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McTominay close to Napoli return after heart procedure
Scott McTominay is on the verge of a return for Napoli after completing his recovery from a heart procedure.According to Corriere dello Sport, the Scotland international will go through his final medi...
Netflix's 'East of Eden' cast explain 'poetic' final scene, 'Timshel' meaning
Spoiler alert! The following story contains major details about the "Timshel," the seventh and final episode of Netflix’s limited series “East of Eden” (now streaming).
Xbox Elite Controller 3 Specs Leak Via Xbox's Own Design Lab
Xbox's long awaited Elite Controller 3 may finally offer drift-free joysticks.
Democrats Eyeing the House Face a Conundrum: Rent or Buy?
With less money than G.O.P., Democrats are torn over where to spend in the final weeks. The party is making its biggest move in years against one of G.O.P.’s biggest blue-district survivors.
Countdown now on to proper football returning
When the final whistle blew on the Premier League match at Craven Cottage on Sunday 20 September, we new it was going to be tough, but this tough??? Yes, this absolutely ridiculous three week break for largely meaningless internationals, so many pointless friendlies (including the Nations League nonsense). The Premier League had only kicked off four weeks earlier and then a break of three weeks so early in the season… Please let it make sense.
The small African nation ready for Messi's big night
Benin are about to have their own moment in the limelight as they visit Argentina for Lionel Messi's final game.
Three French prospects make final Golden Boy shortlist
Three French players have been included on the final 25-player shortlist for the Golden Boy, an award created by Italian media Tuttosport to recognise the best talents under the age of 21 plying their...
DAI acquires 31 home health and hospice agencies from HCA in 'unique opportunity'
Faith-based not-for-profit organization Deaconess Associations Incorporated (DAI) has finalized the acquisition of 31 home health and hospice agencies across eight states from HCA Healthcare.
Introducing: The Seiko Panda Watch That Stole The Show In 2024 Is Finally Here
One of the standout creations from Seiko's 2024 power design project—an irresistibly charming chronograph designed to look like an actual panda—has officially entered production.
CNN, MS NOW and Politico make final written effort to convince judge to maintain White House access
Lawyers for CNN, MS NOW and Politico said Monday that the White House had offered no new evidence to support their repeated claims that the news outlets’ reporting endangered national security.
Will Dawkins on AJ Dybantsa, Ending Wizards' Deconstruction Phase
From scouting character to ending the teardown, Washington Wizards GM Will Dawkins details the vision behind drafting AJ Dybantsa and how the franchise is finally shifting toward competitive growth.
Chiefs' Wide Receiver Tyquan Thornton's Recovery Timeline Revealed
In this past Sunday's win against the Las Vegas Raiders, Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Tyquan Thornton suffered a gruesome leg injury. His timetable for return has finally been revealed.
GTA 6 Could Finally Fix Gaming's Huge Drug Problem
Just because you can doesn’t mean you should
Two more Final Cut animations on Warhammer TV this week
Plus, new episodes of Loremasters, Tale of Four Gamers, and How We Roll.
Scientists finally see how nature moves energy so efficiently
Researchers have captured key steps in a chemical reaction that helps nature transfer energy with remarkable efficiency. Ultrafast X-rays revealed how changes involving electrons and protons are closely linked to the rearrangement of surrounding water molecules. Because similar reactions drive photosynthesis and other energy-conversion processes, the technique could help scientists develop better catalysts, fuel cells, and flow batteries.
Hochul, Blakeman campaign in Erie County as governor’s race enters final month
With less than a month until Election Day, the race for New York governor ran through Western New York Monday.
Chicago Bulls Sign Former Pelicans Guard Jordan Hawkins to Two-Way Deal
The Bulls have filled their third and final two-way contract slot with a former lottery pick.
Finalists Revealed for 2026 Centre County Business Awards
The Chamber of Business & Industry of Centre County on Monday announced the finalists in six categories to be honored at the 2026 Centre County
Kylie Jenner Bachelorette Weekend Thriller Getting Hulu Series Order From Kim Kardashian, Lauren Oliver & Kapital Entertainment
EXCLUSIVE: Kylie Jenner is set to headline and executive produce Bachelorette Weekend (working title), a thriller drama, which is finalizing a deal for a straight-to-series order at Hulu, Deadline has...
