Here Are 3 Takeaways as Trump's Pick to Lead the Fed Faces a Confirmation Fight
President Trump’s nominee Kevin Warsh appeared before a Senate banking committee, but his confirmation faces a hurdle from Sen. Thom Tillis, who is demanding the Justice Department end its probe into the Fed and Chairman Jerome Powell. Warsh, a former Fed governor known for hawkish views, now argues that AI‑driven productivity gives the central bank room to cut rates, sparking criticism that he may bend to Trump’s pressure for lower borrowing costs. He also signaled a desire to shrink the Fed’s role in the economy and curb its public communications. The outcome will shape the Fed’s independence and monetary‑policy trajectory amid rising inflation concerns.
The Onion Has Agreed to a New Deal to Take over Infowars
The satirical site The Onion has reached a deal to lease the Infowars domain and brand from a Texas state receiver for $81,000 a month, pending judicial approval. The arrangement would strip Alex Jones of his flagship platform and allow The...
How Saudi Arabia's Entertainment Investments Are Playing Out at Home and Abroad
Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund has pledged $24 billion to the proposed Paramount‑Skydance and Warner Bros. Discovery merger, a centerpiece of a wider push to wield soft power, diversify the kingdom’s oil‑dependent economy, and expand domestic entertainment options. The deal follows...
Tired of Waiting for Your EV to Charge Up? One Chinese Company Has a Novel Solution
NIO Power has rolled out a fully automated battery‑swap system that replaces an EV’s depleted pack in just over three minutes. The Chinese automaker now operates roughly 4,000 swap stations, primarily in China, and has logged more than 100 million swaps...
NPR Receives $113 Million in Charitable Gifts
NPR announced two of the largest gifts in its history, totaling $113 million, to fund digital innovation and support its network of public‑radio stations after Congress eliminated all federal funding. Connie Ballmer contributed $80 million earmarked for a technology overhaul, while an anonymous...
Jet Fuel Supplies Are Sharply Affected by the Near-Closure of the Strait of Hormuz
Jet fuel prices have roughly doubled as ship traffic through the Strait of Hormuz plummets, creating a double‑whammy disruption for both crude imports to Asian refineries and finished jet fuel exports from Gulf refineries. Europe has been warned of a...
Visionary NPR Leader Kevin Klose, Who Led Network to New Heights, Has Died
Former NPR President and CEO Kevin Klose died at 85. During his tenure, he secured a $200 million bequest from philanthropist Joan Kroc, which underwrote NPR’s financial stability and enabled expansion of international reporting. Klose also launched innovative programs such as Day...
Hollywood Heavyweights Oppose Paramount Deal
More than 2,000 Hollywood creators signed an open letter opposing Paramount Skydance’s planned takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery, warning that the merger would shrink opportunities, cut jobs, raise costs and limit audience choice. Showrunner Damon Lindelof explained a chilling effect on talent...
Women Are Getting Most of the New Jobs. What's Going on with Men?
The U.S. Labor Department reports that 348,000 of the 369,000 jobs created since the start of President Trump’s second term went to women, driven largely by a 390,000‑job surge in health care. Men captured only 21,000 of those new positions,...
How an Ancient Resin Traded for Centuries Got Snarled up by the Iran War
Frankincense, a 6,000‑year‑old aromatic resin harvested from Boswellia trees across the Arabian Peninsula and Horn of Africa, is now caught in the fallout of the U.S.–Iran conflict. The war has heightened the risk of closing the Strait of Hormuz, prompting...
Why High Oil Prices Are Good for Oil Companies — Until They Aren't
Oil prices have surged to $90‑$100 a barrel after the Iran conflict, delivering a multi‑billion‑dollar profit boost for U.S. producers such as ExxonMobil. However, the windfall is tempered by hedging contracts that lock many firms to $57 per barrel and...
Drive Slower, Go Electric, Don't Drive at All? Americans Weigh Options for Saving Gas
Gasoline prices have surged past $4 per gallon nationwide, spurring drivers to seek immediate savings. Experts advise smoother acceleration, proper tire pressure, and avoiding premium fuel when not required, which can cut annual fuel costs by hundreds of dollars. Higher...
Beer Cans, Helium Balloons and Mortgages: An Unexpected Mix of Things Affected by War
The Iran‑War’s disruption of the Strait of Hormuz is rippling far beyond oil, driving up prices for aluminum, helium, fertilizer, sulfur and petrochemicals. Aluminum cans for beer and soda, helium for balloons and MRI machines, and key agricultural inputs are...
Gas Prices Are High. What Can You Do About It?
With gasoline hovering around $4 per gallon, NPR experts advise drivers to maximize fuel efficiency by maintaining moderate speeds, proper tire pressure, and shedding unnecessary weight. They also highlight that electric vehicles become financially attractive when owners can charge at...
Entertainment and California Regulators Push Back Against Warner-Paramount Merger
Warner Bros. Discovery shareholders will vote on a $110 billion acquisition by David Ellison’s Paramount Skydance, a deal that would unite two historic Hollywood studios. California Attorney General Rob Bonta has launched an antitrust review, questioning the fairness of a federal investigation...