SCROLL NEWS / DISCOVERY
Search headlines
Find the stories shaping the conversation.
Results for " trump " 15,816 found 🔀 AI-powered Shuffle
Should California backfill science funding Trump cut? Voters could decide in 2028
This story was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters. A California science bond measure to counter the Trump administration’s research cuts is back from the dead after state lawmakers and Gov. Gavin Newsom reached a deal last week to place the $7.5 billion request to voters on the March 2028 ballot. Senate […]
As Carney takes stand against Trump, Canadian voters reward his party with sweep of 3 special elections
Prime Minister Mark Carney said the results amounted to an endorsement of his government’s approach.
The light is blinking red on Trump messing with the 2026 election
It should surprise nobody that the president who tried to overturn the 2020 election based on lies — and didn’t seem to mind his supporters rising up violently on January 6, 2021 — might try to monkey with the 2026 midterm elections.
How data centers complicate American politics
Opinion: Data centers are driving a political realignment, creating contradictions in Republicans’ and Democrats’ positions on the economy, environment and the working class, writes Sreedhar Potarazu.
Whistleblower Raises Alarming Possibility About Mail Ballots
An unnamed federal official warned that the Postal Service’s moves to comply with a Trump executive order could “derail” the midterms.
Trump names pastor to advise administration on tobacco health
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that Pastor Darrell Scott will serve his administration as an adviser for tobacco health issues on a committee that advises the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Trump Names Pastor to Advise Administration on Tobacco Health
WASHINGTON, Sept 1 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that Pastor Darrell Scott will serve his administration as an adviser for tobacco health issues on a committee that advises the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "For far too long,
JD Vance calls Michigan Senate candidate El-Sayed 'evil' at campaign rally
El-Sayed faces Trump ally Mike Rogers in what has quickly become a senate race characterised by personal attacks and insults between the two.
Ig Nobel Prizes leave U.S. amid concerns about Trump policies
This year's Ig Nobel Prizes will be held in Zurich, Switzerland, Sept. 3.
Health institute issues ‘Red Alert’ over potentially deadly Trump ecstasy pills
The two-toned pills feature an image of President Donald Trump on one side and a score line with “NL” and “Trump” on the other, according to the Netherlands Institute of Mental Health and Addiction, known as theTrimbos Institute. Officials …
Trump says US position on Falklands 'one of many' under review
The UK says Falkland islanders "are British with a right to determine their own future".
Calmatters: Should California Backfill Science Funding Trump Cut? Voters Could Decide In 2028
CalMatters
Health institute issues 'Red Alert' over potentially deadly Trump ecstasy pills
The two-toned pills feature an image of President Donald Trump on one side and a score line with “NL” and “Trump” on the other.
Health institute issues 'Red Alert' over potentially deadly Trump ecstasy pills
WCYB NBC 5 Bristol and WEMT Fox 39 Greeneville offer local and national news reporting, sports, and weather forecasts to viewers in the Tennessee, Virginia Tri-Cities area including Bristol, Kingsport and Johnson City.
Health institute issues 'Red Alert' over potentially deadly Trump ecstasy pills
The two-toned pills feature an image of President Donald Trump on one side and a score line with “NL” and “Trump” on the other.
The Trump Administration Is Dismantling One of America's Greatest Strategic Assets: Its Scientific Workforce
The loss of US scientific expertise will be measured in discoveries and medical advances never made, and lives that might have been saved.
Whistle-Blower Says Trump Officials Are Defying Court Orders on Voting by Mail
A report detailed “grave concerns” that a new system being rushed into use by the U.S. Postal Service could imperil millions of mail ballots ahead of the midterm elections.
Postal Service plans may keep voters from getting ballots, whistleblower says
An anonymous federal official warns that a rushed USPS portal tied to Trump’s mail-voting order could reject large batches of ballots before the midterms.
Whistleblower says USPS system Trump ordered for mail ballots is flawed and untested
An executive order from Trump, which is stymied in the courts, required the Postal Service to rapidly build a complex system to vet mail ballots.
Lamont and CT business leaders warn Trump’s tariffs will drive up prices
Gov. Ned Lamont strove Monday to ensure that the White House gets all due credit for the dollar-for-dollar retaliatory tariffs coming next month from Connecticut’s largest trade partner, Canada.
The Trump administration is burying science and health care in paperwork
This White House has become the paperwork administration, write Brandon Marshall and Abdullah Shihipar.
