Plus: Trump's moves to expand IVF access; Social Security fraud fact check

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Good afternoon & we’re back with another PM Mo Newsletter —

Deny it all you want, every family has a favorite child. This coming from… the favorite child 💁‍♀️ (sorry, Jeffrey!). A recent study reveals it often has to do with things you can’t control: gender and birth order.

The study found that parents, both mothers and fathers, tend to favor daughters (✔️) and first children (✔️).
- Of course, no one outright admitted to that. Researchers instead asked parents questions like: Do you experience more conflict with one child? Who do you spend the most time with? Who gets more help with homework?
- Parents also reported more favoritism toward their most “conscientious and agreeable” children.
The study wasn’t designed to make parents feel guilty – but to highlight discrepancies in parenting that could affect a child’s mental health, development, and academic success.
- One way to avoid perceived favoritism is being explicit about why a certain child gets more attention – such as needing extra support with schoolwork or having a medical condition. “Even if you feel it’s legitimate, if the kids don’t understand that and don’t buy into that, it could still have these negative effects,” said Alex Jensen, one of the study’s lead authors.

Experts also suggest being upfront about it. So maybe we should all be more like Kim Kardashian, who announced her favorite child to a TV audience of millions. Mom, Dad, I’m waiting for your declaration!

Sari
Mo News Senior Producer

P.S. Thank you for all the kind messages about moving the newsletter to evenings. Our inbox remains open! Just reply to this email.

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🚨 ONE THING THAT’S ESCALATING

Trump Calls Ukraine’s Zelenskyy A Dictator As Feud Escalates Over Peace Talks

President Donald Trump called Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy a “dictator” on Wednesday, a day after blaming Ukraine for the war, despite it starting with Russia’s invasion.

Zelenskyy responded that Trump is “caught in a web of disinformation” peddled by Russia – escalating a feud that could complicate peace efforts. VP J.D. Vance is warning Zelenskyy against “bad mouthing” Trump.

⏪ REWIND
Trump and Zelenskyy have had a fraught relationship since Trump’s first term – when Trump tried to pressure Zelenskyy to investigate Joe Biden and his son, Hunter, by withholding U.S. security assistance ahead of the 2020 election. The incident led to Trump’s first impeachment.

The hostility deepened earlier this week when Trump administration officials met with Russian leaders to discuss an end to the war in Ukraine – and did not invite Ukrainian officials.
On Tuesday, Trump appeared to blame Zelenskyy for the three-year war with Russia, claiming Zelenskyy “should have never started it.” He also said that Zelenskyy cannot track “hundreds of billions” of dollars in U.S. aid and that he has a 4% approval rating.
- Of note: During the war, Ukrainian military officials have faced accusations of corruption. In 2023, Zelenskyy pushed out the Deputy Defense Minister and heads of regional military recruitment centers, citing “illicit enrichment.”
- The U.S. has given Ukraine approx. $175 billion in financial aid and military assistance to support its war efforts. Trump has claimed it is upwards of $350 billion.

TODAY’S BACK-AND-FORTH
In response to Trump’s Tuesday comments, Zelenskyy told reporters on Wednesday that Trump was “caught in a web of disinformation” peddled by Russia. Zelenskyy clarified that Trump misrepresented his approval ratings and how much the U.S. has spent on the war.

Zelensky noted that the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology showed his approval rating at 57% in February.
Then, Trump called Zelenskyy a “dictator” on Truth Social:

WHAT’S BEHIND THE DICTATOR REMARK
Zelenskyy was first elected Ukrainian president in 2019, in an election considered fair by international observers. His five-year term ended last spring, but he postponed the 2024 election due to the war and martial law.

Zelenskyy has vowed to finally hold a new election once the war ends. He views holding elections in Ukraine before the war ends as practically impossible with more than 1/3 of the population under occupation or displaced: 20% of the country is under Russian occupation, daily Russian attacks on many cities continue, and 11 million Ukrainians are either displaced abroad or internally.
🚨 Notably, it is Russian President Vladimir Putin who is effectively dictator of Russia and has not held elections deemed fair in nearly two decades.

LAWMAKERS NOT HAVING IT
Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) called President Trump’s recent comments about Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy “utterly despicable,” “pathetic,” and “weak.”

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) also addressed Trump’s recent remarks, saying they were “straight from a Russian propaganda playbook.” Schumer added that it “is disgusting to see an American president turn against one of our friends and openly side with a thug like Vladimir Putin.”

