What's Happening

International

Trump's Human Rights Report Raises Alarms for Edits and Omissions

What's going on: The State Department is facing backlash after its annual human rights report scrubbed references to abuse and repression in countries friendly with President Donald Trump. The report, which covers 198 countries and territories, criticized longtime allies of the US like the UK, Germany, and France for their alleged attacks on free speech, while downplaying reports of violence in El Salvador and alleged war crimes committed by Israel. It also completely removed sections that were in past reports on violence towards women, the LGBTQIA+ community, and racial and ethnic groups. The State Department said its edits were to make the report easier to read, but one human rights expert called it an example of “what happens when political agendas take priority over the facts.”

What it means: Some analysts say the State Department’s account and failure to call out authoritarian governments could have long-term effects. That’s because Congress relies on these kinds of reports to help make decisions on foreign aid and weapons sales. The administration says it’s simply focusing its findings on new areas like “unlawful surveillance” and “disproportionately suppressing” conservative voices. Meanwhile, Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) said the report tracks with what is happening in the US: “If the Trump administration's going to be undermining human rights here, they don't want to have to report on what's happening in other countries."

Related: Trump Wants Putin To End War After Summit, or Face “Severe Consequences” (AP)

US News

MAGA's High Anxiety: Trump Flirts With Cannabis Reform

What's going on: President Donald Trump says he’ll consider reclassifying cannabis as a less dangerous drug in the coming weeks, according to The Wall Street Journal — a move that has members of his base pushing back. Weed is currently a Schedule I drug, but reclassification as Schedule III, for instance, would allow more scientific research and be a boon for the legal cannabis industry. Trump sees weed as “pretty good” for its medical perks, but his supporters say the so-called “devil’s lettuce” is a “one-way ticket to societal ruin,” Axios reports. The president has gone back and forth on this issue (though not on the smell) — even as cannabis companies have given his political groups millions.

What it means: The Trump administration hasn’t decided if the plan will move forward — or go up in smoke. While many states have already legalized recreational or medical cannabis, reclassification could open the door to more research. And not all of MAGA is split on the issue — some in the MAHA camp are happy with an alternative to “Big Pharma” for treatments to conditions like PTSD and mental health. As for what happens next, history could be an indicator of which way Trump lands on the issue. In 2024, Trump said he’d vote for a Florida amendment to legalize marijuana statewide (although the measure still failed).

Related: Drinking Among Adults Hit a Record Low — Here’s Why (CBS News)

Tech

IQ Babies Are the New Status Symbol in Tech

What's going on: In Silicon Valley, people are paying for a genetic testing service that screens embryos and purports to predict IQ (who’s going to tell them that EQ is the real flex). Companies are robbing the cradle with price tags of up to $50,000 for the service, which they say uses genetic tests to screen for IQ when selecting embryos to implant for in-vitro fertilization (IVF), The Wall Street Journal reports. This comes as more (rich) people express interest in “genetic optimization,” which critics believe is just a baby step away from eugenics. The growing movement comes as some pronatalists like Elon Musk have urged those with higher IQs on paper to procreate.

What it means: Bioethicists question the ethics and fairness of such genetic screening services, noting that “designer babies” are a slippery slope. Traditionally, genetic testing has been offered to make sure embryos don’t have genetic markers for life-altering or life-threatening diseases. Some experts have raised flags about the ethics of screening for conditions such as Down syndrome, but IQ is a whole other gray area. Of course, even if people pay to predict IQ, the science isn’t a guarantee, because thousands of gene variants factor into cognitive abilities. As some scholars point out, the cheapest, most proven way to boost your kid’s smarts hasn’t changed: Teach them.

Related: The “Godfather of AI” Says This Is the Only Way To Outsmart It (CNN)