Section
Washington → Wallet
Federal policy, priced per household. No sides, just the arithmetic.
Your raise and your Medicare premium arrive in the same month
A 3.6% COLA on a $1,900 check is about $68. A projected $6.60 Part B increase takes roughly a tenth of it before the deposit lands.
Utilities asked for $9.4 billion in rate hikes in three months
In Q1 2026 alone, utilities requested $9.4 billion in rate increases from state commissions, following $31 billion in requests across 2025.
17 states raise their minimum wage on January 1
Seventeen states adjust their minimum wage for inflation each January. Michigan and Nebraska reach $15.00, Washington leads at $17.13.
Congress let the enhanced credits lapse. The bill was $780 a year
The enhanced ACA premium tax credits expired December 31, 2025. The average net monthly premium rose $65 — about $780 over a full year.
RAP removed the payment cap. High earners feel that first
The Repayment Assistance Plan has no ceiling tied to the 10-year standard plan, so some borrowers pay more than they would have under IBR.