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House Speaker Mike Johnson expected at Ralph Alvarado fundraiser in Lexington

The new attention follows election forecasters declaring that the race in central Kentucky's congressional district is no longer a cakewalk for the GOP.

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Oct 8 • 5:07 PM EDT • Politics • spectrumnews1.com
Speaker Johnson Floats Leaving Politics to Start ‘Lawn Business’ If GOP Loses House

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) floated an unexpected career change if Republicans lose their House majority in next month’s midterm elections, saying he would be willing to leave politics behind and start a lawn business in his hometown of Shreveport, Louisiana.

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Oct 8 • 4:51 PM EDT • Business • mediaite.com
Speaker Johnson Floats Leaving Politics to Start ‘Lawn Business’ If GOP Loses House

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) floated an unexpected career change if Republicans lose their House majority in next month’s midterm elections, saying he would be willing to leave politics behind and start a lawn business in his hometown of Shreveport, Louisiana.

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Oct 8 • 4:51 PM EDT • Politics • mediaite.com
Johnson unsure on ‘next chapter’ if Republicans lose majority

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) cast doubt on his future in GOP leadership for the first time Thursday, saying he is unsure “what my next chapter of life is” if Republicans lose the House majority. “If God moves on our hearts and says we should, you know, go back to my hometown of Shreveport and […]

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Oct 8 • 4:45 PM EDT • Politics • coloradopolitics.com
Data Science Initiative Talk: Dr. Thea Kristensen- Community Observations of Massachusetts Black Bears | Events & Calendars | Data Science Initiative Talk: Dr. Thea Kristensen- Community Observations of Massachusetts Black Bears

As part of the Data Science Initiative Speaker Series, Prof. Thea Kristensen (Biology) presents "Using Community Observations to Ask Questions about Massachusetts Black Bears”.

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Oct 8 • 4:21 PM EDT • Science • amherst.edu
Trump awards science, technology medals

Speak at the New Golden Age Summit at the Institute of Peace in Washington D.C., President Trump awarded Elon Musk, NVIDIA president and CEO Jensen Huang, CEO of Dell Technologies Michael Dell and more with the National Medal of Science and the National Medal of Technology and Innovation.

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Oct 8 • 2:31 PM EDT • Science • fox9.com
Lehigh’s Sexual and Reproductive Health Power Lab hosts inaugural speaker on pronatalism

Lehigh’s Sexual and Reproductive Health Power Lab hosted speaker Laura Lindberg in a discussion on Pronatalism and Reproductive Autonomy.

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Oct 8 • 12:26 PM EDT • Health • thebrownandwhite.com
\'Ghost Hunters\' star to speak in Millersville Friday night; here\'s how to get tickets

A “Ghost Hunters” personality will visit Millersville this week.

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Oct 8 • 11:00 AM EDT • Entertainment • lancasteronline.com
Watch live: Trump speaks at science and technology summit

Watch live coverage as President Trump participates in a summit on science initiatives, including artificial intelligence advancements. The president will be awarding medals of recognition to technology leaders including Elon Musk, Jensen Huang and Michael Dell.

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Oct 8 • 10:29 AM EDT • Science • nbcnews.com
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National Geographic Live speaker series coming to the Lawrenceville Arts Center

National Geographic Live, the renowned touring speaker series featuring National Geographic Explorers and other leading voices in exploration and conservation, is coming to The Lawrenceville Arts Center for two special

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Oct 8 • 9:27 AM EDT • Entertainment • gwinnettdailypost.com
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ELRIG and The Protein Society announce keynote speakers for Protein Sciences in Drug Discovery 2026

ELRIG, a not-for-profit, volunteer-led organization dedicated to the global drug discovery community, and The Protein Society, an international, not-for-profit, scholarly society, with the mission to provide forums for the advancement of research into protein structure, function, design and applications, today announced the keynote speakers for Protein Sciences in Drug Discovery 2026.

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Oct 8 • 9:22 AM EDT • Science • news-medical.net
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Concern after Europeans endorse US science agenda

Germany’s biggest research funder has said it is “concerned” after Berlin, plus several other European countries, endorsed a controversial US-led science policy statement. On October 4, the White House announced that 16 countries, including Germany, the UK, Italy, Greece, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Poland, Japan and South Korea had backed the Kyoto Vision for a Golden Age of Science.The document, agreed on the margins of the annual Science and Technology in Society forum in Kyoto, which gathers science ministers from across the world, appears uncontroversial at first sight. It’s a one-page statement, without any concrete measures, that touches on reducing administrative burden on scientists, experimenting with new funding models and the use of “super intelligence” in science, the Trump administration’s preferred term for artificial intelligence. However, what’s controversial is that much of the language in the Kyoto Vision reflects Science: A New Golden Age, a major policy document released by the White House in July.That document attracted criticism for deriding universities as “legacy institutions” and suggesting money be diverted to new research labs. In a speech in Kyoto on October 4, Michael Kratsios, director of the White House Office for Science and Technology Policy and the report’s author, said that the US was seeking to “diversify the ways that we support research to meet our best scientists where and when they do their best work.” The worry is that the Trump administration may be using genuine dysfunctions in academia as a pretext to defund and disempower universities, which US vice president JD Vance has labelled “the enemy.” Many in Europe also want more experimentation and reform of how science is organised and funded, and agree with criticisms of academia made by Science: A New Golden Age. But some also fear that if the US pushes for reform partially in bad faith, it could politicise and undermine the whole agenda. Washington is currently trying to change federal funding rules so that political appointees can block and cancel scientific grants. It has cut grants mid-project on topics related to diversity and other politically forbidden areas. And last year, it threatened to cut Harvard University’s federal funding unless it admitted a “critical mass” of new faculty and students to create campus “viewpoint diversity.” “Particularly concerned”Because of this wider US political context, the Kyoto Vision’s otherwise innocuous sounding statement that “we encourage experimentation with new institutional models for science that provide varying levels of autonomy, resources and direction” has caused consternation in Europe, particularly from some of Germany’s biggest science organisations. A spokesperson for the German Research Foundation (DFG), the country’s biggest funder, said that it would “closely monitor whether the current US administration uses the Kyoto Vision to restructure research funding to the detriment of research institutions such as universities and their autonomy.” The DFG was “particularly concerned” with the statement’s references to Science: A New Golden Age, they continued. A spokesperson for the German Rectors’ Conference, which represents the country’s universities, said that the reference to “new institutional models” raises “questions on the underlying understanding of academic freedom and autonomy.” Research funding must “guided first and foremost by scientific not political principles,” they went on. Dampen criticismEuropean endorsement of the Kyoto Vision might dampen domestic criticism of the Trump administration’s science policy, some in the US fear, by suggesting international support. “What we saw from Germany, Japan, the UK and other countries, is an impulse that the administration has exploited with our own science reform movement, a belief they can use dialogue to make things better,” said Cole Donovan, director of science policy at the campaigning group Stand Up for Science. “In practice, the administration has done the opposite.” Not a binding statementThere’s been so much concern in Germany that the country’s federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space put out a statement defending its endorsement of the Kyoto Vision, which it has posted on its website. Related articlesIs metascience being co-opted?European researchers sound the alarm that Trump rule changes will hit cooperationThe US ‘golden age’ science strategy: what Europeans need to know The ministry said that it “should be regarded as a basis for discussion and does not constitute a binding statement.” Backing the statement gives Germany the chance to raise “issues and concerns” with the US during upcoming talks on science and technology scheduled for November. “Although these intentions appear, in principle, to be worthy of support, they will be scrutinised and examined more closely as the process continues,” the statement continues. Super intelligence?A ministry spokesperson confirmed to Science|Business that Germany had broadly endorsed the Kyoto Vision.However, they said Berlin had not agreed to final changes in the statement to refer to AI as super intelligence. In September, facing protests against data centres and polling that suggests US citizens are far more concerned than excited by the technology, Trump issued an executive order that attempts to rebrand AI as super intelligence, following polling on social media.The name change is to “reflect the transformative capabilities of these technologies and the limitless opportunities they create for the American people,” the order says. EU askedThe UK and Italian science ministries did not respond to a request for comment on their endorsement of the Kyoto Vision. Although most EU countries did not endorse the statement, it’s not clear which states the US asked. The White House Office for Science and Technology Policy did not return a request for comment. A European Commission official, speaking under condition of anonymity, said that the US had approached the EU, but too late for the EU to quiz all its member states on whether Brussels should endorse the statement.

