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Prosecutors Won’t Try to Reinstate Key 9/11 Confession Taken After Torture
The military’s lawyers said they feared an appeal could delay the trial of the man accused of masterminding the attacks, which is scheduled to start in mid-2028.
Former John Fetterman Aides Threaten to Expose Senator’s Internal Messages
The former aides started a social media account they said would publicize Senator John Fetterman’s communications, following a report detailing the Democrat’s disdain for doing his job.
Supreme Court Sides With Republicans in TV Ad Fight
Republican groups had asked the court to clear the way for political parties to pay the same low-cost ad rates as candidates, a move that could undercut a Democratic advantage in the midterms.
Homeland Security Dept. Asks for Inquiries Into Voting Machines
Critics of ballot-marking devices have claimed that hackers could manipulate digital codes on ballots. Election experts say the systems are safe to use.
‘The Sun Never Sets,’ ‘The Gentlemen’ season 2, and ‘Teenage Wasteland’ top this week’s Must List
See EW’s top pop culture picks for the week, including Dakota Fanning in ‘The Sun Never Sets,’ ‘The Gentlemen’ season 2, and the ‘Teenage Wasteland’ doc on Netflix.
How Mark Wahlberg made a mafia hitman’s son cry behind the scenes of ‘By Any Means’
‘By Any Means’ director Elegance Bratton tells EW how he adapted the incredible true story of a mafia hitman who helped the FBI solve the murder of a civil rights leader. Mark Wahlberg and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II star in the new thriller.
Pentagon Agreement With N.I.H. on Biodefense Draws Alarm From Democrats
Under a new partnership, the Defense Department would play a larger role in biodefense and pandemic preparedness. Democrats warned it could allow a Pentagon cash grab.
Hideki Shirakawa, Who Helped Turn a Lab Error Into a Nobel, Dies at 90
The Japanese chemist played a key role in the discovery of electricity-conducting plastics, largely by accident.
Gloria Steinem Stayed Positive, Even as the Manosphere Took Hold
The feminist icon thought many women would carry on her legacy. But at an unsteady time for feminism, how will the movement carry on?
A More Confident Iran Emerges After Six Months of War With the U.S.
New intelligence reports have assessed that Iran now has a far better understanding of its capabilities and the limits of U.S. power.
Why Meta’s social media restrictions aren’t a cure-all for the youth mental health crisis
Janet Currie: The most powerful intervention would be increasing efforts to prevent serious childhood mental health problems from developing in the first place.
A Surge of Russian Sabotage Attacks in Europe, and Musk’s Political War Chest
Plus, your Friday news quiz.
Commentary: Teen-safety settlement is Meta’s shrewd move to hurt competitors
The headlines this week wrote themselves: Meta, humbled at last, agrees to pay up to $17.1 billion and accept the strictest limits ever imposed on teenage social media use. A
U.S. Diesel Prices Set New High
Because of the war in Iran, the cost has climbed past the record it reached in 2022 after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Teen takeover in Aurora leads to damage inside businesses; community leaders reflect
Judge Ends Federal Oversight of Teamsters
The union and federal prosecutors agreed that organized crime groups had been rooted out of union operations, the judge wrote.
Trump Taps Army Engineering Official as Acting Secretary
The move came days after the resignation of Daniel P. Driscoll, who had clashed with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth over the purge of top generals in the Army.
Proposal for White House Visitor Screening Center Advances
A federal panel again paved the way for one of President Trump’s construction projects, even as it heard opposition to another proposal to fence in a park north of the White House.
JD Vance Says He Wouldn’t Call Iran Conflict a War
In the first White House press briefing since Karoline Leavitt left as press secretary, the vice president suggested that when the conflict would end was up to Tehran.
Video: Opinion | The Joke That Started a Political Movement
“For more than a decade, the people in India were scared of questioning the government. Now, finally, people are no longer scared,” Abhijeet Dipke, a 30-year-old Indian university graduate whose viral X post led to the creation of the Cockroach Janta Party, tells Opinion Video.
Trump Administration Asks Supreme Court to Allow Mail Voting Limits
The justices have been asked to weigh in again on the Trump administration’s efforts to restrict mail voting — this time on whether the plans violate the Constitution.
