Happy Monday, fearless explorers!

Today, we're wrapping up with covert NASA lovin', a new measles surge sending health officials scrambling. If life on Earth doesn't keep you on your toes, apparently, space (and viruses) will. Stay curious, stay safe, and thanks for being here!

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🚨 Be the First to Know:

• TV's mischievous Dennis the Menace, Jay North, dies at 73.
• Judge calls mistaken deportation of Maryland Man a 'grievous error' and 'shocks the conscience'.
• After video surfaced of Gaza medic killings, Israel walks back its account.
• Autopsy finds Palestinian teen died of 'likely prolonged malnutrition' in Israeli prison.

The Protest You Didn’t See on TV

"Hands Off!" protests swept big cities this weekend, but here's what got lost in the chanting: seniors crying over cratered 401(k)s, families afraid of mass firings, and younger folks discovering protest for the first time.

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It's not just about Trump's immigration crackdown or Elon Musk's budget cuts—people’s pocketbooks, retirement plans, and basic sense of security are all on the line. You won't see these protesters on cable news clips. They're marching for their future in Manhattan, suburban Detroit, and beyond.

Zero-Gravity Love

The final frontier may also be the last taboo: Former NASA employee swears astronauts are getting it on in space - hush-hush, but Mission Control can't ignore those suspicious moans.

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NASA’s official line? Radio silence. Even if NASA won't stamp it on a mission patch, there's plenty of gossip that cosmic hooking up happens in cafeteria corners and zero-g logistics. It's hard to keep everything pure scientific for six months (or more!) in microgravity, so maybe we should admit humans remain humans—even 250 miles up.

Fear and Funeral

Anxious parents and health officials are dealing with the all-too-real cost of vaccine refusal amid a spreading measles outbreak in Texas. Almost 500 cases have been reported in Texas alone, leading to hospitalizations and a visit from Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

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The U.S. could lose its hard-won measles elimination status with more than 600 measles infections nationwide. From unvaccinated children's funerals to frantic community meetings, this crisis underscores a grim reality: even in 2025, diseases once nearly eradicated can still wreak havoc when trust in vaccines falters.

💬 Beyond the Core

Note Worthy: HBO has released a trailer for The Rehearsal, a mind-bending docu-comedy series.

Volume Speaks: You might be surprised how often you should cut your hair.

Tree-ting: Meet the internet's new obsession, Rodney, a random tree with 5 stars.

Tariff-ied: Here's how Trump's tariffs could affect your wallet.

📸 Lens to Life

You'll appreciate the rain when you see these photos.

🧮 Core Count: 7%

The percentage of Americans who eat at McDonald's every day.

🗓️ Flashback:

30 - Scholars estimate the crucifixion of Jesus by Roman troops in Jerusalem (or April 3).

529 - Eastern Roman Emperor Justinian I issued the first draft of Corpus Juris Civilis, also known as the Justinian Code.

19827 - First long-distance TV transmission: a picture of Herbert Hoover is sent from Washington to NYC by AT&T.

1948 - The United Nations formed the World Health Organization.

1954 - President Eisenhower was the first to voice fear of a "domino effect" of communism in Indochina at a news conference.

1968 - Riots continue in over 100 US cities following the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.​

1969 - The Internet's symbolic birth date: publication of RFC 1.

Before you go...

I hope you enjoyed this newsletter. Before moving on, would you consider supporting my work as we prepare for a pivotal, uncertain year?

I rely on readers like you—yes, you! It takes a few dollars a month to keep The Core going.

I'm glad we could get together here. Looking forward to seeing you tomorrow!

​Fatih Taskiran​
​Founder & Chief Daydreamer at The Core​

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