Many Americans can expect larger tax refunds in 2026 due to President Donald Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA). The law modifies tax withholding tables and allows for increased deductions, especially benefiting higher-income households.
Key Facts
President Donald Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) aims to increase tax refunds in 2026.
The changes to the tax withholding tables take effect in 2026, although some aspects are retroactive to 2025.
The Congressional Budget Office predicts a $24 billion tax cut for the fiscal year 2025 under the new act.
The Oxford Economics report estimates the refund increase could be as much as $50 billion in 2026.
High-income individuals benefit the most due to higher limits on state and local tax (SALT) deductions.
Tax savings vary by income, with high earners saving significantly more compared to lower-income earners.
Retirees may see higher tax refunds due to an enhanced senior deduction ranging from $6,000 to $12,000.
The act revives the 100 percent bonus depreciation for business owners, allowing full deduction of eligible purchases.
President Donald Trump has proposed importing beef from Argentina to lower beef prices in the United States. Some American cattle ranchers and politicians, including Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, criticize the plan, saying it could harm domestic cattle farmers.
Key Facts
President Trump announced a plan to import Argentine beef to lower U.S. beef prices.
The proposal has faced criticism from American cattle ranchers who worry it will affect their business.
Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene opposed the plan, describing it as harmful to American cattle ranchers.
U.S. beef prices have reached an all-time high of $6.32 per pound.
Factors such as strong demand and a reduced cattle herd have contributed to high beef prices.
Trump imposed a 50% tariff on Brazilian beef, affecting beef imports.
Agricultural experts say Argentine beef makes up only about 2% of U.S. beef imports.
Some critics believe that economic aid should focus on supporting the U.S. economy instead of foreign countries.
A man named Sam O’Hara sued the District of Columbia, claiming police violated his rights by detaining him for playing the "Star Wars" theme during a peaceful protest against National Guard troops in Washington, D.C. O’Hara accuses officers and a National Guard member of breaching his First and Fourth Amendment rights. This incident ties into broader tensions over President Trump's deployment of troops in the city.
Key Facts
Sam O’Hara was detained after playing a "Star Wars" song during a protest against National Guard troops in D.C.
He filed a lawsuit claiming his First Amendment right to free speech was violated.
O’Hara also asserts his Fourth Amendment protection against unreasonable seizure was breached.
The police held him in handcuffs for 15 to 20 minutes without charging him.
The American Civil Liberties Union is representing O’Hara in the lawsuit.
The suit follows President Trump's deployment of National Guard troops in the city, which has sparked controversy.
O’Hara seeks damages for his detention and aims to hold officials accountable for their actions.
Tensions have risen in D.C. due to the presence of federal agents and National Guard troops under President Trump's directive.
President Donald Trump announced he will not send the National Guard or federal law enforcement to San Francisco this weekend. He decided to hold off on this plan after speaking with the city's mayor, Daniel Lurie, who is working on tackling local crime.
Key Facts
President Trump was planning to send federal forces to San Francisco.
Friends in San Francisco asked him not to proceed with the plan.
Mayor Daniel Lurie is making progress in addressing crime in the city.
President Trump discussed the situation with Mayor Lurie and decided to give the mayor a chance to handle it.
President Trump expressed confidence that federal intervention could address the issue more quickly.
Local influential figures, such as Jensen Huang and Marc Benioff, support letting locals attempt to manage the situation.
President Trump emphasized the community's efforts in fighting crime.
President Donald Trump's administration plans to deport 600,000 immigrants in 2025. Tom Homan, President Trump's border czar, stated that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is on track to meet this goal despite challenges in detention space and resources. The administration has not released recent public data on deportations.
Key Facts
President Trump aims to deport 600,000 immigrants in 2025.
Tom Homan, the border czar, says ICE is on track to reach this number.
Over 548,000 people have been deported so far this year.
ICE increased enforcement activities, but deportation logistics remain challenging.
ICE received additional financial support to enhance operations.
The Department of Homeland Security has not published detailed deportation data since January.
Trump’s administration focuses on high deportation rates compared to previous U.S. presidents.
