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Pete Hegseth wants Donald Trump to see him as a fighter amid the negative stories swirling around the defense secretary, two U.S. officials told NBC News, and has been focusing more on public and television appearances — including on his old network, Fox News — in which he can speak directly to the president.

Trump had told Hegseth during a recent phone call that he did not approve of his texting information about airstrikes in Yemen to a Signal group that included Hegseth’s wife, his brother and his personal attorney, describing what the defense secretary had done as childish, one U.S. official and another person familiar with the conversation said. The call ended with Trump telling Hegseth to keep fighting, however.

As he battles to keep his job amid a flood of reports about his behavior and infighting in his Pentagon, Hegseth’s behavior has become “erratic,” and he seems increasingly “insecure” about his job and standing in the administration, leading him to frequently reinforce to staff that he can’t allow himself to be fired, according to two officials familiar with the situation.

Officials who operate in Hegseth’s vicinity describe him as difficult and prickly, and said that he berates and yells at the staff. The officials described a tense environment with fighting, even yelling, among Hegseth’s senior staff. 

Last month, Hegseth was furious about leaks of his having approved a military briefing for Elon Musk on China, according to multiple defense officials. When officials found out The New York Times was preparing to report the meeting, Hegseth screamed at Adm. Chris Grady, the acting chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, saying he would “f—ing polygraph” him to find out if he leaked the information about the meeting, according to three U.S. officials familiar with the meeting. Hegseth staffers also threatened to polygraph Adm. Sam Paparo, the commander of U.S. IndoPacific Command, and Lt. Gen D.A. Sims, the director of the Joint Staff, the officials said, and told the Joint Chiefs who had access to information about the Musk briefing and the agenda that they would be subject to polygraphs, the officials said. 

The Wall Street Journal was first to report that Hegseth yelled at Grady and threatened him with a polygraph.  

As he deals with questions about his job performance, his handling of sensitive information and how long he’ll be able to hold on, Hegseth has had a significantly diminished staff around him.

Last week, three officials — Dan Caldwell, a senior adviser to Hegseth; Darin Selnick, Hegseth’s deputy chief of staff; and Colin Carroll, chief of staff to Deputy Defense Secretary Steve Feinberg — were all told they were implicated in a leak investigation, placed on administrative leave and escorted from the Pentagon. They were not given specifics about the allegations against them but all were terminated last Friday.  

They released a joint statement the next day in which they said, “We are incredibly disappointed by the manner in which our service at the Department of Defense ended. Unnamed Pentagon officials have slandered our character with baseless attacks on our way out the door.” They went on to call the experience “unconscionable,” but said they continue to support the Trump-Vance administration, without referencing any support for Hegseth. 

Days after being fired, Selnick and Caldwell were both exonerated. It’s not clear if Carroll was, as well. 

In another sudden staff shake-up, Hegseth’s chief of staff, Joe Kasper, also left his role last week. On Monday, a senior defense official provided this statement to NBC News: “Joe Kasper will continue to serve President Trump as a Special Government Employee (SGE) handling special projects at the Department of Defense. Secretary Hegseth is thankful for his continued leadership and work to advance the America First agenda.”

During a Fox News interview Tuesday, Hegseth was asked whether Kasper has a new role. “He’s staying with us, going to be in a slightly different role, but he’s not going anywhere, certainly not fired. You make changes over time, and we’re grateful for everything Joe’s done.”

On Friday, the Pentagon announced that Hegseth had tapped four officials who’d already been working in the building to support him in what’s known as the front office. That includes Justin Fulcher, Patrick Weaver and Ricky Buria as senior advisers. Sean Parnell, who has been serving as the assistant to the defense secretary for public affairs and chief Pentagon spokesman, is now also a senior adviser. No individual had been identified as Hegseth’s chief of staff. 

“Regular workforce adjustments are a feature of any highly efficient organization,” the Pentagon’s acting press secretary, Kingsley Wilson, said in a statement. “Secretary Hegseth will continue to be proactive with personnel decisions and will work hard to ensure the Department of Defense has the right people in the right positions to execute President Trump’s agenda.” 

In the meantime, revelations about Hegseth’s use of Signal and potential security risks he’s creating with it have not stopped coming. The latest is that Hegseth had a special internet line installed in his Pentagon office in defiance of the Defense Department’s normal security protocols so that he could use the Signal app on a personal computer there, according to two officials familiar with the matter.  

