White House Dismisses Rise in Unemployment

Recent inflation data has raised concerns, with the White House celebrating a perceived cooling in price growth, while Wall Street has criticized the report as flawed and misleading. This discrepancy highlights the ongoing challenges in accurately assessing the economic landscape, particularly regarding affordability.

Trump Media & Technology Group announced a merger with TAE Technologies, a nuclear fusion firm, in a deal valued at $6 billion, aiming to develop a utility-scale fusion power plant. This merger is part of Trump Media's broader strategy to expand its technological footprint beyond social media, particularly through its platform Truth Social, which has faced challenges in gaining traction.

The Trump administration's decision to offer $10,000 bonuses to air-safety workers for their performance during the government shutdown has faced significant backlash from unions and workers, who argue that such incentives are inappropriate and do not address the underlying issues of job security and working conditions.

The White House has proposed cash payments, including one-time $2,000 rebate checks, to address affordability concerns as tariffs remain unpopular and prices continue to rise. This initiative aims to provide financial relief to families amid ongoing economic challenges.

The Trump administration has threatened economic penalties against European tech firms unless the European Union retracts its regulatory measures and lawsuits targeting U.S. companies. This warning was articulated by Jamieson Greer from the Office of the United States Trade Representative, highlighting ongoing tensions between the U.S. and E.U. regarding tech regulations.