The topical anti-inflammatory
Saturday, May 23, 2026 · AM Edition
GEOPOLITICS
Israel Largely Excluded from US-Iran Peace Negotiations
As the United States pursues diplomatic talks with Iran, Israel has been left out of the process despite its participation in the conflict. The shift represents a significant change in the relationship between the two governments. Analysts describe this as a notable setback for Israel's prime minister.
The United States has been conducting peace negotiations with Iran largely without Israeli involvement, despite Israel's role as a partner in the conflict. This arrangement marks a significant departure from the close coordination that characterized the earlier stages of the military campaign. Israel's prime minister, who had been closely aligned with US strategy during the conflict, now finds the country in a more peripheral position as diplomatic activity accelerates.
Analysts describe the development as a meaningful shift in the US-Israel relationship, with potential consequences for Israel's security posture and regional standing. The exclusion from talks means Israel has limited ability to shape the terms of any eventual agreement. The situation presents both political and strategic challenges for the Israeli government going forward.
Iran's Claim Over Strait of Hormuz Passage Unsettles Shipping Industry
Iran has been asserting control over the Strait of Hormuz by demanding payment for passage through the waterway. Experts consider it unlikely that Iran could enforce such a toll, but the claim has introduced uncertainty into global shipping markets. The strait is a critical transit point for a large share of the world's oil supply.
Iran has moved to assert greater control over the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway through which a substantial portion of global oil shipments pass, by seeking to charge for transit. The effort is seen by most experts as difficult to enforce in practice, given the legal and logistical complexities involved. However, the posture alone has been enough to introduce measurable anxiety into the international shipping industry.
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the most strategically significant maritime chokepoints in the world. Any sustained disruption to traffic through the strait would have broad consequences for global energy prices and supply chains. Shipping companies and commodity markets have been monitoring the situation closely as US-Iran tensions continue to shape the broader regional environment.
Ukrainian Drone Strikes Reach Moscow Region
Ukrainian drone strikes have reached the Moscow region in recent days, affecting residents of Russia's capital area. Accounts from residents describe significant disruption and alarm. The strikes represent an extension of the conflict into the Russian heartland.
Ukraine conducted drone strikes that reached the Moscow region, bringing the effects of the war directly to Russia's capital area. Residents described the experience as deeply unsettling, with the attacks marking a notable expansion in the geographic reach of Ukrainian military operations. The Moscow region is the seat of Russia's central government and has historically been distant from direct conflict.
The strikes reflect an ongoing Ukrainian strategy of targeting infrastructure and areas within Russia, a tactic that has intensified over the course of the conflict. The attacks have prompted public discussion within Russia about the country's air defense capabilities and the broader trajectory of the war. For many Moscow-area residents, the strikes represented their first direct experience of the conflict's consequences.
ECONOMY
Gas Prices Approach Highest Memorial Day Levels Since 2022
Fuel prices heading into Memorial Day weekend are near their highest point for this time of year since 2022. The elevated prices are partly linked to the ongoing US conflict with Iran and its effects on oil markets. Drivers are expected to pay more at the pump during one of the busiest travel weekends of the year.
Gas prices are approaching their highest Memorial Day levels in four years, creating additional costs for the tens of millions of Americans expected to travel by car this weekend. The increase is connected in part to market disruptions stemming from the US-Iran conflict, which has added volatility to global oil prices. Analysts caution that even if hostilities were to end, prices may not return to pre-conflict levels for the remainder of 2026.
Before the conflict began, the national average for regular gasoline was approximately three dollars per gallon. That benchmark is no longer considered achievable for the current year, according to analysts tracking the market. The combination of geopolitical pressure and seasonal demand is expected to keep prices elevated through the summer travel season, affecting household budgets across the country.
Dow Jones Reaches Record High as Treasury Yields Ease
The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose approximately 300 points to a record level, capping a winning week for US stock markets. Treasury yields declined, easing some of the pressure that had weighed on markets earlier in the week. The week overall saw notable volatility in both stock and bond markets.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed roughly 300 points to set a new record, closing out a positive week for US equities. The gains came alongside a decline in Treasury yields, which had risen sharply earlier in the week and contributed to broader market turbulence. Falling yields generally reduce borrowing costs and can make stocks more attractive relative to bonds.