The Trump administration is burying science and health care in paperwork
This White House has become the paperwork administration, write Brandon Marshall and Abdullah Shihipar.
John Roberts often defers to Trump but not for the White House ballroom project
“That construction is likely unlawful,” Roberts wrote in dissent with the court’s liberals as Trump’s ballroom moves ahead
Oil, the most sensitive issue in Venezuelan politics
The agreement announced by Donald Trump has sparked widespread unease in a country with a deeply rooted sense of ownership over its natural resources
President Trump pushes tax incentive for entertainment industry
President Donald Trump is calling on Congress to create a federal tax incentive to bring production back to the U.S. Tracey Leong reports for the NBC4 News at 11 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 31, 2026.
President Trump champions federal tax incentive for entertainment industry
President Donald Trump is urging Congress to create a federal tax incentive aimed at helping the film and television industry. Movie and television productions have been leaving the United States for places that offer more financial incentives. The president said he is hoping to change that. In a post on Truth Social, he said in part, “Hollywood is a Complete…
Trump's 'golden age of science' is not just another war to be won
Let's get off the battlefield and into the laboratory — this should be one arena where great power competition can be kept in its place
How the Pentagon Is Getting Into the Venezuelan Oil Business Under Trump
The Defense Department’s Office of Strategic Capital, founded by the Biden administration to give loans to bolster the U.S. defense industry, is helping lead President Trump’s oil deal.
Obama-era mandate slashed after being blamed for 'skyrocketing' housing costs
A new Trump admin housing directive aims to tackle the U.S.'s housing affordability crunch by ending Obama-era rule allowing indefinite liability for property owners over past building design errors.
Trump calls for federal tax incentives to revive U.S. film industry
President Trump on Monday urged Congress to approve federal tax incentives aimed at reviving American film and television productions.
Texas hospitals to lose $27 million in Medicaid funding daily
Starting Sept. 1, the Trump administration will withhold about $9.8 billion in extra annual funding that helps hospitals cover the difference between Medicaid payments and the actual cost of services.
Trump Mocks Data-Center Opponents as Wanting to Stay ‘Backwards and Poor’
The giant computing sites that power A.I. are increasingly opposed by communities across the country, a signal of voters’ concern about a changing economy.
Trump keeps stacking up ‘emergency’ wins at the Supreme Court
President Donald Trump has piled up a series of significant victories on the Supreme Court’s emergency docket since returning to power in 2025.
Trump urges Congress to pass tax incentives for entertainment industry
Aug 31 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday said that Congress should pass tax incentives for the entertainment industry to keep production in the country.
Trump urges Congress to pass tax incentives for entertainment industry
U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday said that Congress should pass tax incentives for the entertainment industry to keep production in the country.
Trump Urges Congress to Pass Tax Incentives for Entertainment Industry
Aug 31 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday said that Congress should pass tax incentives for the entertainment industry to keep production in the country. "I am going to suggest that Republicans and Democrats get together, and immediately craft Legislation to save the Movie,
Health Brief: More drugmakers cut pricing deals
Plus: Nonprofits break down foreign aid cuts amid Trump administration shift to global health strategy
C.D.C. Director Challenges Pennsylvania’s Report of Two Measles Deaths
Questioning a state’s investigation is highly unusual for the public health agency, but reflects tensions between the Trump administration and many states over health issues.
Trump officials cut political interference ban after unusual Census Bureau report
After the Census Bureau issued a report tied to a Trump-aligned think tank, the bureau's parent agency cut language banning political interference from its scientific integrity policy, NPR learned.
Army Secretary Dan Driscoll submits resignation after tension with Hegseth
Army Secretary Dan Driscoll submitted his resignation to President Donald Trump, three sources familiar with the matter told CNN.
Trump says U.S. might ‘smack’ Iran but that fighting is likely to remain limited
The president downplays the possibility of escalating military action against Tehran, despite recent tit-for-tat attacks.
WATCH: Trump says 'Medicare for All' doesn't work
The president was asked about Democratic candidates who want to use Medicare to provide universal access to health care — and he said his approach to have confidential drug pricing deals was superior.
