What's Happening

Health

A Controversial New Warning About Tylenol and Pregnancy 

What's going on: President Donald Trump announced that the FDA will advise doctors to limit the use of acetaminophen during pregnancy, saying the drug “can be associated with a very increased risk of autism.” The move comes despite decades of evidence that Tylenol is considered to be the safest pain reliever to take during pregnancy, doctors and the drug’s maker said. Trump said the FDA warning would urge pregnant women to only use Tylenol when it’s medically necessary, such as for “extremely high fever,” or, as he put it, “if you can’t tough it out.” Doctors pushed back, saying untreated illness could pose a bigger danger, and that there’s still “no clear evidence” of a link to autism.

What it means: Pregnant women are already told to limit Tylenol. But health experts worry that the new guidelines could push expectant mothers to skip needed treatment. Concerns about Tylenol and child development go back years, but experts note most studies are observational — they show patterns but can’t prove cause and effect. Scientists broadly agree that autism stems from a mix of genetics and environment, not a single drug. Meanwhile, Trump officials also announced leucovorin — a folate-based drug tied to brain development — as a potential autism treatment. The FDA said it would soon approve the drug for autism, even though research is limited and still in early stages.  

Related: OB-GYN Group Rolls Out New Rules on Weed and Pregnancy (CNN)

International

More Nations Back Palestinian Statehood at the UN

What's going on: In recent days, some of Israel’s allies have moved to recognize Palestine as a state — bringing the total number of countries to over 150. That includes the UK, France, Canada, Portugal, and Australia. Many more are expected to do the same at this week’s United Nations General Assembly, where the Israel-Hamas war is top of mind. (The Trump administration sanctioned Palestinian leaders, so they will not be there.) As for the US, President Donald Trump is expected to address the war in his speech today, followed by a meeting with Arab and Muslim leaders to discuss a peace plan for Gaza.

What it means: Trump is the only major world leader still standing by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The mounting death toll in Gaza and Israel’s attacks on seven different countries since the start of the war have left Netanyahu more isolated than ever, according to Axios. And while countries hope that recognizing Palestine might help foster a two-state solution, it may achieve the opposite. On Sunday, Netanyahu promised that Palestine would never exist, and The Washington Post reports he could be planning to retaliate soon. He plans to sit down with Trump later this week to seek his blessing for an even stronger approach, which could include annexation of all or part of the West Bank. Meanwhile, others await proof that Europe’s words at the UN will turn into action.

Related: A New IDF Offensive in Gaza Could Be Coming (The Guardian)

Relationships

First Comes Love, Then Comes…Financial Stability?

What’s going on: In a perfect world, two people have a meet-cute, fall in love, and head straight to the altar. Except this isn’t a Julia Roberts Y2K rom-com — it’s 2025 and people have other priorities. The Wall Street Journal reports that more people now hold off on marriage until they hit certain milestones, like a big promotion or a house purchase with their partner. And it has a name: The “capstone model of marriage.” This type of thinking is one of the reasons why so many people choose to marry later in life (if they even want to get hitched at all). Last year, the median age to tie the knot was 30 for men and 29 for women, up from 28 and 26 in 2008. 

What it means: As one expert puts it, “Marriage has become a status symbol.” Holding off until everything is financially perfect won’t thrill overbearing mothers, but analysts say it might be helping drive down divorce rates. For some people, the bar to walk down the aisle now sits so high that they struggle to meet people. They either refuse to make space for a partner or can’t find someone who can match them financially. It’s especially true for women, who make up 60% of college graduates. Maybe money is the key to happiness.

Related: This Is How Much It Costs To Live Out the American Dream (USA Today)

Your Political Briefing

The week in political chaos.

Under pressure: President Donald Trump made his most-public call yet for AG Pam Bondi to go after his political opponents.

Reflections: In her first live interview since the election, former VP Kamala Harris shared how she really felt about Joe Biden’s initial reelection bid.

Manifesting: UFC CEO Dana White shared some bold renderings for what a fight at the White House would look like.

Worth Watching

What you need to know about metastatic breast cancer – in under 90 seconds.

Settle This

Who is the latest musician to bag a Sphere residency?

Extra Credit

Fight

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Game Time

Start your Tuesday off right with Typeshift, a fun new game that challenges you to create words from a set number of letters. Warning: It’s very addicting. Start playing.