State of The Nation

  Trump's Executive Order on Proof of Citizenship for Voting Sparks Legal Battles President Donald Trump signed an executive order last week requiring proof of citizenship for voter registration in federal elections, a move that has triggered immediate legal challenges while revealing a complex landscape of public opinion on voter identification requirements. The Executive Order's Provisions The order, titled "Preserving and Protecting the Integrity of American Elections," directs the Election Assistance Commission to update the federal voter registration form to require documentary proof of U.S. citizenship, such as a passport or certain driver's licenses, for those registering to vote in federal elections . The order also aims to prevent states from counting mail-in ballots received after Election Day, even if postmarked by that date, and threatens to withhold federal funding from states that don't comply with these directives. Currently, federal l...

Social Security's New ID Verification Requirements: What Beneficiaries Need to Know EFFECTIVE DATE: APRIL 14, 2025 The Social Security Administration (SSA) is implementing new identity verification procedures starting April 14, 2025. These changes aim to enhance security and prevent fraud related to Social Security benefits and direct deposit information. Here's what you need to know: Who is affected? You will need to verify your identity in person if: You are applying for Retirement, Survivors, or Auxiliary (Spouse or Child) benefits and cannot verify your identity online You want to change your direct deposit information and cannot do so online You are exempt from in-person verification if: You are applying for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) You are applying for Medicare You are applying for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) You have an extreme dire-need situation (terminal cases or prisoner pre-release scenarios) What current beneficiaries need to know:...

  USNS Jogn Lewis launches from NASSCO, San Diego, California San Diego NASSCO Shipyard Faces Challenges with Lewis-Class Oiler Construction SAN DIEGO — General Dynamics NASSCO, a major shipbuilding facility in San Diego, is experiencing significant cost overruns and schedule delays in the construction of the new Lewis-class fleet oilers for the U.S. Navy, according to industry sources. The John Lewis-class ships construction program, initially valued at roughly $4 billion for six vessels, has encountered budget overruns of at least $85.2 million and schedule delays of 12 to 15 months, as reported by the Congressional Research Service. These ships are critical to the Navy's operational capabilities, designed to transfer fuel and supplies to vessels at sea. The lead ship, USNS John Lewis, experienced cost increases to $759.4 million, representing an overrun of $85.2 million from initial estimates. Despite these challenges, the Navy officially took delivery of the USNS John Lewis...

A recent Entrance to Paradise An alternative vision generated by DALL-E U.S. Court Rules AI Cannot Be Copyright Author, Affirming Human Authorship Requirement In a landmark ruling issued on March 18, 2025, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit has affirmed that artificial intelligence systems cannot be recognized as authors under U.S. copyright law. The court's decision in Stephen Thaler v. Shira Perlmutter et al. upholds the Copyright Office's denial of registration for artwork allegedly created autonomously by an AI system. The case centered on Dr. Stephen Thaler, a computer scientist who attempted to register a copyright for an artwork titled "A Recent Entrance to Paradise," which he claimed was created autonomously by his AI system called the "Creativity Machine." In his application, Thaler listed the AI as the author and himself as the copyright claimant. The three-judge panel, led by Circuit Judge Patricia Millett, ruled that the Copyright...

Total Socaial Security Payments to Persons Take off - U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Personal current transfer receipts: Government social benefits to persons: Social security [W823RC1Q027SBEA], retrieved from FRED, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis; https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/W823RC1Q027SBEA , March 9, 2025 Social Security COLA Forecast for 2026 Shows Modest Increase as Inflation Concerns Persist In a development closely watched by the nation's 52 million retired workers, early forecasts suggest Social Security recipients will see a 2.3% Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) in 2026, according to estimates from The Senior Citizens League (TSCL). This would mark the fifth consecutive year of above-average increases, following the 2.5% adjustment for 2025. For the average retired worker currently receiving $1,978.77 monthly, this translates to an approximately $45.51 monthly ...