Economy & Markets — Archive
Fed policy, inflation, jobs, market trends, and fiscal analysis
Chicago's $1 Billion Budget Gap Stokes Debate Over Mayor Johnson's Fiscal Leadership
The nation's third-largest city projects a $150 million deficit as debt service consumes 40% of its budget, drawing scrutiny from both progressive and conservative analysts.
Polymarket's Situation Room Bar Opening Marred by Technical Failures in Washington
Prediction market's much-hyped DC pop-up opened Friday but monitors remained off due to electrical issues, prompting early closure and viral mockery.
States Need Data Tools and Incentives to Stop Improper Federal Payments
With $2 trillion in annual deficits, experts say federal databases to verify eligibility are underutilized despite known gaps.
Federal Reserve Holds Rates Steady Amid Mixed Economic Signals
The Fed kept its benchmark rate at 3.5% to 3.75% as February payrolls fell by 92,000 and fourth-quarter GDP was revised down to 0.7%.
Fed Chair Powell Holds News Briefing After Keeping Interest Rates Unchanged
The Federal Reserve held rates at 3.6% for the second straight meeting, with quarterly projections expected to show how the Iran war's impact on gas prices complicates the path forward.
Cuba Will Allow Expatriates to Invest in and Own Businesses on Island, Economic Czar Says
Deputy Prime Minister Oscar Pérez-Oliva Fraga announced the policy shift in an NBC News interview, citing US embargo as a key challenge to Cuba's economy.
Senate Democrats Unveil Tax Plans Criticized as Populist Overhaul Ignoring Debt
Economists and fiscal hawks question whether proposals to eliminate federal taxes for millions can be offset by taxing the wealthy without worsening the national debt.
'Gruesome' War Bets Fuel Calls for Crackdown on Prediction Markets
Prediction platforms handling $44bn in trades face mounting criticism over wagers tied to Iran, Israel military action
Nine Convicted in North Texas ICE Facility Attack as Kash Patel Issues Warning
Jurors delivered a mixed verdict in federal court Friday, convicting members of what prosecutors called an Antifa cell for the July 2025 Prairieland ICE Detention Center attack.
As Prediction Markets Boom, Lawmakers Push for Greater Oversight of Event Contracts
Two bills aim to ban members of Congress from betting on political events, but disclosure gaps in ethics rules remain unfilled.