Discover government systems, policies, and decision-making to understand their impact on society.
Real Estate
If you’ve recently searched for an apartment and noticed sky-high rent prices across the board, you’re not imagining things. RealPage, a leading software company, is at the center of an antitrust storm for allegedly driving up rental costs through its algorithm-driven pricing platform. Federal prosecutors and lawmakers argue
Military & Defense
Alex Karp, the CEO of Palantir Technologies, acknowledges the dual-edge nature of his company’s technology. Palantir’s software—powered by machine learning and AI—is optimizing everything from manufacturing and supply chains to modern warfare. In Ukraine and across the Middle East, Palantir’s AI tools are proving critical
Small Business
U.S. small businesses remain heavily reliant on Chinese imports, despite existing tariffs and the looming threat of additional levies from the Trump administration. Efforts to diversify supply chains face significant challenges, including high domestic labor costs, a shortage of skilled workers, and potential tariffs on alternative manufacturing hubs like
Real Estate
The average rate for a 30-year fixed mortgage in the United States has dipped slightly to 6.81%, offering a small relief to prospective homebuyers amid a challenging real estate market. This follows a modest decline from the previous week's rate of 6.85%, according to data released
Construction
The U.S. faces a massive housing shortage, with millions of homes needed to meet growing demand. However, builders are struggling to deliver. A combination of rising costs, labor shortages, and regulatory hurdles is stalling construction, even as home prices soar. The Housing Crisis in Numbers The U.S. currently
Semiconductors
The U.S. government plans to reduce Intel's initial $8.5 billion federal chips grant to less than $8 billion. This adjustment considers a $3 billion contract offered to Intel for manufacturing chips for the Pentagon. Earlier this year, President Biden's administration announced nearly $20 billion
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Taiwan is set to invest $1 billion annually over the next three years to bolster its artificial intelligence (AI) sector, aiming to diversify its economy beyond its traditional semiconductor industry. This initiative, announced by Science and Technology Minister Wu Tsung-tsong, focuses on enhancing AI data centers and applications, with the
Military & Defense
In 2024, the defense technology sector has experienced unprecedented growth, with funding reaching new heights. Leading this surge is Anduril Industries, a defense tech startup co-founded by Palmer Luckey. In August, Anduril secured a $1.5 billion funding round, elevating its valuation to $14 billion. This significant investment underscores a
Healthcare
President-elect Donald Trump has nominated Dr. Mehmet Oz to lead the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), the federal agency overseeing healthcare programs for over 140 million Americans. Dr. Oz, a cardiothoracic surgeon and former television host, previously ran for the U.S. Senate in Pennsylvania in 2022 with
Media
Brendan Carr, recently appointed as the incoming Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) by President-elect Donald Trump, has pledged to dismantle what he terms Big Tech's "censorship cartel." Carr, who has served as an FCC commissioner since 2017, is known for his strong stance against
Business Insights
U.S. businesses are expressing significant concern over President-elect Donald Trump's proposed mass deportation plans, fearing substantial labor shortages and economic disruptions across various industries. Sectors such as agriculture, hospitality, construction, and healthcare heavily rely on immigrant workers, many of whom are undocumented. The potential removal of these
Military & Defense
The United States has unveiled El Capitan, the world’s fastest supercomputer, at the SC Conference for supercomputing in Atlanta, Georgia. Designed to maintain the safety and reliability of the U.S. nuclear stockpile, El Capitan marks a major milestone in computational power. A New Era of Simulated Testing Following