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Patients are often left ‘out of network’ as hospitals, insurers clash over cost
Insurance companies want hospitals to agree to reimbursements that don’t keep pace with rising costs. Hospitals often can’t afford that.
Iran war: how rising energy prices are affecting people around the world
Energy costs are rising globally due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz during the Iran war. Other supply chains could also be in peril.
Nintendo Switch 2 digital games to cost less than physical versions in US
Platform holder says change "simply reflects the different costs associated with producing and distributing each format"
Samsung Reportedly Drops Plans To Design Its Exynos 2800 On A Sub-2nm Process, Preferring Healthy Yields And Optimizations Over Cutting-Edge Lithography
Rather than raise unnecessary production costs, the Exynos 2800 will utilize Samsung’s new 2nm process to achieve better yields and optimizations
Costly auto mandate amounts to needless overkill
HB26-1199 is currently in the legislature, and let me explain how this affects you. Currently in the state of Colorado, your vehicle’s emissions have to meet California standards even though you do not live in California. Though we all can agree we want clean air for all of us, meeting the California specifications further harms you, the […]
‘Enormous cost’: GOP Rep. Nancy Mace says war with Iran could cost Republicans in midterms
'This Is Unsustainable Madness': Modern Video Game Budgets Are Out of Control
Many games now cost $300m or more
South Florida car business hit by global conflict after missile damage in Dubai, as shipping disruptions mount
New images out of the region show destruction tied to escalating tensions involving Iran, and for one Miami Lakes-based company, the fallout is both immediate and costly.
Postal Service to implement first-ever fuel surcharge amid mounting fuel costs, financial challenges
USPS is reportedly planning its first-ever 8% fuel surcharge on packages starting in April as the agency faces a cash crisis and mounting financial losses.
Concern over Health Care Affordability Is Widespread
A majority of Californians are pessimistic about their future health care costs. These worries are fueling broad opposition to federal health care rollbacks.
Bikes Keep Honda Afloat Yet Even That Business Is Under Pressure
Honda Motor Co.’s costly misfire on electric cars has dramatically increased the stakes for the company to avoid making the same mistakes with motorcycles.
Nintendo will start charging more for physical Switch 2 games than digital copies
The first physical game affected will cost $10 more than a digital copy.
Nintendo to start charging different prices for first-party digital and physical games
Nintendo just announced it will begin charging different prices for first-party Switch 2 games based on digital or physical purchases. The new Yoshi game will cost $60 digitally, but $70 for a physical copy.
Pussycat Dolls star triples down on MAGA label after claiming politics cost her the reunion tour
Pussycat Dolls member Jessica Sutta says her MAGA alignment and RFK Jr. support cost her a spot on the group's 53-date PCD Forever reunion tour.
Price tags for patients: I’m still fighting for honest health care transparency
The Patients Deserve Price Tags Act would provide price transparency in the health care system, allowing patients to make informed decisions about their care and reducing costs for employers and fa…
How outlawing flavored tobacco saved Massachusetts $70 million in health care costs
GBH's Morning Edition spoke with the state's top public health official about new research on banning flavored tobacco, maternal health, measles and more.
Intel Arc Pro B70 Outclasses NVIDIA’s RTX Pro 4000 In AI At Half The Cost, 50% More Memory
Intel's Arc Pro B70 is designed to offer accessible local inference for AI, delivering more memory at half the price of the competition.
Pitch deck: StoReel startup raised $34M to build AI micro dramas
StoReel describes how it uses AI and a user-generated platform to make micro dramas at a fraction of the cost paid by established players.
Health care costs in Colorado will grow under federal policy, patient advocates say
Health care providers in Colorado expressed anxiety around high health care costs as a result of the Trump administration’s policies.
Yankees’ Netflix debut is latest example of sports’ complicated TV landscape
Fans have never had more access to live sports on TV. But it comes with costs, like navigating a maze of networks and new subscription fees.
KFF Tracking Poll on Health Information and Trust: Use of AI For Health Information and Advice
This poll finds that about as many adults are turning to AI for health information as social media, with health care costs and access driving many users, particularly younger users.