ICE practices and the conduct of its agents have faced scrutiny lately.
Photos show that the East Wing of the White House has been demolished. President Donald Trump plans to build a $300 million ballroom in its place. The demolition started before receiving formal approval from federal agencies.
Key Facts
The East Wing of the White House has been torn down.
Photos released by the Associated Press confirm the demolition.
President Trump plans to replace it with a ballroom costing $300 million.
The new ballroom will be nearly twice the size of the White House.
President Trump stated that private funding would cover the cost, not taxpayer money.
Federal agencies have not yet formally approved the project.
The East Wing previously housed first ladies' offices and was used for state events.
The White House East Wing has been demolished to build a new ballroom under President Donald Trump's directive. The construction is moving forward, even though government permission hasn't been fully secured yet.
Key Facts
The White House East Wing has been demolished.
The demolition is for the construction of a new ballroom.
President Donald Trump is overseeing this construction project.
The ballroom is expected to cost $300 million.
The new ballroom will be almost twice the size of the White House.
President Trump and his friends plan to cover the costs.
The demolition began without full approval from government agencies responsible for such projects.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced the cancellation of nearly $135 million in medical debt for over 75,000 residents. This effort is part of a broader initiative to provide $2 billion in medical debt relief over three years. The program aims to help working-class residents by reducing financial stress linked to medical expenses.
Key Facts
New York City has canceled $135 million in medical debt for more than 75,000 people.
Mayor Adams announced the plan, which was part of commitments made in his State of the City address.
The initiative is part of a $2 billion effort to decrease medical debt for 500,000 working-class New Yorkers.
Medical debt is a common reason for bankruptcy in the U.S., according to Debt.org.
The program particularly aims to help uninsured, under-insured, and low-income families.
The administration is working with Undue Medical Debt, a non-profit that helps erase medical debt.
Residents do not have to apply; they will be notified by the non-profit about debt cancellation.
The initiative lasted three years, coinciding with the opening of Financial Empowerment Centers to aid financial planning.
Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin declared a state of emergency. Over 850,000 residents might lose access to SNAP benefits due to the federal government shutdown. The state plans to provide food assistance until Congress passes a new funding bill.
Key Facts
Virginia's governor, Glenn Youngkin, declared a state of emergency.
More than 850,000 people in Virginia could lose SNAP benefits.
SNAP benefits are food assistance provided to those in need.
The possible loss of benefits is due to the federal government shutdown.
Governor Youngkin criticized congressional Democrats for the situation.
The state plans to offer food help until a funding bill is passed by Congress.
President Donald Trump and his team are supporting Virginia’s emergency actions.
President Donald Trump pardoned Changpeng Zhao, the founder of the cryptocurrency exchange Binance. Zhao had been convicted for not stopping illegal activities on the platform. A White House news briefing is scheduled regarding this matter.
Key Facts
President Trump pardoned Changpeng Zhao, Binance founder.
Zhao was convicted for not preventing illegal use of Binance for crimes like child sex abuse and terrorism.
Zhao previously requested a pardon from Trump.
Trump has financial ties to World Liberty Financial, a crypto venture.
Trump’s financial report shows earnings over $57 million from World Liberty Financial last year.
An investment fund from the UAE plans to use $2 billion in stablecoin to buy a stake in Binance.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt will speak at a news briefing.
The pardon follows Zhao's guilty plea for failing to maintain an anti-money-laundering program.
A new poll shows that 62% of likely California voters plan to vote 'yes' on Proposition 50, a measure pushed by Governor Gavin Newsom. The proposition aims to redraw congressional districts in California to add more Democratic seats, in response to actions by President Donald Trump to adjust districts in Texas. The decision on Proposition 50 could influence which party controls the House of Representatives.
Key Facts
62% of likely voters in California support Proposition 50, while 38% are against it.
The proposal aims to replace existing congressional districts with new ones to add five Democratic seats.
The poll was conducted between October 16 and 21 with 1,504 registered voters, having a margin of error of about 3.6 to 3.8 points.