Maria Bartiromo Is Out at Fox News
The host, who appeared on Fox Business and Fox News, had been with the network for more than 12 years.
Video: Why the N.B.A. Banned the Richest Owner in U.S. Sports
A yearlong league probe, sparked by Pablo Torre’s Pulitzer Prize-winning investigation, found that the billionaire Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer helped to secure endorsement deals for star Kawhi Leonard, breaking salary cap rules.
Scientists Find More Than 1,000 DNA Variants Linked to Personality Traits
More than one million genomes helped identify DNA variants linked to extroversion, agreeableness, neuroticism and more. Researchers measured how those traits influenced how people lived.
Student explores link between social media use and mental health in youth
The American Psychological Association estimates that teens are spending an average of five hours a day on social media. At Kennesaw State University, one student is examining whether this prolonged use can also impact their mental health. Through KSU’s First-Year Scholars Program, Chance Lundy, a Keeping Sights Upward Journey Honors College student, studied the relationship between frequent social media use and suicidal ideation among adolescents.
Free arts, cultural experiences this fall in Linn County
Fifteen arts and cultural organizations will participate in a weeklong “Free for All” event this fall offering free admission, tours and performances at venues ranging from the Cedar Rapids Museum
What Did Jurassic Forests Sound Like? Like This.
Scientists spent over a decade reconstructing the calls of nine species of ancient insects to create the first accurate Jurassic soundscape.
Arsenal include recall clause in loanee’s contract
Arsenal have a recall clause for Ethan Nwaneri in January, and loan club Borussia Dortmund have no option to buy the teenager if things go well.Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty ImagesEthan Nwaneri complet...
Islamic Center of San Diego shooting suspect's family sues mental health facility
The family of 18-year-old Caleb Vazquez, one of the teens accused of the deadly shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego, filed a lawsuit against Park Mental Health Treatment, where Vazquez was being treated.
As Midterms Loom, Democrats Feud Over Defections
The fight has highlighted party divisions and raised questions about how Democrats will run the House should they win the majority.
Judge Blocks Trump’s Second Try to Restrict Birthright Citizenship
The ruling raised concerns that babies already defined as citizens by the Supreme Court could have their citizenship revoked under an order the president signed in August.
Opinion | Trump Ended My American Dream
America has closed its doors to too many students and entrepreneurs.
In the Midterms, Will the Nepo-Baby Attack Work?
A New Hampshire senator’s daughter is running for office, and finds her name being used against her.
Juneau schools and organizations increase mental health support following death of teenagers
The Juneau School District and community organizations are offering additional support and resources following the death of two teenagers Monday evening. KTOO compiled this list of mental health resources, prevention events and support.
USPS Is Building a Mail-In Ballot Screening System Despite Legal Battles Over Trump Order
Election officials warn that the creation of a new online portal for states to upload voter information is already fueling confusion and could ultimately disenfranchise voters.
The Devil Works Hard, But Whoever Is Keeping The IS Alive At Lexus Works Harder
Despite entering its thirteenth year of life, the Lexus IS is still soldiering on with a new Special Appearance Package that has some great green paint.
As Trump Throws a Midterm Party, Some Vulnerable Republicans Send Regrets
Many members of Congress in the most competitive re-election races are skipping the chance to share a pep rally stage with President Trump.
Women’s Sports Leagues Have Exploded Around the Nation
Money is flowing into start-ups in softball, baseball, volleyball and basketball, and TV viewership is following.
Trump Administration Launches Blitz to Find Elusive Voter Fraud Ahead of Midterms
The practice is exceedingly rare, but President Trump has fixated on rooting it out this year, claiming without evidence that tens of thousands of noncitizens are registered to vote.
How New York Times Reporters Traced Dark Money in Politics
About $1 billion in anonymous contributions is coursing through midterm races across the country. Figuring out where the funds are coming from is no easy task.
Federal Judge Declines to Break Up Google’s Ad Technology Business
In a long awaited ruling, the judge said Google must make some changes to its ad tech business to handle antitrust issues, but did not disclose the measures publicly.