Some Republican lawmakers also distanced themselves from Trump’s comments. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (SD) said there is “no question” that Russia is the “aggressor here.”

Maine Sen. Susan Collins said, “I do not agree that President Zelenskyy is to blame in any way."
South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham said, “When it comes to blame for the Russian invasion of Ukraine, I blame Putin above all others.”
Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski said she “would certainly never refer to President Zelenskyy as a dictator.”

🚨 ONE IMPORTANT THING

Trump Moves To Boost IVF Access & Affordability

President Trump signed an executive order Tuesday directing his administration to explore ways to make in vitro fertilization (IVF) more affordable for American families. The order sets a 90-day deadline for policy recommendations aimed at reducing patient costs associated with IVF treatment – which can be tens of thousands of dollars.

Nearly 8 million children in the U.S. have been born via IVF. Of women between ages 15 and 44 who received fertility treatment, 2% of U.S. used IVF from 2017-2019, according to a Pew survey.

BARRIERS TO ACCESS
On the campaign trail, IVF emerged as a major issue in the wake of a controversial Alabama state Supreme Court ruling. Trump referred to himself as the “father of IVF” and promised that all families seeking the treatment would have coverage. “Your government will pay for, or your insurance company will be mandated to pay for, all costs associated with IVF treatment,” he said in August.

To fulfill this promise, Trump will need Congressional support. Republicans have historically been hesitant to approve IVF funding.
- Early estimates suggest that covering IVF for all Americans could cost at least $7 billion annually.
  - That’s because, on average, a round of IVF costs around $15,000 – and can be much more.
- There is also a wing of the Republican party that opposes IVF, as it often involves destroying embryos. The Catholic Church opposes the procedure.
Currently, insurance coverage for IVF is inconsistent. Just 15 states having some requirement that insurers cover at least part of the costs involved.

🚨 ONE THING THAT NEEDS CONTEXT

Are Millions Of Dead People Getting Social Security Payments? We Dive In.

Over the weekend, Elon Musk claimed that tens of millions of fraudulent Social Security “vampires” — people supposedly too old to be alive — are receiving benefits. President Trump doubled down on the claim Tuesday, calling the agency “obviously fraudulent or incompetent.”

Fact check: Since 2015, Social Security stops payments after age 115.
- If you live longer than that (and we hope you do), you have to contact the Social Security administration. Right now, the oldest known living person in the U.S. is 114.
Wired reporter David Gilbert says the issue could also be due to “a quirk of the decades-old coding language that underpins the government payment systems,” which may incorrectly fill in blank birth dates with a date in 1875.
- A Biden administration audit identified that updating the system could cost over $9 million.

Are improper payments real? Yes, but they account for less than 1%, mostly due to overpayments rather than intentional fraud.

⏳ SPEED READ

🚨NATION

📌 Trump administration terminates approval of New York City congestion pricing (POLITICO)

📌 Trump signs order to expand White House control of independent agencies (THE HILL)

📌 RFK Jr. tells staff he will 'investigate' childhood vaccine schedule, anti-depression drugs (ABC)

📌 Millions under winter alerts as major snowstorm and dangerous cold freeze U.S. (NBC)

🌎 AROUND THE WORLD

📌 Brazil’s Bolsonaro slams ‘vague’ accusations after attempted coup indictment (BBC)

📌 QR-code stickers mysteriously appear on 1,000 Munich graves. Police are now investigating (AP)

📌 More than 150 false killer whales stranded on a beach in Australia's Tasmania state (NPR)

📱BUSINESS, SCIENCE & TECH

📌 Walmart is getting a bump from a surprising cohort: Wealthier shoppers (CNBC)

📌 West Texas measles outbreak grows to 58 cases, including some people who said they were vaccinated (CNN)

📌 mRNA vaccines show promise in pancreatic cancer in early trial (NBC)

🎬 SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT

📌 Cassie Ventura expecting her third child (CNN)

📌 Mindy Kaling gets sweet surprise from her three kids after Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony (PEOPLE)

📌 Cynthia Erivo to host 2025 Tony Awards (THE WRAP)

ICYMI FROM THE 📲

In case you missed it… Rapper A$AP Rocky was found not guilty of two felony counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm in Los Angeles on Tuesday evening. After the verdict was read, the rapper leaped into his partner Rihanna’s arms and sobbed.

Now back to 🎶 work, work, work, work, work, work 🎶

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