Global Scans · USA · Weekly Summary

WHAT'S NEXT?: Donald Trump's surprise win in the Presidential election mean the world and America can expect prolonged uncertainty as new domestic policies are put in place, different international relationships formed and attitudes change towards current friends and rivals.

• [New] The more the U.S. gives up its leadership role in the climate space, the more other countries will fill that vacuum. Rolling Stone
• [New] Already, US President Trump has called for annual US defence spending to increase by 50% by 2027 to $1.5 trillion. Defense Industry: What 2025 Might Signal for 2026 | Van
• [New] The United States announced its Golden Dome layered and space-based shield, guarding against hypersonic and ballistic threats. Defense Industry: What 2025 Might Signal for 2026 | Van
• [New] The US Navy plans to spend US$ 7 billion on unmanned systems, including $3.7 billion earmarked for surface forces, as it seeks to exploit drones' range, endurance and lower costs for missions such as intelligence, surveillance, logistics and targeting. Asia Times
• [New] The US Navy's inventory of small USVs has surged from just four units in early 2025 to nearly 400 by the end of the year, with numbers expected to approach 500 by FY2026, alongside about 11 medium USVs. Asia Times
• [New] Given that US data center power demand is projected to grow by 50 gigawatts by 2028, companies are already signing 20-year power purchase agreements with small modular reactor (SMR) developers. FinancialContent
• [New] In 2023, AD/ADRD accounted for $345 billion in healthcare costs in the U.S. - the highest of any disease, and healthcare costs for AD/ADRD are projected to rise to $1 trillion by 2050. Texas Alzheimer's Research and Care Consortium
• [New] The U.S. Department of Energy plans to provide $2.91 billion to boost production of the advanced batteries, including electric vehicles and energy storage. Gray
• [New] Trucking Industry faces a projected 160,000-driver shortage by 2026 according to the American Trucking Associations, disrupting $800 billion in annual freight movement across North America. HotBot
• [New] The entire US banking industry will adopt crypto payments. Bitget
• [New] The AI data center construction boom continues unabated, with the demand for power in the United States potentially reaching 106 gigawatts by 2035. IEEE Spectrum
• [New] By 2027, U.S. crypto and AI use could use up to 2% of global electricity and contribute 1% of total pollution. The Cool Down
• [New] China's military modernization poses a direct and growing threat to U.S. security. National Guard Association of the United States
• By 2030, the U.S. may need roughly 240 TWh more electricity for its data centers than it does now (and China may need about 175 TWh more). Yahoo Finance Singapore
• U.S. consumer price inflation would stay above the Federal Reserve's 2% target until the end of 2027 in part because of heavy corporate investment in AI. Yahoo Finance
• AI could ultimately displace around 6-7% of the U.S. workforce. Nucamp Bootcamp
• Up to 30% of current hours worked in the U.S. economy could be automated by 2030, and in a recent survey, 32% of organizations said they expect AI-related workforce reductions within a year. Nucamp Bootcamp
• The US will run Venezuela and take its oil. The Anti-Empire Project
• Improving the interchangeability of biosimilars could enhance biosimilar uptake in the US, although additional steps are needed to unlock further savings for patients and the health care system. AJMC
• For biosimilars, regulators in the US and internationally have not found evidence that switching between versions poses risks in terms of safety or effectiveness. AJMC
• 2026 will see record-breaking spending on US political advertising, in a contentious Midterm election uncomplicated by frivolous regulations on dark money. Media War & Peace
• By summer, streaming will push over 50% of all television viewing for the first time, FAST will have put Netflix in its rearview, and YouTube will surpass all of US Broadcast, combined. Media War & Peace

Last updated: 21 January 2026