Some Meta employees told to work remotely for the day as layoffs loom
The note comes as the company gears up for layoffs. Business Insider reported that some managers were tasked with drawing up cost-cutting plans.
As gas prices continue to climb, businesses take hit from soaring diesel costs
In San Diego, the current average price for a gallon of diesel fuel was about 3 cents shy of $7. That price is up nearly $2 in a month.
Rural health’s tech push has its limits
Plus: Focus on private equity in daycare as costs rise
Broadview mayor demands closure of ICE facility, reimbursement of village, business losses
The suburban mayor asked the feds to pay back $700,000 in costs to the villlage associated with Operation Midway Blitz and for economic losses suffered by nearby businesses.
Broadview mayor demands closure of ICE facility, reimbursement of village, business losses
The suburban mayor asked the feds to pay back $700,000 in costs to the villlage associated with Operation Midway Blitz and for economic losses suffered by nearby businesses.
Failed push to scrap license plate decals raises questions
Ditching the yellow stickers might be costly for local governments and sheriff's departments.
Julio Fuentes: Florida amends SB 1760 to protect access to lower-cost drugs
Lawmakers preserve competition to keep prescription drugs affordable for Floridians
Health Ring Oura Interviews Banks for IPO as Soon as This Year
Health ring Oura has been interviewing bankers to advise on an initial public offering that could take place as soon as this year, according to a person with direct knowledge of discussions. A public offering would follow fast growth at the company, which sells connected devices—which cost from ...
Epic Games Laying Off 1,000+ Employees, Swears AI Is Not to Blame
The company behind Fortnite, the Epic Game Store, and the Unreal Engine is also implementing a $500 million cost savings plan.
New business owner? Here's how to find, screen and hire employees fast
Hiring your first employees doesn't have to take long. Here's how to move quickly without making costly mistakes.
Marathon has sold 1.2M copies across Steam, PS5, and Xbox
Alinea Analytics estimates show that Marathon has generated gross revenues of $55M via 1.2M copies sold on Steam, PS5, and Xbox: Looking at the split between Steam, PS5, and Xbox, Steam is clearly the main platform for Marathon, accounting for a little under 70% of the audience (800K copies sold). Meanwhile, PS5 takes about 19% (217K) and Xbox (including console, PC, and cloud) accounts for a bit over 11% or 133K. Marathon is technically a first-party Sony title, so seeing the home console struggle to break 20% of the volume is a notable data point for the ongoing platform-agnostic debate. PlayStation Studios online games will almost certainly continue being multiplatform (despite Sony reportedly pulling back on PC releases). Subscribe for free to get the most accurate games estimates in your inbox twice a week 🫶 Subscribe As for Marathon, the consensus among hardcore players who pushed through the awkward onboarding phase – myself included – is that it’s fantastic. The gunplay, aesthetic, and presentation are among the best in the shooter genre. A great game doesn’t always equal an immediate hit, though, as shown by our estimates. Things are looking lukewarm right now. But this might be one of those marathon-not-a-sprint situations. Had to, didn’t I? Why wasn’t Marathon a hit on the same level as Arc Raiders? One topic that came up in a lot of conversations at GDC this year was why Marathon hasn’t hit the same stratosphere as Arc Raiders. On paper, they’re both extraction shooters, and Marathon has the Bungie pedigree – the house that built the gold standard for gunplay in Halo and Destiny. Marathon’s neon-futuristic aesthetic also distinguishes itself from the gritty realism of Tarkov or the post-apocalyptic hope of ARC Raiders. But vibes can only get you so far for first impressions if the onboarding feels like a brick wall. Marathon is a sweaty PvP-focused experience with a first-time user experience and UI that I can only describe as dreadful. Players are dropped into a complex ecosystem where the UI, though visually striking, is functionally uninformative, forcing users to manually hover over nondescript, identical icons just to identify basic gear or weapon mods. This lack of clarity is compounded by punishing mechanics like a severe heat gauge