Welcome to the Bulletin,

• Pope Francis criticized: Pope Francis has sparked a backlash after allegedly using a homophobic slur while speaking about why gay men shouldn't be allowed to become priests. Here's what he said.
• Republican calls for SNAP reform: A Missouri lawmaker said that SNAP benefits must be curbed as the program has "ballooned out of control." Here's why.
• Trump flag at post office prompts probe: An investigation has been launched after a Donald Trump 2024 flag was seen flying on a New York state post office flagpole on Memorial Day, according to a local media report.
• United flight aborts over fire: A United Airlines plane had to abort its takeoff after an engine caught fire with 153 people on board on Memorial Day. Find out more.
• In the ongoing war in Ukraine, videos circulating on social media show a massive using U.S.-supplied missiles.

Donald Trump could be charged in two further criminal cases, according to a legal expert who told Newsweek it is "more than likely" he will also be indicted in the ongoing Arizona election interference case.

Why it matters: The claim was made by Daniel Gielchinsky, an attorney and founder of Florida-based company DGIM Law, who said a fifth Trump indictment in Arizona would "most likely" be the result of another defendant agreeing to testify against him as part of a plea deal. Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes may indict Trump after plea deals. In August 2023, 18 Trump supporters were indicted to overturn the 2020 presidential election result in Arizona. Trump is also a potential target in a Michigan election interference case, where one defendant cooperated and 15 pleaded not guilty.

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Judge's Jury Instructions Could Change Trump Trial Outcome: Jury Consultant

What happens now? Closing arguments in Trump’s hush money trials will begin today. A 12-person jury will begin their deliberations on Wednesday.

As President Joe Biden prepares to fight for reelection this November across a contentious battleground of U.S. states, the White House also finds itself vying for influence among several increasingly critical players on the world stage, among them a long-standing partner amid groundbreaking changes in its policies at home and abroad.

Why it matters: At 38, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia is the driving force behind a nationalist agenda aiming to modernize the kingdom and reduce its oil dependency under his Vision 2030 plan. His leadership has shifted Saudi Arabia's domestic and foreign policies, seeking stronger ties with China and Russia. Though officials in Riyadh and Washington continue to emphasize the importance of their partnership, recent rifts, and ongoing negotiations have cast doubt on the future of U.S.-Saudi cooperation, a key strategic alliance in the Middle East.

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Were Joe Biden's Hopes for a Pre-Convention Peace Deal Just Crushed?

What happens now? Mohammed al-Hamed, a Saudi geopolitical analyst serving as president of the Saudi Elite consultancy, said that "if the U.S. needs to keep its influence in the Middle East, it should ensure collaboration on mutual interests such as regional stability, counterterrorism and security efforts, and energy security.”

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott will face another test this week as he seeks to fill the state legislature with GOP lawmakers who will back his top legislative priority.

Why it matters: This election cycle, Abbott has endorsed 14 GOP primary challengers in hopes of unseating the House Republicans who repeatedly voted against his school vouchers program. Seven Abbott-backed candidates already won their races in the March 5 primary, while five advanced to the runoffs. Despite spending $6.1 million on the campaign, Abbott failed to pass a bill to give parents educational tax dollars to send their children to private or religious schools instead of public ones. The opposition to his school vouchers plan came from a united Democratic coalition and about two dozen Republicans representing rural areas.

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Texas Democrat Praises Greg Abbott Amid New Border Wall Construction

What happens now? Texas is holding its primary runoffs for both parties today, when voters will decide the Republican nominees in three more races where the governor has endorsed a primary challenger.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez signed a bilateral security agreement in Madrid on Monday.

Why it matters: The agreement allocates 1 billion euros ($1.1 billion) of military aid to Ukraine in 2024 amid the country's fight against Russia's full-scale invasion, which launched over two years ago. The Associated Press reported that the aid for Kyiv includes anti-aircraft missiles, Leopard tanks and ammunition. Earlier on Monday, El Pais newspaper reported that Spain would send Ukraine a dozen U.S.-made Patriot anti-aircraft missiles, 19 second-hand German-made Leopard 2A4 tanks, and other Spanish-made weapons such as anti-drone gear and ammunition.

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Ukraine War Maps Reveal Russian Advances Along Whole Front Line

What happens now? Zelensky will visit the Portuguese capital of Lisbon today, where he is expected to sign a similar 10-year agreement. The 10-year pact also allocates that Spain will send Ukraine 5 billion euros ($5.4 billion) by 2027.

Child marriage remains legal in most U.S. states, leaving minors open to abuse and vulnerabilities within the legal system, advocates say.

Why it matters: Up until 2018, every state still allowed child marriage. Then, Delaware became the first to end the practice. Only 12 states have a minimum marriage age of 18, and about 300,000 children have gotten married since 2000, according to Unchained at Last, an organization that fights for laws banning child marriage. Advocates warn that married minors face unique challenges in breaking out of poverty, are left vulnerable to physical and emotional abuse, and may struggle to gain access to the systems intended to protect abuse victims.

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Republicans Want to Kill Their Own Bill to End Child Marriage

What happens now? In 11 years, 8,686 petitions were made to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) involving a child, and some involving large age differences were granted, according to Hayat Bearat, interim director of the Domestic Violence Institute report. Fraidy Reiss, Unchained at Last's founder and executive director, told Newsweek that states should still take action, as the federal government does not appear likely to change immigration law

ONE DEEPER READ:

Good morning, and welcome to Newsweek's summary of Tuesday's national, regional, and international newspapers.

USA Today

USA Today leads on a story about a massive leak of Mexican military intelligence that shows how tens of thousands of firearms from U.S. gun shops have been smuggled south across the border.

New York Post

The New York Post leads on a write-off from an op-ed it runs by Jonathan Turley, an attorney, who claims Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg has not made a compelling case for convicting Donald Trump. Closing arguments will be heard from today in the former president's hush money trial.