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A White House insider-trading investigation is raising new questions about prediction markets and access to sensitive information, while catastrophic flooding once again inundates central Texas. We'll also cover Ukraine's latest political upheaval, France's landmark assisted-dying vote, a possible Earth-like world beyond our solar system, and Uber's multibillion-dollar takeover bid.

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Federal officials are investigating whether a White House teleprompter operator used advance knowledge of President Trump's speeches to place profitable bets on the Kalshi prediction market. It is the first known case of suspected insider trading tied to a prediction market from inside the West Wing.

The operator would have seen policy announcements, personnel changes, and tariff language minutes or hours before anyone else — a goldmine for anyone trading contracts on those exact outcomes. Prediction markets have exploded in size and legitimacy, and this case will help define what "material nonpublic information" even means in a venue built to trade on the news itself.

Torrential downpours swamped central Texas on Thursday, killing at least one person and triggering scores of water rescues as rivers jumped their banks. Governor Greg Abbott warned the storm system was on pace to break state rainfall records, with emergency crews stretched thin across multiple counties.

The Hill Country knows this story too well after last summer's Guadalupe River disaster, and residents in low-lying areas were told to move to higher ground overnight. More rain is coming through the weekend. The danger — and the damage tally — is still climbing.

Ukrainians poured into the streets after President Zelenskyy abruptly removed Mykhailo Fedorov, a 35-year-old tech reformer credited with modernizing the war effort, and reshuffled his cabinet. The decision exposed a deepening rift between the minister and the army's commander-in-chief over how the fight should be run. For many demonstrators, Fedorov had become a symbol of a nimbler, more innovative Ukraine.

The clash arrived at a fragile moment, just as Kyiv's drone-heavy strategy had begun paying real dividends against Russian forces. Analysts warn the political turbulence could stall momentum and unsettle Western backers watching for signs of instability. The dispute over war strategy, long simmering behind closed doors, has now burst fully into public view.

The National Assembly cast its final vote to legalize medically assisted dying, capping years of emotional and often bitter debate across French society. The measure sets out strict eligibility conditions and safeguards, and it makes France one of the largest countries in the world to permit the practice. Supporters call it a hard-won expansion of personal autonomy, while opponents fear it crosses an ethical line.

Health officials in Uganda celebrated as they released the final patient from the country's latest Ebola outbreak, a milestone that suggests the response has largely contained the virus. The mood was jubilant, but the relief comes with a warning attached, as the World Health Organization cautions that Ebola is spreading quickly in neighboring DR Congo. Cross-border vigilance will be crucial in the weeks ahead.

The government confirmed it will bar the sale of high-caffeine energy drinks to children under 16 starting next year, citing concerns over sleep, concentration, and long-term health. The products have become staples for many teenagers, and ministers argue the rules bring the country in line with mounting medical advice. Retailers will need to adjust point-of-sale checks before the ban takes effect.

The federal Commission of Fine Arts signaled support for a proposal to fence off Lafayette Square, the park across from the White House that has served as the country's most prominent protest site for over a century. A final decision rests with the National Park Service, but the panel's endorsement clears a major hurdle.

The defense secretary announced a policy to screen service members for low testosterone, framing it as a readiness measure while drawing swift debate over the science behind it. Critics questioned the rationale and the potential for unnecessary treatment, and the announcement quickly became one of the day's most-read and most-argued stories. Medical experts remain split on how such screening would work in practice.

A deadly encounter with immigration agents in Biddeford has thrust the Republican senator into a delicate spot in a state that leans against the administration's hardline tactics. Collins must balance her party's expectations against a constituency demanding answers, and every statement is being parsed for signs of where she'll land. The case is testing how she navigates loyalty and independence at once.

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The ride-hailing giant moved to acquire Delivery Hero in a blockbuster deal that would forge a global takeout powerhouse spanning dozens of markets. The bid underscores Uber's ambition to dominate food logistics well beyond its home turf and to lock in scale before rivals consolidate. Regulators in several regions are likely to scrutinize the tie-up closely.

The streaming leader posted quarterly results broadly in line with forecasts, but it signaled it will share fewer viewership metrics with investors going forward. That pullback on transparency, paired with a cautious outlook, unsettled the market and sent shares tumbling in after-hours trading. Analysts read the move as a bet that the numbers matter less than the strategy.

