The weekend that was

• Group of Seven talks culminated today with a series of dramatic, in-person

appeals from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as he pressed leaders gathered
in Japan to remain united against Russian aggression. The meeting came as Russia’s
Wagner mercenary group claimed to have finally taken the Ukrainian city of Bakhmut,
the scene of bitter fighting for months. Zelensky denied the city had been taken
but said little remained.

• President Biden again called on congressional Republicans to move toward a deal

to raise the US borrowing limit and characterized GOP proposals as “extreme,” as he
prepared to return to Washington with the possibility of an unprecedented financial
default looming.

• A Nebraska bill combining a ban on most abortions after 12 weeks and restrictions
on gender-affirming care for transgender Nebraskans under 19 is poised to become
law after the state’s unicameral legislature voted for its passage.

• A Washington, DC, metro police officer was arrested on federal charges of

misleading investigators about his communications with Proud Boys leader Enrique
Tarrio – including when the officer allegedly tipped off Tarrio about his impending
arrest.

• At least 12 people were killed and dozens injured in a crush at a soccer stadium
in the capital of El Salvador, the National Civil Police said. About 90 people,
including minors, are being treated for injuries.
The week ahead

Monday

Republican Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina is expected to formally announce he’s
entering the 2024 GOP presidential primary race after filing paperwork with the
Federal Election Commission. Scott — the only Black Republican in the Senate — has
been testing the waters for months and has made frequent visits to Iowa.

At some point this week, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis also will enter the Republican
presidential race, two Republicans familiar with the matter told CNN, initiating
his much-anticipated bid to wrestle the future of the party away from former
President Donald Trump. DeSantis is expected to file paperwork declaring his
candidacy with the Federal Election Commission, followed by a soft launch of his
campaign before a formal announcement in his hometown of Dunedin.

Tuesday

Warner Bros. Discovery will launch Max, its new streaming service that unites some
of the company’s most storied brands under one roof and aims to aggressively
compete in the streaming marketplace as the traditional linear television business
rapidly declines. Max will offer consumers access to a large library of programming
across WBD’s sprawling portfolio: Warner Bros., HBO, HGTV, Food Network, Cartoon
Network, TLC and others. Warner Bros. Discovery is also the parent company of CNN.

Wednesday

May 24 marks one year since a gunman opened fire in Robb Elementary School in
Uvalde, Texas, killing 19 children and two teachers.

CNN will offer in-depth coverage of the one-year anniversary of the shooting
beginning tonight (Sunday) at 8 p.m. ET/PT when “The Whole Story with Anderson
Cooper” airs the special episode “Surviving Uvalde: Inside a School Shooting.” It
provides an unprecedented look at the shooting as the fight for answers and
accountability endures, with new, exclusive reporting from CNN Senior Crime and
Justice Correspondent Shimon Prokupecz.

Thursday

Virgin Galactic, the suborbital space tourism company founded by British

billionaire Richard Branson, hopes to launch its final test flight at the company’s
spaceport in New Mexico. This would be the company’s first flight in nearly two
years since Branson flew to the edge of space in July 2021, and its last before
beginning commercial service.