Good Morning! Today’s edition is 1,095 words, a 4-minute read.

What’s on tap: 

• RFK to ask CDC to ban fluoride in drinking water

• Denver Nuggets fire coach right before playoffs

• The 51 most beautiful places in America

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Big Story

Fake Job Seekers Flooding US Companies

Companies are facing a new threat: Job seekers who aren't real.

• Fraudsters are using AI tools to fabricate photo IDs, generate employment histories, and alter their faces/provide answers during interviews. Security firm Pindrop caught one such scammer, dubbed "Ivan X," when they noticed his facial expressions didn't match his speech during a video interview.

• By 2028, research firm Gartner predicts 1 in 4 global job candidates will be fake. Once hired, the imposters can steal data, install malware, or simply collect salaries they couldn't otherwise earn.

• The problem extends beyond tech - the Justice Department discovered over 300 diverse US companies unknowingly hired North Korean IT workers using stolen American identities. The workers funneled millions in wages back to North Korea's weapons program.

• Companies are fighting back with identity verification services and specialized authentication technology, but many hiring managers remain unaware of the threats.

Big Story

Dire Wolf De-Extinction

Colossal Biosciences says it has brought the dire wolf back from extinction. 

• Dire wolves went extinct around 13,000 years ago due to the loss of large prey like horses and bison. The new wolves: 6-month-olds Romulus and Remus, and pup Khaleesi are being raised in an undisclosed secure location in the US and are expected to reach 140 pounds. (See video of the three here)

• To de-extinct the species, scientists extracted genetic information from a 13,000-year-old tooth and a 72,000-year-old skull fragment. They also used CRISPR to edit gray wolf DNA (the dire wolf’s closest living relative) to make their fur white.

• Independent scientists caution these aren't true dire wolves. University at Buffalo biologist Vincent Lynch notes: "All you can do now is make something look superficially like something else—not fully revive extinct species."

• Colossal is also working on other de-extinction projects which include the woolly mammoth and the Tasmanian tiger. It is even creating an artificial womb to use in the birthing process of future revived species.

Big Story

RFK Fluoride Ban

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced plans to tell the CDC to stop recommending community water fluoridation nationwide.

• Nearly two-thirds of Americans currently receive fluoridated water, which the American Dental Association credits with reducing tooth decay by more than 25% in children and adults.

• Recent scientific concerns about fluoride's impact on child development are central to the policy shift. A 2023 report by the federal government's National Toxicology Program found that drinking water with fluoride levels exceeding 1.5 mg/L (more than twice the CDC's recommended 0.7 mg/L) was associated with lower IQs in children. The EPA’s maximum allowable standard in drinking water systems is 4.0 mg/L.

• Utah just banned fluoride and many other communities have already begun disallowing it. An AP analysis found at least 734 water systems across 36 states have stopped the practice in recent years, with Mississippi accounting for over 20% of these systems. However, many cited cost concerns rather than health risks.

Quick Stories

US News

• Rep. Lisa McClain introduced a bill Tuesday to block college athletes from being classified as employees of schools, conferences, or athletic associations. (More)

• The IRS and DHS agreed to share data supporting Trump's immigration agenda. ICE will check the names of immigrants with final removal orders against IRS taxpayer records to enhance enforcement efforts. The acting commissioner of the IRS is resigning over the deal. (More)

• The Supreme Court allowed the Trump administration to terminate 16,000 probationary federal workers, overturning a lower court's reinstatement order. The Court ruled that unions challenging the firings lacked standing. (More)

World

• Prince Harry appealed in court against the British government's decision to cut his taxpayer-funded security. His protection was downgraded in 2020 when he quit royal duties and moved to America. (More)

• A nightclub roof collapsed in the Dominican Republic early Tuesday, killing 66 people, including a provincial governor, and injuring 155 others. Rescue teams transported victims to various healthcare facilities for specialized treatment. (More)

• Ukrainian forces captured two Chinese nationals fighting for Russia in Donetsk. President Zelensky claims many more serve in Russian ranks. Ukraine’s foreign minister is now questioning Beijing's peace stance after finding the troops. (More)

Business & Economy

• US stock markets closed lower on Monday (S&P -1.57%, Nasdaq -2.15%, Dow -0.84%). Stocks fell Tuesday as investor anxiety returned ahead of Trump's midnight deadline to impose a 104% tariff on China. (More)

• The 10-year Treasury yield jumped above 4.2% Monday despite economic slowdown fears from Trump's tariffs. Two-year Treasury yields also climbed 8 basis points to 3.8%. (More)

• Apple shares have plunged 23% over four days, making Microsoft the world's most valuable company again. As of Tuesday’s close, Microsoft was worth $2.64 trillion, while Apple’s value was at $2.59 trillion. (More)

Sports & Entertainment

• The Denver Nuggets fired coach Michael Malone Tuesday despite eight straight winning seasons and a title in 2023. Just days remain in the regular season. GM Calvin Booth is also out. (More)

• Movie theaters are kicking viewers out of the new “Minecraft” movie for filming disruptive TikTok stunts. Some venues are now also requiring minors to have a parent with them to see the movie. (More)

• Billie Jean King received the 2,807th Hollywood Walk of Fame star on Monday. The tennis icon and former world number one was the first female athlete to receive both the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Congressional Gold Medal. (More)

Science, Health, & Tech

• NASA astronaut Jonny Kim and cosmonauts Sergey Ryzhikov and Alexey Zubritsky docked at the International Space Station Tuesday morning. Their Soyuz spacecraft reached the ISS just three hours after launching from Kazakhstan's Baikonur Cosmodrome. (More)

• Amazon’s EV arm, Zoox, launched data-collection vehicles in Los Angeles Tuesday, expanding to its sixth city. The company is planning robotaxi services in Las Vegas and San Francisco later this year. (More)

• Excessive smartphone use can cause cognitive impairments and attention problems over time, according to recent studies. Researchers still don't fully understand what factors drive these psychological effects. (More)

Extra Credit

🌊 Thousands of blue blobs wash up on California’s coast.

💎 Sotheby’s auctioning off diamond for $20 million.

🎟️ How ticket prices got so expensive.

🌄 The 51 most beautiful places in America.