Video: Opinion | What A.O.C.’s Egg Freezing Says About Politics
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Karoline Leavitt may have very different politics, says Kristen Soltis Anderson, but they’re both publicly navigating similar realities: being young women in the public eye and navigating career ambition alongside questions of fertility and family.
Trump’s ‘Lightning Speed’ Threatens to Outpace the Courts
In his breakneck construction of a grand ballroom and in many other initiatives, critics say, the president has tried to outrun judicial review.
Trump Returns to a Familiar Playbook as the War With Iran Flares Up Again
President Trump called on Iranians to “rise up and fight” on Tuesday as the United States seems increasingly bogged down after six months of conflict.
Patients and Doctors, Shaken by the Clancy Trial, Seek Extra Help
Requests for advice from women with maternal mental health conditions, as well as health providers who care for them, have surged.
Teen uses 3D-printing business to help others
Brady Ashcroft puts his 3D-printing skills to work, creating products for customers while using his business to support causes in his community and beyond.
Employer Health Costs Are Expected to Spike in 2027
A new U.S. survey anticipates an average increase of 11 percent unless benefits are cut, the highest rate in decades. Other findings also predict a sharp rise.
Employer Health Costs Are Expected to Spike in 2027
A new U.S. survey anticipates an average increase of 11 percent unless benefits are cut, the highest rate in decades. Other findings also predict a sharp rise.
FiveThirtyEight’s Podcast Hosts Reunite for a New Show
Nate Silver, Clare Malone and Galen Druke will host “Still Counting,” a nonpartisan politics show — on a decidedly partisan podcast network.
Get to Know Your Phone’s Built-In Emergency Kit
In times of natural disasters and other dangers, special features tucked away on your iPhone or Android device could help make a difference.
Six Takeaways From the Massachusetts Primaries
Senator Ed Markey, 80, trounced a younger challenger who had made an argument for generational change. Two other longtime Democratic lawmakers hung on, too.
Former President Joe Biden Will Attend Sept. 11 Ceremony in New York
Mr. Biden will join three other living presidents at the event. President Trump has decided to skip the ceremony and is expected to appear at the Pentagon on the 25th anniversary of the attacks.
House Censures Republican Accused of Sexually Harassing Two Aides
Representative Chuck Edwards received a formal rebuke on the floor after a speech in which he apologized for his conduct but said it did not constitute harassment.
On Trump’s Ballroom, Chief Justice Finds Himself in an Unusual Spot: In Dissent
Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. has been in the majority in divided cases more times than any other chief since 1953. But not this time.
House Votes to Avert Government Shutdown Before Midterm Elections
Lawmakers sent the legislation to President Trump in an overwhelming vote, reflecting bipartisan enthusiasm around punting a messy spending fight until after the midterms.
North Carolina teen dies from rare brain-eating amoeba found in freshwater: Health officials
State health officials say the teenager died Monday.
North Carolina teen dies from rare brain-eating amoeba found in freshwater: Health officials
State health officials say the teenager died Monday.
North Carolina teen dies from rare brain-eating amoeba found in freshwater: Health officials
State health officials say the teenager died Monday.
Razer Just Released A Cute And Teensy Mobile Game Controller
It's called Prio and folds up when not in use, making it pocket-friendly.
Judge rebukes HHS over AI use in cutting teen pregnancy prevention grants
He wrote that grant solicitations for changes to funding reference public health studies that appear not to exist or do not support what they are cited for.
Ada Yonath, Chemist and First Israeli Woman to Receive a Nobel, Dies at 87
Her mapping of the ribosome, which led to new designs for antibiotics, faced years of derision, as many scientists saw it as a dead-end effort.
Scientists Hunting Dark Matter Found Something Strange
A lone signal from an experiment in South Dakota doesn’t fit the profile of any other known particles, physicists say.
Whistle-Blower Says Trump Officials Are Defying Court Orders on Voting by Mail
A report detailed “grave concerns” that a new system being rushed into use by the U.S. Postal Service could imperil millions of mail ballots ahead of the midterm elections.
Opinion | The Political Power of Christian Kitsch
Precious Moments figurines and Christian romance novels aren’t overtly political, but they shape how Christian women see themselves and the world.