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Oct 8 • 8:00 AM EDT • Science • sciencebusiness.net
Business English for Workplace Communication (2026): EF English Live Recognized for Practical, Speaking-Focused Learning by Better Business Advice

Better Business Advice has named EF English Live a recommended online learning option for business English and workplace communication in 2026. It looks at how the platform uses live classes, realistic workplace scenarios, and self-paced practice to help adults communicate more confidently in professional settings.

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Oct 8 • 6:00 AM EDT • Business • finance.yahoo.com
Glen Powell on why he doesn’t talk about politics: ‘My calling is elsewhere’ – 101.9fm The MIX

Glen Powell is opening up about why he refrains from speaking publicly about politics.In a recent interview with Esquire, Powell explained why he doesn't make i

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Oct 8 • 6:00 AM EDT • Politics • wtmx.com
Glen Powell on why he doesn't talk about politics: 'My calling is elsewhere'

Glen Powell is opening up about why he refrains from speaking publicly about politics.In a recent interview with Esquire, Powell explained why he doesn't make it a point to talk about politics despite...

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Oct 8 • 6:00 AM EDT • Politics • yahoo.com
Jaya Aysola’s Remarks from UN Panel on Health Care for the Disabled

Speaking on a panel at the SDG Media Zone inside the United Nations headquarters in New York City, LDI Senior Fellow Jaya Aysola, MD, MPH, discussed the ways health care delivery practices currently…

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Oct 8 • 5:49 AM EDT • Health • ldi.upenn.edu
Sheryl Crow gets candid on 'Pick You Up,' politics and speaking out

The singer sat down with The Tennessean in Nashville to discuss her new seven-track project and whether entertainers should share their political views.

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Oct 8 • 5:00 AM EDT • Politics • yahoo.com
‘Transformation is our central priority,’ science minister says

Blade Nzimande emphasises focus on promoting women, underrepresented racial groups and disabled scientists

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Oct 8 • 3:00 AM EDT • Science • researchprofessionalnews.com
Why is Trump campaigning in deep-red Tennessee? Political experts weigh in

The president is scheduled to speak Saturday in Clarksville, just four days before early voting begins.

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Oct 8 • 12:06 AM EDT • Politics • wkrn.com
Who Won August and September: Original Films or Franchises?