WATCH: Trump says more pharmaceutical companies will lower drug prices
Trump: 90% of prescription drugs covered by 'most favored nation' price deals
Several of the companies that agreed to lower drug prices also announced U.S. research and development investments Monday
Supreme Court lets White House continue construction on Trump's $400M ballroom
The lawsuit will return to lower courts, but documents say that key portions of the project could be complete within months
Supreme Court allows Trump to continue building White House ballroom
Supreme Court allows White House to continue construction on Trump's $400 million ballroom
The justices intervened Monday after lower courts found work must stop because the project doesn’t have congressional approval.
Annenberg poll: Americans trust their doctors when it comes to public health, but not FDA, CDC
Trust in federal government health agencies has dropped in Trump’s second term.
Supreme Court lets White House continue construction on Trump's $400M ballroom
The lawsuit will return to lower courts, but documents say that key portions of the project could be complete within months
Supreme Court clears way for White House ballroom construction to continue
The decision hands President Donald Trump a major political victory in his controversial bid to oversee the largest addition to the executive mansion in decades.
Supreme Court allows Trump to continue building White House ballroom
The Supreme Court cleared the way Monday for President Donald Trump to continue construction of a massive new ballroom at the White House, rejecting a challenge from a preservation group that was seeking to indefinitely halt the controversial project.
Pres. Trump Makes Announcement on Health Care Affordability
President Trump makes an announcement on efforts to advance health care affordability in the U.S. from the Oval Office.
Trump admin revives ‘Apprentice’-era energy with $1M business battle in DC
Nicki Minaj, Grant Cardone, and Joe Gebbia will judge the SBA's Patriot Pitch as five entrepreneur finalists compete for $1 million in cash.
Kalshi bans ex-congressman George Santos from prediction platform for life
Santos was accused of profiting from bets tied to his attendance at Trump’s State of the Union address
"Let data reign": Trump and AI investors wage campaign to save data centers
"If we kill the Golden Goose, you will only have yourselves to blame," Trump warned.
WATCH: Vance says Trump likes to 'switch it up' by posting AI video of Kharg Island bombing
Trump’s bogus narrative about the GOP losing in the 2026 midterms
President Donald Trump keeps trying to preemptively blame congressional Republicans if they lose big in the 2026 midterms — but he’s now making an argument that’s flat-out wrong
Trump says voters who oppose data centers will ‘kill the Golden Goose’
The president defends the server farms as polling shows sizable shares of Americans from both political parties are opposed to them.
Republicans are spending big attacking Democrats on data centers. So why is Trump saying ‘let data reign’?
Trump Says Communities That Oppose Data Centers Risk Becoming ‘Backwards and Poor’
The president has backed the construction of data centers, but most Americans oppose building them near where they live.
Trump Personally Bullying Apple to Make It ‘Lake America’
Google Maps has already surrendered on the president’s ridiculous name change, but he isn’t satisfied.
Republicans ask Supreme Court to let them air TV ads for less
Republican campaign groups – supported by the Trump administration – asked the Supreme Court on Monday to let them purchase television advertising at discounted rates
Kalshi bans ex-Rep. Santos after concluding he likely was insider trading
On the eve of Trump’s speech, Kalshi put the odds of Santos attending at close to 75%.
Trump admin shuts down 270 driving schools in fraud crackdown
President Donald Trump's administration continued its nationwide campaign against fraud with new announcements targeting trucking fraud in Detroit.
OpenAI's ad business shows blistering growth, hits $1 billion annualized revenue run rate
OpenAI's move to serve ads in ChatGPT earlier this year drew ridicule from its chief rival, Anthropic, in the form of a Super Bowl commercial.
Column: California's fight against Trump's unhinged war on voting by mail
California could have some zany theater this fall: county prosecutors charging federal postmasters with felonies for obeying President Trump’s order to withhold delivery of mail ballots to voters.
Public Confidence in One’s Own Healthcare Provider Remains High | The Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania
Americans’ confidence in their healthcare providers remains high while confidence in U.S. healthcare institutions has declined since the start of President Trump's second term, an APPC survey conducted from April 2021-August 2026 finds.
Seneca Nation calls for reversal of Trump’s ‘Lake America’ executive order
Seneca Nation President J. Conrad Seneca says it violates a more than 225-year-old treaty and shows a "blatant disrespect" for Indigenous people.
Why the left can’t stop obsessing over Trump
Trump’s supporters aren’t the mystery — his critics are more interesting.
Live updates: U.S. and Iran trade strikes after monthlong lull
Live updates and the latest news as the U.S. and Iran trade strikes after monthlong lull and Trump voters express frustrations with the administration in interviews with NBC News.
