Is an ‘Affordability Left’ Emerging in the U.S.? Bank of England Fails to Slash Interest Rate, Trump Exempts Hungary from Russian Oil Sanctions, Egypt Holds Parliamentary Elections, and More
Grinfi Political Risk Intelligence Brief
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But first, let’s begin the week with a laugh 😄 to brighten the mood. Remember, a little humor never hurts before diving into the serious stuff.
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“The neglect ……… in existing states is so common, is a never-failing cause of poverty among the citizens; and poverty is the parent of revolution and crime.”
Aristotle. Politics. Translated by Benjamin Jowett. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1885. Book II, 1267a40–1267b1. Accessed via the Internet Classics Archive, MIT. http://classics.mit.edu/Aristotle/politics.2.two.html
Disclaimer: The opinion expressed in this quote does not represent our views but is intended for reflection purposes only.
From Grinfi Political Risk Observatory (GPRO), here’s what we’re monitoring:
High Impact Situational Updates
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Last week, several strategic events reshaped the global risk environment with direct consequences for security, markets, and regulation.
“At Grinfi, we track immediate/direct fragility and systemic contagion (cascading effect), ensuring leaders see risks before they spread.”
In the United States, President Donald Trump has announced that no U.S. officials will attend the G20 Summit in Johannesburg over concerns of South Africa’s human-rights record. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court last week heard arguments in V.O.S. Selections, Inc. v. Trump, challenging the President’s use of emergency powers under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to impose tariffs without congressional approval. Several justices, including conservatives, voiced skepticism over the scope of presidential authority under the statute.
At the same time, Democrats scored decisive victories in key off-cycle U.S. races on November 4, delivering a clear rebuke to Republican candidates and signaling growing momentum ahead of next year’s midterms. However, some Republican leaders continue to dismiss and downplay the results as irrelevant and unrepresentative.
Abigail Spanberger became Virginia’s first female governor, Mikie Sherrill captured New Jersey, and Zohran Mamdani made history as New York City’s first Muslim mayor, securing over one million votes. California’s Proposition 50 redistricting measure passed, expected to yield five additional Democratic House seats ahead of 2026.
Overall, the results showed an unusual widening of Republican vulnerabilities in suburban and independent-leaning districts where basic affordability issues have remained the dominant concern.
Meanwhile, housing affordability has reached crisis levels, with the median age of first-time homebuyers rising to forty (40) in 2025, according to a report published by the National Association of Realtors (NAR), up from
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