(Welcome to the Entertainment Strategy Guy, a newsletter on the entertainment industry and business strategy. I write a weekly Streaming Ratings Report and a bi-weekly strategy column, along with occasional deep dives into other topics, like today’s article. Please subscribe.) I just heard someone say that if you’re reading a pundit or data analyst, and they don’t tell you that they got anything wrong, they’re not a pundit but an “influencer”. I agree with that. You have to tell your audience when you get things wrong, or they won’t (or shouldn’t) trust you as much. Today, we’ve got another edition of “What I Got Right, What I Got Wrong”. In general, I’m patting myself on the back (and patting very hard) about a few things like IP at the box office, LIV golf, horror films, crowdfunding movies, superheroes, and old people going to the theaters. That said, I also made a couple of data mistakes on the streaming bubble popping and HBO’s datecdotes, so I’m not perfect. But first, I need your feedback... Subscribe Follow-Ups: What Should We Call Mid-Budget Movies Which Aren’t Cinematic Enough for Theaters But Are Too Expensive to Make Money on Streaming? After I asked for feedback on what we should call straight-to-streaming films that are too big to pencil out on streaming but not really big enough to resonate in theaters, I got some great suggestions from you all, including... “Moldilocks” from John Aboud “Little Big Indie” from Travis Frick1 “Midflicks” from Jonathan Funke. “Extra-Medium” from Jona Nwuke. (Read the explanation in the footnote.) Between these and Brandon Katz—who suggested “Bermuda Budget Triangle”, “The Platform Gap” and “The Distribution Deadzone”—we’ve got some excellent suggestions. And they’re better than my suggestion, the “Streaming Budget Dead Zone”, so let’s take a poll! The winning entry becomes the new term. Loading... RIGHT: LIV Golf is Fully Bankrupt…Is Anyone Else Next? A few years ago, I was always a bit perplexed at all the articles I’d read praising LIV Golf and their strategy to disrupt the PGA. LIV Golf, a brand new professional golf league, offered PGA stars ten times what they made on the PGA Tour to join their new league. And folks praised this strategy for its initial “success” in that a lot of big names did indeed leave the PGA. Yeah, of course the players came over. LIV Golf paid them so, so, so much more! But LIV Golf hadn’t discovered a way to increase potential revenue. So think about this in basic business terms… They paid much more in costs… …but had no real way to increase revenue. That’s not a strategy! That’s deficit financing. It won’t work unless you bankrupt the competition (and then turn around and pay those same golfers much, much less). It’s not a sustainable strategy and only lasts as long as the company/person/nation backing it decides they’re cool with losing money. For LIV Golf, that meant Middle East oil wealth, in particular Saudi Arabian money. Clearly, the current Iran War has hurt Middle East finances, so they need to trim their more exorbitant spending. And LIV Golf was part of that trimming. This should be a major warning for others. TGL’s parent company, TMRW Sports, just got a $1 billion valuation, despite TGL’s (the indoor golf league) horrible TV viewership of less than half a million viewers per match. Unrivaled, the women’s basketball league, just secured a $650 valuation, despite its horrible TV viewership and a new rival (Project B) entering the scene next year. To relate this to streaming, Hollywood should ask which streamers may have wealthy patrons funding their losses. (Let’s be clear: Google, Amazon and Apple.) Could those patrons lose their appetite? For Amazon, probably not. But Apple has a new boss, so maybe! WRONG: My Analysis of the Streaming Bubble Was Missing a Week I’m going to be congratulating myself a lot today, but I make mistakes too, like this data goof. When I last compiled the data on the decline in TV shows, I was missing one week at the end of June. If you look at the first image, you can see that one week was mislabelled as “July”. Mainly, this image got updated to show a 27% decline, not 29%: This change doesn’t really impact the overall analysis, but it is two percent better. By the way, through the third quarter, the decline increased and it’s now a 30% decrease since 2022. (I’ll write/visualize this in an upcoming article.) But I want you to trust me and my data. Especially these days, when many people are using LLMs that I know are inserting faulty data into their charts, I want to keep earning my audience’s faith. So that’s the accurate data. RIGHT: IP Remains Very, Very Popular In July, I wrote a giant (and I mean giant) article on Backrooms, Obsession, and the box office, going over what we know, what we don’t know about what works in theaters, looking at YouTubers, IP, the horror genre, comic book movies, and a whole lot more. The month of August really tested a lot of my theses and, being honest, mostly supported my arguments. Let’s start with IP. Looking at 8-Aug (the weekend after Spider-Man: Brand New Day came out) to 18-Sep (the weekend that Resident Evil came out, which I think provides a nice bookend to this time period), there were seven films based on pre-existing IP: Resident Evil (2026) ($126 million) Practical Magic 2 ($65 million) _Insidious: Out of the Furthe_r ($65 million) Coyote Vs. Acme ($59 million) Paw Patrol: The Dino Movie ($53 million) Tony ($15 million) Super Troopers 3 ($7 million) Compare those to the notable original films from the past month—I actually could have included more movies, but here are just thirteen, bringing us to an even twenty films—including.... The End of Oak Street ($54 million) Buddy ($26 million) Mutiny ($15 million) By Any Means ($15 million) The Dog Stars ($14 million) Runner ($14 million) One Night Only ($11 million) Hope ($8 million) Spa Weekend ($7 million) The Uprising ($6 million) Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma ($6 million) Onslaught ($3 million) Eli Roth’s Ice Cream Man ($2.8 million) Here’s that in chart form: Five of the top six films in this time period were all based on IP. I made a big chart of films that grossed over $200 million at the box office before Spider-Man: Brand New Day and The Odyssey hit theaters. Let’s update that chart! By the way, if you want to see how I categorized each film—so another bar chart—here it is: I know that many of my fellow critics/pundits/analysts dislike films based on IP and how Hollywood is making so many of them. And I’m sympathetic to this point of view. As I’ve written many, many times before, you need a balance between existing franchises, new IP, and original films. And Hollywood clearly needs to make more films like Resident Evil (a well-made film from a visionary director) and fewer Practical Magic 2’s (which didn’t get critical or customer buzz). But at some point, critics and pundits need to contend with what audiences are telling them: Movie-goers aren’t showing up to original films. Audiences are speaking with their dollars, telling you they want more IP and franchises. You can try to convince studio heads to make fewer IP-based films and franchises, but the data and numbers aren’t there. Instead, critics need to work harder to convince audiences to show up for original films. Aim your ire/concern at the average person, not studio heads.2 Because they’re just making the films that audiences are telling them to make. WRONG: Original Horror Films Didn’t Break Out I’ll be honest, even though I wrote an article casting some skepticism on the horror genre in July, if you asked me to make a prediction, I would have predicted that, in August, a new, original horror film would have blown up. No, seriously, I just assumed that Obsession and Backrooms presaged a change in audience behavior. But none of the buzzy new original horror films from August—Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma, Onslaught (not an action film in spite of the ads), The End of Oak Street, Eli Roth’s Ice Cream Man, or _Buddy—_broke out. To be clear, exactly one of those films (Buddy) had good “ROI”, but again—I try to be specific in my language—none were “popular” in any broad sense of the word. None of them will be “saving” movies theaters like Backrooms or _Obsession_helped save the summer. The new Insidious film and Resident Evil, both based on IP, were far and away the biggest horror films since July. (We’ll see if this changes in October/Halloween season.) RIGHT: Stay Skeptical about Crowdfunding... I’ve long been skeptical about crowd-investing platforms as one of Hollywood’s saviors, mainly because there’s so much hype/buzz. People need to stay more skeptical about more things, explaining both the potential upside but also the downsides. In particular, the media often hypes crowdfunding at the start and never checks in on the actual results after they’ve come in later. And August gave us our first update! _Ice Cream Man—_directed by Eli Roth—grossed $6 million off of a $5.5 million budget. This is a production of The Horror Section, which was one of the first “crowd investing” studios with 2,400 investors, which means that 2,400 investors probably lost money. They certainly aren’t getting as great of returns as if they had just invested their dollars in the stock market. Hopefully Stiletto (Tagline: “Someone’s Going to Make it Rain Blood!”) does better next month. WRONG: Another Data Goof Here’s another data error. When the first episode of House of the Dragon came out, HBO put out that it had 21.5 million viewers in the first three days, and I read that to mean in the US…but no, it was global. So my US-only datecdotes charts shouldn’t have included it. We never got US-only numbers for the first episode, but for the final episode, HBO put out that it had 11 million US viewers. (And that global dropped to 21 million viewers.) Here’s the updated chart (which I’ve since used in the Streaming Ratings Report): Still, this show is absolutely huge. RIGHT: Superhero Films Remain Very, Very Popular After Supergirl flopped, I read a few takes that “comic book movies are going the way of the Western”. Post-Spider-Man: Brand New Day, that take didn’t age well. To be fair, I have a very nuanced take on the superhero genre right now; it’s down right now, for a lot of reasons. But it’s not “dead”. Maybe _Spider-_Man is just a really popular character? I saw that take, and it’s a fair counter-argument. (But pundits arguing that superhero movies were dead should have mentioned this $1.5 billion counter-argument…) But is it just Spider-Man? The next Avengers film already has $50 million in pre-sales (and I was skeptical that that film would do well) and the Avengers: End Game re-release topped the box office two weekends ago (over three original films). And I wouldn’t bet against Batman or Superman. So maybe it’s just Spider-Man, Batman, Superman and the Avengers. Oh, and Deadpool, of course. And Black Panther. And Wolverine. And probably the X-Men. Plus a well-made Wonder Woman or the Hulk film could break out. But that’s it! It’s just those ten characters/teams. Oh, what’s that? Lanterns is also doing well on HBO? (See previous section…) To be fair, I’m actually pretty sympathetic to the argument that more popular characters—like Spider-Man and Batman—anchor more popular films. In fact, I made that exact argument three years ago when I first wrote about the “Marvel-cession”. In many ways, you can blame The Guardians of the Galaxy for fooling Marvel Studios (and the rest of us) into believing that any character could pop. It turns out, the list of iconic characters is probably smaller than most people think. But it’s probably too early to say that superhero films and comic book movies are dead unless “death” means a slight decline over a longtime. RIGHT: Who Killed Theaters? Old People I get frustrated whenever I see headlines or analysis about how young people are “returning” to theaters. As I’ve detailed(for years), young people have always powered the US box office, despite narratives about “kids these days” and their “phones”. Really, what’s changed post-2020/pandemic is that old people aren’t going to the movies nearly as much. This summer, I saw a movie (from an older director) in a theater near a retirement community, and multiple older people at the theater were talking about how this was their first time seeing a movie in years. I dislike personal anecdotes, so YouGov can fill in the data, best summarized by this headline: “Who killed movie theaters? Not the youths”. According to them, 64% of people aged 18-29 have seen a movie in the last year, but only 30% of 65-and-older. 20% of 18-29 have seen a movie in theaters in the last week and 42% in the last month. Here’s the polling data: Most concerning? Many Americans (17%) think theaters are a worse or much worse experience than watching films at home. Slight WRONG: Hadestown Opens Big A live theater capture of the Broadway musical, Hadestown, made $20 million at the US box office, which begs the question: was I wrong to be skeptical about musicals a few years ago? Yes and no. On the one hand, $20 million is a far cry from being “popular”, so yeah, the genre isn’t that popular overall and Hadestown is one of the more popular musicals from recent years (i.e. the “Taylor Swift Data Fallacy” in action). On the other, I doubt filming this cost all that much, and I don’t think that they spent much on marketing, so this is a good source of ancillary revenue. Smaller Updates WRONG: As I mentioned in a Streaming Ratings Report, I underestimated the budget for Enola Holmes 3. It probably cost more like $50 million, if not more. But... I’m not sure that it really matters? At sub-10 million hours, prices have to come down to make this work. WRONG: Netflix is giving Ink a 27-day in theaters! To quote the kids/YouTubers these days, let’s go! Now I might actually have a chance to see Danny Boyle’s latest in theaters. I’d complained about this in a “Coming Soon” section, but I was heartened to read that Netflix is giving multiple films longer theatrical windows this year. RIGHT: Netflix is sending 4-5 films per year to theaters. Netflix is slowly but surely sending more and more films to theaters, as I cautiously predicted earlier this year. For now, it’s just three big films and a number of awards contenders, but still, this is great news. And they’ll be releasing box office grosses! Just this week, Ted Sarandos confirmed that KPop Demon Hunters 2 will come to theaters (and my guess is it performs in the box office top ten at a minimum). WRONG: Angel has 3 million subscribers! How do I know this? Well, they told Deadline, who reported it. I marked this as “wrong”, since they’ve doubled their subscribers in one year but, you know, they don’t really have a hit film to speak of and they’re still losing money. WRONG: Furious was only renewed for one more season. I accidentally wrote “two more seasons” in my latest “Renewals, Cancellations, Un-Orders and Removals Update”. RIGHT: House of David is ending with its third season. In July, Prime Video renewed House of David for a third season, as I just wrote in my latest “Renewals and Cancellations” report. Well, now it’s ending after that third season. Why? As I’ve been writing, its viewership wasn’t great. I got feedback that this show didn’t cost very much, but it cost enough that its limited viewership didn’t save it. WRONG: Adults was a Hulu original! So I missed Adults when it first came out last year; I saw that it aired on FX and just assumed that it was a linear-first program. Turns out, it aired three episodes on FX, but binge-released the rest of its episodes the next day on Hulu. Huh. So I should have covered it last year! But I just wrote about it. 1 “When I was a kid in the 90s, if you wore a t-shirt to school that wasn’t too big and also wasn’t too small, but somehow didn’t quite fit, we’d say you were wearing an “extra-medium” shirt.” 2 As always, a huge exception is Disney, which barely makes anything original anymore.