Trump-era politics reshape dating in Richmond
One woman asked if her Republican match attended Jan. 6. Another promising date ended over a Tesla.
Trump’s deals in Africa could cut U.S. health aid by more than half, analysis shows
The planned reductions — targeting programs that combat the spread of deadly diseases — coincide with an administration push to make developing nations spend more.
House Democrat to launch challenge to Trump’s ‘Lake America’ order
Debbie Dingell plans to introduce her ‘Hands Off Our Great Lakes Act’ today following president’s latest escalation in US-Canada trade war
Louisiana takes a step toward adopting Medicaid work requirements
Louisiana’s proposed work requirements for Medicaid enrollment largely adhere to the new guidelines Congress and President Donald Trump laid out last year. The new state regulations are expected to go into effect for Medicaid recipients in January.
Xi, Modi and Putin set to meet for SCO summit: What’s on the agenda?
The two-day summit aims to promote a vision of a multipolar world and mutual trade ties amid Trump's unilateralism.
Trump trade war with Canada is war on U.S. businesses
Having dynamited trade talks with Canada — in part due to the intervention of Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick — Donald Trump has now imposed 50% tariffs on certain Canadian goods, with Canada immediately retaliating. This will be good for…
How Guthrie plans to help PA Medicaid patients
The health system is expanding its volunteer program to keep patients insured when the Trump administration’s stricter Medicaid rules go into effect.
Trump says Venezuelan oil will lower gas prices. Analysts disagree.
Analysts say Venezuela needs years of investment to boost oil production, and that 65 billion barrels won't materialize overnight.
Trump still teases a third presidential run, but he's talking more and more about life after 2028
Donald Trump frequently hints at a third presidential run, even wearing 2028 campaign hats.
Donald Trump threatens to report ‘Meet the Press’ moderator Kristen Welker to FCC for ‘punishment’
Donald Trump is lashing out at NBC News’ Kristen Welker, long one of the primary objects of his ire, for saying his endorsement of recent candidates for elected office have had ‘mixed results.’
Trump demands all Canadian companies doing business with the US move to America ‘immediately’
Google Maps changes Lake Ontario to ‘Lake America’ for US users after Trump order: 'It's official!'
Google Maps has updated Lake Ontario to “Lake America" for U.S. users following Trump’s executive order and the federal government’s official name change.
Trump says he will report NBC host to FCC for ‘rebuke or punishment’
The president’s latest in a string of threats against broadcasters followed a comment by Kristen Welker about “some mixed results” from his midterm endorsements.
Trump urges Canadian companies to immediately move to US, says ‘I don’t want Canadian anything’
Trump says Canada has been “ripping" the U.S. off for decades as he defends tariffs and urges Canadian companies to move operations south of the border.
Trump ‘border czar’ denies that Milo Yiannopoulos was deported after arrest
Tom Homan says rightwing influencer overstayed visitor visa after receiving final order of removal
Trump Says Venezuelan Oil Will Refill U.S. Stockpiles, but It’s Not So Simple
New projects can take years to produce meaningful amounts of oil, and that’s especially true in Venezuela, where infrastructure is in disrepair.
Trump calls for NBC’s Kristen Welker to face ‘rebuke or punishment’ from the FCC
Treating the Federal Communications Commission like his own personal enforcer, President Donald Trump said on social media Sunday that NBC’s Kristen Welker would be “reported to the FCC for rebuke or punishment” over a TV segment he didn’t like.
Canada claps back at Trump's efforts to rename Lake Ontario as 'Lake America'
Ontario Premier Doug Ford has unveiled a giant billboard reading: "Lake Ontario — Now and Always." But tech giant Google has said it is renaming the lake for U.S. users, as President Trump demanded.
Trump says 'Meet the Press' host Kristen Welker will be reported to FCC
President Donald Trump sharply criticized Kristen Welker, the moderator of NBC's "Meet the Press," after abruptly exiting an interview with her earlier this year.