Cris Collinsworth Calls Lions’ Final Drive a ‘Disaster’
Cris Collinsworth called the Lions' four-play final drive a disaster on the NBC broadcast. #Lions
Robert De Niro rips 'coward' Trump over voter suppression
Robert De Niro is ramping up his criticism of the Trump administration in the final weeks before the 2026 midterm elections.
CMS student among top 30 finalists nationwide in science competition
Isabella Garry is being honored for a project exploring whether natural materials can remove microplastics from simulated stomach fluid.
How Close Jeffery Simmons Thinks Titans Are to Winning Football
Despite an 0-4 start, the star defensive tackle insists Tennessee is on the brink of a breakthrough if they can finally master the art of forcing turnovers.
Why I Don’t Think Ride Or Die Should Have Been Cancelled (And What Company Should Save It...)
(Welcome to my weekly streaming ratings report, the single best guide to what’s popular in streaming TV and what isn’t. I’m the Entertainment Strategy Guy, a former streaming executive who now analyzes business strategy in the entertainment industry. If you were forwarded this email, please subscribe to get these insights each week.) So…I recently came across a Reddit thread, talking about films on streaming, wondering why there are no reliable sources out there for streaming ratings data. Sigh. Honestly, as annoyed as I am that so many still don’t realize that we have streaming ratings, I somewhat get it. Until now, there was such a long delay between when a show or film came to streaming and when we got its viewership data; I understand why people were confused. (But, as you know, this just changed.) Also, even back in the day, how many people knew how well films did on television? Luckily, as a reader, you’re in the know. Okay, on to this week’s issue. I want to take a look at Prime Video cancelling Ride or Die and whether I agree with that decision. Overall, we didn’t have any breakout hits (no TV shows landed over 20 million hours according to Nielsen) but we have a lot of steady performers on the streaming charts. Plus, we’ll look at where $50 million in missing box office dollars went. (Spoiler: straight-to-streaming.) All that, plus new episodes of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, Supergirl heads to streaming, a new YA show does well on Netflix, the viewership for the Daily Wire’s $50 million fantasy show, what TV show hit-maker can’t make streaming hits, CD sales, all the flops, bombs and misses, and a whole lot more. Let’s dive right in! (Reminder: The streaming ratings report focuses on the U.S. market and compiles data from Nielsen’s weekly top ten viewership ranks, Luminate’s Top Ten Data, JustWatch and Reelgood interest data, Samba TV household viewership, company datecdotes, Netflix hours viewed data, Google Trends, and IMDb to determine the most popular content. While most data points are current, Nielsen’s data covers the weeks of September 7th to September 13th, 2026. You can find a link to my terminology here.) Subscribe Television - Ride or Die Is a Hit…But It Got Cancelled? What The Data “Says” I hate the phrase “here’s what the data says”, even though sometimes I find myself using it. If data just told us everything, we data folks would be out of a job! Data is often messy, complicated and nuanced. When it comes to strategy, many of the best decisions can’t actually use “data”, since it’s vastly too complicated to model. Anyways, I’ve been singing the praises of Prime Video’s Ride Or Die this summer, a show that did very well for them. And yet…it got cancelled. Now, usually when a show gets cancelled, a bunch of websites say “a hit show got cancelled”... Here’s the thing, though: in this case, they’re right! The data “says” that this show was a hit. Specifically, out of 522 first seasons to make a week on the Nielsen charts since 2020, it’s the 75th biggest. On Amazon, Ride or Die is eighth out of 41 first seasons: That’s top 15th percentile all time, almost exactly, which is my definition of a “hit”! I mean, outside of Reacher, Amazon needed a hit this summer! (Admittedly, Off Campus did well for Amazon in the spring, but Ride or Die performed even better.) So what happened? Why did Amazon cancel one of their rare 2026 bright spots? Well, Deadline reported a reason—which I’ll get to—but I’d break it down into three relevant questions: What is a given streamer’s reasoning? Is that reasoning sound? Could the stated reason not be the real reason? According to Deadline, Amazon felt the show “over-indexed” in middle-aged women. (This was based on leaks from within Amazon.) The logic is this: Amazon already reaches this demographic because of unlimited two-day shipping bundled with Prime, so they don’t really need more shows like this. Now, it’s my job to ask if that’s a good reason, and I’ll be