UNITED STATES NATIONAL DEBT EXCEEDS $36,000 BILLION:

The United States' national debt has now surpassed $36 trillion, a staggering figure that's sparking concerns about the country's fiscal health.

This milestone was reached just three months after the previous one, highlighting the rapid growth of the national debt.

To put this into perspective, the national debt has exceeded 200% of the US GDP over the past 15 years, with about two-thirds of it held by the government itself or by US citizens.

This debt growth is driven by factors like government borrowing, which is becoming increasingly routine.

The consequences of this rising debt are far-reaching, including slower economic growth, higher inflation and interest rates, and reduced flexibility in responding to economic crises.

The interest payments alone are expected to cost $13 trillion over the next decade.

As the US approaches the debt ceiling in January 2025, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has urged Congress to act quickly to protect confidence in the country's credit and avoid a financial crisis. The incoming Trump administration and Congress will face significant fiscal challenges, including reinstating the debt ceiling and addressing the growing national debt.