The week included significant swings in both equities and fixed-income markets, reflecting ongoing uncertainty about the economic outlook, inflation, and fiscal policy. Despite the volatility, markets ended the week on an upward note. Investors and analysts will be watching coming economic data releases for further signals about the direction of interest rates and corporate earnings.
SpaceX Files for IPO at Approximately $1.75 Trillion Valuation
SpaceX has filed prospectus documents for an initial public offering that values the company at approximately 1.75 trillion dollars. The filing reveals financial details, governance structure, and the company's stated ambition to colonize Mars. Elon Musk is set to retain dominant control of the company through a supervoting share structure.
SpaceX has filed documents for a public stock offering that would value the company at roughly 1.75 trillion dollars, which would make it one of the largest IPOs in history. The prospectus outlines the company's finances and long-term ambitions, including plans to establish a human presence on Mars. The filing also describes the governance arrangements that would allow Elon Musk to maintain firm control over the company after it becomes publicly traded.
The control mechanism relies on a supervoting share structure, in which Musk's shares carry significantly more voting power than those available to outside investors. This arrangement is increasingly common among major technology companies and allows founders to retain decision-making authority even as outside capital is raised. The filing also includes references to Musk's artificial intelligence platform Grok and other aspects of his broader business empire. The IPO, if completed, would represent a landmark event in the commercial space industry.
DOMESTIC POLICY
Trump Withdraws AI Executive Order Ahead of Planned Signing
President Trump canceled the signing of an executive order that would have given the federal government authority to evaluate artificial intelligence models before their public release. The president cited unspecified concerns about aspects of the order. The cancellation leaves the US without a formal federal framework for pre-release AI oversight.
President Trump withdrew a planned executive order on artificial intelligence shortly before it was scheduled to be signed. The order would have established a government process for evaluating AI systems before they are released to the public, a form of pre-market oversight that has been debated extensively in policy and technology circles. The president indicated he had concerns about aspects of the order but did not provide specific details.
The withdrawal leaves the federal government without a formal mechanism for reviewing AI models prior to deployment. The decision comes as AI development accelerates rapidly across the technology sector, and as other governments and regulatory bodies around the world are moving to establish oversight frameworks. California's governor separately signed a state-level executive order directing an exploration of labor policy changes to address potential job displacement resulting from artificial intelligence.
US Imposes Entry Restrictions Tied to Congo Ebola Outbreak
The Department of Homeland Security has directed flights carrying certain travelers from the Democratic Republic of Congo to land at Dulles International Airport in Virginia rather than other US entry points. The measure is linked to the ongoing Ebola outbreak in Congo. Public health experts have expressed concern that the quarantine and travel measures put in place by the administration exceed what is considered necessary by established public health standards.
The Department of Homeland Security issued a directive requiring flights carrying specific categories of travelers connected to the Democratic Republic of Congo to arrive at Dulles International Airport in Virginia. The measure is part of a broader set of responses to the ongoing Ebola outbreak in Congo, which the World Health Organization has classified as a rapidly spreading, very high national-level risk. A separate Air France flight bound for Detroit was diverted to Montreal after a passenger from Congo was found to have boarded in a manner that conflicted with the new flight restrictions.
Public health experts have described the administration's quarantine and travel measures as more stringent than standard guidance would require to prevent domestic spread of Ebola. The administration's response has also included measures tied to a separate hantavirus situation, which experts say similarly exceeds conventional outbreak protocols. The tension between official public health recommendations and the government's chosen approach has prompted discussion among health professionals about the appropriate scope of such interventions.
Investigation Finds Autism Therapy Industry Overbills Medicaid and Overexposes Children to Treatment
A detailed investigation into the autism therapy clinic industry found a pattern of overbilling Medicaid, fraudulent diagnoses, and excessive treatment hours for young children. Two Minnesota providers have been charged federally in connection with a 46-million-dollar Medicaid fraud case. The industry has grown rapidly and placed significant strain on state budgets.