The so-called “dirty” line, referred to that way because it’s not secured, increases the likelihood of the office being hacked or surveilled by a foreign adversary or another entity because it doesn’t have the same security filters as other, highly secure lines in and out of the office. Hegseth’s office is considered a SCIF, or sensitive, compartmentalized information facility, which is specially designed to protect communications.  The existence of the line was first reported by The Associated Press on Thursday. 

Many student loan borrowers recently got some unwelcome news: The U.S. Department of Education will restart the process of involuntary collections, including wage garnishments, as early as May 5.

“American taxpayers will no longer be forced to serve as collateral for irresponsible student loan policies,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon in a statement.

For five years, collection activity on federal student loans has mostly been paused. The Biden administration took a less aggressive approach than the Trump administration, focusing on extending relief measures to struggling borrowers in the wake of the Covid pandemic and helping them to get current.

“People who default on loans typically truly cannot afford to pay them,” said James Kvaal, who served as U.S. undersecretary of education for former President Joe Biden.

Outstanding federal education debt exceeds $1.6 trillion, with more than 42 million Americans holding the loans. There could be roughly 10 million borrowers in default within a few months, according to the Trump administration.

Here are answers to questions borrowers may have about the upcoming collection activity.

What payments can be garnished?

The U.S. government has extraordinary collection powers on federal debts and it can seize borrowers’ federal tax refunds, wages, and Social Security retirement and disability benefits, according to higher education expert Mark Kantrowitz.

The federal government can intercept other funds such as state income tax refunds and lottery winnings, Kantrowitz said.

In some cases, federal student loan borrowers can also be sued by the U.S. Department of Justice, and face a levy on the funds in their bank accounts, he said.

How much money can be taken?

Social Security recipients can typically see up to 15% of their monthly benefit reduced to pay back their defaulted student debt, but beneficiaries need to be left with at least $750 a month, experts said.

Carolina Rodriguez, director of the Education Debt Consumer Assistance Program in New York, said she was especially concerned about the consequences of resumed collections on retirees.

“Losing a portion of their Social Security benefits to repay student loans could mean not having enough for food, transportation to medical appointments, or other basic necessities,” Rodriguez said.

Meanwhile, your entire federal tax refund can be seized, including any refundable credits, Kantrowitz said. Fortunately, if you’ve already received your 2024 federal income tax refund, “the government cannot claw it back,” Kantrowitz said.

As for your wages, the federal government can garnish up to 15% of your disposable pay without a court order, Kantrowitz said. Wages of federal workers may be easier to seize, he added.

How can I avoid collection activity?

Take steps to get out of default and to try to avoid the start of any garnishments, experts said.

Borrowers in default will receive an email over the next two weeks making them aware of the new policy, the Education Department said. You can contact the government’s Default Resolution Group and pursue a number of different avenues to get current on your loans, including enrolling in an income-driven repayment plan or signing up for loan rehabilitation. 

Some borrowers may also be eligible for deferments or a forbearance, which are different ways to pause your payments, Rodriguez said.

“We’re advising clients to request a retroactive forbearance to cover missed payments, and a temporary forbearance until they can get enrolled in an income-driven repayment plan,” she said.

If you do end up facing the garnishment of your Social Security benefits or wages, the government is required to provide you with notice before it starts its collection activity, Kantrowitz said. For your wages, a 30-day warning is required, while 65 days’ notice must be given before the seizure of Social Security benefits, he said.

You may have the option to have a hearing before an administrative law judge within 30 days of receiving a wage garnishment order, Kantrowitz said. Your wages may be protected if your employment has been spotty, or if you’ve filed for bankruptcy, he said.

“Borrowers can also challenge the wage garnishment if it will result in financial hardship,” Kantrowitz said.

You can dispute the offsets to your Social Security benefits, too, he said, by contacting the Education Department. The notice you receive should provide information on whom to contact.

The importance of a dependable, young and inexpensive — because of cost-controlled rookie contracts — quarterback is so perpetual in the NFL that teams tend to “overdraft” the position, selecting them far higher than a player might rank on a team’s list of prospects, said NBC Sports analyst Chris Simms, a former NFL quarterback.

