May-2025
Federal Policy and Executive Actions * Alcatraz Reopening Directive: President Donald Trump announced plans to reopen and expand the Alcatraz Island prison facility in San Francisco Bay. The administration has not yet provided details regarding the timeline or specific use cases for the facility. * Proposed Tariff on Foreign Films: President Trump
May-2025
Economic Developments First Quarter Economic Contraction The U.S. economy contracted by 0.3% in the first quarter of 2025, marking the first decline in three years. This downturn was attributed to a surge in imports as companies sought to preempt impending tariffs. In response, President Trump signed an executive
May-2025
Economic and Market Developments Stock Market Activity On May 2, U.S. stock futures experienced gains, with the S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average each rising approximately 0.4%, and the Nasdaq Composite increasing by 0.2%. This uptick followed reports that China is considering re-engaging in
News
Nationwide May Day Protests On May 1, 2025, demonstrations occurred across the United States as part of International Workers' Day. Organized under movements like "50501" and "May Day Strong," these protests addressed labor rights, immigration policies, and economic inequality. Events took place in numerous cities,
April-2025
The US economy contracted for the first time in three years amid the chaos of President Donald Trump's tariff regime. The Commerce Department reported that the GDP shrank at an annual rate of 0.3% during the first quarter. In a speech on Wednesday evening, former Vice President
April-2025
US Automakers Get Break on Tariffs The Trump administration has announced that it will temporarily exempt US automakers from tariffs imposed on Canadian and Mexican imports. This move comes as a relief to American car manufacturers, who had been facing significant costs due to the tariffs. The exemption is seen
April-2025
A massive explosion occurred at an Iranian port city on April 28, 2025, killing at least 46 people and injuring over 1,000. The cause of the blast is still unknown. In other news, a car-ramming incident in Vancouver, Canada, resulted in the deaths of 11 people and injured dozens
April-2025
US Coal Industry and Proposed Changes Under Trump Administration President Donald Trump's administration has proposed several changes to benefit the struggling US coal industry. Executive orders have allowed mining on federal land, and some older coal-fired power plants set for retirement will continue producing electricity due to growing
April-2025
US News Summary: April 26, 2025 Pope Francis Funeral: * Pope Francis' funeral took place at the Vatican on Saturday, with tens of thousands of mourners in attendance. * World leaders, including US President Donald Trump and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, attended the ceremony. * The funeral marked a significant moment
April-2025
Consumer Sentiment Plunges Amid Tariff Uncertainty The University of Michigan's final consumer sentiment index came in at 52.2, down 8.4% from March and 32.4% lower than a year ago. The decline was broad across age and income groups, with consumers worried about the economic effects
April-2025
Top Stories * President Donald Trump expressed anger at Russian leader Vladimir Putin following the deadliest night of strikes on Ukraine's capital since mid-2024. * Trump also voiced frustration with China, saying his administration had meetings with Chinese officials regarding trade earlier in the morning, countering earlier statements from China
April-2025
Politics * President Trump gave an interview to Time magazine, in which he discussed his views on expanding the power of the presidency, inflation, economic contraction, and trade with China. * Trump stated that he would veto any budget bill that cuts Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. * He also mentioned that he