Money, Wealth & Power—A Daily Look at the Financial World
The United States is heading into 2026 with a rare mix of political bravado and cautious economic optimism. President Donald Trump’s signature tax-and-spending package, widely branded the “big, beautiful bill,” is now moving from talking point to lived reality, reshaping incentives for households, companies, and global investors. As the provisions phase in, I see a…
President Donald Trump’s signature tax package, the One Big Beautiful Bill, is about to collide with the first filing season that fully reflects its changes, and many working households are being told to expect more cash back at tax time. Accountants and policy analysts say the mix of richer credits, new deductions and adjusted withholding…
The penny shortage has moved from abstract policy debate to the fast-food counter, where McDonald’s is quietly rewriting how cash is handled. Instead of digging for one-cent coins that are no longer being made, the chain is shifting to rounded totals that bring every bill to the nearest nickel. The change keeps prices the same…
Millions of federal student loan borrowers are about to discover that the safety nets they counted on are being rewired in ways that could sharply limit who ever sees their balances erased. The Trump administration is not only moving to end a major forgiveness plan, it is also tightening access to income driven repayment and…
A sharp $245 jump in a major U.S. bank’s premium card fee has become a breaking point for many borrowers who once treated high-end plastic as a status symbol. Instead of quietly absorbing the increase, cardholders are canceling, downgrading, and publicly questioning whether elite rewards are still worth the cost. The revolt is reshaping how…
Instacart’s decision to end its AI-powered price experiments followed a wave of complaints from shoppers who discovered they were paying more than others for the same groceries. I examine how the tests worked, why they triggered such a backlash, and what the fallout means for consumers, regulators, and the broader use of artificial intelligence in…
Parking $100,000 in a jumbo certificate of deposit can quietly generate thousands of dollars in interest, as long as you match the right rate with a term that fits your plans. With yields still elevated by recent standards, the gap between a mediocre offer and a top-tier jumbo CD can easily mean hundreds of dollars…
The next wave of student borrowing is already taking shape, and Wall Street expects it to be bigger, not smaller. Analysts at major banks are signaling that the surge in US college debt will keep building into 2026, even as Washington rewrites the rules on how much students can borrow and how quickly they must…
Mark Zuckerberg has quietly severed a signature link between his philanthropy and the immigration movement he once helped bankroll. After more than a decade of support, the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative has stopped funding FWD.us, the pro-immigration and criminal justice reform group he cofounded, leaving a conspicuous gap in the advocacy landscape. The move lands at…
Home upgrades can add comfort, value, and energy savings, but the wrong loan can turn a dream project into a long, expensive headache. The best home improvement financing balances interest cost, flexibility, and risk so you can remodel with confidence instead of second‑guessing every payment. I focus here on the loan types and specific lenders…
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