Book Review: ‘American Scoundrel,’ by Kai Bird
“American Scoundrel” traces the career of Roy Cohn, whose smash-mouth politics continue to shape our own.
Brinkley, Guttenberg revel in retro joy of ‘American Summer’
Sweetly nostalgic as it looks back at one teenager’s “best summer ever,” “American Summer” is also a nod to the friendships and romances that unfold as adulthood beckons.
How the Pentagon Is Getting Into the Venezuelan Oil Business Under Trump
The Defense Department’s Office of Strategic Capital, founded by the Biden administration to give loans to bolster the U.S. defense industry, is helping lead President Trump’s oil deal.
Trump Mocks Data-Center Opponents as Wanting to Stay ‘Backwards and Poor’
The giant computing sites that power A.I. are increasingly opposed by communities across the country, a signal of voters’ concern about a changing economy.
JD Vance Called Michigan Senate Candidate Abdul El-Sayed ‘Evil’ in Speech
Vice President JD Vance also told Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, Michigan’s Democratic Senate nominee, to “keep my wife’s name out of your mouth.”
C.D.C. Director Challenges Pennsylvania’s Report of Two Measles Deaths
Questioning a state’s investigation is highly unusual for the public health agency, but reflects tensions between the Trump administration and many states over health issues.
Scott Brown Was a GOP Star. Will It Matter in the New Hampshire Senate Race?
Scott Brown is chasing the political limelight again with a seemingly improvised Senate campaign.
Eighteen ECU Health Nurses named Great 100 Nurses of North Carolina
Eighteen nurses from ECU Health have been named part of the Great 100 Nurses of North Carolina by the Great 100 Nurses of North Carolina Board of Directors.
Republican Candidate in Key House Race Bet on Her Own Campaign
The trading platform Kalshi issued a three-year suspension to the candidate, Laurie Buckhout, and fined her nearly $2,600. Ms. Buckhout said she had made a “dumb mistake.”
‘Adolescent Salvation’
Enduring the 90 minutes of the Chicago debut of Tim Venable's “Adolescent Salvation” at Theater Wit reminded me how nice it is not to be a teenager, especially in this
Where Science Meets the Sea: UNCW Program Immerses Teens in Marine Research
Through Oceans 17, MarineQuest's capstone program, participants conduct lab and field-based research alongside UNCW marine science faculty, staff and grad students.
Private Equity Wants to Invest in College Sports. Some Schools Are Wary.
As desperate as many athletic programs are for money, they are proceeding cautiously when it comes to deals with private equity.
Study A.I. Consciousness? The Bots Would Like a Word With You.
Given access to email, A.I. agents have started reaching out to the philosophers and researchers exploring deep questions about them.
Meta’s Business Set to Escape Lawsuits Unscathed
Meta’s $17 billion settlement with state attorneys general includes a long list of restrictions for teen users, but it won’t hold back its underlying business.
RFK Jr. packs health agencies with political appointees
Eighteen months into Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s tenure leading the Health Department, he’s stacked his agencies with more political appointees than any other recent administration, while reducing staffing to a 20-year low.
RFK Jr. packs health agencies with political appointees
Eighteen months into Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s tenure leading the Health Department, he’s stacked his agencies with more political appointees than any other recent administration, while reducing staffing to a 20-year low.
Global Oil Price Rises to $90 a Barrel After U.S. and Iran Trade Attacks
The first attacks in a month jolted energy markets. The average U.S. gasoline price remained 37 percent higher since the war began.
More Mail Ballots Are Arriving Late This Year, and They’re Getting Tossed
State officials say they worry about the Postal Service’s ability to deliver votes this fall. They are urging voters to mail their ballots early or use drop boxes so their votes count.
Gene-Editing Technology Offers New Ways to Create the Dogs of Our Dreams
Technologies like CRISPR are giving us new ways to create the dogs of our dreams — and a reason to reckon with our past mistakes.
This Marine Died in the Iraq War. His Mother Asks, ‘What Was It For?’
Travis Fuller was from my hometown. I went back and talked with his family about how they made sense of his death, 25 years after Sept. 11.
