In a post on Truth Social, Trump said every American citizen, except for high-income earners, would receive a $2,000 payment drawn from tariff revenue. The plan is framed like a business deal, with Americans as the “shareholders” of the country’s trade profits. In another post, he also said the rest of the tariff revenue would be used to pay down the national debt.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent backed the idea in an interview with ABC News over the weekend, saying the dividend “could come in lots of forms, in lots of ways.” But Trump hasn’t clarified how the payments would be structured or where the income threshold for exclusion would fall.

Can tariffs fund this?

Not yet, but potentially down the line.

According to the Tax Foundation, Trump’s tariffs are projected to raise roughly $2.4 trillion in revenue over the next decade on a conventional basis, or about $1.8 trillion after factoring in lower economic growth caused by trade disruptions.

In the short term, the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget reports tariff collections surged to $195 billion in fiscal year 2025, up sharply from prior years.

Meanwhile, data from the U.S. Census Bureau shows about 173 million Americans earned less than $100,000 in 2023. If each received the proposed $2,000 “dividend,” the total cost would come to roughly $346 billion.

In other words, the tariff revenue collected so far wouldn’t be enough to fund those payments, but over time, if the revenue projections hold, it could eventually cover them.

Does Congress have to approve it?

Yes. Tariff revenue flows into the U.S. Treasury’s general fund, where it’s treated the same as any other tax income. According to the U.S. Treasury Department, even when tariffs increase, the resulting revenue isn’t automatically earmarked for specific uses.

That means Congress, which holds the constitutional “power of the purse,” would have to pass legislation to authorize any direct payments. This is the same process lawmakers used to approve pandemic stimulus checks in 2020, and rebates in 2001 and 2008, according to the Tax Foundation.

Has this been done before?

Not at the federal level.

The only true “dividend” system in the U.S. exists at the state level, in Alaska, where residents receive annual payments funded by oil revenue through the Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend. Between 1982 and 2015, roughly $22.4 billion was distributed to eligible citizens, and as of early 2018, the fund’s market value exceeded $64 billion, according to the Brookings Institution.

The federal government, on the other hand, has only sent out direct payments under extraordinary circumstances — like the COVID-19 stimulus checks or the 2001 and 2008 tax rebates. Each required congressional approval.

Bottom line

Trump’s “tariff dividend” pitch is bold, and politically would win public support in its simplicity. But for it to move from rhetoric to reality, the administration would need congressional cooperation, clear eligibility rules and a legal pathway to reallocate tariff revenue away from the general fund.

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A study released by the Capital Research Center, a conservative policy group, says the nation isn’t short on compassion or cash. Instead, it says the problem lies in how that money is managed.

Researchers reviewed 759 nonprofits that filed briefs in a 2024 Supreme Court case over public camping and found they collectively took in $9.1 billion, including $2.9 billion in government grants. Many of the organizations have evolved from front-line service providers into advocacy operations, channeling more time and resources into lobbying, public relations and court battles than into housing or rehabilitation, according to CRC.

Meanwhile, federal data tells a grim story. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development reported there were 771,480 people experiencing homelessness on a single night in 2024, the highest figure recorded and an 18% jump in just 12 months.

CRC says the numbers highlight a system where oversight lags far behind the dollars being distributed. Yet there are pockets of progress — veteran homelessness dropped by roughly 8% nationwide, showing that targeted, accountable programs can still deliver.

Government data reinforces how high the stakes have become. In 2024, California and New York had the largest homeless populations and the steepest rates nationwide. The national average sits around 23 homeless individuals per 10,000 residents; California’s rate is 48 and New York’s is 81.

The report singles out California’s Housing First policy that prioritizes getting people into permanent housing without requiring sobriety or treatment, as a major misstep. After the state mandated that nearly all homelessness funding follow that model between 2015 and 2019, unsheltered homelessness rose about 47% , according to CRC’s review.

Supporters of Housing First dispute that conclusion, arguing that soaring rent, fentanyl addiction and gaps in mental-health care have far more to do with the spike than the housing policy itself. Still, CRC’s findings have revived a broader national conversation about whether current strategies measure success by outcomes or by spending totals.

In the end, the report’s question lingers: Is America solving homelessness — or just financing it?

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Kelley Blue Book says the September figure was a 2.1% increase over August and a 3.6% year-over-year increase. There was also a rise in electric vehicle sales in September, according to Kelley Blue Book. Customers were likely buying EVs before the $7,500 federal tax incentive ended, with average EV prices hitting $58,124 in September.

It’s no surprise that with car prices this high, many Americans are struggling to keep up with payments. Fitch Ratings reports that Americans are missing their car payments at the highest rate in decades, with more than 6% of borrowers at least 60 days behind. According to Experian, the average monthly car payment has now surpassed $750, a record.

