Arlington, VA
Business
US, China Cut Tariffs In 'Substantial De-Escalation' Of Trump's Trade War US, China Cut Tariffs In 'Substantial De-Escalation' Of Trump's Trade War
US, China Cut Tariffs In 'Substantial De-Escalation' Of Trump's Trade War The US and China are stepping back from extremely high retaliatory tariffs placed on each other, lowering the duty rates to ease tensions and negotiate a potential trade deal. The White House announced the tariff-lowering agreement on Monday, May 12. Both countries will reduce their tariffs to a baseline 10% rate, with the US continuing to impose its 20% tariff on China related to fentanyl. The drastic reduction comes after President Donald Trump dramatically raised tariffs on Chinese imports to a combined 145%, causing Beijing to retaliate with a 125% tariff on US goods. The agreement also…

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by Chris Spiker
Arlington, VA
Business
US, UK Unveil New Agreement In Trump's First Post-Tariff Trade Deal: Here's What's In It US, UK Unveil New Agreement In Trump's First Post-Tariff Trade Deal: Here's What's In It
US, UK Unveil New Agreement In Trump's First Post-Tariff Trade Deal: Here's What's In It The United States and the United Kingdom have announced a trade agreement, the first deal since President Donald Trump announced sweeping tariffs that have shaken the US economy. Trump unveiled the outline of the new trade deal in the Oval Office on Thursday, May 8. The agreement keeps the original 10% baseline tariff that Trump imposed on the UK during his "liberation day" announcement nearly a month ago. A chart posted by Trump on his social media platform Truth Social claimed that the US-UK deal will bring in $6 billion in tariff revenue and $5 billion in new market access. "Today'…

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by Chris Spiker
Fairfield, CT
Lifestyle
‘Real Housewives’ Is Coming To Rhode Island: Fans Can Only Dream Taylor Swift Will Be Cast ‘Real Housewives’ Is Coming To Rhode Island: Fans Can Only Dream Taylor Swift Will Be Cast
‘Real Housewives’ Is Coming To Rhode Island: Fans Can Only Dream Taylor Swift Will Be Cast The nation's smallest state will soon bring big personalities to the small screen as the newest installment of Bravo's "Real Housewives" franchise receives the green light. Bravo announced Wednesday, May 7, that it had greenlit the franchise's 11th series: "The Real Housewives of Rhode Island."  It's the first time the reality series, produced by Andy Cohen, has ventured into New England. Set against the shores of the Ocean State, the Real Housewives franchise will now explore a tight-knit circle of Rhode Islanders with deep roots in the community and families dating back generations.…

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by Josh Lanier
Albany, NY
Lifestyle
Here's Where NY Ranks Among Best States In US, And Why Here's Where NY Ranks Among Best States In US, And Why
Here's Where NY Ranks Among Best States In US, And Why A newly released report has ranked all 50 states in the United States from top to bottom based on a variety of factors, providing insight into the best states to live in. Utah has been recognized as No. 1 in the U.S. News Best States rankings for the third consecutive year. However, the report encompasses a broader scope, highlighting various states that also excel in several key areas. Historically, Utah was often associated with three main attributes: the film Footloose,’ green Jell-O, and a youthful workforce. Curtis Blair, president and CEO of the Provo-based Utah Valley Chamber of Comm…

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by Joe Lombardi
Hartford, CT
Schools
Record Student Loan Borrowers Face Default As Collections Resume, Grads Enter Weak Job Market Record Student Loan Borrowers Face Default As Collections Resume, Grads Enter Weak Job Market
Record Student Loan Borrowers Face Default As Collections Resume, Grads Enter Weak Job Market A record number of federal student loan borrowers are seriously delinquent as debt collections resume after a five-year pause, while new college graduates face tough employment prospects. The Education Department restarted collecting defaulted federal student loan debt on Monday, May 5. Collections were paused at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. The move threatens to seize tax refunds and garnish paychecks from millions of Americans in default on their loans. The Education Department said about 42.7 million people owe more than $1.6 trillion in student loan d…

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by Chris Spiker
Arlington, VA
Business
US Economy Shrinks, Private Jobs Report Disappoints As Trump's Tariffs Spark Financial Slump US Economy Shrinks, Private Jobs Report Disappoints As Trump's Tariffs Spark Financial Slump
US Economy Shrinks, Private Jobs Report Disappoints As Trump's Tariffs Spark Financial Slump The US economy shrank during President Donald Trump's first three months back in office, breaking a three-year growth streak as imports surged ahead of his trade wars. Real gross domestic product fell at an annual rate of 0.3% in the first quarter of 2025, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data released on Wednesday, April 30. It marked the first quarter of negative growth since early 2022. The economic contraction is a dramatic drop from the 2.4% GDP growth the US experienced in the fourth quarter of 2024. The shrinking was largely due to a 41.3% spike in imports …

