Good morning.
I’m in the middle of a move right now — and to say it’s got me reconsidering everything I own would be an understatement. Minimalism? Never heard of her. But I highly doubt Prince William and Kate Middleton will feel the same when they relocate to their new “forever home” — a maximalist’s dream. Still, transitions are tough. Luckily, I have this easy (free) activity to help me stay focused and RushTok to keep me entertained. Until I get settled, I’ll also be spending some time reviewing the list of the top most memorable TV show theme songs and crossing my fingers that my flight this week isn’t delayed due to Air Canada’s ongoing strike. Now, let’s get to the rest of the news…
— Maria Corpus / Editor / Madison, WI
What's Happening

US News
After No Deal in Alaska, Trump Tries a Reset in DC
What's going on: President Donald Trump tried to reset the narrative ahead of today’s key meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European allies on the war in Ukraine. On Truth Social Sunday night, Trump claimed Zelenskyy could end the war “if he wants to” by ceding Crimea and agreeing never to join NATO — two of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s top demands. Zelenskyy has long said he would not cede any territory to Russia to end the war. Trump’s late-night policy proposal came just hours before the Oval Office meeting. And perhaps, more importantly, just after Trump’s Alaska summit with Putin, which some analysts essentially called a flop. That's because, despite the red carpet rollouts, military flyovers, and (awkward) news conference, it ended with no deal. Oh, and there was that little security incident involving government documents found in a…hotel printer, according to NPR.
What it means: Critics say Trump’s pivot — from immediate ceasefire to full-on peace deal — aligns with Putin’s long-term goals. Now, European leaders, who had no role in the Alaska summit, are playing catch-up. CNN reports those attending the White House meeting today expressed concern Trump could pressure Zelenskyy into accepting Putin’s conditions from the Alaska summit. Meanwhile, European leaders and Zelenskyy hope to present a united front and push back against Russia’s plans (and, possibly, avoid an Oval Office “ambush” like last time).
Related: Why Melania Trump Wrote Putin an "Emotional" Letter (USA Today)
Politics
Lines in the Sand, Maps in the Air
What's going on: California Democrats are expected to formally introduce their plans for new congressional maps today — the latest bout in their fight with Texas. They’ll consider whether to call a November special election, allowing voters to decide whether to amend the state constitution, and potentially giving Democrats five more House seats. Governor Gavin Newsom (D) said these efforts would “neutralize” Texas’s proposal to gain up to five more GOP seats. He said his plan — called the Election Rigging Response Act — is only necessary if red states move forward with their own redistricting, but added “we’re not waiting.” California Republicans are pushing back. One has introduced a bill that would ban mid-decade redistricting. Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (remember him?) is trying to raise $100 million to lobby against Newsom’s proposal, POLITICO reports.
What it means: There’s no guarantee these proposals will deliver what each state wants: Republicans aren’t assured wins in Texas, and voters could reject Newsom’s plan outright. Litigation is all but certain to plague every step of the process, too. Meanwhile, thousands across the country protested against President Donald Trump’s growing push for new congressional maps — a strategy that has the potential to paralyze an already polarized Congress. There are currently 21 states represented in Congress by a single party — the most since 1965, according to data cited in The New York Times. Experts warn these redistricting efforts could mean red states will become redder and blue states will get bluer.
Related: States Answer Trump’s Call With Guard Units That Could Be Armed (WSJ Gift Link)
Tech
Tech Sold an AI Dream, Some Companies Have Yet To See It Realized
What's going on: Since the introduction of AI, companies have been doing what companies in a capitalistic society do best: Trying to use it to boost productivity and bottom lines. But in reality asking a robot that tends to “hallucinate” isn’t the key ingredient in the recipe for business success. A new report from McKinsey & Company found that although nearly eight in 10 companies use generative AI, that same proportion also found “no significant bottom-line impact,” particularly outside the tech sector. The tools remain too flawed to trust without a human babysitter, even with OpenAI’s shiny, new GPT-5. Human factors add to the stall: Some employees resist training the very tech that could replace them, while others simply don’t know how. The result? Nearly half of companies shelved their AI pilot programs at the end of 2024, and the number is set to rise.
What it means: It’s not the only report that shows AI’s business acumen might be oversold. Gartner — a research firm looking into tech’s “hype cycles” — predicts AI is sliding into “the trough of disillusionment.” Translation: Expect a dip in the AI boom before it boomerangs back into favor as a useful — and yes, job-replacing — tool. While some in the tech sector are already experiencing those effects, others aren’t waiting. So-called ”blue-collar” jobs are already seeing growth, and many have called for greater AI job protections. Experts say this isn’t so different from how businesses adopted other technologies, from computers to the internet. As one analyst put it: “It’s not surprising that early AI efforts are falling short. Innovation is a process of failing fairly regularly.”
Related: Can These Cuddly AI Toys Be a Substitute for Hands-On Parenting? (NYT Gift Link)
Settle This

The Jonas Brothers revealed the "nostalgic" snack they had to have for their 20th anniversary tour. What is it?
Game Time
Wake your brain up this Monday with a game of Flipart. Just rotate the pieces to fit within the frame and get ready to feel the rush when they all fall into place. Get into it.
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