Elevated mortgage rates and stubbornly high prices have frozen both would-be buyers and homebuilders just as the market should be at its busiest. Inventory remains tight, affordability is stretched thin, and many owners are reluctant to trade cheap pandemic-era loans for costly new ones. The result is a stalemate that is reshaping how Americans think about owning a home.

Regulators cleared Merck's Lipfendra, a novel oral drug designed to lower cholesterol in patients at high risk of heart disease who don't respond well to existing options. The approval opens a new front in cardiovascular care and could reach a large population that has run out of easy alternatives. Doctors will be watching real-world results and pricing closely as it rolls out.

A National Academies review formally endorsed the growing body of science that connects specific extreme-weather events to a warming climate. The finding lends institutional weight to "attribution" studies that were once considered speculative, and it could ripple into how disasters are studied, insured, and even litigated. Expect the conclusion to surface in courtrooms and policy fights alike.

Astronomers announced the first detection of an atmosphere around a rocky, Earth-like planet sitting in its star's habitable zone, using data from the James Webb Space Telescope. The finding sharply narrows the search for worlds that could plausibly host liquid water — and, eventually, life.

Reigning champion Scottie Scheffler got his 154th Open campaign underway at Royal Birkdale, only to be upstaged by newcomer Jackson Suber, who stunned the field with a five-under 65. Big-hitting Bryson DeChambeau also made an early charge, setting up a crowded leaderboard heading into the weekend. Links golf and shifting coastal winds promise to keep the picture volatile.

Joe Root fell an agonizing one run short of a century but carried England to a four-wicket win over India, dragging his side back level in the series. The knock steadied a run chase that had wobbled badly in its early overs and reminded everyone why he remains England's anchor. It all sets up a winner-takes-all decider at Lord's on Sunday.

The NBA star said he still hasn't decided what comes next and pointedly declined to offer any hints about his plans. His silence leaves the league, his team, and fans guessing about one of the sport's biggest names heading into the offseason. Every offhand comment is now being mined for clues.

Chloe Fineman announced her departure from Saturday Night Live after seven seasons, calling it hard to leave but the right time. Known for her celebrity impressions, she leaves as one of the show's most reliable utility players heading into a milestone season.

The "Ink" director's new film about the media mogul has landed the coveted opening-night slot at Venice. The choice instantly plants an awards-season talking point and signals the festival's appetite for pointed, politically charged storytelling. Expect the premiere to draw outsized attention given its subject.

Once-ubiquitous cardboard packs are fading into nostalgia even as a devoted community of collectors keeps the hobby stubbornly alive. The relics conjure a distinctly American brand of summer memory, from bicycle spokes to shoebox treasures traded on stoops. For many, the appeal is less about value than about the childhood the cards preserve.

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What happened. The administration moved to tighten visa rules for foreign students and journalists, capping how long many can stay and adding fresh hurdles to renewals. The changes push enforcement well beyond the border and into universities, newsrooms, and cultural-exchange programs. Supporters cast it as overdue control, while critics warn it will chill the flow of talent the country has long courted.

Why it matters. Officials also revived a rule that could deny green cards to immigrants who use public benefits, reaching deep into the lives of legal residents and their families. The measure forces wrenching choices between accepting help and protecting a path to permanent status. Its ripple effects would touch millions who are already here lawfully, not just recent arrivals.

The human cost. Conditions inside the system are drawing alarm, with rights groups reporting that detainees at a Texas ICE facility were beaten and abused. The accounts describe overcrowding, medical neglect, and violence inside a rapidly expanding detention network. As capacity races to meet enforcement targets, oversight has struggled to keep pace.

What to watch. A string of deaths in custody has piled pressure on new Homeland Security chief Markwayne Mullin, who now faces his first major test as scrutiny mounts. Whether the department tightens its standards or digs in will shape the human toll of the coming months. Watch for congressional demands for records, fresh lawsuits from advocacy groups, and any shift in detention policy.

That’s today’s Five Minute Daily. Share it with someone who wants a clear, fast read on the day’s biggest stories.

—The Five Minute Daily Team