Good Morning, and Happy Saturday! Welcome to The Flag's Five, your nonpartisan breakdown of the week’s five most pressing headlines. Dive into what happened, why it matters, and how perspectives from the left and right shape the conversation.

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1. New Book Alleges Biden Wheelchair Plans

Here’s what happened: A forthcoming book by CNN’s Jake Tapper and Axios’s Alex Thompson claims senior aides quietly debated putting then-President Joe Biden in a wheelchair had he secured a second term. Excerpts published in the New York Post describe concern over Biden’s gait and private discussions about timing any public use of a chair after the election. (Emily Crane, New York Post)

Here’s why it matters: The revelations revive questions about presidential transparency and the 25th Amendment, suggesting voters may have lacked crucial health information in 2024. The Atlantic notes that “five people were running the country” while Biden served largely as a “senior board member,” raising fresh alarms about gate-keeping by staff and family. (Tyler Austin Harper, The Atlantic)

Here’s what right-leaning sources are saying: Fox News commentators argue the episode proves media complicity, with Senate Democrats now dodging questions about an alleged “cover-up.” Hosts on America Reports contend Tapper’s book is “an admission of guilt,” and warn that voters were misled about the president’s capacity to govern. (Hanna Panreck, Fox News)

Here’s what left-leaning sources are saying: The Daily Beast focuses on the optics, noting Tapper and Thompson hired crisis-PR help after MAGA influencers accused them of “rewriting history.” Progressive writers argue the media is finally acknowledging facts conservatives weaponized for years, but say the narrative still centers male pundits rather than systemic age-and-ability transparency issues. (Corbin Bolies, The Daily Beast)

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2. Trump Eyes Qatar’s $400M Air-Force Jet

Here’s what happened: During a Doha visit, President Trump confirmed he is considering Qatar’s offer of a $400 million Boeing 747-8 to serve as a temporary Air Force One while new planes are delayed. Some GOP lawmakers expressed surprise, warning of security and legal pitfalls. (Claudia Grisales et al., NPR)

Here’s why it matters: The luxury plane gift would be unprecedented and could test the Constitution’s Emoluments Clause. Politico points out that ethics experts fear “premium foreign influence with extra legroom,” while Boeing’s own Air Force One replacements remain years late and billions over budget. (Megan Messerly, Politico)

Here’s what right-leaning sources are saying: Fox News opinion pieces frame criticism of the jet as partisan grandstanding, with Trump defenders arguing taxpayers save money and that Democrats “hate any win that isn’t theirs.” Others on Fox worry more about potential hidden surveillance tech, urging a “full intel sweep” before acceptance. (Elizabeth Pritchett, Fox News)

Here’s what left-leaning sources are saying: ABC News emphasizes bipartisan ethics concerns and notes Sen. Chuck Schumer’s call for an investigation, citing possible violations of anti-bribery statutes and the Emoluments Clause. Commentators say the episode epitomizes Trump’s “transactional diplomacy” and conflicts of interest. (Jonathan Karl & Katherine Faulders, ABC News)

3. RFK Orders FDA Review of Abortion Pill

Here’s what happened: Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. directed the FDA to re-evaluate mifepristone’s 2000 approval, reopening a decades-long scientific record. The agency must report within 90 days on safety data and labeling. (The Guardian)

Here’s why it matters: A full review could upend nationwide access to a drug used in over half of U.S. abortions and challenge the FDA’s long-standing deference to evidence-based approvals. The Washington Post fact-check chronicles robust data showing complication rates far lower than for childbirth, raising fears the review politicizes agency science. (Glenn Kessler, Washington Post)

Here’s what right-leaning sources are saying: National Review hails the move, citing studies claiming chemical abortions cause “serious events” at far higher rates than the FDA admits. Columnists urge Kennedy to suspend distribution during the probe and say courts should revisit the agency’s “ideological rubber-stamp.” (John McCormack, National Review)

Here’s what left-leaning sources are saying: The Guardian stresses that decades of global research affirm mifepristone’s safety; writers call the review a “Trojan horse” to curtail reproductive rights after last year’s Supreme Court stay preserved access. Advocates warn that politicizing FDA drug science could undermine public trust well beyond abortion care. (Jessica Glenza, The Guardian)

4. Supreme Court Debates Birthright Citizenship

Here’s what happened: The Supreme Court heard arguments on whether judges can issue nationwide injunctions blocking Trump’s executive order ending automatic citizenship for most U.S.-born children of non-citizens. Justices appeared split on both the constitutional question and lower-court authority. (Nina Totenberg, NPR)

Here’s why it matters: The Washington Post notes that curbing nationwide injunctions could let contested policies stay in force for months, creating a patchwork of citizenship rights. Several justices warned of “legal chaos” if babies’ status varied by jurisdiction. (Ann E. Marimow, Washington Post)

Here’s what right-leaning sources are saying: National Review writers say nationwide injunctions have become a “liberal veto” on conservative administrations; they applaud the Court’s skepticism and argue Congress, not unelected judges, should decide immigration rules. Some concede the order itself may falter but view the case as vital to reining in “rogue jurists.” (Ramesh Ponnuru, National Review)

Here’s what left-leaning sources are saying: Vox warns that allowing the order to stand anywhere could render children “stateless” and upend a century of precedent. Patrick Reis argues the lawsuit is part of a broader nativist push and that nationwide injunctions are needed when constitutional rights are at stake. (Patrick Reis, Vox)

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5. Trump’s $1,000 ‘MAGA’ Baby Accounts Advance

Here’s what happened: House Republicans folded “MAGA accounts” into their tax package, offering every child born 2025-2028 a one-time $1,000 federal deposit plus tax-free annual contributions. The measure, branded as a “baby bonus,” passed the Ways & Means Committee. (Carson Swick, CPA Practice Advisor)

Here’s why it matters: Kiplinger notes the plan could encourage stock-market participation but would add roughly $17 billion to deficits over a decade and does nothing to defray immediate childcare costs. Analysts liken it to baby-bond proposals but without income caps. (David Rodeck, Kiplinger)

Here’s what right-leaning sources are saying: The Washington Examiner says pro-family conservatives feel “upstaged,” preferring an expanded Child Tax Credit to long-term savings accounts that cannot be tapped for diapers or formula. Writers also caution the policy could reward wealthier families able to max out contributions. (Zach Halaschak, Washington Examiner)

Here’s what left-leaning sources are saying: The Guardian frames the proposal within broader “pronatalist” rhetoric, arguing Republicans push incentives for “the right kind of babies” while restricting birthright citizenship and cutting safety-net programs. Critics dub MAGA accounts “baby bonds for the already-privileged.” (Joan E. Greve, The Guardian)

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