for movement and a scarcity of vital resources, all without a clear tutorial or a low-stakes mode to learn the ropes. Most people – even top streamers and veteran shooter players – have no idea what’s going on in Marathon at first. Arc is on the complete other end of the spectrum. As we covered here and here, Arc Raiders offers a more collaborative, approachable loop where players often work together toward shared goals. And the objectives are instantly clear. To many players, this contrast only emphasised Marathon’s issues, especially during the testing period. Players understand the Arc Raiders loop within 30 minutes, while Marathon acts as a massive filter, chewing up newcomers and spitting them out before they can experience the depth of Bungie’s signature gunplay. What I’m getting at here is that the poor first-time user experience of Marathon’s Server Slam likely stifled launch sales, while the opposite was true for Arc. Let’s look at the pre-launch copies sold for each game during their respective Server Slams (launch-aligned) : Looking at the trajectory: Arc Raiders saw a massive 80% jump in copies sold during its three-day Server Slam (day -13 to -11). Players jumped in, realised the water was fine, and immediately opened their wallets. Marathon, meanwhile, saw a 49% increase in the four days following its Slam (Day -7 to -3). At the time of each game’s respective launch, Arc Raiders had nearly double the Steam footprint of Marathon – and word of mouth only continued to grow. Bungie could have had more time to fix the onboarding process had the beta happened earlier. But Marathon launched three days after the beta finished. These factors limited the launch sales quite a bit, I reckon. Marathon has found a niche audience, though Despite the friction-heavy start, the data suggests that those who survived Marathon’s onboarding are loving life. We’ve been tracking cross-platform DAUs, and while there’s the expected post-launch leakage, many players are sticking with it. After peaking at 478K total DAUs on its first Saturday, Marathon has settled into a respectable rhythm, holding 345K DAUs as of yesterday and averaging 380K DAUs across the weekend. Steam continues to do the heavy lifting here, consistently accounting for the lion’s share of the daily players. Players have been putting in the hours, too: On Steam, Marathon’s average playtime has climbed to 27.8 hours, significantly outpacing the console averages on PS5 (16.5h) and Xbox (17.3h). Even more telling than the averages: 22% of the Steam audience has surged past the 50-hour mark, and nearly 7% have already logged over 100 hours. Subscribe for free to get the most accurate games estimates in your inbox twice a week 🫶 Subscribe This data suggests that once the Bungie magic clicks, it hooks players deeper than the average extraction shooter. There’s also started to be a shift in the game’s discourse. Marathon launched as one of those games that’s cool to hate. But as Marathon’s 100-hour club grows, we’re seeing conversations around its mechanical merit outweigh the negativity. Several high-profile creators, who were initially vocal critics, have spent the last week coming around on the mechanical depth of the endgame. It’s a subtle but positive signal; the hate train is losing steam, and a new narrative about the game is emerging. Bungie faithfuls unite Another interesting metric in Marathon’s first few weeks is who, exactly, is playing. Bungie leans heavily on its prestige as the “makers of Halo and Destiny,” in its marketing, and that message has clearly hit the mark. On Steam, the gravity (hammer) of Bungie’s previous work is unavoidable. A staggering 78.2% of Marathon players also played Destiny 2. The trend carries across other platforms, with 74.2% of PS5 players and 82.7% of Xbox players also having played Destiny 2. The Halo legacy lives on, it seems. More on that in a bit. While Destiny 2 went free to play, these numbers still represent a high-intent migration of a fanbase that trusts Bungie’s specific brand of kinetic gunplay and cryptic world-building. The Xbox data adds another layer of legacy. About 85.7% of Marathon players on Xbox have played Halo Infinite, while over half of the Steam audience has spent time in Halo Infinite and 36.1% in the Master Chief Collection (a paid collection of the old Bungie-made legacy games). Interestingly, we see a 55.9% overlap with ARC Raiders on Steam. Overlap is even