An investigation into the applied behavior analysis therapy industry, which serves children diagnosed with autism, found widespread evidence of overbilling, inappropriate treatment prescriptions, and in some cases harm to children. Young children, including preschool-aged patients, are in some facilities spending as many as 40 hours per week in therapy, a level that some experts say is not clinically justified. The rapid growth of the industry has placed mounting pressure on Medicaid budgets in multiple states.
In Minnesota, federal prosecutors have charged two autism therapy providers in connection with an alleged 46-million-dollar Medicaid fraud scheme. Authorities allege the clinics used fraudulent diagnoses and paid kickbacks to parents in order to enroll children in treatment. The Justice Department's action is part of a broader pattern of scrutiny the industry is facing as regulators and law enforcement examine billing and treatment practices. The investigation raises policy questions about oversight of Medicaid-funded behavioral health services for children.
Refugees Turned Away at Canadian Border Report Being Transferred to US Immigration Detention
Refugees attempting to enter Canada and being turned away at the border say they are subsequently being handed over to US immigration authorities and held in detention for extended periods. The situation has emerged as Canada tightens its asylum rules. Those affected include individuals seeking to reunite with family members already in Canada.
Refugees who are rejected at the Canadian border after attempting to enter the country report that they are being transferred to US Immigration and Customs Enforcement and held in detention facilities, in some cases for several months. The pattern has drawn attention as Canada has moved to restrict asylum claims at its borders. Among those affected are individuals who traveled to Canada specifically to reunite with family members already living there.
The situation reflects the intersection of tightened Canadian immigration policy and US enforcement practices operating at shared border crossings. Advocates for those affected argue that individuals seeking asylum are being subjected to detention without adequate legal process. The issue has direct relevance to US immigration policy and the treatment of individuals who interact with the US immigration system after failed claims at the northern border.
SCIENCE & HEALTH
Ebola Outbreak in Congo Classified as Very High National Risk by WHO
The World Health Organization has upgraded its risk assessment of the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo to very high at the national level, citing rapid spread. A new strain of the virus, reduced international aid funding, and cultural practices around burial and physical contact are among the factors complicating containment. Health facilities in affected areas have been overwhelmed.
The WHO Director-General announced that the organization has revised its risk assessment of the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo to very high at the national level, describing the spread as rapid. The outbreak involves a new strain of the virus, which complicates response efforts and raises questions about the effectiveness of existing vaccines and treatments. Reports from affected areas describe health facilities turning away patients due to capacity constraints.
Several factors are making containment particularly difficult. Reductions in international aid funding have limited the resources available to response teams. Cultural practices related to burial and physical contact, which are significant in affected communities, have also contributed to transmission. An American doctor working with a missionary organization in Congo contracted Ebola and was evacuated to the United States for treatment, drawing further attention to the outbreak's reach. The WHO's elevated assessment signals that the outbreak poses a serious and growing public health challenge.
Experimental Weight-Loss Drug Shows 28 Percent Average Body Weight Reduction in Trial
Eli Lilly reported that participants in a clinical trial of its experimental drug retatrutide lost an average of 28 percent of their body weight over 80 weeks. The result appears to exceed the weight-loss performance of other currently available obesity medications. The drug belongs to a class that includes existing GLP-1 medications.
Eli Lilly announced results from a clinical trial of retatrutide, an experimental injectable drug for obesity, in which participants lost an average of 28 percent of their body weight over the course of 80 weeks. The company described the outcome as substantially greater than what has been observed with other weight-loss drugs currently on the market, including existing GLP-1 receptor agonists. The drug is not yet approved for use and would require regulatory review before becoming available to patients.
Separately, studies examining existing GLP-1 drugs, including semaglutide and tirzepatide, found associations between those medications and reduced cancer progression and lower risk of cancer-related death, including potential benefits related to breast cancer. These findings add to a growing body of research suggesting that the effects of this class of drugs may extend beyond weight loss and metabolic conditions. The combined findings are likely to intensify interest in this category of medications from both patients and healthcare providers.
Measles Outbreak in Bangladesh Exceeds 8,000 Confirmed Cases with 60,000 Suspected
A measles outbreak in Bangladesh has produced more than 8,000 confirmed cases, with an additional 60,000 suspected infections, primarily among children. Authorities have launched an emergency vaccination drive in response. The scale of the outbreak reflects gaps in vaccination coverage.