honest, in this case, I don’t think it is. Sure, this show may “over-index” in middle-aged women—I’ll just assume that’s the case here—but I think folks often oversell how important over-indexing actually is. When a show is a “hit”, it isn’t a bit bigger than its rivals; it’s usually multiples bigger. For example, Elle only made the charts for two weeks at 8.3 million hours each. So Ride or Die was 80% bigger in its first two weeks, and likely had a much stronger hold, with its terrific 13 million hours in week three. Ride or Die was nearly three times bigger than Sterling Point through three weeks too. And that means that _Elle, Sterling Point a_nd other Amazon YA shows need to not just over-index a little with younger women (assuming that’s who Amazon prefers over middle-aged women), but massively over-index. Otherwise, more people in that demo (and a bunch more besides) likely watched Ride or Die. (I’ll try to explore this concept more in a future article.) And don’t get me started on how Ride or Die did compared to a certain (very, very popular, possibly the world’s most popular) YouTuber’s reality show…which didn’t make the charts after its first week and likely cost much, much more than Ride or Die. All to say, Amazon-MGM Studios/Prime Video can tell reporters that this show didn’t reach the right audience, but that excuse feels weak to me. So this leads to the third question: could other reasons have come into play? Yes! Renewal or cancellation decisions rarely (I’m tempted to say “never”) boil down to one variable. At its simplest, it’s two things: budget versus viewership. But often factors like critical acclaim, ownership and, yes, personal opinion come into play. In this case, Amazon has a new executive running things, and this show isn’t owned by Amazon-MGM Studios (unlike Elle). And yes, it may not have indexed with the right target viewers, too. Likely all of those factors came into play.1 My guess is ownership ended up mattering most. Amazon doesn’t own Ride or Die. It’s actually produced by another major studio. Fortunately/allegedly, this show is being shopped around. I can think of one brand new CEO who should consider it for one of his two major streamers…especially if he wants to rebuild goodwill in Hollywood. His name is on this list of exec producers of Ride or Die… If David Ellison needs some goodwill—and he does—rescue this female-led show tomorrow and grab some good headlines for a day. The data justifies it. Quick Notes on TV We’re just getting started with this issue, but the rest is for paid subscribers of the Entertainment Strategy Guy, so if you’d like to find out… How The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives latest season did on Hulu, post-controversy... Whether Supergirl soared on HBO Max... Why the box office is losing money due to the streamers... The viewership for the Daily Wire’s $50 million fantasy show... Updates on The Gentlemen, Lanterns, Outer Banks, King of the Hill and more... What former hit-maker has three streaming flops in a row... Whether The Mandalorian and Grogu popped in week two... All the flops, bombs and misses... And a whole lot more... ...please subscribe! We can only keep doing this great work with your support. If you want an idea of just how much content you’d get in a full issue, check out this older issue. Coming Soon! Oh man, we’re almost caught up! We just have two more issues, then the streaming Ratings Report will be coming out just two weeks after a TV show premieres! Next issue, I’ll be looking at the first two weeks of the NFL Thursday night games on streaming, a huge new spinoff, Reacher’s Neagly on Prime Video, and the latest edition of Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story on Netflix, the return of Slow Horses on Apple and MobLand (quietly one of their biggest shows) on Paramount+, and Dancing with the Stars on both ABC and Disney+. Plus I’ll take a look at animation for adults in 2026. The week after, a ton of movies are coming to streaming: Toy Story 5 on Disney+, Backrooms on HBO Max, Jackass: Best and Last on Paramount+ and The Breadwinner on Netflix, plus a Unabomber film on Netflix and a romcom on Prime Video. Woody Harrelson and Matthew McConaughey have a show on Apple, along with a game show inspired by Willy Wonka that everyone seems to hate. Long term, some crazy (but hopefully crazy like a fox) IP news. FX ordered a new Sons of Anarchy show from Charlie Hunnam, but it’s not about the biker gang. No, it features the show’s cast playing themselves in a new “meta-thriller”. Huh. And a lot of the cast is coming back. Next, Ryan Gosling is producing a Flintstones movie about a “grown-up Bamm-Bamm Rubble”. Also, huh. This one is in “early development” so we’ll see what happens. Both projects are based on IP, but also seem to have crazy takes on the IP, which I like.