Wisconsin High School Football Rankings: Top 25 Teams
The top five high school football teams in the state of Wisconsin remain unchanged — according to the Massey Ratings — following the second week of the 2026 season. Sixteen of the top 25 teams in the state remain unbeaten. Both No. 3 Bay Port and No. 5 West De Pere held serve with important […]
Trump Says Venezuelan Oil Will Refill U.S. Stockpiles, but It’s Not So Simple
New projects can take years to produce meaningful amounts of oil, and that’s especially true in Venezuela, where infrastructure is in disrepair.
Why the United States Can’t Quit Its Wars
The country’s longest war came to an end exactly five years ago. Today it offers lessons for policymakers seeking to avoid an endless war in Iran.
Colorado Sues EarnIn For “Immoral, Unethical, Oppressive and Unscrupulous” Business Practices
Hey all, Jason here. When this hits your inbox, I should be en route to the airport — not to go anywhere myself, just to pick up my better half. I must admit, it’s been strange to be home alone (well, with two dogs) for two weeks! Really lets me “optimize” to spending more time on reading/writing/working, whether that’s healthy or not! Looking forward to getting back into a (somewhat) more balance routine. Subscribe or Support by Upgrading Compare Notes With the People Who Built Modern Fintech Partner content: Remitly CEO Sebastian Gunningham. Increase founder Darragh Buckley. Linda Du, Co-founder & President at Valon. They’ll unpack the decisions behind building and scaling major financial products: what they got right, what broke, what they would do differently, and how AI and new infrastructure are changing the operator playbook. Most events tell you where fintech is going. NerdCon puts the people who built the present in the room and asks them what comes next. Expect an operator-led conversation grounded in real products, real trade-offs and lessons earned the hard way. Fintech Business Weekly readers save 20% on Regular tickets with code FBW20 before standard pricing ends September 11. Meet the Builders Things To Know & Other Good Reads Advent and Stripe Abandon $50 Billion Pursuit of PayPal (Bloomberg) Trump Family’s New Crypto Bank Is Backed by Abu Dhabi Sheikh (Wall Street Journal) The multiplying risks of financing data centres (FT) Let the Bond Market Speak (Wall Street Journal) Did we waste a crisis? Modest proposals to reform deposit insurance. (Fintech Takes Banking) Untangling Guggenheim: How Private Credit Built Its Own Universe (Net Interest) The Hater’s Guide To Circular Financing — Part One (Ed Zitron) Fiat Ventures Rebrands to FGV Capital, Announces $35M Oversubscribed Fund II (BusinessWire) Socure Announces Strategic Growth Investment at $5.2B Valuation and Acquires Agentic Operations Platform Fravity (Socure) Listen: When Consumer Protection Disclosures Work Too Well (Consumer Finance Monitor Podcast) Colorado Sues EarnIn For “Immoral, Unethical, Oppressive and Unscrupulous” Business Practices When Andreessen Horowitz led EarnIn’s $39 million Series B in 2017, Alex Rampell, a partner at the storied venture capital firm, described EarnIn’s small-dollar advance product as “free,” relying on “entirely on voluntary contributions instead of fees.” Rampell favorably compared EarnIn’s approach to typical payday loans, writing, “Payday loans historically have had the potential to be a slippery slope for consumers into financial distress: opaque systems and steep fees that are hard to repay and set individuals back further than where they started. For many Americans living paycheck to paycheck, that kind of slide into debt can be extremely difficult to recover from.” But EarnIn’s product — which, the company says, isn’t a “loan,” legally speaking — ends up being anything but free for most users. While it is technically possible to take a no-fee advance from the company, most users incur “Lightning Speed” (instant funding) fees and/or ostensibly optional tips that combined can equate to annualized percent rates that can reach over 1,000%. With an average term of 9.77 days, even fees and tips that are small on an absolute dollar basis are equivalent to high APRs on an annualized basis. A lawsuit filed last week by Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser against EarnIn describes the company and its product and business practices quite differently than Andreessen’s Rampell; “EarnIn’s business practices are unfair because they are immoral, unethical, oppressive and unscrupulous,” the complaint, filed in District Court in Denver, Colorado, says. EarnIn’s marquee product, Cash Out, isn’t a loan, the company says, as Cash Out is not “[f]orward [l]ooking” because “[t]he money is transferred based on earnings to date,” does not carry a mandatory fee to access funds, and is “non-recourse,” meaning EarnIn cannot pursue recovery from users who don’t repay advanced funds. EarnIn is sometimes referred to as an “Earned Wage Advance” service. Though, unlike some others in the broader category, EarnIn