Following a historic week marked by deadly protests that resulted in numerous casualties and widespread unrest, Nepal's parliament appointed its first female prime minister. The new leadership aims to address ongoing political disputes and economic challenges that have fueled the violence across the country. It appears that many of the youth from Nepal will not be satisfied until corruption and authoritarian tendencies are totally uprooted from the government. In the meantime, their means do not reflect their ends as they are engaging in a campaign of terror to ensure elites understand how fervent their opposition to their continued rule is.

The United Nations General Assembly overwhelmingly endorsed a declaration supporting a two-state solution and recognizing a Palestinian state while explicitly condemning Hamas. Israel strongly rebuked the decision, arguing it undermines security efforts, as international reactions highlighted divisions in Middle East peace initiatives. This is perhaps the final turning of the tide in terms of the broader world's relationship to the conflict in Israel. It appears the world wants a two-state solution and Israel says that is a non-starter. Where we go from there is anybody's guess.

Russia initiated large-scale military exercises along its border with Belarus involving tens of thousands of troops and advanced weaponry in a display of power in earshot of NATO territories. The operations follow recent drone incursions into Poland, prompting heightened concerns and monitoring from NATO allies regarding potential escalation. It appears that Russia is becoming increasingly provocative as a show that they have no fear of NATO reaction and perhaps even more boldly inviting NATO to step into the octagon.

President Trump stated that the National Guard is poised for deployment to Memphis to combat escalating crime rates in the city. The decision reflects ongoing federal efforts to intervene in urban areas experiencing high violence, with local officials preparing for the potential arrival. The violence in Memphis has been ongoing for many decades now and despite others' fear of authoritarianism, we fear piles of bodies more. Federal police are not a permanent or ideal solution, but simply put, there cannot be a locality in the United States which allows the levels of violence we have long seen in Memphis.

The Environmental Protection Agency announced the removal of specific greenhouse gas emission reporting obligations for polluting industries to streamline administrative processes. Environmental advocates criticize the move for potentially reducing transparency and hindering climate change mitigation efforts. This is a good example of what deregulation looks like and in this case it is purportedly going to ease administrative burdens for both businesses and the government. We remain staunchly committed to protecting the common good so environmental protections are of the utmost importance; however, it remains unclear that this level of tracking does more than create bureaucratic bloat.

The United States aligned with the UN Security Council to condemn recent Israeli military actions targeting sites in Qatar, citing violations of international law. The resolution urges an immediate halt to hostilities and calls for diplomatic talks to prevent further regional instability. This is a wild turn of affairs in U.S. foreign policy and we find great optimism that we finally have leadership willing to not simply align with the demands of the Israeli government. Hopefully less symbolic and more aggressive rejections of Israel's plans to annex Gaza are next on the docket.

Los Angeles faces a significant budget deficit exceeding hundreds of millions of dollars which has prompted the city government to propose cuts to essential services and programs. Labor union leaders are actively opposing the mayor's fiscal plans, pushing for alternative measures to balance the budget without impacting workers. LA will likely have to make these cuts because it has spent its way into oblivion and it is paramount that they don't drive the city into insolvency. Major cities in this country have got to develop the capacity to govern within reasonable fiscal constraints or they are going to trigger a disaster of epic proportions.

Portland has been gripped by ongoing civil unrest since early 2025, with protests centered on immigration enforcement and local governance issues leading to clashes with authorities. The President has issued threats to deploy federal troops to quell the disturbances, raising fears of escalated confrontations similar to past interventions. Portland has long had a reputation for staunchly rejecting law enforcement of all kinds and this is perhaps a good test for the lengths the current administration will go to establish law and order. Previous administrators have let protestors in Portland take it pretty far, doing things like establishing autonomous zones and burning down federal buildings, but I imagine the current administration would be heavy-handed in its attempts to repress such efforts.

California legislators passed a bill prohibiting law enforcement officers, including ICE agents, from wearing masks while on duty to enhance transparency and accountability. The measure, now heading to the governor for approval, responds to concerns over unidentified officers during public interactions. Last week we saw something similar in Oregon as it appears lawmakers are deeply concerned with ensuring it is not legal for law enforcement to patrol the streets with their faces covered.

Oregon officials agreed to increase reimbursements to insurance providers operating the state's Medicaid program after several companies threatened withdrawal due to financial losses. This adjustment ensures continued access to healthcare for millions of low-income residents amid rising operational costs. Hopefully this facilitates health care access for those most in need of it without setting precedent for insurers to hold the state hostage by constantly demanding more funds.