Good morning. It's Saturday, April 4, and in this weekend edition, we're covering a flash point in the Iran war, the first snapshots from the latest US moon mission, and much more. First time reading? Join over 4.7 million insatiably curious readers. Sign up here.
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Iran yesterday shot down two US aircraft in separate incidents, the first such losses in roughly five weeks of war. As of this writing, a search-and-rescue operation is underway for at least one missing crew member. See photos of wreckage.
Two helicopters involved in the rescue effort were also hit by Iranian fire that wounded US personnel on board, but the aircraft safely returned to a US base. The US is racing against Iran’s offer to reward any civilian who turns over an "enemy pilot." Iran is also continuing to strike American and Israeli allies in the Persian Gulf, with Kuwait reporting an Iranian strike on a power and water plant yesterday; Iran says Israel is responsible. That infrastructure strike comes after the US struck a highway bridge near Tehran Thursday, reportedly killing eight people.
Meanwhile, the White House is seeking $1.5T in defense spending from Congress for the 2027 fiscal year, the most in modern US history. Nondefense spending would be cut by 10%, shifting some responsibilities to local and state governments. |
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US economy adds 178,000 jobs in March, defying expectations.
The hiring market rebounded from the loss of 133,000 jobs in February, according to a Labor Department report published yesterday. That figure is roughly three times what economists had forecast, with the healthcare sector responsible for much of the growth. The unemployment rate also dipped to 4.3% last month, down from 4.4% in February. |
NASA shares first images from Artemis II.
One image, taken by mission commander Reid Wiseman, shows a partial view of Earth through a window on the Orion capsule. Another shows Earth in full, with green streaks of aurora, produced when oxygen is excited by electrons. The four-person crew broke free of Earth's orbit Thursday en route to the moon; track their progress in real time here. |
US returns suspected drug smuggler to China in rare extradition.
The move, reported yesterday by China's state news agency, marks the first such exchange of a suspected criminal in recent years. It comes ahead of President Donald Trump's visit to China in May. Trump imposed tariffs last year to press Beijing to curb exports of chemicals used to make fentanyl, the leading cause of drug overdose deaths in the US.
Separately, Cuba is pardoning 2,010 prisoners, possibly to appease the Trump administration, which has imposed an effective oil blockade to push political and economic reforms. The prisoners' charges were not clear as of this writing. |
Myanmar's coup leader is selected as president by pro-military parliament.
General Min Aung Hlaing has effectively led the Southeast Asian country since a 2021 coup that ousted its democratically elected government and launched a civil war. His appointment follows a landslide victory by a pro-military party earlier this year in the first parliamentary elections since the coup—elections the United Nations has called a sham. (Get background on the conflict in Myanmar here.) |
Gucci Mane allegedly kidnapped, held at gunpoint by fellow rappers.
The Justice Department has charged nine people, including rappers Pooh Shiesty and Big30, in connection with an ambush at a Dallas music studio in January. Pooh Shiesty allegedly forced Gucci Mane—whose real name is Radric Davis—to sign paperwork releasing him from a record label contract, while others robbed Davis' entourage at gunpoint. If convicted, each defendant faces up to life in prison. |
Fossils discovered in China rewrite evolutionary timeline.
Complex animals that ventured onto land—ancestors of humans and modern animals—were roaming Earth at least 4 million years earlier than previously thought, according to a study published this week. The finding is based on an analysis of over 700 fossils found in southwest China, many of which had near-symmetrical left and right sides—a hallmark feature of most animal life today. |
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Plush toy designed by an 8-year-old is off to the moon on Artemis II. (More) |
... and another 8-year-old's "sweet monsters" doodles chosen to decorate a real train. (More) |
Man with rare autoimmune condition seeks to run the fastest marathon by someone receiving dialysis. (More) |
Family surprises 911 dispatcher with a final call before she retires. (More, w/video) |
Researchers are encouraged by what happens when they give people experiencing homelessness $750 per month. (More) |
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In partnership with BetterHelp |
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It’s Never Too Late to Feel Better |
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Today, we're sharing a story from reader Bonita O. in Mandeville, Louisiana.
"I'm currently in relapse with AML, a form of leukemia. I'm living with my sister/caregiver away from my home in Arkansas. I'm lucky to be scheduled for a transplant next month. One thing that I'll need is platelets. I know just a few people in the area. My nephew's wife put out a request for platelet donors ... quickly, people that were total strangers to me have stepped up to donate—not once, but multiple times. It has renewed my faith in humankind at a time when so much of what we hear about is selfishness and greed!"
Humankind(ness) is a reader-built corner of joy. So, what act(s) of kindness did you experience this week? Tell us here. And if this story made you smile—share our email (copy URL here). |
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🚛 1440 Explores ... The Hidden Life of Trash |
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America’s trash system feels simple: Throw something away, and it disappears. But it's actually a vast network of trucks, transfer stations, landfills, and incinerators moving millions of pounds of waste every day. Our latest episode of the "1440 Explores" podcast follows that journey—from your kitchen to its final destination—and unpacks how we built a world designed to make things vanish. |
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We'll unpack:
> How a public health crisis helped build today's sanitation systems.
> The rise of disposability and how products stopped being built to last.
> What sanitation workers see that the rest of us don't. |
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"Try to be a rainbow in someone's cloud." |
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