Good Morning! Today’s edition is 1,050 words, a 4-minute read.

What’s on tap: 

• Parents are increasingly helping adult children financially

• New James Bond film has producers

• How often should you wash your feet

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Big Story

Trump Tightens Voter ID Rules

President Trump signed an executive order requiring stricter voter ID rules nationwide.

• Under the new order, anyone registering to vote must provide proof of US citizenship, such as a passport or a REAL ID. While non-citizens are already barred from voting in federal elections, this order adds extra verification steps. States that don’t comply could lose federal election-related funding.

• In addition to voter ID requirements, the directive also targets mail-in voting which Trump has frequently criticized. It instructs states to reject any absentee ballots received after Election Day, regardless of when they were postmarked. Additionally, Trump ordered federal agencies to share voter registration data to track potential fraud.

• The order could significantly shift election oversight from states to the federal government, but it will likely face legal challenges. Currently, 35 states require voters to present some form of identification at the polls on Election Day. Among these, 24 states mandate photo identification, while 11 accept non-photo IDs. The remaining 15 states do not require ID to vote in person. (See Voter Identification Laws by State)

Big Story

Dino Discovery

Scientists have unearthed a new dinosaur species in Mongolia's Gobi Desert.

• Named Duonychus tsogtbaatari (Greek for "two claws"), this medium-sized creature stood about 10 feet tall and weighed around 260kg. Unlike its three-clawed relatives, the theropod sported just two massive claws on each hand, giving it what researchers describe as "barbecue tong" appendages.

• The fossil included an intact keratinous sheath (like a fingernail), revealing that the nearly foot-long claw was substantially larger than its underlying bone—the largest preserved claw of its kind ever found. The dinosaur could grasp branches up to 4 inches thick with their fierce dino, which likely served multiple purposes from vegetation gathering to self-defense.

• While related to predatory theropods like T-rex, Duonychus was actually a plant-eater or omnivore—not an apex predator. Researchers believe it was likely covered in feathers based on other therizinosaur discoveries.

Big Story

Financial Assistance for Adult Children

A new Savings.com report reveals that 50% of parents with adult children now provide financial assistance, up from 45% in 2023.

• Parents are contributing an average of $1,474 monthly—a three-year high—helping with expenses ranging from groceries to rent.

• Despite being more likely to have college degrees and full-time employment than their parents at the same age, millennials and Gen Z face inflation-adjusted lower wages and higher student loan debt. Housing costs represent a particularly significant hurdle, with one in three adults aged 18-34 still living in their parents' homes.

• This support often comes at a cost to parents' own financial security. Over 60% of parents reported sacrificing their financial stability to help their adult children—an increase from previous years. Concerningly, 18% of these parents don't see an end to this financial assistance.

Quick Stories

US News

• The Walmart shooter who killed 23 Hispanic shoppers in 2019 will avoid the death penalty under a new plea deal. The El Paso DA says this decision reflects victims' families wanting closure after the racist attack. (More)

• Florida lawmakers are pushing a bill to let 16- and 17-year-olds work unlimited hours with no breaks, and remove restrictions for younger teens who've graduated or attend home/virtual school. (More)

• Trump plans to nominate Susan Monarez as CDC director. Monarez, who's been acting director since January, previously worked at ARPA-H, DHS, and OSTP. (More)

World

• UNICEF is imploring the Taliban to lift the girls' education ban as a new school year begins without females beyond sixth grade. Around 2.2 million Afghan girls are now denied education since the Taliban's 2021 return to power. (More)

• Russia and Ukraine agreed to a Black Sea naval ceasefire through separate US deals after peace talks in Saudi Arabia. Russia says implementation depends on lifting sanctions against its food and fertilizer exports. (More)

• The UN says barrel bombs with flammable liquid (AKA chemical weapons) are being used in South Sudan airstrikes. Recent fighting between the army and White Army rebels has caused "horrific burns" as the country nears civil war. (More)

Business & Economy

• US stock markets closed higher on Tuesday (S&P +0.16%, Nasdaq +0.46%, Dow +0.01%). Investors built on momentum from yesterday’s news that US tariffs may be narrower in scope. (More)

• Napster, the former piracy site turned subscription service, was sold to Infinite Reality for $207 million. The tech startup plans to transform it into a social music platform connecting artists with fans. (More)

• Tesla's European EV sales plunged 49% in early 2024 while overall EV sales grew. Factors include an aging vehicle lineup and backlash against Musk's politics, including his support for Germany's far-right party. (More)

Sports & Entertainment

• USC Star JuJu Watkins suffered a season-ending knee injury Monday night against Mississippi State in the NCAA Tournament after her knee buckled on a drive to the basket. (More)

• Amazon MGM has hired veteran producers Amy Pascal (Spider-Man, previous Bond films) and David Heyman (Harry Potter) to produce a new untitled Bond movie through their respective production companies. (More)

• Quarterback Russell Wilson is joining the New York Giants on a one-year deal worth up to $21 million, with $10.5 million guaranteed, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. (More)

Science, Health, & Tech

• Measles continues to spread in western Texas with 327 total cases now confirmed. Most infected individuals are unvaccinated, and 40 people have been hospitalized. Only two cases involve fully vaccinated people. (More)

• Scientists discovered boiling water and filtering out the precipitate removes up to 90% of microplastics, especially in hard water where calcium carbonate traps plastic fragments when heated. (More)

• Scientists found Mars' largest organic molecules, possibly from 3.7 billion-year-old fatty acids preserved in ancient lake sediments. While not proof of past life, the discovery shows we could detect such signatures if Martian life ever existed. (More)

Extra Credit

🦘 Goat helps kangaroo escape its pen.

🐦️ Colorful bird you didn’t know existed.

🦶 How often you should wash your feet?

🧽 Cleaning products you should never mix—and why.