And those missed payments are leading to a growing number of repossessions. According to Bloomberg, 1.73 million vehicles were repossessed in 2024, the highest number since the 2008 financial crisis. Meanwhile, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau says outstanding auto loan balances totaled more than $1.64 trillion through the third quarter of 2024.

At the same time, more buyers with lower credit scores are entering the market.. The Wall Street Journal reports that J.D. Power found the share of new-car buyers with credit scores below 650 climbed to nearly 14% in September, the highest for that month since 2016. Combine that with higher interest rates, and the result is a growing wave of strained budgets.

A policy adviser at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, Joelle Scally, told the WSJ that many lower-income families stretched themselves financially to buy cars during the pandemic when prices spiked. Now, as wages lag behind inflation, “these are borrowers who may have stretched their budgets to afford a higher price of the asset, as well as a higher payment because of the interest rate.”

The combination of high car prices, steep interest rates and stretched household budgets is putting millions of Americans in a financial bind, and it’s shaping up to be one of the clearest indicators of economic stress heading into 2026.

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One case out of Hawaii, Wolford v. Lopez, is drawing particular attention, especially after the Trump administration filed a “friend of the court” brief urging the justices to take up the case, something the a blog covering the Supreme Court described as relatively rare.

The case centers around Hawaii’s gun laws, specifically whether the state’s law criminalizing the carrying of a concealed handgun on private property without the owner’s explicit permission violates the Second Amendment that gives people the right to carry firearms.

The Hawaii case traces to the 2022 Supreme Court ruling in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen that expanded gun rights nationwide. In response, Hawaii passed new restrictions limiting where firearms could be carried, banning guns in places like parks, beaches and even on private property open to the public unless the owner gave permission.

Three Maui residents and the Hawaii Firearms Coalition sued, arguing the new law effectively erased the public carry rights affirmed in the Bruen decision. Lower courts sided with the state, but the challengers appealed, claiming Hawaii relied on faulty historical precedent.

Now, the Supreme Court will decide just how far states can go in restricting concealed carry following Bruen. The ruling could have sweeping implications for gun laws across the country. The Supreme Court is expected to rule on Hawaii’s gun laws by June 2026

How Hawaii’s gun laws compare to rest of US

According to the Giffords Law Center, Hawaii ranks sixth in the nation for gun law strength. California takes the top spot, while Wyoming ranks last, with the weakest gun safety laws in the country.

But do strict laws necessarily mean fewer gun deaths? The answer is complicated.

California, which has the strongest gun regulations in the U.S., also had the 7th lowest gun death rate in 2022. However, data from Johns Hopkins University shows that the overall gun death rate in California increased by 12% over the last decade. Firearms also remain the leading cause of death for children ages 1 to 17 nationwide.

At the same time, Colorado, ranked 10th for gun safety laws, has a gun death rate significantly higher than the national average. That contrast underscores how gun legislation strength doesn’t always translate directly into lower gun deaths.

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Major modifications so far

In the Oval Office, golden trim has been added to the doorways along with a gilded presidential seal on the ceiling above the Resolute Desk. Trump also gifted two large flag poles to fly massive American flags on the North and South lawns.

The Rose Garden underwent a revamp as well. Grass was replaced with stone paving — a change Trump said was necessary because high heels kept sinking into the lawn during events. The redesign also added yellow-and-white striped umbrellas and tables reminiscent of Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort.

But the most significant change is the addition of the ballroom that will extend into the East Wing. Intended for state dinners and official events, the ballroom is designed to hold about 900 guests, up from the initial estimate of 650.

The renovation is expected to cost $200 million; the White House has said Trump, along with private donors, will cover the cost.

“For 150 years, Presidents, and many others, have wanted a beautiful Ballroom, but it never got built because nobody previously had any knowledge or experience in doing such things,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “But I do, like maybe nobody else, and it will go up quickly, and be a wonderful addition, very much in keeping with the magnificent White House itself.”

What’s the cost?

According to the White House, these renovations come at no expense to taxpayers. Trump personally paid for the gold decorations and the flag poles.

The ballroom, with its roughly $200 million price tag, is being funded through private donations. As for the Rose Garden renovation, NPR reported that the $1.9 million cost was covered by private contributions to the Trust for the National Mall.

A history of White House changes

While Trump’s modifications have sparked controversy, White House renovations are nothing new. According to the White House Historical Association, every president and first lady has left their stamp on the residence, sometimes in ways that were criticized at the time but are now seen as iconic.

In 1902, Theodore Roosevelt modernized the White House for the 20th century and created the West Wing. In 1952, Harry Truman oversaw a massive renovation that gutted and rebuilt the interior for safety reasons.

