Good Morning! Today’s edition is 1,209 words, a 4-minute read.

What’s on tap: 

• Trump and Zelenskyy meeting

• New plant species found in Texas

• Ulta-rare car sighting in Dubai

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Big Story

Supreme Court Reverse Discrimination Case

The Supreme Court indicated during a Wednesday hearing that they would side with a woman who claims she was denied a promotion and demoted because she is straight.

• According to Marlean Ames, her gay supervisor promoted a gay woman and a gay man instead of her, even though they were less qualified. Lower courts had ruled against her, but now the Supreme Court is considering her appeal.

• At the center of this case is whether "majority" groups (like white or straight people) should have to provide more evidence of discrimination than "minority" groups. Some courts, including the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals that ruled against Ames, require this higher standard because they believe discrimination against majority groups is less common.

• During arguments, both liberal and conservative justices seemed to favor Ames's position. Her lawyer argued that the law should treat all discrimination claims equally, regardless of who makes them. The US Justice Department supported this view, saying the current higher standard might block legitimate discrimination cases.

• The justices will likely send the case back to lower courts for reconsideration.

Big Story

Trump to Meet with Zelenskyy

President Donald Trump announced that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will visit the White House on Friday.

• During his first cabinet meeting, Trump said they will sign a minerals deal that would give the US access to Ukraine's rare earth minerals, which are used in aerospace, defense, and nuclear industries.

• Zelenskyy said that while they've reached a framework for an economic deal, it doesn't include US security guarantees, which Ukraine considers vital. Ukraine rejected earlier versions of the agreement because they lacked enough security assurances and had a high price tag of $500 billion.

• Trump made it clear he doesn't plan to make many security guarantees, saying "We're going to have Europe do that." He believes US presence for mineral extraction would provide "automatic security because nobody's going to be messing around with our people when we're there."

Big Story

Decline of Christianity in the US Slows

According to a new Pew Research Center survey, the decline in Americans identifying as Christian appears to be stabilizing.

• While Christian identification dropped from 78% in 2007 to around 62% today, the level has remained fairly steady since 2019. Currently, 40% of Americans identify as Protestant, 19% as Catholic, and 3% with other Christian groups.

• The study found demographic shifts across all categories - men and women, all racial and ethnic groups, different education levels, and all major regions of the country now have fewer Christians and more religiously unaffiliated people than in the past. The change is particularly notable among self-described liberals, where Christian identification dropped from 62% in 2007 to just 37% today, while those with no religion jumped from 27% to 51%.

• About 44% of Americans say they pray at least once daily - a significant decrease from 2007 but stable over the past four years. The religiously unaffiliated represent nearly 3 in 10 Americans (29%), with 5% identifying as atheist, 6% as agnostic, and 19% as "nothing in particular."

• Non-Christian religions account for about 7% of the population, with 2% Jewish and Muslims, Hindus, and Buddhists each representing about 1%.

Quick Stories

US News

• An American Airlines flight from Boston performed a go-around at Reagan National Airport Tuesday morning after air traffic control warned it was too close to a departing aircraft on the same runway. This occurred shortly before a similar incident at Chicago's Midway Airport. (More)

• Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz won't seek the open Senate seat in 2026, possibly aiming for a third term as governor instead. Sen. Tina Smith's retirement has sparked interest from several Democrats, including Rep. Ilhan Omar. (More)

• Amy Gleason, formerly of the US Digital Service, was named interim administrator of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). The reveal followed questions about Elon Musk's role, with the White House clarifying he is not officially involved. (More)

World

• Milorad Dodik, Bosnia's pro-Russia Serb president, received a one-year prison sentence and a six-year political ban for separatist activities. He has repeatedly called for the separation of the Serb-run half of Bosnia to join neighboring Serbia. (More)

• President Trump announced he will impose 25% tariffs on European Union imports, particularly targeting cars. Trump claimed the EU was created "to screw the United States" and doesn't accept American cars or farm products while the US accepts all their goods. (More)

• Ocean Infinity, a British-American maritime exploration company, has begun a new search for Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, which disappeared nearly 11 years ago. The company tried unsuccessfully to find the plane in 2018. (More)

Business & Economy

• US stock markets closed mixed on Wednesday (S&P +0.01%, Nasdaq +0.26%, Dow -0.43%). The S&P snapped a four-day losing streak. However, investors are still uncertain about President Trump’s trade policies. (More)

• General Motors will raise its quarterly dividend by 25% and start a new $6 billion share buyback program. The automaker plans to repurchase $2 billion in shares by mid-2025, with the dividend increase taking effect in April 2025. (More)

• Eli Lilly announced a $27 billion investment to build four new manufacturing sites in the US as demand grows for its popular weight loss and diabetes medications. (More)

Sports & Entertainment

• The University of New Orleans men's basketball team is under investigation by both the NCAA and the school for possible sports gambling violations. Four of the team's top five scorers have been benched since January 27. (More)

• Michelle Trachtenberg, known for her roles in "Gossip Girl," "Harriet the Spy," and "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," died Wednesday in New York City. Police found the 39-year-old actress unconscious and unresponsive in her apartment building. (More)

• Tre Holloman made a buzzer-beating shot from beyond midcourt to give No. 8 Michigan State a 58-55 victory over No. 16 Maryland. After Maryland tied the game on a Holloman turnover and missed a potential game-winning three-pointer, Holloman redeemed himself with the winning shot. (More)

Science, Health, & Tech

• Park volunteers found the first new plant genus and species in a US national park in nearly 50 years. The woolly devil (Ovicula biradiata), discovered in Texas's Big Bend National Park, has bright red petals and belongs to the sunflower family. (More)

• A new study suggests that Atlantic Ocean currents are unlikely to collapse this century. Scientists had previously warned that the currents could shut down due to climate change, which would disrupt weather patterns, cool Europe, and raise sea levels along America's East Coast. (More)

• Archaeologists in Pompeii discovered nearly life-sized frescoes showing initiation rites for followers of Dionysus, the Greek god of wine and ecstasy. The rare paintings show a new view of religious practices before Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79 AD. (More)

Extra Credit

🌎️ Charting the 15 largest countries in the world by land area. 

🚗 One of three $30M Rolls-Royce Boat Tail cars spotted in Dubai.

🐟️ Watch: Rare shimmering oarfish pops up on Mexico beach.

🐶 …and a viral photo of China’s “Puppy Mountain.”