does not integrate with employers’ payroll or time and attendance systems. Rather, EarnIn attempts to verify a user’s income and employment, by examining direct deposit transaction data in their linked external bank account, by using GPS location and Bluetooth data to estimate a user’s time spent at work, if they work in a fixed location, and/or by having a user provided a work email address. While repayment is theoretically optional, as EarnIn would have no recourse, such as reporting non-payment to the credit bureaus or a collections agency, this is anything but clear to users of the EarnIn app, Colorado’s complaint argues. During the process of taking a Cash Out, users must agree to a preauthorized debit of the amount advanced, plus any expedited funding fee and/or tips. Though users technically can revoke this ACH authorization, the fact that they have this right isn’t presented to users during the Cash Out process, but rather is included in linked terms and conditions few users are likely to actually read. And users who do wish to revoke their ACH authorization must do so three or more days before the scheduled transaction date by emailing EarnIn’s customer support. Similarly, EarnIn’s marketing claims that it carries “no interest” and “no mandatory fees” is technically true, but is not the reality for many of the app’s users, the Colorado complaint argues. Further, EarnIn has extensively marketed to users the ability to “access your pay today,” to get “instant” funds, and to get funds “the same day you work” — when, in reality, this speed of access was only possible by paying the additional, undisclosed Lightning Speed fee. The Colorado complaint highlights this contradiction specifically, noting: EarnIn tells consumers that they can ‘Make any day payday with EarnIn’ and that there no ‘hidden’ or ‘mandatory fees.’ For a consumer to access their pay on the same day requested, they would have to pay the Lightning Speed fee. In the fine print of the advertisement EarnIn discloses that ‘[f]ees apply to use Lightning Speed,’ a direct contradiction to the larger text of the advertisement, and a fact that would not be immediately understood by a consumer as ‘Lightning Speed’ is not defined nor explained. Like other small-dollar lending services, rather than explicitly charge interest, EarnIn collects a markup on the optional Lighting Speed fee, which, given the nature of the transactions, many users opt for, as well as offering users the option to leave “tips.” EarnIn leverages either Real-Time Payments (RTP) rails or push-to-card via debit rails if a user opts for the optional Lightning Speed. But while these capabilities cost EarnIn, on average, $0.075 or $0.20 per transaction, respectively, EarnIn charges users significantly more. Initially, EarnIn charged as little as $1.99 for Cash Outs up to $24. But EarnIn has hiked these fees multiple times, and now charges $4.99 for Cash Outs up to $75 and $6.99 for those over $75. According to the Colorado complaint, EarnIn leverages “dark patterns” to manipulate users and to make it more difficult to avoid tipping. Examples of these “road blocks” highlighted in the complaint include: As of 2023, in the EarnIn app, a consumer attempting to get a loan under the default settings had to make at least eighteen separate taps to complete the transaction and reduce the tip to $0. There is an alternative method to leave a $0 tip, via the “Custom tip” feature, but EarnIn made this option difficult to access by visually deemphasizing it and positioning it near devices’ “home” button. Using language and imagery such as “Tip to pay it forward,” “Your generosity supports the service + helps,” “Your tips make a difference,” and “[t]he APR for this cash out is 0%. Your tips help support us.” While Lightning Speed and tipping are, in theory, both optional, in practice, users nearly always ended up paying something. According to the Colorado suit, users were charged either a tip or an expedite fee for more than 92% of transactions, with an average APR of nearly 388%. And, although the advances are “non-recourse,” EarnIn successfully collects on nearly all transactions — 99.18%, according to the complaint, which, Colorado argues, “demonstrat[es] that EarnIn’s advances function as high cost loans, not voluntary payments.” The share of EarnIn users incurring fees — despite the product being marketed as 0% APR — is hard to reconcile with Andreessen investor Rampell’s favorable description of EarnIn vs. “opaque systems and steep fees” associated with payday loans, which, Rampell says, can be “extremely difficult” for borrowers to extricate themselves from. According to Colorado’s suit, EarnIn’s Cash Out product “trapped many consumers in extreme cycles of high-cost reborrowing.” The suit gives an example of one consumer in the state, who took out a whopping 1,151 loans, paying a total of $4,038.50 in Lightning Speed expedited funding fees on loans that averaged the equivalent of 1,421% APR. Another Colorado user, the suit