Other presidents and first ladies have made changes primarily for appearance or lifestyle:

• Jacqueline Kennedy, Pat Nixon and Hillary Clinton all renovated the Blue Room.
• Lady Bird Johnson redesigned the East Garden and created the Children’s Garden.
• Gerald Ford built the outdoor swimming pool.
• Michelle Obama created the White House Kitchen Garden on the South Lawn.

A tradition of change

From structural overhauls to personal touches, the White House has been continually evolving since its cornerstone was laid in 1792. Trump’s ballroom may be the latest flashpoint, but history suggests it won’t be the last time Americans debate how presidents leave their mark on the most famous house in the country.

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But one of the biggest concerns with tariffs has been whether the costs would be passed on to consumers. So far, the answer appears to be yes. Core goods prices were 1.9% above pre-2025 trend as of June, with appliances, electronics, and home products like window and floor coverings particularly elevated.

Most studies show 60–80% of tariff costs are being passed directly onto consumers, while service prices haven’t really dropped to offset those higher goods costs, according to the Yale Budget Lab.

Fed rate cuts and housing

After nine months of waiting, the Federal Reserve finally cut interest rates in late September, but questions remain about whether those cuts will benefit America’s housing market.

Mortgage rates dropped to their lowest point in a year right before the Fed’s move, but just a week after the cuts were announced, rates climbed again. Lisa Sturtevant, chief economist at Bright MLS, told Forbes there are still risks of a reversal in mortgage rates even if the Fed cuts rates two more times this year.

With housing supply still tight, experts say prices are unlikely to fall. Buyers might see slightly smaller monthly payments if mortgage rates decline, but they should still expect strong competition and firm home values.

Tariffs and housing costs

Beyond interest rates, tariffs are also playing a role in shaping the housing market. Recently, the U.S. Commerce Department imposed a 10% tariff on all timber and lumber imports and an additional 25% tariff on kitchen cabinets and furniture.

According to the National Association of Home Builders, these tariffs could drive up the cost of building and owning homes, making the market even more competitive and limiting supply. The NAHB notes that the U.S. imports about one-third of the lumber it consumes because domestic production cannot meet demand.

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“Child care is essential to family stability, workforce participation, and New Mexico’s future prosperity,” Lujan Grisham said in a news release. “By investing in universal child care, we are giving families financial relief, supporting our economy and ensuring that every child has the opportunity to grow and thrive.”

The announcement by the state this month fulfills a promise made by Lujan Grisham, a Democrat, and the New Mexico Legislature when they created the Early Childhood Education and Care Department in 2019. New Mexico had expanded access to no-cost child care since then to families with incomes at or below 400% of the federal poverty level. Beginning Nov. 1, the income eligibility limits are gone.

According to Growing Up New Mexico, the universal child care is going to cost around $600 million a year. Previously, the Child Care Assistance Program, which had income restrictions, cost the taxpayers around $463 million.

This comes as the cost of childcare continues to skyrocket nationwide. A Economic Policy Institute report found that child care for one infant now costs more than rent in 17 states and more than in-state college tuition in 38 states.

According to an Axios article using data from the Bank of America Institute, the average monthly child care payments per household rose by about 30% from 2019 to 2023.

The Economic Policy Institute says child care costs vary widely across the country, ranging from as low as $572 per month in Mississippi to as high as $2,363 per month in Washington D.C. for a household with one infant.

For minimum-wage workers and even child care educators, they’re sometimes spending 50% of their monthly earnings.

“New Mexico is creating the conditions for better outcomes in health, learning and well-being,” Neal Halfon, professor of pediatrics, public health and public policy at UCLA and director of the Center for Healthier Children, Families and Communities, said in a news release. “Its approach is rooted in data, driven by communities, and becoming a model for the nation.”

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“What is the purpose of the United Nations?” Trump said during his roughly hourlong speech before the U.N. General Assembly on Tuesday. “The U.N. has such tremendous potential. I’ve always said it. It has such tremendous, tremendous potential. But it’s not even coming close to living up to that potential.”

Afterward, Trump assured U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres the U.S. remained “100%” supportive of the organization despite his criticism.

“I may disagree with it sometimes, but I am so behind it because the potential for peace at this institution is great,” Trump told Guterres, according to the Associated Press.

Upon his return to office, the Trump administration took steps to withhold or rescind billions in congressionally approved funding for both U.N. mandatory assessments and voluntary contributions. This has resulted in the U.S. having significant outstanding payments, with an estimated $826 million owed toward the 2025 regular budget, for which the U.S. share is 22%, according to the Pew Research Center.

According to Trump, per a White House news release:

“Not only is the UN not solving the problems it should, too often, it is actually creating new problems for us to solve The United Nations is funding an assault on Western countries and their borders The UN is supposed to stop invasions, not create them and not finance them.”

