US Visa Pause, Celebrity Pardons, COVID Vaccine Changes & Summer Blockbusters

Trump Administration's Visa and Harvard Actions

• 🛂 The Trump administration has paused all new student visa interviews to implement new measures for vetting applicants' social media accounts, potentially delaying the process and excluding more students.
• 🏛️ Federal agencies are reportedly ending contracts totaling approximately $100 million with Harvard University, following previous freezes on grants and contracts, due to accusations of liberal bias and allowing anti-semitic behavior.
• ⚖️ A federal judge struck down an executive order attempting to punish the law firm Wilmer Hale, ruling it unconstitutional, similar to previous rejections of orders against other firms.

High-Profile Pardons and COVID Vaccine Policy Shifts

• 🌟 President Trump has granted pardons to reality TV stars Todd and Julie Chrisley, who were convicted of tax evasion and bank fraud, and to former nursing home executive Paul Walsaac for tax crimes.
• 💉 The CDC has removed COVID-19 vaccines from the recommended list for healthy children and pregnant women, a decision made without typical independent advisory input, impacting insurance coverage.
• 🔬 The US government is now requiring extra testing for COVID-19 vaccines for approval for anyone other than high-risk individuals.

SpaceX, Volcano Eruption, and Tech Regulation

• 🚀 SpaceX's Starship rocket experienced issues during its ninth test flight, spinning out of control despite flying further than previous attempts, with more test launches planned every 3-4 weeks.
• 🌋 The Kilauea volcano on Hawaii's Big Island erupted, sending lava fountains and ash plumes high into the air, though the eruption is not considered life-threatening due to its location in a national park.
• 📱 Texas has enacted a new law requiring Apple and Google to verify user ages in their app stores before downloads or in-app purchases, aiming to give parents more control over children's online access.

Airline Fees and Summer Movie Success

• ✈️ Southwest Airlines has begun charging $35 for the first checked bag and $45 for the second, with exceptions for those holding the airline's credit card or elite status.
• 🎬 Movie theaters are celebrating a record-breaking Memorial Day weekend, with the live-action Lilo & Stitch movie setting a new opener record, and the final Mission Impossible installment also performing strongly.

Workplace Pet Perks

• 🐾 On-demand telehealth for animals is becoming a common employee benefit, with companies offering virtual vet consults to support pet owners and improve employee morale and focus.
• 🐶 Some companies also offer pet-friendly perks like bring your pet to work days or subsidizing shelter pet adoption fees.