Bangladesh is managing a significant measles outbreak that has recorded over 8,000 laboratory-confirmed cases and approximately 60,000 additional suspected cases, the majority of them in children. The scale of the outbreak has prompted health authorities to organize an emergency vaccination campaign aimed at closing gaps in immunization coverage. Measles is a highly contagious virus that can cause severe complications and death, particularly in young children who are unvaccinated.
The outbreak is occurring against a backdrop of concerns about declining vaccination rates in parts of the world, as well as disruptions to routine immunization programs in recent years. For American readers, the situation is relevant both as a global health indicator and because measles outbreaks abroad have historically contributed to imported cases in the United States. Public health officials generally cite high vaccination coverage as the primary defense against domestic measles transmission.
TECHNOLOGY
Bluesky Reports Russian Efforts to Hijack User Accounts to Spread Propaganda
Social media platform Bluesky says it has identified and is actively countering an effort by Russian state-linked actors to compromise real user accounts and post fabricated content. The company describes the tactic as a novel approach distinct from the creation of fake accounts. The effort is aimed at spreading propaganda through accounts that appear legitimate.
Bluesky, the decentralized social media platform, has disclosed that it is combating an operation it attributes to Russian actors involving the hijacking of genuine user accounts to disseminate disinformation. Rather than creating new fake profiles, the operation involves taking over existing accounts, giving the posted content the appearance of coming from real users with established histories. The company described this method as an apparently new tactic in the landscape of social media manipulation.
Bluesky said it is actively working to identify and address compromised accounts. The disclosure adds to a broader pattern of foreign influence operations targeting Western social media platforms, a concern that has persisted across multiple election cycles and geopolitical episodes. The use of real account hijacking, if confirmed, would represent a meaningful evolution in the methods used to spread state-directed propaganda online.
Meta Settles Social Media Addiction Lawsuit Brought by Kentucky School District
Meta has reached a settlement in a lawsuit brought by a Kentucky school district alleging that the company's platforms contributed to social media addiction among students. The Kentucky district is one of approximately 1,200 school districts across the United States that have each filed similar lawsuits against Meta, TikTok, Snap, and YouTube. Terms of the settlement were not disclosed.
Meta has settled a legal action brought by a Kentucky school district that alleged the company's social media platforms fostered addictive behavior among young users and caused harm to students. The settlement terms were not made public. The case is one of roughly 1,200 similar lawsuits filed by school districts across the country, each targeting one or more of the major social media companies including Meta, TikTok, Snap, and YouTube.
The wave of litigation from school districts represents a significant legal front for the social media industry, with plaintiffs arguing that platforms were designed in ways that maximize engagement at the expense of user wellbeing, particularly for children and adolescents. The settlement in Kentucky may draw attention to how other cases in this litigation landscape are resolved. Legislative and regulatory efforts to address social media's effects on minors have been proceeding in parallel at both the state and federal level.
NATURAL EVENTS
Fire-Tracking Satellite Nearing End of Operational Life as Fuel Runs Low
A NASA satellite that has been monitoring global wildfires for 24 years is running low on the fuel needed to maneuver away from orbital debris. When the fuel is exhausted, the satellite will no longer be able to avoid collisions, effectively ending its operational life and the long-term climate data record it has been building. No direct replacement is currently in service.
A NASA satellite that has tracked wildfires around the world for 24 years is approaching the end of its operational life as its onboard fuel supply runs low. The satellite has relied on periodic maneuvers to avoid collisions with orbital debris, but once that fuel is gone, it will no longer be able to perform those adjustments. At that point, the risk of a collision ending the mission becomes unavoidable, and with it, the decades-long climate and fire data record the satellite has compiled.
The satellite played a role in the early detection of the Los Angeles wildfires in January 2025, among many other major fire events it has monitored over its operational life. Long-term continuous datasets of this kind are considered scientifically valuable because they allow researchers to identify trends in fire frequency, intensity, and geographic spread over time. The anticipated loss of this monitoring capability raises questions about the continuity of fire and climate observation from space, particularly given increasing wildfire activity in the western United States and globally.