SCROLL NEWS / DISCOVERY
Search headlines
Find the stories shaping the conversation.
Results for " last " 8,481 found 🔀 AI-powered Shuffle
Knicks’ 3 Most Intriguing Regular Season Matchups
As the regular season approaches, the Knicks will officially go from the hunters to the hunted. After a wild offseason, especially in the significantly strengthened Eastern Conference, the defending champions will face much tougher challenges this season. Teams in the East like the Miami Heat, Toronto Raptors, and Philadelphia 76ers all made moves to strengthen …
Olivia Dean song lifted from Bill Withers hit, complaint alleges
A complaint recently filed in California alleges that Grammy winner Olivia Dean's song 'I've Seen It' lifts from Bill Withers' lasting hit 'Just The Two of Us.'
Author and disgraced politician Jeffrey Archer dies aged 86
His last book, Adam and Eve, is set to release this month.
We issued a Water Advisory for Thea Foss Waterway - Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department
Last revised Oct. 5, 2026 While the advisory is in effect, avoid contact with the water for 48 hours after it rains.
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.
Samsung rolling out Android 17 for more Galaxy devices in the US
Samsung’s Android 17 rollout is speeding up, with more last-gen Galaxy devices now getting One UI 9 updates in the...
Joe Burrow Bengals Passing Records Watch: Week 5
Heading into the 2026 season, Joe Burrow has the weight of the world on his shoulders. Can he carry the Bengals back to the playoffs after missing in each of the last three seasons? In 2023, his season was shortened due to a freak wrist injury. That injury was so severe that "experts" on Twitter …
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.
Arizona WR Tre Spivey out for season with foot injury
At least one of the trio of starting wide receivers injured in Arizona’s last game won’t be back on the field this season. UA coach Brent Brennan confirmed Monday that junior Tre Spivey will miss the remainder of the season after suffering a foot injury in Saturday’s 34-7 win over Cincinnati. Brennan said Spivey will […]
Bladen Community College to host “So You Want to Start a Small Business” class and preview Pitch It Bladen 2027
The Small Business Center at Bladen Community College invites aspiring entrepreneurs to attend “So You Want to Start a Small Business” on Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. in Building 14, Room 104. This class will help participants explore what it takes to become an entrepreneur and take the first steps toward turning a business idea into reality.Participants will explore the entrepreneurial mindset and consider whether they have the interests, characteristics, motivation and willingness to take on the challenges of business ownership. The class will encourage attendees to examine their personal goals, expectations, strengths and readiness to pursue entrepreneurship.Attendees will also gain insight into the realities of starting and operating a small business, including the commitment, planning, decision-making and perseverance required to build a successful venture. Whether participants are just beginning to consider business ownership or already have an idea they want to pursue, this class will provide a foundation for determining their next steps.In addition to the class instruction, attendees will receive advance information about the upcoming Pitch It Bladen 2027 Business Competition, including the application form and details about the program. Individuals who are ready to move forward may submit their applications early and have the opportunity to receive advance acceptance into the program.Pitch It Bladen helps aspiring and emerging entrepreneurs develop their business ideas through structured instruction in business planning, financial management, cash-flow projections, marketing and operations. Participants work toward completing a business plan and preparing a business pitch, with the opportunity to compete for cash prizes.Last year's Pitch It Bladen program demonstrated the value of investing in local entrepreneurs by helping participants strengthen their business knowledge, develop their business plans and prepare to present their ideas. The competition showcased the creativity and potential of Bladen County's small-business community and provided participants with practical tools to move their business goals forward.Building on that success, Pitch It Bladen 2027 will provide another opportunity for local entrepreneurs to gain knowledge, build confidence and take meaningful steps toward launching or growing a business.“The Small Business Center wants to help individuals make informed decisions about entrepreneurship before they take the leap into business ownership,” said Theresa Dennison, Small Business Center director, in a press release. “This class gives participants an opportunity to evaluate whether entrepreneurship is right for them while also introducing them to Pitch It Bladen 2027 and the resources available to help them succeed.”Registration: Visit www.ncsbc.net and search for the class by name, or contact the Small Business Center at 910-879-5572 for additional information.
NFL Star Tyreek Hill Gets Big Update After Eagles Suggestion
A top NFL free-agent wide receiver, Tyreek Hill, is expected to find a new team soon, according to ESPN. As Hill fully recovers from the setback he suffered last season, the speedy wide receiver’s agent made it clear that he will likely find a new team in the coming days. Recently, the Eagles were pegged […] The post NFL Star Tyreek Hill Gets Big Update After Eagles Suggestion appeared first on HEAVY.
College volleyball rankings after Week 6: Updated AVCA Coaches Poll
Here's the latest AVCA Coaches Poll after the last week's worth of games during the 2026 women's college volleyball season.
Downtown Boston business owners seek more police presence after survey finds people feel unsafe
The survey by the Downtown Boston Neighborhood Alliance finds that 56% of locals feel less safe in downtown than they did at the start of the year, marking a considerable increase from last year.
