Screwworms Are Back and Could Soon Mess With Texas (and Your Beef)

Good morning.

Police say a suspect armed with a long gun killed at least four people — including a police officer — at a Midtown Manhattan office building during rush hour on Monday. The building houses offices for the NFL and investment firm Blackstone.

• The suspected shooter died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to police. The 27-year-old man from Las Vegas had documented mental health problems, according to police. His motive is still unclear.

• NYPD officer Didarul Islam, 36, served on the force for three and a half years, according to New York’s police commissioner, and was married with two young children. His wife is pregnant with their third.

We’ll continue to follow the latest developments. Now let’s get to the rest of the news…

— The Editors

What's Happening

US News

Screwworms Are Back and Could Soon Mess With Texas (and Your Beef)

What's going on: Texas cattle ranchers are ringing the dinner bell on a potential epidemic threatening their livestock and their livelihoods. Meet the screwworm. The not-so-subtle translation of its Latin name? "Man-eater." This parasitic fly lays eggs in open wounds on animals, where the larvae burrow in and feed on flesh. Left untreated, infections can turn deadly within two weeks. Sounds familiar? That’s because screwworms aren’t new. Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller battled them in the ’60s — and said they were like “like something out of a horror movie.” The US wiped them out decades ago by sterilizing male flies to stop them from breeding. But now? They’re creeping back — and fast. Recent cases have popped up just 370 miles from the Texas border.

What it means: Mexico is currently renovating a facility that produces sterile worms, and the US has plans for its own facility near the Texas-Mexico border. Proposed federal legislation that would further tackle the problem in a meaningful way would take more time and money. For now, ranchers are relying on old-school treatments to keep the pests at bay. A screwworm outbreak in the US could wreak havoc on an already stressed beef industry, where prices are at record highs due to drought and rising feed costs. Brazil, the world’s top beef exporter, could help ease shortages — but President Trump has pledged 50% tariffs on Brazilian imports. With little movement at the federal level, Texas farmers are pushing state officials to act fast or risk forcing Texans to swap burgers for bean patties. 

Related: Trump’s Megabill Could Be Coming for Your Neighborhood Grocery Store (CNN) 

Finance

A New, Gendered Fertility Wealth Gap Grows

What's going on: It’s no secret that fertility treatments are pricey. Freezing your eggs can easily cost upwards of $15,000. And now, experts say women who go this route aren’t just buying time on the family front — they may be putting their financial futures on ice, too. A new book, The Mother Code, argues egg-freezing is quietly fueling a new gender wealth gap. That’s because some women sink their savings into a procedure with no guarantees, using it as a kind of fertility “insurance” instead of investing in a 401(k) or the stock market. This comes as egg-freezing demand has shot up, with a 39.2% year-over-year increase in 2023, according to the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology. Sperm freezing is big business, too, but it costs a fraction of the price — around $500 to $4,000, Fortune reports — with far less physical strain.

What it means: Yes, delaying motherhood can help some women build careers and close other gender gaps. But right now, the cost of postponing parenthood lands squarely on young women. Additionally, as egg-freezing becomes more mainstream, some fertility clinics are facing criticism for using more aggressive, fear-mongering, and predatory practices — especially on younger patients. Still, many who’ve been through the process say it gave them a sense of control and was worth the cost. Meanwhile, racial and socioeconomic gaps determine who can even consider egg-freezing.

Related: A Federal Birth Control Program May Now Help People Get Pregnant  (NYT Gift Link)

Culture

Sydney Sweeney's Genes and Jeans Are Making Headlines

What's going on: Very few jeans campaigns have caused as much controversy as Brooke Shields’s 1980 Calvin Klein ads…until now. Sydney Sweeney and American Eagle are facing criticism after launching a new campaign last week, with some accusing them of referencing eugenics. In a video ad, Sweeney says, “genes are passed down from parents to offspring, often determining traits like hair color, personality, and even eye color…my genes are blue.” The company's attempt at wordplay is falling flat, especially since the print ads read: “Sydney Sweeney has great genes.” That phrase — "great genes" — is central to the history of eugenics, and critics say the ad echoes that language, whether intentionally or not. American Eagle and Sweeney have yet to comment. Still, the campaign turned heads on Wall Street — AE briefly became a meme stock amid the buzz.

What it means: As the country (and the White House) shifts away from DEI efforts and messaging, some companies — to be fair, not necessarily American Eagle — are doing the same. The backlash over these marketing strategies highlights a growing divide in how consumers want brands to show up in culture — especially as both sides grow more vocal online (see: that Bud Light and Dylan Mulvaney controversy). In Sydney Sweeney’s case, some shoppers think the left is overreacting, and others are praising AE for killing “woke” advertising. Still, a gender historian told USA Today that the share of consumers who care about representation still has a lot of spending power, pointing to this year’s boycotts of Target and other big retailers in response to anti-DEI policies. As one expert explains, it doesn’t matter whether or not American Eagle wanted to enter the conversation — the public’s perception matters more. 

Related: This Growing Wedding Trend is Stirring Up Debates Among Guests (WSJ Gift Link)

Your Political Briefing

The week in political chaos.

International relations: Trump breaks with Netanyahu on the Israeli prime minister’s claim there’s no starvation in Gaza. “Those children look very hungry."

Paying up: Federal data shows the US has raked in more than $20 billion from tariffs, but it’s not clear exactly where it’s coming from (or where it’s going). Meanwhile, one Senator wants tariff rebate checks.  

Ready, set, go: An architect of Project 2025 launched a Senate bid against longtime South Carolina leader Lindsey Graham — who has held the seat for more than 20 years.

In the rough: While President Donald Trump enjoyed a round of golf in Scotland, residents let him know how they really felt about his trip. Yes, there were bagpipes.

Settle This

Which celebrity played a role behind the scenes of Astronomer’s viral ad with Gwyneth Paltrow?

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.