Welcome to the daily briefing. Please read the following first.
nicole farato and Jane Onyanga Omara Here’s the news you need to know on Friday.
Jill Biden looks back on that disastrous presidential debate
When Jill Biden watched Joe Biden struggle in the presidential debates and abruptly end his political career, she knew something was going in a dire direction. “Could this be a stroke?” she wondered as she watched television near the CNN studios where President Biden was confronting Donald Trump in June 2024. “It felt like we were looking at an AI hologram of a man we knew. The hologram was glitching. Was he drugged?” Jill Biden’s memoir, “A View from the East Wing,” includes some of the standard tropes of a first lady’s memoir. There are other, less traditional notes as well.
More news you need to know right now
- Latest US news on Ebola: The Atlanta airport has begun testing passengers for Ebola, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Meanwhile, the agency is recruiting volunteers to perform Ebola testing in response to staff cuts. This is why the United States does not treat Ebola patients at home.
- The SCOTUS decision will be implemented soon. The court has dozens of decisions to make before its term ends, but none may be enough to disrupt the 2026 midterm elections.
- Dear students (and parents)! Show me your America. USA TODAY partnered with SUNN, a nonpartisan organization focused on student journalism and citizen media, to participate in the “Fly Your Flag” contest to design your own American flag. Deadline is Monday, so check out the details now.
Let’s take a look
Salute to the Class of 26!
This is the time of year when high school students across the country celebrate their graduation and don their caps and gowns. Many people are taking this opportunity to put their own personal flair on the classic horned hat. Take a look at photos of impressive high school graduation cap decorations from around the country.
NCAA Sports
UCLA softball’s historic home run record-setting season
The UCLA Bruins are in Oklahoma City this week for their second straight Women’s College World Series appearance. The team features Bruins two-sport player Megan Grant, who broke Lauren Espinoza’s 31-year-old season home run record in the Big Ten Softball Tournament and reached 40 home runs, surpassing Oklahoma’s Kendall Wells. But that’s also why Texas Tech can win it all.
before going
Have feedback about the daily briefing? Email Nicole at NFallert@usatoday.com.
