united states Archives

Fed Raises Rates, Citing Geopolitical Shocks and High Prices

16Sep

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Finance, Currency, Debt, National Budgets & Interest Rates, Types of News: Brief

Fed Raises Rates, Citing Geopolitical Shocks and High Prices

September 16, 2026—Citing geopolitical shocks and elevated inflation, the Federal Reserve Board voted unanimously to raise federal funds interest rates by 0.25 percent to 4 percent. It was the first time the Fed raised interest rates in three years. It comes under the new leadership of Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh. September 16, 2026—Citing geopolitical shocks and elevated inflation, the Federal Reserve Board voted unanimously to raise federal funds interest rates by 0.25 percent to 4 percent. It was the first time the Fed raised interest rates in three years. It comes under the new leadership of Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh. It comes as the inflation rate ticked up in August to 0.4 percent and the government projected a Consumer Price Index of 3.4 percent, driven largely b...

U.S. Allies and China Respond to US Request for Help with the Strait of Hormuz

17Mar

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Diplomacy, Energy Policy, Oil & Gas, Geopolitics, Middle East, Types of News: Brief

U.S. Allies and China Respond to US Request for Help with the Strait of Hormuz

Strait of Hormuz. Photo pulled from Vessel Finder March 17, 2026 March 17, 2026—As the US-Israel-Iran war impacted oil markets and a key shipping route, the Strait of Hormuz, U.S. President Donald Trump called on other countries for help. Here's what they had to say. Near Closure The narrow strait, which runs between Iran and the United Arab Emirates and Oman, reflected “a highly constrained operating environment, with vessel movements remaining selective and below average,” Marine Traffic reported on Monday. Geopolitics kept the strait nearly closed on Monday. Many ships remained anchored in the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman. Reports indicated a continued uneven pattern of traffic, with ongoing attacks against some ships, while “sanctioned and shadow-fleet vessels supporting a...

17Mar

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Diplomacy, Global Economics, Middle East, Types of News: Brief

War Delays U.S.-China Summit

March 17, 2026—A high-profile meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping is postponed. The original date for the meeting was for March 31-April 2. Neither country issued new dates for the meeting through their spokespersons. A U.S. president has not visited China since November 2017 during Trump’s first term. Former President Joe Biden visited China while serving as vice president in 2011 and 2013, but not during his presidency. The two countries—the largest economies in the world—reached a truce in October 2025, agreeing to a one-year reduction in U.S. tariffs, a suspension of China’s restrictions on rare-earth exports, controls on fentanyl production, and a promise by China to buy U.S. agricultural products, including soybeans. Geopolitics Disru...

What’s in the Epstein Files? Best Ways to Search

8Feb

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Corruption, Bribes, Illicit Finance & Money Laundering, Resources for Research, Types of News: Brief

What’s in the Epstein Files? Best Ways to Search

A Network of Global Influence and Corruption Reps. Khanna, Massie, and Greene pushed lawmakers on Capitol Hill to enact legislation to force the government to release the Epstein files. February 8, 2026—The Epstein files expose massive corruption at the highest levels of power, espionage, and geopolitics. It spans fields of high finance, philanthropy, real estate, and surveillance technologies. The corruption centers on the sex trafficking of thousands of victims, including minors. News reports and primary-source evidence suggest that Jeffrey Epstein often acted as an intermediary for high-level officials, including political leaders in the United States, the United Kingdom, Israel, Russia, and Norway, royalty, bankers, diplomats, and philanthropists. Drop Site’s news reports sugg...

America on the Brink of Turmoil, Tyranny and Perhaps Even Civil Conflict

26Jan

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Democracy, Domestic Politics: United States, Immigration, Migration, Types of News: Analysis

America on the Brink of Turmoil, Tyranny and Perhaps Even Civil Conflict

Photo pulled from YouTube video by NYT photographer David Guttenfelder about Jan. 24, 2026 the Minneapolis shooting. Federal Immigration Crackdown Incites Fear, Killings, and Civil Protests January 26, 2026—The United States is on the brink of a national crisis and a government shutdown after the second killing by gunfire of an American citizen by federal forces. Conflict over immigration in the United States is adding to the pressures of growing inequality, corruption, and a national debt above $38 trillion. Tensions are rising due to the deployment of federal forces in U.S. cities who are now targeting U.S. citizens as well as immigrants. ‘Under Siege and Occupation’ Citizens in some cities and states report across social media that they feel under siege or occupation by U.S...

