Fashion Comebacks, A Heartwarming Reunion & The Week's Biggest News Stories

Grab your coffee, sit back and enjoy the read. ☕️

🎙️ On the Podcast.

The news you didn't know you needed in our NEW weekly segment: "Anything But Politics" The lunar eclipse - what makes the "the blood worm moon" special. Researchers may have discovered nature's "Ozempic" and ... “Paris Fashion Week” may have forecast the next "big" thing: shoulder pads.👇🏽

🗞️ The Weekly Roundup.

After an eight-hour meeting on Tuesday in Saudi Arabia between U.S. and Ukrainian officials, Ukraine accepted a 30-day ceasefire proposal, pending Russia's agreement. Following the meeting and deal, the U.S. said it would lift its pause on military aid and intelligence sharing to Ukraine. On Thursday, President Vladimir Putin of Russia said he supported the agreement but indicated some additional details needed to be sorted out. *This is a developing story.*

USAID is officially cancelling 83% of the programs it funds with federal money. A recent audit by new members of the Trump administration concluded the program did not align with their policy priorities and, in some cases, raised questions about its validity. While Sec. Rubio said 5,200 of USAID’s approximate 6,200 programs have been eliminated, what has been kept is TBD. The remaining programs will function under the purview of the State Department.

The Department of Education laid off more than 1,000 Department of Education employees on Tuesday as part of the broader push to shrink the size of the federal government through the work of the White House’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

In a Quick Hit this week, Jenna took a closer look at the case of Mahmoud Khalil, a former Columbia University student and legal permanent resident, detained by the U.S. government, and the background and potential legal precedents that could arise. What do you think about this case?

A sudden outbreak of violence in Syria sparked headlines around the world, raising questions about the targeted killing of minority groups — including Christians. But with so few independent journalists on the ground, what really happened? In this Quick Hit, war correspondent and writer Hollie McKay shares her sources directly from Syria and explains why this conflict has the potential to have worldwide impact.

We ended the week with the Senate passing a six-month spending bill that will fund the government through September 30th. This spending legislation, passed through the House and Senate, narrowly avoids a government shutdown, but only temporarily funds the government until the Fall, when Congress will once again have to tackle a spending budget to keep the government operating.

🙌🏽 What We Found SmartHER This Week.

Kelly here with the SmartHER News crew. 👋 I am the mother to two toddlers, ages three and 20 months. I know firsthand how difficult it can be to find engaging, stimulating items that your kids actually want to play with. Mamas need a break, even if it's for 10 minutes. Here are a few things that my kids are loving at the moment, which in turn has allowed myself a moment of peace and quiet — whether we're at home, at a restaurant or on a road trip.

1️⃣ This musical Toniebox that plays songs and tells stories. It's a little on the expensive side, but we got this for my daughter for her birthday and then family members have been able to gift some of her favorite characters. We're a pretty musical family, so this has been fun.

2️⃣ These writing tablets from Amazon have been a lifesaver on long car rides or at restaurants! We don't have tablets or iPads, so this has been a great alternative and a creative distraction. Even I have fun with it. My daughter likes to watch me draw a picture (very poorly) and then try to trace it herself. 🎨

3️⃣ This ain't their first rodeo. We're a farm family — we also love to go to and watch rodeos. My kids love to play rodeo on these blow-up animals. They're very sturdy and have withstood the test of time and weight. We have two bulls and a horse, and we can't get enough.

🗣️ Conversation Starters.

Grab your tissues. 82-year-old Katherine Kiefer lost her home and beloved cat, Aggie, in the Palisade fire – or so she thought. Two months later, she received a hopeful call from the West Los Angeles Animal Shelter. Sure enough, Aggie had found her way back to her owner. Maybe cats really do have nine lives. This heartwarming reunion might be proof. 🐈😭🩷 More on their reunion here.

RIP "two bags fly free" on Southwest. When you book a Southwest flight starting May 28, many customers will no longer be eligible for two free checked bags. Exceptions include high-priced fare, elite status or if you have a Southwest credit card (1-2 free bags vary). The changes don't stop there. In early 2026, the airline will begin doing assigned seating. So basically, Southwest is shifting to your average airline experience. Change is hard. ✈️

The real power moves for longevity. Speaking of shoulder pads, if you're old enough to remember the last time those were in style ... then experts say it's time you focus on plyometrics to combat muscle loss. Exercises like box jumps and lateral hops have other bonuses, too, like improving your balance and bone density.

Nautical history nerds unite. A missing shipwreck was found in Lake Superior 132 years after it went down. The Western Reserve steel ship set sail for a summer vacation cruise in 1892 but ended up sinking. The wreckage was recently found along a stretch of Michigan’s Lake Superior, known as Shipwreck Coast. Only one of the 28 people on board lived to tell the story of what actually happened on that night and what unfolded after the ship went down. Check out video of the discovery underwater!

And that's The Weekend Digest!

❤️,  
Jenna and the SHN Team

Daily news, interviews, our latest podcasts and more at www.SmartHERNews.com.