What's Happening

Politics

Actually, This Email Should Have Been a Meeting

What's going on: The Sunday scaries arrived early for nearly 2.3 million federal employees after Elon Musk and DOGE gave them an ultimatum over the weekend. In a mass email, Musk ordered workers to respond with a list of five bullets detailing what they accomplished last week — a tactic he deployed when he took over X. He later warned on social media that a “failure to respond will be taken as a resignation.” Musk’s move came just hours after President Donald Trump cheered him on, urging him to “get more aggressive.” Cue chaos and fear across multiple federal agencies (basically the new normal). Several agencies, including the FBI, State Department, and Department of Defense, essentially told employees to ignore the DOGE email, while Democratic lawmakers slammed the request. Minnesota Senator Tina Smith (D) put it bluntly, lumping Musk in with other “billionaire as*hole bosses.”

What it means: Cabinet leaders’ orders to ignore Musk’s email (for now) mark one of the first major challenges to his authority. Despite Musk’s threat on X, lawyers say the firings would be illegal, and unions are already gearing up for court. To top it off: The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) — aka federal HR — weighed in, saying “agencies will determine any next steps.” Musk has since tried to justify the ultimatum, claiming it was just a test to root out fraud (which there's no evidence of) and to make sure employees are checking their emails. But it’s unclear how OPM or DOGE would even process all the responses — or track who’s ghosting them. And if that wasn’t enough? Reports say the email was even sent to at least one judge and some law clerks. If only there had been more oversight.

Related: Trump Is Using Merch To Profit Off of His Political Agenda (Axios)

International

Germany Just Swung Right — But Not Far-Right 

What's going on: Germany’s conservatives are set to reclaim power after Sunday’s high-stakes election, shaped by fierce debates over immigration, the economy, and shifting global alliances — including President Trump’s return. That puts Friedrich Merz on track to become the next chancellor. Meanwhile, the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) — which has Elon Musk’s backing — finished a historic second place. The snap election, triggered after Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s government fell apart last fall, garnered what appeared to be Germany’s highest turnout in decades. With no party winning an outright majority, Germany will once again need a coalition government, meaning the CDU must partner with other parties to govern. Merz promised to swiftly form a coalition.

What it means: One party Merz won’t be teaming up with? The AfD. All major parties vowed to shut them out in part because German intelligence has classified parts of the AfD as extremist. Some members have even been convicted for using Nazi slogans. Still, their strong showing has raised alarms about the growing influence of the far right in Europe — concerns heightened after Vice President JD Vance urged Europe to work with the hard right. As US policy shifts under President Trump, European leaders are increasingly questioning America’s reliability as an ally. Germany’s new leadership carries global weight as a top NATO member and Ukraine’s second-biggest weapons supplier after the US. Merz’s government will play a key role in shaping the next phase of the war.

Related: What Will the End of the War in Ukraine Look Like? (ABC News)

Business

Bringing AI 'Inspo'? Prepare for the Deepest Sigh

What's going on: AI appears to be fueling delusion, and some business owners are over it. Wedding planners, hairstylists, and designers say clients are showing up with visions of AI-generated miracles dancing in their heads — often ideas that defy physics, budgets, and basic logic, forcing creatives to break the bad news. (No, you can’t hang a giant chandelier from the ceiling of a glass greenhouse.) Pushing back means risking clients, as small business owners struggle to meet impossible expectations, according to The Washington Post. While some praise AI for making art and design more accessible, professionals argue there’s a reason they spent years honing their craft. They worry customers’ sense of reality is getting as warped as the fingers in their AI-generated “inspo” pics.

What it means: One wedding consultant told The Washington Post she lost out on a five-figure paycheck because she told the bride her AI-generated, Met Gala-style plan was out of budget. Hairdressers’ classic quandary of managing expectations is getting harder as more clients bring in images of perfectly coiffed hair, unmarred by a hint of frizz. Even a plastic surgeon admitted he's worried about AI driving "unrealistic expectations" in his field. And all this aspirational content may be hurting more than businesses. Beauty standards have always been unattainable, and with AI, they’re becoming downright impossible (even Angelina Jolie is getting the over-filtered treatment). As one hairstylist put it: As AI alters clients' expectations, “reality itself gets erased from their brains.” 

Related: Will AI Save Dating Apps or Kill Them? (Wired)