President-elect Donald Trump’s plan for reducing the national debt is facing significant uncertainty as budget experts predict little hope of shifting the country’s fiscal trajectory. The $36 trillion debt, which has become increasingly unsustainable due to a sprawling federal government and growing military spending, poses a major challenge to any efforts at spending restraint.
Despite calls for reduced spending, lawmakers are instead pushing forward with plans to expand tax cuts that could add another $4 trillion to the deficit over the decade. This move has raised concerns among fiscal conservatives who fear it will exacerbate the national debt problem.
Meanwhile, American Airlines briefly grounded all U.S. flights earlier this week due to a technology issue, causing potential delays for tens of millions of travelers during the holiday season. Activists were also ousted from Michigan’s student government after running a campaign on a pro-Palestinian platform that made little headway with campus administrators.
Other news includes NASA’s Parker Solar Probe reaching new speeds as it approaches the sun, and Russia sentencing a U.S. citizen to 15 years in prison for espionage. In sports, Olympic snowboarder Sophie Hediger died in an avalanche while training in Switzerland.
As the holiday season gets underway, many Americans are embracing both Christmas and Hanukkah, celebrating “Chrismukkah” with unique traditions and rituals. From decorating trees to baking cookies, families are finding new ways to blend these two festive holidays into one special celebration.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/24/briefing/trump-cuts-american-airlines-michigan-state-chrismukkah.html