Good morning, everyone. I want to start with our good news update. This Sunday tradition matters, and a full news briefing will be coming later this afternoon.
I would love for you to share one piece of good news from your own life in the comments. Big or small, personal or professional. This is how we build something real. A community that stays informed and lifts each other up.
My good news this week is life changing. I am a dad. We are being discharged from the hospital today, everyone is healthy, and while we are running on very little sleep and a lot of emotion, we could not be more grateful. This is something I have dreamed about for as long as I can remember, and now it is here.
The other piece of good news is what I saw from so many of you yesterday at No Kings Day. Something shifted. Not politically, but emotionally. I saw hope. I saw energy. I saw people believing again. Hold onto that. Protect it. Grow it. That is exactly why we do these good news updates.
Here’s some good news:
- A 78-year-old woman named Barbara went viral after completing a 300-foot rope swing jump between two 500-foot cliffs in Moab, Utah, trying the extreme activity for the first time. The jump, one of the longest rope swings in the U.S., was captured on video and praised by organizers as an inspiring example of adventure at any age. Organizers emphasized that the experience is designed to be accessible to a wide range of people, including seniors. The moment has been widely celebrated online as a reminder that age does not have to limit bold experiences.
- A 100-year-old World War II veteran became the oldest organ donor in U.S. history after his liver was successfully transplanted, highlighting how the organ’s ability to regenerate keeps it functionally young. Experts say the liver typically has a “functional age” of about three years, challenging common assumptions that age limits organ donation. His donation helped save a life and underscored the ongoing need for donors, with more than 100,000 people in the U.S. waiting for transplants. The story is being shared as an example of lifelong service continuing even after death.
- North America’s largest wildlife overpass has opened in Colorado, allowing animals like elk, bears, and mountain lions to safely cross a busy six-lane interstate. The structure connects tens of thousands of acres of habitat and is expected to reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions by up to 90%. Built through a public-private partnership, the project aims to improve both driver safety and wildlife conservation. Officials say it marks a major step forward in protecting animal migration routes and reducing accidents.
- The San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance has launched a 24/7 streaming channel that brings live animal content and educational programming into more than 400 children’s hospitals worldwide. The initiative allows immunocompromised kids who cannot visit zoos to experience wildlife from their hospital beds, reaching an estimated 25 million viewers annually. Originally launched locally, the program has expanded globally, including to clinics and facilities in multiple countries. Hospital staff say the channel has a powerful emotional impact, helping comfort and uplift young patients during treatment.
- Virunga National Park is experiencing a major wildlife resurgence, with hundreds of elephants returning after years of conflict and poaching, along with a surge in mountain gorilla births including rare twins. Conservation efforts and reduced violence have allowed ecosystems to begin recovering, with elephants actively reshaping the landscape and supporting biodiversity. Officials say the developments are a powerful sign of recovery in one of Africa’s most fragile conservation areas. The progress highlights how sustained protection and stability can quickly revive endangered species and habitats.
- Scientists have discovered 24 new deep-sea species, including an entirely new family and superfamily of amphipods, during a survey of the Clarion-Clipperton Zone in the Pacific Ocean. The findings highlight how little is known about deep-sea ecosystems, with researchers estimating that more than 90% of species in the area remain unidentified. Experts say the discoveries are crucial for understanding biodiversity and informing future decisions about deep-sea mining and conservation. The breakthrough underscores the vast, largely unexplored diversity of life in Earth’s oceans.
- A new drug called Zorevunersen has shown promising results in treating children with Dravet syndrome, a severe and treatment-resistant form of epilepsy, significantly reducing seizures in clinical trials. After three doses, patients saw up to an 80% reduction in monthly seizures, along with improvements in development and quality of life, with no major side effects reported. Researchers say the breakthrough could pave the way for treatments targeting hundreds of similar genetic epilepsies. A larger phase 3 trial is now being planned to further evaluate the drug’s long-term safety and effectiveness.
- A San Francisco firefighter is being praised as a hero after rappelling down a coastal cliff to rescue a woman who was clinging to rocks above the ocean, bringing her safely back to shore.
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Luz Peña on Instagram: "It was a dramatic rescue that has now …
- A Rhode Island community rallied around an autistic barista after his tip jar was stolen, turning an upsetting incident into an outpouring of support. Customers, local officials, and neighbors flooded the shop with donations, raising around $900 in just days and showing solidarity with the worker. The coffee shop, which employs people with disabilities, has become a meaningful part of the community, making the response especially powerful. The story highlights how collective kindness can quickly transform a negative moment into one of support and connection.
