Record-Breaking Address Sets the Tone Donald Trump delivered the longest State of the Union address in modern history, speaking for 108 minutes before a joint session of Congress. The extended speech underscored the administration’s urgency ahead of critical midterm elections. Trump framed the nation as resurgent, repeatedly declaring that the United States is “winning so
Growth Remains Solid but Uneven As Donald Trump prepares to address Congress, the U.S. economy presents a complex and sometimes contradictory picture. Headline indicators suggest resilience, with steady GDP growth, moderating inflation, and continued job creation. Yet beneath the surface, growth appears concentrated in narrow sectors. Economists describe the expansion as “adequate” rather than broad-based,
The Economic Question No One Wants to Answer Artificial intelligence is advancing at a pace that has reignited an old fear: what happens if machines make human labor largely obsolete? While previous technological revolutions ultimately created new jobs, the scale and autonomy of modern AI systems raise deeper structural questions. If machines produce most economic
National Polls Show Sharp Drop in Approval A series of newly released surveys indicate that Donald Trump is entering his State of the Union address facing one of the lowest approval ratings of his presidency. A Washington Post–ABC News–Ipsos poll found that only 39% of Americans approve of his job performance, while nearly half strongly
Shockwaves Across Asian Trade Capitals Asian governments are recalibrating trade strategies after the Supreme Court of the United States ruled that many emergency tariffs imposed by Donald Trump were unlawful. The decision disrupted months of negotiations between Washington and key export-driven economies. Countries such as Japan, India, South Korea, Taiwan, and Indonesia had structured trade
Tariffs at the Core of Trump’s Trade Doctrine For decades, Donald Trump has treated tariffs as a central instrument of economic and foreign policy. From campaign speeches to executive actions, he has consistently argued that import duties protect American industries and rebalance trade relationships. Tariffs became a defining feature of both of his presidencies. Whether
A Digital Economy Under Siege Cybercrime has evolved from isolated digital theft into a systemic global threat. Projections estimate annual damages could reach $10.5 trillion, making it one of the largest economic forces in the world if measured as a standalone entity. These losses encompass stolen funds, disrupted operations, intellectual property theft, and reputational damage.
A Sudden Policy Reversal in Caracas Venezuela has entered a new political chapter after more than 1,500 detainees applied for amnesty under recently approved legislation. The law, signed by interim president Delcy Rodríguez, marks a dramatic departure from years of official denial regarding political imprisonment. For decades, authorities insisted that individuals behind bars were criminals
Fourth-Quarter Growth Falls Short of Expectations The United States economy slowed more than expected in the fourth quarter of 2025, with gross domestic product expanding at an annualized rate of 1.4%. Economists had forecast growth closer to 3%, making the slowdown particularly notable. The prior quarter posted a robust 4.4% pace, highlighting the abrupt deceleration.
Growth Cools After Strong Midyear Expansion The United States economy likely slowed in the fourth quarter, but remained on relatively firm footing with growth projected near a 3% annualized pace. After accelerating sharply during the third quarter, economic activity moderated as government disruptions and softer household spending weighed on output. Economists anticipate that the Commerce