Fantasy Football Waiver Wire: 9 Must-Adds for Week 5
Week 4 on the 2026 NFL schedule is nearly in the books, and fantasy football managers can start pivoting toward Week 5. It also marks the start of a particular bane of fantasy managers' existence for the year: bye weeks. Just two teams, the Carolina Panthers and Kansas City Chiefs, are idle in Week 5, …
Gatorade maker recalls 122,000 cases of popular sports drink across 37 US states
PepsiCo initiated class II recall of 28oz bottles last month over ‘undeclared’ yellow dyes, FDA notice says
How a controversial camera system is monitoring mental health patients
The Lampard Inquiry started back in September 2024 and I remember going to the first hearing in Chelmsford. Subscribe The bereaved families made placards of their loved ones, they stood outside in silence and then laid flowers to mark the moment. Now, two years on, in a process meant to last another two years, there’s been a development. Last week, we were told the chair, Baroness Lampard, pictured below, could be looking at making interim recommendations. Throughout the process, she has remarked that although this inquiry is looking at almost 2,000 people who were under the care of Essex mental health services from 2000-2023 when they died, the findings could have national implications for other trusts. ‘Records 24 hours a day in patient’s bedroom’ So why has this happened? One system that the inquiry is going to take a closer look at is a controversial monitoring system called Oxevision. It monitors some vital signs of patients remotely by using a camera placed in a room. It’s used by 40% of NHS mental health trusts. But campaigners, particularly the group Stop Oxevision, have asked for this technology to be removed from mental health wards as soon as possible. I spoke to a member, Hat Porter, today and they described to me what they thought this technology did and explained their concerns: “It records 24 hours a day and it’s located in a patient’s bedroom, which is obviously somewhere you’d usually expect to be a private place. “Our concerns are that the use of the technology has been has been kind of implemented as a substitute for proper in-person support, that it’s kind of over relied on and that there’s a lot of misunderstandings and that the presence of a camera, which has often been used without people’s consent, sometimes without even their knowledge, that that has a really big impact on privacy, dignity and human rights.” ‘Not sufficient’ I put it to them that the company behind Oxevision would dispute their claims about consent and in videos I’ve seen online from NHS trusts, they make it clear that the technology is complementary to trained staff and not a replacement. [ ](https://channel4news.substack.com/p/the-nottingham-inquiry-what-lessons) [ How the Nottingham inquiry shines a spotlight on other key mental health care failings ](https://channel4news.substack.com/p/the-nottingham-inquiry-what-lessons) Victoria Macdonald · Feb 12 [ Read full story ](https://channel4news.substack.com/p/the-nottingham-inquiry-what-lessons) A team of lawyers has been working on the inquiry and with bereaved family members who have concerns about this technology. I spoke to solicitor Priya Singh, from Hodge Jones & Allen, who made the point that questions usually asked by nurses would be missing from using devices like this. “It’s not sufficient to say, oh, the patient is moving around. Somebody must go in and say, are you okay? Are you distressed? Do you want help? Is there anything I can do? Share Channel 4 News “How are you spending your time? So I think a lot of our families cannot see the function of it when ultimately the patient should only really be observed when they’ve been prescribed to be observed, they can be observed more, but that more should really be happening face to face.” The Chair will hear evidence over the next two weeks and then a decision made after that, which could have national impact if she does decide this technology should be investigated or even removed. The Department of Health and Social Care said: “The Government is committed to ensuring that lessons are learned from the Lampard Inquiry to improve patient safety. “We are confident that the Inquiry will play an important role in identifying wider learnings for the health system following the tragic events in Essex and will contribute to improvements in patient safety.” We approached LIO Health, which runs Oxevision, for comment. Subscribe Share Channel 4 News Leave a comment
Construction employment and spending still down from last year
Construction employment on Long Island fell 2 percent year-over-year, with national construction spending down 1.7 percent.
Obama to campaign with El-Sayed in Detroit as ex-president gets more involved in midterms
Obama is upping involvement in the midterm election. He taped two dozen ads last week for Democratic candidates for governor and Senate that will be released in the coming days and weeks.
Google Wallet for Android adds 12th digital state ID
Following the last launch at the end of August, Google Wallet is rolling out support for Oklahoma state IDs on Android.
God Packs are Officially Coming to Magic: The Gathering
Magic: The Gathering booster packs have gone through a lot of changes in the last decade, some of which have been awful. But Wizards of the Coast are introducing 'God Packs' to MTG, which could feel like winning the lottery.
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
Review: Metallica lives the dream on opening weekend of Sphere residency
LAS VEGAS — “I had a dream last night,” Metallica singer James Hetfield said. “We were playing the Sphere. “So cool.” Indeed, it was, James. Yet, it wasn’t a dream.
‘A five-alarm fire’ confronts President Trump in red-state October blitz
The midterm elections were just two days away the last time a sitting president visited Grand Island, the fourth-largest city in the middle of one of the nation’s most reliably Republican states.
Weaner Pig Breakeven at $22.46, Up $12.25 From Last Week
When you consider that today’s purchased weaner would be sold in March 2027 using April 2027 futures, the weaner breakeven was $22.46, up $12.25 for the week, and $0.57 below the average cash price for the week of $23.03.
Former ‘American Idol’ singer Caleb Flynn awaits sentencing for wife's murder
A former Ohio music pastor who appeared briefly on “American Idol” is set to be sentenced after a jury convicted him last week of murdering his wife while he was having an affair | Talk 1370
Former ‘American Idol’ singer Caleb Flynn awaits sentencing for wife's murder
A former Ohio music pastor who appeared briefly on “American Idol” is set to be sentenced after a jury convicted him last week of murdering his wife while he was having an affair.
Offensive Line Looks Offensive: Spartans Rank Last in Sacks Allowed
From personnel shifts to coaching failures, a crumbling front wall has left the Spartans reeling as record-breaking sack numbers threaten to derail the Pat Fitzgerald era.
What does Spain's snap election mean for the EU?
Spain's snap election on 29 November could cost progressive European forces their last government in a large member state, tilting EU power towards the right and pushing socialists into opposition mode.