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Oct 7 • 6:41 PM EDT • Entertainment • entertainment.substack.com
At Black business expo, officials urge owners to speak up

State and federal lawmakers called for more Black small business owners, who disproportionately face economic challenges, to meet with elected officials and ask for support.

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Oct 7 • 6:17 PM EDT • Business • bostonglobe.com
Trump to appear at White House science event on Thursday

By Courtney Rozen WASHINGTON, Oct 7 (Reuters) - US President Donald Trump will speak at a White House event on scientific ​discovery on Thursday, according to a ‌social media post from his tech adviser Michael Kratsios. The event will highlight the Tru...

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Oct 7 • 3:23 PM EDT • Science • wkzo.com
WATCH LIVE: Trump speaks at rally for Senate candidate Ken Paxton in San Antonio
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Oct 7 • 3:20 PM EDT • Politics • pbs.org
House Speaker Destin Hall responds to questions about the timing of the special session
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Oct 7 • 2:56 PM EDT • Politics • newsobserver.com
Ciara Miller fights back tears when reacting to ‘DWTS’ elimination: ‘Just sad’

Ciara Miller couldn’t help but feel all the emotions when speaking out about her ‘Dancing With the Stars’ elimination for the first time.

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Oct 7 • 11:27 AM EDT • Entertainment • ew.com
Meghan shares rare video of Princess Lilibet speaking in American accent

Duchess Meghan is sharing sweet memories with Princess Lilibet.

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Oct 7 • 11:25 AM EDT • Entertainment • centraloregondaily.com
At Black business expo, officials urge owners to ‘speak up’

Black small business owners are facing economic conditions similar to those they dealt with as a result of COVID-19. And to help, state and federal lawmakers are calling on more Black business owne…

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Oct 7 • 10:48 AM EDT • Business • wwlp.com
KIRK SPEAKS: Washington

Can the Hawks earn a road win on a short week AND with a backup quarterback?

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Oct 7 • 10:31 AM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com
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“DWTS” contestants ‘gasped’ backstage when Ciara Miller and Brandon Armstrong were eliminated

Some of the remaining stars react to the surprise goodbye while speaking with EW.

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Oct 7 • 9:48 AM EDT • Entertainment • yahoo.com
Formula 1: Max Verstappen says sport 'less stressful' without Christian Horner, speaks on whether he would drive for Ferrari and his new contract

Max Verstappen on F1 post Christian Horner: It is not as spicy but I quite like how things are going with everyones behaviour, lets put it like that; Verstappen says it is not my concern if Horner returns to sport; watch Singapore Grand Prix weekend live on Sky Sports F1 from Friday

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Oct 7 • 9:25 AM EDT • Sports • skysports.com
At Black business expo, officials urge owners to 'speak up'

Black small business owners are facing economic conditions similar to those they dealt with as a result of COVID-19, Black Economic Council of Massachusetts CEO and President Nicole Obi said

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Oct 7 • 9:15 AM EDT • Politics • statehousenews.com
The politics of being famous: When should celebrities speak up? The Commonwealth Times

A concert is supposed to be simple — people buy tickets, listen to music and spend a few hours enjoying themselves. Politics are not necessarily a part of the experience. However, for some of the biggest names in entertainment, separating a career from politics is becoming increasingly difficult.

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Oct 7 • 7:00 AM EDT • Politics • commonwealthtimes.org
Jorge Jesus speaks out after reading Cristiano Ronaldo's statement

Coach Jorge Jesus confirmed that he had read the lengthy and explosive statement released by Cristiano Ronaldo, in which the Portugal captain explains his departure from the national team camp and sha...

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Oct 7 • 6:24 AM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com
Arnold Schwarzenegger, James Patterson team up on new book 'The Protector'

Former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger speaks to students after he received an honorary degree from the Hertie School on Sept. 17, 2024, in Berlin, Germany. The award is in honor

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Oct 7 • 6:00 AM EDT • Entertainment • kmaland.com
'Medicare for All' message attracts midterm voters buckling under medical bills

Midterm candidates are talking up Medicare for All, and in a poll 2 out of 3 Americans said they support it. The phrase speaks to a desire for radical change, though many don't really know what it is.

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Oct 7 • 5:00 AM EDT • Health • npr.org
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Jim Phillips: ACC does not have ‘unanimity’ on Protect College Sports Act

With the Protect College Sports Act heading to the House of Representatives, the ACC has become a key part of the conversation. Four school presidents from the conference penned a letter to House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) requesting changes to the conference realignment provision last week. Speaking at ACC Tipoff on Tuesday, commissioner Jim Phillips […]

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Oct 6 • 9:40 PM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com
‘A period of lawlessness’: Sports industry professionals gather to discuss mental health and the future of collegiate sports

Jim Steyer ’78 J.D. ’83 hosted the panel Monday evening as part of his speaker series.

