Trump’s Executive Orders Face Legal and Political Hurdles

President Donald Trump has begun his second term by signing a series of executive orders aimed at reshaping immigration policies, increasing domestic energy production, and overhauling the federal government. His most controversial actions include attempting to end birthright citizenship, removing nonbinary gender options from federal documents, and pardoning Jan. 6 defendants. Trump also withdrew the U.S. from the World Health Organization and ordered federal agencies to review trade deficits. However, many of his proposals, such as the creation of an “External Revenue Service” to collect tariffs and the renaming of geographical landmarks, will require congressional approval or face legal challenges. His newly established Department of Government Efficiency, led by Elon Musk, has already been hit with lawsuits. Meanwhile, his plan to impose tariffs on Mexico and Canada is set to take effect on February 1, despite initial pledges to enact them on Day One.

Notes: Legal experts argue birthright citizenship is protected under the 14th Amendment. Section 1 of the Amendment states, “All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside.”

Sources: Politico, X

Zelensky Uncertain About US Involvement in Ukraine, Urges Europe to Remain United

Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called on European leaders to remain united and take greater responsibility for their own security as Donald Trump assumes the U.S. presidency. With concerns over Trump’s skepticism toward global alliances and continued aid to Ukraine, Zelensky stressed the need for Europe to secure an enduring peace with Russia. He questioned whether Trump would listen to European leaders or negotiate with Russia and China without their input. Highlighting Russia’s military strength, Zelensky warned that a weakened Ukraine could leave Europe vulnerable, citing Moscow’s larger weapons production and troop numbers. While he expressed hope that Trump would recognize the strategic importance of countering Russian aggression, he urged European leaders to be vocal in shaping U.S. policy.

Notes: Trump has previously expressed skepticism about NATO.

Source: The New York Times, BBC News (video)

Stargate Project: $500 Billion US AI Infrastructure Initiative

The newly formed Stargate Project plans to invest $500 billion over the next four years to build advanced AI infrastructure for OpenAI in the United States, with $100 billion being deployed immediately. The initiative aims to strengthen American leadership in AI, generate economic growth, and enhance national security. The project is backed by major investors, including SoftBank, OpenAI, Oracle, and MGX, with Masayoshi Son serving as chairman. Key technology partners include Arm, Microsoft, NVIDIA, Oracle, and OpenAI, and the initial buildout has begun in Texas, with additional locations under evaluation. Stargate will deepen collaborations between OpenAI, NVIDIA, Oracle, and Microsoft to develop AI and artificial general intelligence (AGI). The initiative is expected to drive re-industrialization in the U.S., create jobs, and expand AI capabilities for global benefit.

Notes: Elon Musk commented directly on OpenAI’s X post about the project stating, “SoftBank has well under $10B secured. I have that on good authority.” Musk has previously filed several lawsuits against OpenAI, Sam Altman, and others involved accusing, them of breaching founding agreements by turning OpenAI into a for-profit business.

Source: X

Stripe Lays Off 300 Workers, But Plans to Grow Company By 17%

Stripe, the payments technology giant and one of the most valuable startups in the U.S., laid off 300 employees on Monday despite reporting strong business performance. The job cuts, primarily affecting product, engineering, and operations teams, were announced in an internal memo by executive Rob McIntosh, who explained that the company aimed to consolidate roles and locations. Stripe still plans to increase its workforce by 17% to 10,000 employees by the end of the year. The layoffs come after Stripe's turbulent financial period, which included laying off 1,000 employees in 2022 and reducing its valuation. However, the company has recently rebounded, regaining a valuation of $70 billion, though still below its 2021 peak of $95 billion.

Notes: Stripe has yet to file a WARN notice with California’s Employment Development Department, which is typically required for large-scale layoffs in the state.

Source: SFGATE

Netflix Raises Prices Again, Following Industry Trends

Netflix has announced price increases for most of its subscription plans in the U.S. and Canada. The ad-supported tier will now cost $7.99, up from $6.99, marking its first-ever price increase since launching in late 2022. The standard plan rises to $17.99 from $15.49, while the premium plan jumps to $24.99 from $22.99. The cost for adding an extra member to an account will also increase by $1 to $8.99. This move follows similar price hikes across the streaming industry, with Disney+, Hulu, Max (formerly HBO Max), and YouTube TV all increasing prices in recent months. The company has also been enforcing stricter account-sharing policies, pushing some users to either pay extra for shared accounts or switch to its lower-cost, ad-supported plan. Netflix executives emphasized the value of the ad tier, which accounted for 55% of new signups in countries where it is available.

Notes: As multiple streaming services raise prices, many consumers have become frustrated with the growing cost of maintaining multiple subscriptions.

Source: MarketWatch