Paid influencers and political ads - Illinois Times, the capital city's source of news, politics, arts, entertainment, culture
My associate Isabel Miller and I worked on a story last week about paid influencers in campaigns. We decided to look into it after reading news reports about how the Chicago Teachers Union has been using paid influencers in its battle to control the elected Chicago school board and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson is also […]
Answering Your Questions as Padres Near Disastrous End to Season
The San Diego Padres are inches away from total collapse, digging themselves into an 0-2 hole against the Milwaukee Brewers. They'll now turn home to a raucous Petco Park crowd with the hopes that they can stave off execution. The postseason allows for some insane turns of fortune. Could the Friars be the next recipient …
DeSean Bishop Is the X-Factor Arkansas Must Contain
Arkansas knows exactly where Tennessee’s offensive plan begins. It begins with DeSean Bishop. The Volunteers running back enters Fayetteville after one of the best performances in the country this season. Bishop rushed 34 times for 220 yards and three touchdowns in Tennessee’s 24-14 win over Auburn, turning a game with quarterback uncertainty into a statement …
Apple Releases MagSafe 3 Charging Cable Firmware Update
For the first time since February 2023, Apple has released a firmware update for the MagSafe 3 charging cable for the MacBook Pro and MacBook Air. Specifically, Apple last week released firmware version 3.2.0 for the USB-C to MagSafe 3 Cable. The previous firmware version for the cable was 3.1.12. It is unclear what is included in the latest firmware, as Apple does not publish release notes for this.
Earth Shifted Quickly On Its Axis Four Times In Last 320 Million Years, Including When Dinosaurs Reigned
Frankly, it’s surprising the dinosaurs didn’t get dizzy.
Galaxy S25’s stable One UI 9.0 update reaches the USA
Last week, Samsung released the stable version of One UI 9.0 (Android 17) to the Galaxy S25, Galaxy S25+, and the Galaxy S25 Ultra. However, the brand made it a
Jobs in health care. Jobs for women. The US labour market is segmenting. Chernobyl’s radiation and Lenin’s love of literature.
Thank you for opening your Chartbook email. Elmer Bischoff, Two Figures at the Seashore, 1957 The only really dynamic job-creator in the US economy is health care: The largest crunch has come in Federal government, which has shed 2.7 m jobs. Source: tchouvkov on Twitter Tech is struggling. [ Joey Politano 🏳️🌈@JosephPolitano The US tech sector continues bleeding jobs in official data released today—overall, employment decreased by 17k last month and is down 69k over the last year That's nearly as bad as the worst of the 2024 tech-cession, and much worse than the 2022 boom or even pre-2020 norms 12:42 PM · Oct 2, 2026 · 15.2K Views 15 Replies · 47 Reposts · 390 Likes ](https://x.com/JosephPolitano/status/2106001807847940232?s=20) The new jobs are all for women. [ Justin Wolfers@JustinWolfers I'm not sure who saw this coming, but so far nearly all the jobs created during the second Trump administration have gone to women. 1:09 PM · Oct 2, 2026 · 33K Views 70 Replies · 146 Reposts · 644 Likes ](https://x.com/JustinWolfers/status/2106008723533533601?s=20) Meanwhile, real wages are being eaten up by modest over-target inflation. [ Heather Long@byHeatherLong The financial pain is real: Wage growth fell to 3% (y/y) in September. That's the lowest in 5 years. Wage growth: 3% Inflation: ~3.4% Inflation has eaten up all wage gains for the average worker since April. Many people are having to make hard choices about what to buy and what … 1:24 PM · Oct 2, 2026 · 37K Views 24 Replies · 275 Reposts · 533 Likes ](https://x.com/byHeatherLong/status/2106012367712620728?s=20) HEY READERS, THANK YOU for opening the Chartbook email. I hope it brightens your day. I enjoy putting out the newsletter, but tbh, what keeps this flow going is the generosity of those readers who clicked the subscription button. If you are persuaded to click, please consider the annual subscription of $60. It is both better value for you and a much better deal for me, as it involves only one credit card charge. Why feed the payments companies if we don’t have to. Subscribe Elmer Bischoff, Bathers, 1960 Americans are disillusioned with higher ed. For contributing subscribers only. Subscribe Where the Chernobyl radiation went. h/t Simon Kuestenmacher aka simongerman600 How Lenin’s love of literature shaped the Russian Revolution - Tariq Ali This, then, was the intellectual atmosphere in which Lenin came of age. His father, a highly cultured conservative, was the chief inspector of schools in his region and much respected as an educationalist. At home, Shakespeare, Goethe and Pushkin, among others, were read aloud on Sunday afternoons. It was impossible for the Ulyanov family – “Lenin” was a pseudonym adopted to outwit the tsarist secret police – to escape high culture. At high school, Lenin fell in love with Latin. His headteacher had high hopes that he might become a philologist and Latin scholar. History willed otherwise, but Lenin’s passion for Latin, and taste for the classics, never left him. He read Virgil, Ovid, Horace and Juvenal in the original, as well as Roman senatorial orations. He devoured Goethe during his two decades in exile, reading and rereading Faust many times. Lenin put his knowledge of the classics to good use in the time leading up to the October revolution of 1917. In April of that year, he broke with Russian social-democratic orthodoxy and, in a set of radical theses, called for a socialist revolution in Russia. A number of his own close comrades denounced him. In a sharp riposte, Lenin quoted Mephistopheles from Goethe’s masterwork: “Theory, my friend, is grey, but green is the eternal tree of life.” Source: The Guardian Elmer Bischoff, The River, 1953 If you’ve scrolled this far, you know you want to click: Subscribe
Yale School of Medicine On the Science of Childhood Anxiety, Say, Anxiety Disorders Are the Most Common Mental Health Challenges In Youth
Credit: Matt Bradbury October 5, 2026 - By Isabella Backman - Anxiety disorders are the most common mental health challenges in youth. Left untreated, they can disrupt the lives of both children and their families. The good news is that with intervention, most children will overcome these conditions. Across Yale School of Medicine, scientists are working to understand anxiety at every level, from common anxious behaviors to molecular biomarkers in the brain. They are using their findings to develop and disseminate new evidence-based treatments for childhood anxiety. Today, the go-to treatment for childhood anxiety disorders is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). This is a form of psychotherapy that teaches children skills for confronting anxious thoughts and helps them practice managing situations that cause anxiety. While it is the gold-standard treatment backed by considerable scientific evidence, up to 50% of children will not see sufficient benefit from CBT alone. Wendy Silverman, PhD, Alfred A. Messer Professor in the Child Study Center, co-directs the Anxiety and Mood Disorders Program alongside Eli Lebowitz, PhD, associate professor in the Child Study Center. One of their main interests is learning how to improve outcomes beyond CBT. “We’re developing cutting-edge, research-based knowledge that can reduce the suffering that anxiety causes children and their families,” says Silverman. Changing parent behavior YSM experts are investigating how to improve CBT outcomes for children by involving the parents. Silverman’s research has uncovered two main components of parent intervention that improve childhood anxiety: not enabling children to completely avoid the things that make them anxious and taking steps to enhance their autonomy. Parents may unintentionally reinforce their child’s anxiety by allowing them to avoid what makes them anxious. They also may unintentionally limit the children’s sense of autonomy by being overly intrusive. “One of the things that we take pride in is that we’ve focused on trying to understand what parents need to do, and to test our ideas and see if changing the parents’ behaviors is enhancing the effects of CBT,” Silverman says. “Our findings thus far suggest that they do." As much as CBT can be helpful, it can also be challenging to get one’s child to do the necessary steps for CBT to work. This is one important reason why Lebowitz created a novel intervention program for parents named Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions (SPACE). Existing intervention programs often teach parents to act as therapists for their child, such as training them on how to practice breathing exercises. “It makes sense, but this doesn’t work very well in practice,” says Lebowitz. “And part of the reason, I think, is that it’s not easy to get your kid to do things, especially if they’re not excited about doing it.” SPACE is unique because it focuses entirely on parent involvement and changing parental behavior—children are not involved in the sessions. For example, parents learn how to use supportive messages that convey confidence that their child can tolerate and manage distress. “It might sound like a parent saying to a child, ‘I get that this is really hard for you, but I know that you can handle it,’” Lebowitz says. The program also works with parents to identify the ways in which they are accommodating anxious behaviors. “We’ll pick one thing that parents are doing that is an accommodation and help them make a detailed plan for how they’re going to change that,” Lebowitz explains. Treating Anxiety in Children and Adolescents Much of the existing research on SPACE has focused on parents of children under age 14. Ongoing studies are now exploring its use with parents of older teens. “Both anxiety and accommodation can interfere with normative developmental shifts during the teen years, including increased autonomy and individuation from parents,” says Rebecca Etkin, PhD, associate research scientist in the Child Study Center. “In this sense, SPACE may be particularly well-suited for anxious teens and their parents. We want to see whether it is effective during this distinct developmental window.” Unfortunately, many families in need of CBT face barriers, including limited availability of services and geographic constraints. One way to improve access is digital interventions. Silverman and her team are developing an evidence-based digitized intervention program for parents that they can access directly from their computer or smart phone. “The work we’re doing will be one of the very few parent interventions that is digitized and importantly tested for effectiveness,” she says. Creating interventions for anxiety-related challenges Silverman and Lebowitz recently received a generous gift to develop and test other interventions that help parents reduce other child anxiety-related behavioral and emotional difficulties, such as restrictive eating and unexplained somatic symptoms. One of these projects in particular focuses on understanding the risks of social media and its potential benefits, including offering a sense of connection. “A lot of research has focused on the idea that social media is harmful and the less of it the better,” says Lebowitz. “But we actually see is that this is not quite right—there are negatives, but there are also positives. So, we’re trying to get a little bit more nuanced of a picture.” The team is working with teens with social anxiety and their parents over an extended period to better understand their social media habits and how their anxiety levels affect engagement with different platforms. The teens will answer questions sent to an app on their phones about mood and social media usage in an effort to capture emotional responses as they unfold. “We hope to develop interventions that can help make the best of social media while protecting against the more problematic effects,” Lebowitz says. The brain’s role in anxiety Researchers are also testing therapies to address anxiety at the neurological and molecular levels. In collaboration with Dylan Gee, PhD, professor of psychology in Yale's Faculty of Arts and Sciences, and Hilary Blumberg, MD, John and Hope Furth Professor of Psychiatric Neuroscience at Yale School of Medicine, Lebowitz and Silverman are using brain imaging to identify changes in a child’s brain before and after parents enroll in SPACE. In one study, children viewed anxiety-inducing images while undergoing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI); the researchers conducted scans with and without the children’s parents nearby. Before SPACE, children’s brains were better able to activate the regulatory circuitry needed to turn off an anxious response when their parents were nearby. But after SPACE, children could activate this circuitry even without the parent around. “As parents work on gradually reducing some of their accommodations, you can see a child get better at regulating their own fear system in the brain,” Lebowitz says. “It’s remarkable.” Research into the molecular underpinnings of anxiety can also inform new childhood anxiety treatments. In a recent study, Lebowitz, Silverman, and Flora Vaccarino, MD, Harris Professor in the Child Study Center, discovered that a protein known as fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2) could be protective from the toxic effects of stress. FGF2 levels in children and their parents were linked to the children’s risk of developing anxiety and depression, the study showed. The findings could help explain why some children who are exposed to early life trauma such as poverty or abuse are more prone to developing mental health disorders. And FGF2 could be a target for treatment. “This is very novel because it starts to give a clue to what is the molecular chain that connects those lived experiences to the actual psychological outcomes,” Lebowitz says. New ways to study and treat childhood anxiety Michael Crowley, PhD, associate professor in the Child Study Center, collaborates with Silverman and Lebowitz to study the role that attention plays in development and maintenance of childhood anxiety. There is a large body of research that shows that anxious children, like anxious adults, are prone to focus on threatening stimuli such as angry faces compared with neutral faces. This has led to innovative interventions that involve attention retraining. The idea is that if experts train children to look away from threatening stimuli, it may reduce their anxiety—especially children with social anxiety who are most prone to attend to threats. The researchers have just completed a clinical trial for attention retraining with 10- to 14-year-olds with social anxiety disorders and are currently analyzing the findings. Besides this innovative attention retraining research, as Crowly notes, “I like to design tasks that are engaging to kids,” Crowley says. “My goal is to assess something without the kids knowing what we are assessing.” With this goal in mind, Crowley has created a virtual game, named Boom, to study threat processing in children with anxiety disorders. The game is similar to that of hot potato—the child and three digital players take turns virtually passing a ball to each other’s gloves. At some point, the ball turns into a bomb, and as the bomb lands in each player’s glove, the outline of the glove turns yellow. The goal is to avoid having the