US News

The Social Security Administration (SSA), which distributes monthly benefits to about 70 million Americans, has come under fire recently for its short-lived decision to block many claimants from verifying their identities over the phone. That decision has now been reversed. Originally, the SSA had announced that individuals unable to verify their identity online would be required to visit an office in person for all new benefit claims and direct deposit changes. However, this policy was later revised to exempt recipients of Social Security Disability Insurance, Medicare, and Supplemental Security Income. What You Need to Know? The SSA has now confirmed that all beneficiaries will once again be able to verify their identity over the phone. Starting April 14, 2025, the SSA wi...

Elon Musk, the high-profile tech billionaire, could soon be stepping away from his role in the Trump administration, as a group of lawmakers pushes for his removal. This comes amid growing backlash over Musk’s controversial behavior online, including a recent outburst on Twitter in response to a poll showing his declining popularity. A total of 77 Democratic lawmakers have called on the White House to set a May 30 deadline for Musk to conclude his involvement with the administration. Officials close to President Trump have reportedly raised concerns, even suggesting Musk might be under the influence. His various roles within the administration have been loosely defined, ranging from head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), to an advisor to Trump to a “special ...

Billionaire hedge fund manager Ray Dalio has raised serious concerns about the U.S. economy, warning that Donald Trump’s aggressive trade policies could lead to economic trouble far worse than a typical recession. Speaking on NBC’s Meet the Press this Sunday, Dalio, the 75-year-old founder of Bridgewater Associates, said the U.S. is "very close to a recession" but emphasized that the risks go beyond that. “I think we’re at a major decision point,” Dalio said. “A recession usually means two quarters of negative GDP growth—we’ve seen those before. But what we’re facing now could be much more serious. We’re seeing signs of a breakdown in the global monetary system. We’re spending more than we can sustain. That’s a warning sign.” Dalio’s comments come amid market turmoil caused by...

U.S. and Iranian diplomats began indirect talks on Saturday in Oman, aiming to address international concerns about Iran's nuclear ambitions. On Sunday, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth called the initial discussions “productive” and “a good step forward.” Speaking to Fox News, he emphasized that while President Donald Trump hopes to avoid military action, the U.S. is fully prepared if necessary. “We’ve shown the ability to go far, go deep, and go big,” Hegseth said. “We don’t want to, but if it comes to that, we will act to stop Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.” President Trump echoed those sentiments earlier in the week, stating that military intervention is “absolutely” on the table if diplomacy fails. “If it requires military, we’re going to have military,” Trump told ...

Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) is urging Democrats to take a more aggressive stance against former President Trump’s tariffs, rather than waiting for the courts to act. Speaking on ABC News’s This Week on Sunday, Warren responded to questions about the legal challenges surrounding the tariffs and her call for the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to investigate whether Trump allies may have financially benefited from the resulting market volatility. “We don’t have to wait for the courts to step in,” Warren said. “The real question is whether Republicans will stand with us on this.” Warren has recently called on Congress to act against Trump’s tariff measures, emphasizing that regulating trade is within Congress’s constitutional powers. She urged Democrats to push their ...

Elon Musk is not the root problem. Neither is Donald Trump. The real issue lies in Republicanism and a political system that’s failing us. Across the U.S.—and here in Iowa—protests have been erupting against Elon Musk and Tesla. Critics highlight Musk’s disturbing admiration for fascist-era symbolism, cozy ties with neo-Nazi groups, and efforts to dismantle federal institutions. And they’re not wrong—Musk's behavior and rhetoric have been deeply alarming. From online commentary to public demonstrations and even petitions to remove him, the outrage is loud and growing. The core argument is this: “Elon Musk holds too much power, and no one elected him. How is one billionaire allowed to wreak havoc on the U.S. government?” That criticism is valid. Musk holds far too much sway ove...

President Donald Trump and tech entrepreneur Elon Musk have proposed a new initiative called the "DOGE Dividend," aiming to distribute $5,000 checks to eligible American households. This plan is part of a broader effort to return a portion of government savings to taxpayers What Is the DOGE Dividend? The "DOGE Dividend" refers to a proposed one-time payment of $5,000 to qualifying U.S. households. The funds would come from savings achieved by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a temporary agency established by President Trump and led by Elon Musk. DOGE's mission is to reduce federal spending and improve government efficiency.​ Origins of the Proposal The idea was initially suggested by James Fishback, CEO of investment firm Azoria, on the social media platform ...

Donald Trump’s so-called “presidential payback tour” is escalating — and this time, it’s personal. While it's already deeply concerning that he's gone after major law firms, universities, and media houses, he's now shifting focus to individual private citizens. Using the power of the presidency, Trump is trying to punish former federal officials who dared to speak out against him — and possibly put them behind bars. In a pair of official announcements, complete with White House logos and formal fonts, Trump singled out two people who served under his first administration: Chris Krebs and Miles Taylor. Their crime? Publicly criticizing Trump’s false claims and decisions. Chris Krebs was the head of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency from 2018 to 2020. He made hea...

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...