It explains why since 2018, an average of 3.8 quarterbacks have been selected annually in the NFL draft’s first round, including six in 2024. Yet that wasn’t the case in the first round of the 2025 draft Thursday in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Quarterbacks mostly remained on the sideline, waiting their turn.

After Miami’s Cam Ward went No. 1, as expected, to Tennessee — the seventh time a quarterback went first overall in the past eight drafts — another quarterback wasn’t selected until Mississippi’s Jaxson Dart at No. 25, by the New York Giants, who traded up for the pick. 

It was only the second time since 2016 that two or fewer quarterbacks were taken in the opening round and reinforced what had been said about this draft class for months — that the quarterbacks available were talented but not without flaws that could give teams pause. 

Though NFL teams remain desperate for quality quarterbacks, they have resisted making a run on the position so far.

“It’s so important in the league that at times, teams can overdraft the position,” Simms told NBC News last week. “It’s like, wait, this guy’s really, like, the 45th player in the draft, but because of the importance of the position and all that, all of a sudden we’re talking about him at pick number 10 or 11, right? And therefore that can happen a little bit. And so now you’ve got a guy where you’re going, ‘Wait, he’s a top-10 pick or a No. 12 pick in the draft, he should be awesome.’ And it’s like, no, he’s just good.”

The quarterback with the widest draft variance was Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders, who was not selected Thursday after entering the night as a consensus No. 9 pick to New Orleans, per a database that tracks and combines dozens of mock drafts. Oddsmakers installed Sanders as a favorite to land with the Saints, as well. Yet New Orleans passed despite an uncertain future at the position with Derek Carr nursing a shoulder injury.

And Pittsburgh, the next logical landing spot for Sanders as the Steelers await word from future Hall of Famer Aaron Rodgers about his decision to play in 2025, also passed at No. 21. 

Also still available during the second and third rounds, which take place Friday beginning at 7 p.m., is Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe. 

Pope Francis has been called the “people’s” pope, a “maverick” pope and the “outsider” pope.

He could also be called the fútbol pope.

The soccer world has been paying tribute to the late pontiff from Argentina, who used his love of fútbol — the term for soccer in Spanish — as a way to connect with people around the world, especially with young people. Francis was also known to use football in analogies to convey messages of teamwork, inclusion, hard work and unity. He promoted the “Match for Peace,” where the sport’s top players take part in a friendly match to promote peace and unity.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino said this week on Instagram that on the occasions where he spent time with the pope, “he always shared his enthusiasm for football and highlighted the important role our sport plays in society, particularly in the education and protection of children around the world.”

His hometown team devotion — and its ultimate tribute

Francis has said he’s loved the game since he was a child, even though he’s admitted he was “not among the best” and quipped that he had “two left feet.”

The pontiff was a card-carrying member of his hometown soccer club, San Lorenzo de Almagro, which was founded by a priest and is named after a saint. As fan No. 88235, the first Latin American pope kept paying dues to the club even after he was at the Vatican.

Francis was such a fan that in 2014, when San Lorenzo won the coveted Copa Libertadores title, the team’s leadership went to the Vatican to share in the celebration and gave the pope a replica of their trophy. Later, they announced they wanted a future new stadium to be named after the pontiff.

This week, San Lorenzo President Marcelo Moretti confirmed on a radio show that plans for a new stadium with the pope’s name are coming along, and he revealed that Francis got emotional when the team formally asked him years ago whether it could name its future new home after him.

“He said yes with emotion,” Moretti told Blu Radio. “The truth is he was very happy about it. In fact, we took him a piece of the old San Lorenzo stadium and where the new one will be built … he got very emotional. It was very exciting for us and for him, too; he told me in subsequent letters.”

At a Mass held this week in his hometown, many were wearing the navy-and-red San Lorenzo jerseys.

During his papacy, Francis welcomed some of the best soccer players in the world: goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon from Italy, striker Zlatan Ibrahimović from Sweden and midfielder Ronaldinho from Brazil, among many others.

Ronaldhino posted on Instagram a photo of him and the pontiff, with the caption in his native Brazilian saying, “Rest in peace, Pope Francis.”

Lionel Messi, arguably the most famous soccer player today, shared a photo of his meeting with the pope in an Instagram story on Monday. The caption read: “a different, approachable, Argentine pope, thank you for making the world a better place, we will miss you.” 

