Keeping Up With America

Trump’s D.C. emergency control ends—but ICE and Guard can stay The 30-day order lapses, yet federal muscle remains visible in the capital. 

House passes $892.6B defense bill after bruising fight Funding clears a key hurdle as Democrats object to domestic military provisions. 

White House pressed to show proof behind deadly drug-boat strike Democrats demand evidence for the Venezuela operation. 

CBO: Trump deportation plan shrinks U.S. population by ~320,000 in a decade Fewer immigrants, slower growth—new score says. 

Senate GOP blocks bid to force release of Epstein case files A 51–49 vote sidelines a transparency push—for now. 

Charlie Kirk, 31, Shot Dead at Utah Valley University  The Turning Point USA co-founder is killed mid-event; officials call it a targeted attack as the campus locks down. 

Witness Accounts: “A Single Shot, Then Panic”  Reporters on scene describe the moment the crowd hit the ground and sprinted for safety. 

Local Briefing: What Security Was in Place  UVU says six uniformed officers and additional plain-clothes police were present—now under the microscope. 

Confirmation & Early Reactions  Tributes and political shockwaves roll in as the conservative youth leader’s death is confirmed. 

Local Desk: Death Confirmed, Campus Shuts Down  Vigils begin; state and federal agencies take over the investigation. 

Developing: Shooter Not in Custody  Governor Cox calls it a “political assassination” as the manhunt ramps up

Around the World

NATO shoots down Russian drones over Poland
A test of the alliance’s reflexes—and deterrence—plays out at the border. 

Map: Israel hit six countries in 72 hours
Gaza to Qatar, Syria to Tunisia—the region reels. 

Qatar calls for a ‘collective response’ after Doha strike
Gulf leaders warn the region is at risk. 

NATO’s red lines tested by Putin’s drone foray
How much ambiguity is strategic—and dangerous? 

Nepal’s Gen Z revolt topples the PM
After deadly protests, a country cleans up and looks ahead. 

Lets Talk Business and Tech

S&P 500 closes at a record as Oracle soars
A mega AI deal frenzy powers gains; gold pops; yields slip. 

Market wrap: cooler PPI fans rate-cut bets
Traders lean into a softer path for the Fed. 

Apple Watch SE 3 vs. Series 11 vs. Ultra 3—spec showdown
The cheat sheet before you upgrade. 

All the ways Apple barely said “AI” at its iPhone event
The subtext matters for your next device. 

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Richer, Wiser, Happier

Record market close—what to do, not what to feel
Big up-moves tempt big mistakes. If you’re within 12 months of a cash need, skim winners and refill your 6–12 month cash bucket; if you’re long-term, let your IPS (not headlines) drive rebalancing bands. Today’s rally leaned on AI-heavy winners and softer inflation prints—great, but don’t chase single-day pops. 

Cooler PPI = warmer cut odds—lock, float, or ladder?
Mortgages dipped; bonds rallied. Homebuyers closing inside 30–45 days: price a lock with a cheap extension; beyond that, float with a hard “auto-lock” trigger from your lender. Savers: extend a CD ladder by one rung (e.g., add an 18-month) to straddle near-term Fed cuts without giving up all yield. 

Today’s mortgage & savings check-in
30-year average ~6.46% and high-yield savings still competitive—run the math: if HYSA ≥ after-tax mortgage rate, keep extra cash flexible; if not, prepay a bit. Re-quote insurance while you’re at it—rate dispersion is huge. 

Apple Watch buyers: pick the right one, skip the regret
SE 3 for value and family setup, Series 11 for health features and 5G, Ultra 3 for battery + backcountry—decide by use-case, not hype. Pair that with AirPods later if ANC and heart-rate in-ear readings matter to you. 

Sports & Showbiz Shenanigans

White Sox 6–5 Rays: five-run second does it
Chicago hangs on in a one-run nail-biter. 

Cubs 3–2 Braves: got to Sale, took the series
A statement win in Atlanta. 

Tigers 11–1 Yankees: first season-series win since 2011
Yankees fans, avert your eyes. 

Astros 3–2 Blue Jays: Diaz goes deep in the ninth
Correa’s 200th HR, too. 

Dodgers 9–0 Rockies: Snell shoves
Two hits allowed, skid snapped. 

Mariners 4–2 Cardinals (13): Rivas walks it off
Five straight for Seattle. 

Zoë Kravitz + Harry Styles: lunch with Lenny
The NYC sighting everyone’s dissecting. 

Kourtney drops new Rocky pics while on tour
Swift scroll-stopper. 

Justin Bieber rides a Segway in… briefs
The content machine never sleeps. 

Lindsay Lohan turns heads at Fendi’s Spy Bag bash
Fall fits, high fashion.

For Men Wondering “What’s Next” After Career Success

You’ve worked hard. You’ve built a life. But now the question lingers: what’s next?
Many men find that retirement or transition feels less like freedom and more like drift.

That’s why I created The Reset Button - a 6-phase process to help accomplished men reset identity, reclaim direction, and live with renewed purpose.

Life Hacks to Hack Your Life

Quordle today: spoiler-safe hints before the answers
Beat game #1325 without burning all your guesses. 

NYT Strands: theme nudges and the spangram reveal
“Keep it classy,” school-day edition. 

NYT Connections: group hints that won’t ruin it
Sort the 16 words with fewer tantrums. 

Miss Manners: how to ask any server for help—politely
A tiny script that saves time (and eye-rolls). 

Carolyn Hax: when your partner can’t let go of your child’s “dream”
Boundaries > biographies others wrote for you. 

Parent coach: teachers ghosting your messages? Try this playbook
Short, specific, scheduled—communication that gets replies. 

Reader-sourced fix: when your parents babysit… the dog
Family logistics without the cold war. 

How to stream the U.K.’s National Television Awards free
Red-carpet night, no cable required. 

Channel 4’s “The Donald Trump Show”: where to watch, anywhere
Geo-restrictions, solved. 

Which 2025 iPhone is actually for you?
A clean compare chart beats launch-week FOMO.