Economist Justin Wolfers, channeling Natasha Sarin and Jason Furman, stated between 11:05 PM UTC and 12:05 AM UTC on October 13th, 2025, that the U.S. economy is effectively two separate economies, with an AI boom masking a flatlining non-AI sector on the cusp of recession. During this same one-hour period, X user @MAGACult2 claimed that Fourth Amendment rights are being violated, though specific details were not provided. These developments occurred as President Donald Trump continued his visit to the Middle East for a Gaza ceasefire summit. Previous reports from October 12th highlighted Senator Lindsey Graham's comments that Iran is the common thread between Hamas and Hezbollah, warning that Hezbollah will attempt to disrupt Middle East normalization. Earlier reports also detailed Trump's departure from Washington for the summit, his expected arrival in Israel, and his comments regarding potential roles for Tony Blair and Benjamin Netanyahu. The "Doomsday Plane" was also noted to be escorting Air Force One. Further context from previous reporting indicates that Lydia DePillis in The New York Times, shared by Ben Casselman, reported surging unemployment for Black workers, with federal government layoffs expected to exacerbate the issue. Previous reports from earlier on October 12th, 2025, also touched upon discussions surrounding China's trade practices and domestic policy issues, including the Insurrection Act.
