Good afternoon,

Sorry if we’re interrupting your work — but it turns out our newsletter is one of many things distracting American workers these days. A recent report from Microsoft found that 9-to-5 employees are interrupted at least every two minutes by meetings, emails, and other disruptions.

If you feel that deep in your bones, like we do here at Mo News, here are a few suggestions to help reduce distractions:

• Determine what time of day you’re most productive — then block your calendar and treat that time like an unmissable meeting.

• Next, figure out if there’s an activity that sparks inspiration. A run? Walking the dog? Coffee and a notepad? (Ok… I might just be sharing mine 😉) Experts recommend building time into your workday for creative moments — and encourage your team to do the same.

One of my favorite ways to feel productive and focused is to make to-do lists… now, where did I put today’s?

Lauren
Producer

🚨 ONE IMPORTANT THING

Former President Biden Diagnosed With Aggressive Prostate Cancer; Republicans Question Announcement Timing

Former President Joe Biden, 82, said he was diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer Friday that has already spread to his bones, his team announced Sunday.

• The Stage 4 cancer was “characterized by a Gleason score of 9,” a scale from 1 to 10 that measures how abnormal cancer cells look compared to ordinary cells.

  • This type of late-stage cancer has an average five-year relative survival rate of about 37%.

• The statement specifies his cancer is “hormone-sensitive which allows for effective management." He and his family are reviewing treatment options.

WHAT DOCTORS ARE SAYING
Dr. Ezekiel “Zeke” Emanuel, an oncologist who served in the Obama and Biden administrations, said the former president’s prostate cancer had likely been active “for many years, maybe even a decade, growing there and spreading.”

• Speaking on Morning Joe on MSNBC Monday, Emanuel said it’s “a little surprising” that Biden did not receive a PSA test, a common blood test used to help screen for prostate cancer, during his years in office.

  • Emanuel notes that while former Presidents Obama and Bush both received the test while in office, Biden or his doctors may have chosen not to order one for a number of reasons. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force does not recommend men over 70 be screened for prostate cancer routinely. However, given he was president and seeking another four years, Emanuel is surprised Biden didn’t receive one.

• In February 2024, Biden’s doctor declared him “fit to serve” after a routine physical at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. Biden was the oldest-serving U.S. president.

By the numbers: According to the American Cancer Society, about 1 in 8 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during his lifetime – with about 60% of cases detected in men over age 65. It is the second-leading cause of cancer death among men, after lung cancer. Prostate cancer is also particularly likely to spread to the bones, the Mayo Clinic notes.

REACTIONS
Vice President JD Vance did not hold back Monday, questioning Biden’s fitness to serve and accusing those close to him of covering up his health issues. President Trump took a softer tone Sunday evening, wishing Biden well.

It comes as CNN’s Jake Tapper and Axios’s Alex Thompson release their book Original Sin tomorrow, detailing how Biden’s aides allegedly shielded the public from the former president’s declining physical and mental health.

WHAT’S NEXT
After a diagnosis, the disease is generally treated with some combination of surgery, radiation therapy, or hormone therapy. Biden has not announced what course of action he will take.

• As for the allegations of a cover-up, some conservative voices have called for President Biden’s personal physician, Dr. Kevin O’Connor, or his aides/Cabinet members to testify before Congress.

  • Thompson noted in an interview with The New Yorker Radio Hour that “basically every single senior adviser, with the exception of a few, will always say, ‘Well, when I was with him. When I saw him…’ Which is giving them plausible deniability.”

  • In terms of medical records, presidents also have doctor-patient confidentiality.

Beyond Biden? Dr. Emanuel on Morning Joe noted that if Biden’s doctor did administer the prostate cancer screen test and “didn't report it and it was elevated, that is another case of doctors not being straightforward with us. We've had several of them with President Trump, especially around his COVID diagnosis, and if that is true, that would be very troubling.”

✨ Big News, Clean Freaks! ✨

The Sonic Power Electric Scrubber has officially launched at Target stores nationwide and online at Target.com!

• Tough grime? Gone. Tile gunk? History. This cordless powerhouse cuts your cleaning time in half with precision scrubbing power that makes dirt tremble.

