Domestic Affairs
Introduction In a dramatic turn for global markets, the technology sector has experienced a powerful rally following signals from the Trump administration that U.S.-China trade tensions may soon ease. President Donald Trump’s remarks that current tariffs on Chinese imports are “too high” and will “come down substantially”
Domestic Affairs
Introduction Senator Dick Durbin, the second-ranking Democrat in the United States Senate and a towering figure in Illinois and national politics, announced on April 23, 2025, that he will not seek reelection in 2026. This decision marks the conclusion of a congressional career that has spanned over four decades, including
Domestic Affairs
Introduction In a landmark decision with far-reaching implications for press freedom, federal oversight, and the boundaries of executive power, a U.S. District Court has ordered the Trump administration to immediately reinstate employees and contractors to Voice of America (VOA) and restore its programming and funding. The ruling, issued by
Domestic Affairs
Domestic Affairs
Domestic Affairs
Introduction The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has sharply downgraded its U.S. growth forecast for 2025, warning that President Trump’s sweeping tariffs and the resulting global trade tensions are acting as a major drag on the American and world economies. In its April 2025 World Economic Outlook, the IMF
Domestic Affairs
Introduction The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has abruptly canceled $750 million in planned funding for the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) grant program, a move that marks a dramatic shift in federal disaster mitigation policy. The decision, announced in early April 2025, follows an executive order from President
Domestic Affairs
Domestic Affairs
Introduction The Pentagon was thrown into crisis this weekend as new revelations emerged implicating Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth in a widening scandal over the mishandling of classified military information and a climate of dysfunction at the highest levels of the Department of Defense. The controversy centers on Hegseth’s
Domestic Affairs
Introduction On April 21, 2025, Google entered the most consequential legal battle in its history as the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) began a three-week “remedy hearing” in Washington, D.C., seeking to break up the tech giant for operating what a federal judge has ruled is an illegal
Domestic Affairs
Domestic Affairs
Introduction Governor JB Pritzker has announced a major decline in shootings and gun violence in Chicago, attributing the progress to a series of targeted state initiatives, unprecedented funding, and community-driven strategies. This announcement, made alongside state and city officials, community leaders, and violence prevention experts, marks a significant milestone in