News Above the Noise—Week of March 2, 2025
1. Trump and Vance Chastise Ukrainian President Zelensky as Cameras Roll
On Friday, President Trump and Vice President Vance accused ally Ukrainian President Zelensky of not being grateful to the United States in a televised press conference. This overtly hostile exchange between “friendly” foreign leaders not seen in modern history prompted Zelensky to leave the White House without a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia. What happens next? And what does this mean for the future of the war in Ukraine?
2. How Contagious Is Measles?
Measles is one of the most contagious diseases on Earth—more than Ebola, smallpox or just about any other infectious disease. And measles vaccination rates are the lowest they have been in decades, hovering around 92%. Find out which factors will determine the size and scale of the current outbreak.
3. Is Musk The Biggest US Welfare Recipient of all time?
A new report shows that Musk has been paid out for at least 38 billion in government contracts, loans, subsidies and tax credits over the past 20 years. And the total amount could be much higher given that federal funding for defense and intelligence projects is classified. As Musk shuts down government agencies and fires thousands of employees via DOGE, what does he stand to gain?
4. How to Argue with a Conspiracy Theorist
Could a robot convince a person that JFK, Michael Jackson, and Prince aren’t actually still alive and posing as members of The Rolling Stones? According to a new study, researchers found a 20% reduction of belief in conspiracy theories after participants interacted with a Chat GPT 4 conversation partner trained to refute shoddy evidence of mass conspiracies. Find out why it is so effective.
5. Savoring the Moment Could Be the Secret to Happiness
Focusing on past, present, or future experiences with particular attention to the positive parts can create a higher level of reported happiness. Here’s how to savor the moments that matter and find greater satisfaction in your daily life while creating lasting memories that bring joy for years to come.
Editor's Note: Every week, The Sunday Paper's team of journalists sift through the news to find what Rises Above the Noise, makes sense of what's happening in the world, and provides hope for your week to come. While we do our best to provide our own informative summary of each piece, some publications require their own subscriptions beyond our control.
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