President Trump provided an explanation for bruises on his hand that last year sparked rumors about his health during an interview with the Wall Street Journal that was published Thursday.
Why it matters: The 79-year-old president, who's faced age-related health scrutiny, revealed that he has for years taken higher doses of aspirin for "cardiac prevention" and this "causes bruising."
U.S. adults surveyed in 1999 correctly predicted major shifts for the half-century ahead: the election of a Black U.S. president, civilian travel to space and a warming planet.
The big picture: The turn of the millennium marked a cultural, technological and political inflection point, with Americans anticipating some of the changes that have come to define the 21st century so far.
The AI model maker race will continue in 2026, along with more agents and a growing pressure on companies to prove AI can pay off in the real world, experts tell Axios.
Why it matters: AI may be both the current and next big thing, but success increasingly hinges less on being the "best" model and more on timing.
The Supreme Court has many pivotal cases lined up for the coming year, many revolving around President Trump's policies.
The big picture: Trump has relied heavily on the court's emergency docket during his second term, using it to block lower court rulings while cases play out.
There are 271,000 fewer federal employees than there were at the start of 2025 — about a 9% drop, per the latest tally from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Why it matters: The sharp decline is a result of President Trump's efforts — initially spearheaded by Elon Musk's DOGE — to drastically reduce the size of the federal government.
New tax brackets, higher standard deductions and expanded credits are now in effect — changes that could boost paychecks and lower income taxes for many Americans in 2026 and beyond.
Why it matters: The IRS updates reflect annual inflation adjustments and sweeping tax changes signed into law last summer in the One Big, Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), making several provisions from the 2017 tax overhaul permanent.
Many of the key changes of President Trump's flagship first-year legislation go into effect in 2026, along with state-level policy expanding tech and labor protections.
Why it matters: New and amended laws intended to advance or restrict this administration's policies and platforms will affect Americans' wallets, work and entertainment in 2026.
Millions of Americans across the U.S. joined people around the world in New Year's celebrations ringing in 2026 on Thursday.
The big picture: South Pacific countries were the first to farewell 2025 and welcome New Year's Day — 18 hours ahead of the iconic Times Square ball drop in New York City.
The stock market has achieved a third consecutive year of double-digit gains, with the benchmark S&P 500 index rising 16.4% for 2025. That has happened only five times since the 1940s.
Why it matters: You wouldn't know that based on the vibes on Wall Street, where the three-year-old bull market is being questioned constantly and on a day when stocks ended the final trading session of the year solidly in the red (down 0.74% on Wednesday).
Despite the downbeat mood, strategists see stocks continuing to gain in 2026 thanks to their biggest bet and fear: AI.
Why it matters: Benefits are rising 2.8%, or about $56 a month for the average retiree, but higher Medicare premiums and tax rules will determine how much of that increase ends up in retirees' pockets.
Major live TV events saw a notable ratings uptick this year, underscoring how much audiences are craving communal, real-time experiences as their day-to-day viewing habits become more fragmented.
Why it matters: The pandemic shift to streaming drove historic low TV ratings for live events that have mostly started to rebound, but only a few have managed to set new records.
