Keeping up with America

Trump asylum pause after DC National Guard shooting sparks fear among Afghans in Oregon

After a DC shooting left a National Guard member dead, the administration’s broad pause on asylum decisions and Afghan immigration reviews sends shock waves through refugee communities — and tests how far security politics can go in an election season.

Mall shooting in California wounds shoppers during Black Friday rush

Gunfire at a Silicon Valley mall turns a shopping holiday into a panic drill, reigniting debates over security at crowded retail centers just as stores bank on their biggest weekend of the year.

Photos capture enduring enthusiasm for Black Friday, the biggest shopping day of the year

Even with inflation, crime fears, and online deals, the images tell a familiar story: lines at dawn, carts stacked high, and families treating bargain-hunting like a competitive sport.

Afghan refugees brace for backlash as immigration crackdown widens

Writers and advocates warn that using one attack to justify sweeping asylum and green-card changes risks turning whole communities into political collateral.

Around the World

Rescue efforts end at Hong Kong tower block fire as death toll reaches 128

One of Hong Kong’s deadliest fires in decades leaves scores dead and hundreds missing, as investigators probe why alarms failed and flammable renovation materials turned homes into chimneys.

Over 250 dead as Southeast Asia reels from devastating floods

Floods and landslides across Indonesia, Thailand, and Sri Lanka expose fragile infrastructure and raise ugly questions about climate adaptation in some of the world’s most vulnerable regions.

Deadly floods in Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Thailand, in pictures

Aerial and street-level photos show towns turned into lakes, smashed roads, and families wading through chest-high water with everything they can carry.

ICC judges reject request to release ex-Philippine President Duterte from custody

In The Hague, judges refuse to free Duterte as crimes-against-humanity charges over his “drug war” grind forward, signaling that even ex-leaders can’t easily outrun accountability.

Black Friday arrives with solid momentum despite tariffs and economic uncertainty

AP says shoppers are still lining up, but they’re hunting harder for deals as tariffs, inflation, and a weird post-shutdown mood push everyone to stretch each dollar. 

What’s open on Thanksgiving? Not much, as many stores prepare for Black Friday

The era of dawn-patrol Thanksgiving shopping is basically over — big chains are dark, betting that goodwill (and online carts) matter more than keeping the doors open all day. 

World shares are mixed, tracking Wall Street’s winning streak as US markets close for Thanksgiving

While U.S. markets nap for the holiday, global investors mark time, watching whether the recent Wall Street rally has legs or is just another sugar high. 

Black Friday shoppers scale back spending amid economic concerns

A Las Vegas snapshot of the national mood: people still show up for the deals, but many say they literally “can’t afford” to splurge this year.

Business & Tech

How major US stock indexes fared Friday, 11/28/2025

Wall Street closes out a whiplash month on a high note as all the big indexes string together a five-day winning streak — even while AI darlings look a little less invincible.

Trading restarts at the CME after a ‘cooling issue’ at a data center prompted a halt

A 10-hour outage at CME’s Chicago data center briefly froze trading in key futures and options — a reminder that in modern markets, air-conditioning can be as system-critical as algorithms.

Black Friday spending raises eyebrows over US economy

Holiday sales are set to blow past $1 trillion for the first time, but economists wonder: is this real confidence or just higher prices forcing bigger receipts?

Why record holiday spending proves the golden age of travel is far from over

One analyst argues that Americans are cutting back on stuff but not on plane tickets, hotel points, and “experiences” — and that this shift could reshape who wins on Wall Street.

Richer, Wiser, Happier

Tips for holiday shopping in a year when prices are rising

A practical guide to surviving gifts + inflation: from setting hard spending caps to avoiding sneaky “buy now, pay later” traps that turn January into regret season.

8 steps to help you budget for a stress-free holiday shopping season

A credit-union style playbook: start with a hard number, automate savings into a “holiday” bucket, and stop letting December blow up your whole 2026.

Tips for a thrifty holiday

From DIY décor to potluck-style gatherings, this piece is basically a script for celebrating big while your credit-card bill stays small.

Why record holiday spending might be masking financial stress

Strong sales look good on headlines, but when more of that money is going on plastic, the “resilient consumer” story starts to feel a lot more fragile.

Sports & Showbiz Shenanigans

Bears vs. Eagles Black Friday highlights: Chicago shocks Philadelphia

In a prime-time NFC showdown, Chicago wrecks more than just Philly’s vibes — they scramble playoff narratives and hand TV networks a ratings goldmine.

College football picks: Predictions, odds for top-25 Black Friday games

Point-spread nerds break down which rivalry games could flip conference races — and which ones might flip your betting slip if you’re not careful.

The ultimate Black Friday sports guide: from kickoffs to tip-offs

A buffet of what to watch: NFL, college football, hoops, and more jammed into one day, proving again that Black Friday is as much about screens as it is about stores.

Pack has 24, Davis 19 and 11 to lift Oklahoma over Marquette 75–74

Oklahoma claws back from a double-digit hole in Chicago, giving the Sooners a statement non-conference win and sending Marquette home with questions.

Strong second half carries Oklahoma to neutral-site win over Marquette

A companion breakdown from SI that zooms in on coaching adjustments, momentum swings, and why this win matters for March resumes.

Life Hack to Hack Your Life

Money & Budget

Tips for holiday shopping in a year when prices are rising

How to decide who really needs a gift, when to walk away from a “deal,” and why you shouldn’t let guilt write your budget.

Tips for a thrifty holiday

From handmade gifts to low-cost traditions, this guide reads like a cheat-sheet for making the holidays feel rich even when your bank account doesn’t.

Tips for shopping safely this holiday season

Think less “paranoid” and more “prepared”: parking-lot awareness, package-theft prevention, and basic cyber-hygiene for deal season.

Travel, Home & Sanity

A grip on sports (and life): when Black Friday used to mean lining up in the cold

A nostalgia-heavy sports column that quietly doubles as a life hack: remember what actually matters about these long weekends (hint: it’s not the TV you’re upgrading).

Black Friday 2025 college football games you should watch today

Because sometimes the hack is: stop refreshing cart totals and watch something fun with people you care about.