Welcome to the Bulletin,

• Texas Megachurch shooting: Celebrity pastor Joel Osteen has released a statement after a woman in a trench coat opened fire inside his Lakewood church in Houston on Sunday, injuring two people, including a 5-year-old child. Two off-duty officers killed the suspect. Read what he said.
• Defense Secretary hospitalized: U.S. Department of Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was hospitalized again on Sunday afternoon for an "emergent bladder issue," according to Pentagon officials. Austin, who has prostate cancer, spent several days in the hospital last month.
• Super Bowl LVIII: The Kansas City Chiefs Beat the San Francisco 49ers 25-22 in overtime to win the first back-to-back Super Bowl in nearly 20 years. However, some fans think the game was rigged. Here's why. For more Super Bowl coverage, subscribe to our For the Culture newsletter.
• Man dies of 'Alaskapox': An Alaska man has become the first person to die of the recently discovered disease Alaskapox, officials have said. 
• California earthquakes: California was rocked by 13 record earthquakes in 25 minutes. Here's the latest.
• In the ongoing war in Ukraine, Russian troops are closing in on Avdiivka, according to the Institute for the Study of War, whose map shows the state of play near the town of Donetsk.

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TL;DR: "We've been working a long time on this operation. We were waiting for the right conditions," Israeli military spokesman Lt Col. Richard Hecht said.

Israeli forces rescued two hostages early Monday morning during a special operation in Rafah, a city in southern Gaza, according to the Associated Press. Fernando Simon Marman (60) and Louis Har (70), dual Israel-Argentine nationals, were freed after being in captivity by Hamas for 128 days. At least 67 Palestinians were killed in the operation, according to Palestinian health officials.

Why it matters: The two men were kidnapped by Hamas on Oct. 7, the military said, among some 250 people who Israel says were seized during the militant raid that triggered its war on Gaza. More than 100 hostages remain in Hamas captivity. More than 100 hostages were freed during a weeklong cease-fire in November. Three hostages were mistakenly killed by the army after escaping their captors in December, according to the Associated Press.

Read more in-depth coverage:

Israel War Map Shows Gaza Tunnel Hunt for Top Hamas Commanders

Six Messages From Hamas to the Media

Hezbollah Launches Fiery Response to Israel After Drone Strike in Lebanon

What happens now? Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said deploying ground forces into Rafah is crucial in freeing the remaining hostages and dismantling Hamas. However, President Joe Biden told him on Sunday that Israel should not start a military operation in Rafah without a plan to ensure the safety of the roughly 1 million people sheltering there. Egypt also warned on Sunday of "dire consequences" of a potential Israeli military assault on Rafah.

Deeper reading: Netanyahu Details Interactions With Biden After Special Counsel Report

TL;DR: "More National Guard & razor wire barriers are coming to the Texas border," Texas Gov. Greg Abbott wrote on X, formerly Twitter, on Sunday.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has said more razor wire will be installed along the state's border with Mexico as he continues his standoff with President Joe Biden's administration over immigration enforcement.

Why it matters: The razor wire is among several aggressive measures Abbott has taken to deter migrants from crossing into the U.S. illegally. Last month, the U.S. Supreme Court allowed Border Patrol agents to resume cutting the wire, which the Justice Department argued impedes the government's ability to patrol the border and go to the aid of migrants in need of help. Despite the court's ruling, Abbott remained defiant, saying Texas had a "constitutional right to self-defense."

Read more in-depth coverage:

Greg Abbott Gets Boost Over Texas Border Razor Wire

Greg Abbott Vows to Expand Texas Border Standoff With Biden Admin

Texas Migrant Crisis Boosting Independence Campaign: Poll

What happens now? Immigration is among the top issues ahead of the 2024 presidential election, with polls showing doubts over Biden's handling of the situation. Donal Trump urged Republicans not to accept anything less than a "perfect" border deal before November, sparking questions about whether some Republicans are working to prevent Biden from winning by signing the border bill into law.

Deeper reading: Greg Abbott Increases Razor Wire at Texas Border

TL;DR: “Winning the popular vote is often referenced by the victor as an indicator of a mandate from the American people to go forth and pursue policies championed during the campaign," Political scientist Professor James Vike told Newsweek.

