WHAT TO KNOW

* The White House budget office said today that mass firings of federal workers have started as the government shutdown continues. * Russ Vought, the director of the Office of Management and Budget, said on X that the “RIFs have begun,” referring to reduction-in-force plans aimed at reducing the size of the federal government. * Trump today threatened a “massive” increase in tariffs on Chinese products, rocking markets and adding a fresh dose of uncertainty into trade relations between the world’s largest economies. * Trump is planning to depart Sunday on a trip to Egypt for the formal signing of the ceasefire deal he helped broker between Israel and Hamas. The president said he would “probably be there” when the remaining hostages in Gaza are released on Monday or Tuesday

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