The Government Wants Your Master File

What's Happening

Politics

The Government Wants Your Master File

What's going on: If you already hate how much your phone knows about you, imagine that on a federal scale. The Trump administration is working to link data from dozens of government agencies into one giant system — essentially creating a master file on most Americans, according to The New York Times. Elon Musk and his team at DOGE are leading the charge, pushing to access more than 80 databases containing over 300 types of information — from medical records and student loan defaults to gambling income, immigration status, and even your mom’s maiden name. The White House didn’t address how the data will be protected or whether a central database is being built, telling the NYT it’s focused on rooting out “waste, fraud, and abuse” and needs direct access to the system. After plenty of legal back and forth, some courts are starting to allow it: A recent ruling gave Musk’s team access to sensitive data from both the Treasury and the Department of Education.

What it means: The federal government could get unprecedented access to your data if the plan moves forward. Privacy advocates and civil liberties groups warn the risks could be enormous — think: misfires, overreach, or even political retaliation. Experts say the 1974 Privacy Act was specifically designed to keep your data siloed so that it couldn’t be used in unexpected or dangerous ways. What could that look like? A citizenship detail from your FAFSA could be used to flag a family member for deportation. Any discrepancies on information, for example, between IRS and Medicaid records could suspend benefits. And unlike tech companies, the federal government holds real power over things like housing, health care, and legal status. National security experts also warn that centralizing so much data makes it a goldmine for hackers. Oh, and Musk also wants AI to help do this.

Related: Elon Musk and His DOGE Team Are Being Audited (Wired)

Economy

The Bond Market Is Having a Meltdown

What's going on: Yesterday, Trump made a stunning U-turn on tariffs, pausing most of his “reciprocal” levies for countries that didn’t retaliate — while increasing China’s to a whopping 125%. Markets reacted positively, but experts are still laser-focused on something else: US Treasury bonds (aka “Treasuries”), and the fact that people are selling them off. If you haven’t thought about bonds since a blurry finance class, here’s the gist: You loan someone (in this case the government) money, they promise to pay you back with interest, and you earn “yields.” When bond prices go down, yields go up. Typically, when markets panic, investors rush to bonds for safety. But this time, they’re actually selling them. That sell-off is making bonds cheaper and causing yields to spike — and that’s a red flag. 

What it means: Soaring yields are a menacing sign — they don’t just signal economic problems, they help cause them by raising borrowing costs for companies and consumers. There are a few theories behind the yields uptick: hedge funds may be scrambling to sell off Treasuries for quick cash, foreign buyers might be backing away in protest of tariffs, or investors could simply be losing faith in US debt — kind of like deciding not to lend money to your flakiest friend. Either way, higher yields could ripple through the global economy, raising the risk of stagflation — that miserable cocktail of rising prices and sluggish growth. The last time we saw this kind of bond sell-off was during the 2020 COVID-19 crash, when the Fed stepped in. But if stagflation does hit, rate cuts might be off the table this time.

Related: Trump Says Americans Are “Yippy” and World Leaders Are “Kissing My As*” (NYT Gift Link)

Health

Menopause Is Having Its Political Moment

What's going on: Menopause is finally breaking through the policy glass ceiling. So far this year, lawmakers in 13 states — from Michigan to Pennsylvania — have introduced more than 20 bills to expand treatment access, improve workplace support, and boost doctor training. That last one really matters: Most doctors get little education on menopause, even though symptoms can be intense and are often brushed off or misdiagnosed. Oprah Winfrey once said her symptoms were so severe she thought she “was going to die.” Even when patients do find a menopause-certified provider, insurance might not cover the care. But momentum is building, with states leading the charge and celebrities like Halle Berry testifying about her experience and pushing for change.

What it means: This isn’t just a passing moment; it’s a shift in how menopause care is being approached. If these bills move forward, they could reshape insurance coverage and healthcare policies, recognizing it as a critical health issue. One expert noted the movement is similar to the push for menstrual reforms, like scrapping the “tampon tax” and requiring free period products in many schools and workplaces. As she put it: "Menstruation and menopause are issues that can transcend politics and polarization.”

Related: RFK Jr. Touted the Measles Vaccine, And Then Pushed This Unproven Inhaler Measles Treatment (NBC News)

Settle This

What is the one thing Interior Secretary Doug Burgum wants his staff to get right?

Extra Credit

Watch

Your favorite dynamic duo has returned to the screen —- and this time, they’re taking on late-night TV. In season four of Max's Hacks (the first two episodes are now streaming), Deborah (Jean Smart) finally starts her dream talk show host gig, with her mentee/frenemy, Ava (Hannah Einbinder), in the show’s head writer position...despite Deborah's objections. As the two try to find a way to work together, prepare for all the razor-sharp humor, hilariously absurd hijinks, and brilliant chemistry we’ve come to love and expect. Add to that: The return of season three guest stars Helen Hunt and Tony Goldwyn and two new additions, Julianne Nicholson (of Mare of Easttown fame) and The Dropout's Michaela Watkin — and we're all in.

Game Time

Brick Breaker meets word search in Spelltower, your new favorite game. For every word you find, letter tiles disappear. The fewer tiles left when you run out of words, the better your score. Try it.