Good morning. In today’s edition:

• 🚗 Uber introduces women-only
• 📈 New US inflation data
• 🏙️ The world’s best city

…and much more.

Ready, Set, Go: Today’s news should be a ~3.89-minute read (1,035 words).

Did someone forward you this email? Subscribe here for free.

P.S. If you haven't been seeing our emails in your inbox, please check your spam/junk/other folders and click "mark as not spam," or drag this email to your Primary inbox.

“Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go.”

–T.S. Eliot (1888-1965)

The creator of Wordle wants your text threads to stop looking like: 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 and start looking more like: “taxi → reduced → fee ✅.”

Josh Wardle, who sold Wordle to the New York Times in 2022, on Tuesday officially released his next game: Parseword.

And this time around, the puzzle goes far beyond guessing a simple five-letter word.

Let’s break it down

Parseword is loosely inspired by cryptic crossword puzzles, which use wordplay and hidden clues to solve each entry as its own mini puzzle within a larger grid.

The mechanics and clues vary from puzzle to puzzle, but the basic idea is simple: players transform a sequence of words until two phrases match.

• Words can be reversed, replaced with synonyms, and/or combined—often in different orders—to reach the solution.
• For example, in the puzzle “predator returns run,” “predator” can be swapped for “wolf,” which is then “returned” (reversed) to form “flow.” Flow = Run. Puzzle solved. Got it?😉

Daily puzzle games: so hot right now

Online puzzle games like sudoku, Strands, and Spelling Bee—or DONUT Games’ own original: Conjoiner—have surged in popularity over the past several years, with many pointing to Wordle as the first spark.

Games now account for over 50% of all time spent inside the New York Times’ app, with Wordle, Connections, and the Mini pulling 10+ million weekly players. And LinkedIn, which added games last year, says millions of users play them every single day.

But can Parseword reach the same heights? Wardle openly admits his new puzzle is much trickier than Wordle, and players may need a few tries to fully understand how it works.

Still, he hopes Parseword brings something new to the puzzle landscape: a daily challenge that might leave players scratching their heads each morning.

Most people know roughly what they earn, but not exactly where it all goes. Arro Insights helps you finally see the full picture. Securely connect your bank to track money in and money out in real time, spot spending patterns, and understand your cashflow without spreadsheets or guesswork.

When you're ready, your real-time financial picture helps tell the full story and can support your path toward qualifying for the Arro Card as you work toward building credit.*

Uber and preteen girls now have something in common: certain doors come with a “NO BOYS ALLOWED” sign.

The ride-share app this week officially launched a new feature allowing women riders to set their preferences to be matched with female drivers when available.

• The new “Women Drivers” feature now appears alongside options like UberXL and carseat rides.
• Users can switch to another ride type if the wait is too long, or reserve a trip with a female driver in advance.
• Female users can also set a preference for a female driver in their app settings, increasing those odds—but not guaranteeing it.

Overall, women make up ~20% of Uber drivers in the US, though the share varies widely by city.

Uber-concerned with safety

The new feature is part of a larger pilot program from Uber aimed at addressing security concerns on the platform.

The ride-sharing app is currently facing thousands of pending legal cases over alleged misconduct by drivers. And a recent court decision finding Uber liable in a rape lawsuit has raised the risk of being found liable—or a costly settlement—in the other cases.

But…Not everyone is thrilled by the company’s new women-only feature. Both Uber and Lyft, which launched a similar women’s only program in 2024, have been sued by drivers who argue that it illegally discriminates against men.

BUSINESS & MARKETS

• 📈 Consumer Price Index rises 2.4% in February from a year earlier, in line with the previous month, while core prices rose 2.5%; report doesn’t include any price changes due to the ongoing Iran war, which began February 28.
• 🍔 McDonald’s reportedly plans to launch new value deals in April, including a $3-and-less menu and $4 breakfast meal deals.
• 🛢️ International Energy Agency member countries agree to jointly release up to 400 million barrels of oil; it’s the largest joint release in IEA history, and one of the largest coordinated global financial actions since 2008. | President Trump announces plans to release oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to counter climbing US gas prices.

