Keeping up with America

Supreme Court lets Trump remove an FTC commissioner—for now
In an emergency move, the justices cleared the way for President Trump to fire Democratic commissioner Rebecca Slaughter while the Court takes the case up in December. It’s a test of how much control presidents can wield over independent agencies—and could ripple to the Fed and beyond.

Trump designates antifa a terrorist organization
The White House framed it as a law‑and‑order step; civil‑liberties lawyers expect immediate challenges on First Amendment and federalism grounds. Watch for questions about how—if at all—the order changes investigations and prosecutions.

U.S. lawmakers hold rare meeting with China’s defense minister
The first House delegation to Beijing since 2019 focused on military‑to‑military communications, guardrails, and avoiding crises—useful context as tensions run high over tech, Taiwan and the South China Sea.

Disney says Jimmy Kimmel will return Tuesday, six days after suspension
After blowback from across the aisle and fans, Disney moved to put ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live’ back on air. It won’t end the free‑speech debate, but it lowers the temperature—for now.

Around the 🌎 in 80 Seconds 

Two Gaza hospitals halt operations as fighting surges
Al‑Rantissi Children’s and the Eye Hospital shut amid strikes around Gaza City. The closures land during UN week, as recognition of a Palestinian state gains momentum among U.S. allies.

West and Russia clash at the UN over NATO airspace incidents
Britain warned of the risk of a direct confrontation after reported violations near Estonia and Poland; Moscow dismissed the claims as theater. It’s the kind of brinkmanship that keeps diplomats up at night.

Putin offers Trump a one‑year extension of the last U.S.–Russia arms treaty
With New START set to expire in early 2026, the Kremlin floated a short‑term extension. The U.S. response will signal how much appetite there is for reviving formal arms control.

Lets Talk Business and Tech

Vanguard stays bullish on U.S. corporate bonds—despite tariff risks
Credit spreads are near cycle tights, but the bond giant still sees room to add risk given solid fundamentals and a gentle‑easing Fed path. Translation: investors aren’t done with IG credit yet.

Wall Street cools after records as H‑1B shock weighs on Big Tech
A proposed $100,000 visa fee for new H‑1Bs has tech’s hiring math on edge. Apple’s strength helped the tape, but policy uncertainty loomed over gains.

Breakingviews: The H‑1B ‘price tag’ raises pennies—and big questions
Charging six figures per visa might raise revenue, but it risks choking skills pipelines right as AI spending ramps up. If you see more offshoring or automation, this is why.

OpenAI and NVIDIA unveil a huge compute partnership
OpenAI says it will deploy data centers totaling at least 10 gigawatts of NVIDIA systems, with NVIDIA planning large, phased investments to match. It’s fuel for the frontier‑model race.

Richer, Wiser, Happier

Are we too stock‑heavy? What record equity exposure means for risk
Households and retirement plans are the most equity‑tilted in years. Gut‑check your own mix: (1) set guardrails so one winner doesn’t dominate; (2) keep 3–12 months of cash‑like ballast; (3) use short‑to‑intermediate duration for bond stability while rates drift lower.

If H‑1B fees stick, who pays—and how do you hedge it?
Near‑term margin pressure for integrators and outsourcers, potential wage tailwinds at home. Hiring managers should fast‑track upskilling and diversify vendors; investors may prefer software names with lower visa exposure.

Signals from credit pros (and what they imply for your portfolio)
Vanguard’s stance hints at a still‑benign backdrop for quality credit. If you’ve been ‘reaching for yield,’ consider dialing back to investment‑grade and keeping duration modest.

Sports and Showbiz Shenanigans

Lions sack Lamar Jackson seven times, beat Ravens 38–30 on MNF
Detroit looked like a contender in Baltimore—power run game, relentless pass rush, and a statement win on the road.

Braves thump Nationals 11–5 for their ninth straight win
Chris Sale notched the W, Ronald Acuña Jr. went deep, and Atlanta kept the gas down heading toward October.

Padres clinch a playoff berth with an 11th‑inning walk‑off vs. Brewers
Freddy Fermin’s single set off a Petco Park roar. San Diego’s in—with a flair for the dramatic.

Kimmel back on ABC Tuesday after a week of controversy
After a suspension over a monologue that drew political fire, ABC says the show returns. Expect late‑night monologues about free speech and corporate pressure.

 Life Hacks to Hack Your Life

These globally inspired dishes are tasty ways to cut food waste
Turn leftovers into real meals—from ribollita to fried‑rice makeovers. Useful for budgets and the planet.

Raise a stein at home: 8 recipes for an easy Oktoberfest
Brats, schnitzel, pretzels and more—simple crowd‑pleasers for a fall evening.

Sports on TV tonight: what’s on and where to watch
A one‑page grid of Monday’s games, channels and start times. Plan the remote before kickoff.

Carolyn Hax: Advice for a parent worried about a ‘workaholic’ boyfriend
A smart read on balancing ambition, time and relationships—good perspective even if it’s not your situation.