Discover government systems, policies, and decision-making to understand their impact on society.
Real Estate
The average rate for a 30-year fixed mortgage in the United States has dipped slightly to 6.81%, offering a small relief to prospective homebuyers amid a challenging real estate market. This follows a modest decline from the previous week's rate of 6.85%, according to data released
Construction
The U.S. faces a massive housing shortage, with millions of homes needed to meet growing demand. However, builders are struggling to deliver. A combination of rising costs, labor shortages, and regulatory hurdles is stalling construction, even as home prices soar. The Housing Crisis in Numbers The U.S. currently
Semiconductors
The U.S. government plans to reduce Intel's initial $8.5 billion federal chips grant to less than $8 billion. This adjustment considers a $3 billion contract offered to Intel for manufacturing chips for the Pentagon. Earlier this year, President Biden's administration announced nearly $20 billion
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Taiwan is set to invest $1 billion annually over the next three years to bolster its artificial intelligence (AI) sector, aiming to diversify its economy beyond its traditional semiconductor industry. This initiative, announced by Science and Technology Minister Wu Tsung-tsong, focuses on enhancing AI data centers and applications, with the
Military & Defense
In 2024, the defense technology sector has experienced unprecedented growth, with funding reaching new heights. Leading this surge is Anduril Industries, a defense tech startup co-founded by Palmer Luckey. In August, Anduril secured a $1.5 billion funding round, elevating its valuation to $14 billion. This significant investment underscores a
Healthcare
President-elect Donald Trump has nominated Dr. Mehmet Oz to lead the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), the federal agency overseeing healthcare programs for over 140 million Americans. Dr. Oz, a cardiothoracic surgeon and former television host, previously ran for the U.S. Senate in Pennsylvania in 2022 with
Media
Brendan Carr, recently appointed as the incoming Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) by President-elect Donald Trump, has pledged to dismantle what he terms Big Tech's "censorship cartel." Carr, who has served as an FCC commissioner since 2017, is known for his strong stance against
Business Insights
U.S. businesses are expressing significant concern over President-elect Donald Trump's proposed mass deportation plans, fearing substantial labor shortages and economic disruptions across various industries. Sectors such as agriculture, hospitality, construction, and healthcare heavily rely on immigrant workers, many of whom are undocumented. The potential removal of these
Military & Defense
The United States has unveiled El Capitan, the world’s fastest supercomputer, at the SC Conference for supercomputing in Atlanta, Georgia. Designed to maintain the safety and reliability of the U.S. nuclear stockpile, El Capitan marks a major milestone in computational power. A New Era of Simulated Testing Following
Crypto
President-elect Donald Trump is deepening his engagement with the cryptocurrency sector, following his campaign's emphasis on digital assets. Reports indicate that Trump Media & Technology Group is in advanced discussions to acquire Bakkt, a cryptocurrency trading and brokerage platform. This potential acquisition has positively impacted both companies'
Tech Insights
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) plans to request that a federal judge compel Google to divest its Chrome browser, aiming to dismantle the company's dominance in the search market. This move follows a recent ruling that Google has maintained an illegal monopoly in online search. Chrome,
Tech Insights
Chinese technology companies are intensifying their efforts to establish artificial intelligence (AI) teams in Silicon Valley, aiming to recruit top U.S. talent despite existing U.S. restrictions designed to curb China's advancements in this sector. Major firms such as Alibaba, ByteDance, and Meituan are expanding their California