bomb go off in your glove. What isn’t obvious is that the game is designed to measure different types of threatening stimuli, both ambiguous and direct. In the game, the direct threat occurs as the bomb is traveling towards your glove. The ambiguous threat is the yellow outlined glove as it is unknown where the bomb will travel next. While children play the game, Crowley’s team measures their brain activity using electroencephalography (EEG). The researchers have discovered that in kids with anxiety, the brain reacts more strongly to ambiguous threats than it does in their peers, but less strongly to direct threats. They believe that the initial abnormally large brain response to not knowing where the bomb is going impairs the brain's ability to properly respond when the threat is actually traveling the child’s way. “The brains of children with anxiety are unable to differentiate between threats you need to do something about and those that are not your problem.” Michael Crowley, PhD, develops innovative games for studying anxiety in children and adolescents.Credit: Matt Bradbury Based on these insights, Crowley hopes to study whether interventions like attention training could restore appropriate threat processing. Crowley’s team is also working on a test called the Balloon Risk Avoidance Task, which evaluates risk-taking and avoidance behaviors. It features a digital balloon that is full of air and about to burst. Kids have six seconds to let air out of the balloon. The more air they let out, the less risk they face that the balloon will pop. But at the same time, the balloon becomes less valuable as it deflates. “The more air you keep in the balloon, the more points you get,” Crowley explains. So far, the researchers have found that when the balloons pop unexpectedly, teens with social anxiety show distinct brain responses. Studying these responses can help psychologists understand the underlying pathways driving the various manifestations of anxiety. The genetics of anxiety When Thomas Fernandez, MD, associate professor in the Child Study Center and of psychiatry, was still in training, there was a lot of excitement about understanding the genetics associated with autism spectrum disorder. Since then, scientists have identified around 250 genes associated with autism. The genetic contribution to anxiety disorders, on the other hand, has historically received less attention. Anxiety is less heritable than autism, but the genetic contribution for anxiety disorders that emerge in childhood may be higher than for anxiety disorders overall. While scientists estimate the heritability of anxiety disorders in general to be around 30% to 50%, some studies suggest higher heritability for certain childhood-onset anxiety presentations. “I saw firsthand how researchers in the field went about finding vulnerability genes for autism,” Fernandez says. “So, we’re using a very similar playbook for childhood anxiety.” “I saw firsthand how researchers in the field went about finding vulnerability genes for autism. So, we’re using a very similar playbook for childhood anxiety.” Thomas Fernandez, MD Associate Professor In the Child Study Center and in Psychiatry Now, Fernandez and Emily Olfson, MD, PhD, assistant professor in the Child Study Center, are studying children and their parents to identify genetic changes that are present in the child but not the parents, known as “de novo mutations.” “All of us have some de novo mutations—maybe about 50 to 100 sprinkled throughout the genome,” Olfson says. “But when they occur within the coding regions of genes, they can be really disruptive.” Previous research shows that people with autism have higher rates of damaging de novo mutations than the general population. In 2022, Olfson, Lebowitz, Silverman, and Fernandez published a study on 68 children and their families that found that children with anxiety had similarly high levels of these mutations. Studying de novo mutations can help point the researchers to where they should be looking for genes associated with anxiety. “The end game is using the genes to steer us toward the right part of biology that we can then target to come up with better treatments,” Fernandez says. Building on those findings, the team is now studying more families to better understand how these de novo mutations, along with other genetic and environmental factors, shape pediatric anxiety disorders. They recently received a National Institutes of Health grant to enroll 750 new families over the next five years. Olfson is the principal investigator, with co-investigators Lebowitz, Fernandez, Silverman, and Shuangge Steven Ma, PhD, department chair and professor of biostatistics at Yale School of Public Health. Neurodevelopment, Risk Genes, and Mental Health Conditions - The Olfson Lab Joel Gelernter, MD, Foundations Fund Professor of Psychiatry, is interested in how different anxiety disorders differ genomically. “We are studying social phobia, panic disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder, working to understand why people differ in their risk to these specific anxiety disorders and evaluating various risk factors,” he says. Gelernter was recently involved in one of the largest studies to date of the genomics underlying anxiety disorder. The study included around 122,000 people with anxiety disorders and around 730,000 without. It found that some genetic differences associated with anxiety were linked to signaling that helps reduce overactivity in the nervous system. Many anxiety medications available today work by targeting this process. “It’s nice when the biology that you get out of a large genome-wide study ratifies things that we already know because that can help increase confidence in further findings from the study,” Gelernter says. Uncovering the neurobiology of psychiatric disorders John Krystal, MD, Robert L. McNeil, Jr. Professor of Translational Research and chair of the Department of Psychiatry, is interested in the neurobiology of psychiatric disorders, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), of which anxiety is a major symptom. In the late 1980s, Krystal’s team discovered that the drug yohimbine activated symptoms in patients with PTSD. “This was the first time we could link a specific biological mechanism to the symptoms of PTSD,” Krystal says. At the time, he adds, this finding was highly controversial. “A lot of people felt that PTSD was a purely psychological syndrome that didn’t have an underlying biology.” Since then, Krystal has dived deep into understanding the neurobiology of PTSD to learn how to better treat it. His team is evaluating the use of ketamine and psychedelics. These would be among the first treatments to be developed specifically for PTSD. They may also be applicable for other disorders including anxiety disorders, Krystal adds. An important gap in PTSD treatment is the absence of biological tests that inform how to best help patients manage their PTSD symptoms. A doctor doesn’t diagnose cancer based on how they feel. Rather, they use tests of the biology of the cancer to determine the best course of treatment. “And we can’t do that in any psychiatric disorder other than Alzheimer’s disease,” Krystal says. “But now we are building a foundation for this approach to the treatment of anxiety disorders for the first time.” Source: Yale School of Medicine
AtkinsRéalis on human-centric themed entertainment
AtkinsRéalis reveals how engineering, storytelling and strategy combine to create meaningful, lasting experiences in a fast-evolving market
Jerry Jeudy finds perspective in tough times through his daughters
Jerry Jeudy's last 15 months or so with the Browns have been tough. However, he's found happiness in getting away from football with his daughters.
