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Trump’s Ultimatum for Putin, Tax Season and the Universe is Expanding too Fast
Anna's Daybreak News
Just facts, you think for yourself
Thursday, 5:11 AM
January 23, 2025
Good morning news friend! Dive into the key stories shaping today’s world and setting the stage for what’s next. 📰🌟
Trump’s Ultimatum for Putin
President Donald Trump issued a warning to Russia. If a deal to end the war in Ukraine is not reached, he will impose "high levels" of tariffs and sanctions.
Trump noted that if no agreement is made soon, he will tax Russian imports to the US. He stated, "Let's get this war... over with! We can do it the easy way, or the hard way."
During the Biden administration, US imports from Russia dropped from $29.6 billion in 2021 to $2.9 billion in 2024. In a state address, Putin expressed that he is in no rush to end the conflict.
Retired Lt. General Keith Kellogg, a decorated Vietnam veteran, is now Trump’s special envoy for Ukraine. He is tasked with ending the war within 100 days. Kellogg suggested a negotiated settlement that included delaying Ukraine's NATO membership.
Sources: Bloomberg, Reuters, Financial Times, NY Times, CNBC, WallStreetJournal
Do you think Trump can achieve a peace deal in Ukraine within 100 days?Click to see live results and comment to expand your answer! |
Americans Keep Shopping
US consumers spent $994 billion during the 2024 holiday season, marking a 4% year-over-year increase, according to the National Retail Federation. This growth outpaced forecasts and exceeded 2023’s spending.
Consumers charged $924 billion on credit and debit cards issued by Bank of America, Citigroup, JPMorgan, and Wells Fargo in the last quarter of 2024. This represented a 5% increase from the previous quarter, the largest year-end rise in three years.
Core inflation fell slightly to 3.2% in December. Target slashed prices on over 10,000 items and offered post-Christmas discounts of 50% or more.
Meanwhile, banks charged off $46 billion in unrecoverable credit card debt in the first nine months of 2024. However, delinquency rates remain historically low, with Wells Fargo reporting only 1.6% of accounts overdue by 90 days or more.
Sources: Financial Times, PYMNTS, Barrons
Is $46 billion in unrecoverable credit card debt concerning or just part of the economic cycle?Click to see live results and comment to expand your answer! |
Tax Season 2025
Tax season for 2024 begins on January 27, 2025. Taxpayers must file federal returns by April 15 to avoid penalties. The IRS anticipates ongoing refund delays, with about 10 million paper returns in the backlog. 18 million e-filed returns were rejected in 2024.
IRS funding from the Inflation Reduction Act provided $80 billion, with $6 out of every $10 directed toward audits. Meanwhile, the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) maximum will increase to $8,046 for those with three or more children.
The standard deduction for single filers will rise to $15,000, up $400, and to $30,000 for married couples, an increase of $800. The maximum EITC amount will increase by $216 compared to 2024.
For free filing options, the Direct File program is expanding to 25 states this season. IRS Free File has been accepting returns since January 10.
Do you think the $80 billion IRS funding from the Inflation Reduction Act is being used effectively?Click to see live results and comment to expand your answer! |
Tariffs Countdown Begins
President Trump plans to impose tariffs on imports starting February 1. He announced a 25% tariff on products from Canada and Mexico, citing their roles in drug trafficking. Additionally, he considers a 10% tariff on Chinese goods.
These three countries represent a third of US trade, with more than $1 trillion in US exports and nearly $1.5 trillion in imported goods in 2023.
Trump issued executive orders to review trade policies and evaluate unfair practices among trading partners. He justifies these tariffs as a means to combat inflation. Key consumer goods, such as food, remain 20% more expensive than four years ago.
Meanwhile, Canada and Mexico prepare countermeasures in response, hinting at potential retaliatory tariffs. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stated that all options are on the table if Trump proceeds.
Do you trust President Trump’s approach to trade policy to benefit the US in the long term?Click to see live results and comment to expand your answer! |
Iodine Deficiency Returns
Iodine deficiency is resurging in the US, with troubling implications for pregnant women and children.
Around 25% of pregnant women lack adequate iodine. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends 150 micrograms daily for pregnant and breastfeeding women, equivalent to 0.5 to 0.75 teaspoons of iodized salt.
Iodized salt usage has declined since the 1970s, with iodine levels in Americans dropping by 50%. Key sources of iodine—fish, seafood, and dairy—are often missing in vegetarian or restricted diets.
Symptoms of iodine deficiency include weight gain, fatigue, and goiter. It also may lead to lower IQ and developmental delays in children.
Sources: AP News, OAG, Global News, Economist, SCMP
Would you switch to iodized salt if it meant avoiding potential health issues?Click to see live results and comment to expand your answer! |
The Universe is Expanding Too Fast
The universe is expanding faster than current physics can explain. New evidence suggests a local expansion rate of 76.5 kilometers per second per megaparsec, based on the distance to the Coma Cluster, 321 million light-years away.
This contrasts with earlier estimates based on the cosmic microwave background, which suggested a slower 67.4 kilometers per second per megaparsec.
For decades, scientists have grappled with the Hubble tension, a discrepancy between local and distant measurements.
Observations from the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) helped to establish a more accurate "cosmic ladder" for distance measurements.
Sources: Science Alert, Tech Explorist, Live Science, Phys, Cosmos
Could the faster expansion rate indicate the presence of an unknown force, such as “dark energy”?Click to see live results and comment to expand your answer! |
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