Core Insights - The White House economic advisor, Hassett, plans to present recommendations on housing issues to President Trump in the coming weeks or months [1] - Due to the government shutdown, only employment data will be released in the next month, with no unemployment rate data provided [1] - Hassett predicts that the U.S. GDP growth rate for the fourth quarter will decline by 1.5 percentage points because of the government shutdown [1] - Hassett sees no reason not to lower interest rates [1]

Core Points - The recent Dutch parliamentary elections resulted in the unexpected rise of the Six Six Party, which became the largest party, with Rob Jetten as a leading candidate for Prime Minister [2][3] - Jetten's party gained significant seats compared to the previous election, increasing from 9 to an expected 27 seats, while traditional parties faced setbacks [3][4] - The political landscape in the Netherlands has shifted, with voters expressing fatigue over political polarization and seeking solutions to pressing issues like housing and immigration [5][6] Election Results - The Six Six Party, led by Jetten, is projected to win 27 seats, narrowly ahead of the Freedom Party with 25 seats, and the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy with 23 seats [2][3] - The total votes for the Six Six Party were approximately 1.77 million, while the Freedom Party received around 1.75 million votes [2] Political Context - The previous coalition government, which included the Freedom Party, collapsed due to disagreements over immigration policies, leading to the early elections [4][5] - Jetten's rise is attributed to a combination of factors, including public dissatisfaction with extreme political views and a focus on more moderate, centrist policies [6][7] Jetten's Leadership - Rob Jetten, at 38, represents a new generation of centrist leadership, combining elements from both left and right policies [6][8] - His campaign effectively addressed key voter concerns, particularly housing shortages, proposing the construction of new cities and significant government investment in housing [6][9] Coalition Formation Challenges - Forming a stable coalition will be a significant challenge, as it is anticipated that at least four parties will need to collaborate, with Jetten reaching out to potential allies [10] - The Freedom Party is likely to be excluded from the new coalition, as other parties have expressed unwillingness to partner with them [10]

Election Overview - The parliamentary election in Portugal on the 18th resulted in the center-right Social Democratic Party winning the most seats but failing to secure an absolute majority of 116 seats, making it unable to form a government alone [1] - The far-right "Enough" party achieved a record high vote share, becoming the biggest winner of the election [1] - The election was the third early parliamentary election in Portugal within less than four years, raising questions about the political stability and future governance [1] Rise of the Far-Right Party - The "Enough" party capitalized on widespread voter dissatisfaction regarding issues such as housing shortages, strained public healthcare resources, and frequent corruption scandals [2] - The traditional left-wing Socialist Party, which has been in power since 2015, saw a decline in support due to multiple corruption scandals and a lack of improvement in the living conditions of the populace, leading to a political crisis in 2024 [2] - The rise of the "Enough" party reflects a broader trend of far-right parties gaining traction across Europe, breaking Portugal's previous status as an exception [2] Future Political Landscape - Portugal operates under a parliamentary system with a unicameral legislature consisting of 230 members serving four-year terms [3] - The current political situation remains uncertain, particularly regarding whether President de Sousa will invite Prime Minister Montenegro to form a government [3] - Montenegro has ruled out forming a coalition with the "Enough" party, citing concerns over its reliability and stability, which poses significant governance challenges for any new government [3]

Core Points - The Democratic Union, led by current Prime Minister Montenegro, won the most seats in the Portuguese parliamentary elections but did not achieve the absolute majority required to form a government [1] - The Democratic Union received 32.1% of the votes, translating to 86 seats, while the Socialist Party garnered 23.38% of the votes for 58 seats, and the far-right "Enough" party also received 22.56% of the votes for 58 seats [1] - Key issues during the election included immigration policy, the cost of living crisis, and housing problems, with increasing voter concerns about political stability and economic welfare [1]