2026 business priorities: 5 trends shaping investments, talent and AI
Old National Bank’s annual business report is out for 2026. Read year-over-year sentiment from the last five years and understand what’s new.
Can the Seminoles Men’s Basketball Take the Next Step?
After coming within one shot of being on the March Madness bubble last season, Florida State enters Year 2 under Luke Loucks, looking to take the next step and get to the Big Dance for the first time since 2021.
French services sector returned to growth for first time since December, PMI shows
France's dominant services sector grew in September for the first time since the end of last year, helped by a rebound in output after businesses had been impacted in August by an intense summer heatwave, a business survey showed on Monday.
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...
The Nobel Prize Week Is Kicking off in Stockholm With the Medicine Award
STOCKHOLM (AP) — This year's Nobel Prizes will kick off on Monday with the awarding of the medicine prize at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm. Last year, three scientists won the Nobel Prize in medicine for discoveries about how the immune system knows to attack germs and not our own bodies.
The genetic secret helping bats survive a deadly epidemic
We’re easing you into Halloween season with an episode about bats. There’s a silent serial killer decimating little brown bats as they hibernate. White nose syndrome has driven populations across the U.S. to almost the brink of extinction over the last decade. But recently, conservation biologist Giorgia Auteri and her team noticed several genetic mutations in the survivors. These mutations could explain how natural selection has shifted the existing population – and inform conservation efforts in the future.Interested in more animal science? Email us your question at shortwave@npr.org.Support public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org.
Confirmed: Roma reopen talks with Endrick’s entourage
Roma will continue to strengthen in January. Gian Piero Gasperini, even in the last transfer window, was left without a striker capable of sprinting and raising the team’s level. A promised addition...
Rules analyst reveals game-changing referee mistake
Earlier this season, the Michigan Wolverines benefited from a controversial replay decision that put one more second on the clock, allowing for one last heave at the end zone, only for governing bodies to later conclude that protocol was not correctly followed. A similar situation happened this week at the FCS level. During Friday night’s…
Sisters in Birth launches vocational school to improve Mississippi’s maternal health numbers
As Mississippi ranks last in the nation for infant and maternal health, a nonprofit is launching a vocational school to train the birth workers it says can help change that.
Disappointing night for Jahmyr Gibbs
Facing the NFL's last-ranked run defense, Jahmyr Gibbs managed just 46 yards on 15 carries in a Week 4 loss to the Panthers.
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 …
Brent Manalo releases ‘Pareho Tayong Nahihiya’ music video
The swoon-worthy "Parehong Tayong Nahihiya" is one of the tracks of Manalo's extended play "Lover Boy," which was released last May.
Honor Magic 9 series global launch scheduled for January 2027
Honor Magic 9 series is set to hit the global launch stage in January 2027. As per the company’s official announcement, the flagship smartphone is coming to overseas markets, starting in Europe early next year after a successful Chinese launch. Magic 9 series made its debut in China last week, and Honor has begun preparing […]
Easing constipation: A 20-minute walk can get your gut moving almost immediately
Researchers found that just 20 minutes of comfortable walking can rapidly stimulate the gut. Within one to two minutes after exercise, bowel sounds became stronger, more frequent, and lasted longer, suggesting increased intestinal movement. The boost was brief, fading within a few minutes, but it may help explain why walking can provide relief from constipation.
Apple Event Reportedly Planned for October 13
Last week, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reported that Apple plans to unveil an all-new smart home hub, a new HomePod mini, and a new Apple TV 4K on Tuesday, October 13. Last week, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reported that Apple plans to unveil an all-new smart home hub, a new HomePod mini, and a new Apple TV 4K on Tuesday, October 13.
White Sox offseason business during the postseason: Arbitration figures, play-by-play future
The last two times the White Sox were in a real postseason — 2008 against the Rays, 2021 against the Astros — they fell behind 2-0 in the the ALDS, and had to scratch out Game 3 victories each time in order to ensure that they wouldn’t participate in the bare minimum of games. Three…
$3.3M National Institutes of Health grant funds UH study of microplastics, infant brain development
Researchers will measure exposure through maternal blood, examine fetal brain development through ultrasound and collect cord blood and placenta samples. Infants will be assessed at 2, 6 and 12 months for neurological function, motor development, language skills and cognition.
