Priyanga V

On May 15, 2025, the United States Supreme Court is set to hear oral arguments in a case that challenges the scope of nationwide injunctions and the Trump administration's attempt to end birthright citizenship through Executive Order 14160. This executive order seeks to deny automatic U.S. citizenship to children born on American soil to non-citizen parents, a move that has sparked significant legal and societal debates.

On April 2, 2025, President Donald Trump announced a sweeping overhaul of U.S. trade policy, introducing a baseline 10% tariff on all imports and significantly higher rates for certain countries, notably China. This move, termed "Liberation Day" by the administration, aimed to address longstanding trade imbalances and protect domestic industries. The immediate aftermath saw global markets plunge, with the S&P 500 experiencing its worst single-day decline since the 2020 pandemic-induced crash . However, a subsequent 90-day tariff pause, announced on April 9, led to a market rebound, highlighting the volatility and uncertainty surrounding the administration's trade strategies.

In April 2025, House Republicans introduced a comprehensive tax reform bill that includes significant reductions to clean energy tax credits established under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) of 2022. This proposal has sparked considerable debate within the Republican Party, as some members express concerns over the potential economic and environmental impacts of such cuts.

The Disbanding of NOAA's Billion-Dollar Disaster Database: In May 2025, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced the termination of its long-standing "Billion-Dollar Weather and Climate Disasters" database, ceasing updates beyond the 2024 calendar year. This database, active since 1980, meticulously cataloged U.S. weather and climate events causing damages exceeding $1 billion, adjusted for inflation. Its discontinuation has sparked significant debate among policymakers, scientists, and the public, raising concerns about transparency, climate policy, and disaster preparedness.

In May 2025, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) initiated a federal civil rights probe into a proposed Muslim-centered community development in Texas known as EPIC City. Spearheaded by the East Plano Islamic Center (EPIC), the 402-acre project near Josephine, Texas, aims to include residential units, educational institutions, a mosque, and other community facilities. The development has drawn scrutiny from Republican leaders, including Senator John Cornyn, Governor Greg Abbott, and Attorney General Ken Paxton, who express concerns over potential religious exclusivity and the imposition of Islamic law.

In the first quarter of 2025, the U.S. economy contracts in Q1 2025 by 0.3%, marking the first decline since early 2022. This downturn was primarily driven by a surge in imports as businesses and consumers rushed to purchase foreign goods ahead of new tariffs introduced by President Donald Trump. The resulting record trade deficit significantly dragged down GDP.