Good Morning! Today’s edition is 873 words, a 3-minute read.

What’s on tap: 

• Iran Meddles in U.S. Election

• Shohei Ohtani has a 50-50 Season.

• Florida Snake Hunter Wins Comp with 20 Pythons.

First-time reader? Sign up here!

Big Story

New Analysis Might Link COVID Origin to Animals

Scientists are investigating which animals might have helped spread COVID-19 to humans.

• Their research points to raccoon dogs, civet cats, and bamboo rats as likely suspects. Genetic material from these animals was found at the Wuhan market, where the first outbreak was detected. Researchers think the virus might have spread to people when infected animals were brought to the market in late 2019.

• The research supports the idea that COVID-19 came from animals rather than a lab. Scientists used genetic data from 800 samples collected at the Wuhan market in January 2020. They identified animals that could have been carrying the virus. One researcher said that raccoon dogs found at the market belonged to a sub-species common in southern China, which might help track where the animals came from.

• Although this study leans toward an animal origin for COVID-19, it doesn’t fully settle the debate. Some still argue the virus could have leaked from a lab. The World Health Organization initially said a lab leak was unlikely, but later acknowledged it couldn't be ruled out.

• Despite new evidence, scientists say they may never know exactly how the virus started spreading among humans.

Big Story

Man Arrested for Supreme Court Assassination Threats

A 76-year-old Alaska man named Panos Anastasiou was arrested for threatening to kill six Supreme Court justices and harm two of their family members.

• He sent over 465 violent messages to the court, using racist and homophobic language. The Justice Department charged him with making threats against federal judges and using interstate communications to threaten harm. He pleaded not guilty in court.

• Anastasiou’s messages included threats to assassinate, kidnap, and torture the justices. He also encouraged others to join him. In one message, he threatened to hang a justice alongside former President Donald Trump. The FBI began investigating after the Supreme Court Police flagged his messages as dangerous.

• Anastasiou’s threats came after a previous incident in 2022 when another man was arrested near Justice Brett Kavanaugh's home with a weapon. The court’s conservative majority, especially on politically charged cases, has made it a target for some people.

Big Story

Iran Meddles in U.S. Elections

Iranian hackers reportedly stole information from Donald Trump's election campaign and shared it with the Democratic campaign.

• The emails were sent in mid-2023, though there's no evidence anyone replied. U.S. officials believe Iran wants to cause division and distrust in U.S. institutions before the 2024 election, using tactics like social engineering to target both Democratic and Republican campaigns.

• Trump's team, including spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt, said the hack shows Iran is trying to help Biden and Kamala Harris because they fear Trump's tough sanctions. The Biden-Harris campaign denies receiving any stolen material. Both campaigns condemned foreign interference in the election.

• Amid the hacking news, Trump has faced security threats, including two assassination attempts. The most recent attempt occurred at his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida.

Little Stories

• Fatal drug overdoses in the U.S., which dropped last year for the first time since before the pandemic, are continuing to go down, according to early CDC data. Even though overdoses still kill over 100,000 people a year, the numbers are dropping quickly. In the 12 months ending in April, overdose deaths fell by 10%, a bigger drop than the 3% decline seen between 2022 and 2023. (More)

• Shohei Ohtani hit his 50th home run of the season, making him the first player in major league history to have at least 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in a season. But he didn’t stop there—Ohtani hit three homers and stole two bases in the same game as the Dodgers beat the Miami Marlins 20-4 and secured a playoff spot. (More)

• The Senate passed an emergency bill to give $3 billion to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to ensure veterans still get their benefits next month. The bill has bipartisan support and passed with a voice vote. It will now go to the White House for approval. (More)

• U.S. stocks surged, with the Dow Jones closing above 42,000 for the first time after the Fed’s 50 bps cut. Investors are optimistic that the big interest rate cut will help the economy avoid a major downturn. The S&P 500 rose 1.7%, the Dow gained 1.2%, and the Nasdaq went up 2.5%. (More)

• The European Union will provide billions of euros to help central Europe recover from terrible floods, according to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. The floods, the worst in at least 20 years, have caused major damage across countries like Romania and Poland. At least 24 people have died, and the flooding has destroyed bridges, submerged cars, and left towns covered in mud and debris. (More)

Extra Credit

🐍 Woman rescued after being in python’s grip for two hours.

🐍 …and Florida snake challenge winner removes 20 Burmese pythons.

🚽 Do cutting boards have more bacteria than toilets? 

🪀 This year’s National Toy Hall of Fame finalists.