Trump has repeatedly criticized the U.N. as “not well run.” He has expressed concerns about its handling of uncontrolled migration.

The potential reduction in U.S. funding has raised concerns about a power vacuum within the U.N., with countries like China possibly stepping in. According to the Pew Research Center, China pays about 20% of the U.N.’s regular budget and has been increasing its presence in peacekeeping missions and senior posts at U.N. agencies.

Experts who spoke with Brookings warn that as the U.S. pulls back, China’s influence over U.N. decision-making could grow.

One of the reasons cited by Trump and his allies for cutting U.N. funding is the belief that many U.N. bodies are biased against the United States and Israel.

According to UN Watch, from 2015 through 2023, the U.N. General Assembly adopted 154 resolutions against Israel and 71 against other countries. Critics argue the U.N. unfairly singles out Israel, while supporters attribute the resolutions to ongoing occupation and settlement activity, along with recent accusations of genocide.

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Zarutska, 23, boarded the train on Aug. 22 and sat in front of Brown before surveillance video captured him repeatedly stabbing her and leaving her to die, according to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department.

Brown, a repeat offender, had been arrested 14 times, according to multiple news reports, and served a five-year sentence for armed robbery. Yet hewas continuously released back onto the streets.

Even Brown’s family said he should never have been released, citing his mental health struggles and prior arrests.

His brother told the New York Post: “You can’t just let him walk free, especially because of a mental issue. He could do it again. They should still treat him for his mental issues, but there are consequences for his actions. I think he should suffer the consequences.”

Brown was most recently arrested and charged in January because of his “misuse of the 911 system.” North Carolina Magistrate Judge Teresa Stokes let Brown out on cashless bail based on a “written promise” he’d return to court. North Carolina Republican lawmakers have called for the removal of Stokes.

More than half (56%) of state prisoners released in 2012 after serving time for a violent offense were arrested within three years for any type of offense, while about two-thirds were arrested within five years, the study showed.

The study tracked more than 400,000 individuals released from prison in 34 states, revealing that more than 115,000 were arrested for a violent crime within five years.

Recent policy changes, such as bail reform, have also contributed to more repeat offenders being released while their cases are pending, according to research from the Yolo County (California) sheriff’s office.

In response to Zarutska’s murder, Rep. Randy Fine, R-Fla., introduced the JAIL Act, a bill that would allow victims of violent crimes to sue judges or government entities that released repeat offenders. Elon Musk has endorsed Fine’s bill.

“Look, if you’re a bartender who gives too many alcoholic beverages to a customer in the bar and they kill someone on the way home, you get held responsible,” Fine told Fox Business. “So why should a judge who’s protected by an armed bailiff get off the hook when they let these killers into our streets?”

The proposed legislation challenges the current judicial immunity that protects judges from being sued personally for decisions made on the bench. According to the Harvard Law Review, judicial immunity applies when judges act within their legal authority. However, if a judge acts outside their role or breaks the law, they can face discipline, impeachment or criminal charges.

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Trump has also initiated a $175 billion “Golden Dome” missile defense initiative aimed at deploying weapons and interceptors in space. According to Lockheed Martin: “This next generation defense shield will identify incoming projectiles, calculate trajectory and deploy interceptor missiles to destroy them mid-flight, safeguarding the homeland and projecting American Strength.”

The relocation of Space Command to Huntsville from its temporary headquarters in Colorado Springs, Colorado, positions it alongside the Army’s Space and Missile Defense Command and NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center, effectively establishing a space warfare hub in what is known as Rocket City. It ends a political battle between the two states for Space Command, with lawmakers from both states asserting their state is the better location.

Trump has expressed concerns about the U.S. “losing the race in space” to China and Russia. This concern is not just rhetoric. China and Russia have tested anti-satellite weapons and launched military satellites that can get close to U.S. assets. Space Command’s mission is to monitor these threats continuously, and the move to Huntsville will bring approximately 1,400 jobs to the area over the next five years.

But even Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle said “this decision is not about what’s best for Huntsville — it’s about being mission-focused.”

“The decision to locate U.S. Space Command at Redstone ensures our nation is prepared to meet growing challenges in space,” he said after the announcement.

U.S. Space Command, or USSPACECOM, is responsible for overseeing all U.S. operations in space. Originally established in the 1980s, it was disbanded after 9/11 as resources shifted to counterterrorism efforts. However, the Pentagon revived it in 2019 in response to the development of satellite-disrupting weapons by China and Russia.

USSPACECOM’s responsibilities extend beyond launching rockets and spy satellites. Its job is to make sure GPS, communications and missile warning satellites stay up and running, even if an adversary tries to take them out.

This involves tracking more than 40,000 objects in orbit and planning responses to potential threats against U.S. assets, according to USSPACECOM’s website.

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