What's Happening

International

India-Pakistan Tensions Hit a New High 

What's going on: Early this morning, the Pakistani military said it shot down 25 drones from India overnight into today, calling it a “serious provocation.” It comes after India launched military strikes in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir yesterday, killing at least 31 civilians, including children, per Pakistani officials.India said those strikes were in response to a militant attack last month in India-controlled Kashmir that killed 26 civilians, and that the strikes targeted “terrorist infrastructure.” But Pakistan called the assault “unprovoked” and an outright act of war — vowing to respond. Amid escalating tensions, both nations have shuttered their borders, expelled diplomats, and suspended a key water-sharing treaty — a move that could seriously disrupt Pakistan's agriculture and economy.

What it means: This latest flare-up has shattered a fragile ceasefire that had mostly held since 2021 — but the conflict between the two countries goes back much further. When British colonial rule ended in 1947, the subcontinent was split into Hindu-majority India and Muslim-majority Pakistan. Both claimed Kashmir, and they’ve fought three wars over it since. Now, with two nuclear powers back on edge — each believed to hold about 170 warheads — world leaders are watching with growing alarm. The international community, including the Trump administration, has urged both sides to de-escalate. India’s rising global influence only raises the stakes. As the US deepens its trade war with China, New Delhi is becoming an increasingly important economic and diplomatic ally — making peace in the region not just urgent, but geopolitically critical.

Related: Israel Launches New Airstrikes on Gaza Amid Push to Move Residents South (NYT Gift Link)

Politics

Medicaid Cuts Crash the GOP's Tax Dreams

What's going on: One of the GOP’s most controversial Medicaid cut proposals has officially been scrapped. The other is barely hanging on. After an hours-long meeting with moderate Republicans on Tuesday, House Speaker Mike Johnson said cutting the federal share for ACA Medicaid expansion is off the table. He also suggested a second idea — capping how much the federal government pays per enrollee — might be dropped too. Both measures could’ve left states scrambling to fill budget gaps and likely meant cutting services, raising taxes, or both. Moderates — especially those from districts where Medicaid is a lifeline — made clear they’d get skewered by constituents if these proposals went through. Hardline conservatives quickly warned that backing down from deep cuts could cost Johnson their support — and possibly sink the entire spending bill to fund President Donald Trump’s policy agenda.

What it means: Johnson’s retreat shows just how hard it is to find $880 billion in Medicaid savings — let alone the $2 trillion in overall cuts Republicans are chasing — without undermining their own base. The GOP is under pressure to fund Trump’s push for new and extended tax cuts, but their options are shrinking fast. Work-for-coverage rules, which require some Medicaid recipients to prove they’re working or job-hunting, are still being considered — but they would fall short of meeting the GOP’s savings target. With conservatives demanding big cuts and moderates drawing red lines, Johnson’s caught in a lose-lose standoff. Trump’s not helping much either — he’s publicly said he doesn’t want to gut Medicaid. If Republicans can’t agree on a path forward, the entire tax-and-spending package could collapse.

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Health

Study: Hidden Toxins in Beauty Products Marketed to Women of Color

What's going on: Everyone has their go-to products: the lotion that never misses, the curl cream that hits just right, or the eyeliner that somehow survives a full day. But a new study suggests some of those staples might come with a hidden risk. Researchers tracked the product use of 70 Black and Latina women and found that 53% used personal care items containing formaldehyde or formaldehyde-releasing preservatives daily. Some women applied products with these chemicals multiple times a day. These preservatives turned up in everything from lotions and body washes to eyeliners and lash glue. Past research sounded the alarm about formaldehyde in hair straighteners and nail treatments, but this new study reveals just how widespread its presence is across the beauty aisle.

What it means: Researchers say this isn’t just a chemistry problem — it’s an equity one. These products are disproportionately marketed to women of color and often come without clear labels or warnings. And instead of meaningful oversight, consumers are left trying to decode ingredient lists that sound more like a science exam.Formaldehyde is a known carcinogen, and repeated exposure — especially through products used daily across the body — can increase the risk of serious health issues, from cancers to reproductive harm. While Europe banned it in cosmetics years ago, the US is still dragging its feet. The FDA proposed a ban in 2023 but missed its own deadline last spring, leaving it up to states like California and Washington to take action.

Related: Study Says What Kids Eat May Impact Early Periods (CNN)