The honeymoon is over. Economic confidence slipped back into negative territory, according to survey data released by Gallup on Monday. Gallup’s Economic Confidence Index dropped to -7, down from +2 in April and back to the level registered in March. Gallup said the recent shifts in confidence “may reflect public reaction to a stronger-than-anticipated jobs report in April, followed by a weaker-than-expected report in May.” It is also likely that confidence has been shaken by rising prices and shortages of some products and materials, including the recent widespread gas shortages. In February of 2020, prior to the pandemic hitting public perceptions, Gallup’s…

Editor's Note:  The co-authors represent a range of attorneys and social scientists who have worked on the intersection of immigration and entrepreneurship, including the former USCIS Director Leon Rodriguez (to whom the 2014 memo was addressed). Co-authors Doug Rand and Lindsay Milliken are researchers at the Federation of American Scientists, focusing on the intersection of immigration policy and artificial intelligence (AI) in advancing the nation’s national security and economic growth. Co-author Kelli Duehning was the former USCIS Western Law Division Chief Counsel and participant in the development of the International Entrepreneur parole rule. And co-authors Berger, Yale-Loehr, Goldman, Serotte and…

A year ago, as the pandemic ravaged country after country and economies shuddered, consumers were the ones panic-buying. Today, on the rebound, it’s companies furiously trying to stock up.  Mattress producers to car manufacturers to aluminum foil makers are buying more material than they need to survive the breakneck speed at which demand for goods is recovering and assuage that primal fear of running out. The frenzy is pushing supply chains to the brink of seizing up. Shortages, transportation bottlenecks and price spikes are nearing the highest levels in recent memory, raising concern that a supercharged global economy will stoke inflation. Copper, iron…

The recent cyberattack targeting the Colonial Pipeline has triggered a comprehensive federal response focused on securing critical energy supply chains. President Biden is receiving regular briefings on the incident and has directed agencies across the Federal Government to bring their resources to bear to help alleviate shortages where they are occurring. The Administration is focused on avoiding potential energy supply disruptions to impacted communities, the U.S. military, and other facilities reliant on gasoline, diesel, jet fuel and other refined petroleum products. The Administration is continually assessing the pipeline shutdown’s impact on the U.S. fuel supply, as well as what additional…

Huawei’s mobile operating system sets up a   battle between   U.S. and Chinese tech firms over what Africans   can hear,   read and say. A battle is unfolding between United States and Chinese tech firms over who will control what millions of  people in Africa can see, hear, read and say.   Today, most African mobile subscribers use Google’s Android operating system on Chinese-brand smartphones — an arrangement that gives consumers access to affordable handsets and the wide world of software, apps and communication tools. But starting soon, according to different leaks, Chinese tech giant Huawei could change Africa’s mobile ecosystem with the release of its…