Myles Lewis-Skelly Nominated for 2026 Golden Boy Award
Myles Lewis-Skelly is Arsenal's only representative among the 25 finalists for the 2026 Golden Boy award.
Andoni Iraola pushed closer to finally signing Mohamed Salah's successor
Mohamed Salah exiting Liverpool was one of the biggest stories to emerge from Anfield this summer.His fallings out with Arne Slot eventually became too much and, even though he had a year left on his ...
Trump administration finalizes transparent healthcare pricing rules
The rules are intended to make healthcare pricing information more accurate, standardized and easy to use
Mundelein resident chosen as finalist in Advocate Health Has Talent competition
Mundelein resident Gerardo Ocampo was driving his wife and child home from the airport when he received a call from his supervisor at Advocate Condell Medical Center.
Final Family Health Festival of the year comes to Reno-Sparks Livestock Events Center Pavilion
The final Family Health Festival of the year takes place Thursday, Oct. 8.
Team Dresch, pioneering WA punk rock band, returns with ‘Furthermore’
Team Dresch are finally putting out their third album, “Furthermore,” the long-awaited follow-up to 1996’s “Captain My Captain.”
Alex Ovechkin Retiring at End of Season
Alex Ovechkin announced the 2026-27 season will be his last, including one final trip to Detroit. #RedWings
'ARC Raiders,' 'The Finals' TV Series and Movies in the Works
Hit video games "ARC Raiders" and "The Finals" are both getting adapted for TV and film in new projects set up with Chernin Entertainment.
Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin announces this is his final NHL season
He broke Wayne Gretzky's career goal-scoring record in April 2025
Misericordia University to Host Healthcare Symposium with Presenting Sponsor Geisinger
Misericordia University’s College of Health Sciences and Education, with Geisinger as Presenting Sponsor, will host the 2026 Healthcare Symposium, “Connected Care: Aligning Education, Innovation & Community Health,” on Friday, Oct. 23, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Lemmond Theater on the University’s Dallas campus.
🚨 Golden Boy 2026: the official list of 25 finalists
The whiz kids.From 100 to 25. On Monday evening, the official list of 25 finalists for the 2026 Golden Boy award was unveiled by Italian sports outlet Tuttosport, which organizes the event and the awa...
Stephen King and Peter Straub’s Other Worlds Than These Will Break Your Heart
‘The Talisman’ finale is an emotional adventure story, resurrecting old friends, forgotten memories, and vanished worlds.
Walmsley hopeful Grand Final role leads to new club
Departing Wakefield winger Lachlan Walmsley hopes his starring role in their Grand Final win over Warrington can help him pick up a new team.
See photos from the final day of Aftershock 2026
See photos from performances by Oleander, Dance Gavin Dance and others during the final day of Aftershock.
Nations League: the chances of reaching the quarter-finals 👀
Are Les Bleus in a strong position?In this edition of the Nations League, as in the previous one, the group stage will be followed by quarter-finals.The top two teams in each of the four groups will q...
'Basher attack': Rovelyn Baterbonia finally meets Angelica Yulo
Rovelyn Baterbonia and Angelica Yulo finally met in person, sharing a meal and photos of their unexpected meeting.
Google says some Googlebooks have better Android app support than others, and here's why
The first Googlebooks are finally here, but Google has confirmed to Android Authority that some models might have Android app issues.
