From 'The X-Files' to 'Men in Black,' UFOs have long captured the interest of the American populace. But what if these sightings weren't just confined to the sets of Hollywood? Could the skies of the East Coast be hiding a secret of their own?

Beginning in mid-November, witnesses reported clusters of large drones and possible fixed-wing aircrafts flying in several areas around New Jersey, specifically around the Raritan River. From the Jersey Shore all the way up to counties such as Sussex, the sheer scope and quantity of these reports made it seem improbable that they were a mere trick of the eye. Indeed, these sightings ignited a flurry of panic that spread across the nation. In early December, the FBI got involved as tips began to rack up. Entities such as local sheriff’s departments, emergency management offices, and the state police also began work on solving the mystery and mitigating the fear within the state.

However, much to the chagrin of everyone involved, the problem has only spread. Now, many East Coast states such as New York and Pennsylvania have reported seeing the same objects.  These continued sightings have caused many to demand answers about the situation. Even politicians seem to agree with their constituents.

Governor Phil Murphy of New Jersey wrote in a letter to President Joe Biden advising him “to continue to direct the federal agencies involved to work together until they uncover answers as to what is behind the UAS (unmanned aircraft systems) sightings.” Furthermore, Murphy has also voiced his support for a bill that would give the Departments of Homeland Security and Justice more authority in identifying and monitoring drones. Senator Andy Kim, also of New Jersey, stated in a press release on December 13 that he was ‘just as frustrated as everyone else in not getting more information and details,’ and that ‘people deserve answers.’ The previous night, Kim had gone with the Clinton Police to investigate the reports of the drones and posted a video of his findings on X. As the situation has grown worse, with reported sightings now in Queens and the Bronx, Senators Blumenthal (D-CT), Gillibrand (D-NY), Schumer (D-NY), and Booker (D-NJ) have also demanded more action to be taken.

In recent days, rumors of these objects crashing have also begun to sprout up. A report of a crash in Hillsborough, New Jersey prompted a police search, although no drone was found and the claim was discarded. Another report of a crash, this one in Morris County, held a bit more basis, but the aircraft was “a hobby or toy type of drone” and “not a large commercial or military grade drone” according to the Pequannock Police Department. Nonetheless, these claims prove one thing: panic is spreading.

National security official John Kirby claimed that the White House has “no evidence at this time that the reported drone sightings pose a national security or a public safety threat, or have a foreign nexus”, but citizens are growing increasingly concerned and demanding more details. As the federal government grips with their UFO dilemma, it’s hard not to ponder how the situation will play out.

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• Bruce Shipkowski, AP News 

• Eleanor Watson, CBS News 

• Lauren Mascarenhas, et al., CNN 

Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour is more than a musical phenomenon; it is an economic force. Economic growth, consumer behavior, and cultural influence are often analyzed through traditional lenses, but artists—particularly musicians—rarely get the spotlight they deserve as catalysts of financial booms. Swift’s Eras Tour, which, after two eventful years recently concluded in Toronto, provides a compelling case study for the intersection of culture and economics, offering insights into broader economic trends due to its global reach and record-breaking revenue.

The numbers have spoken volumes. According to Pollstar News, the tour has set an all-time record with a gross exceeding one billion dollars. Beyond ticket sales, ancillary spending has created ripples across the economy. A survey by the Federal Reserve’s Beige Book noted that Swift’s performances in Philadelphia boosted hotel bookings to unprecedented levels, generating millions in local revenue. This phenomenon, often referred to as the “Taylor Swift Effect,” is a microcosm of the broader economic trends following major cultural events.

Besides boosting local hospitality revenue, the Era’s tour has transformed the job market and catalyzed immense industry growth. Swift’s tour highlights the employment opportunities generated by large-scale events. From stagehands and sound technicians to marketing teams and security personnel, the logistical machinery behind Swift’s tour is massive. Moreover, cities hosting her concerts experience powerful surges in employment—hotel staff, ride-share drivers, and restaurant workers often see increased demand. 

This job creation is not limited to the tour itself. Merchandise booths, where tour-goers can purchase products from $75 hoodies to $35 tour posters—boost production, providing a boon to the manufacturing and retail sectors. Such localized, short-term employment spikes contribute to broader economic narratives, such as post-pandemic recovery or gig economy trends.

