Keeping up with America

Trump slaps new import taxes—100% on some drugs; 50% on cabinets; 30% on furniture; 25% on heavy trucks—starting Oct. 1
The administration frames it as protecting U.S. jobs and supply chains; consumers and hospitals brace for higher costs if drug importers pass it along.

President signs order advancing a TikTok deal to keep the app in the U.S. under American ownership
National-security guardrails plus a political crowd-pleaser: the order moves a proposed U.S.-controlled structure forward, keeping 170M American users scrolling—for now.

White House to federal agencies: prep mass layoffs if a shutdown hits next week
A hardball warning ramps up pressure on Congress before Sept. 30. Agencies are sketching who would stay, who would go, and how essential services would run.

Administration widens crackdown on “organized” political violence
New directives target planned, coordinated unrest; supporters say it protects civic life, critics worry about overreach and definitions.

U.S. officials spotlight “European censorship” while facing free-speech scrutiny at home
Washington calls out EU rules at the UN even as domestic content moderation fights churn.

Trump: U.S. won’t allow Israeli annexation of the West Bank
A clear red line that could reshape negotiations around Gaza and beyond; conservative Israeli factions fume.

Live updates: Former FBI Director James Comey indicted; Hill scrutiny intensifies
A legal thunderclap with political shockwaves—watch this space for filings, timelines, and the next moves from DOJ and Congress.

Lets Talk Business and Tech

Wall Street slips to a one-week low as traders rethink how soon the Fed cuts again
Hotter labor signals jab rate-cut odds; chips and megacaps lead declines.

How the indexes finished today
S&P −0.5%, Dow −0.4%, Nasdaq −0.5%—a three-day skid but still near records.

Dallas Fed’s Lorie Logan floats a big shift in how the Fed targets rates
She suggests moving toward a market-based repo rate (TGCR), not the federal funds rate—wonky, but potentially consequential.

SF Fed’s Mary Daly: “A little bit more” cutting likely—but over time
Translation: patience. Expect gradualism, not slashing.

OpenAI rolls out “Pulse,” a morning digest that pre-researches your day
The AI concierge era inches closer—useful, or too much algorithm in your morning?

SEC to review the White House call for corporate layoff plans
Investors will watch how disclosure rules intersect with executive-branch directives.

Richer, Wiser, Happier

Wall Street’s rally has risks: inflation, earnings, valuations
If you’ve been riding the 2025 melt-up, stress-test allocations, trim concentration, and decide sell rules before volatility decides for you.

Micro-trends are wrecking your budget—here’s how to resist them
Name your top 3 goals, set a ‘fun money’ cap, and add a 72-hour wait rule before checkout—screenshot this one.

Amazon’s $2.5B settlement: how to claim your Prime refund
Step-by-step claiming tips, deadlines, and the docs you’ll need. If you share a household account, read the fine print.

Homeowners insurance quiz: do you have the coverage you think you have?
ACV vs. replacement cost, flood carve-outs, pet-bite limits—find holes before a storm does.

Sports and Showbiz Shenanigans

Yankees edge White Sox 5–3 to stay tied for the AL East lead
Stanton and Rodón deliver as the division race tightens in the Bronx.

Mets’ Lindor joins the 30–30 club in 8–5 win over Cubs
Power + speed season hits another milestone as Queens fans exhale.

Astros thump A’s 11–5 behind Framber Valdez and Christian Walker
October form, activated.

Mariners’ Suárez belts No. 49; Seattle wins 17 of 18
A late-season heater in the wild-card chase.

Kimmel returns to late night, gets political—and the ratings
Back from suspension, the monologue lands with viral force; a second night doubles down.

PTA’s new film ‘One Battle After Another’ lands as eerily timely
Paul Thomas Anderson spent two decades on it; the moment meets the movie.

 Life Hacks to Hack Your Life

How to get your Amazon Prime refund from the big settlement
Clear steps, deadlines, and the docs you’ll need—don’t leave money on the table.

4 vaccines linked to lower dementia risk
The evidence base is growing; talk timing and eligibility with your clinician.

AirPods Pro 3 on a run: what they actually do now
Sound, live translation, battery—hands-on details before you upgrade.

Miss Manners: when a “team party” stops being a team party
Graceful boundaries for hosts and guests (and a fix for chronic watch-checkers).

Carolyn Hax: spouse laid off, projects explode—how to reset
Compassion + structure beats simmering resentment when roles change at home.

Ask Sahaj: navigating love when parents disapprove
Boundaries, safety, and finding support—without burning every bridge.

Asking Eric: keep your family reunion drama-free
A short script to deflect triggers and enjoy the actual reunion.

Why everyone wants your 5-star rating
The psychology (and business model) behind those constant prompts—use it to spot junk feedback loops.

Home insurance quiz: are you covered—or guessing?
Ten questions that expose pricey blind spots (floods, ACV, jewelry).

Lakhan’s Old-Fashioned: a spicy cocktail riff worth trying
Bourbon + brandy split base, chaat-masala syrup—complex, fast, fun. (Published yesterday; too tasty not to include.)