In his 2024 autobiography, Francis dedicated an entire chapter to Diego Maradona, the Argentine football legend known for his “Hand of God” goal in the 1986 World Cup. The two met in 2014. Maradona, who died in 2020, had said that Francis had restored his Catholic faith.

Francis’ love of the game even inspired a fictional, but well-liked scene in Netflix’s hit film “The Two Popes.” In the movie, Pope Benedict and then-Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio watch the 2014 World Cup final between their two countries, Germany and Argentina.

WASHINGTON — The FBI arrested a county judge in Milwaukee on Friday, alleging that she obstructed the detention of an undocumented immigrant who was wanted by federal authorities, a senior law enforcement official told NBC News.

The arrest of Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Hannah Dugan marks a significant escalation of the Trump administration’s crackdown on immigration, in line with its rhetoric about going after local and state authorities on immigration-related matters.

Dugan was arrested by the FBI and is now in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service, the senior law enforcement official said. The official told NBC News that Dugan was arrested at about 8:30 a.m. local time in the parking lot of the Milwaukee County Courthouse, before she entered the building. She was then transferred to the custody of the U.S. Marshals.

Court documents related to the arrest were not yet available on Friday.

The news broke in a since-deleted post on X from FBI Director Kash Patel, in which he wrote that the bureau believed that Dugan “intentionally misdirected federal agents” when the “subject to be arrested” had appeared in Dugan’s court on a separate case.

Patel said that agents “chased down the perp on foot,” but said that Hagan’s “obstruction created increased danger to the public.

The deputy court clerk for Judge Dugan told NBC News that they could not comment on the arrest, and the chief judge of the court did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The first day of the 2025 NFL draft began as expected, with Miami quarterback Cam Ward selected first by Tennessee.

Before Ward could even walk across the draft stage in Green Bay, Wisconsin, to shake NFL commissioner Roger Goodell’s hand, however, the draft veered quickly into unexpected territory.

Cleveland traded out of the second pick and Jacksonville moved up. Hours later, the Giants and Falcons made their trades to grab late-round picks. Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders slid out of the first round. It created a night of drama with two days and six rounds still to go before the draft ends.

NBC News analyzes the first night’s action and what it means moving forward.

Favorite first-round pick

Kamisar: Howie Roseman did it again. The Eagles executive vice president and general manager is known for his proclivity to move up and down the board, and on Thursday, he walks away with a gem in Alabama linebacker Jihaad Campbell (and only needed to slide up one spot to do it).

Campbell is exactly the kind of athletic, versatile and hard-nosed defensive player that the Eagles have all over their defense. He might not have a massive impact right away, but it reminds me of the Nolan Smith pick in 2023 — draft a talented player with a high ceiling, even if you don’t need to rely on him immediately. The Eagles have that luxury, and Campbell might blossom into a star.

Greif: Matthew Golden of Texas to Green Bay, the 23rd pick that left the home crowd (and probably current Packers quarterback Jordan Love) screaming in delight. Golden was the fastest receiver in the draft and will upgrade the Packers’ offense. Green Bay was solid last season but struggled against the NFL’s best teams and maybe his speed can add dynamism to Green Bay’s options. Oh, did we mention this was the Packers’ first wide receiver taken in the first round since 2002? Somewhere, former Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers might be stewing.

Nadkarni: Ashton Jeanty to the Las Vegas Raiders at No. 6 was a nice little reminder that running backs can still matter. I’ve enjoyed Jeanty’s attitude during this draft process, and his conviction that he can be a game-changer for an offense. The Raiders certainly believe so, making Jeanty the highest running back selected in the draft since Saquon Barkley in 2018.

I’m also digging the new look of the Vegas offense now. The team traded for Geno Smith to start the offseason, not only a massive upgrade for the Raiders but a sneaky great move to snag an underrated player. Las Vegas also invested in the offensive line in free agency and now adds a potential workhorse back to make Smith’s life easier. Combine all this with new head coach Pete Carroll, and I feel like the Jeanty pick was the icing on a tasty offseason cake.

Most head-scratching selection

Kamisar: I love Tennessee edge rusher James Pearce Jr.’s pass-rush juice and athleticism (4.47 40-yard dash). But it’s what it took the Falcons to get there, trading back into the first round and giving up a 2026 first-round pick to do so, that gives me pause. Especially in a deep edge-rusher class, it’s a lot to give up. So while I like the talent, I wonder about the cost.