Swift’s global appeal underscores the economic value of cultural exports. Her concerts draw fans from around the world, turning American cities into sought-after international destinations. The cultural clout she wields—a quintessential example of American soft power—has significant economic implications.

This dynamic invites discussions about globalization and cultural diplomacy. How do cultural icons bolster a nation’s economy and global standing? What role do artists play in shaping perceptions of a country? These questions are particularly relevant when analyzing how non-traditional sectors contribute to GDP growth and international relations. 

The Eras Tour offers more than just headline-worthy results; it provides a framework for integrating cultural phenomena into economic discussions. Specific figures illustrate the economic benefits of cultural events. Namely, Swift’s six concerts in Toronto are expected to provide a significant boost to the local economy, as noted by Toronto Star. Moreover, the tour’s impact intersects with topics like urban planning, labor markets, and international tourism, offering a holistic view of how art and culture drive economic growth.

Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour exemplifies the profound economic impact that artists can have. By understanding the financial ripple effects of such cultural phenomena, analysts can present nuanced arguments that capture the multifaceted nature of economic growth. Whether discussing consumer spending or cultural diplomacy, Swift’s record-breaking tour is a timely and relevant example that bridges the gap between art and economics.

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• Andy Gensler, Pollstar News

• Federal Reserve’s Beige Book

Joshua Chong, Toronto Star

It’s ironic that an app named TikTok---capitalizing off of the fleeting nature of time---has mastered the craft of making hours and hours disappear on end. I myself am guilty of checking the app before writing this article…Every scroll is an intermittent reinforcement of dopamine bathed in an unhealthy amount of blue light. As this generation becomes consumed by the round-the-clock notifications and ephemeral short form content, TikTok has come under scrutiny too many times to count for its harmful algorithms. However, in recent years of this digital age of dilemma, TikTok has found its intersection into the world of global politics as well. 

Due to concerns that the Chinese government could gain access to sensitive user data in the United States and given TikTok’s ability to fuel misinformation during contentious time periods in our country, government legislation has begun cracking down on TikTok’s parent company ByteDance. Most notably, President Biden previously signed into law legislation that gives ByteDance one year to sever its ties with TikTok, or a nationwide ban would be imposed. To that end, TikTok’s time is slowly ticking away with this deadline meaning it could be banned as soon as January 19, 2025. However, this still remains up in the air as President-elect Trump enters the office on January 20, 2025 and has notably stated that he would stop a TikTok ban. Despite Trump’s wildcard agenda, significant advances have still been made regarding TikTok’s ban. With all of this talk at the national level about security threats, TikTok has clapped back by referring to the bans as a “political theater” that was attempting to censor Americans. 

On Dec. 6, 2024, TikTok lost its first legal battle against the federal law as a panel of three judges voted unanimously to reject the company’s claims that the law violated the First Amendment. In fact, the government even responded by stating that it was actually acting to protect that very freedom from foreign adversaries. TikTok has since stated that it will take this issue up to the Supreme Court. However, there is still a chance that ByteDance will consider a sale under the terms of the new law, which would buy TikTok a few more months of time in the U.S. Additionally, the push to force a TikTok sale is gaining wide attraction in the U.S. Potential buyers include a group of investors brought together by former Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, large American corporations, a coalition of private equity firms, or even billionaire Frank McCourt. 

To dive deeper into the global context of this issue, the TikTok ban only further reflects the contentious trade relationship between the U.S. and China that has been ongoing for centuries. The dominance of the American tech giants has given the U.S. the upper hand in social media disputes, until TikTok’s elusive appearance. To that end, TikTok has challenged American companies and won, while also pulling tons of dollars away from Meta and Google due to its sheer ubiquity on phones across the U.S. Other critics argue that a ban would actually make foreign companies less likely to do business with the U.S. as a ban would create a “splinternet”---globally connected internet splinters fragmented into regional networks. 

On the local level, more than 30 states and New York City have joined the movement to ban TikTok and many colleges have also blocked it from campus WiFi networks. Many of these states have sued TikTok, accusing the company of intentionally pushing out addictive content to harm the youth but gain profits with little protections put in place. Additionally, states have also cracked down on the issue of beauty filters by citing a study in their lawsuit that states 50% of girls believe they do not look good without editing. Thus, the social harm of TikTok is extremely apparent and it is clear regulations need to be put in place regardless of a ban. 