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.
‘Fitbit Edge’ leaks as Google’s next fitness tracker with ‘Apps’ & ‘Notifications’
Following an accidental marketing leak in August and FCC listing last month, retail listings for the “Fitbit Edge” have now emerged.
Trump names national intelligence director Jay Clayton to lead a new federal AI task force
The announcement comes after Trump hosted top executives of AI companies at the White House last week and said they had signed a voluntary accord that would effectively self-police the development of the technology.
College Football Sunday Summary; Product Testing
We are five weeks through the college football season, and the folks at College Football Sunday Summary feel like it all just started. We know this…we have seen and heard things over the weekend that seem to require some product testing. College Football Sunday Summary Headache Guy The jokes were too good to ignore this …
Supreme Court heads into new term with one eye on President Trump
When the Supreme Court kicks off a new term on Monday, it’ll be without a docket full of Trump-driven, separation-of-powers blockbusters that defined the last term — for now.
The Science Behind a Simple Headache Trick People Swear By
A viral trend promoting the placement of hair claw clips on eyebrows has captivated millions seeking fast headache relief without prescription drugs. If you have spent any time scrolling social media lately, you have probably spotted people clamping plastic claw clips directly onto their faces. It looks like an eccentric comedy sketch, but videos demonstrating this unusual trick have racked up more than 9 million views. Desperate headache sufferers are flooding comment sections, calling the clip
Fantasy Football: Is Justin Jefferson playing in Week 4?
After his ankel injury last week, here is an update on the Vikings top receiver before Week 4 kickoffs.
Daryz claims rare back-to-back success in the Arc
Daryz repeats last year's success in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, becoming just the ninth horse to win Europe's richest Flat race more than once.
Yankees need Cam Schlittler to steal Game 2 in Tampa
Cam Schlittler does not need a motivational speech about Tropicana Field. The last time the Yankees sent him there, on […]
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 …
3 Questions For Rockets Preseason Opener In Macao
NBA preseason is already underway. Likely MVP candidate Giannis Antetokounmpo has made his unofficial debut for the Miami Heat. Houston Rockets fans will have to wait until Friday, October 9th for their team to play the Dallas Mavericks in Macao. Here are three questions they should look out for when that time comes. 3 Questions …
Three Last-Minute Packers vs. Buccaneers Predictions
Green Bay Packers' Jordan Love seeks rhythm against a winless Tampa Bay Buccaneers squad with undrafted rookie Jalon Daniels leading the charge.
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.
Giants’ 2-1 start cannot hide Jameis Winston’s touchdown drought
The Giants beat Tennessee 12-7 last week. Every point came from a field goal. It counts as a win, and […]
Jalen Coker Injury Update: Panthers WR’s Week 4 Status Revealed
Jalen Coker has been one of the bright spots for the Carolina Panthers through the first three weeks of the season, but the team may have to make due without him in Week 4. Originally entering the league as an undrafted free agent after the 2023 NFL Draft, the Holy Cross product quickly outplayed his …
Zay Flowers Injury Update: Ravens WR’s Week 4 Status Revealed
Zay Flowers spent the past week battling a hamstring injury in practice, but the Baltimore Ravens star wide receiver should suit up for Week 4's battle against the Tennessee Titans. A first-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, the Boston College product immediately established a rapport with quarterback Lamar Jackson. Back in 2023, the rookie …
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 …
Mike Evans Injury Update: 49ers WR’s Week 4 Status Revealed
Mike Evans suffered a rib injury midway through Week 3's shootout against the Arizona Cardinals, but it might not keep him from suiting up in Week 4. Originally entering the league as a first-round pick in the 2014 NFL Draft, Evans spent most of his career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and established himself as …
How Democrats hope to reverse Trump’s changes to the presidency
As the midterms approach, some of the president’s foes are working to ensure his aggressive approach to executive power doesn’t outlast him.
Blue Jays Handed Clear Offseason Message on Pirates’ Oneil Cruz
After reaching the World Series last year, the Toronto Blue Jays failed to reach the postseason this year. As a result, the Blue Jays’ front office will need to bolster the team if it wants to return to the Fall Classic. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. had an awful 2026 season by his standards, hitting .260 while […] The post Blue Jays Handed Clear Offseason Message on Pirates’ Oneil Cruz appeared first on HEAVY.
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.
French clubs interested in former Marseille prospect Enzo Sternal
Enzo Sternal (19) was backed to make the step up to Olympique de Marseille’s first team, having come through their academy. Prior to his move to RSC Anderlecht last summer, Get French Football News ...
Warriors’ Former All-Star Suddenly Emerges as Potential Trade Candidate
The Golden State Warriors could be parting ways with a former All-Star they acquired last season. According to NBA insider Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints, the Warriors’ top trade candidate entering the 2026-2027 NBA season is Kristaps Porzingis because his $20 million salary matches, and only $3 million is guaranteed for next season, essentially making it […] The post Warriors’ Former All-Star Suddenly Emerges as Potential Trade Candidate appeared first on HEAVY.
Party conference will be more upbeat than last year, Tories say – but that’s not the whole story
The mood is better but ‘overhyped’, says one Conservative MP as party remains a distant third in polls
ETSU reclaims rail with 14-3 rivalry win over Chattanooga.
