US News

As the U.S.-China trade war intensifies, millions of Americans are expressing deep concern over the impact on their 401(k) retirement accounts and the rising cost of living. The recent escalation in tariffs has led to significant market volatility, threatening the financial stability of both current and future retirees.​ Tariff Escalation Sparks Market Turmoil On April 2, President Donald Trump announced a sweeping 10% tariff on all imports, with a staggering 145% tariff specifically targeting Chinese goods. In retaliation, China increased its tariffs on U.S. products from 84% to 125%, marking a significant escalation in the trade conflict. These moves have sent shockwaves through global financial markets, with the S&P 500 experiencing a drop of over 11%, erasing tril...

In recent weeks, online users have been sharing a rumor claiming that U.S. President Donald Trump plans to invoke the Insurrection Act of 1807 on April 20, 2025, followed by declaring martial law across the country. The Insurrection Act allows a president to deploy the military within the United States to assist with law enforcement during times of civil unrest, but it does not explicitly grant the power to declare martial law. This rumor, which originated from a blog post on Medium.com by a writer using the handle “Aletheisthenes,” has spread widely across social media platforms including Facebook, Reddit, and Bluesky. The source article was part of a series titled “The Coup Playbook: How They Quietly Kill the Constitution and Democracy in the Coming Weeks and Months.” In it, A...

U.S. troops are preparing to deploy near the Panama Canal for military training, exercises, and other operations as part of a new agreement between the United States and the Panamanian government. The agreement, obtained by AFP on Thursday, appears to be a diplomatic concession to President Trump, who has repeatedly criticized Panama’s canal fees and threatened to reclaim control of the globally vital waterway. “We’re going to take [the canal] back, or something very powerful is going to happen,” Trump warned back in February. This new arrangement, however, distances itself from recent comments made by Pete Hegseth, who had suggested the U.S. might re-establish old military bases in Panama if invited. Instead, the deal stipulates that U.S. forces will operate out of Panamanian-...

Ryan Estrada and Kim Hyun Sook had been looking forward to their summer trip to the United States for years. They had carefully planned every detail, and Kim even turned down renewing her job contract to make the trip possible. But despite all the preparations, they made the tough choice to cancel their months-long visit. Estrada, a cartoonist, and his wife, Kim, a Korean graphic novelist, live in South Korea. The trip was a chance to visit Estrada’s family and meet with libraries across the U.S. to talk about their books. Kim was going to travel on a tourist visa for three months, while Estrada, a U.S. citizen, had planned to arrive earlier and stay later. But then they heard what happened to Rebecca Burke — a fellow graphic artist and friend of friends — who was detained and ba...

A recent policy change by the Trump administration is set to impact over 321,000 individuals, primarily immigrants from Cuba and Haiti, who will lose access to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) f4 once their temporary immigration status expires. To continue receiving SNAP benefits, these individuals must secure another form of legal protection, such as asylum or Temporary Protected Status (TPS). For many families, SNAP has been a crucial lifeline for maintaining food security. Losing access to this assistance due to the expiration of their immigration status adds another layer of difficulty, especially for those still navigating the legal process to remain in the U.S. It’s important to note that immigrants from Nicaragua and Venezuela, who entered under humanit...

This afternoon, former President Donald Trump signed an executive order directing the Department of Justice to investigate two former White House officials, including Miles Taylor, who previously admitted to being part of the internal “resistance” during Trump’s first term in office. Taylor, a former intelligence official, served in the Department of Homeland Security from 2017 to 2019, including as Chief of Staff. In 2018, he anonymously authored a New York Times op-ed titled “I Am Part of the Resistance Inside the Trump Administration”. Trump’s order also included the revocation of Taylor’s security clearance. Speaking about the action, Trump said, “It’s time to find out whether or not somebody can do that. I think he’s guilty of treason.” Taylor faced significant backlash afte...

Amazon has reportedly canceled a major inventory order from China and other Asian countries, leaving several vendors burdened with unsold stock worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. According to a document reviewed by Bloomberg, the canceled items included beach chairs, scooters, and air conditioners. Additional orders placed in Vietnam and Thailand were also scrapped. While Amazon acknowledged that it relies heavily on China-based suppliers for both components and finished goods, the company declined to comment on the specific cancellations. These cancellations occurred just before Donald Trump announced a sharp increase in tariffs on Chinese imports to 125%, while simultaneously introducing a temporary 90-day pause with a reduced 10% reciprocal tariff. This surprise move help...

Donald Trump has revealed plans to significantly reduce U.S. government spending, aiming for cuts totaling around $1 trillion. In a post on his social platform, Truth Social, the American President shared details of a recent meeting with the Speaker of the House and several conservative lawmakers. "Today I had a very good meeting with the Speaker of the House and some of our more conservative members, all great people. I let them know that I AM FOR A BIG POWERFUL SPENDING CUT! WE ARE GOING TO DO A REDUCTION, hopefully over $1 trillion," Trump wrote. He added that the proposed cuts would be included in "one big, beautiful bill," and emphasized the urgency of passing the legislation. "I, along with members of the House and Senators, will be pushing very hard for these massive spending ...

Jamie Dimon, CEO of JPMorgan Chase, is calling for a significant expansion of the earned income tax credit (EITC), proposing that the government nearly double the benefit and extend eligibility to include more low-income workers, particularly those without children. Why It Matters? The EITC, first introduced in 1975, is a refundable tax credit aimed at helping low- to moderate-income earners. Unlike tax deductions, it directly reduces the amount of taxes owed and can even lead to a refund if a person owes no income tax at all. Currently, the maximum EITC benefit is $7,830 for a working parent with three or more children, while workers without children can receive up to just $600. Dimon argues that increasing the credit would provide critical financial support to families strug...

Despite previous success, Trump faces hurdles in maintaining rural loyalty, such as: Trade Policy Concerns: Farmers express frustration over tariffs that have impacted agricultural exports. Shift in GOP Dynamics: New Republican candidates are appealing to rural voters with alternative conservative messages. Legal Troubles: Trump’s ongoing legal battles may sway undecided voters. Wisconsin’s Role in the 2024 Election As a key battleground state, Wisconsin’s rural vote could influence the overall election outcome. If Trump loses support in these areas, it could weaken his electoral strategyClosing the Gender Gap in Social Security To improve financial security for women in retirement, policymakers can consider: Improving Caregiver Credits: Adjusting Social Security ca...