The Lifeboats Are Running Out
Donald Trump's inner circle is turning on each other in public, which is bad news for the administration's stability.
- A top Trump advisor publicly demanded Chief of Staff Susie Wiles and her deputy stop harassing him, hinting at corruption tied to foreign lobbying and a casino executive's influence over White House policy.
- Multiple insiders are resigning and accusing the administration of corruption, including a former RFK Jr. advisor and a Republican senator, suggesting the infighting is spreading beyond one faction.
- Trump is pushing the Justice Department to investigate Democrats over vague "threatening letters," while House Republicans are too divided to even schedule new leadership elections.
- Meanwhile protesters have gathered outside Elon Musk's Texas compound, adding to the sense of chaos around the administration's allies.
Outlook: Expect more leaks, resignations, and infighting as insiders try to protect themselves, with no clear sign of the White House regaining control of the story.
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Renting Becomes the New American Dream --- Homeownership is slipping further out of reach for most Americans, which is bad news for renters and younger buyers but could ease pressure on rent prices if demand keeps shifting.
- Monthly mortgage payments now run far higher than rent, so more people are choosing to keep renting instead of buying.
- Rental demand is up sharply from a year ago, while the share of people who believe they'll ever own a home has collapsed to well under half of what it was.
- Housing data shows this isn't just about money — people who feel permanently locked out of ownership are losing confidence in the broader idea of getting ahead in America.
Outlook: Without lower mortgage rates or cheaper homes, expect the shift toward renting to continue and homeownership to keep slipping further out of reach for average buyers.
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Big Companies Are Buying Back Their Own Stock as Robots Take Jobs --- Major companies are propping up their own stock prices while investing in automation that could eliminate the jobs ordinary workers depend on, which is good for shareholders but bad for workers.
- Berkshire Hathaway ramped up stock buybacks, and Apple borrowed billions mainly to fund buybacks and dividends, both moves that boost share prices without creating new value.
- A new robotics company is already using humanoid robots to restock grocery store shelves overnight and fill online orders, cutting into retail jobs.
- Other AI tools are now doing manufacturing engineering work, like designing assembly lines for missile parts, in hours instead of weeks, suggesting white-collar and skilled jobs are also exposed.
Outlook: Expect companies to keep pouring money into automation and buybacks even as job security for everyday workers keeps eroding.