Does Putin have a plan?

As gas prices soar to yet another record-high, President Joe Biden says inflation is a "top priority." NASA released some stunning images of a neighboring galaxy. And guess who might join Twitter again soon? Former President Donald Trump, if Elon Musk gets his way.

👋 It's Laura. It's Tuesday. Love it or hate it, here's a whole bunch of news.

But first, some words to live by. 🎓 "A mind is a terrible thing to waste, so I figured let me just keep it active as I get older," Dora Clark said. We should listen to her because she just graduated from the University of Akron at 81 years old.

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What's your next move, Putin?

Russian President Vladimir Putin has no exit strategy for the Ukraine war – and that is a problem for the West, President Joe Biden says. Monday, Biden said Putin mistakenly believed the invasion of Ukraine would break up NATO and weaken the European Union, according to Reuters. Russian troops have reportedly taken heavy losses while gaining limited ground. Biden said Putin is a very calculating man who "doesn't have a way out right now, and I'm trying to figure out what we do about that."

👉 More news: Many badly wounded fighters are among the 1,000 Ukrainian troops still holed up at the sprawling Azovstal steel plant, the last major holdout in the port city of Mariupol, Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said Tuesday. Read the latest updates on Ukraine.

• Destruction in Odesa: Ukraine port city targeted in Russian missile strikes.

Trump back on Twitter?

Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk said that if his deal to acquire Twitter goes through, he would let former President Donald Trump return to the platform. During an interview with the Financial Times, Musk said Tuesday he has talked with Twitter co-founder and former CEO Jack Dorsey, and they agree Twitter should not support permanent bans on accounts unless they involve bots or spams and scams. "Permanent bans fundamentally undermine trust in Twitter as a town square where everyone can voice their opinion," Musk said of Trump's ban. "I think it was a morally bad decision." Trump was banned from Twitter after the Capitol riot Jan. 6, 2021. Twitter cited "the risk of further incitement of violence."

• Musk says he's 'aligned' with the EU's new digital services law.

What everyone's talking about

• 'Mexican Pizza: The Musical': Dolly Parton teams up with Doja Cat and Taco Bell.

• Why is Britney Spears posting nude photos? May be about regaining control.

• Young Thug, Gunna among 28 defendants charged in RICO indictment.

• Derision of Amber Heard is a dangerous moment for domestic violence.

• 'Everybody makes such a big deal': Jesse Williams talks being nude onstage.

• 'Our hearts are grieving': What we know about the Americans who died at a Bahamas resort.

The Short List is free, but several stories we link to are subscriber-only. Consider supporting our journalism and become a USA TODAY digital subscriber today.

Biden calls inflation 'top priority'

President Biden sought to ease fears over inflation, promising that tackling rising prices is his top domestic priority and accusing Republicans of having no plan to offer Americans relief. He called inflation the nation's top economic challenge, blaming the twin challenges of a "once-in-a-century pandemic" and the war in Ukraine. "I want every American to know that I’m taking inflation very seriously, and it’s my top domestic priority," Biden said. Americans are grappling with the worst inflation in 40 years, fueled by surges in gas, food and rent costs. Including the economic figures from March, inflation has notched 40-year highs for five straight months.

While we're on the subject: Gas prices hit an all-time high Tuesday, surpassing records set in March. Experts don't expect prices to ease anytime soon. The average price for regular gas in the U.S. was $4.37 per gallon, according to AAA. Diesel prices hit a record $5.55 per gallon.

• Dow, other indexes rise on bargain hunting, but inflation, rates and war still in focus.

NBA star honors former college teammate

As post-game emotions ran high after Game 4 of the Western Conference semifinals, Golden State Warriors forward and former Michigan State star Draymond Green said he and his wife plan to donate $100,000 to a foundation in honor of Adreian Payne, the former Spartan basketball player who died Monday. Payne was shot and killed in Orlando, Florida, according to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. The 31-year-old native of Dayton, Ohio, played for the Spartans from 2010-14 and earned second-team All-Big Ten honors his junior and senior seasons. Lawrence Dority, 29, was arrested at the scene of the shooting and charged with first-degree murder with a firearm. He entered a not guilty plea Tuesday and waived his arraignment, according to court files.

• Station investigating meteorologist's racial slur tweet about Draymond Green.

Real quick

• 'Mayhem at Lake George' lives up to its name as wild video goes viral.

• Chef Mario Batali acquitted of sexual misconduct in groping trial.

• Tom Brady's moving to the broadcast booth when he retires.

• Human burial remains found at site of future Ford battery plant project.

• Up to 14 million Americans at risk of losing COVID-19 Medicaid coverage.

• Marilyn Monroe portrait by Andy Warhol sold for $195 million.

• HBCU school 'incensed' after team bus stopped, searched in Georgia.

• Hunt for fugitives over: Ex-Alabama officer who helped convict escape dies, inmate arrested. Here's what we know.

NASA releases stunning images of a neighboring galaxy

What's out there? We're getting closer to finding out. NASA's new space telescope is in the home stretch of testing, and astronomers expect science observations to begin in July. The James Webb Space Telescope beamed back test pictures of a neighboring satellite galaxy, and the results are stunning compared with images taken by NASA’s previous infrared observatory, the Spitzer Space Telescope. "Just think of what we're going to learn," said the University of Arizona’s Marcia Rieke, chief scientist. Launched last December, the $10 billion Webb is the largest and most powerful astronomical observatory sent into space. It will seek light emitted by the first stars and galaxies almost 14 billion years ago and keep a sharp lookout for signs of life.

• 'Voyage back to the birth of the universe': James Webb Space Telescope launched.

⛈ Watch out for weather: The northern Plains face multiple rounds of severe thunderstorms, hail, flooding this week. Find out what the weather's doing in your neck of the woods with a local forecast.

A break from the news

• 🛍 Rock the matching sets trend with these versatile styles.

• ✈️ Flying with kids this summer? Here's how to avoid long airport lines.

• 🤔 I'm not a seasoned veteran. Am I qualified to mentor co-workers?

• 👩‍⚕️ Nurses Week freebies: Deals, discounts, contests at Chipotle, Crocs.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Biden on inflation, Ukraine war, Adreian Payne, Elon Musk. It's Tuesday's news.