Budgets and Budgeting

• Mamdani Blames Rivals for Leaving New York With a ‘Poisoned’ Budget - Mayor Zohran Mamdani said the only way to close a more than $12 billion budget gap was to raise taxes on the wealthy and corporations.
• Republicans Gave ICE a Slush Fund. Democrats Want to Limit It. - The sweeping domestic policy law that Republicans muscled through Congress last year made ICE the highest-funded federal law enforcement agency in the country, with no strings attached.
• Despite Drastic Financial Steps, Met Opera Turns to Layoffs and Cuts - The largest performing arts organization in the country will lay off workers, cut salaries and reduce its offerings. It may also sell its Chagall murals that are valued at $55 million.
• What to Know About the Criminal Investigation of Fed Chair Jerome Powell - The Justice Department’s probe into whether Jerome H. Powell, the chair of the Federal Reserve, lied about renovations to the central bank’s headquarters has raised alarms.
• Subway and Bus Fare Rises to $3 in New York City on Sunday - Fares will also increase on the Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North Railroad, as will tolls at several of the city’s bridges and tunnels.
• Mayor Mamdani Appoints a Team of Government Veterans - Zohran Mamdani has stocked his administration with seasoned officials, in part to allay concerns about his inexperience and left-wing stances.
• Iran’s Currency Collapse Pushes Protesters to the Streets - High inflation and a currency collapse have squeezed Iranians’ budgets, challenging the country’s leaders.
• ‘A Singularly Turbulent Time’: Deeper Uncertainty in Store for Global Economy - A reordering of the rules of trade, set on top of transformational change in technology, demographics and climate, is remaking jobs, politics and lives.
• The Mayor-Elect of New Orleans Is Already Awash in Challenges - A month before taking office, Helena Moreno is steering the city through a budget crisis and a Border Patrol enforcement operation that has immigrants in hiding.