Domestic Affairs
North America
Domestic Affairs
House Republicans Unveil Medicaid Compromise as Part of Budget Negotiations
Introduction In a pivotal development on Capitol Hill, House Republicans have introduced a compromise proposal to overhaul Medicaid as part of ongoing budget negotiations. The plan, designed to bridge the divide between party centrists and hardliners, implements substantial cuts and new requirements to the Medicaid program in order to help
Domestic Affairs
President Trump Announces Executive Order to Cut Drug Prices
Introduction President Donald Trump has announced a sweeping new executive order intended to dramatically lower prescription drug prices for Americans. This order revives and expands a controversial strategy from his first term, aiming to tie what the United States pays for certain high-cost medications to the lower prices paid by
Domestic Affairs
U.S. and China Agree to Temporarily Suspend Most Tariffs, Triggering Market Surge
Executive Summary On May 12, 2025, the United States and China announced a landmark agreement to suspend most of the punitive tariffs imposed on each other over the past several months. This 90-day truce, reached after intensive negotiations in Geneva, marks a critical turning point in the ongoing trade war
Domestic Affairs
New York State Legislature Passes $254 Billion Budget After Prolonged Standoff
Domestic Affairs
Governor Newsom Declares “Code Red” Economic Emergency Over Tariffs: A Comprehensive Report
Domestic Affairs
Texas Legislature Finalizing $336 Billion State Budget Amid Tariff Uncertainty
Domestic Affairs
Texas Legislature Continues 89th Regular Session with Focus on Water Access and Immigration
Introduction The 89th Regular Session of the Texas Legislature has become a focal point for some of the state’s most pressing and politically charged issues: water security and immigration policy. As Texas faces the dual challenges of rapid population growth and intensifying drought, lawmakers are grappling with how to
Domestic Affairs
Rare-Earth Materials Expected on Agenda of U.S.-China Trade Talks
Introduction On the eve of pivotal trade negotiations with the United States, China has announced a sweeping crackdown on the smuggling of rare earths and other critical minerals, signaling its intent to tighten enforcement of export controls on strategic resources. This move, orchestrated by a coalition of powerful ministries-including commerce,
Domestic Affairs
U.S. and U.K. Finalize Limited Trade Agreement; U.S.-China Talks Loom
Introduction The United States and United Kingdom have announced a new, limited trade agreement-the first such deal since President Trump’s administration suspended initial tariffs last month. This arrangement, while offering targeted relief to select industries and providing a framework for future negotiations, stops short of a comprehensive free trade
United States of America
Pope Leo XIV: The First American Pontiff and His Global Significance
Introduction On May 8, 2025, the white smoke rose above the Sistine Chapel, signaling to the world that the College of Cardinals had chosen a new leader for the world’s 1.3 billion Catholics. The man who emerged onto the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, introduced with the
Global Affairs
U.S. Vice President JD Vance’s Shift in Transatlantic Policy: A Comprehensive Analysis
Introduction On May 7, 2025, U.S. Vice President JD Vance delivered a closely watched policy address in Washington, D.C., marking a significant recalibration in the Biden administration’s approach to transatlantic relations. Vance’s remarks, delivered at an event organized by the Munich Security Conference, signaled a more