75% of voters supporting the measure are motivated by opposition to Trump.
The outcome could affect the majority in the U.S. House of Representatives.
53% of Californians approve of Governor Newsom’s job performance.
California has a higher number of returned mail ballots from Democrats than Republicans.
The poll indicates that many voters are considering national issues when voting on Proposition 50.
Hasan Piker, a Twitch streamer and progressive voice, warns that Democrats risk losing young men to right-wing influences if they do not better connect with this group. He notes that young men under 45 shifted towards President Donald Trump in the 2024 election, highlighting a growing trend. Piker believes that right-wing influencers effectively resonate with young men by addressing cultural grievances and personal issues.
Key Facts
Hasan Piker is a popular progressive Twitch streamer who discusses politics and gaming.
He warns Democrats that they're losing young male voters to right-wing influences.
In the 2024 election, young men under 45 showed a noticeable shift toward President Donald Trump.
Right-wing influencers appeal to young men by discussing cultural grievances and personal struggles.
Piker says Democrats lack a compelling story that resonates with young men.
He argues that Democrats should focus on creating media that speaks the language of young men.
Piker believes that addressing personal and social issues directly could help Democrats win back young male voters.
President Donald Trump pardoned Changpeng Zhao, the founder of Binance, a large cryptocurrency exchange. Zhao previously served time in prison for not stopping illegal activity on his platform. He had asked for the pardon from President Trump, who has financial connections to Zhao's crypto ventures.
Key Facts
President Donald Trump pardoned Changpeng Zhao, founder of Binance.
Zhao was in prison for not preventing illegal use of Binance for crimes.
He requested a pardon from President Trump before receiving it.
President Trump has financial ties to World Liberty Financial, a crypto venture.
Trump made over $57 million last year from World Liberty Financial.
World Liberty Financial launched a stablecoin called USD1, linked to the U.S. dollar.
An investment fund in the UAE plans to use USD1 to buy a stake in Binance.
Zhao admitted in court to not maintaining an anti-money-laundering program.
Gracie Hunt, the daughter of Kansas City Chiefs owner Clark Hunt, asked her social media followers about their views on Christians celebrating Halloween. This sparked a discussion on the relationship between Halloween and Christian beliefs. The holiday is historically linked to both ancient and religious traditions.
Key Facts
Gracie Hunt asked her Instagram followers for their opinions on Christians celebrating Halloween.
The post included a yard sign by her mother saying: “Life is scary without Jesus.”
Reactions varied, with some supporting Halloween as lighthearted and others viewing it as contradictory to Christian values.
Halloween has roots in the Celtic festival Samhain, marking the end of harvest and believed to involve spirits returning to the earth.
The Christian Church later established All Saints’ Day on November 1, with Halloween as the evening before.
Immigrants brought Halloween traditions to North America, where it evolved into a secular celebration.
The holiday now features costumes, trick-or-treating, and community events, while retaining some ancient symbols like ghosts and pumpkins.
Some Christian groups believe Halloween’s associations with the occult should not be trivialized.
Nearly half of U.S. workers are staying in their current jobs longer due to economic uncertainty and job market fears, a practice known as "job hugging." A study by Monster.com found that many workers prefer job security over seeking new opportunities, even if it means forgoing potentially better pay and advancement. This trend reflects concerns about unemployment and economic stability.
Key Facts
Monster.com found that 48% of U.S. workers are "job hugging," meaning they stay in their current jobs longer for security and stability.
The study revealed that 75% of employees plan to remain in their roles for at least two more years.
59% believe job hugging is more common now than in 2024, and 63% expect this trend to continue growing by 2026.
The survey highlighted that 94% of workers are aware of the risks of staying in their current roles.
Key risks noted include missing higher-paying roles (26%), burnout, and limited career advancement (25%).
A ZipRecruiter survey showed employee turnover decreased from 177% in 2023 to 50% in 2025.
A TopResume survey found that 70% of professionals would lower their job level, and 75% would take a pay cut for job security.
