The U.S. in a Moment of Political Crossroads
Domestic Politics: Trust, Turmoil, and Polarization The United States remains deeply polarized. Trust in both traditional news media and social platforms has continued to erode over the past year, with over half of adults reporting lower confidence in information sources — a trend that feeds into partisan divides and misinformation cycles. This polarization is reflected not only in public discourse but in governance itself. The 2025 federal government shutdown became the longest in U.S. history, with serious economic implications and political fallout. It impacted legislative processes and was linked to shifts in voter sentiment in key state elections. Meanwhile, recent debates in Congress have centered on federal spending priorities, oversight battles, and partisan fights over control of investigative files — such as those in high-profile cases tied to political figures. These national tensions play out against a backdrop of heightened political violence — from...