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Oct 6 • 8:44 PM EDT • Health • stanforddaily.com
51 of the best Amazon Prime Day deals under $50

There are dozens of deals you can grab right now without spending more than $50. They range from kitchen gadgets to smart speakers.

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Oct 6 • 8:27 PM EDT • Science • popsci.com
Watch Robinhood's Kerbrat on Business Strategy, Crypto

Johann Kerbrat, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Crypto and International at Robinhood, discusses the company's expansion plans and investment opportunities in the cryptocurrency market. He speaks with Haslinda Amin on the sidelines of the Token2049 conference in Singapore.

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Oct 6 • 8:00 PM EDT • Business • bloomberg.com
‘Going to do everything we can’: Wyden visits Portland school to talk mental health in wake of hazmat incident at Benson

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Senator Ron Wyden spoke with students at Portland’s McDaniel High School Tuesday to hear ideas for how Congress can improve youth mental health. Ron Wyden speaks on me…

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Oct 6 • 7:39 PM EDT • Health • koin.com
Miami Dolphins' Chop Robinson breaks down sack vs. Minnesota Vikings

Miami Dolphins edge rusher Chop Robinson speaks to the media after 10 pressures during the loss to the Vikings on Oct. 3, 2026.

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Oct 6 • 7:23 PM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com
Stand Up for Science to Rally Scientists & University Leaders in Support of Academic Freedom Tomorrow

Virtual rally features speakers from SUNY & SUFS; calls on university leadership to defend academic freedom.

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Oct 6 • 4:29 PM EDT • Science • einpresswire.com
Stand Up for Science to Rally Scientists & University Leaders in Support of Academic Freedom Tomorrow

Virtual rally features speakers from SUNY & SUFS; calls on university leadership to defend academic freedom.

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Oct 6 • 4:29 PM EDT • Science • einnews.com
Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery merger closes, creates combined company Skydance

David Ellison, CEO of Paramount Skydance, speaks during CinemaCon 2026 on April 16, 2026, in Las Vegas, Nevada. (David Becker/Getty Images for CinemaCon)

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Oct 6 • 2:35 PM EDT • Entertainment • kmaland.com
Amazon bricks Alexa’s ability to control Echo speakers' AUX input

Amazon hasn't made an Echo with a 3.5mm port in six years.

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Oct 6 • 1:03 PM EDT • Technology • arstechnica.com
Xbox CEO Asha Sharma speaks at internal town hall — Discussing Xbox Series X|S as 'core,' Helix as a family of devices, boosting Game Pass, and more

EXCLUSIVE: In a recent town hall with Microsoft gaming staffers, Xbox CEO Asha Sharma described how Xbox was in "free fall" declines before this year's big restructure.

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Oct 6 • 1:02 PM EDT • Technology • windowscentral.com
Far-right AfD wins first state parliament speaker post

The AfD has become the first far-right party since World War II to secure the post of speaker in a German state parliament. The breakthrough came in Saxony-Anhalt after the party's landslide election victory last month.

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Oct 6 • 11:12 AM EDT • Politics • dw.com
TOLEDANO: Stop listening to pop stars for your politics

Celebrities should not be exiled from political life, but the line between speaking up and telling people how to vote is one worth holding.

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Oct 6 • 9:24 AM EDT • Politics • vanderbilthustler.com
Jannik Sinner Ends 2026 Season Early With Knee Injury

In a somber video message posted on social media Tuesday, world No. 1 Jannik Sinner announced that his 2026 tennis season is officially over as he prioritizes long-term recovery from a lingering right knee issue. The 25-year-old Italian, speaking directly to fans, said: “Hello everyone, I would like to give you a little update. Me together with …

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Oct 6 • 8:37 AM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com
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Could the future “afterlife” be digital rather than spiritual? Science fiction is starting to look plausible

For most of human history, the idea of continuing after death belonged mainly to religion, philosophy and personal belief. Technology is now creating a very different possibility: a version of you that continues speaking, answering questions and interacting with family long after your biological life has ended. This would not be an afterlife in the spiritual sense. Today’s systems cannot preserve consciousness or prove that a person’s mind survives death. What they can increasingly preserve is d

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Oct 6 • 8:23 AM EDT • Science • tech.yahoo.com
Folarin Balogun Speaks Out on Failed Everton Move

Monaco striker Folarin Balogun has spoken out about his failed move to Everton, and whether he could return to the Premier League.

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Oct 6 • 7:01 AM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com
‘Let Troy be Troy’: How Maine Democrats’ hope to beat Sen. Susan Collins is working to quiet doubters

As Democrats enter the homestretch of their longtime quest to defeat Maine GOP Sen. Susan Collins, they are placing their hope in a fifth-generation logger from the state’s rural north who speaks with a distinct Allagash accent, displays an apparent penchant for boba tea and has never been this close to the national spotlight before.

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Oct 6 • 5:00 AM EDT • Politics • cnn.com
Attorney for accused Cornell University student speaks out
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Oct 6 • 12:10 AM EDT • Politics • cnn.com
Second October 'event' possible with new Macs as the focus

Apple already has an unannounced product reveal expected on October 13 and rumors suggest a second round of releases could occur by the end of the month.

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Oct 5 • 10:45 PM EDT • Technology • appleinsider.com
CREO Brings AI, Health, National Defense Into Focus for Cybersecurity Awareness Month

The Center of Excellence in Cybersecurity Research, Education and Outreach is marking Cybersecurity Awareness Month with a speaker series that runs through Oct. 29.

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Oct 5 • 9:55 PM EDT • Health • ncat.edu
Mother speaks out after son allegedly shot, killed by business partner in Antlers

A 33-year-old man was allegedly shot and killed by David Basham inside an Antlers shop one evening in late August, according to an affidavit obtained by KXII 12.

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Oct 5 • 7:00 PM EDT • Business • kxii.com
Rice: Southern Baptist pastors should be involved in the political process

CLEARWATER, Fla. (BP) – Southern Baptist pastors should “absolutely” be a part of the political process in order to press on issues that speak to theological and moral clarity, SBC President Willy Rice told Fox News in a weekend interview.

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Oct 5 • 4:40 PM EDT • Politics • baptistpress.com
Keaton Wagler Stays Positive After Struggling in Clippers Preseason Debut

Keaton Wagler speaks after his preseason debut with the Los Angeles Clippers.

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Oct 5 • 4:34 PM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com
Dennis Hastert, speaker disgraced by sex abuse, dies at 84

Dennis Hastert, whose rise to U.S. House speaker in 1999 was as unexpected as the criminal conviction that sullied his reputation and sent him to prison years later, has died.

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Oct 5 • 12:03 PM EDT • Entertainment • thederrick.com
Dennis Hastert, longtime Republican House speaker who went to prison, dies at age 84

Dennis Hastert, who served as House speaker longer than any other Republican but later was sent to prison in a hush-money case, has died. The Kendall County, Illinois, coroner said

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Oct 5 • 11:01 AM EDT • Politics • wkow.com
Dennis Hastert, House speaker sullied by abuse case, dies at 84

Dennis Hastert, whose rise to US House speaker in 1996 was as unexpected as the criminal conviction that sullied his reputation and sent him to prison years later, has died. He was 84.