Greif: Cincinnati drafting edge rusher Shemar Stewart at No. 17. Few players in this draft tested more impressively than Stewart, who has the wingspan of a condor and runs a 4.59-second 40-yard dash. He creates disruption, but not necessarily production, and if the Bengals are at all thinking that Stewart might be a replacement for star defensive end Trey Hendrickson — who is still waiting for a contract extension — I just worry about how much production could be lost.

Nadkarni: I understand the Pittsburgh Steelers didn’t want to reach for a quarterback with the 21st pick, but what is that team’s plan for the position, exactly? The Steelers were a popular destination for Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders, instead selecting defensive tackle Derrick Harmon in the first round. While Sanders may have been a bit of a gamble at 21, the quarterbacks currently on Pittsburgh’s roster are Mason Rudolph and Skylar Thompson.

I know Mike Tomlin has never had a losing season, but going into the season with Rudolph and Thompson as the only QBs on the team would really test Tomlin’s streak. And if the Steelers’ plan isn’t to add a quarterback early in the draft…does that mean the team is waiting for — exaggerated gulp — Aaron Rodgers?

Favorite player left on the board

Kamisar: Positional value and the limited shelf life of running backs makes it hard to know when the running backs should come off of the board. But if it’s just a question of my favorite player left, that’s easy: Ohio State running back TreVeyon Henderson. After being dogged by some injuries during his career, his 2024 season reminded folks of his sky-high potential. He’s got 4.43 speed, a nose for the end zone, great juice as a receiver and will endear himself to his future head coach with a willingness to take on a pass rush to protect his quarterback.

More Sports from NBC News

Greif: Maybe this is my Pacific Northwest roots showing, but I absolutely love the potential of Washington State receiver Kyle Williams. He switched between the slot and ‘X’ and had 14 touchdowns last season, fourth-most in the Football Bowl Subdivision. I can see why he wouldn’t be a first-round pick given his 5-11 height, but I also think he’s more of a downfield threat than some might think.

Nadkarni: I have a hard time believing LSU tight end Mason Taylor won’t be the kind of security-blanket pass catcher 31 fan bases will be envious of when they watch him play for whoever ultimately drafts him. Taylor is also somewhat of a supercharged nepo baby, as he’s both the son and nephew of former Miami Dolphins greats Jason Taylor and Zach Taylor, respectively.

Taylor was no slouch for the Tigers in college, becoming the school’s first 100-catch, 1,000-yard player at tight end. He’s a big, athletic target who also shouldn’t be a liability in the run game. Taylor profiles as the kind of tight end who can make an impact early in his career.

Team of the draft

Kamisar: The Giants had their cake and ate it, too. They stood firm with the third overall pick and netted one of the consensus blue-chip prospects in Abdul Carter. And they took a swing at quarterback by trading back up (without having to sacrifice a first-round pick next year) to snag Jaxson Dart. Giants fans must be thrilled.

Greif: To Ben’s point, I really liked what the Giants pulled off. I also liked that Cleveland didn’t reach for a quarterback it didn’t necessarily believe in at No. 2 and traded back to get Mason Graham while also having two of the first four picks of Friday’s second round. Honorable mention goes to Minnesota, which bolstered an offensive line that fell apart late last season with offensive guard Donovan Jackson of Ohio State at No. 24.

Nadkarni: I have to give some love to the Jacksonville Jaguars here. Do I know for sure their bold play for Travis Hunter was the right call? Certainly not, but I love when teams don’t shy away from making a splash. Not only did the Jaguars trade up for Hunter, aggressively going after their guy, early reports indicate the team is open to playing him on both sides of the ball (even if its only a limited role on defense).

At the risk of dumbing down my analysis to something incredibly simple…that sounds really fun! Mix in a new head coach who helped revive Baker Mayfield and a general manager who is not afraid to cite “F them picks” in his draft night press conference, and there’s a palpable buzz in Jacksonville after round one.

HONG KONG — President Donald Trump has a new nickname in China: “The Lord of Eternal Tariffs.”

Jokes and memes about the tariffs Trump has imposed on Beijing and other U.S. trading partners have been proliferating online in China, embraced by state media seeking to rally the public as well as ordinary internet users bemused by Trump’s policy decisions.