We're witnessing a critical moment for Amazon Kindles
Amazon is finally listening to Kindle fans, bringing back physical buttons and adding fresh accessories. But, there's a catch.
Governor’s advisory council discusses Youth Risk Behavior Survey ahead of final policy recommendations
Gov. Stein's advisory council is finalizing recommendations on youth well-being before the legislature decides how to use Meta settlement funds.
Today’s Papers – Triple Italy challenge, Roma lead Endrick race
La Gazzetta dello SportLet’s not stop anymoreWin (and confirm ourselves) to look for the quarter-finals. Mancini with Scamacca: ‘Let’s end well.’The last conflictBuonfiglio case: His son works...
Ageless Novak Djokovic Stays Perfect in Beijing
Age is supposed to slow a tennis player down. Nobody has told Novak Djokovic. At 39, the Serb eliminated world No. 2 Alexander Zverev in the China Open quarterfinals and extended a streak in Beijing with no Open Era precedent. Djokovic is now 32-0 at the tournament. No player in the Open Era has won …
This is the Fitbit Edge: Google's next fitness tracker finally spills its secrets
Google is reportedly getting ready to launch a new fitness tracker called the Fitbit Edge, and the device has leaked in full!
That Wild Lanterns Finale Twist Upends the DCU’s Future
And James Gunn may have spoiled the whole thing two years ago.
Windows 11's File Explorer is finally giving the squiggly ~ key a job, sending it straight to the user folder
There’s a new Windows 11 update that will soon give the squiggly ~ key a job, and that is to quickly open folders like your user profile, Documents, Downloads, and, sometimes very importantly, the AppData folder. Right now, if you use the full path to open AppData, you need to enter `C:UsersusernameAppData` in File Explorer, […]
US midterms: 470 seats, $12 billion and one absent president
Americans go to the polls on November 3 for elections that will shape the final two years of Donald Trump's presidency -- although the president himself will not be on any ballot.44: House races on No...
Portugal move into Nations League knockout stage, Germany held
Portugal became the first team to reach the quarter-finals of the Nations League when they beat Norway 2-1 on Sunday, but Jurgen Klopp's Germany were frustrated by Greece.
FSU May Be Finding the Consistency Norvell Has Been Chasing
Florida State may finally be finding consistency, responding to adversity with dominant stretches and showing growth on both sides of the ball.
Packers Reveal Brutal Edgerrin Cooper Update After Big Win
The Green Bay Packers entered Week 4 NFL action badly needing a win on the road against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. When all was said and done, they were able to get that win by a final score of 17-14. Once again, nothing looked pretty for the Packers. They struggled at times on both sides […] The post Packers Reveal Brutal Edgerrin Cooper Update After Big Win appeared first on Gridiron Heroics.
Minkah Fitzpatrick ends long interception drought for New York Jets
The New York Jets defense had not had interception since the regular-season finale in 2024 prior to Sunday against the Chicago Bears.
Jets end 20-game interception drought, trail Bears 7-3
The Jets went the entire 2025 season without intercepting a pass and the streak ran to 20 games last weekend, but it is finally over.
FSU’s Pass Rush Turns In Dominant Performance Against Virginia
FSU’s struggling pass rush finally erupted against Virginia, producing 10 sacks as Tony White’s defense overwhelmed Beau Pribula.
Report: Assassin’s Creed Hexe Exclusive Character, Story Details Surface
With the long-rumored Assassin's Creed: Black Flag remake finally out, Ubisoft is now looking ahead to a different kind of Assassin's Creed. For a while, they've been working on Codename…
Ripple Plans a Credit Business Backed With XRP. Does Lending Finally Give the Token a Use That Moves the Price?
Ripple's new credit service locks XRP as collateral for payment loans, a model that works very differently from the pass-through payments that have left many holders waiting for a price catalyst. Whether this finally creates sustained demand hinges on details Ripple has yet to reveal.
How to follow the Singapore Grand Prix on the BBC
All the key BBC coverage details for the Singapore Grand Prix, the sixth and final sprint event of the season, which takes place from 9-11 October.