Trump Wages a Trade War Against Allies over Greenland

18Jan

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Diplomacy, Geopolitics, Global Trade, Types of News: Analysis

Trump Wages a Trade War Against Allies over Greenland

US-EU Tariffs to Impact Transatlantic Relations January, 18, 2026—When U.S. President Donald Trump started talking about taking over Greenland on the 2024 campaign trail, his Republican colleagues and most of America did not take him seriously. Political allies like House Republican Speaker Mike Johnson and others dismissed it as campaign rhetoric and declined to answer questions about it even as Trump carried on with the rhetoric from the White House. But Trump was clear as early as December 2024 when he announced his nomination of PayPal funder Ken Howery as ambassador to Denmark “that the ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity.” As early as January 2025, he talked about the possibility of using the U.S. military or economic coercion to seize the territory. ...

Judge Orders ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ to Close on Environmental Concerns

29Aug

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Domestic Politics: United States, Immigration, Migration, Types of News: Analysis

Judge Orders ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ to Close on Environmental Concerns

Florida Spent $245 Million on the Now-Closed Facility August 29, 2025—One of the most notorious migrant detention centers in the United States, located in the Florida Everglades, is closing over environmental concerns. The mass detention center, known as "Alligator Alcatraz," is the center of multiple lawsuits and widespread controversy due to its inhumane conditions and location. The roughly 336 detainees who had been held there have reportedly been moved. In June, President Donald Trump dubbed the massive facility “Alligator Alcatraz” because the surrounding swamp is “not a place I want to go hiking anytime soon.” “We’re surrounded by miles of treacherous swampland, and the only way out is really deportation,” Trump said in June at the announced opening. Deplorable Cond...

Trump Escalates Battle With Universities

23May

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Democracy, Diplomacy, Domestic Politics: United States, Middle East, Types of News: Brief

Trump Escalates Battle With Universities

DHS Says Harvard Conducts ‘Pro-Terror’ Activities May 23, 2025—As part of its ongoing battle to control U.S. federally-funded universities, the Trump Administration amplified its criticism of Harvard University on Thursday, accusing the 388-year old U.S. institution of carrying out “pro-terrorist conduct.” Harvard University responded forcefully, saying the government is trying to "control whom we hire and what we teach." The university was quick to file a lawsuit, which a federal judge supported with a restraining order against the government on Friday. But the federal action leaves both the university and students in limbo. Specifically, the Department of Homeland Security decertify the institution’s student and exchange visitors program. “This administration is holding Harvard...

Top PAC Recipients in the U.S. House 2023-2024

6Mar

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Domestic Politics: United States, Political Systems, Domestic Politics, Types of News: Brief

Top PAC Recipients in the U.S. House 2023-2024

Eye on Politics March 6, 2024-As the U.S. political cycle kicks into higher gear, it's time to take a closer look at who is running with what resources. Political action committees, known as PACs, play a significant role in U.S. elections. Below is a list of House members receiving the most PAC money, according to data from Open Secrets. The top receiver, Jason Smith, Republican from Missouri, is chairman of the powerful Ways and Means Committee. The top five contributors to Rep. Smith in the 2023-2024 cycle are the National Association of Realtors, American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), Apollo Global Management, Herzog Contracting, and the Alliantgroup.

US Vetos UNSC Resolution Calling for A Ceasefire

8Dec

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Diplomacy, Human rights, Middle East, Organizations, IMF, WTO, G7, UN Security Council, Types of News: Videos

US Vetos UNSC Resolution Calling for A Ceasefire

December 8, 2023--The United States vetoed another resolution in the UN Security Council regarding the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The meeting came as António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, invoked a rarely used tool in the UN Charter to call for a special meeting in the UNSC. Article 99 gives the Secretary-General the right to bring to the Security Council any matter that "may threaten the maintenance of international peace and security.” It is the first time Guterres used it. Thirteen members of the Security Council voted for the resolution. The United Kingdom abstained. The United States voted against it, effectively vetoing it as one of the five permanent members. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r2TrUKMw_6Q