Colorado Sues EarnIn For “Immoral, Unethical, Oppressive and Unscrupulous” Business Practices
Hey all, Jason here. When this hits your inbox, I should be en route to the airport — not to go anywhere myself, just to pick up my better half. I must admit, it’s been strange to be home alone (well, with two dogs) for two weeks! Really lets me “optimize” to spending more time on reading/writing/working, whether that’s healthy or not! Looking forward to getting back into a (somewhat) more balance routine. Subscribe or Support by Upgrading Compare Notes With the People Who Built Modern Fintech Partner content: Remitly CEO Sebastian Gunningham. Increase founder Darragh Buckley. Linda Du, Co-founder & President at Valon. They’ll unpack the decisions behind building and scaling major financial products: what they got right, what broke, what they would do differently, and how AI and new infrastructure are changing the operator playbook. Most events tell you where fintech is going. NerdCon puts the people who built the present in the room and asks them what comes next. Expect an operator-led conversation grounded in real products, real trade-offs and lessons earned the hard way. Fintech Business Weekly readers save 20% on Regular tickets with code FBW20 before standard pricing ends September 11. Meet the Builders Things To Know & Other Good Reads Advent and Stripe Abandon $50 Billion Pursuit of PayPal (Bloomberg) Trump Family’s New Crypto Bank Is Backed by Abu Dhabi Sheikh (Wall Street Journal) The multiplying risks of financing data centres (FT) Let the Bond Market Speak (Wall Street Journal) Did we waste a crisis? Modest proposals to reform deposit insurance. (Fintech Takes Banking) Untangling Guggenheim: How Private Credit Built Its Own Universe (Net Interest) The Hater’s Guide To Circular Financing — Part One (Ed Zitron) Fiat Ventures Rebrands to FGV Capital, Announces $35M Oversubscribed Fund II (BusinessWire) Socure Announces Strategic Growth Investment at $5.2B Valuation and Acquires Agentic Operations Platform Fravity (Socure) Listen: When Consumer Protection Disclosures Work Too Well (Consumer Finance Monitor Podcast) Colorado Sues EarnIn For “Immoral, Unethical, Oppressive and Unscrupulous” Business Practices When Andreessen Horowitz led EarnIn’s $39 million Series B in 2017, Alex Rampell, a partner at the storied venture capital firm, described EarnIn’s small-dollar advance product as “free,” relying on “entirely on voluntary contributions instead of fees.” Rampell favorably compared EarnIn’s approach to typical payday loans, writing, “Payday loans historically have had the potential to be a slippery slope for consumers into financial distress: opaque systems and steep fees that are hard to repay and set individuals back further than where they started. For many Americans living paycheck to paycheck, that kind of slide into debt can be extremely difficult to recover from.” But EarnIn’s product — which, the company says, isn’t a “loan,” legally speaking — ends up being anything but free for most users. While it is technically possible to take a no-fee advance from the company, most users incur “Lightning Speed” (instant funding) fees and/or ostensibly optional tips that combined can equate to annualized percent rates that can reach over 1,000%. With an average term of 9.77 days, even fees and tips that are small on an absolute dollar basis are equivalent to high APRs on an annualized basis. A lawsuit filed last week by Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser against EarnIn describes the company and its product and business practices quite differently than Andreessen’s Rampell; “EarnIn’s business practices are unfair because they are immoral, unethical, oppressive and unscrupulous,” the complaint, filed in District Court in Denver, Colorado, says. EarnIn’s marquee product, Cash Out, isn’t a loan, the company says, as Cash Out is not “[f]orward [l]ooking” because “[t]he money is transferred based on earnings to date,” does not carry a mandatory fee to access funds, and is “non-recourse,” meaning EarnIn cannot pursue recovery from users who don’t repay advanced funds. EarnIn is sometimes referred to as an “Earned Wage Advance” service. Though, unlike some others in the broader category, EarnIn does not integrate with employers’ payroll or time and attendance systems. Rather, EarnIn attempts to verify a user’s income and employment, by examining direct deposit transaction data in their linked external bank account, by using GPS location and Bluetooth data to estimate a user’s time spent at work, if they work in a fixed location, and/or by having a user provided a work email address. While repayment is theoretically optional, as EarnIn would have no recourse, such as reporting non-payment to the credit bureaus or a collections agency, this is anything but clear to users of the EarnIn app, Colorado’s complaint argues. During the process of taking a Cash Out, users must agree to a preauthorized debit of the amount advanced, plus any expedited funding fee and/or tips. Though users technically can revoke this ACH authorization, the fact that they have this right isn’t presented to users during the Cash Out process, but rather is included in linked terms and