higher there on PlayStation (60.5%) and Xbox (66.5%). And there’s also significant crossover with Helldivers 2 on all platforms, too. Subscribe for free to get the most accurate games estimates in your inbox twice a week 🫶 Subscribe Bungie has found some of its fans with Marathon, and the challenge now is keeping this engaged in a high-stakes PvP environment when they’ve spent the last decade primarily enjoying the power fantasies of PvE. On that note… Go the full 26 miles? Or cut and run? Time for some could’ve, should’ve, would’ve. These things would have improved Marathon’s performance at launch: A more robust onboarding process, perhaps in the form of a short single-player/PvE campaign. We know Bungie fans love this stuff. A traditional arena-based mode akin to Destiny’s Crucible could have been a bridge for the cautious players who’d have been otherwise deterred by the Server Slam. It’s also a great palate cleanser after getting merked. Introducing a dedicated PvE environment would have similarly diversified the conversation and lowered the barrier for the Bungie faithful who found the pure PvP extraction loop too abrasive. PvE is safer than PvP these days. There’s an argument that a thin PvE mode would have just felt like a budget Destiny, potentially hurting the brand more. But given how dire the FTUE is, I think it would have been a net positive. Any kind of tutorialised loop that demystifies the stakes, really. While there is merit in a studio sticking firmly to a singular creative vision, and going all in on the hardcore extraction loop. Less forgiving is the technical reality is that the user interface and first-time user experience (FTUE) were not at a commercial standard for launch. Subscribe for free to get the most accurate games estimates in your inbox twice a week 🫶 Subscribe In a landscape where player time is oversaturated and the most contested currency, a flawed FTUE is a critical failure point. But it’s not all doom and gloom, as Marathon has an incredible, unique gameplay loop, suggesting that financial success is still attainable if Bungie can pivot effectively. Bungie and PlayStation now face a difficult strategic crossroads, though – one within a challenging games market. They could: Double down on Marathon with a long-term Rainbow Six Siege- or No Man’s Sky-style recovery plan, which is something I heard Last Stand Media’s Chris Maldonado mention last week. While this could be a sunk-cost fallacy in action, it could eventually yield the audience the game’s mechanical depth deserves. Shift focus toward the inevitable Destiny 3 or another project, mitigating the escalating opportunity cost and cutting their losses, so to speak. Doing both is an expensive proposition, given the high overhead and burn rate of operating out of Bellevue, Washington. With Sony recently demonstrating a lower threshold for underperforming studios and projects, the margin for error has vanished. Whatever happens, the next six months will determine whether Marathon becomes a cornerstone of Sony’s live-service portfolio or a cautionary tale of vision exceeding accessibility. I’m hoping it’s the former, because Marathon rocks. As always, hit subscribe to get updates on Marathon and other relevant games. Subscribe Want to get your hands on our data for yourself – for free? We’re offering a free trial of our platform for games companies. Send us a message here, or reply to this email, and we’ll set you up. The last word Reply to this email – or reach out here – if you have any feedback for the newsletter – or want to request a game for us to cover. [Alinea Analytics boasts the most accurate PC and console estimates in the business. Game makers use our platform to understand their audience, keep an eye on the competition, monitor sales trends, and spot new opportunities. We equip game studios and financial institutions with accurate data and the confidence to make smarter, data-driven decisions. Want to talk about all things games market data? We’d love to chat!]
Epic Games to Layoff 1,000 and Cut $500 Million Amid 'Fortnite' Slump
Epic Games will cut 1,000 staffers and another $500 million in costs amid a slump in engagement with 'Fortnite,' CEO Tim Sweeney confirmed in a memo.
Trying to find best Greek yogurt at grocery store, ranked: Review
I tried and ranked Greek yogurt from different grocery stores, including Whole Foods, Costco, Trader Joe's, and Wegmans, to find the best one.