“The Lord of Eternal Tariffs,” which can also be translated as “10,000 Tariff Grandpa,” appeared last week in a report by CCTV, China’s state-run broadcaster, which said Americans were “rising up in arms” against the tariffs amid fears they could harm the U.S. economy.

As the world’s two largest economies appear at an impasse over tariff levels that amount to a mutual embargo — a 145% U.S. levy on Chinese goods, and a 125% Chinese levy on goods from the U.S. —Beijing has been allowing such rhetoric to promote the perception that it has the upper hand over Trump.

China has taken a hard line on the trade dispute, with its Commerce Ministry saying Thursday that the U.S. should revoke all unilateral tariffs against China if it “truly wants to solve the problem.”

Even as the potential impact on their populations begins to sink in, the two countries are far from reaching the kind of trade deal Trump says the tariffs are designed to extract. They can’t even agree on whether talks have started.

Trump said Thursday that U.S. and Chinese officials had met that morning, without specifying who the officials were.

Asked about Trump’s remarks on Friday, the Chinese Foreign Ministry again disputed that any talks were taking place.

“There have been no consultations or negotiations between China and the U.S. on tariff issues,” spokesperson Guo Jiakun said. “The U.S. should not mislead the public.”

Commenters on China’s heavily censored social media have been quick to seize on any suggestion that Trump might blink. Earlier this week, after Trump said the U.S. was “going to be very nice” to China and that final tariffs would “not be anywhere near” 145%, one of the top trending hashtags on the Chinese social media platform Weibo was #TrumpWimpsOut.

Chinese social media users have also satirized what they see as Trump’s strongman aspirations. On RedNote, a Chinese platform similar to Instagram, AI-generated images show Trump dressed like a Chinese emperor.

Others have made fun of the idea of the United States reverting to a nation focused mainly on manufacturing, with one AI-generated video depicting Trump, Elon Musk, Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio working on a production line in blue jumpsuits.

Content creators on platforms not accessible in China have also joined in the online mockery. A parody account on YouTube produced a video called “The Song of MAGA,” in which Trump, Musk, Vance and Rubio march together in front of a banner that says “Serve the people,” a political slogan often used by the Chinese government.

“The Lord of Eternal Tariffs” joins other Chinese nicknames for Trump that have been around since his first term, such as “King Know-It-All.” One popular transliteration of Trump’s name is “Trump Builds the Nation” — the nation being China, which some say could become more influential in the world as the Trump administration withdraws from it.

Joking aside, there are indications that both China and the U.S. are looking for ways to minimize the impact of the tariffs on their economies and people. Last week, for example, the Trump administration said that smartphones and other consumer electronics, which are among the biggest Chinese exports to the U.S., would receive tariff exemptions.

Asked Friday about reports that China was considering exempting some U.S. imports from the 125% tariff, Guo, the Foreign Ministry spokesperson, said he was “not aware” of the situation.

But Beijing is openly pushing a campaign to help companies whose exports could be blocked sell them to the domestic market instead.

Six Chinese online retailers, including JD.com and PDD, now have designated sections to help exporters sell their goods to Chinese consumers, the Ministry of Commerce said Thursday.

Walmart’s China unit has rolled out a similar channel in response to Beijing’s call for the “integrated development of domestic and foreign trade,” it said Thursday.

At Joy City mall in Beijing, there are new signs that say “Exports turned domestic” and “Support Chinese-made products.” The section sells a wide range of products, including clothes, shoes, suitcases, canned food and even fine porcelain.

Experts say the campaign may not gain much traction given that the Chinese government has struggled for years to boost domestic consumption.

It’s “naive” for Chinese exporters to make up for their losses by selling in other markets since there are many products that only Americans will buy, such as Christmas decorations, said Andy Xie, an independent economist in Shanghai.

“People need to accept the reality that a lot of businesses will eventually all shut down,” he said.

Peter Guo reported from Hong Kong, and Dawn Liu from Beijing.

A member of the K-pop boy band Just B publicly came out as gay during a concert this week in Los Angeles. It’s a rare move in a high-pressure Korean music industry, in which artists tend to be fiercely guarded about their private lives.

