 years rather than the previously thought 10^1100 years. (More)

Extra Credit

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