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Oct 5 • 10:13 AM EDT • Politics • chicagobusiness.com
Former House Speaker Dennis Hastert dies at age 84

The Kendall County, Illinois, coroner said Monday that Hastert died of natural causes over the weekend

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Oct 5 • 9:59 AM EDT • Politics • spectrumlocalnews.com
Dennis Hastert, longtime Republican House speaker who went to prison, dies at age 84

Dennis Hastert, the nation’s longest-serving Republican House speaker, whose own political legacy was forever fouled by allegations that he molested high school

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Oct 5 • 9:41 AM EDT • Politics • wtop.com
Dennis Hastert, longtime Republican House speaker who went to prison, dies at age 84

Dennis Hastert, who served as House speaker longer than any other Republican but later was sent to prison in a hush-money case, has died.

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Oct 5 • 9:40 AM EDT • Politics • ksat.com
Dennis Hastert, longtime Republican House speaker who went to prison, dies at age 84

Dennis Hastert, who served as House speaker longer than any other Republican but later was sent to prison in a hush-money case, has died.

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Oct 5 • 9:40 AM EDT • Politics • wsls.com
Dennis Hastert, Powerful Politician Disgraced by Child Sexual Abuse, Dies

The longest-serving Republican speaker of the House admitted in 2016 to abusing teenage boys decades earlier. He was 84.

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Oct 5 • 9:22 AM EDT • Politics • nytimes.com
Conference to Explore Alternatives to Coercive Mental Health Care

The 18th annual Critical Voices Network Ireland (CVNI) conference will take place at University College Cork November 12 and 13, bringing together speakers and participants to explore critical and alternative responses to human distress.

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Oct 5 • 9:00 AM EDT • Health • madinamerica.com
What Holding Eye Contact While Someone Speaks Really Reveals About Your Psychology, According to Science

You are mid-conversation with a friend, nodding along, and suddenly you wonder: am I looking at them too much? Or not enough? Most of us treat eye contact like an automatic reflex – something we either do or don’t, without thinking twice. But researchers say the way you hold someone’s gaze while they speak is...

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Oct 5 • 7:30 AM EDT • Science • graziamagazine.com
LinkedIn pros have found a new key to getting opportunities: selfies

LinkedIn creators are increasingly seeing work selfies and casual videos build trust and grow audiences that lead to jobs and speaking opportunities.

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Oct 5 • 4:11 AM EDT • Business • businessinsider.com
Gubernatorial candidate Byron Donalds speaks to FAMU for first townhall

The FAMU community gathered at Lee Hall to ask questions and hear from Byron Donalds, republican candidate for governor.

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Oct 4 • 5:06 PM EDT • Politics • wusf.org
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Kevin O'Connell Speaks With FOX Sports' Allison Williams

Hear from Head Coach Kevin O'Connell after the first quarter of Sunday's game vs. Miami...

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Oct 4 • 4:50 PM EDT • Sports • vikings.com
Ed Sheeran's new tour opener speaks out on Macklemore, calls for 'common ground'

After other musical acts quit his tour following Macklemore's removal for pro-Palestinian messaging during a performance, Ed Sheeran has found a replacement opening act.

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Oct 4 • 4:49 PM EDT • Entertainment • centraloregondaily.com
U.S. treasury secretary to speak at Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry dinner

U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent will be one of the guest speakers during the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry's annual dinner Monday.

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Oct 4 • 2:53 PM EDT • Business • local21news.com
Bronny James Speaks on Reuniting With Ziaire Williams on Lakers

James says it is great to have his old high school teammate back in the building, and he thinks Los Angeles is the right stage for him.

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Oct 4 • 1:45 PM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com
Talking Science Fest

John Mercure speaks with Sam Mulrooney to talk about the Science Festival and what to expect there.

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Oct 4 • 12:55 PM EDT • Science • wtmj.com
Seacoast Science Center experts to speak

NEWBURYPORT — Storm Surge, Newburyport’s all-volunteer climate education nonprofit, kicks off its fall 2026 Speaker Series on Thursday, Oct. 8, at 7 p.m. with “Climate Impacts on Marine Mammals: Stories

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Oct 4 • 12:03 PM EDT • Science • gloucestertimes.com
How Americans’ Financial Health Is Faring In The “K-Shaped” Economy