US business activity slows as war-driven costs surge
U.S. business activity slowed in March to its weakest pace in nearly a year as rising costs tied to the Iran conflict weighed on demand, Bloomberg writes. A key S&P Global index dipped but remained in expansion territory, while input prices surged to multimonth highs. Service sector growth softened, hiring declined and companies passed higher […]
CT bill seeks to reduce business tax on energy, boost state tourism and international trade
State lawmakers are considering a wide-ranging proposal aimed at reducing business costs, increasing municipal revenue and expanding international trade.
Pacers Sports & Entertainment launches retail media network
Pacers Sports & Entertainment has unveiled a novel retail media network --the kind normally reserved for an Amazon, Costco or PetSmart -- which widens its marketing footprint across the globe’s top 500 digital publishers through the data spine of Deloitte and the AI ad tech of Yieldmo.
Health Care Access for Women: The Cost of Being Dismissed, March 26
The event will feature a panel and table discussions focused on strategies for women to more effectively advocate for themselves in health care settings.
New Maine law seeks to help parents afford childcare costs
Since 2019, the state has spent more than $145 million in state and federal funds on childcare and early education programs, according to the governor’s office.
Blount: Online sports betting proposal has little support in Senate, would cost casino industry
Sen. David Blount, chairman of the Gaming Committee in the Senate, says a proposal to legalize online sports betting lacks support in the Senate, and could harm the state's casino tourism industry, which provides thousands of jobs and millions in state revenue. Blount also discusses proposed, and recently enacted, changes to the Public Employee Retirement System, and proposals to increase tax credits for private schools.
Context Matters: The Truth about Hospital Spending and Health Care Costs
Recent analyses of national health spending have again placed hospitals at the center of the affordability debate.
Crowded Democratic Race for California Governor Could Open Door for Republicans
By Joseph Ax and Costas Pitas March 24 (Reuters) - By many measures, California is the center of the Democratic Party's political universe. The most populous U.S. state, it is home to both the party's last presidential nominee, Kamala Harris, and possibly its future one, Governor Gavin Newsom. But ...
Home heating oil firms squeezed as diesel, crude prices surge amid Middle East tensions
It's a volatile market for home heating oil businesses. Rising oil and fuel costs after a brutal winter have customers calling and asking for help.
What growing up in an end-times church taught a science communicator about dispelling misinformation
A passion for snakes opened a crack in the religious beliefs science communicator Paul Martin Jensen grew up with in a end-times Pentecostal church.
2025 extended Session cost Florida taxpayers more than $259K
And there's plenty of extra work to do this year.
Support pours in for 76-year-old DoorDash driver forced out of retirement over health care costs
The Vietnam veteran delivers food every night of the week, except Wednesday when he attends church.
I spent 4 hours in line at the TSA, and the situation felt dangerous
A couple traveling to Costa Rica for their anniversary vacation spent four hours at the TSA, missed their flight, and spent the night at the airport.
MDMA Therapy in Australia Shows Results for PTSD Patients, but the Cost Is Limiting Access
The country’s experiment with psychedelic medicine has led to positive outcomes, psychiatrists say, but also highlights the limitations of the nascent field.
UCI Health lays off 150 workers as part of restructuring
UCI Health said the cuts were prompted by a changing environment that includes shifts in federal funding, reimbursement pressures and rising operational costs,
No health insurance? Here are other ways to access affordable health care in Alaska
Around 25,000 Alaskans are facing skyrocketing insurance costs in 2026. So we found some other options for accessing affordable care.
Microsoft Realizes It’s Epically Screwed Up Windows 11 as Users Rage at Copilot AI Crammed Everywhere
Windows VP Pavan Davuluri effectively admitted outright that the company went too far to shove AI down users' throats at all costs.
Starmer says ‘every lever’ will be explored to ease rising costs of living from Iran conflict
PM will chair Cobra meeting with key ministers and Bank of England on Monday, as experts warn of economic shock
How to beat Gigantamax Pikachu: Best Counters & Guide
Gigantamax Pikachu is a Tier 6 Max Battle in Pokémon GO. It will cost 800 Max Particles to participate in this Max Battle, which will only be consumed if you defeat Pikachu successfully. Gigantamax Pikachu can be shiny from Max Battles. Being an type, it is only weak to type moves. Pikachu can be caught […]
Fertilizer prices bring more pain for American farmers amid war in Iran
The war in Iran is pushing up prices for already-strained farmers, with higher costs for fertilizer and energy on top of last year’s tariffs. And the increasing pressure on American agriculture could lead to even bigger price tags at the grocery store.
