Domestic Affairs
United States of America
Domestic Affairs
Harvard Sues Trump Administration Over Threats to Research Funding
Domestic Affairs
IMF and Market Analysts Warn of Slower U.S. Growth Due to Tariffs
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
Global Affairs
The Looming U.S.-Japan Trade War: Causes, Consequences, and Strategic Implications
Executive Summary As of April 2025, U.S.-Japan trade relations are at their most precarious point in decades. President Donald Trump’s administration has imposed sweeping tariffs on Japanese exports—most notably a 25% levy on automobiles and a 24% “reciprocal” tariff on all Japanese goods, with a 10%
Global Affairs
Russia Continues Ukraine Offensive as U.S. Threatens to Withdraw Mediation
Global Affairs
Iran and U.S. Conclude ‘Positive’ Nuclear Talks in Rome: Progress, Challenges, and Regional Stakes
Introduction On April 19–20, 2025, Iran and the United States concluded a second round of nuclear negotiations in Rome, marking the most significant diplomatic engagement between the two adversaries in years. Both sides described the talks as “positive” and “constructive,” signaling cautious optimism for a potential breakthrough after years
Domestic Affairs
FEMA Cancels $750 Million Disaster Mitigation Grant Program Amid Policy Shift
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
Federal Judge Halts Mass Firings at Consumer Financial Protection Bureau: A Deepening Legal and Political Crisis
Domestic Affairs
Scandal Engulfs Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth: Signal Leaks, Pentagon Chaos, and Calls for Resignation
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
Google Faces Landmark Antitrust Remedy Hearing as U.S. Seeks Breakup
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
Florida Ranks 4th Nationally for Business Investment as State Attracts $57 Billion
Domestic Affairs
Governor Pritzker Highlights Progress in Reducing Gun Violence in Chicago
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