Will USD/JPY hold support after Federal Reserve holds US interest rates steady?

• The International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance released a report stating that the decline of democratic norms and checks in the United States is negatively impacting global stability. • Kevin Casas-Zamora of the institute noted that whatever happens in the U.S. has global ramifications for international rules and alliances.

• X22 Report Episode 3993 discussed claims that Scott Bessent and Kevin Warsh are aligned on upcoming economic and financial policies. • The episode detailed a proposed strategic roadmap involving the U.S. Postal Service.

• Republicans and Democrats largely agree that the relationship between the Trump administration and the U.S. news media is currently poor. • This consensus reflects a broader tension between elected officials and journalists that exists despite the Constitution's vision of a free press.

• JD Vance, a Yale alumnus and current U.S. Senator, was selected as Donald Trump's running mate for the 2024 election. • Vance is now considered the favorite to become the Republican Party's presidential nominee in 2028.

• A new global democracy report found that the United States has reached its lowest level of democratic performance in the 50 years the metric has been measured. • The report notes that the U.S. previously served as a bastion of democratic governance through strong judicial independence and the rule of law.

• The Atlantic Council released its latest Atlas report analyzing the relationship between political freedom and economic prosperity across ten countries. • The report utilizes a thirty-year dataset covering political, economic, and legal developments to evaluate global trends.

• Democracy indicators in the United States have dropped to their lowest levels in 50 years according to a report from the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance. • The Stockholm-based thinktank found that judicial independence, press freedom, and credible elections are at their lowest levels globally in at least 30 years.

• Former President Donald Trump criticized the Supreme Court after the justices rejected his legal effort to restrict the use of mail-in ballots. • The court's decision maintains current voting procedures by denying the request to limit how ballots are cast and submitted by mail.

• A report from the Pew-Knight Initiative found that many U.S. adults believe the government, news organizations, and social media companies intentionally block news from the public. • The study specifically examined how Americans view freedom of the press and the First Amendment concept of freedom of speech.

• FBI Director Kash Patel defended the bureau's decision to loosen hiring standards for applicants with a history of prostitution and bestiality during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on Tuesday. • Patel stated during the oversight hearing that the agency did not want to punish victims of bestiality.

• A radiology student at Chhatrapati Shahu Ji Maharaj University (CSJMU) took his own life following a dispute with a female friend. • The student's father reported that the female friend called him to make insulting and derogatory remarks about his son.

• A predominantly Muslim region in the southern Philippines held its first elections for a regional parliament to move closer to self-rule. • The vote follows decades of insurgency and violence that resulted in the deaths of approximately 150,000 combatants and civilians since the 1970s.