Political scientist Professor James Vike suggests to Newsweek if Donald Trump secures the Republican presidential nomination and wins the popular vote in November, it could significantly bolster his political authority. A recent NBC News poll indicated Trump's lead in the popular vote, with 47% of respondents supporting him compared to 42% for incumbent Joe Biden.

Why it matters: No Republican presidential contender has won the popular vote since George W. Bush in 2004. A Trump victory in the popular vote would mark a shift from 2016, where he only won the electoral college. Vike says this would give Trump leverage to wield the popular mandate card in hopes of convincing legislators and rivals to consent to presidential wishes.

Read more in-depth coverage:

Kamala Harris' Chances of Beating Donald Trump

Donald Trump Just Had the Best 24 Hours in His Tumultuous Legal History

The Conservative Supreme Court Judges Who May Back Trump

What happens now? American politics expert Dr Mark Shanahan says this would be a "pipe dream" for the Republican frontrunner despite the poll. It's essential to note individual polls and forecasts may vary, evidenced by a discrepancy between the NBC News poll and a Moody's Analytics report, favoring Biden in a matchup against Trump.

Deeper reading: Donald Trump Poised to Be First Republican to Win Popular Vote in 20 Years

TL;DR: Despite the auspiciousness associated with the mythical beast, since the mid-1990s "the Chinese zodiac had little effect on births in China until at least 2010," University of Wisconsin-Madison demographer Fuxian Yi told Newsweek.

China hopes the year of the dragon will reverse—at least temporarily—the country's population decline.

Why it matters: China faces the twin challenges of a greying workforce and a falling birth rate as it struggles to revitalize a slowing economy. In 2022, the country's population shrank for the first time since Mao Zedong's Great Leap Forward era. Last year's 2.08-million-person drop was twice that of 2022, despite government efforts to incentivize having newborns. Yuan Xin, a Tianjin University's Institute of Population and Development professor cited 2012—the previous dragon year—as a hopeful sign. That year, China enjoyed a modest bump of 0.22 births per 1,000 women.

Read more in-depth coverage:

China Moves Closer to Population Crisis

China's State Media Employs Damage Control Over Stark Unemployment Figures

Plummeting Birth Rate Spells Trouble for China

What happens now? If the birth rate does track upward, University of Wisconsin-Madison demographer Fuxian Yi predicted it will be due to the end of pandemic-era measures rather than the zodiac. As in neighboring South Korea, Japan and Taiwan, the diminishing number of births has raised concerns about future productivity. In addition, by 2050 those 60 or older are forecast to comprise as much as 40 percent of China's population.

Deeper reading: China's 'Dragon Babies' Under Pressure to Reverse Population Decline

TL;DR: "The ongoing economic challenges, exacerbated by recent global events, have certainly influenced individuals' perceptions of their overall well-being," Economist Keisha Blair told Newsweek.

A recent Gallup study has revealed record-low levels of life satisfaction among Americans, with only 47% reporting being "very satisfied" with their personal lives. This is the third time in over two decades that less than half expressed high satisfaction. A decline of 3% from the previous year brings current satisfaction levels just one point above the record low in 2011.

Why it matters: Therapist Samantha Nusom links the decline to overwork, burnout, economic pressures, and high living costs. Anxiety and depression surged by 25% during the pandemic, and yet access to mental health services remains limited with long waiting lists and high prices. Lives behind the screen facing unrealistic beauty standards and distressing news on social media can also be a factor.

Read more in-depth coverage:

Scientist Reveals Four Things He Does Everyday To Boost Happiness

Doctor Reveals the Five Simple Steps He Takes Daily to Be Happy

Mental Health Boosted in Just Days by Eating Kiwifruit

What happens now? Marriage and family therapist Ashera DeRosa tells Newsweek improving work-life balance is essential, in addition to taking a break from the hustle culture that defines many Americans' senses of self-worth.

Deeper reading: Americans Are Becoming Less Satisfied With Their Lives

ONE DEEPER READ:

Is this kind?

If every decision made by every person at work—where many of us spend most of our daily lives—were to begin with that one question, what would the workplace look like?

Laura Tan is a company director, "a lifelong grafter", and a firm believer that kindness could be the key to the work-life balance we're all striving for—and experts say she is certainly on to something.

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