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The US has intensified strikes on Iran while stockpiles are being depleted. Defense contractors are urged to accelerate production amid a two-day Defense and Innovation Summit in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, with leaders warning that inventories may not meet potential future conflicts.
The Department of Homeland Security has replaced the long-standing "duration-of-status" system with fixed admission periods: most international student and exchange visas will be capped at four years, and foreign journalist visas will be limited to 240 days (90 days for mainland Chinese nationals). The rule will take effect 60 days after publication in the Federal Register and requires extensions or re-entry to remain beyond the limit.
The White House has announced 50% tariffs on a wide range of Canadian goods, to take effect in 30 days under Section 338 of the Tariff Act of 1930. The duties will hit products from wine to cement and hockey sticks, exclude energy and critical minerals, and target goods previously protected by the USMCA; Ottawa has called the move a USMCA violation.
The White House has expanded a nonbinding Ratepayer Protection Pledge to include nearly 200 additional utilities, governors and data‑center developers, and President Trump has urged local leaders to welcome data centers as economic opportunities. Critics say the pledge lacks enforcement and will not prevent rising electricity bills as AI-related power demand grows.
The United States has reimposed and expanded tariffs under Section 301 arguments that some countries fail to ban goods produced with forced labour. The plan includes a 10% duty on UK exports to the US, with exemptions for whisky and medical products. The move follows investigations by the Office of the US Trade Representative and aims to build a broader framework for tariffs.
The Iran war has drawn ongoing political scrutiny as costs rise and public opinion shifts. New polling shows flaw lines across MAGA voters, with some calling for end of the conflict while others press for decisive action. Officials argue the administration will stay the course, citing national security needs.
The Jones Act remains a focal point as critics argue the century‑old protectionist law has left US shipbuilding underdeveloped. New data show only 92 Jones Act‑eligible vessels and a shrinking domestic fleet, while costs to Hawaii, Puerto Rico and other ports remain high.
Flock Safety has announced mandatory changes to its national license-plate camera network after reporting dozens of US officers misused the system. The company has shortened default data retention from 30 days to seven, will require case codes for searches and will force all customers to enable an audit tool that can lock out flagged users.
The USS George Washington has left Da Nang and is relocating toward the Indian Ocean as the Lincoln remains in the Middle East, underscoring a sustained, high-pressure naval posture amid Iran-related operations and logistic strains aboard deployed carriers.
The USS Abraham Lincoln has made a brief port call at Laem Chabang, Thailand, allowing about 5,000 sailors and Marines to rest after a record, months-long deployment supporting US operations against Iran. Thai authorities are managing transport, security and restrictions in Pattaya while US officials deny widespread failures in shipboard conditions.
Across three major outlets, reporting highlights rising national debt, mounting deficits, and the political consequences as lawmakers grapple with tax reform, spending limits, and entitlement pressures amid a shrinking policy space.
The United States faces a stark mismatch: roughly 4 million affordable rental homes exist for about 11 million extremely low-income renter households, yet vacancies are rising as rents approach market levels. The tax-credit program that funds much of this housing is criticized for complexity and insufficient targeting, while vouchers remain scarce.
The Federal Reserve has raised the federal funds rate by a quarter point to 3.75%-4.0% to tame inflation. The move will ripple through borrowing costs and savers. Credit-card rates, car loans, and mortgage-finance costs are likely to rise, while savers may enjoy higher deposit yields. The hike is the first since July 2023 and follows energy-price pressures.
US ambassador to China David Perdue has said President Donald Trump asked Xi Jinping whether China would like to buy US weapons. The State Department has reiterated that US law prohibits arms sales to China and there is no plan to sell. The comments come as Washington has paused a roughly $14bn arms package to Taiwan.