A widespread salmonella outbreak linked to recalled eggs has raised serious public health concerns across the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), at least 79 individuals in seven states have fallen ill, with 21 hospitalizations reported as a direct result of exposure to contaminated eggs.

The August Egg Company, at the heart of the recall, has voluntarily pulled back approximately 1.7 million brown cage-free and organic eggs distributed between February 3 and May 15, 2025. These eggs were sold in major grocery chains including Walmart, Save Mart, Safeway, Smart & Final, and Food 4 Less, spanning across states like California, Nevada, Illinois, Indiana, Nebraska, New Mexico, Washington, Arizona, and Wyoming.

The sell-by dates on the affected eggs range from March 4 to June 19, 2025, and consumers are being strongly urged to check their fridges. The CDC recommends disposing of the recalled eggs immediately or returning them to the store of purchase. Furthermore, any surfaces or utensils that may have come into contact with these eggs should be thoroughly disinfected.

What Is Salmonella and Why Is It Dangerous?

Salmonella is a bacteria that can cause severe foodborne illness. According to the FDA, symptoms typically begin 12 to 72 hours after infection and include fever, diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, and dehydration. While most people recover within a week, the infection can become severe or even fatal in young children, older adults, pregnant women, and those with weakened immune systems.

The bacterium can also lead to bloodstream infections if not treated in time, and in rare cases, death. In light of the current outbreak, the CDC has stressed the importance of safe egg handling practices, especially as summer gatherings and picnics increase the risk of improper storage and preparation.

Keeping Eggs Safe – What You Can Do

To reduce the risk of foodborne illness, consumers are advised to:

• Buy only refrigerated eggs and inspect for cracks or dirt before purchasing.
• Refrigerate eggs at or below 40°F (4°C) immediately after bringing them home.
• Cook eggs until both the white and yolk are firm, and avoid runny preparations.
• Use pasteurized eggs when making recipes that call for raw or undercooked eggs (e.g., Caesar dressing, homemade ice cream).
• Wash hands, surfaces, and utensils thoroughly with soap and hot water after handling raw eggs.
• Use insulated coolers and ice packs when transporting egg-based dishes outdoors.

This incident also highlights the broader issue of rising food recalls in 2025, ranging from bacterial contamination to allergen mislabeling. As food sensitivities and immune vulnerabilities increase in the population, both awareness and prevention are key.

Elon Musk, the world’s richest person and CEO of SpaceX and Tesla, openly criticized President Trump’s $2.4 trillion tax-and-spending bill as a “disgusting abomination.” Trump retaliated by threatening to terminate federal contracts and subsidies for Musk’s companies—moves that could scrape $48 billion from space, satellite, and defense programs . On X, Musk escalated by threatening to “decommission” SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft, though he reversed course after backlash This isn’t a casual Twitter spat—it’s a high-stakes standoff with real-world consequences.

SpaceX sits at the heart of U.S. space and defense infrastructure. It ferries astronauts and cargo to the ISS, runs mega satellite constellations via Starlink, and is the Pentagon’s favored military satellite launcher . Alternative providers—Boeing, Rocket Lab, Blue Origin—are stepping up, but they’re still playing catch-up Musk’s government contracts aren’t just beneficial—they’re essential. Messing with them risks disrupting NASA missions, national defense, and connectivity for remote communities.

—The path forward: temporary retreat or lasting damage?The Wall Street Journal reports that Musk’s companies could lose nearly $48 billion in contracts if Trump follows through . Meanwhile, Tesla stock tumbled ~14%, and even Trump Media shares sank following Musk’s public jabs Yet two signs of calm are emerging: Musk wiped his most provocative X posts and paused the Dragon decommission threat . Trump also publicly softened, saying he “wishes [Musk] well,” though hinted review of contracts might still be fair Still, legal experts warn this standoff could become a precedent for politicized contracting, potentially dragging public services into personal vendettas.

—What it means for the country
National security and space exploration are at stake. SpaceX missions are integral to U.S. presence in orbit. A paralyzed Dragon could halt ISS access. Starlink outages could disrupt frontline communications.

The PBS NewsHour calls this a “collision of personal vendetta and public goods,” while Wired warns that mass reliance on one private company makes the nation vulnerable

—Can common sense prevail?
The feud reminds us how precarious privatized public functions have become when billions and national missions depend on one person. Industry insiders like Bill Ackman have urged a cooling off; NASA and the Pentagon are quietly vetting alternative suppliers .

Lawmakers now face a choice: should political disagreements dictate space policy? Or should national interests demand a firewall between personal feuds and critical infrastructure?

A high-stakes verbal showdown between two of the most powerful figures in America—Tesla CEO Elon Musk and US President Donald Trump—has just escalated into explosive territory. In a shocking twist on Thursday, Musk threw out a bombshell accusation: that Trump’s name appears in still-unreleased Jeffrey Epstein files, which is why, he claims, the documents have been kept away from the public.

“Donald Trump is in the Epstein files. That is the real reason they have not been made public. Have a nice day, DJT!” Musk posted on X (formerly Twitter), instantly sending shockwaves across political and media circles. He urged followers to bookmark his post, hinting that the truth would eventually be exposed.

This latest jab adds fuel to an already fiery feud between the tech mogul and the President. It follows Musk’s abrupt exit from his role as head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which he left to refocus on his embattled businesses.

But what exactly are the Epstein files Musk is referring to?

The Epstein files are a collection of investigative documents, testimonies, and court records tied to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and his network of alleged co-conspirators. While some of these documents have been unsealed in stages—particularly through lawsuits involving Epstein’s former partner Ghislaine Maxwell—a significant portion remains sealed or partially redacted.

Earlier this year, after Trump took office, the US Department of Justice released a new batch of Epstein-related documents, many of which had already been leaked or reported in fragments. However, public demand to release the rest of the files—especially those rumored to contain names of high-profile individuals—has only intensified.

The inclusion of Trump’s name in this narrative isn’t new, but Musk’s tweet has brought it back into mainstream conversation. The US President and Epstein were known to share a social relationship in the 1990s, often seen together at events, including a now-viral 1992 video at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate. Flight logs and testimonies suggest Trump flew on Epstein’s private jet multiple times during that period.

Although Trump has repeatedly denied any close association—saying in 2019 that he hadn’t spoken to Epstein in over 15 years and had banned him from Mar-a-Lago—the optics and Musk’s renewed allegations have raised eyebrows. The two men reportedly had a falling-out in 2004 over a Florida real estate deal, marking the beginning of their public distancing.

Epstein’s death in 2019, officially ruled a suicide, has never ceased to stir conspiracy theories and political intrigue. The businessman was facing federal charges related to sex trafficking of minors at the time of his death, and was believed to have connections to elite figures across politics, finance, and entertainment. His longtime associate, Ghislaine Maxwell, is now serving a 20-year prison sentence for her role in recruiting and grooming underage girls.

While Elon Musk’s accusation has yet to be backed by formal evidence, his immense influence has reignited demands for transparency. FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino confirmed on Fox News that more documents are slated for release in the coming weeks.

For now, the public waits—with growing curiosity and unease. Will these files truly bring explosive revelations? Or is this just another round in the ongoing Trump-Musk power saga?