Good morning! The weekend edition is 667 words, a 3-minute read.

What’s on tap: 

• Snake expert injects himself to create venom antibodies

• Professional Women’s Hockey League

• What your earwax says about your health

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Today’s Big Story

Trump Targets Spending, Harvard, and Public Broadcasting

President Trump ended the week with a flurry of plans and orders.

• The POTUS’s new budget plan slashes $163 billion in non-defense spending while boosting national security funding by 13% to a record $1.01 trillion. The plan cuts deeply into agencies like the EPA and Department of Education while extending the 2017 tax cuts and creating new exemptions for tips, overtime pay, and Social Security benefits that would cost an estimated $4.5 trillion over ten years.

• In an escalating conflict with Harvard University, President Trump announced he's revoking the institution's tax-exempt status after it defied demands to change policies on diversity programs and hiring practices. The clash began when Harvard refused to provide access to employment and admissions data and discontinue diversity initiatives, prompting the freezing of over $2.2 billion in federal grants and contracts.

• President Trump signed an executive order yesterday directing the Corporation for Public Broadcasting to end federal funding for NPR and PBS, claiming the broadcasters present biased coverage and promote "radical, woke propaganda." PBS CEO Paula Kerger called the order "blatantly unlawful" and emphasized the network's long history of bipartisan congressional support.

Saturday’s Quick Hits

• Self-taught venom expert Tim Friede has injected himself with snake venom 856 times over 18 years. Despite nearly dying, his immune system began to create antibodies that protected him from the bites. Now, His unique antibodies helped scientists create an antivenom that shielded mice from 19 deadly snake species—potentially revolutionizing treatment worldwide. (More)

• A 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck off southern Chile in the Drake Passage, spurring tsunami warnings and evacuations in Chile and Argentina. The shallow quake hit 136mi from Ushuaia, affecting Chile's Magallanes region and Antarctic Territory. Authorities have reported no damage or injuries so far. (More)

• Prince Harry lost his legal battle for full security protection in the UK. A judge ruled he'll continue getting state-funded police protection only on a case-by-case basis when visiting. This ends Harry's years-long challenge to a 2020 government decision that removed automatic security after he stepped down as a senior royal. (More)

• The US added 177,000 jobs in April, beating forecasts of 133,000 but slightly below March's 185,000. Transportation added 29,000 jobs from pre-tariff buying, while the federal government lost 9,000 positions, reflecting cuts from Elon Musk's efficiency initiative. Unemployment remained at 4.2%. (More)

• Gregg Popovich is stepping down from his 29-year run as Spurs head coach after suffering a stroke in November, moving to president of basketball operations. The 76-year-old NBA legend holds the record for most regular season wins (1,422) and has five championships. He was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2023. (More)

Weekly Dose of Positive

• Colorado just passed a bill requiring research animals to be offered for adoption before euthanasia. Facilities must report annually to ensure these animals get a chance at finding forever homes. (More)

• 13-year-old Sowmya Nandyala created DriveIt, an app that automatically finds and books canceled DMV appointments based on your preferences. It's saved Texans "10 years" of collective wait time over three years. (More)

• Kids' star Ms. Rachel and husband Aron donated $1 million to the UN World Food Program, providing 2 million meals to those most in need in places like Afghanistan, Syria, Yemen, and 11 other countries. (More)

• The Professional Women’s Hockey League is growing the game for young girls. Just in season two, they've hosted a 600-girl "Breakthrough Cup" tournament, boosted attendance by 35%, and hit one million fans in only 14 months. (More)

Extra Credit

🧄 Does it matter if you use fresh or jarred garlic?

🪨 A rock used as a doorstop turns out to be worth over $1M.

👂️ What your earwax says about your health.

🥱 Fatigued vs. tired: What’s the difference?