What's Happening

US News

Kash Patel's FBI Leadership Gets a Capitol Stress Test

What's going on: FBI Director Kash Patel faced intense scrutiny Tuesday during a Capitol Hill hearing focused on his leadership of the agency and his actions following the assassination of Charlie Kirk. Over the course of more than four hours, Patel defended himself against accusations of mishandling the Kirk case on social media, and he denied allegations he fired agents for political reasons. At one point, he got into a shouting match with Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ). The hearing comes amid allegations from current and former bureau officials that Patel is more focused on polishing his public image and enjoying the job’s perks (see: flights to a UFC fight or Nashville, where his girlfriend lives) than in actually running the agency. NBC reports he scaled back daily intel briefings and weekly calls with field offices.

What it means: While questions over Patel’s leadership continue to grow, President Donald Trump insists his FBI director isn’t going anywhere. Patel and other Trump officials say they’re carrying out sweeping reforms to undo what they call politically motivated cases against the president and his allies. Meanwhile, some agents say the FBI’s resources have been redirected to support Trump’s agenda on immigration and violent crime — all at the expense of counterterrorism and other national security work (an allegation the FBI denies). It’s not just Democrats doubting whether he’s the right man for the job, conservative activist Christopher Rufo wrote last week, “We would be wise to take a moment and ask whether Kash Patel has what it takes.”

Related: Text Messages Offer Insight Into Possible Motive in Charlie Kirk’s Murder (NYT Gift Link)

Technology

ChatGPT Just Unveiled New Teen Safety Features. But Is It Enough? 

What's going on: OpenAI announced a set of new teen safety tools and guardrails for ChatGPT yesterday. Think: age checks, teen vs. adult modes, and soon, tools that let parents adjust responses or lock the bot down at night. CEO Sam Altman admitted the bot isn’t meant for kids under 12, but there are still no real guardrails to stop them. The timing of the announcement is likely not accidental. Lawmakers held a hearing on Tuesday about AI and child safety. Some parents who are suing OpenAI shared wrenching stories about their kids’ interactions with chatbots before they died. Matthew Raine, whose 16-year-old son Adam died by suicide in April, described the bot as a “homework helper” that turned into a “suicide coach.”

What it means: One poll found that about 70% of teens use an AI companion — and most parents don’t even know their kids are interacting with the tech. AI chatbots can talk like a buddy, copy users’ emotions (since their own words are helping to train it), and slip under their defenses — which is why experts say kids are especially at risk. Regulators seem to share the concern: Seven tech companies, including OpenAI, are now under federal investigation over how their bots interact with children. The new safeguards may look good on paper, but critics say they don’t go nearly far enough. Until there’s a system that keeps younger kids out altogether — and gives parents real oversight — Congress, regulators, and grieving families are likely to keep the pressure on.

Related: TikTok Users May Be Asked To Make a Big Move If a Deal Goes Through (Fast Company)

Parenting

Michigan Is Setting the Standard for the "Baby Bonus"

What's going on: When Michigan State University launched the US’s first unconditional, community-wide cash transfer program for new families in 2024, some parents thought it was a scam. It wasn’t. The program (Rx Kids, for short) gave every expectant parent in some Michigan communities $1,500 during pregnancy and $500 a month through a child’s first year. For many families, that money was life-changing. Two new studies confirm it: Rx Kids lowered rates of maternal postpartum depression, helped families keep stable housing, and improved infant health outcomes. Not to mention, it saved millions in NICU costs. 

What it means: The idea for Rx Kids came straight from Washington: Congress’s expanded child tax credit in 2021 cut child poverty in half, but then it expired. This program picked up where DC left off — and now other counties and cities want in. They’re hoping to replicate Rx Kids’ success through inclusive, well-advertised programs that hand out cash first and skip the red tape. Such programs are welcomed by many, as the US still faces increasing maternal mortality and stubbornly high postpartum depression rates. The perinatal period is also one of the most financially precarious — when families balance unpaid leave, hospital bills, and the cost of basics like diapers. Researchers hope Rx Kids is more than a one-off success story and a glimpse of a new norm.

Related: New Research Shows Abortion Bans Push Families Deeper Into Poverty (The 19th)

Highlight Reel

BY SKIMM SPORTS

The week's sports news and culture stories, ranked.

Hang it in the Louvre: Minnesota Lynx fans showed their spirit with wigs in the perfect StudBudz shade.

Winning: Paige Bueckers is the WNBA’s Rookie of the Year — but it’s how she received the award that’s going viral. 

Chaotic: Tom Brady is coming out of retirement (again), and fans aren’t thrilled with where he’s playing.

Settle This

Which millennial-nostalgia-inducing book is getting the musical treatment?

Game Time

Looking for a crossword that’s not impossible to solve? You’re in luck. This one even offers hints when you get stuck. The faster you finish, the better your score — and the more impressed the group chat will be. Go on.