Good morning. You’re reading Up First.
Today’s top stories
Supreme Court blocks limits on telehealth access to mifepristone
The Supreme Court issued an emergency order yesterday keeping the abortion pill mifepristone available by telehealth and mail while a challenge brought by Louisiana proceeds in the lower courts. The order stayed a May 1 decision by the New Orleans-based 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that would have restricted nationwide access to mifepristone by mail.
The FDA had asked courts to pause the litigation so it could conduct a new safety review of the drug after pressure from Republican lawmakers; the 5th Circuit declined that request. The agency then appealed to the Supreme Court, which for now preserved the status quo. The case raises a larger question highlighted by former FDA officials and legal observers: should judges be able to alter access to FDA-approved medicines nationwide, or should such determinations rest with the agency’s scientific review? Lower-court proceedings will continue.
Trump returns to U.S. after two-day China state visit
President Trump returned home after a two-day state visit to China that he described as productive. He said China agreed to buy U.S. soybeans and Boeing aircraft, but reporters note there were no signed, public contracts delivered at the time of his return. Administration officials framed the trip as reinforcing the truce struck between Trump and President Xi Jinping last fall after a year of trade conflict.
Trump also said he and Xi discussed the Middle East, including a shared interest in keeping the Strait of Hormuz open and preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. NPR reporting found no evidence the U.S. secured Chinese commitments to exert pressure on Iran to reopen shipping lanes or to hand over nuclear material.
Political turmoil for U.K. Labour leader Keir Starmer
After poor showings in recent local and regional elections and a spate of resignations, some within Labour have expressed interest in challenging Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s leadership. Starmer’s government has faced criticism for economic struggles, controversy over a diplomatic appointment linked to Jeffrey Epstein and rising antisemitism that officials have called a “national emergency.” Polling suggests many voters feel he hasn’t delivered on promises to improve services and reduce the cost of living. Party insiders say any successor would likely come from his circle, though no formal candidates have yet emerged.
Investigation finds students confined in wooden boxes in New York district
New York state investigators uncovered that special education staff in the Salmon River Central School District used makeshift wooden “timeout” boxes last fall to confine at least five elementary students, including Akwesasne Mohawk children who represent a large share of the district’s enrollment. Officials said parents were not notified, a violation of state regulations. The practice has prompted comparisons from families to historical abuses in government-run schools that harmed Native communities. The state education department has ordered broad reforms in the district.
What’s Eating America: school meals, new guidelines and rising costs
A special series examines how changes to federal dietary guidance and shifts in policy could make school meals more expensive for districts. The Trump administration overhauled national dietary guidelines this year, with Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. urging higher-quality, nutrient-dense protein and fewer highly processed foods. That guidance influences standards for schools participating in federal meal programs, which fed about 30 million children last year. Many districts rely on processed, premade items because protein is the most expensive component and labor for from-scratch cooking is limited.
Quick points:
– The USDA is still updating nutrition standards for the School Breakfast Program and National School Lunch Program.
– Processed animal-protein items like chicken nuggets are prevalent in school cafeterias; they often contain many ingredients and are cheaper and easier to serve than scratch-cooked alternatives.
– Schools say federal reimbursement rates have not kept pace with rising costs; directors urge Congress to reassess the reimbursement formula.
Weekend picks
– Movies: Marty, Life Is Short — a new documentary on Martin Short’s long comedy career and personal losses.
– TV: Amadeus — a fictionalized limited series about Mozart and his rivalry with Antonio Salieri.
– Books: The Young Will Remember by Eve J. Chung — a novel about a Chinese American war correspondent stranded in enemy territory.
– Music: Tomorrow’s Eurovision Grand Final will stream in the U.S.; coverage highlights the top contenders.
– Theater: The opera El Último Sueño de Frida y Diego, about Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera, runs at the Met through June 5 and will be shown in theaters May 30.
This week’s quiz includes a new fill-in-the-blank question for a little extra fun.
3 things to know before you go
1) Eileen Wang, the former mayor of Arcadia, Calif., reached a plea deal after admitting she acted as an illegal foreign agent for China, according to unsealed court documents.
2) Far-Flung Postcards visits Seville, where snail season brings locals a small, shell-eaten treat different from French escargot.
3) Adidas unveiled this year’s FIFA World Cup ball design, featuring symbols for the three host countries: a blue star for the U.S., a red maple leaf for Canada and a green eagle for Mexico.
This newsletter was edited by Suzanne Nuyen. Subscribe to Up First to get the morning’s top stories and listen to the Up First podcast for the news you need to start your day.