Just B-member Bain, 23, made the announcement while performing a solo at the band’s LA show Tuesday, saying “I’m proud to be a part of the LGBTQ+ community — as a gay person.” Videos shared on social media showed the crowd responding with loud cheers.

“To anyone out there who’s part of the LGBTQ+ community, or still figuring it out — this is for you. You are seen, you are loved, and you were born this way,” he added, in a reference to the song by Lady Gaga whom he called “my queen.”

He then launching into a performance of the song while waving a rainbow pride flag.

Publicly identifying as gay is rare among active K-pop stars, whose behavior is tightly controlled by music labels and policed by fans who expect them to have wholesome images. According to the Korean media outlet News1, Bain is the first male K-pop star to come out publicly.

After Tuesday’s performance, Bain’s bandmate Siwoo left a message of support on a fan platform, South Korean media reported.

“I was watching from backstage and I cried too,” he said. “I cried even more because I knew how hard it was for him.”

Fans have also shown their support, with one of the most popular comments on Bain’s Instagram post saying, “I’m so proud of you, kiddo. Always love yourself because WE LOVE YOU!!!!”

Just B, a six-member group, has released five EPs and several singles since debuting in 2021.

Before Bain, Jiae from the now-defunct girl group Wassup said in 2020 that she was bisexual, while Lara, an Indian-American member of the U.S.-based girl-group Katseye, came out as queer last month on a fan platform.

Homosexuality is a sensitive subject in socially conservative South Korea, where same-sex marriage is not legally recognized. Discrimination against LGBT people “remains pervasive,” Human Rights Watch said in a 2023 report.

In today’s newsletter: Companies warn that stores could see empty shelves unless Trump changes his tune on tariffs. Fears that potential Medicaid cuts could impact life-saving treatments. And a polarizing NFL prospect remains on the board for the draft.

Here’s what to know today.

Product shortages loom with falling shipments from China

President Donald Trump’s tariffs first sent stocks on a chaotic ride of steep losses and rallies. Now, retailers are warning that his trade policy is poised to cause pandemic-era product shortages that could see empty shelves at major retailers.

Experts say lower-cost footwear, apparel and toys could be the first items to go missing from store shelves in the coming months. Companies have been canceling their shipments of goods from China and halting new orders after Trump put a 145% tariff on nearly all Chinese imports this month, meaning Americans could find far fewer options during back-to-school and holiday shopping than they are used to.

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 “If the administration waits to resolve the problem until we have shortages and hoarding, that is just too late,” Sean Stein, president of the U.S.-China Business Council, said. 

Trump said this week that the U.S. and China were in talks to negotiate, but a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson refuted the claim, saying that both countries haven’t “engaged in any consultations … let alone reached an agreement.”

For companies that can’t shell out to pay the tariffs, their goods will likely sit at U.S. ports until they can be auctioned off.

Read the full story.

Parents of kids with cancer fear budget cuts could slash Medicaid

After Paula McLaurin learned her seven-year-old son had leukemia, what followed was weeks of chemotherapy and other treatment. She was forced to quit her job as a fifth-grade teacher to care for him. On the single salary of her husband, the family struggled to pay their bills, and without private insurance from teaching, the McLaurins turned to Medicaid for coverage.

Medicaid insures nearly half of all children and 1 out of 3 kids diagnosed with cancer, according to the American Cancer Society’s Cancer Action Network.

Trump maintains Medicaid won’t be touched, but he and Republican lawmakers have directed the House to make drastic cuts in the federal budget, and the Congressional Budget Office has said House Republicans can’t meet their budget target without making significant cuts to Medicaid or Medicare. House Speaker Mike Johnson has said the cuts will be made by eliminating fraud, waste and abusive spending, but experts said that’s not realistic. 

“There is a misalignment between the proposed cuts the Republicans are trying to make [and] the actual scope of fraud and waste,” said Megan Cole Brahim, an associate professor at the Boston University School of Public Health and co-director of the school’s Medicaid Policy Lab.

McClaurin said she is “terrified” at the prospect of losing Medicaid. Like other families with sick children, the uncertainty around what funds will cover potentially life-saving treatment has only caused more stress.

Read the full story here.

