The Trump administration has directed federal officials to conduct a sweeping review of refugees admitted to the United States during President Joe Biden’s tenure, according to an internal government memo obtained by Reuters. The directive would cover an estimated 200, 000 people who entered the country between Jan. 20, 2021, and Feb. 20, 2025, the memo said. It was signed by Joe Edlow, the director of U. S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. USCIS did not immediately comment on the order. This is a breaking news story. Updates to follow.
https://www.newsweek.com/trump-administration-orders-review-biden-era-refugees-11102147
Tag: joe biden
Biden calls these ‘dark days’ as he urges Americans to ‘get back up’
Former President Joe Biden called these “dark days” as he urged Americans to stay optimistic and not to check out in response to what he describes as attacks on free speech and tests on the limits of executive power by President Donald Trump.
“Since its founding, America served as a beacon for the most powerful idea ever in government in the history of the world,” Biden said. “The idea is stronger than any army. We’re more powerful than a dictator.”
Biden, 82, speaking publicly for the first time since completing a round of radiation therapy for an aggressive form of prostate cancer, addressed an audience in Boston on Sunday night after receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Edward M. Kennedy Institute.
He emphasized that America depends on a presidency with limited power, a functioning Congress, and an autonomous judiciary. With the federal government facing its second-longest shutdown on record, Trump has used the funding lapse as a way to exercise new command over the government.
“Friends, I can’t sugarcoat any of this. These are dark days,” Biden said before predicting the country would “find our true compass again” and “emerge as we always have — stronger, wiser, more resilient, more just — so long as we keep the faith.”
Biden highlighted examples of people standing their ground against threats from the current administration, citing federal employees who resign in protest, as well as universities and comedians targeted by Trump.
“The late night hosts continue to shine a light on free speech knowing their careers are on the line,” he said.
Biden also praised elected Republican officials who vote or openly go against the Trump administration.
“America is not a fairy tale,” he said. “For 250 years, it’s been a constant push and pull, an existential struggle between peril and possibility.”
He concluded his speech by urging people to “get back up.”
The Democrat left office in January after serving one term in the White House. Biden dropped his bid for reelection amid pressure following a disastrous debate against Trump and growing concerns about his age, health, and mental fitness.
Vice President Kamala Harris launched her bid immediately afterward but lost to Trump last November.
In May, Biden’s post-presidential office announced that he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer and that it had spread to his bones.
https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/biden-calls-dark-days-urges-americans-back-126890068
Nearly half of U.S. adults aren’t confident they could find a good job, while electricity and grocery costs are major sources of stress, poll says
High prices for groceries, housing, and health care continue to be a major concern for many American households. Rising electricity bills and the cost of gas at the pump are also sources of anxiety, according to a recent survey.
Some 47% of U.S. adults are “not very” or “not at all confident” they could find a good job if they wanted to—a significant increase from 37% when the question was last asked in October 2023. Electricity bills are a “major” source of stress for 36% of U.S. adults, especially at a time when the expected build-out of data centers for artificial intelligence could put additional strain on the power grid.
More than half of respondents said the cost of groceries is a “major” source of financial stress. About 4 in 10 reported that housing and health care costs are serious strains, and roughly one-third expressed high stress about gasoline prices.
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### Political Implications: Trump’s Economic Challenges
The survey highlights ongoing economic vulnerabilities for former President Donald Trump, who returned to the White House in January promising to quickly tame the inflation surge that occurred during Democratic President Joe Biden’s term. Despite these claims, Trump’s popularity on economic issues remains low amid tariffs, federal worker layoffs, partisan conflicts, and a government shutdown.
Linda Weavil, 76, a retiree from Greensboro, North Carolina, voted for Trump last year because he “seems like a smart businessman.” However, she expressed concerns about his tariffs, citing increased prices for items like chocolate-covered pecans sold at her church group fundraiser. “I think he’s doing a great job on a lot of things, but I’m afraid our coffee and chocolate prices have gone up because of tariffs,” she said. “That’s a kick in the back of the American people.”
