The U.S. national debt has surpassed $39 trillion, with annual interest costs now approaching $1 trillion, according to Treasury data. Lawmakers remain divided over spending cuts and tax policy, while shifting foreign holdings and renewed talk of “de-dollarization” raise questions about long-term demand for U.S. debt.

Cleveland’s National Air Show board is warning the event cannot continue if Burke Lakefront Airport closes. City leaders are studying a $600 million lakefront redevelopment vision and have asked organizers to consider remote or overwater formats, but the board says Cleveland’s geography and the show’s nonprofit finances make that impossible. The 2026 show is still on.

Ohio lawmakers advanced House Bill 84, the “Innocence Act,” requiring websites that distribute obscene material to geolocate users and verify ages for Ohio access. The bill also creates criminal penalties for using someone’s likeness in sexual imagery without consent and empowers the Ohio attorney general to enforce compliance with steep civil penalties. It now moves to the Senate.

A Franklin County magistrate issued a preliminary injunction blocking Ohio from reclassifying unclaimed funds as state property after 10 years. The ruling finds House Bill 96 likely violates Ohio’s takings and due process clauses, halting plans to transfer $1.7B-$1.9B to a sports facilities commission, including $600M tied to a proposed Browns stadium in Brook Park.

President Trump categorized the ongoing military conflict with Iran as a nearly finished "excursion" during an interview with CBS on Monday, a statement that triggered a late-afternoon rally on Wall Street. The Dow Jones industrial average had spent the majority of the day in negative territory, but prices shifted sharply upward just before the closing bell as investors reacted to the prospect of a swift resolution.

Trump has removed Kristi Noem as Homeland Security secretary amid escalating pressure over DHS spending, including a $220 million immigration ad campaign and questions about how the contract was awarded. Trump named Sen. Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma as his pick to lead the agency, pending Senate confirmation. Oversight inquiries are expected to continue.

President Donald Trump delivered a 1 hour and 48 minute State of the Union, the longest on record, using the address to roll out aggressive proposals ahead of the midterm elections. Plans included forcing major tech firms to generate power for AI data centers, banning corporations from buying single-family homes, creating matched retirement-style accounts, and backing a ban on lawmaker insider trading.

President Donald Trump signed an executive order imposing a 10% global tariff on all imported goods after the Supreme Court ruled his earlier tariff strategy was illegal. The order invokes Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974, which allows the duties for 150 days unless Congress approves an extension. Trump criticized the court and alleged foreign influence without evidence.

President Donald Trump and the EPA have rescinded the 2009 Endangerment Finding that underpinned federal limits on greenhouse gas emissions. The administration says the move will cut costs and save the economy $1.3 trillion, while health and environmental advocates warn it could worsen air quality and respiratory illness. Legal experts expect years of litigation.

Attorney General Pam Bondi told the House Judiciary Committee that active investigations into the Jeffrey Epstein case are still underway, challenging earlier signals that the probe had stalled. Lawmakers pressed for answers on why more associates have not been charged, as survivors in the room said they have offered evidence and interviews but were never contacted by the Justice Department.

Ghislaine Maxwell appeared before the House Oversight Committee and repeatedly invoked her Fifth Amendment right to remain silent. Soon after, her attorney floated a dramatic offer: Maxwell would provide a full account of her activities and the individuals involved, but only if President Donald Trump commutes her sentence. The White House has not formally responded.

The Trump administration has filed a notice of corrections in federal court, admitting that DOGE members accessed and retained sensitive Social Security Administration data. The filing reveals that a DOGE team member signed a data agreement with a political group seeking to overturn election results. This admission contradicts previous statements made to the court regarding a temporary restraining order and the group’s primary mission of identifying waste and government fraud

A Friday deadline for a partial government shutdown approaches as Senate lawmakers clash over a $64.4 billion Homeland Security budget. The dispute centers on funding for ICE, with Democrats demanding more oversight and Republicans pointing to a House recess that prevents legislative changes. If a deal isn't reached, agencies like the IRS, TSA, and FEMA could see significant disruptions, potentially delaying tax refunds and impacting national travel as the deadline looms.

The announcement came via social media following a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. As part of this change in direction, the White House confirmed it won’t be imposing the tariffs that were originally scheduled to go into effect on February 1st. This move follows a Tuesday speech at the Davos conference where the President’s tone was notably more aggressive. During those remarks, he criticized NATO and Danish officials as ungrateful, suggesting the United Stat

President Trump’s trip to the World Economic Forum was delayed Tuesday night after Air Force One returned to Joint Base Andrews due to a minor electrical issue. The president and his crew transferred to a backup aircraft for the flight to Davos, Switzerland. The incident highlights ongoing efforts to replace the aging presidential fleet, including a multi-billion-dollar project with Boeing not expected for completion until 2028. The timing may impact Trump's scheduled morning

Prime Minister Mark Carney concluded a significant state visit to Beijing, marking a new strategic partnership with China. Amid trade pressures from the United States, Canada and China signed agreements to reduce tariffs on electric vehicles and canola while establishing a new energy investment pact. The move represents the first visit by a Canadian leader in eight years and signals a major shift in diplomatic and economic relations between the two nations.

Attorney General Pam Bondi filed a letter in New York federal court arguing against the appointment of a special master to oversee the release of Jeffrey Epstein’s files. Despite the Epstein Transparency Act’s deadline passing nearly a month ago, the DOJ claims lawmakers Ro Khanna and Thomas Massie lack the legal standing to intervene. Bondi highlighted that the legislation lacks a specific enforcement mechanism to compel a faster release through the court system.

President Trump warned today he may invoke the Insurrection Act of 1807 to deploy the U.S. military to Minneapolis. The move follows reports of unrest targeting ICE agents after a large-scale immigration crackdown. While the Act provides a loophole to the Posse Comitatus Act, legal experts note the statute's vague definitions regarding rebellions and domestic violence. Constitutional rights, including search and seizure protections, remain in effect regardless of military pre

Ohio Rep. Steve Demetriou has introduced HB 642, a bill that would remove the five-year limit on carrying forward net operating losses for municipal income taxes. Supporters say it would better match long business recovery cycles and align municipal rules more closely with federal treatment, while municipalities could see tax revenue delayed as losses are used over longer periods.

Bill and Hillary Clinton are refusing a House Oversight deposition tied to Jeffrey Epstein, arguing the subpoena is invalid and unfair after other subpoenas were dropped. Chairman James Comer says the committee could move next week to hold Bill Clinton in contempt of Congress, escalating a high-stakes fight over testimony and transparency.