says, took out 1,033 loans, paying $8,561.22 in tips and fees at an average APR of 1,539% . These types of usage patterns demonstrate “the severe and repeated financial harm caused by EarnIn’s illegal lending model,” the Colorado complaint argues. In aggregate, from January 2023 through July 2025, EarnIn extended 3.1 million loans to 56,778 users in Colorado — an average of nearly 55 transactions per person during the time period. EarnIn lent more than $300 million and collected more than $16 million from Colorado users in Lightning Speed fees and in tips. Ultimately, the Colorado complaint argues that “EarnIn’s Cash Outs are loans under Colorado law, and EarnIn’s contention that its product is not a loan based on its disclaimer of any legal repayment obligation lacks any real-world significance given how the Cash Out transactions actually operate in practice.” Colorado further argues that “EarnIn was not working with companies here in providing consumers with funds but acted as a third-party lender and charged illegally high rates, used deceptive design strategies to extract some charges, and trapped consumers in repeat borrowing. Colorado will continue to stand up for consumers and hold companies accountable when they violate our credit laws or attempt to evade them through misleading practices.” Colorado’s suit alleges EarnIn assesses finance charge in excess of that permitted by Colorado law, that EarnIn failed to make legally required disclosures to Colorado borrowers, that EarnIn made supervised loans to consumers without obtaining the requisite license, that EarnIn violated the state’s Deferred Deposit Loan Act, that EarnIn engage in unfair and deceptive trade practices, and that EarnIn made false or misleading statements concerning price. The suit seeks a court order enjoining EarnIn from violating relevant Colorado laws, for EarnIn to refund amounts charged in excess of state law, fees, costs, and penalties, and other relief the court deems to be just. Fintech Business Weekly is made possible by the generous support of paying subscribers — bringing you independent analysis of banking, fintech, and crypto without fear or favor. You can support my work by becoming a paying subscriber if you aren’t already. Paying subscribers enjoy: access to the entire archive of nearly six years of newsletters extended versions of the weekly newsletter, with additional content and analysis and (for founding member tier) quarterly personal 1:1 fintech Q&A / strategy calls with me, tapping into my unparalleled knowledge of the intersection of banking and fintech and experience working in the sector, including helping to launch Goldman Sachs’ retail bank Marcus Support Fintech Business Weekly You can also support Fintech Business Weekly by sponsoring a newsletter or podcast, putting you in front of 93,000+ of the most influential decision makers in banking, fintech, and crypto. Learn more about sponsor opportunities or request a media kit by dropping me an email. Q2 Quarterly Banking Profile: Five Quick Takeaways The FDIC released its quarterly banking profile, which is always worth a read, for the second quarter. The profile provides an aggregate snapshot about the overall health of the 4,238 institutions whose deposits are insured by the FDIC, who, collectively, hold more than $26 trillion in assets and saw a total net income of more than $90 billion in the second quarter. Net income was up 12% vs. Q1 2026, with lower provisions and realized gains on securities helping to drive the improvement, somewhat offset by increases in non-interest expense and applicable income taxes. Overall net interest margin was basically flat quarter over quarter (up 1 basis point vs. Q1 2026), though community banks saw NIM grow by 10 basis points, to 3.81%. Unsurprisingly, given that interest rates haven’t changed, unrealized losses on securities changed little, edging up slightly to $326.7 billion vs. $325.1 billion in Q1 2026. Aggregate credit quality has remained benign, with asset quality actually improving slightly in Q2. Overall, institutions reported a 9 basis point decline in their past-due and non-accrual rate, to 1.44%. Net charge off rate also declined by 2 basis points, to 0.57%. And finally, the FDIC’s deposit insurance fund stands at $161.1 billion, making the DIF reserve ratio 1.48% — above the statutory minimum of 1.35%, but still below the designated target reserve ratio of 2%. [Paid Subscriber Exclusive] Nissan Withdraws ILC App, State Associations Plan BankChain Alliance, FDIC Defines “Unsafe or Unsound Practice” For First Time Automaker Nissan withdrew its application to charter a Utah industrial loan company and its corresponding application to the FDIC for deposit insurance last week, on August 19th. Nissan’s application had been outstanding for more than a year, as it originally applied in June 2025. Recent applications to the OCC to form national banks have been decisioned, one way or the other, substantially more quickly than has historically been the case.
