U.S. trade deficit soars to record high
As cargo ships clogged U.S. ports, the trade deficit soared to a record high in March. The Commerce Department reported Tuesday that the trade gap widened by 5.6%.
US News
FL Gov. DeSantis Signs Into Law Ban on Vaccine Passports, Arbitrary Lockdowns
Florida’s Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis signed legislation into law on Monday that prohibits private businesses, schools, and government offices from requiring citizens to show proof of vaccination against COVID, a so-called vaccine passport. In addition, the new law prohibits local governments from arbitrarily imposing lockdowns or closing the schools.
US Children To Receive COVID Vaccines Despite Side Effects
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is due to authorize Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine for young adults age 12 and older by next week, despite side effects linked to its mRNA technology.
Microsoft Founder Bill Gates and Wife Divorce
Microsoft founder Bill Gates says he and his wife Melinda are splitting up after 27 years of marriage.
Leftist’s video proves critical to Capitol riot probe
The sole left-wing activist arrested to date in the Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol riots is the same man who created an on-scene video that has helped the FBI identify and arrest Trump-aligned participants.
FBI: Gun frenzy now in 16th month as Biden seeks ban
The nation’s gun craze propelled by politics and the coronavirus has now hit 16-straight months of shattering records, with April sales of at least 1.8 million and FBI background checks logging over 3.5 million.
Digital Dollar Project to Launch Pilot Programs to Explore Designs and Uses of a U.S. Central Bank Digital Currency
The Digital Dollar Project (DDP) will launch at least five pilot programs over the next 12 months with interested stakeholders and DDP participants to measure the value of and inform the future design of a U.S. central bank digital currency (CBDC), or “digital dollar.”
Biden cancels remainder of Trump border wall projects funded by Pentagon
The Pentagon canceled border wall projects that the Trump administration had funded with $10.5 billion it diverted from other federal departments on the basis that the southern border was experiencing a national emergency.
76,000 California inmates eligible for early release through good behavior credits
More than 63,000 inmates convicted of violent crimes will be eligible for good behavior credits to shorten their sentence by one-third, instead of the one-fifth rule that was in place since 2017, the Associated Press reported.
Economy grew at 6.4% rate in first quarter as US emerges from pandemic
The economy just experienced the second-largest quarterly growth IN 18 years as vaccinations continue and consumers begin to spend more.
Thomas, Gorsuch, and Barrett join liberals in immigration case
Justices Clarence Thomas, Neil Gorsuch, and Amy Coney Barrett, on Thursday, joined the liberal wing of the Supreme Court to rule against the federal government in an immigration case.
“Loneliest” Moon Mission Astronaut Michael Collins Dies At 90
Michael Collins, who flew on the Apollo 11 mission to the Moon but never stood on its surface, has died after struggling with cancer, his family said. He was 90.
Biden Defends Multi-Trillion Spending, Condemns Trump
Joe Biden used his first address to Congress as the 46th U.S. president to indirectly condemn his predecessor and sell multi-trillion budget plans for social programs and U.S. infrastructure.
Judge denies Democrats’ request to stop Maricopa County audit
A judge denied a request by Arizona Democrats to halt a Republican-backed 2020 election audit in Maricopa County.
Vaccine passports gain traction in Democratic places and bans in red states
Vaccine passports, or documents that show a person’s COVID-19 vaccination status, have been touted in Democratic-run states as tools for reviving commerce and tourism, while they’ve been outright banned in several red states. The Biden administration, meanwhile, has ruled out a federal vaccine passport mandate, citing privacy concerns.
Federal Reserve Holds Rates Steady, Shrugs Off Inflation Concerns
The Federal Reserve kept its benchmark interest rate unchanged Wednesday and repeated its view that the coronavirus pandemic will continue to weigh on the domestic economy even as conditions continue to improve.
Idaho governor signs heartbeat bill with caveat
Idaho Gov. Brad Little (Rep.) signed a bill Tuesday that would ban abortions after a fetal heartbeat is detected – but a caveat in the bill provides it will not take effect until a federal appeals court elsewhere in the US upholds it, the Washington Examiner reports.
Biden to call for $4 trillion in new spending during joint address to Congress
President Joe Biden is expected to call for $4 trillion in new federal spending during his joint address to Congress on Wednesday evening.
Police Search Home Of Trump Attorney Rudy Giuliani
Federal investigators executed a search warrant Wednesday at the Manhattan home of former President Donald Trump’s attorney Rudy Giuliani, several sources confirmed.
US Easing Mask Wearing Guidelines
Amid mounting public pressure, the U.S. leading health authority eased guidelines on wearing masks outdoors. In remarks, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said fully vaccinated Americans don’t need to cover their faces anymore unless they are in a big crowd of strangers.