G7 allies, including the European Union, Japan, and the UK, are ramping up coordinated pressure on India to cease purchases of Russian oil, citing violations of sanctions imposed after Moscow’s 2022 Ukraine invasion, with EU diplomats joining Trump administration threats of secondary tariffs and trade restrictions if India doesn’t comply by year-end. This multilateral effort highlights India’s role as Russia’s top oil buyer, importing 2.2 million barrels per day in 2024 (up 13% year-over-year and comprising 40% of its crude needs), which undermines global price caps and funds Russia’s war economy to the tune of $25 billion annually from Indian refiners alone. Some state-owned Indian firms like Indian Oil Corp are preemptively cutting Russian imports and shifting to Middle Eastern suppliers like Saudi Arabia to avert disruptions. As we watch the world realign regarding the balance of power between major states, India is perhaps in the most unique position of all as it can leverage its lack of allegiance to any coalition to pursue its best interests.

Israel’s precision airstrike in Yemen killed Mohammed al-Ghamari, the chief of staff of the Iranian-backed Houthi armed forces, who oversaw missile and drone operations against Israeli targets and Red Sea shipping lanes. The Houthis quickly confirmed al-Ghamari’s death via state media, pledging fierce retaliation including escalated attacks on Israeli cities, while Yemen’s rebel group has fired over 100 ballistic missiles and 200 drones since October 2023 in solidarity with Gaza. This marks Israel’s deepest strike into Yemen yet, expanding its military campaign beyond Gaza and Lebanon, amid U.S. concerns over regional escalation that could draw in Iran and disrupt global trade routes. Even as the situation in Gaza has reached a quasi-resolution, Israel seems poised to cause more global turmoil in an effort to eradicate its enemies.

China lodged a formal complaint with the World Trade Organization against India’s Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for EV batteries, claiming it provides discriminatory subsidies worth $2.3 billion that mandate local manufacturing and exclude Chinese firms from supplying key components like lithium-ion cells. Under the PLI program launched in 2021, India requires EV manufacturers to source at least 50% of batteries domestically to qualify for incentives, boosting local players like Tata and Reliance while barring imports that dominated 80% of the market pre-scheme. While there are clear benefits for using the machinery of the state to tip the scales and boost domestic production, it does run the risk of distorting the market such that outsiders are unable to compete.

The Trump administration has escalated actions against Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro by deploying B-52 strategic bombers for flyovers off the coast, positioning special operations helicopters in neighboring Colombia, and labeling his regime a “narco-terrorist cartel” through CIA designations to justify broader interventions. Internal assessments reveal Maduro’s grip weakening post the disputed July 2024 elections, with U.S. officials exploring “land-based options” including support for opposition forces and potential sanctions on oil buyers, amid a migrant crisis that saw 7.7 million Venezuelans flee since 2015. This aggressive stance echoes past U.S. efforts in Latin America, raising fears of military entanglement, while economic pressures have already halved Venezuela’s oil output and intensified humanitarian shortages which now affect 80% of the population. We continue to be staunchly opposed to imperialism of all forms and therefore denounce this attempt by the Trump administration to undermine the sovereignty of Venezuela through coercive military and economic force.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, representing over 3 million businesses, filed suit in federal court to challenge executive orders that raised H-1B visa application fees by up to 500% (from $460 to $2,300) and imposed stricter wage requirements and lottery restrictions aimed at prioritizing American workers. These changes, effective immediately, are projected to cut annual H-1B approvals from 85,000 to around 50,000, severely impacting tech giants like Google and Microsoft that rely on the program for 70% of their skilled hires in AI and software engineering. The lawsuit argues violations of administrative procedures and economic harm, as industries face a 1.5 million STEM job shortfall, with additional ripple effects on universities losing international talent and states like California seeing a 20% drop in visa-dependent startups. The Chamber of Commerce is dead wrong in this regard as they seemingly are only interested in protecting the interests of capital, whereas we understand the chamber to be an agency meant to ensure commerce is conducted in a way that best serves American citizens.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) issued demands in September for detailed personal records, including Social Security numbers, addresses, and income data, on all 40 million Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients to verify immigration status and detect fraud under new eligibility crackdowns. By October 16, 27 states, mostly Republican-led, had complied fully, sharing data that could disqualify up to 1.2 million undocumented or mixed-status household members and save $2.5 billion yearly in benefits. Privacy advocates filed lawsuits citing breaches of federal laws like the Privacy Act, warning of data misuse in immigration enforcement, as the program aids 1 in 8 Americans and faces cuts that could exacerbate food insecurity affecting 44 million people in 2024. We continue to be staunch advocates of our federalist system, meaning states should cooperate with federal government requests. However, it is important that we tackle the underlying question which is how much is owed to noncitizens in terms of public services that are funded through coercive taxation.

