A new Netflix-limited series takes a fresh look at the Vietnam War that examines the conflict from the eyes of Black soldiers, Vietnamese fighters and journalists on the 50th anniversary of its end.
Why it matters: The Vietnam War has split Americans across ideological and racial lines for much of the last few decades, with those divisions around the U.S. role in the world still evident today.
The big picture: Low- and middle-income consumers are increasingly shying away from fast-food restaurants like McDonald's, a sign that people are pinching pennies amid recession fears.
President Trump is expected to hold a summit with Gulf state leaders during his visit to Saudi Arabia in mid-May, a U.S. official and two Arab officials told Axios.
Why it matters: Trump's first official foreign trip reflects the growing importance his administration is placing on economic cooperation and investments between the U.S. and Gulf countries.
President Trump says a recession is OK in the short term, in a clip of a pre-recorded interview with NBC's "Meet the Press with Kristen Welker" released on Friday.
Why it matters: Business owners and politicians alike have shared fears of a recession given the uncertainty surrounding the president's tariffs.
The U.S., Israel and representatives of a new international foundation are close to an agreement on how to resume the delivery of humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza without it being controlled byHamas, two Israeli officials and one U.S. source familiar with the plan said.
Why it matters: After the Gaza ceasefire deal collapsed two months ago, Israel halted all humanitarian aid delivery of food, water and medicine into the enclave, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis.
The Trump administration has dismissed a half-century-old school desegregation case in Louisiana in a sign that it may aggressively end other school racial desegregation cases long targeted by white conservatives.
Why it matters: The move by the U.S. Justice Department this week follows the Trump administration's reinterpretation of Civil Rights-era laws to focus on "anti-white racism," rather than discrimination against people of color.
Everyone now knows that the bond market has a unique sway on President Trump's policymaking — and a subtle, but important, threat from the Japanese government could move his stance on trade with a crucial ally.
Why it matters: Japan is the largest foreign holder of U.S. Treasuries, and even the vaguest hint that it could dump those holdings is powerful leverage with the administration. Following through on the threat could cause interest rates to spike.