conditions few users are likely to actually read. And users who do wish to revoke their ACH authorization must do so three or more days before the scheduled transaction date by emailing EarnIn’s customer support. Similarly, EarnIn’s marketing claims that it carries “no interest” and “no mandatory fees” is technically true, but is not the reality for many of the app’s users, the Colorado complaint argues. Further, EarnIn has extensively marketed to users the ability to “access your pay today,” to get “instant” funds, and to get funds “the same day you work” — when, in reality, this speed of access was only possible by paying the additional, undisclosed Lightning Speed fee. The Colorado complaint highlights this contradiction specifically, noting: EarnIn tells consumers that they can ‘Make any day payday with EarnIn’ and that there no ‘hidden’ or ‘mandatory fees.’ For a consumer to access their pay on the same day requested, they would have to pay the Lightning Speed fee. In the fine print of the advertisement EarnIn discloses that ‘[f]ees apply to use Lightning Speed,’ a direct contradiction to the larger text of the advertisement, and a fact that would not be immediately understood by a consumer as ‘Lightning Speed’ is not defined nor explained. Like other small-dollar lending services, rather than explicitly charge interest, EarnIn collects a markup on the optional Lighting Speed fee, which, given the nature of the transactions, many users opt for, as well as offering users the option to leave “tips.” EarnIn leverages either Real-Time Payments (RTP) rails or push-to-card via debit rails if a user opts for the optional Lightning Speed. But while these capabilities cost EarnIn, on average, $0.075 or $0.20 per transaction, respectively, EarnIn charges users significantly more. Initially, EarnIn charged as little as $1.99 for Cash Outs up to $24. But EarnIn has hiked these fees multiple times, and now charges $4.99 for Cash Outs up to $75 and $6.99 for those over $75. According to the Colorado complaint, EarnIn leverages “dark patterns” to manipulate users and to make it more difficult to avoid tipping. Examples of these “road blocks” highlighted in the complaint include: As of 2023, in the EarnIn app, a consumer attempting to get a loan under the default settings had to make at least eighteen separate taps to complete the transaction and reduce the tip to $0. There is an alternative method to leave a $0 tip, via the “Custom tip” feature, but EarnIn made this option difficult to access by visually deemphasizing it and positioning it near devices’ “home” button. Using language and imagery such as “Tip to pay it forward,” “Your generosity supports the service + helps,” “Your tips make a difference,” and “[t]he APR for this cash out is 0%. Your tips help support us.” While Lightning Speed and tipping are, in theory, both optional, in practice, users nearly always ended up paying something. According to the Colorado suit, users were charged either a tip or an expedite fee for more than 92% of transactions, with an average APR of nearly 388%. And, although the advances are “non-recourse,” EarnIn successfully collects on nearly all transactions — 99.18%, according to the complaint, which, Colorado argues, “demonstrat[es] that EarnIn’s advances function as high cost loans, not voluntary payments.” The share of EarnIn users incurring fees — despite the product being marketed as 0% APR — is hard to reconcile with Andreessen investor Rampell’s favorable description of EarnIn vs. “opaque systems and steep fees” associated with payday loans, which, Rampell says, can be “extremely difficult” for borrowers to extricate themselves from. According to Colorado’s suit, EarnIn’s Cash Out product “trapped many consumers in extreme cycles of high-cost reborrowing.” The suit gives an example of one consumer in the state, who took out a whopping 1,151 loans, paying a total of $4,038.50 in Lightning Speed expedited funding fees on loans that averaged the equivalent of 1,421% APR. Another Colorado user, the suit says, took out 1,033 loans, paying $8,561.22 in tips and fees at an average APR of 1,539% . These types of usage patterns demonstrate “the severe and repeated financial harm caused by EarnIn’s illegal lending model,” the Colorado complaint argues. In aggregate, from January 2023 through July 2025, EarnIn extended 3.1 million loans to 56,778 users in Colorado — an average of nearly 55 transactions per person during the time period. EarnIn lent more than $300 million and collected more than $16 million from Colorado users in Lightning Speed fees and in tips. Ultimately, the Colorado complaint argues that “EarnIn’s Cash Outs are loans under Colorado law, and EarnIn’s contention that its product is not a loan based on its disclaimer of any legal repayment obligation lacks any real-world significance given how the Cash Out transactions actually operate in practice.” Colorado further argues that “EarnIn was not working with companies here in providing consumers with funds but acted as a third-party lender and charged illegally high rates, used deceptive design strategies to extract some charges, and trapped consumers in repeat borrowing. Colorado will continue to stand up for consumers and