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (WJHL)— ETSU football reclaimed the Rail for the first time since 2018 on Saturday, defeating SoCon rival Chattanooga 14-3. The Buccaneers improved to 4-2 overall and 2-0 in SoCon play while snapping a six-game losing streak to the Mocs. ETSU has now won six consecutive conference games dating back to last season. […]
Players who stood out in Nebraska football’s hard-fought win over Maryland
Nebraska (5-0, 2-0) didn’t miss a beat after a dominant road victory last week and took care of Maryland (2-2, 0-1) 48-23 Saturday afternoon at Memorial Stadium. The Huskers fought through a disappointing first quarter and an array of penalties to take the lead against the Terrapins in the second quarter, and they held that lead through the end of the game. Nebraska totaled 447 yards of offense, led by receiver Kwazi Gilmer and methodical drives. Here’s who stood out on the afternoon:
Ken Paxton’s estranged wife backs him without saying his name
Texas state Senator Angela Paxton, Ken Paxton’s estranged wife, threw her support behind the Texas GOP Senate nominee without naming him, saying in a new ad that she will be “voting for the Republican ticket.” The ad comes after Paxton urged Republican women in remarks last month to support GOP candidates even if they have reservations about them.
Ohio State Dominates Iowa In Record-Breaking Fashion
Ohio State returned to Kinnick Stadium for the first time since the 2017 beatdown, and it went significantly better this time around. For as frustrating as all three phases were for the Buckeyes, Ohio State was in control from the jump, only allowing a late touchdown when the game was well in hand. In the …
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.
UB Bulls stopped at goal line in MAC upset bid
AMHERST, N.Y. (WIVB) — The University at Buffalo football team lost at the last second of its conference opener against a favored foe that suffered the most infamous last-second loss of the season. Buffalo quarterback Jason Wright was stopped at the 1-yard line on a fourth down scramble as time expired in Western Michigan’s 20-17 […]
Patriots fan-favorite fined twice for same Week 3 play
Patriots veteran wide receiver Mack Hollins was hit with two fines from the same play in last week's game against the Jaguars.
Ted Cruz blasts JD Vance as ‘insecure,’ says he’s focused on helping GOP win midterms
A clash between two potential candidates for the 2028 Republican presidential nomination spilled into public this week.
Nebraska vs Maryland – Game Thread of Winning Fun!
Time: 3:00pm CST Location: Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, NE Surface: Hellas Turf (Blessed by the Bobfather himself in Husker Valhalla) Wagering Info: Huskers -14 1⁄2 . O/U – 52 1⁄2. Moneyline: Nebraska +116, Maryland +666 ($100 wager) (FanDuel) Series Record: Nebraska is 3-1 vs. Maryland all-time with all 4 games being played after the Huskers joined the Big 10. The last two games […]
Tony Gilroy Says Paramount-Warner Bros. Merger Will ‘Destroy’ a ‘Healthy and Beautiful Business’ in ‘The Name of Venture Capital’: ‘It’s Tragic’
Tony Gilroy blasted the “tragic” nature of the Paramount-Warner Bros. merger at the world premiere of his new film, “Behemoth!” Produced on a $36 million budget, “Behemoth!” is representative of the m...
Tony Gilroy Blasts Paramount Merger at ‘Behemoth!’ NYFF Premiere
Tony Gilroy says the impending merger threatens to dismantle the very “healthy and beautiful business” he has worked in for over three decades
South Texas Health System (@stxhealthsystem)
1 likes, 1 comments - stxhealthsystem on October 3, 2026: "A Gathering of Compassion, Commitment & Community: The Texas Association of Healthcare Volunteers (TAHV), a statewide organization dedicated to supporting, training and connecting healthcare volunteers, recently held its District 3 Meeting at South Texas Health System Edinburg. Volunteers from across South Texas and the Coastal Bend gathered to learn, share ideas and strengthen the vital role they play in supporting patients, families and healthcare teams throughout their communities. The Auxiliary to STHS (@auxiliarytosths) is made up of more than 350 student and adult volunteers who help enhance the patient experience across the health system. To help make this year's event a success, auxiliary members from hospitals throughout the Rio Grande Valley came together to plan, coordinate and host the annual meeting. We extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who attended and contributed to this inspiring event. Your dedication, compassion and service make a lasting impact in hospitals across the Rio Grande Valley and beyond.".
As Midterms Near, Justice Alito Says He Considers Each Year Whether to Retire
The justice, the second oldest on the court at 76, told CBS News that he decided against stepping down last term. He could face pressure should Democrats win the Senate in November.
Real Madrid’s Endrick keen on Roma move
Serie A giants Roma have been in the picture to sign Real Madrid’s Endrick in the last few months and there are increasingly positive signs that a deal could be possible in January.Corriere dello Sp...
$28B hemp THC industry fighting to save itself from looming federal ban
A government-funding bill last month delayed the effective date of a hemp THC ban to Dec. 11 to give Congress time to consider regulations.
Leela Gray gets a fourth ratings shift and a $1.4M quarter. The last two Democrats to poll this well against Anna Paulina Luna lost by 9 points
Four ratings shifts in nine days. Luna's polling history cuts the other way.
Christy Carlson Romano opens up about 2025 shotgun blast to the face
Christy Carlson Romano is ready for the next chapter of her life, but at one point, her story was nearly cut short.
Photography Adventures, Chaotic Sheepherding And Other New Indie Games Worth Checking Out
Plus, indie game Star Wars: Galactic Racer is an absolute blast.
Three Last-Minute North Carolina vs. Notre Dame Predictions
The North Carolina Tar Heels face a juggernaut in Kenan Stadium.
Three Last-Minute Florida vs. Missouri Predictions
Fresh off a dominant upset, the Florida Gators' high-octane offense prepares to dismantle a depleted Missouri defense.
Pellegrini rumored to start in Como clash
Injury halted him just when he was at his peak. With seven goals and four assists, last season seemed to be Lorenzo Pellegrini’s definitive redemption, but then physical problems compromised his pre...