Career experts suggest that job hugging might continue due to ongoing economic concerns but could change if conditions improve.
The U.S. government shutdown continues as the Senate debates health coverage under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Democrats want to extend health insurance subsidies, arguing they won't vote to reopen the government until Republicans discuss this. Republicans demand reopening the government before any negotiation.
Key Facts
The government shutdown has reached 23 days as of the article date.
The debate is focused on health insurance subsidies created by the Affordable Care Act (ACA), also known as Obamacare.
Tax credits that help make health insurance more affordable are set to expire at the end of the year.
Democrats are pushing for these subsidies to be extended and are using the shutdown to force negotiations.
If the subsidies expire, insurance premiums could rise significantly, by an average of 114% next year.
A poll shows that 6 in 10 Americans are very worried about rising health costs.
Republicans want Democrats to vote to reopen the government before any discussions on extending the subsidies.
The ACA was designed to reduce the number of uninsured people and to make coverage more affordable.
An ICE agent pointed a gun at a pregnant woman in Illinois during a federal operation. The woman, Lesly Guevara, shared her experience online, expressing fear for her and her family's safety. The Department of Homeland Security has yet to comment on the event.
Key Facts
Lesly Guevara, a pregnant woman, encountered ICE officers in Berwyn, Illinois.
She shared videos of the incident on TikTok, showing the ICE agents' actions.
Guevara was with her fiancé and 10-month-old son in the car.
An ICE agent pointed a gun at her after she beeped her horn to alert others.
Guevara claims she acted because she felt the agents' actions were aggressive and inappropriate.
The Chicago area has seen increased ICE enforcement activities.
DHS has not responded to Newsweek's request for a comment on the situation.
Guevara is using social media to raise awareness about the incident.
Mayor Eric Adams has announced his endorsement of Andrew Cuomo for New York City mayor. Adams had previously criticized Cuomo but changed his stance after ending his own re-election campaign. This move comes as Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani is gaining support in the race.
Key Facts
Eric Adams is the current Mayor of New York City.
Adams decided to support Andrew Cuomo for NYC mayor.
Adams had ended his re-election campaign as he saw no chance of winning.
Initially, Adams criticized Cuomo, calling him "a snake and a liar."
Zohran Mamdani is the Democratic nominee who is gaining momentum.
Cuomo is running as a third-party candidate in the mayoral race.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) denied reports that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is buying guided missile warheads. A federal record indicated a payment by ICE for items labeled as missile components, but officials and a company involved stated this was a labeling error related to distraction devices for law enforcement.
Key Facts
DHS stated ICE is not purchasing missile components.
A federal contract record mentioned a $61,218 payment for "guided missile warheads and explosive components."
ICE recorded a significant increase in spending on small arms and related equipment in 2025.
The company Quantico Tactical, linked to the purchase, does not sell warheads and explained the missile code as an error.
ICE made similar payments for distraction devices in 2024 and 2025.
President Trump signed a bill increasing ICE funding, leading to more hiring and equipment purchases.
Violent incidents and increased assaults against ICE agents have been reported during enforcement operations.
DHS mentioned a rise in assaults against ICE agents but did not provide detailed figures.
The article discusses Zohran Mamdani's chances of winning the New York City mayoral election after his final debate with Andrew Cuomo, who is running as an independent. Despite the debate, Mamdani remains favored to win the election, with betting odds strongly in his favor over Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa.
Key Facts
Zohran Mamdani, a Democratic Socialist, is running for Mayor of New York City.
Mamdani debated Andrew Cuomo, who is a former governor of New York running as an independent, and Republican Curtis Sliwa.
Betting odds show Mamdani as the favorite to win, with slight fluctuations after the debate.
During the debate, candidates discussed law enforcement, political experience, and allegations of sexual harassment against Cuomo.
Mamdani’s betting odds with Betfair improved slightly to 1.06 after initially dropping.
Star Sports also reflects Mamdani as the likely winner with high odds of winning after the debate.
Andrew Cuomo's odds declined after the debate, suggesting lower chances of winning.
The New York City mayoral election will take place on November 4.