The biggest takeaways from the first night of the NFL draft

The 2025 NFL draft kicked off with a few surprising picks and trades, but a handful of great names are still on the board. Sports reporter Rohan Nadkarni has all the takeaways from night one:

The Tennessee Titans selected Miami Hurricanes quarterback Cam Ward with the first overall pick to kick off Thursday’s NFL draft. While Ward was long expected to go first overall, the excitement of the night really began at No. 2. The Cleveland Browns held the second overall pick but traded the selection to the Jaguars.

Jacksonville Jaguars then took Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter, who played both wide receiver and cornerback at Colorado. It was a bold move by the Jaguars, who in addition to drafting Hunter are trying to resuscitate the franchise after they hired a new coach and a new general manager this offseason.

One player notably not selected was Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders, who was a possibility for the Steelers at No. 21. Pittsburgh was a popular destination for Sanders in mock drafts, but it ultimately took Oregon defensive tackle Derrick Harmon. Sanders now slides to the second round, which will take place along with the third round today.

Read the full recap here.

Read All About It

• Shannon Sharpe announced he will “step aside temporarily” from his position at ESPN while he faces a $50 million lawsuit accusing him of rape. 
• Trump signed an order to investigate ActBlue, a leading Democratic fundraising platform, claiming the site is used to “improperly influence American elections.”
• A judge ruled prosecutors can pursue the death penalty against Bryan Kohberger, who is accused of fatally stabbing four Idaho college students in 2022.
• The USDA will withdraw a Biden-era proposal that would have created new safety standards to reduce Salmonella in raw poultry products.

Staff Pick: Meet the 1940s secretary who used office time to produce the first lesbian magazine

Edythe Eyde was a 25-year-old secretary at RKO Radio Pictures in Los Angeles when she created America’s first lesbian magazine, Vice Versa, on her office typewriter in 1947. She described it as “a magazine dedicated, in all seriousness, to those of us who will never quite be able to adapt ourselves to the iron-bound rules of Convention.”

The publication, which Eyde wrote mostly herself, featured original poems, short stories and reviews of books, films and plays; any dramatic work with the slightest undertone of attraction between women was fair game. She distributed the photocopied magazine to friends, asking that they be passed along. She also sent copies by mail, until a friend warned of illegality; the Comstock Act forbade sending “obscene, lewd or lascivious” materials, without describing further.

“It was revolutionary,” acclaimed historian Lillian Faderman said of Vice Versa. “I don’t think she realized how revolutionary it was. I don’t think she realized how brave and meaningful it was.”T

The publication was short-lived, with only nine monthly issues from June 1947 to February 1948, but it provided an important window into lesbian life in the ‘40s that has become invaluable to students of LGBTQ history.

Read more about Vice Versa and Edith Eyde, which was published to coincide with Lesbian Visibility Week.

— Brooke Sopelsa, OUT editorial director

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CHICAGO — Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker is expected to endorse his lieutenant governor, Juliana Stratton, for the Senate on Friday, just two days after longtime Sen. Dick Durbin said he would not seek a sixth term. 

Pritzker plans to make the announcement — news of which was shared in advance with NBC News — at an event in the city’s Southside neighborhood of Bronzeville, where Stratton grew up. 

The backing — which is sure to include financial resources from Pritzker, a billionaire — instantly lifts Stratton’s profile in a race that is expected to draw a crowded field given that Durbin has held the seat for nearly 30 years. The group could include at least two Democratic members of Congress. 

Pritzker, a potential 2028 presidential hopeful, has historically not been shy about tapping his vast wealth to support his own campaigns, as well as Democratic efforts across the country. He is armed with a robust political operation in the state, as well as the political muscle to spur Stratton’s chances. 

“Over the past six years, I’ve had the privilege of working with Juliana Stratton, one of Illinois’ fiercest fighters for working families. She is a tested and steady leader who leads from a place of integrity, pragmatism, and dedication,” Pritzker said in a statement. “Juliana’s lived experience has made her a passionate and compassionate advocate able to get big things done. I’m proud to call her not just a partner in governance, but a true friend.” 

Pritzker and Stratton came into office in 2018 after a bruising election against another free-spending candidate, then-Gov. Bruce Rauner. 

The two have ushered in popular changes in the state, including protecting reproductive rights, raising the minimum wage and eliminating the state’s tax on groceries. 

Stratton on Thursday became the first person to launch her Senate campaign, just one day after Durbin, 80, announced he would not seek re-election next year. He said it was time for the next generation to lead the party.