Keeping Up With America

Trump Says He’ll Send the National Guard to Memphis
City leaders brace for a legal and political street fight over who polices America’s cities.

Missouri’s New Map Could Hand the GOP Another House Seat 
A fast-track redistricting win fuels 2026 ambitions—and a looming referendum battle.

Schumer Says He’s Willing to Risk a Shutdown Over Health Care Demands 
Funding brinkmanship returns, with premiums and Medicaid on the negotiating table.

AP Fact-Check: False Claims Flooded the Web After Charlie Kirk’s Killing 
How rumors outran the investigation—and what was actually confirmed.

Utah’s Governor Pleads for an ‘Off-Ramp’ From Political Violence 
After the Kirk assassination, calls for calm collide with national finger-pointing.

‘Don’t Bother Dealing With Them’: Trump Shrugs Off Democrats in Shutdown Fight 
A Fox & Friends broadside complicates any “clean CR” path in the Senate.

Around the World

NATO Rallies Jets to Poland After Record Drone Incursion 
A live test of collective defense raises the stakes—and Moscow’s options.

NATO Details Fresh Air Support for Poland 
France, Germany, and Denmark commit fighters and crews.

UN General Assembly Backs Two-State Push 
A landmark vote lands as strikes pound Gaza.

Israel’s Strike in Qatar Jolts Gulf Security Assumptions 
Regional capitals reassess reliance on Washington.

Brazilians Celebrate Bolsonaro Conviction in Streets 
A historic ruling triggers jubilation—and warnings of backlash.

Lets Talk Business and Tech

Stocks Cool After Record Week: Dow Slips, Nasdaq Ticks Up 
Traders digest a Fed-cut drumbeat and fresh highs.

Mortgage Rates Dip Again—Is a Thaw Coming? 
30-year averages edge to ~6.33%, but affordability is still tight.

CDs Still Pay Up to ~5%: Where the Yield Is Today 
Parking cash smartly while you wait for rate moves.

Musk Pressures Nadella Over Employees Who Criticized Charlie Kirk 
Big Tech meets political crossfire—again.

Apple Watch Hypertension Alerts Get FDA Green Light 
Health tech inches from “nice to have” to “need to know.”

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Richer, Wiser, Happier

Today’s Mortgage Play: Test a 30- vs 15-Year + 1-Point Scenario 
If you’re within 30–45 days of closing, price three quotes side-by-side: (1) 30-year with no points, (2) 30-year with a 1-point buydown, (3) 15-year no points. Ask for the break-even in months on the point and the extension fee if your lock slips; green-light only if break-even < 36 months and the payment still fits your DTI target. Refinancers: set an auto-lock trigger at ~0.25% below your current quote and have your lender text you intraday. Sellers offering concessions? Push to convert credits into permanent buydowns rather than cosmetic fixes.

Where to Park Cash This Week 
Build a 3-rung ladder—6, 12, 18 months—so you capture yield now and roll into potential cuts later. Keep your emergency fund in a no-penalty CD or HYSA for fast withdrawals; push your “opportunity fund” (down payment, car, tuition) into the longer rungs. Before you chase headline APYs, check transfer hold times, early-withdrawal penalties, and whether the bank compounds daily vs. monthly—that math matters on five-figure balances.

Inflation Isn’t Quitting—Here’s Your 5-Move Buffer 
Build a mini rate ladder (T-bills + short CDs), then attack your fixed bills: re-quote home/auto insurance, negotiate your internet plan, and audit subscriptions you forgot were annual. On variable-rate debt (HELOCs, credit cards), set a snowball on the highest APR and call for a product change to a lower-rate card with the same issuer before you miss a payment. Finally, run a 2-point inflation stress test on your monthly budget and pre-decide what you’ll cut first—clarity beats panic.

Apple Watch’s New Hypertension Alerts: What They Actually Do 
Treat it like a screening nudge, not a diagnosis. Calibrate for the first 30 days, wear it consistently, and when it flags—you confirm with a proper upper-arm cuff (twice in the morning, twice at night for a week). If readings stay high, book a visit and ask about home BP monitoring coverage; many plans now reimburse cuffs. Pro move: pair alerts with salt-cut swaps (broths, sauces, deli meats) and a 20-minute walk after dinner—cheap wins that move the needle.

Market Wrap for Humans 
Fresh highs feel great—and set traps. If you’re <12 months from a big expense, skim gains and refill your cash bucket; if you’re long-horizon, rebalance to your Investment Policy Statement bands (not vibes). Trim positions that ran purely on the AI-halo without earnings upgrades, and redirect a slice into your short ladder above. Set a quarterly “drift check” reminder so today’s rally doesn’t quietly bloat your risk.

Don’t Punish Smarts—Build ‘Productive Struggle’ Into Your Team 
Performance jumps when you make learning visible. Pick one dominant orientation—learning or performance—for each project, then align feedback and rewards to match. Swap marathon status meetings for 25-minute decision sessions with a single owner; document one lesson learned per deliverable; rotate “glamour work” so growth isn’t gated by politics. The payoff: fewer rework cycles, faster promotions, calmer calendars.

Sports & Showbiz Shenanigans

Braves’ Bats Wake Up vs. Brewers (9/12 Highlights) 
Atlanta slugs through September jitters.

Yankees Ride Late Rally Past Astros (9/12 Highlights) 
Bronx October math gets interesting.

Dodgers Edge Padres in a West Coast Nail-Biter (9/12 Highlights) 
Playoff seeding pressure shows.

Cubs Snap Skid vs. Cardinals (9/12 Highlights) 
Wrigley breathes.

Phillies Outslug the Mets (9/12 Highlights) 
NL East drama refuses to die.

The Must List: What Entertainment Editors Are Actually Watching 
Weekend binge picks with zero small talk.

Kelsea Ballerini’s Birthday Post to Chase Stokes 
Fans zoom in on a couple clue.

‘Downton Abbey’ Star’s New Romance Goes Public 
Costume drama, off-screen twist.

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

Connections #458 Hints & Answers (Sept 12) 
Beat the grid without spoiling the vibe.

Quordle #1326 Hints & Answers (Sept 12) 
Warm up your word brain in 90 seconds.

Strands #309 Hints & Answers (Sept 12) 
The theme twist that trips everyone.

Why Your Robot Mop Leaves Streaks—and the 3 Fixes That Work 
The settings and solutions pros actually use.

Slug & Snail Invasion? A Pest Expert’s Fall Plan 
Cheap barriers, smarter traps, fewer holes in leaves.

Thin Stools Aren’t Automatically Cancer: Here’s What to Look For
When to relax—and when to call the doc.

ACE Inhibitors and Facial Swelling: Read This Before Your Next Pill 
Spot the emergency signs early.

Mobility Exercises Seniors Should Actually Do Daily 
Five moves, no equipment, real payoff.

Medicare’s Fall-Risk Assessment: Why Saying “Yes” Can Save You Money 
Free benefits many skip—don’t.

Not All “Studies” Are Equal—Know the Types Before You Share Health News
Separating RCTs from anecdotes in 60 seconds.