🗞️U.S. government shuts down

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October 1st, 2025

What happened today 🇺🇸,

• The U.S. government officially shut down due to a failure by Congress to pass a funding bill, marking the first shutdown since 2018 and the 22nd in history…as a result about 750,000 federal employees are being furloughed

• The White House has withdrawn the nomination of E.J. Antoni to lead the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)

• The Trump administration has frozen $18 billion in federal funding for New York City's Hudson Tunnel and Second Avenue Subway projects, citing concerns that the funds were being allocated based on “unconstitutional diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) principles”

• The U.S. Supreme Court has refused President Trump's request to immediately remove Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, allowing her to remain in her position while her lawsuit challenging the firing proceeds…this means Cook can stay on the Federal Reserve Board until the Court hears arguments in January 2026

• The Pentagon plans to implement widespread random polygraph testing and require thousands of personnel, including high-ranking officials to sign nondisclosure agreements (NDAs) to curb leaks of national security information

• Amazon has launched a new private-label grocery brand called Amazon Grocery, which combines its former Amazon Fresh and Happy Belly brands and offers over 1,000 items, most priced under $5…the Amazon Grocery line features staples like milk, fresh produce, meat, and snacks and is available both online and in Amazon Fresh stores

• Walmart has announced it will remove synthetic dyes and 30 other artificial ingredients, including specific preservatives, sweeteners, and fat substitutes, from its U.S. store-brand food products by January 2027

• Elon Musk has become the first person in history to reach a net worth of $500 billion

• DOW up .09% / S&P up .34%

• The S&P 500 officially crossed above 6,700 for the first time in history

• German authorities arrested three men in Berlin today who are suspected of being Hamas operatives planning attacks on Jewish and Israeli institutions in Germany

• Israel intercepted several boats from an international aid flotilla called the Global Sumud Flotilla, which was attempting to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza…the Israeli navy boarded multiple vessels, including one carrying climate activist Greta Thunberg and redirected them to the Israeli port of Ashdod…read more here

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Bonus: A look at population projections until the end of the century

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