The White House ordered a pause of all federal grants and loans. That's where we're starting

the seven from the Washington Post. I'm Hannah Jewell. It's Tuesday, January 28th. Let's get you

caught up with today's seven stories.

The White House Office of Management and Budget sent an internal memo to federal agencies yesterday.

It instructed them to temporarily pause all grants and loans that are dispersed by the

federal government.

It also calls for each agency to perform an analysis to ensure its grant

and loan programs are consistent with President Donald Trump's many executive orders.

Those include orders to ban federal diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, among other

measures. The memo said it should not be applied to Social Security or Medicaid,

but trillions of dollars could be on hold. Federal grants go to universities for education

and research programs, to nonprofits for health care and studies, and to thousands of other purposes.

The order goes into effect today,

but it has sparked confusion across Washington

about how to enact it,

and it may face legal challenges.

President Trump has threatened country after country with U.S. economic weapons. That's number two.

Trump has been in office for just over a week, but already he is threatened to impose major economic

penalties on at least a half dozen countries. They include Mexico, Canada, Russia, Denmark, and

Colombia. The threats reflect his view that the U.S. is being routinely ripped off by other

countries. But the demands put him on track for simultaneous confrontations around the globe.

It could impact your wallet wallet too. Trump has threatened

...