美国在混乱与撕裂中走向治理失序

Group 1: Economic Overview - The U.S. economy experienced moderate growth in 2025, with the S&P 500 index increasing over 17% and the Nasdaq rising more than 21% by late December, primarily driven by investments in artificial intelligence and technology giants like Nvidia, Alphabet, Broadcom, Microsoft, and Apple, which contributed nearly 45% of the index's gains [8] - However, wealth distribution remains highly unequal, with the top 1% owning nearly 50% of stock market value and the top 10% holding over 87%, while the bottom 50% possess just over 1% [8][9] - The wealth of the ten richest billionaires in the U.S. surged by $698 billion in the past year, indicating a record wealth share of 12.6% for the wealthiest 0.1% [8] Group 2: Inflation and Economic Data - The U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose by 2.7% year-on-year in November, down from 3.0% in September and below the market expectation of 3.1%, but the data was significantly distorted due to the federal government shutdown, which left key indicators like housing costs unaccounted for [2] - The CPI report has been criticized for its lack of rigor, with experts advising caution in using this data for policy and investment decisions [2] Group 3: Political Climate and Governance - The political landscape in the U.S. has become increasingly polarized, with intense battles between the Democratic and Republican parties over economic policies and governance priorities, leading to significant legislative gridlock [6] - The recent government shutdown, lasting 43 days, resulted in substantial economic losses and highlighted the dysfunction in governance stemming from deep-seated political divisions [6][7] - The upcoming midterm elections in 2026 are prompting both parties to engage in redistricting battles to secure favorable electoral outcomes, further intensifying political strife [7]