The United States is currently experiencing a mix of economic and political developments. Here's a breakdown of what's happening: *Economic Updates:* - The US economy is showing signs of stability, but also weakness in certain areas. According to the Federal Reserve's "Beige Book" report, economic activity has been little changed, while employment has remained stable. However, there's been a rise in layoffs, and middle- and lower-income households are pulling back on spending. - The government shutdown is estimated to cost the US economy around $15 billion per week in lost output, according to the Treasury Department. - The US deficit for the 2025 fiscal year is reported to be smaller than the previous year's deficit of $1,833 trillion, with the deficit-to-GDP ratio potentially coming down to 3% in the coming years.[¹](https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-investment-boom-is-sustainable-bessent-says-2025-10-15/) [²](https://www.reuters.com/business/us-economic-activity-little-changed-employment-stable-recent-weeks-fed-says-2025-10-15/) *Politics:* - Former Rep. George Santos was released from prison after his sentence was commuted by Trump. Santos claims his prosecution was political, and he's now speaking out about his experience. - Speaker Johnson is defending Trump's decision to commute Santos' sentence, while protesters across the US are rallying against Trump with "No Kings" protests. - Trump has also been in the news for posting fake AI videos of himself, which some perceive as jabs at his critics. *International Relations:* - Tensions are rising between the US and Colombia, with Trump announcing an end to US payments to Colombia and calling Colombia's president an "illegal drug leader." - The US is also at odds with China over trade policies, with Trump threatening to hike tariffs on Colombia and China. *Protests and Social Unrest:* - Thousands of people protested in dozens of cities across the US, including Colorado, where 12 arrests were made in Denver. The protests are part of the "No Kings" movement, which is against Trump's presidency. Beloud