• 🚿 Sleek. 🔋 Rechargeable. 🧼 Ruthless on mess.

Now just a Target trip (or click) away. Get yours today!

🚨 ONE THING MO NEWS IS ON THE GROUND FOR

More Storms Headed To Regions Affected By Deadly Tornadoes Across Central U.S.

Forecasters are warning of another round of severe storms headed for the central U.S. this week, days after extreme weather killed at least 28 people in some of the same regions.

Mo News is on the ground covering the devastation from deadly tornadoes in Kentucky, where Gov. Andy Beshear called it “one of the worst” disasters he’s seen while in office. At least 19 people were killed and 10 seriously injured in Kentucky alone, and officials have cautioned that the death toll could rise as search operations continue.

WHAT’S TO COME
The National Weather Service warned of a “multitude of hazardous weather” over the next several days — from thunderstorms and potentially baseball-sized hail on the Plains, to heavy mountain snow in the West, and dangerous heat in the South. Communities in Kentucky and Missouri that were affected by last week’s storms are at risk again this week.

Mosheh is currently in hard-hit Laurel County, Kentucky, where residents are combing through the destruction.

• He’s traveling with Procter & Gamble, which partners with organizations like Matthew 25: Ministries to provide essential services — including laundry services through Tide Loads of Hope, mobile showers, restrooms, baby changing stations, and donations of P&G products.

We are interviewing affected residents and highlighting the work of those volunteers. 📲 Check out the Mo News Instagram page and 🎧 Mo News Podcast for those conversations and a recap of his time on the ground.

⏳ SPEED READ

🚨NATION

📌 Trump’s ‘big, beautiful’ bill advances out of committee, but conservatives demand more changes (PBS)

📌 Supreme Court allows Trump to cancel protected status for Venezuelans (NBC)

📌 Victims of explicit deepfakes will now be able to take legal action against people who create them (CNN)

📌 7 escaped New Orleans jail inmates still at large as search enters 4th day; officials increase reward (CBS)

📌 25-year-old suspect in fertility clinic bombing left behind ‘anti-pro-life’ writings, officials say (AP)

📌 Mexican Navy ship crashes into Brooklyn Bridge (MO NEWS)

🌎 AROUND THE WORLD

📌 Trump says ceasefire negotiations between just Russia and Ukraine to start 'immediately' (ABC)

📌 Netanyahu orders immediate renewal of humanitarian aid to Gaza, under heavy US pressure (TIMES OF ISRAEL)

📌 UK, Europe strike post-Brexit deal on defense, trade issues (FOX)

📌 France to build high-security jail in Amazon to isolate drug traffickers from gangs (EURO NEWS)

📱BUSINESS, SCIENCE & TECH

📌 CBS News CEO Wendy McMahon abruptly resigns, cites disagreements with company amid 'challenging' period (FOX)

📌 U.S. debt downgrade drives up borrowing costs (BBC)

📌 Bird flu in humans hasn't officially been seen in U.S. in 3 months. Experts don’t know why (CBS)

📌 Scientists thought they’d found flowing water “streaks” on Mars, but it turned out to be something else (YAHOO)

🎬 SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT

📌 Trump wants investigations into Springsteen, Beyoncé, Oprah and Bono after their Harris endorsements (MSNBC)

📌 Kids can now head to Netflix as well as PBS for Sesame Street (NPR)

📌 Sean “Diddy” Combs jury hears of Cassie Ventura beating at LA restaurant attended by music superstars & execs (DEADLINE)

📌 Meghan Markle shares never-before-seen pics of her kids with Prince Harry for their 7-year anniversary (TODAY)

ICYMI FROM THE 📲

In case you missed it… After a late-round meltdown cost him a shot at the PGA Championship, Spanish golfer Jon Rahm gave a masterclass in finding perspective: “Am I embarrassed a little bit about how I finished today? Yeah. But I need to get over it, get over myself. It’s not the end of the world. It’s not like I’m a doctor or a first responder, somebody where if they have a bad day, truly bad things happen.”