Archived post from legacy Decis reporting
Good morning. Before we cover Monday’s frenetic Day One for the incoming Trump administration, some stark images and statistics illustrate the immense challenge that still lies ahead for the Palestinians.
🇵🇸 There are estimates that 92% of housing in Gaza has been destroyed. So, while the current ceasefire allows families to move back into cleared areas, very few have homes to go to. [More - BBC]
Image Mahmoud Isleem/Anadolu via AlJazeera
Moreover, the infrastructure is similarly damaged with water, sewage treatment, power and medical facilities capable of supporting only a fraction of the enclave’s population.
Via ALJazeera
Even if the ceasefire becomes permanent, a decades-long rebuilding effort lies ahead.
🇺🇸 Monday was a flurry of activity for the incoming Trump administration, starting with the President’s inaugural speech. Trump painted a dark picture of America in decline and attacked the previous administration while repeating many campaign promises with respect to trade and the border. He also addressed several less prominent themes: reinstating previously discharged service members who had refused the COVID vaccine, announcing that the US government would only recognize two genders, and ordering Denali be renamed Mt McKinley.
✍️ The real work started Monday evening when Trump began signing executive orders on stage at the indoor celebration and later in the Oval Office. As per the White House website , 41 executive orders were issued.
Guaranteeing The States Protection Against Invasion
Restoring Names That Honor American Greatness
Designating Cartels And Other Organizations As Foreign Terrorist Organizations And Specially Designated Global Terrorists
Reforming The Federal Hiring Process And Restoring Merit To Government Service
Ending Radical And Wasteful Government DEI Programs And Preferencing
Defending Women From Gender Ideology Extremism And Restoring Biological Truth To The Federal Government
Establishing And Implementing The President’s “Department Of Government Efficiency”
America First Policy Directive To The Secretary Of State
Protecting The United States From Foreign Terrorists And Other National Security And Public Safety Threats
Unleashing Alaska’s Extraordinary Resource Potential
Protecting The American People Against Invasion
The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Global Tax Deal (Global Tax Deal)
Organization of the National Security Council and Subcommittees
Reevaluating And Realigning United States Foreign Aid
Temporary Withdrawal of All Areas on the Outer Continental Shelf from Offshore Wind Leasing and Review of the Federal Government’s Leasing and Permitting Practices for Wind Projects
Declaring a National Energy Emergency
Restoring Accountability for Career Senior Executives
Promoting Beautiful Federal Civic Architecture
Restoring The Death Penalty And Protecting Public Safety
Putting People Over Fish: Stopping Radical Environmentalism to Provide Water to Southern California
Securing Our BordersProtecting The Meaning And Value Of American Citizenship
Realigning the United States Refugee Admissions Program
Unleashing American Energy
Clarifying The Military’s Role In Protecting The Territorial Integrity Of The United States
America First Trade Policy
Memorandum to Resolve the Backlog of Security Clearances for Executive Office of the President Personnel
Declaring A National Emergency At The Southern Border Of The United States
Holding Former Government Officials Accountable For Election Interference And Improper Disclosure Of Sensitive Governmental Information
Restoring Accountability To Policy-Influencing Positions Within the Federal Workforce
Withdrawing The United States From The World Health Organization
Application Of Protecting Americans From Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act To TikTok
Granting Pardons And Commutation Of Sentences For Certain Offenses Relating To The Events At Or Near The United States Capitol On January 6, 2021
Putting America First In International Environmental Agreements
Delivering Emergency Price Relief for American Families and Defeating the Cost-of-Living Crisis
Hiring Freeze
Regulatory Freeze Pending Review
Return to In-Person Work
Ending The Weaponization Of The Federal Government
Restoring Freedom Of Speech And Ending Federal Censorship
Initial Rescissions Of Harmful Executive Orders And Actions
There are hundreds of pages in these Orders, which will take days to understand properly, but the effects of some were immediate. The CBP One App, used by asylum seekers to book immigration appointments, was closed at noon on Monday and all existing appointments booked through the app were canceled. [More - CBS News]
Notably, there was no formal declaration of tariffs, but the President mentioned trade restrictions several times, and his commercial team is still awaiting confirmation, so the delay seems more administrative than a signal that there has been a change of heart.
On to the numbers.