A Mortgage Servicer Sent a Letter About an Address Change. Was It Deed Theft?
A letter arrived in the mail from PNC Bank about an address change on a mortgage account. Was a deed theft scheme in process?
Ed Markey Defends Transgender Athletes in Massachusetts Senate Race
Senator Ed Markey of Massachusetts has emerged as a vocal defender of transgender rights as he tries to fend off a primary challenge from Representative Seth Moulton.
Digital safety, mental health and communication key themes in this year's Resilient Teens summit
Resilient Communities of East Georgia (RCEG), the youth-focused organization behind teen mental health initiative Resilient Teens, hosted its third annual Resilient Teens Summit, Saturday, at the Columbia County Exhibition Center in Grovetown. The nearly eight-hour event, beginning at 9:30 a.m., drew some 200 attendees including vendors and volunteers. Like each year, the day-long series of […]
Integrated pollution and carbon mitigation delivers major health and economic cobenefits in China
Synergistic mitigation of air pollutants and greenhouse gases is crucial for achieving clean air and carbon neutrality, but quantitative evidence of sectoral and regional health co-benefits in China remains limited. Authors develop an integrated Energy-Economy-Air Quality-Health framework coupling CEEPA, GAINS, and a province-level health module to simulate fourteen policy scenarios from 2020 to 2050. Coordinated strategies reduce CO2 and pollutants (SO2, NOX, PM2.5) by 75% relative to 2020, avoiding more than 500,000 premature deaths by 2050 and yielding monetized gains of 1.07 trillion CNY. Health benefits concentrate in industrially dense and populous provinces, with near-term PM2.5 reductions driven by pollution control and long-term improvements reliant on decarbonization. The integrated approach achieves a benefit-to-cost ratio of 1.42, lowering abatement costs by 11% relative to pollution-only measures. These findings highlight the value of coordinated, sector- and region-specific strategies for simultaneous climate mitigation, air quality improvement, and public health protection.
Opinion | Democrats Have an Identity Politics Problem. Just Not the One You Think.
Instead of rallying around their candidates, Democrats are falling out among themselves.
In Georgia, Jon Ossoff Courts Broad Appeal With an Anti-Trump Script for Senate Race
Senator Jon Ossoff, the youngest sitting senator and the only Democrat seeking re-election this year in a state President Trump won in 2024, hasn’t moderated his message in his critical race.
Political Campaigns Are Quietly Paying Influencers to Support Candidates
Their videos have proliferated on social media, but the payments are frequently hidden from viewers.
Judge Excludes Key Confession in Sept. 11 Case
Prosecutors argued the statements by the defendant, Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, were crucial evidence for the eventual death-penalty trial.
Vermont teen mental health and vaping rates show improvement
A new Vermont health report shows declining teen vaping rates and improved mental health metrics following the pandemic.
Five Science Fiction Movies to Stream Now
This month’s options include an adaptation of an early Stephen King novel, jungle dinosaur battles and atmospheric thrillers.
Opinion | Democrats Want Fighters. A Former Republican Has Ideas.
On deep frustration with the Democratic establishment and potential souring among Trump supporters.
North Carolina teen critically ill from rare brain-eating amoeba found in freshwater, officials say
A North Carolina teenager is critically ill from a rare brain-eating amoeba, Naegleria fowleri, that's found in warm freshwater, state health officials said.