The CDC has reported 216 pediatric flu deaths so far this season, the most since the 2009 H1N1 pandemic. “This number that we have now is almost certainly an undercount,” said Dr. Sean O’Leary of the American Academy of Pediatrics. He added that the final number is expected to rise once all the data is compiled.⁠
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Lower flu vaccination rates among children may be contributing to the increase. As of April, 49% of children had received the flu shot, down from 53% at the same time last season and from 64% five years ago. ⁠
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This season has been classified as “high severity” for all age groups. The CDC estimates 47 million illnesses, 610,000 hospitalizations, and 26,000 deaths linked to the flu so far. ⁠
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While adult hospitalizations often involve patients with existing health conditions, 53% of hospitalized children had a known underlying issue. The agency continues to recommend that everyone 6 months and older receive a yearly flu vaccine.⁠
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U.S. employers added 177,000 jobs in April, surpassing expectations of 133,000 despite concerns about economic fallout from President Donald Trump’s new tariffs. The unemployment rate held steady at 4.2%, while broader underemployment dropped slightly to 7.8%. Wage growth came in below forecast, with average hourly earnings rising 0.2% on the month and 3.8% year-over-year.⁠
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Health care led hiring with 51,000 new jobs, followed by gains in transportation, warehousing, financial services, and social assistance. Manufacturing posted a minor loss of 1,000 jobs. Federal government employment fell by 9,000, attributed to Trump’s initiative with Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency to cut public sector payrolls. Revisions reduced prior job growth estimates for February and March by a combined 58,000.⁠
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Market reactions included a rise in stock futures and Treasury yields, as traders delayed expectations for a Federal Reserve rate cut until July. “Job numbers remain very strong,” said Seema Shah of Principal Asset Management, though she warned of possible weakening if tariffs persist. Trump responded to the data on Truth Social, stating, “NO INFLATION, THE FED SHOULD LOWER ITS RATE!!!”⁠
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A new report from the Pew Research Center shows that Islam experienced the largest growth of any religious group between 2010 and 2020, with an increase of 347 million people. Researchers attribute this primarily to birth rates rather than religious conversion. The study found that Muslims remain concentrated in high-growth regions such as sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East-North Africa, while the largest increase occurred in the Asia-Pacific region.⁠
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Christianity added 122 million people over the same period but declined as a share of the global population. Pew reports that many people who were raised Christian no longer identify with any religion, especially in Europe, North America, and Oceania. The religiously unaffiliated now make up 24.2% of the global population and represent the third largest group after Christians and Muslims.⁠
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Other findings include a 19 million decline in the global Buddhist population, largely due to disaffiliation in East Asia. Hindu populations grew through migration, particularly in the Middle East-North Africa and North America. The world’s Jewish population increased by about one million to 15 million people, with nearly half residing in Israel. Pew researchers used over 2,700 data sources across 201 countries to produce the study.⁠
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President Trump responded favorably to reports of a proposed $5,000 “baby bonus” for women who give birth, telling reporters, “Sounds like a good idea to me.” The proposal, first reported by The New York Times, is part of a broader set of ideas under consideration by the White House to encourage higher birth rates in the U.S., which have fallen to their lowest level since 1979.⁠
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In 2023, fewer than 3.6 million babies were born in the U.S., with the birth rate for women ages 15–22 declining 3% from the previous year. Critics like NYU medical ethicist Art Caplan called the idea “morally offensive,” saying, “What the Trump administration wants is the right kind of babies.” Conservative strategist Rina Shah defended the intent, saying, “They see a declining birth rate, and they’re thinking to themselves, ‘How do we make America great again?’”⁠
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Other incentives reportedly discussed include reserving Fulbright scholarships for applicants with children and creating a “National Medal of Motherhood.” Shah acknowledged the $5,000 may not offset the costs of parenting, which can exceed $20,000 in the first year. The White House has not confirmed which proposals will move forward.⁠
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