Key Metrics
WTI is $79.57 (Down)
Low |-------------- < -----| High
Wheat is $185.735 (Down)
Low |------ < -------------| High
EuroDollar is $1.04 (Down)
Low |---- < ---------------| High
YuanDollar is $0.14 (Unchanged)
Low |---------- < > ---------| High
Graphs are illustrative to show comparative price over last 180 days
Metrics via AlphaVantage updated Jan 20 2025 21:16 UTC
Americas Stability Ratings and News Summary
More Unstable
🇦🇷 Argentina, 🇧🇿 Belize, 🇧🇴 Bolivia, 🇧🇷 Brazil, 🇨🇦 Canada, 🇨🇴 Colombia, 🇩🇲 Dominica, 🇩🇴 Dominican Republic, 🇪🇨 Ecuador, 🇸🇻 El Salvador, 🇬🇹 Guatemala, 🇬🇾 Guyana, 🇭🇹 Haiti, 🇭🇳 Honduras, 🇯🇲 Jamaica, 🇲🇽 Mexico, 🇳🇮 Nicaragua, 🇵🇦 Panama, 🇵🇾 Paraguay, 🇵🇪 Peru, 🇱🇨 Saint Lucia, 🇸🇷 Suriname, 🇹🇹 Trinidad and Tobago, 🇺🇸 United States Of America, 🇻🇪 Venezuela
More Stable
No countries were more stable over this period
Unchanged
🇦🇬 Antigua and Barbuda, 🇧🇧 Barbados, 🇨🇱 Chile, 🇨🇷 Costa Rica, 🇨🇺 Cuba, 🇬🇩 Grenada, 🇰🇳 Saint Kitts and Nevis, 🇻🇨 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, 🇧🇸 The Bahamas, 🇺🇾 Uruguay
Regional News Summary
Brazil's economy is on a promising growth trajectory, with projections indicating continued expansion into 2025. The country has recently ascended to the eighth position in global vehicle production, surpassing Spain, and iron ore exports have rebounded to pre-Brumadinho levels, signaling a recovery in the mining sector. Additionally, Brazil's exports have reached record highs, particularly in the U.S. market, reflecting a robust trade performance amid looming tariff threats from the Trump administration [SOURCE - The Rio Times].
However, challenges persist. Residential rents have risen by 13.5% in 2024, marking the lowest increase in recent years, while interest rates have surged following the largest bond auction in 18 months, potentially impacting economic stability [SOURCE - The Rio Times].
In the energy sector, Brazil is exploring cost-cutting measures by importing energy from Venezuela, while its clean energy sector has shown positive growth [SOURCE - The Rio Times]. Nevertheless, concerns about the impact of U.S. tariffs on Brazil's energy sector remain a topic of discussion [SOURCE - Live Mint].
Infrastructure development is also a focus, with DP World accelerating expansion plans for the Santos Container Terminal, a critical project for enhancing Brazil's logistics capabilities [SOURCE - The Rio Times]. Furthermore, the government has announced plans to overhaul the tax system, which could positively impact businesses and the economy [SOURCE - The Rio Times].
In agriculture, Brazil's soybean sector is witnessing a shift as Chinese buyers turn to cheaper Brazilian soybeans ahead of Trump's return, contributing to record-high exports to the U.S. [SOURCE - Investing.com].
Meanwhile, Mexico is experiencing significant economic developments as Amazon announced a $5 billion investment to build a data center, bolstering the country's digital economy [SOURCE - IBTimes]. In retail, Chedraui plans to open 144 new stores in 2025, indicating a positive trend in the sector [SOURCE - The Yucatan Times].
However, the rise in U.S. tariffs has prompted American companies to shift supply chains to Mexico, potentially impacting migration patterns as some migrants self-deport in response to changing economic conditions [SOURCE - Investing.com]. The designation of Mexican cartels as terrorist organizations has heightened tensions, raising fears of deportations affecting thousands of Yucatecans [SOURCE - The Yucatan Times].
In the U.S., the Biden administration has lifted Cuba's designation as a state sponsor of terrorism, a significant diplomatic shift aimed at improving relations. This move is expected to facilitate the release of political prisoners in Cuba, marking a potential thaw in U.S.-Cuban relations [SOURCE - PBS NewsHour]. Critics, however, caution that this policy may be reversed under a future Trump administration [SOURCE - The Conversation].
As the geopolitical landscape shifts, the U.S. faces challenges from China's military advancements, raising concerns about preparedness in the face of growing threats [SOURCE - National Interest]. In response, U.S. officials are considering actions against China's targeting of key sectors, reflecting ongoing tensions in international relations [SOURCE - RTT News].
Carpe tomorrow!