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by Chris Spiker
New Rochelle, NY
Business
Economic Expectations Sink To 14-Year Low As Trump's Tariffs Crush Consumer Confidence Economic Expectations Sink To 14-Year Low As Trump's Tariffs Crush Consumer Confidence
Economic Expectations Sink To 14-Year Low As Trump's Tariffs Crush Consumer Confidence Consumer confidence has continued its sharp decline in 2025 as President Donald Trump's tariffs fueled Americans' pessimism about the economy, jobs, and their own incomes. The Conference Board's Consumer Confidence Index dropped 7.9 points to 86.0 in April, the nonprofit said in a news release on Tuesday, April 29. This marked the fifth straight decline and the lowest reading since the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Expectations Index, which tracks views of the next six months, plunged 12.5 points to 54.4 – its lowest level since October 2011. That's far b…

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by Chris Spiker
Bel Air, MD
Politics
Trump Sinks To Lowest 100-Day Approval In 80 Years, Poll Shows Trump Sinks To Lowest 100-Day Approval In 80 Years, Poll Shows
Trump Sinks To Lowest 100-Day Approval In 80 Years, Poll Shows Donald Trump just made history — but not the kind he wanted. A new ABC News/Washington Post/Ipsos poll shows Trump’s approval rating has sunk to 39 percent just 100 days into his second term, the lowest for any president at this point in office in more than 80 years, according to a report released Sunday, April 28. The poll, conducted nationally, paints a grim picture for the former president as Americans grow increasingly nervous about the economy.  Seventy-two percent believe Trump's policies are likely to cause a recession soon, while 73 percent already say the economy is in bad sh…

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by Zak Failla
Annapolis, MD
Politics
'Scary, Chaotic': Trump Has Gone Too Far In Wielding Power, New Poll Reveals 'Scary, Chaotic': Trump Has Gone Too Far In Wielding Power, New Poll Reveals
'Scary, Chaotic': Trump Has Gone Too Far In Wielding Power, New Poll Reveals A growing number of Americans believe President Trump has overstepped his authority during his return to the White House, according to the results of a newly released national survey. The New York Times/Siena College poll of 913 registered voters, conducted from Monday, April 21, to Thursday, April 24, found that 56 percent of respondents say Trump’s policy changes during his second term have “gone too far.” The poll paints a troubling picture for the president as he approaches the 100-day mark of his second term.  Overall, 54 percent of voters disapprove of the job Trump is doing, co…

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by Joe Lombardi
Arlington, VA
Politics
Here's Percentage Of Americans Who Approve Of Trump's Handling Of Economy: New Poll Here's Percentage Of Americans Who Approve Of Trump's Handling Of Economy: New Poll
Here's Percentage Of Americans Who Approve Of Trump's Handling Of Economy: New Poll A new poll finds what Americans think about how President Donald Trump is managing the economy as he nears the 100-day mark of his second non-consecutive term. Just 37 percent of respondents said they support Trump’s approach to economic issues, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll released on Wednesday, April 23.  That marks a sharp drop from the 42 percent approval rating measured shortly after his Monday, Jan. 20 inauguration, and the lowest economic approval level Trump has recorded in either term. The survey highlights growing unease over Trump’s aggressive economic strategy, which …

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by Joe Lombardi
Hartford, CT
Business
Most CEOs Expect Recession Within Six Months, Call Trump's Tariffs 'A Train Wreck': Survey Most CEOs Expect Recession Within Six Months, Call Trump's Tariffs 'A Train Wreck': Survey
Most CEOs Expect Recession Within Six Months, Call Trump's Tariffs 'A Train Wreck': Survey A majority of CEOs across the country are now bracing for a recession within six months as confidence in the US economy tumbles to its lowest level in years due to President Donald Trump's tariffs, according to a new survey. The industry group Chief Executive released the findings from a poll of 329 CEOs and business owners on Monday, Apr. 14. The survey showed growing alarm over Trump's escalating tariffs, which many fear will push the country into a downturn. According to the survey, 62% of CEOs expect a recession over the next six months – the highest level in recent years and up fr…

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by Chris Spiker
New Rochelle, NY
News
Inflation Fears Hit 44-Year High As Trump Tariffs, Market Crash Sink Consumer Sentiment: Survey Inflation Fears Hit 44-Year High As Trump Tariffs, Market Crash Sink Consumer Sentiment: Survey
Inflation Fears Hit 44-Year High As Trump Tariffs, Market Crash Sink Consumer Sentiment: Survey Concerns about inflation have spiked to their highest level in nearly 45 years, while consumer confidence plunged for the fourth straight month as Americans grow increasingly anxious about the economy, a new survey said. Americans now expect prices to climb 6.7% over the next year, the University of Michigan's Surveys of Consumers said on Friday, April 11. That's the highest inflation expectation reading since 1981 for the closely watched survey. While inflation cooled slightly in March, the latest federal numbers came before President Donald Trump announced his "liberat…

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by Chris Spiker