Keeping up with America

Trump at the UN: ‘Blow traffickers out of existence’
A hardline UN vow aimed at drug cartels framed as a peace-and-safety crusade—red meat for supporters, a red flag for civil liberties hawks.

Trump blasts UN yet says he ‘backs it 100%’
A combative UN speech knocks the UN’s results while insisting U.S. support remains—tough talk abroad, complicated follow-through at home.

Shutdown brinkmanship: Trump scraps meeting with Democrats
With a Sept. 30 deadline looming, the White House cancels a bipartisan sit-down—raising stakes for furloughs and services if no stopgap deal emerges.

Administration quiet on shutdown contingency plans
Agencies were told to prep—but detailed shutdown playbooks haven’t been shared, leaving Congress and federal workers guessing.

Trump approval ticks down amid economic worries
Inflation anxieties and a softer jobs picture weigh on public mood; independents are notably uneasy on cost-of-living.

Around the 🌎 in 80 Seconds 

NATO warns Moscow after Russian jets breach Estonia’s airspace
A rare incursion near Tallinn prompts a sharp rebuke—another stress test for the alliance on its most exposed frontier.

Lithuania OKs shooting down hostile drones
Baltic security gets blunter rules of engagement as drone threats spill over from Russia’s war on Ukraine.

Gaza clinic-turned-shelter leveled, killing dozens
An evacuated health center used by displaced families is destroyed; casualty counts shift amid competing claims.

Zelensky: Trump could sway Xi on Russia
Kyiv sees leverage in Washington’s ties to Beijing—if used—while pleading for firmer global alignment.

Macron: Want a Nobel? Stop the Gaza war
France’s leader pointedly challenges Washington to deliver a cease-fire if it wants credit for peace.

Lets Talk Business and Tech

‘Black swan’ fund warns: 20% melt-up, then a historic crash
Universa’s Mark Spitznagel says euphoria could send the S&P past 8,000—before an 80% wipeout—if risks finally bite.

Markets pause with Powell in the spotlight
After a rate cut, investors parse what’s next: more easing—or a hawkish nudge to cool the party.

AI-fueled rally meets record gold
Tech exuberance keeps indexes elevated even as gold—usually the ‘worry’ trade—flirts with records. Mixed signals abound.

Will consumers ‘eat’ the tariffs?
New tariffs test pricing power from checkout aisles to supply chains; the bill often finds its way to households.

Disney+ hikes prices again
Streaming gets pricier: ad-supported to $11.99, premium to $18.99—part of Disney’s push to prove profits at scale.

Richer, Wiser, Happier

The melt-up trap: how to protect gains without panicking
Tail-risk pros are sounding alarms. Think in buckets: keep a boring cash buffer, automate rebalancing, and stress-test your plan against job-loss + 30–50% drawdowns—before emotions drive choices.

Rates, Powell, and your budget
If cuts are slower than hoped, variable-rate debt bites back. Prioritize pay-downs with the highest APRs and lock in fixed rates where sensible.

Tariffs = stealth inflation at home
From appliances to groceries, import duties often pass through to shoppers. Hedge by comparison-shopping generics, timing big buys, and nudging employers for HSA/FSA matches.

Subscription creep checkup
Another streaming hike? Do a 15‑minute audit: kill duplicates, rotate services monthly, and capture annual-plan discounts only if you’ll actually use them.

Sports and Showbiz Shenanigans

Yankees walk off White Sox to clinch a playoff berth
Down late, New York rallies and locks in October—AL East still in play as Judge & Co. chase Toronto.

Orioles open with a one-hit gem vs. Rays
Dean Kremer deals; Baltimore shuts the door 6–0 to start its final home set.

Cardinals stun Giants 9–8 with a 9th‑inning punch
Alec Burleson’s go-ahead single keeps St. Louis alive in the playoff math.

Kimmel returns, defends free speech on air
After a week of political crossfire, Kimmel’s monologue mixes contrition with a First Amendment defense; some affiliates still balk.

 Life Hacks to Hack Your Life

Smart glasses made me check my phone less — and miss it less
One tester’s weeklong experiment: notifications to your face can actually cut doomscrolling—if you curate ruthlessly.

Living together, his house, your cash: who pays for upgrades?
Carolyn Hax on the fairness test: equity, exit plans, and paying for improvements you don’t own.

Shoes on indoors? What germs travel in with you
Experts say the health risk is low—but floors get dirty fast. Best move: a no‑shoes zone and better hand‑washing.

The best time of day to water, plant, and prune
Morning for watering, late-day for some pruning: timing equals less stress for plants and you.