Shipley's Garment Spa to close after 102 years
After more than a century in business, Shipley's Garment Spa in downtown Sioux Falls will serve its final customers this month.
Shipley's Garment Spa to close after 124 years
After more than a century in business, Shipley's Garment Spa in downtown Sioux Falls will serve its final customers this month.
Jimmy Rollins rips Austin Wells after awful base-running decision
The Tampa Bay Rays took a 1–0 series lead over the New York Yankees in the ALDS on Saturday with a nail-biting 1–0 win in front of the home crowd. Leading the way for the Rays was pitcher Drew Rasmussen, who took a no-hitter into the eighth inning before finally conceding a shot off the…
Novak Djokovic Stuns Alexander Zverev to Reach Beijing Open Semifinals
In one of his best performances this year, Novak Djokovic is once again in the semifinals at the Beijing Open after overcoming World No. 2 Alexander Zverev in a tight three-set match 4-6 6-4 6-4. The Serbian, now 32-0 at the tournament, came from a set down to secure his joint-best win of the season …
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.
New SCSKiller Tool Targets PC Shader Compilation Stutter; Our FINAL FANTASY VII REBIRTH Test Shows Impressive Results
SCSKiller reduces shader compilation stutters in games like FINAL FANTASY VII Rebirth, improving performance from 19 stalls to 0. Available on GitHub.
Should the Laver Cup Finally Bring Women Into the Mix?
Okay, so let’s try to make this Laver Cup hypothetical, civil, shall we? An obvious question hangs over the event called the Laver Cup. Why is it not called the Williams Cup? No, seriously now. Where are the women? For nine editions now, the formula has remained straightforward: six men from Europe, six from the …
TV and streaming viewing picks for October 4, 2026: How to watch MLB Postseason, NFL Week 4 and WNBA Semifinals
All Times Eastern College Field Hockey Stanford at Louisville — ACC Network/ESPN Unlimited, noon College Football ACC Huddle: Final Score — ACC Network, 8 a.m. SEC Football Final — SEC Network, 8 a.m. The Final Drive — Big Ten Network, 10 a.m. Inside College Football — CBS Sports Network, 11 a.m. College Football Final —…
What do Baldini’s Italy U21 need to qualify for Euros?
Silvio Baldini’s Italy U21 side head into their final Group E fixture knowing one match decides everything.Italy sit second on 24 points, three behind Poland, after Cisse’s late winner in Armenia....
Tech Randoms III: 2026 Lake Placid DH World Cup
Another lap of the pits at the final round of the 2026 downhill World Cup series.
Your Samsung Gallery app finally syncs with Google Photos — how to set it up right now
Samsung Gallery has moved on from OneDrive to Google Photos. Here's how to set it up to keep your photos backed up.
GOTY 2026’s Final Nomination Is a Battleground of 8/10 Games
The year of 'good, not great' rages on
Parker Health Group names new CEO as longtime leader retires
Mark Lenhard will join Piscataway-based Parker Health Group in December, succeeding Roberto Muñiz after nearly 28 years of leadership.
One last shock twist in the NRL grand final pre-show entertainment debacle
Fans did a double take when they saw this famous face during the tribute to Jai Arrow.
105,000-capacity Camp Nou leads 2030 final venue race
Barcelona’s rebuilt Spotify Camp Nou is the leading current candidate to host the 2030 World Cup final, according to Mundo Deportivo, although FIFA is not expected to allocate the tournament’s ven...
🗞️ Headlines: Spain sweep all, Italy swoon over Endrick..
The final weekend of this long international break continues, bringing plenty of football and plenty of news. So let’s take a look at today’s front pages from the main sports newspapers...MARCAASM...
Portugal vs Norway – Predicted lineup and team news
Portugal and Norway are set to meet again on Sunday in their fourth UEFA Nations League group-stage clash, which also marks the final fixture for both sides during this international window.Portugal a...
Denis Shapovalov retires, Carlos Alcaraz advances to Japan Open semifinals
Denis Shapovalov was playing a high level of tennis against Carlos Alcaraz before suffering the injury that forced him to retire at the Japan Open.