SPORTS, MEDIA & ENTERTAINMENT

• 🏈 Baltimore Ravens sign edge rusher Trey Hendrickson to 4-yr, $112 million contract hours after backing out of trade for Raiders DE Maxx Crosby.
• 🎬 Arnold Schwarzenegger reportedly set to revive Conan the Barbarian film franchise, while also in talks to return to Predator and star in a sequel to 1985 action film Commando.
• 🎤 Kelly Clarkson, who won the first-ever season of American Idol in 2002, says she never received the promised $1 million check and free car for winning. | 🤠 Kacey Musgraves announces new album: Middle of Nowhere.

Two cups before noon. Another at 2 p.m. when the crash hits. Then you're wired at night, sleep poorly, and wake up exhausted. The problem isn't coffee itself. It's relying on it for everything.

CBD For Life Energy Gummies give you another option. 25mg CBD plus 20mg of natural caffeine and B vitamins deliver sustained energy and mental clarity. 

The CBD takes the edge off, so you get focus and stamina without jitters, anxiety, or that awful 3 p.m. wall.

SCIENCE, SPACE & EMERGING TECH

• 🧠🐁 Scientists reconstruct short movies from the brain activity of mice in an attempt to better understand how the animals perceive the world.
• 🩸 Simple blood test can predict dementia risk in women up to 25 years before symptoms appear, new research reveals.
• 🤖 OpenAI reportedly plans to launch its Sora video AI tech within ChatGPT; Sora has been a standalone app since launching last September.

US, WORLD & POLITICS

• 💥 Iran war: Three commercial ships are struck around the Strait of Hormuz, as Iran steps up efforts to halt traffic through a key global shipping lane for oil; President Trump says war with Iran will end "soon" because there is "practically nothing left to target" in Axios interview.
• 🌪️⛈️ Severe weather risk warnings issued across the Ohio Valley, mid-Atlantic, and northern Gulf Coast regions of the US for yesterday and today; at least 16 tornados reported Tuesday in Texas, Illinois, and Indiana.
• 🗳️ Two candidates qualify for runoff election to fill seat of former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), who resigned in January; Clay Fuller (R) and Shawn Harris (D) will go head-to-head in the April runoff.

👆 You’re looking at some of the winners from the 2026 British Wildlife Photography Awards. The competition’s top prize—out of 12,000+ entries—went to a black-and-white photo captured by photographer Paul Hobson (top-left).

🤔 Did you know? In the English language, adjectives listed before a noun have a fixed order: opinion, size, age, shape, color, origin, material, and purpose. That’s why “a fantastic large fresh-baked round rainbow American donut” sounds right, and “a round American fresh-baked fantastic rainbow donut” doesn’t.

📰 Worth a read: The art of becoming "socially wealthy"

🖱️ What we’re clicking:

• The world’s best city in 2026
• America's big lie: Why the US isn’t as divided and hateful as you’d think
• A humble sea bean is proving to be a promising superfood

Oura Ring 95s. Zero retucking. GOTS-certified organic... Sierra Dreams' Align™ system + plant-based kapok fill = the bedding upgrade customers call "life-changing". Try it for 100 nights risk-free. Save 15% on Sierra Dreams with code DONUT.

Yesterday we covered President Trump’s latest push for Congress to pass an updated version of the SAVE America Act.

The Trump-backed bill would enact new voting laws—like requiring IDs to register/vote, and banning most mail-in ballots—alongside other restrictions on trans women’s participation in sports and gender-affirming care for trans youth.

❓ Our question to you: In general, do you support or oppose the new version of the SAVE America Act?

• Support: 36%
• Oppose: 61%
• Unsure/other: 3%

Click here to read some of the most thoughtful longform responses.

+Note on sample size: We received 875 votes and 152 longform responses.

Te Araroa, which translates to “The Long Path,” is an 1,800-mile hiking trail that runs the length of an entire country. Where is it located?

🪄 A recent study shed light on the benefits of "serious leisure" activities, such as playing Dungeons & Dragons, practicing yoga, or even tailgating for your favorite team.

These habits—if stuck with long enough—can help people build real skills, form tight-knit communities, and start to see the activity as part of who they are. 

New Zealand

Advertise with us: Want to reach other smart and inquisitive readers like you? Become a DONUT partner here.

Disclaimer: *The Arro Card is issued by Community Federal Savings Bank, member FDIC, pursuant to license by Mastercard International.