Good Morning! Today’s edition is 1,121 words, a 4-minute read.

What’s on tap: 

• Introducing the woolly mouse

• Japan battles largest wildfire in decades

• Chowder the skateboarding bulldog

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Big Story

US Gunmakers vs. Mexico

The Supreme Court on Tuesday seemed likely to side with US gunmakers that Mexico can’t hold them liable for violence caused by Mexican drug cartels using their firearms.

• Mexico has sued several US gun manufacturers, claiming they deliberately design, market, and distribute weapons in ways that profit from illegal trafficking into Mexico. The gun companies deny these accusations and argue that a 2005 federal law, the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act, shields them from liability when their products are used in crimes.

• Mexico's attorneys likened gunmakers to a beer company targeting high schools with "prom" cans, claiming they supply distributors that know the guns will end up in the wrong hands. Gun industry lawyers argued the connection between manufacturing and harm is too distant, comparing it to blaming Budweiser for all underage drunk driving accidents.

• Several justices doubted Mexico's case. Alito questioned if Mexico would accept being sued by US states for drug costs. Sotomayor emphasized that "mere knowledge is not enough" without specific actions to "aid and abet." Kavanaugh expressed concern that Mexico's argument could expand liability for manufacturers of other dangerous products.

• A decision is expected by the end of June.

Big Story

Woolly Mice

Scientists at Colossal Biosciences have created genetically engineered mice with extra long, thick fur similar to woolly mammoths.

• The company revealed images and video of these "woolly mice" on March 4. CEO Ben Lamm admitted they were surprised by how cute the mice turned out. The experiment is a significant step in Colossal's larger goal to bring back woolly mammoths by 2028.

• The researchers modified seven genes in the mice - six related to fur texture, length, and color. They didn't insert mammoth genes directly into the mice. Instead, they looked for similar mouse genes and edited them. For example, they turned off a gene that limits hair length, resulting in fur three times longer than normal laboratory mice. They also added mutations to create wavier fur, similar to woolly mammoths.

• Despite this breakthrough, the scientists still need to test whether these mice can tolerate colder temps better than normal mice. More importantly, applying similar techniques to elephants (close relatives of mammoths) will be much more difficult. Elephants naturally have sparse hair, so creating a woolly elephant would require additional complex genetic modifications to increase hair density.

Big Story

Uber Robotaxis

Uber launched a self-driving car service in Austin, Texas through a partnership with robotaxi company Waymo.

• While Uber will continue offering rides with human drivers, the autonomous vehicle option offers another selling point that could entice curious tech enthusiasts. The partnership will expand to Atlanta later this year.

• Passengers using Uber's app in Austin won't be guaranteed a self-driving car, but they can increase their chances by turning on the autonomous vehicle preference in their settings. When Uber assigns a Waymo robotaxi, the app will notify users that their ride will be in a self-driving car and offer the option to switch to a human driver instead.

• Waymo has made rapid progress in its five years of operation—it now averages 200,000 paid rides weekly, up from about 10,000 two years ago. After expanding to Austin and Atlanta via the Uber partnership, Waymo plans to offer rides in Miami next year through its own app, joining its existing direct-service markets in Phoenix, San Francisco, and L.A.

• Unlike competitor Cruise (owned by General Motors), which had its California license suspended after multiple safety incidents, Waymo has avoided major accidents that might concern regulators.

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Quick Stories

US News

• During Trump's first address to Congress, Rep. Al Green was removed for heckling about the election results. Other Democrats protested by wearing "Resist" shirts, walking out, or holding "False" signs. (More)

• Education Secretary Linda McMahon announced plans to dismantle the Education Department, fulfilling Trump's goal to return education control to states. It will offload some programs to other agencies. (More)

• Thirty Los Angeles detention officers face charges for allegedly allowing and encouraging 69 "gladiator fights" between youth inmates aged 12-18 at Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall in 2023. (More)

World

• Japan's largest wildfire in decades continues to spread in Ofunato, likely caused by dry winter conditions and strong winds. It has damaged 84 homes and displaced over 3,200 people with one potential fatality. (More)

• The State Department reinstated the "foreign terrorist organization" designation for Yemen's Houthi group. Secretary Rubio cited their hundreds of attacks on vessels and US service members since 2023 as justification. (More)

• European Commission President von der Leyen announced "ReArm Europe," an €800 billion plan to boost Europe's defense industry, following Trump's suspension of Ukraine military aid and his clash with Zelenskyy. (More)

Business & Economy

• US stock markets closed lower on Tuesday (S&P -1.22%, Nasdaq -0.35%, Dow -1.55%). With Tuesday’s losses, the S&P now trades below where it finished on Election Day in November. (More)

• Southwest Airlines will close crew bases at Florida's Fort Lauderdale and Austin, Texas airports on July 1 as part of cost-cutting measures that included the company's first-ever mass layoffs. (More)

• Bitcoin fell below $85,000 after tariff concerns triggered a sell-off. Currently trading at $82,548, it's down from its peak by 23%, while Ether hit a 16-month low of $2,000. (More)

Sports & Entertainment

• Dallas Mavericks’ guard Kyrie Irving tore the ACL in his left knee during Monday's game against the Kings. He will miss the rest of the season. (More)

• The Eagles gave Saquon Barkley a record-breaking $41.2 million two-year extension, making him the NFL's highest-paid running back ever. (More)

• LeBron James made NBA history by becoming the first player to reach 50,000 combined regular season and postseason points. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar ranks second with 44,149 points over his 20-season career. (More)

Science, Health, & Tech

• The world's largest iceberg, twice the size of London, has run aground near South Georgia island. It threatens fishing and some penguins, but its melting could release nutrients that boost ocean life. (More)

• Consumer devices like iPhones and Apple Watches can effectively track cognitive health without supervision, according to a large study published in Nature Medicine. (More)

• While other AI companies have loosened political response restrictions, Google's Gemini chatbot still refuses to discuss political topics, unlike competitors Claude, Meta AI, and ChatGPT. (More)

Extra Credit

🐟️ Giant goldfish found in Pennsylvania waterway.

☁️ Different cloud types and what they mean.

🥩 Texas lt. gov wants to rename NY strip steak to Texas strip.

🛹 Watch: Chowder, the skateboarding bulldog.