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U.S. Politics & Policy
Biden Signs Executive Order Expanding Gun Violence Research
President Biden signed an executive order on August 19 directing federal agencies to fund and coordinate research into the root causes and public health impacts of gun violence. The order revives several Obama-era data-sharing efforts and empowers the CDC and DOJ to study firearm-related injury trends. Gun rights advocates criticized the move as a backdoor regulatory expansion, while public health groups applauded the renewed emphasis on evidence-based prevention.
(NPR, AP)
Trump Selects Rep. Byron Donalds as Running Mate
At a rally in Georgia on August 17, former President Donald Trump announced Florida Rep. Byron Donalds as his 2026 vice-presidential running mate. Donalds, a rising Republican figure and member of the House Freedom Caucus, is the first Black candidate on a major GOP ticket. The move aims to energize conservative Black voters ahead of what is expected to be a high-turnout general election.
(CNN, The Guardian)
Global Affairs
Hurricane Beryl Devastates Eastern Caribbean
On August 21, Hurricane Beryl made landfall as a Category 4 storm, causing extensive damage across Barbados, St. Lucia, and Grenada. At least 35 fatalities have been reported, with thousands displaced. The U.S. and U.K. have pledged emergency relief, while climate experts point to warming ocean temperatures as a key factor in the storm’s rapid intensification.
(BBC, Reuters)
South Africa Launches Universal Basic Income Pilot
South Africa officially began a two-year universal basic income pilot on August 15, distributing monthly payments to 50,000 low-income residents. The program, a first for the African continent, aims to test the effects on employment, health, and education. Economists and policy watchers worldwide are closely monitoring its outcomes.
(Al Jazeera, Bloomberg)
Economy & Business
Federal Reserve Signals No Rate Hike Until 2026
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell announced on August 22 that interest rates will likely remain steady into 2026, citing cooled inflation and ongoing geopolitical uncertainty. The stock market responded positively, with the Dow Jones climbing over 800 points that day. Critics warn the decision may not account for potential housing market overheating.
(CNBC, Wall Street Journal)
Hollywood Studios and Writers Reach Tentative Deal
After nearly four months of halted production, the Writers Guild of America (WGA) and major studios reached a tentative agreement on August 20. The deal includes AI usage safeguards, improved streaming royalties, and minimum staffing protections for writers’ rooms. The agreement still requires member ratification.
(Variety, The Hollywood Reporter)
Society & Culture
New Smithsonian Wing to Highlight African American LGBTQ+ History
On August 13, the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture unveiled plans for a permanent exhibit on African American LGBTQ+ contributions to U.S. culture and civil rights. The wing, expected to open in 2027, will feature archives on James Baldwin, Marsha P. Johnson, and lesser-known grassroots organizers.
(Washington Post, NPR)
Record-Breaking Heat Wave Sparks National Emergency Declarations
Between August 14 and 24, temperatures soared across the South and Southwest, with Phoenix hitting 121°F and Houston enduring a nine-day stretch over 110°F. FEMA declared heat emergencies in Texas, Arizona, and Louisiana. Climate scientists say this is the most intense August heat wave since records began.
(NOAA, NBC News)
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