U.S. District Judge Sharon Johnson Coleman ruled on October 15 that all Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents operating in Chicago must activate body-worn cameras during raids and arrests, mandating footage storage for at least two years to document interactions amid allegations of rights violations in the city’s sanctuary policies. This order responds to a surge in deportations under Operation Aurora, following incidents where agents allegedly used excessive force on protesters and misidentified citizens during sweeps in Hispanic neighborhoods. The mandate could extend nationwide if appealed successfully, costing ICE $15 million annually in equipment and training, while immigrant rights groups hail it as a safeguard in a metropolis home to 500,000 undocumented residents facing heightened fears. Body cameras increasingly appear to be standard-issue safeguards to ensure policing is legitimate, so this on the whole seems to be a positive use of judicial power to ensure the rule of law stays intact.

The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT), in partnership with the City of Detroit and Ford’s Michigan Central redevelopment, unveiled plans for a $1.5 billion multimodal hub at the historic Michigan Central Station, set to integrate Amtrak intercity rail, local buses, Detroit People Mover, and future high-speed lines by 2028. Funded by $800 million in federal Infrastructure Act grants and $700 million in private investments, the hub aims to handle 5 million passengers yearly, revitalizing the Corktown district and creating 2,500 jobs in a city where public transit ridership plummeted 40% post-COVID. The project includes restoring the 1913 Beaux-Arts station, which has been unused since 1988, and adding bike shares and EV charging. The infrastructure will help address Detroit’s connectivity gaps that isolate the 25% of residents without cars and will hopefully boost economic ties to Windsor and Chicago. We have routinely argued that trains are necessary for the future of America to be bright, so it is good to see public money be put to good use.

Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS) implemented a policy in the 2025-2026 curriculum barring white and Asian students from enrolling in specialized electives like “Black Culture” and “Black Queens,” reserving them exclusively for Black students to foster “racially affirming spaces” amid efforts to close achievement gaps in a district where Black students comprise 35% of enrollment but face 20% higher suspension rates. The decision, outlined in district equity guidelines updated after George Floyd’s 2020 killing, affects 12 high schools offering Afrocentric courses covering history, literature, and empowerment, prompting a Title VI complaint to the Department of Education for alleged discrimination. Critics argue it promotes segregation in a system already losing 5,000 students yearly (15% decline since 2020), while supporters cite similar affinity programs for other groups and data showing improved attendance for participants by 10%. We are of the opinion that this policy is insane and will continue to suggest public institutions cannot account for race in this manner no matter how well-intended; the government cannot engage in racial discrimination, be it positive or negative.

The City of Indianapolis and AES Indiana recently reached a mediated settlement which will reduce a proposed 18% electricity rate increase to just 9% over three years, averting hikes that would have added $25 monthly to average bills for 500,000 customers amid rising infrastructure costs from storms and grid modernization. Approved by the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC), the deal includes $150 million in consumer refunds, credits for low-income households, and deferred recovery of $300 million in storm damages from 2023 events that left 200,000 without power. This resolution ends a contentious year-long battle initiated by Mayor Joe Hogsett’s administration, ensuring rate stability while allowing AES to invest $1 billion in renewable transitions. In an era of volatile energy prices up 30% nationally since 2022, it is good to see local governments intervening where they can to help residents not have to choose between paying energy bills, grocery bills, or being able to afford housing.