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### Approval Ratings and Job Market Outlook
The poll found that 36% of U.S. adults approve of how Trump is handling the economy, a figure that has remained steady this year despite the economic uncertainty caused by tariffs. Among Republicans, 71% feel positive about his economic leadership, though this approval within his own party is relatively low—potentially problematic for upcoming races for governor in New Jersey and Virginia, as well as the 2026 midterm elections.
At a similar point in Biden’s term, an AP-NORC poll conducted in October 2021 found that 41% of U.S. adults approved of how he managed the economy, including about 73% of Democrats. This higher overall approval was largely due to independent voters, with 29% supporting Biden’s economic handling compared with 18% for Trump now.
Hiring was notably stronger during Biden’s presidency as the U.S. recovered from pandemic-related lockdowns. However, job gains have slowed significantly under Trump, averaging less than 27,000 per month after the April tariff announcements. This slowdown is reflected in public confidence: four years ago, 36% of survey respondents were “extremely” or “very” confident in their ability to secure a good job—now, that figure has dropped to 21%.
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### Rising Electricity Costs: An Emerging Concern
Electricity costs have become an increasing worry. Trump’s decision to cancel funding for renewable energy projects and to impose tariffs on equipment necessary for factories and power plants has added to the financial burden. These increased costs come before the anticipated surge in electricity demand from new data centers built for artificial intelligence.
While 36% of Americans see electricity bills as a major concern, 40% identify costs as a “minor” stress, and 23% say their utility bills are “not a source” of stress at all.
Kevin Halsey, 58, from Normal, Illinois, shared his experience: his monthly electricity bill used to be $90 during summer months thanks to solar panels but has since soared to $300. A telecommunications worker and Democratic voter, Halsey describes the economy as “crap” and remains pessimistic. “I don’t see this as getting better,” he said.
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### Public Skepticism Despite Economic Indicators
Both Trump and Biden face a similar economic dilemma. While indicators such as low unemployment, stock market gains, and steady economic growth suggest a solid economy, the public remains skeptical.
Some 68% of U.S. adults describe the economy as “poor,” with only 32% saying it’s “good,” reflecting a consistent sentiment over the past year. Regarding personal finances, 59% say their family finances are “holding steady,” but only 12% feel they are “getting ahead,” while 28% say they are “falling behind.”
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### Economic Strains Across the Board
The widespread sense of economic uncertainty is fueled by multiple factors, signaling that middle-class stability may be increasingly out of reach for many Americans. The vast majority report at least “minor” stress related to groceries, health care, housing, taxes, wages, and gasoline costs.
Nearly half (47%) say they are “not very” or “not at all” confident they could pay an unexpected medical expense, and 52% have low confidence about having enough savings for retirement. Furthermore, 63% lack confidence in their ability to buy a new home.
Confidence in homebuying is especially low among young adults: about 80% of those under age 30 say they are “not very” or “not at all confident” they could purchase a house, compared with roughly 60% of adults aged 60 and older.
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### Personal Stories Reflect Economic Reality
For 54% of U.S. adults, the cost of groceries is a major source of stress. Unique Hopkins, 36, from Youngstown, Ohio, now works two jobs after her teenage daughter had a baby. She describes herself as part of the “working poor,” barely able to get by. Hopkins voted for Trump in 2016 but switched allegiance to the Democrats, feeling that Trump’s ego prevented him from uniting the country and solving problems.
“It’s his way or no way,” she said. “Nobody is going to unite with Trump if it’s all about you, you, you.”
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This survey underlines the deep economic concerns affecting American households today—ranging from job security and rising living costs to skepticism about political leadership—and highlights the challenges ahead for both parties.
https://fortune.com/2025/10/19/us-job-market-trump-economy-approval-tariffs-electricity-grocery-financial-stress/