Hey all, Jason here. Money20/20 is still two weeks away, but I’ve already started packing (not procrastinating for once!). My calendar is already filling up with various sessions I want to catch, meetings, and of course happy hours, dinners, and other side events. If you’ll be in Vegas and want to catch up, let me know by replying to this email, and we can try to find a time amidst the chaos of the Venetian. A big if not totally unexpected piece of news dropped on Friday: the Independent Community Bankers of America, a trade group that represents smaller U.S. banks, filed a lawsuit against the OCC and Comptroller Jonathan Gould, arguing that the regulator’s move to grant trust bank charters to firms seeking to use them to conduct substantial non-fiduciary activities exceeds the authorities granted to the OCC by Congress. I haven’t had time to fully digest the legal filing or speak to folks in my network about it, but you can expect to see coverage and analysis on it in next week’s newsletter. Subscribe or Support by Upgrading The NerdCon agenda just dropped. It’s stacked. Partner content: Nubank built an AI-first bank. Chime built its own banking core. Figure and Valon are rebuilding the mortgage stack. At NerdCon, you’ll hear from the people behind those bets: what they chose, what they learned, and what they’re still figuring out. The agenda is live, with leaders from Nubank, Chime, OpenAI, Remitly, Mercury, Figure, Valon and more. Follow the mainstage conversations, bring the problem your team is wrestling with to a hands-on workshop, or pull up a chair at a roundtable. Pick your quests. Meet us in San Diego, November 18–20. Fintech Business Weekly readers save 20% with code FBW20. Explore the Agenda Things To Know & Other Good Reads Federal Reserve Board finalizes changes to enhance the transparency and public accountability of its stress test and reduce volatility in its stress test-related capital requirements (Federal Reserve Board of Governors) FDIC Announces Conclusion of Independent Monitorship (FDIC) Modernizing Financial Regulation: Initial Observations from eSLR (Fed Vice Chair for Supervision Michelle Bowman) The Data Version of Godzilla versus Kong: FRED Takes on AI (Fed Governor Christopher Waller) Financing the AI buildout (Brookings) Q3’26: Rules for Banks but Not for Crypto (Fintech Takes Banking) The Inevitability of Local Stablecoins (Lombard Notes) Delusions of AI Governance: The Human-in-the-Loop Comfort Blanket (Fintech Snark Tank) Stripe agrees to acquire Parafin to expand revenue opportunities for platforms and help small businesses grow (Stripe) Listen: Fighting Fraud in the Age of AI, with SEON’s Tamas Kadar (Fintech Business Weekly) How Americans’ Financial Health Is Faring In The “K-Shaped” Economy If there is one overarching theme across the economy and politics in the U.S. at the moment, it’s “affordability.” The term is vague enough to encompass a panoply of factors shaping Americans’ day-to-day lives: rising costs for the hallmarks of being “middle class,” including healthcare, housing, childcare, and education, inflation and rising interest rates, and a job market with the specter of AI hovering over it. At the same time, policy shifts under the Trump administration have resulted in reduced subsidies to those who get health insurance under the Affordable Care Act and new restrictions on qualifying for Medicaid and SNAP, the impacts of which have yet to be fully felt. These factors are contributing to declining consumer confidence and general dissatisfaction with the economy, despite continuing GDP growth and stock market records. This divergence is encapsulated in the idea of the “K-shaped” economy, in which a small proportion of Americans have seen their wealth balloon, while the majority of American households struggle to preserve the lifestyle they have. Perhaps the greatest determinant of which branch of the “K” a household is on is whether their wealth and income are primarily derived from employment vs. from assets. Nearly two decades of low interest rates and, more recently, elevated rates of inflation have benefited asset owners, while those whose income is primarily or solely derived from labor have largely seen real purchasing power stagnate or decline. This is reflected in recent Bureau of Labor Statistics data showing that labor share of U.S. GDP — the fraction of economic output that accrues to workers as compensation in exchange for their labor — dropped to just 52.8% in Q2 2026, the lowest since the BLS began keeping records. In 1947, approximately 2/3rds of economic output accrued to workers; even as recently as 2001, labor’s share of GDP was 64.1%. Against this backdrop, we’ve seen the rise of more credit and credit-like products: cash advance apps, “no-fee” overdraft, earned wage access, and buy now pay later, which are often used as small-dollar short-term borrowing mechanisms to meet immediate consumption needs or pay other bills (eg utilities, cell phone, other debt payments). With the markers of a middle class existence and, increasingly, basic financial stability seemingly out of reach for many, it should be no surprise there’s been an increase in “financial nihilism,” something industry peers like Alex Johnson and Frank Rotman have discussed and analyzed the roots of. The explosion of gambling and gambling-adjacent products and services — often marketed under the guise of being an “investment” — is inextricably intertwined with the rise of financial nihilism. Crypto, sports betting, and, more recently, prediction markets offer an escape or even hope of sorts, like a contemporary, digital version of a scratch-off lottery ticket, while leaving the overwhelming number of people who use such products worse off. Share of Households That Are Financially “Vulnerable” Ticks Up The Financial Health Network’s 2026 Financial Health Pulse® report adds context on how American households are faring. (I linked to this report in last week’s newsletter, but wanted to take time to further unpack the data in the report this week.) The Financial Health Network publishes the report annually, providing insight into how Americans’ financial circumstances are changing over time. The 2026 report is derived from a survey fielded in April and May 2026. The report leverages survey responses to assess indicators of financial health across spending, saving, borrowing, and planning/protecting and to determine a zero to 100 “FinHealth” score. Those with scores between 0 and 39 are considered “Financially Vulnerable,” consumers with scores ranging between 40 and 79 are defined as “Financially Coping,” and those with scores of 80 to 100 are “Financially Healthy.” The report found that moderate improvements in 2025 were reversed, with the share of respondents considered financially “vulnerable” rebounding to 17%. The longitudinal data reflect the impact of pandemic-era programs, like expanded unemployment, cash stimulus payments, and pauses of federal student loan payments. The positive impacts of those programs, as reflected in the Financial Health Pulse reports, had largely disappeared by 2023. While pandemic-era inflation — to be fair, in part caused by the various support and stimulus measures — had come down from as high as 9% in 2022, it has rebounded since the start of Trump’s second term, with tariffs and energy market disruptions owing to the war in Iran pushing prices back up. Specific indicators in the survey that deteriorated from 2025 to 2026 include the share of respondents spending less than their income over the past 12 months, the share paying all bills on time over the past 12 months, the share that have a manageable amount or no debt, the share that are “moderately” or “very” confident their insurance is adequate to cover them in an emergency, and the share that “somewhat” or “strongly” agree that their household plans ahead financially. Unsurprisingly, lower- and moderate-income households are more likely to struggle to pay their bills on time and have any funds leftover to save. The share of low-income households whose income exceeded their spending dropped from 35% in 2025 to 31% in 2026, while the share of upper-income households whose income exceeded expenses remained unchanged at 63%. Households with student loans or revolving credit card debt reported having “a bit more” or “far more” debt than was manageable at rates far higher than those not carrying these types of debts. The share of those with student loan debt indicating their debt load was too high to manage increased from 50% in 2025 to 55% in 2026, while the share of those with revolving credit card debt saying the same ticked up from 51% in 2025 to 54% in 2026. Households that had student loans were markedly more likely to be financially “coping” or “vulnerable” vs. those without student loans. In 2026, 27% of households with student loans were considered financially vulnerable, a jump of 6% points vs. 2025. Households without student loans saw just a 1% point increase (not statistically significant) in those considered financially vulnerable. Households’ perception of the affordability of categories of goods and services paints a stark picture, with less than one-fourth considering higher education affordable, about a third deeming childcare affordable, and less than half viewing healthcare as affordable. 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. Democratic Senate Report Highlights How Iran Uses Tether to Evade U.S. Sanctions Iran uses stablecoins, specifically Tether, to evade sanctions, fund regional proxies, and to purchase military drones, a report released last week by the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations says. The report was authored by committee ranking member Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and the minority staff. Crypto and stablecoin proponents will often push back on criticism that criminals make use of these assets by arguing that, on an absolute dollar basis, far more illicit funds flow through traditional banking systems and payment rails than via crypto and stablecoins. And while that is likely true, it elides the reality presented in news story after news story: whether state actors — Russia, Iran, North Korea — or criminal groups, those looking to engage in illicit transactions increasingly favor stablecoins and, specifically, Tether (USDT). The report from the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations released last week adds context to how Iran uses Tether has a lynchpin in its shadow banking system. The report analyzed 846 wallets that have been sanctioned or targeted for seizure, finding that 84% of them transacted exclusively or primarily in Tether. The ability to create near limitless, anonymous wallets and to move funds effectively instantaneously and irreversibly have made crypto a favored financial mechanism for bad actors. Stablecoins solved key drawbacks of bitcoin, namely, the original cryptocurrency’s highly volatile value in dollars. And while Tether (the company) has the technical ability to “freeze” or destroy funds, the company is often limited and reactive in its approach to doing so, the Senate report argues. Tether, which is nominally based in crypto-friendly El Salvador, “has stated that its compliance with OFAC sanctions is ‘voluntary’ and that it follows ‘OFAC guidelines,’” the Senate report says. Owing to these favorable attributes, Tether “became a primary cryptocurrency for Iran, Hamas, Hizballah, and the Houthis beginning in 2023 and has expanded in scale since,” according to the report. Tether’s role in Iran’s shadow banking system, the report says, is enhanced by crypto exchanges like Bybit, Kyrrex, OKX, Gate, and Binance, and through “over the counter” exchanges and hawala networks. The consequences of these financial flows aren’t hypothetical. The Senate report links Tether as a funds transfer mechanism to Iranian proxies in the region, including Hizballah, the Houthis, and Hamas. Tether has also been used to make payments to secure components necessary to manufacture drones, the report says. The report concludes by arguing that “[s]tablecoin issuers with a significant nexus to the United States, particularly those that offer dollar-denominated stablecoins, should be subject to American sanctions law rather than being allowed to hide behind foreign jurisdictions.” Stablecoin issuers like Tether must be held accountable for repeated failures to prevent illicit finance and sanctions violations by law enforcement, the Department of Justice, the Securities and Exchange Commission, and OFAC, the report argues. [Paying Subscriber Exclusive] OUSD Goes Live, Make Your Own Neobank, U.S. Sanctions Russia’s A7 Network As “Transnational Criminal Organization” OpenUSD, the stablecoin issued by the Open Standard consortium that includes Stripe, Visa, Mastercard, core providers, crypto firms, and numerous banks, went live last week. Social commerce platform Whop raised eyebrows in fintech by offering creators on its platform the ability to launch their own neobanks, which the company describes as “great businesses that are easy to run,” in just 15 minutes. And OFAC and FinCEN target Russia’s “shadow banking” A7 Network — more on these stories after the paywall.