Presbyterian clears St. Thomas, 55-21
The nation's fifth-longest FCS home winning streak stayed intact in dominant fashion on Saturday afternoon, as the Presbyterian College football team put the pedal to the metal and raced past St. Thomas by a final score of 55-21.
LSU completes nonconference play with a rout of McNeese. The rest of SEC play awaits.
LSU took care of business in its final nonconference game against McNeese State. Here’s how the Tigers managed a meaningless game.
Penguins Cut Veteran Forward Before Home Opener
The Pittsburgh Penguins are back in action on Saturday evening against the Montreal Canadiens, who make their first trip of the season to PPG Paints Arena in downtown Pittsburgh.It marks the return of hockey for the Penguins in front of their home fans for the first time since Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinal […] The post Penguins Cut Veteran Forward Before Home Opener appeared first on HEAVY.
Alabama's Kalen DeBoer May Have Finally Turned the Corner
Kalen DeBoer may have finally turned the corner as Alabama Crimson Tide head coach.
Renato hails training spell for Grêmio before 'finals'
Grêmio will return to action in the Brasileirão next Wednesday (7), when they visit Remo in a clash between two teams currently in the competition’s bottom four.And coach Renato Gaúcho is countin...
One Player Is Emerging as the ‘Favorite’ to Earn Knicks’ Final Roster Spot
An unlikely favorite has emerged to claim the final roster spot on the Knicks' regular-season roster.
Final Fantasy 7 Revelation Director Says He "Did His Best" to Fight for a Physical Release
Final Fantasy 7 Revelation is getting a physical edition, and it seems director Naoki Hamaguchi had to argue for it. He told Radio Times that he pushed Square Enix for a boxed release, while admitting the product lineup is the publishing team's call. On PS5 and Xbox Series X, the disc reportedly...
Retiring Tigers Star Justin Verlander Makes Financial MLB History
The Hall of Fame career for Detroit Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander came to a close late last month, as he made one final start wearing the Old English D in front of a packed house at Comerica Park. Verlander, who returned to the Tigers last offseason with a one-year contract, announced that the 2026 MLB […] The post Retiring Tigers Star Justin Verlander Makes Financial MLB History appeared first on HEAVY.
Valkyries to face defending-champion Aces, questions in semifinals
The Golden State Valkyries are the highest seed left in the WNBA playoffs, but Las Vegas was 3-0 in regular-season meetings between the teams. Can Natalie Nakase's team stop the star-studded Aces?
TH South Flag Football advances to sectional championship
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — Terre Haute South Flag Football defeated Northview, 40-6 in Saturday’s sectional semifinal game at TH South. The Lady Braves would defeat Terre Haute North in the championship game later in the afternoon.
TH North Flag Football advances to sectional championship
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — Terre Haute North Flag Football defeated North Central, 25-12 in Saturday’s sectional semifinal game at TH South. The Lady Patriots would fall to Terre Haute South in the championship game later in the afternoon.
2026 NRL Grand Final pre-game entertainment: Who is performing and when is the Jai Arrow tribute?
2026 NRL Grand Final pre-game entertainment: Who is performing and when is the Jai Arrow tribute?
Final Fantasy 7 Revelation Director Says It Was 'Absolutely Essential' Not To Turn The Remake Into 'My Own Personal Fan Project'
Balancing new content with staying faithful to the legacy of the original is never easy
Final Fantasy 7 Revelation director says he "did his best" to fight for a full disc release
Naoki Hamaguchi says he fought for a disc release of Final Fantasy 7 Revelation, as the industry heads towards an all-digital future.
Times' 2026 Community Choice Awards honor Rogue Valley's best
More than 25,500 nominations and nearly 64,000 votes led to 492 winners and finalists across 162 categories The Rogue Valley came together Thursday evening, Oct. 1, to celebrate excellence in […]
'I Did My Best' — Final Fantasy 7 Revelation Director Responds to Fans Asking for Full Disc Version
Final Fantasy 7 Revelation Naoki Hamaguchi said he did his best to fight for a disc release as the industry heads toward a "future where physical media is essentially disc-less."