The U.S. economy will take off by the fourth quarter of this year as President Trump's policy changes take root, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Sunday.
Why it matters: The government's own data says inflation is rising and the labor market is weakening, but the administration says the reality is entirely to the contrary.
The U.S. Treasury would have to refund about half the tariffs collected since President Trump took office if the Supreme Court rules they were imposed illegally, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Sunday.
Why it matters: That could put the government on the hook for tens of billions of dollars in refunds, a prospect that has scared bond market investors in recent days.
Workers at all stages of their careers — from job hunters to job havers — are increasingly anxious about the lightning-fast deployment of AI.
Why it matters: Their fears come at a particularly fraught moment, with jobs in scarce supply, hiring frozen in many industries and corporate leaders relentlessly pushing this technology as a replacement for humans.
The Trump administration is planning to make the test to become a U.S. citizen more difficult, possibly with an essay requirement that would help give officials wide discretion on which immigrants are approved.
Why it matters: As President Trump pushes for mass deportations of unauthorized immigrants, his team also wants to narrow pathways to legal immigration — a plan that's already drawing criticism from immigration advocates.
The amount of mail entering the U.S. fell by 80% on the first day President Trump imposed tariffs on small packages that were previously exempt, according to a UN agency.
Why it matters: TheUniversal Postal Union, the UN arm charged with maintaining free circulation of mail, said airlines and shippers were unable to independently tally the duties on millions of small packages heading to the U.S., bringing mail delivery to a near standstill.
The U.S. is willing to lower tariffs on certain goods for countries that make favorable deals — including edible insects, human hair and a variety of live animals.
Why it matters: International trade isn't all about washing machines and cars and fancy dresses.
America's blue-collar workforce is shrinking, as President Trump's policies hit the same sectors he vowed to reinvigorate.
Why it matters: Hiring is stalling out nearly across the board amid drastic shifts in trade and immigration policies. But perhaps nowhere is it more apparent than in the labor sectors that expected a Trump-era boost.
The White House says it will consider lowering tariffs on hundreds of products across sectors including food and pharmaceuticals, depending on what specific deals can be struck with trading partners.
Why it matters: As evidence mounts that inflation is creeping back into the economy, the prospect of lower tariffs on a sweeping list of grocery staples in particular could ease some of the pressure on consumers.