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Oct 4 • 8:59 AM EDT • Health • fintechbusinessweekly.substack.com
Retired Navy SEAL to first responders at Chesterfield mental health event: 'Trauma is trauma'

Operation Yellow Tape hosted a mental health conference for first responders in Chesterfield, bringing together speakers to break the stigma of seeking help.

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Oct 4 • 7:19 AM EDT • Health • wtvr.com
Bowie seizing Scotland shot after World Cup disappointment

BBC Scotland speaks to Kieron Bowie after he scored his first goal for his country against North Macedonia.

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Oct 4 • 3:59 AM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com
Salisbury ESU to host politics of late night talk Oct. 15

The Salisbury branch of the English Speaking Union are set to host Dr. Patrick Giamario for his talk “Political Satire Under Fire.” The recent hullabaloo over late night hosts Stephen […]

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Oct 3 • 10:30 PM EDT • Politics • salisburypost.com
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As midterms near, Justice Alito shares his feelings about retirement

Speaking to CBS News, Alito described the calculation as a natural one that comes with age. At 76, Alito is the second-oldest justice on the court.

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Oct 3 • 8:41 PM EDT • Politics • seattletimes.com
Trump rally attendees react to war and the economy ahead of the midterms

CNN’s Alayna Treene speaks with Trump supporters about their views on issues like the Iran war, gas prices and the economy, as the US president campaigns in Vandalia, Ohio in a bid to help Republicans retain control of Congress in next month’s midterm elections.

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Oct 3 • 8:00 PM EDT • Politics • cnn.com
Sixers' Joel Embiid speaks on his health, how training camp is going

Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid speaks on his health and how training camp has gone for himself and the team.

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Oct 3 • 5:05 PM EDT • Health • sixerswire.usatoday.com
Republicans tried to punt health care cuts until after the midterms. It didn’t work.

While most GOP-enacted cuts to Medicaid and other safety net programs won’t happen until 2027, Democrats are speaking to the voters already feeling the squeeze.

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Oct 3 • 2:00 PM EDT • Health • politico.com
Novak Djokovic Speaks On Health Ahead Of Zverev Showdown, Seeks ATP Finals Berth

Tennis Focus, Hot Topics Novak Djokovic is seeking a place at the Nitto ATP Finals later this year.

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Oct 3 • 9:09 AM EDT • Health • ubitennis.net
Can House Democrats stay unified next year? It may be up to one man

Internal divisions have dragged House Speaker Mike Johnson down for months. On the verge of power, can Hakeem Jeffries avoid the same fate?

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Oct 3 • 3:00 AM EDT • Politics • usatoday.com
'There’s no such thing as democracy' – Yanis Varoufakis | Radical Thinking with Aditya Chakrabortty

In the first episode of Radical Thinking, a new series from the Guardian, senior economics commentator Aditya Chakrabortty speaks to the former Greek finance minister Yanis Varoufakis. What does he make of Andy Burnham's plans to 'rewire' the UK economy? Radical Thinking will be published every Saturday in the Politics Weekly feed

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Oct 3 • 2:45 AM EDT • Politics • theguardian.com
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Clemson president among those asking for adjustments to Protect College Sports Act

SPARTANBURG, SC(WSPA)–Clemson president Ben Ayers was among four ACC presidents to sign a letter addressed to U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson asking for adjustments to the Protect College Sports Act now before his body, the website Tomahawk Nation reported Friday night. The letter advocates changing expansion language in the PCSA bill that passed the senate […]

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Oct 3 • 2:28 AM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com
Learning from Arteta and inspiring youngsters

Luton Town manager Jack Wilshere speaks about being back where he started as an eight-year-old and the lessons he learned from his time at Arsenal.

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Oct 3 • 1:19 AM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com
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Olivia Insani Perske: Rooted and resonant

Olivia Insani Perske was singing before she was speaking — literally.

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Oct 3 • 12:00 AM EDT • Entertainment • herald-dispatch.com
US Speaker Mike Johnson attends Calvary football game

Speaker Mike Johnson surprised fans at a Louisiana high school football game to watch Calvary Baptist play.

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Oct 2 • 10:59 PM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com
Halle Berry's reacts to ex-husband's restraining order, abuse claims

Halle Berry speaks out against ex-husband Oliver Martinez amid his recent restraining order against the Oscar-winning star. He accuses Berry of physical abuse against their 12-year-old son.

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Oct 2 • 6:07 PM EDT • Entertainment • latimes.com
Politics Unusual: Governor's race, NY consent laws

In this episode of Politics Unusual, FOX 5 NY's political reporter Morgan McKay speaks with Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman about his campaign for the governor's office. Also, a conversation with NYS Assemblymember Catalina Cruz about New York's consent laws.

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Oct 2 • 4:43 PM EDT • Politics • fox5ny.com
Fiery crowd caps Mississippi redistricting hearings. Opponents urge: ‘Leave our maps alone’

Tempers flared Thursday at a packed redistricting hearing at the Mississippi Capitol, where a large majority of speakers criticized what they said was a power grab aimed at diminishing Black political power and further entrenching Republican dominance over state politics.

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Oct 2 • 4:28 PM EDT • Politics • wral.com
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Do Animals Understand Us? Here’s What Science Says

Your pet may not be able to speak, but that doesn’t mean you two can’t find ways to communicate. Here’s how to talk and listen to the beloved animals in your life, according to experts.

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Oct 2 • 4:13 PM EDT • Science • yahoo.com
Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery will be called Skydance

David Ellison, CEO of Paramount Skydance, speaks during CinemaCon 2026 on April 16, 2026, in Las Vegas, Nevada. (David Becker/Getty Images for CinemaCon)

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Oct 2 • 3:00 PM EDT • Entertainment • kmaland.com
Christian Science practitioner to present Oct. 11

Ann Kneeland, practitioner of Christian Science healing and international speaker, will present her talk, "Healing with joy: Discovering the power of Love," on Sunday, Oct. 11.

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Oct 2 • 12:30 PM EDT • Science • goldmountaincanews.com
Whitefish Lake Institute hosts Science Quencher Oct. 9

Local voices of science and conservation will speak on northwest Montana’s wildlife and environment at Whitefish Lake Institute’s Science Quencher on Oct. 9 from 5 to 7 p.m. in the Ramsey Room at The Lodge at Whitefish Lake. This event is free and open to the public.

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Oct 2 • 11:00 AM EDT • Science • whitefishpilot.com
Whitefish Lake Institute hosts Science Quencher Oct. 9

Local voices of science and conservation will speak on northwest Montana’s wildlife and environment at Whitefish Lake Institute’s Science Quencher on Oct. 9 from 5 to 7 p.m. in the Ramsey Room at The Lodge at Whitefish Lake. This event is free and open to the public.

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Oct 2 • 11:00 AM EDT • Science • hagadonenewsnetwork.com
Prominent Team Owner Shares Leadership Lessons on the Future of Profes

Carolyn Tisch Blodgett, co-owner of the New York Giants and Gotham FC, joined President Jens Frederiksen, Ph.D., for the latest Sports Leadership Exchange Speaker Series, as part of the Frederiksen Fo

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Oct 2 • 9:26 AM EDT • Sports • newhaven.edu