Anna's Daybreak News

_{Just facts, you think for yourself}

Thursday, 5:15 AM

April 17, 2025

Good morning news friend! Discover the stories shaping now, and setting the stage for what’s next. 📰🌟

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Trump vs. Harvard

The Trump administration has asked the IRS to revoke Harvard University's tax-exempt status, citing its promotion of political ideologies.

Harvard, a 501(c)(3) institution, could lose federal income tax exemption and donor tax breaks. The move follows Harvard’s refusal to share admissions data.

If revoked, Harvard may owe taxes on its $52 billion endowment and real estate. The administration also cut $2.26 billion in federal research funding.

Sources: WallStreetJournal, NYTimes, AXIOS, Bloomberg, Forbes.

Israel's Military Presence in Gaza

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz stated that Israeli troops will remain indefinitely in buffer zones across Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria.

Since March 18, Israeli forces have seized over 50% of Gaza, including Rafah.

A seven-week Israeli blockade continues to restrict humanitarian aid. Hamas, holding 59 hostages, demands full Israeli withdrawal and an end to the blockade for any ceasefire.

Ceasefire talks remain stalled.

Sources: Reuters, AP News, France24, BBC.

TSMC’s Remarkable Q1

TSMC reported a 60% jump in Q1 2025 net profit, reaching NT$361.56 billion ($11.12 billion), with revenue up 41.6% to NT$839.25 billion ($25.53 billion).

Advanced chips (7nm or smaller) made up 73% of wafer revenue. The company faces pressure from U.S. tariffs on Taiwan, starting at 10% and possibly rising to 32%, along with export restrictions affecting clients like Nvidia and AMD.

TSMC plans to invest $100 billion in U.S. manufacturing to mitigate risks. Its stock is down over 20% in 2025.

For Q2, TSMC forecasts revenue between $28.4–$29.2 billion and a gross margin of 57% to 59%.

Sources: Reuters, Tsmc, CNBC, WallStreetJournal.

Fed's Tough Balancing Act

Fed Chair Jerome Powell warned that Trump’s tariffs could raise inflation and slow growth, risking a stagflationary shock.

The Fed may need to prioritize between inflation control and employment if both worsen. The S&P 500 fell over 2% after his comments. Interest rates remain at 4.25%–4.50%, unchanged since December.

Powell said the Fed will wait for more data before adjusting rates. Inflation cooled to 2.5% in February, but consumer and business confidence is declining.

He called the tariffs unprecedented, drawing comparisons to the 1930 Smoot-Hawley tariffs. Despite risks, Powell said the economy remains structurally sound with continued job growth.

Sources: NYTimes, AP News, Reuters, Archive, Bloomberg.

Signs of Life Detected on Distant Planet

Scientists analyzing exoplanet K2-18b, 124 light-years away, detected dimethyl sulphide (DMS) and dimethyl disulphide (DMDS) in its atmosphere—gases on Earth only produced by life.

The James Webb Space Telescope found these molecules at over 10 parts per million, far higher than Earth's levels.

K2-18b, 8.6 times Earth’s mass, is a “hycean world” with a possible ocean beneath a hydrogen-rich atmosphere.

The findings reached 99.7% confidence (three-sigma), below the five-sigma threshold for confirmation. Further observations are planned over 1–2 years.

Sources: BBC, Reuters, NYTimes, NewScientist.

Dementia Blood Biomarkers

Researchers found that blood biomarkers tau217, NfL, and GFAP can predict dementia up to 10 years in advance with up to 83% accuracy.

In a study of over 2,100 adults aged 60+, 17% developed dementia over the 10-year period.

Low biomarker levels suggest low risk, but high levels don’t guarantee disease. Researchers caution against broad screening and recommend combining biomarkers with clinical data.

A related test measuring MTBR-tau243 can stage Alzheimer’s with 92% accuracy by assessing tau tangle severity.

Sources: SciTechDaily, Nature, WashU.

“If navel-gazing, hand-wringing or self-dramatization helped with racial issues, we would have achieved Utopia long ago.”

Did you know we also write in-depth deep dives? They are long, packed with insights, and have received rave reviews. If you’re up for a detailed, action-packed read, check them out:

• The End of the Easy-Money Era

• The Longevity Race

• The Great Retirement Crisis

Baked with love,

Anna Eisenberg ❤️