DATA POINTS
- 1 in 5: The number of job postings last quarter that were fake “ghost jobs”
- 5%: The percentage of its workforce Meta is set to cut this year
- Jan. 19: The day the U.S. ban on TikTok takes effect – unless other action is taken
- 19.3%: The average tip at a full-service restaurant; the lowest in six years
- 40,000: The number of acres currently lost to the L.A. area wildfires
- 2.2 M: The number of jobs the U.S. economy added in 2024
Trump’s Plan for Energy Dominance
In true “yuge” and “bigly” fashion, President Trump is preparing to unleash a number of executive orders that will affect energy when he returns to the Oval Office next week. His goal? Reignite America’s energy dominance and gas up the nation’s economy, which—you guessed it—includes dusting off the plans for the Keystone pipeline that the Biden administration had previously halted.
A key piece of this plan involves pulling the plug on Biden’s electric vehicle mandates, which were rolled out through his Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Trump’s pick for EPA Administrator, former Congressman Lee Zeldin, is expected to hit the brakes on those Biden-era regulations. Trump is also expected to undo Biden’s ban on drilling offshore and on federal land. The 47th president has big plans for natural gas, which is increasingly considered to be a bridge in the energy transition.
As far as renewable energy is concerned, it might be too soon to tell what a Trump administration will hold. On Wednesday, Chris Wright, Trump’s cabinet pick for Secretary of Energy, discussed his positions before the Senate Committee as part of his confirmation process. An oil and gas executive, Wright is expected to lead the charge on reigniting fracking in the homeland. But contrary to his soon-to-be new boss, Wright acknowledged the reality of climate change and noted that solar and geothermal energy are necessary ingredients for America’s energy future. In recent weeks, Trump has not minced his opinions on wind energy, saying that he doesn’t want more wind turbines constructed on federal lands during his administration.
Read more at Wall Street Journal
The Age of Matrimony
In 1950, 22 was the average age that an American would get married; today, the national average is 29.7. Residents of D.C., New York, and California are waiting even longer, with an average of 31. If you live in Utah, Idaho, or West Virginia, you may be sealing the deal earlier than the rest of the country at 27.
Fewer people are deciding to tie the knot, too. One in three young adults say they will never marry. And those who do may be in for a hefty price tag. Zola’s forecast of 2025 weddings predicts an average cost of a wedding to be $36,000 – unless you’re in Washington D.C. or New York City, where weddings cost $52,000 and $65,000, respectively. Other anticipated trends include vetting photographers and make-up artists on Instagram and TikTok and AI-generated wedding vows.
Congress’ Fuel Source
The all-nighter bill-writer, fully spent correspondent, and the reckoner Senator seem to have a new favorite fuel of choice: Celsius energy drinks. The can-a-caffeine is marketed towards athletes (akin to Red Bull) but asserts that it increases metabolism and assists in weight loss. Further yet, it has taken Capitol Hill by storm. It was originally marketed for women and fully adopted by the late-night partiers, but its largest fanbase within the halls of the U.S. government was a surprise twist. Congress is full of Type-A go-getters, so it’s no surprise that caffeine is the drug of choice for its lifeblood staffers. The drink is one of the few things that fluidly broaches the partisan divide in Congress these days.
Energy drinks are notorious for the jitters and upset stomachs, but Celsius’ marketing strategy as a healthier alternative to the other sugar-laden, radioactive food dye-filled beverages appears to be reaching its market on Capitol Hill. The jury is still out on whether the emergent and widespread adoration of the energy drink will foster legislation beneficial to the American people. What we do know, however, is that while the rest of the country is using Fahrenheit, Congress is using Celsius.
Read More at The Washington Post
TikTok Goes Bye Bye
The clock struck midnight for TikTok as the Supreme Court upheld President Biden’s law requiring Chinese-based ByteDance to divest its ownership from the app by January 19 or be banned across the United States. Rather than being sold, TikTok took to the courts – and lost. SCOTUS unanimously sided with Biden. Unless Trump intervenes, it will become illegal for the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store to distribute the app to users. Internet service providers in the U.S. will also be required to bar the app from those attempting to use it.
The ban will go into effect one day before inauguration. In December, President Trump asked the Supreme Court to pause the implementation to give his administration time to “pursue a political resolution of the questions at issue in the case.” Although Trump was initially in favor of the ban, he changed his tune last March after meeting with Republican megadonor Jeff Yass, who is heavily invested in both TikTok and owns a stake of Truth Social.
In response, Americans are flocking to RedNote (Xiaohongshu), one of China’s fastest-growing social networks, which poses similar national security concerns as TikTok. Hordes of Americans are logging into the app and posting under the #tiktokrefugee hashtag to introduce themselves to the platform. Those who adore TikTok are peeved that the federal government would ban their beloved app. The content creators who made careers for themselves sharing passions may be subject to starting from scratch. If the transition from TikTok to RedNote is out of spite, how long will it last? And, if given the opportunity, will President Trump work to preserve American access once he returns to the Oval?
Travel Changes in 2025
The year of the REAL ID is finally upon us. After patiently waiting 20 years since Congress passed the post 9/11 REAL ID Act, Americans boarding planes or entering nuclear power plant facilities will now require that special star on their driver’s license. If you’re still lacking that star status, don’t fret. There’s still time. The REAL ID requirements go into effect on May 7. A new rule also allows for a “temporary warning period,” because 20 years may still not be enough time for some travelers to make the change.
This isn’t the only 2025 change that could affect travel plans. Due to over-tourism protests in frequented European cities like Venice, travelers can expect to see a fee for daytrips or for not booking the trip far enough in advance. Additionally, as of January 8, Americans and those without European passports must secure an electronic travel authorization before entering a British airport.
Are you more interested in beaches than baguettes? There are more travel costs for you too. Taking effect in July, a $42-per-person fee will be enacted for cruise passengers headed to Mexico. This immigration fee largely goes to the Mexican army and is a hot-button issue at the border.
Read More at The Washington Post
See you next week!
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