Key Takeaways
- President Trump is considering using over $100 billion in tariff revenue collected in the first half of 2025 to fund rebate checks for Americans, a move that could also help reduce the U.S. national debt but risks reigniting inflation.
- U.S. lawmakers are urging the FDA to intensify its crackdown on compounded and counterfeit GLP-1 weight-loss drugs, particularly those imported illegally from China, citing significant patient safety concerns.
- Neuralink, Elon Musk’s brain-implant company, has partnered with U.S. and Spanish researchers on a clinical trial to develop a “Smart Bionic Eye,” aiming for human implants by 2030 and projecting $1 billion in annual revenue by 2031 from this and other projects.
- The commercial real estate market in Downtown Denver shows severe distress, with two office towers totaling nearly 1 million square feet selling for just $3.2 million in April 2025, a dramatic 98% discount from their estimated $200 million value in 2019.
President Trump is exploring the possibility of issuing rebate checks to Americans, funded by the substantial revenue generated from increased tariffs. The U.S. government has collected over $100 billion in tariff revenue in the first half of 2025, with an additional $27 billion projected for July alone. While a "little rebate for people of a certain income level might be very nice," Trump also indicated that paying down the U.S. debt, currently at $37 trillion, is a primary goal. Economists warn that such rebates, similar to previous stimulus efforts, could reignite inflation by increasing consumer spending.
In the healthcare sector, a bipartisan group of over 80 U.S. lawmakers has called on the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to take immediate and decisive action against the proliferation of compounded and counterfeit GLP-1 weight-loss drugs. These unapproved versions of popular medications like Novo Nordisk’s (NVO) Wegovy and Eli Lilly’s (LLY) Zepbound, often smuggled from unregistered foreign suppliers, primarily in China, pose serious risks to patient safety. Lawmakers have urged the FDA to issue warning letters, pursue civil enforcement, and collaborate with Customs and Border Protection to halt these illegal imports. Companies like Hims & Hers Health (HIMS) have continued to market compounded versions of Wegovy at a discount, even after the official shortage of branded products ended.
Meanwhile, Elon Musk’s Neuralink is expanding its ambitious ventures by partnering with researchers from the University of California at Santa Barbara and Spanish institutions on a clinical trial for a “Smart Bionic Eye.” This initiative aims to develop an AI-powered device that could help blind individuals identify faces, navigate outdoor environments, and read. Neuralink plans to include its patients in the trial once available, with a target of implanting the Blindsight vision chip in humans by 2030 and projecting $1 billion in annual revenue from this and other implant projects by 2031.
In international trade, Brazilian pig-iron producers are facing severe disruptions and may halt operations due to escalating U.S. tariff tensions. The Trump administration has threatened to impose a substantial 50% tariff on Brazilian pig iron imports starting August 1, 2025, causing U.S. importers to adopt a "wait-and-see" approach and shrinking demand. Modulax, a major Brazilian producer, has announced plans to indefinitely suspend operations, citing the trade concerns and the difficulty of redirecting sales to other markets. Brazil is currently the largest supplier of pig iron to the U.S., with roughly a third of its exports going to the U.S. in the first half of this year.
Geopolitical developments continue to unfold in Eastern Europe, with Russian forces claiming control of new territory in Eastern Ukraine. Russian media reports indicate the capture of villages such as Zvirove and Novoekonomichne in the eastern Donetsk region. This comes as part of Russia's ongoing campaign to weaken Ukraine's hold on its industrial heartland, with previous captures including Velyka Novosilka in January 2025.
The U.S. commercial real estate market continues to show signs of significant stress, particularly in urban centers. Two adjacent office towers in Downtown Denver, located at 621 and 633 17th Street, were sold in April 2025 for a mere $3.2 million. This represents a staggering 98% decrease from their estimated $200 million value in 2019. The properties, totaling nearly 1 million square feet, were acquired by Los Angeles-based developer Asher Luzzatto, who plans to convert them into over 700 apartment units to address high office vacancy rates—currently at 35% in downtown Denver—and a lack of affordable housing.
Finally, President Trump has intervened in the ongoing border clashes between Thailand and Cambodia, which have persisted for three days. Trump stated he has spoken with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and is preparing to call Thailand's acting Prime Minister to urge an immediate ceasefire. He emphasized that continued fighting could jeopardize ongoing U.S. trade negotiations with both Southeast Asian nations, stating, "We do not want to make any Deal, with either Country, if they are fighting — And I have told them so!"
Regarding the Jeffrey Epstein associates list, President Trump had previously indicated a desire to release information about the case. However, the U.S. Justice Department released a memo on July 7, 2025, stating that an exhaustive review found no evidence of a specific "secret client list" or credible evidence that Epstein blackmailed prominent individuals. A Florida federal judge also denied a request from the Trump administration to unseal Epstein's 2005 and 2007 grand jury proceedings.
Ed Liston is a senior contributing editor at TheStockMarketWatch.com. An active market watcher and investor, Ed guides an independent team of experienced analysts and writes for multiple stock trader publications.