Rising Health Costs Push Some Middle-Aged Adults To Skip the Doc Until Medicare
Adults ages 50 through 64 faced some of the steepest increases in out-of-pocket costs for Obamacare plans after a set of federal subsidies expired at the end of December. Some say they are putting off care or considering dropping health insurance coverage until Medicare picks up the bill.
Cursor acknowledges its new low-cost coding model has Chinese roots
Cursor says its new coding model builds on Kimi K2.5, a Chinese model it didn't mention at launch.
Costco Expands Member Offerings With Fertility Care And In Store Events
Costco Wholesale has partnered with Sesame and IVI RMA North America to offer U.S. members access to advanced fertility care with exclusive pricing and coordinated services. The retailer is also rolling out a national outdoor cooking roadshow in warehouses, featuring multiple brands and on site experiences for members. These moves extend Costco’s reach further into healthcare services and experiential retail beyond its traditional bulk merchandise model. For investors tracking...
Simona Martin: Colorado’s data center boom needs public health guardrails
As AI infrastructure expands across the state, lawmakers face a choice about who bears the costs and risks.
Iranian Missile Strikes Are Costing Big Oil Billions in Lost Revenue
Damaged energy infrastructure is likely to take years to come back online, but a surge in oil-and-gas prices is helping to offset some of the lost production for now.
Man Born with ‘Butterfly Syndrome’ Is Fighting for Change for ‘the Worst Disease You’ve Never Heard of’ (Exclusive)
Ohio resident Shane DiGiovanna, who has the rare disorder epidermolysis bullosa (EB), is advocating for legislation to help cover costly medical bandages for patients with the disease, which is also known as ‘butterfly syndrome.’
United Airlines Just Issued a Playbook for Any Business Staggered by Skyrocketing Costs
In a letter to employees, CEO Scott Kirby delivered a master class on boosting morale as he deals with the impact of surging jet fuel prices.
A secret weapon to fight carbon emissions was just discovered: Beavers
A new study in Switzerland finds that beaver-built wetlands can trap and store large amounts of carbon, offering a low-cost boost for restoration and climate resilience.
6 Side Hustle Businesses You Can Start With $0
Looking to start a business on the side or earn extra income? These side hustle ideas have little to no start-up costs.
Dynamax Regice Max Monday: Event Guide
Max Monday features a different Pokémon in power spots for the whole day. Regice Max Monday takes place on March 23rd, 2026. This Max Monday is the fourth March Pokémon, and it is the debut of the legendary Ice Pokémon Dynamax Regice! Dynamax Regice is a Tier 5 Max Battle in Pokémon GO. It will cost […]
Rising health costs push some middle-aged adults to skip the doc until Medicare
Adults ages 50 through 64 saw health care costs skyrocket after Obamacare subsidies faded. Now some are delaying care until Medicare kicks in.
Are AI tokens the new signing bonus or just a cost of doing business?
Maybe tokens really will become the fourth pillar of engineering compensation. But engineers might want to hold the line before embracing this as a straightforward win.
Photos: Costly error as LSU drops series to Oklahoma
An error in the eighth inning by LSU helped lead to the game winning run for Oklahoma in the final game of the series on Saturday, March 21, 2026 at
Billionaires, trial lawyers and unions gear up for 2026 California ballot brawls
It costs millions to qualify for the ballot and most measures fail, but that’s not stopping lots of special interest groups from trying
When health insurance costs $2,500 per month, families make tough choices
A self-employed couple already had to dip into retirement savings for health costs. Now, they are skipping vacations and canceling streaming to afford health insurance.
How firms' heavy AI investments could affect your paycheck
Companies are investing heavily in AI, and layoffs aren't the only option for offsetting those costs.
