Good morning, and a warm welcome to all our new subscribers. In today’s edition:

• 🌊 States battle over Colorado River
• 🗳️ Progressives notch major win in MI
• 👂 Become a human lie detector

…and much more.

Ready, Set, Go: Today’s news should be a ~4.23-minute read (1,124 words).

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"Until you make the unconscious conscious, it will direct your life and you will call it fate."

–Carl Jung (1875-1961)

Last week, the Trump administration unveiled a new 10-year plan for managing the shrinking Colorado River, which supplies water to 35-40 million people across the American West.

After years of negotiations, falling reservoirs, and increasingly tense debates between states, federal officials are hoping their new proposal can keep the river from running dry long enough to find a permanent solution.

How did we get here?

In 1922, seven US states—AZ, CA, CO, NV, NM, UT, and WY—signed an agreement on how much water each state could use from the waterway, called the Colorado River Compact.

However, that deal was made during an unusually wet stretch when the river was carrying far more water than it does today.

• Since 2000, the Colorado River has shrunk dramatically, while Lake Mead and Lake Powell—the two largest lakes on the river—have fallen to their lowest combined levels on record.
• Scientists estimate roughly half of the Colorado River's declining flow has been driven by rising temperatures, with additional warming expected to further reduce water levels.

That’s where a new federal proposal comes in

Under the Trump admin’s plan, the Lower Basin states—California, Arizona, and Nevada—which have historically used the most Colorado River water would shoulder most of the burden of mandatory water cuts.

• Between 2027-28, California would reduce usage by ~12%, Arizona by ~31%, and Nevada by ~28%, with water allocations reevaluated every two years depending on conditions.
• If the drought worsens, the Lower Basin could ultimately see cuts of up to 40% of their combined allotments.
• Meanwhile, the Upper Basin states, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming, would continue pursuing voluntary conservation measures rather than mandatory reductions.

But…The latest plan doesn’t permanently settle the debate among states. The Lower Basin states say all Colorado River users should share the burden of cuts, while the Upper Basin states argue they’ve never used their full legal share of water in the first place, so mandatory cuts shouldn't fall on them.

Looking ahead: Experts say the dispute over Colorado River rights will likely spark a future legal battle between affected states, which is expected to eventually reach the Supreme Court.

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For centuries, avocados have kept one of their biggest secrets close to the pit.

But researchers from UC Riverside say they've finally cracked the code on the big question: how does an avocado tree decide whether to flower as male or female?

It’s all in the genes: By sequencing DNA and tracking gene activity in avocado flowers around the clock, the team identified a genetic marker, called SDMYB, that controls whether a tree becomes an A-type or B-type, the two flowering patterns needed for successful pollination.

• A-type plants open female flowers in the morning and male ones in the afternoon, while B-type plants do the opposite.
• Avocado growers intentionally plant a mixture of both to maximize pollination and fruit production.

The breakthrough could lead to more avocado variety

Prior to the latest research, farmers and scientists couldn’t distinguish between A- and B-type avocado trees until they flowered—a process that can take up to 15 years—making breeding new varieties a slow and expensive process. But the newly discovered SDMYB genetic marker lets researchers identify that trait while the tree is still a seedling.

With growers facing hotter temperatures and shifting growing conditions, breeders say the discovery could shave years off the time it takes to develop hardier, more productive avocado variants.

Zoom out: It comes as America’s avocado obsession has fueled skyrocketing demand in recent decades, with US avocado consumption roughly quadrupling since 2000.

BUSINESS & MARKETS

• 🌎 Trump admin says it has refunded $100 billion in tariff revenue collected through President Trump’s 2025 “Liberation Day” duties, which were later deemed illegal by the Supreme Court.
• 🤖 Google reshuffles AI divisions after chief scientist Jeff Dean and three other top AI researchers leave to start their own company, which Google will invest in. | Meta announces new coding agent called Muse Code, which the tech giant is billing as a cheaper alternative to competitors from Anthropic and OpenAI.
• 🎮 Electronic Arts finalizes $55 billion deal to be taken private by a consortium led by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund.

SPORTS, MEDIA & ENTERTAINMENT

• 🏌️ LIV Golf has secured a new unnamed lead investor after Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund pulled funding past the 2026 season, CEO Scott O'Neil announces; deal will fund LIV through 2027 and beyond, per O’Neil.
• ⚖️ Rapper Tupac Shakur’s murder case is returning to court 30 years after his death, with Duane ‘Keffe D’ Davis charged with organizing the 1996 killing; his trial is set to begin Monday.
• 🙏 Dory Funk Jr., WWE Hall of Famer and former wrestling trainer, passed away at 85.

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SCIENCE, SPACE & EMERGING TECH

• 🔋 New anode-free sodium battery could replace lithium-ion batteries by using sodium to form a temporary anode only while charging; new partnership between US startup Mana Battery and French manufacturing giant Saft aims to reduce the need for rare materials, while also making the battery lighter, smaller, and able to store more energy.
• 💉 Moderna starts Phase 1 trials for an Ebola vaccine using the same mRNA technology as its Covid shot, targeting the Bundibugyo strain currently circulating in the DRC; experts say final approval could be years away.
• 🍬 Researchers develop bioengineered chewing gum that delivers antiviral and antimicrobial proteins, cutting HPV levels by ~93% and nearly eliminating two bacteria linked to head and neck cancer.

US, WORLD & POLITICS

• 🗳️ Progressive Abdul El-Sayed wins Michigan’s Democratic Senate primary by a 48.5%-47.5% margin, defeating four-term Rep. Haley Stevens despite being outspent by a factor of ~9x; El-Sayed will face Rep. Mike Rodgers (R) in the November race for Michigan’s Senate seat.
• 🏛️ Rep. Chuck Edwards (R-NC) ends his reelection campaign after House Ethics Commitee recommends he be censured for sexual harassment and creating a hostile work environment; House won’t vote on the recommendation until September, when it returns from recess.
• 🏥 Senate confirms Dr. Erica Schwartz as CDC director in a 51-44 vote largely split by party lines; Schwartz is the first permanent director at the agency in roughly a year.

☝️ Betty Bromage, a 97-year-old great-grandmother, extended her own Guinness World Record as the world's oldest female wing walker this week, taking to the skies to raise money for the hospital unit that treated her after suffering a stroke last year.

🤔 Did you know? The only person ever to view Coca-Cola’s secret recipe outside of the company was Tobias Geffen, an American rabbi who officially certified Coca-Cola as kosher in 1935.

📰 Worth a read: The daring mission to recover World War II POWs from the bottom of the ocean

🖱️ What we’re clicking:

• Reality TV is starting to get too real
• These are the sharpest images ever taken of the Sun
• The art of the beach sandwich

This dress handles summer beautifully… Quince’s 100% European linen fit & flare midi dress feels light, breathable, and polished. Pair with sandals for weekends or dress it up for dinner. One easy piece you’ll always reach for. Shop Quince.

👂 Become a human lie detector: Listen and learn: the hidden secret to spotting a liar.

📖 Read: I didn’t realize how addicted I was to my phone—until I went to prison.

📺 This town ain’t big enough…The untold saga of the original Toy Story, which went so off-the-rails that Disney had to shut the whole movie down. (10 min video)

💼🚀 A 3-minute shortcut to leveling up your career…Join 310,000+ professional women reading The Assist — a 4x-weekly newsletter packed with actionable tips, resources, and insights to help you move forward at work. Subscribe free to The Assist.*

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Which US territory is the country’s southernmost point?

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