Morning Briefing

Published on May 13, 2026 at 8:19 AM

Good morning, here is your briefing. President Trump has departed for a historic summit in China while a proposal for a federal gas tax holiday takes center stage in domestic economic debates. Meanwhile, Bitcoin is holding near $80,600 as macro events and a upcoming Senate markup shift market sentiment. 

🪙 Bitcoin & Crypto Markets

  • Price Consolidation: Yahoo Finance reports Bitcoin opened lower at $80,473.98 following yesterday's Consumer Price Index (CPI) report, which highlighted how Middle East energy strains are feeding inflation. It has since stabilized near $80,600.
  • Regulatory Focus: Digital asset funds pulled in $858 million last week as investors anticipate the CLARITY Act markup scheduled in the Senate Banking Panel this Thursday.
  • Institutional Rollout: Retail crypto access expands as Charles Schwab begins its official U.S. rollout of spot digital asset trading for its customers. 

🌍 World & National News

  • Trump-Xi Summit Begins: President Donald J. Trump has departed Washington D.C. for a historic visit to China to meet with President Xi Jinping.
  • NATO Tensions: President Trump sharply criticized NATO, stating the alliance "wasn't there when we needed them" during the recent war involving Iran.
  • Global Sanctions: China announced strict opposition to U.S. sanctions tied to Iran, pledging to aggressively protect its domestic firms.
  • Maritime Security: South Korea strongly condemned a recent attack targeting a commercial cargo ship traveling through the strategic Strait of Hormuz.

💸 Economy & Consumer Policy

  • Gas Tax Holiday Proposal: President Trump is weighing a federal gas tax holiday to shave 18 cents per gallon off fuel prices, though the measure requires approval from Congress.
  • State Surveillance Rules: The New York State Senate is advancing a series of consumer-focused bills targeting unfair surveillance pricing practices, hidden junk fees, and intentionally complex subscription cancellation loops.
  • Corporate Earnings: Alibaba's core profit plunged 84% despite seeing a significant acceleration in artificial intelligence and cloud computing business segments.

🩺 Health & Science

  • Abortion Pill Litigation: The Supreme Court extended its deadline by three days to evaluate a proposed national ban on telemedicine access to the abortion pill mifepristone.
  • Fertility Insurance Expansion: The Trump administration proposed a new rule designed to make it significantly easier for corporate employers to offer comprehensive in-vitro fertilization (IVF) and fertility healthcare coverage.
  • Pregnancy Study: A large-scale population study published in JAMA Network Open confirmed there is no linked increase in risk for congenital anomalies in newborns if the mother contracted COVID-19 during pregnancy.

All responses may include mistakes. For financial advice, consult a professional. Learn more

 

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