More young people are filing for bankruptcy, lawyers say. Here's why.
Bankruptcy lawyers say more Gen Z and millennial clients are hitting a financial wall as costs rise and wages stagnate.
Big changes ahead for State Health Plan as trustees work to lower costs
The State Health Plan hopes to save significant money by steering plan participants to preferred providers.
Calculate Your VO2 Max at Home in Just 5 Minutes, No Complex Lab Tests Needed
It's one of endurance sport's most talked about yet elusive numbers, until now. A simple power test will spare you a costly trip to a performance lab for specialist VO2 Max testing.
Mira Costa boys' volleyball defeats rival Loyola in thriller
Mira Costa, the top-ranked boys' volleyball team in the nation, defeats No. 2 Loyola in five sets behind Mateo Fuerbringer's 37-kill effort.
Short-Term Cuts, Long-Term Costs: Investing in Health Care for All Californians
Providing health care for all Californians improves health, strengthens communities, and prevents higher long-term costs.
Tariffs were already squeezing small businesses. Now the Iran conflict is pushing them to the brink as rising oil prices boost shipping costs
Thin margins and limited reserves leave small businesses uniquely exposed.
Hubert Davis buyout: What it would cost UNC to move on from coach after first-round NCAA Tournament exit
The Tar Heels' second straight first-round NCAA Tournament exit adds to growing questions about the program's direction
Scoop: Weight management company Wondr on the block
Both employer health costs and demand for GLP-1s are rising.
Montana oil politics heat up as war in Iran continues
A surge in drilling interest is colliding with higher fuel costs in an election year.
Apple just broke launch-week records for new Mac users
Tim Cook says Apple just had a record-breaking week for brand-new Mac users. While he won't give details, it's surely the low-cost MacBook Neo that's leading the way.
Christy Carlson Romano says 'Even Stevens' costar Shia LaBeouf 'doesn't deserve' Disney GOAT status
Christy Carlson Romano is firing shots at her old 'Even Stevens' costar Shia LaBeouf's direction, agreeing with Demi Lovato that LaBeouf 'doesn't deserve' to be counted among the all-time Disney Channel greats.
The US in Brief: The rising cost of war
The latest news in US politics, with coverage of Donald Trump’s second term
Kathy Ireland alleges decades-long fraud in lawsuit against business partners
Mogul claims betrayal cost her family more than $100 million.
Scott Galloway: Cost of his Big Tech protest, paternity leave comments
Scott Galloway wants you to quit Big Tech. First, he had to do his own audit.
Healthcare employee health plan bridges the gap between data and action
Integrating UpToDate evidence-based clinical decision support helps health plan optimize costs and member-centered care.
Hermès Now Sells $1,250+ MagSafe Chargers Wrapped in Calfskin Leather
Luxury brand Hermès has a new series of MagSafe-compatible chargers for the iPhone and Apple Watch, with prices that are higher than the cost of an iPhone 17 Pro Max. The $1,250 Paddock Solo Charger is a magnetic charger that works with a single device, while the $1,750 Paddock Duo can charge an Apple Watch and iPhone at the same time. The $1,750 Paddock Yoyo is also a dual charger, but it has a USB-C cable that wraps around the charger for travel purposes.
Many Americans plan to cut food to afford ACA health insurance, new poll shows
About 8 in 10 Americans who re-enrolled in Affordable Care Act marketplace coverage say their health care costs are higher this year, according to a new survey from the health care research nonprofit KFF.
