Ebola Vaccine Trial, Mamdani Sweep, & American Flag Quiz

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Adam Rogers
June 25, 2026

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The US is providing doses of an experimental Ebola treatment for use in clinical trials in the Democratic Republic of Congo, marking a shift from its previous policy of reserving the drug for Americans exposed to the virus.
Ebola is a severe viral hemorrhagic fever that can cause internal bleeding, organ failure, and death. The treatment, known as MBP134, will be tested against the Bundibugyo strain of the virus. The outbreak has infected more than 1,000 people and killed more than 250 in Congo, where no approved vaccines or treatments exist for that strain.
Health officials are racing to launch trials in the coming weeks as the outbreak has already become the third-largest Ebola outbreak on record and could spread further without an effective treatment.

New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani scored a major political victory this week as all three of his endorsed congressional candidates won Democratic primaries, including two races that ousted incumbent members of Congress.
The victories come just months after Mamdani's upset mayoral win and suggest the democratic socialist movement continues to gain political influence. Mamdani now appears positioned to play a larger role in shaping the state's Democratic politics.
Mamdani-backed candidates defeated Reps. Dan Goldman and Adriano Espaillat in New York City's 10th and 13th districts, while state Assemblywoman Claire Valdez also advanced to November's general election in the 7th District.

The Justice Department charged 455 people in a nationwide healthcare fraud crackdown, alleging more than $6.5 billion in false claims submitted to government and private insurers.
Among the largest cases was an $89 million scheme in which prosecutors say a Florida heart doctor billed insurers for unnecessary cardiovascular screenings on college athletes and falsely certified test results without reviewing them.
Prosecutors say the scheme went beyond fraudulent billing. In one case, a teenage athlete with a significantly enlarged heart was allegedly cleared to compete after abnormal test results were falsely certified as normal. He later died on a basketball court while playing.

President Trump postponed signing a bipartisan housing bill after demanding Congress first approve the SAVE America Act, linking housing reform to his push for stricter election rules. (More)

Federal prosecutors charged a former top aide to Eric Adams with bribery and fraud, alleging he accepted payments to help secure a migrant shelter contract. (More)

The Texas girls' camp devastated by last year's deadly flooding filed for bankruptcy, citing more than $10 million in debt as lawsuits and investigations continue. (More)

Australia's spy agency said Iran's Revolutionary Guard used two former Australian residents to direct arson attacks on Jewish targets. (More)

US Central Command said a recent airstrike in Syria killed a senior Islamic State leader, part of ongoing efforts to dismantle ISIS and prevent future terrorist attacks. (More)

The International Maritime Organization will begin evacuating thousands of sailors stranded for months by the Strait of Hormuz crisis following a US-Iran agreement to pursue peace. (More)

US stock markets closed mixed on Wednesday (S&P -0.10%, Nasdaq -0.43%, Dow +0.40%) as chip sell-offs continued to weigh on tech-heavy indexes. (More)

Toyota is gaining ground on GM in US vehicle sales as hybrid demand surges and electric vehicle growth slows. (More)

Wendy's stock jumped more than 40% as retail traders piled into the heavily shorted fast-food chain, fueling a meme-stock rally largely detached from company fundamentals. (More)

The NCAA approved its biggest eligibility overhaul in decades, replacing redshirts with a five-year eligibility window tied to high school graduation or an athlete's 19th birthday. (More)

Austin Reaves agreed to a four-year, $185 million extension with the Lakers, becoming the highest-paid undrafted player in NBA history. (More)

The IOC announced a $140 million athlete grant program through the 2028 Olympics, offering direct financial support after competition while stopping short of paying medal-based prize money. (More)

A study found younger generations appear biologically older than earlier cohorts at the same age, a trend researchers say may help explain rising rates of some cancers. (More)

Scientists confirmed a meteorite impact at Western Australia's North Pole Dome occurred 3 billion years ago, making it Earth's oldest known impact crater. (More)

A hydrothermal explosion at Yellowstone's Biscuit Basin created new vents and a boiling pool. (More)

Visitor wins $10M on a $5 slot play in Las Vegas.

Test your knowledge of the American flag.

Why does white milk turn into yellow butter?

Martha’s Vineyard is screening “Jaws” in the water where it was filmed.

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