If TikTok were to be banned, the app would not disappear on every user’s phone. Instead, companies like Apple and Google would be penalized for distributing or updating TikTok in the app store, and this trend would continue until TikTok is no longer an active app. Despite all of the speculation, the legal battle between digital free speech and national security is still a ticking time bomb waiting to explode…

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• Sapna Maheshwari and Amanda Holpuch, New York Times

• Bobby Allyn, NPR

• Liv McMahon, BBC

• Cyrus Moulton, Northeastern University

On October 3, 2024, the United States barely avoided catastrophic economic disaster. After negotiations broke down between the International Longshoremen’s Association, the largest union representing dock workers in the US, and the USMX (US Maritime Alliance) a few days prior, nearly 45,000 dock workers walked out on strike. The strike fully halted half of all US port activity over the few days it lasted. Dire predictions preceded this widely-anticipated strike-- analysts predicted it could cost the US economy anywhere between $2.1 to $7.3 billion for each week it lasted. 

The ILA, which represents over 85,000 East and West Coast dock workers in the US, had been fighting for a 77% pay raise over the next six years to offset rising inflation and a history of low yearly wage increases. They also wanted a total ban on automation at ports, fearful it could nullify the need for thousands of their workers. Eventually, the USMX, the employer’s group that represents some of the wealthiest shipping companies in the business, settled with a 62% pay increase, but no promises of restraining automation. 

Unfortunately, that second part is coming back to haunt the USMX, and the US economy’s outlook for 2025. 

The ILA has been stubborn in its demands for the USMX to disavow automation entirely, promising to have their workers go back on strike by January 15, 2025 if their conditions are not met. This is their biggest concern now that pay has been settled.

The USMX has recently pushed harder than ever for an expansion of artificial intelligence, automated software and cranes, and top-of-the-line technology to streamline dock processing. While the USMX and its associated employers have assured the ILA that “it supports automation [that will] improve safety and efficiency, but only when a human being remains at the helm”, clearly the ILA does not believe them. 

In November, talks officially broke down yet again between the two groups over the role of automated gates, cranes, and container trucks at ports. Dock workers and the ILA have a few major concerns over the integration of automated technology at ports.

First, and most obviously, is the risk of massive job loss. Dock workers are extremely concerned that automation would replace the need to have human bodies operating ports, taking away thousands of jobs from people that depend on ports for their livelihoods. For example, in the current system, dock workers operate cranes to load cargo onto trucks for delivery. Drivers transport the cargo, and personnel track and document its destination.

With automated rail-mounted gantry cranes, transportation, and computer software, people would be completely painted out of the picture. That is of existential concern to dock workers. 

The ILA is also concerned about trade security, for two reasons. One Chinese company, Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industries (ZPMC), manufactures 80% of the cranes used at US ports. A Congressional investigation in September of this year discovered that they secretly placed cellular modems on the cranes they sent to the US and repeatedly requested remote access to their cranes. This already gives China huge leverage over port security, and a further expansion at this time in automation would only increase our dependence on these Chinese cranes, since the US has no alternative supplier for any of this technology.  

Next, automation glitches could prove just as deadly for trade as a worker strike. A software glitch at a South Carolina port in March this year shut down operations across the entire port for over a day. A cyberattack forced DP World Australia, one of the country’s largest port operators, to shut down for three days in November 2023. Prolonged shutdowns because of new technology or hostile cyberattacks could pose a serious threat to the long term reliability of US ports. 

Now that talks have apparently broken down between the USMX and ILA, most analysts predict that the ILA will go on strike in January next year. In anticipation, US ports have seen a significant increase in inbound port volumes, indicating retailers’ efforts to stock up on goods ahead of any strikes. The ILA has repeatedly stated that their sticking point in negotiations has been the use of automation in ports, and it doesn’t appear as though the USMX is willing to bend very far. 

The clock is ticking as both sides grapple with a crucial decision: reach an agreement or plunge the U.S. into another wave of potentially crippling dock worker strikes. One more strike, and the US economy could be out. 

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• Lori Ann LaRocco, NBC

• Tyler Roush, Forbes

• Christal Hayes & Joao da Silva, BBC

• Alejandra Carranza, Supply Chain Dive

• Sam Sabin, Axios

• Glenn Taylor, Yahoo News

• Metro Global