Markiplier to Microdramas: The Ankler x NAB Show’s Future of Entertainment
Share Subscribe Vegas, baby! The Ankler is heading back to NAB Show for a second year in a row — and doubling down on conversations with the smartest people in the industry. From April 18–22, we’re partnering again with the industry’s biggest media and tech gathering to break down the Business of Media and Entertainment as it’s actually evolving: faster, riskier and increasingly driven by new formats, new audiences and new power players. This curated series will bring together top creators, executives and innovators to tackle the forces reshaping the industry — from the AI disruption of Hollywood’s creative ecosystem to the rise of the creator economy, shifting audience behavior and the changing economics of production. We’ll be rolling out more programming in the coming weeks — including top speakers from leading AI studios, prediction markets and beyond — so keep an eye on the Business of Media and Entertainment hub. But first up, we’re announcing two panels about what’s actually working in Hollywood: The Scary-Smart Business of Horror A good scare has become one of the entertainment economy’s most reliable engines. With disciplined budgets, built-in fandoms and global box office upside, horror consistently outperforms. From theatrical releases to streaming-first originals and creator-driven IP, the genre is artistically flexible and financially durable — and one of the last truly communal experiences for Gen Z and Gen Alpha audiences. Join YouTube creator Mark Fischbach, aka Markiplier, whose independent feature Iron Lung earned more than $50 million at the global box office, Atomic Monster president Michael Clear and screenwriter Akela Cooper (M3GAN, Malignant) for a conversation moderated by Like & Subscribe’s Natalie Jarvey about why horror travels so effectively across platforms and borders, how studios and independents are building sustainable genre pipelines and why the next wave of breakout franchises may emerge from unexpected sources. Inside the Microdrama Boom Short-form serialized storytelling is having a major moment. Microdramas, social-native series and creator-led narratives are capturing massive audiences with low-cost, rapid production cycles and direct-to-fan distribution. What was once dismissed as niche or experimental is now attracting major platform investment. Moderated by Jarvey, this panel of microdrama creators and executives — including one of the format’s top stars and producers, Kasey Esser, and Dhar Mann Studios’ head of vertical content, Erin McFarlane — examines how format innovation, fandom dynamics and algorithmic discovery are reshaping the economics of scripted storytelling and what traditional studios can learn from these agile models. For sponsorship opportunities, contact Lynne@theankler.com Share
Companies are spending more on AI—HR leaders question the payoff
HR executives say AI adoption is driving up costs, placing pressure on productivity gains and long-term profitability.
Huge Trump Iran war funding request faces stiff opposition in Congress
Lawmakers estimated the war is costing $1 billion to $2 billion per day.
Hermès doesn’t include a power adapter with its $5,150 charging case
You can charge your Apple Watch and iPhone for the cost of three MacBook Pros.
What Americans are giving up to afford ACA health insurance, according to a new poll
A new KFF survey shows many Americans who had Affordable Care Act marketplace health insurance last year are struggling with high health costs. The findings come three months after the expiration of enhanced tax credits that had offset most enrollees' monthly premiums.
Cracks emerge in GOP over Iran war cost as administration floats more than $200B request to Congress
Cracks are emerging among congressional Republicans over the Iran war with key lawmakers skeptical about spending hundreds of billions of dollars to prolong the conflict and several refusing to support any money without a clear White House strategy.
Poll shows Americans are cutting back on basics to afford health care
A new KFF survey shows many Americans who had Affordable Care Act marketplace health insurance last year are struggling with high health costs.
Ubisoft announces layoffs and the cease of game development at Red Storm Entertainment
The studio will remain open, but 105 people are being laid off as part of Ubisoft's cost reduction programme
In Business, Why Creating Value Wins
Businesses that create superior value—delivering customer benefits exceeding costs, driving loyalty and retention—consistently outperform those chasing short-term profits
Will the Allina-Sutter Health deal drive up the cost of health care in Minnesota?
Minneapolis-based health system says bigger will be better for patients, but economists worry about the consumer cost.
Vance is in a bind, supporting a war that could cost him politically
People close to JD Vance concede that a long conflict will be a challenge for the next GOP nominee but say the vice president hasn’t made up his mind about running.
If states ban fluoride, kids with cavities and Medicaid costs could spike, study finds
If five states ban fluoride in drinking water, 132,572 additional children would need a cavity filled or a tooth pulled.
One big question: how have increased energy costs affected your business?
For this week's One Big Question feature, we ask business leaders how increasing fuel and energy costs have been affecting their bottom lines.