- George Strausman is gaining viral attention on social media for his weekly pottery classes, where videos of him shaping clay have resonated widely with viewers.
- A filmmaker left a successful Hollywood career to open a small-town candy shop, pursuing a long-held personal dream after years of working on others’ projects. The new business, launched in Sleepy Hollow, has quickly gained a large online following as she documents the journey of building it from scratch. She described the move as a turning point after realizing she wanted to focus on her own passions rather than industry demands. The story has resonated widely as an example of reinvention and taking risks later in life.
- A Texas teenager was awarded one of the highest honors in scouting after rescuing his scout leader from drowning during a whitewater rafting accident. The teen freed the trapped leader’s foot from the raft while he was submerged in rapids, likely saving his life, and then helped guide the group to safety. The rare award has been given fewer than 300 times in Boy Scouts history, recognizing extraordinary heroism. The incident highlights quick thinking and courage under extreme pressure.
- Juan Fernández Archipelago is now at the center of one of the world’s largest marine protected areas after former president Gabriel Boric established a reserve covering roughly 386,000 square miles, about half of Chile’s territorial waters. The massive conservation zone, larger than Texas, protects critical habitats for whales, sea turtles, and other marine life while connecting existing protected regions. Officials and conservationists say the move is a major step toward global biodiversity goals and safeguarding ecosystems for future generations. The designation is also seen as a defining environmental legacy of Boric’s presidency.
- A U.S. veteran and her family were surprised with tickets to a Philadelphia Phillies game during an interview with Ike Ejiochi, recognizing her work providing service animals to fellow veterans.
- A severely ill Shetland pony named Pickle, once too weak to stand or breathe properly, has made a remarkable recovery after intensive care and is now thriving at a rescue center in England. The tiny pony, now just 28 inches tall, has become a favorite among visitors and is expected to eventually find a permanent home. Caretakers say his turnaround from near death to playful and healthy has been extraordinary. His story highlights the impact of dedicated animal rescue efforts and the resilience of animals given a second chance.
- A large-scale study of more than 1 million solar installations in Germany found that solar panels degrade much more slowly than previously believed, potentially lasting nearly twice as long. Researchers discovered annual efficiency losses of around 0.5–0.6%, far lower than earlier estimates, which could significantly reduce long-term costs and improve energy output. The findings suggest solar power is more reliable and cost-effective than assumed, strengthening the case for large-scale renewable energy investment.
- The Nashville Public Library has launched a free “Memory Lab” that allows people to digitize old photos, VHS tapes, slides, and other media to preserve personal and family history. The service provides access to specialized equipment that would otherwise be costly, helping prevent memories from being lost as older formats become obsolete. Part of a broader national trend, the program also aims to bridge the digital divide by making preservation tools accessible to everyone. Officials say the initiative helps ensure important stories and moments can be saved and shared for future generations.
- Two teens in the San Francisco area created a nonprofit that collects and redistributes used school uniforms, helping more than 1,400 families save an estimated $140,000 in costs. The program also keeps thousands of clothing items out of landfills, reducing environmental impact while supporting low-income students. What started at one school has expanded across an entire district, with donation bins and organized distribution systems. The initiative highlights how small, community-driven ideas can create both financial and environmental benefits at scale.
- Volunteers in England have created a 15-mile “mega hedge” connecting South Downs National Park and New Forest National Park, forming a vital wildlife corridor across the countryside. The project supports around 2,000 species by providing habitat and safe passage for animals, helping address habitat fragmentation. Built over three years through community and conservation partnerships, the hedge also contributes to climate resilience and biodiversity protection. Officials say it demonstrates how collaborative, nature-based solutions can restore ecosystems at scale.
- A creative “Call a Boomer” project connects young people and seniors through linked payphones between Boston and Nevada, allowing them to have spontaneous conversations across generations. The initiative, designed to combat loneliness, targets two groups with high levels of social isolation and encourages meaningful, unscripted interaction. Early responses have gone viral, highlighting surprising exchanges and shared perspectives between age groups. Organizers say the experiment shows how simple ideas can bridge generational divides and foster human connection.
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See you soon.
— Aaron
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