hold companies accountable when they violate our credit laws or attempt to evade them through misleading practices.” Colorado’s suit alleges EarnIn assesses finance charge in excess of that permitted by Colorado law, that EarnIn failed to make legally required disclosures to Colorado borrowers, that EarnIn made supervised loans to consumers without obtaining the requisite license, that EarnIn violated the state’s Deferred Deposit Loan Act, that EarnIn engage in unfair and deceptive trade practices, and that EarnIn made false or misleading statements concerning price. The suit seeks a court order enjoining EarnIn from violating relevant Colorado laws, for EarnIn to refund amounts charged in excess of state law, fees, costs, and penalties, and other relief the court deems to be just. Fintech Business Weekly is made possible by the generous support of paying subscribers — bringing you independent analysis of banking, fintech, and crypto without fear or favor. You can support my work by becoming a paying subscriber if you aren’t already. Paying subscribers enjoy: access to the entire archive of nearly six years of newsletters extended versions of the weekly newsletter, with additional content and analysis and (for founding member tier) quarterly personal 1:1 fintech Q&A / strategy calls with me, tapping into my unparalleled knowledge of the intersection of banking and fintech and experience working in the sector, including helping to launch Goldman Sachs’ retail bank Marcus Support Fintech Business Weekly You can also support Fintech Business Weekly by sponsoring a newsletter or podcast, putting you in front of 93,000+ of the most influential decision makers in banking, fintech, and crypto. Learn more about sponsor opportunities or request a media kit by dropping me an email. Q2 Quarterly Banking Profile: Five Quick Takeaways The FDIC released its quarterly banking profile, which is always worth a read, for the second quarter. The profile provides an aggregate snapshot about the overall health of the 4,238 institutions whose deposits are insured by the FDIC, who, collectively, hold more than $26 trillion in assets and saw a total net income of more than $90 billion in the second quarter. Net income was up 12% vs. Q1 2026, with lower provisions and realized gains on securities helping to drive the improvement, somewhat offset by increases in non-interest expense and applicable income taxes. Overall net interest margin was basically flat quarter over quarter (up 1 basis point vs. Q1 2026), though community banks saw NIM grow by 10 basis points, to 3.81%. Unsurprisingly, given that interest rates haven’t changed, unrealized losses on securities changed little, edging up slightly to $326.7 billion vs. $325.1 billion in Q1 2026. Aggregate credit quality has remained benign, with asset quality actually improving slightly in Q2. Overall, institutions reported a 9 basis point decline in their past-due and non-accrual rate, to 1.44%. Net charge off rate also declined by 2 basis points, to 0.57%. And finally, the FDIC’s deposit insurance fund stands at $161.1 billion, making the DIF reserve ratio 1.48% — above the statutory minimum of 1.35%, but still below the designated target reserve ratio of 2%. [Paid Subscriber Exclusive] Nissan Withdraws ILC App, State Associations Plan BankChain Alliance, FDIC Defines “Unsafe or Unsound Practice” For First Time Automaker Nissan withdrew its application to charter a Utah industrial loan company and its corresponding application to the FDIC for deposit insurance last week, on August 19th. Nissan’s application had been outstanding for more than a year, as it originally applied in June 2025. Recent applications to the OCC to form national banks have been decisioned, one way or the other, substantially more quickly than has historically been the case.
Flooding devastated swathes of Indiana but response is hampered by politics
Record inundations wrecked homes and took seven lives but Trump has not approved emergency aid and the state has cut funds for environmental agencies
Trump administration cuts health care coverage for some transgender youth in California
Newsom’s 2026-27 budget already includes $10 million for “capacity grants to gender-affirming care services providers,” plus $8 million each in the next two budget years.
Dolly Parton’s life was bigger than politics
Dolly Parton had barely died before America started doing what America apparently does now: checking her political credentials. Was she conservative? Liberal? A Trump supporter? An LGBTQ ally? Which side gets to claim her? Which side should cancel her? Good grief! The woman lived 80 years. She can’t be reduced to that. Not with her […]
Last-minute doomsday scenarios for the 2026 election
Imaginations run wild at what President Donald Trump and his allies might yet do to interfere in the coming midterm election. He’s already done quite a bit.
One of the Supreme Court’s worst ideas could save the midterms from Trump
The new opinion blocking Trump’s attempt to sabotage voting by mail makes a savvy play for several Republican justices.
How a comic book store got swept into the tariff storm
Tariffs continue to rile all kinds of American businesses more than a year after Trump unveiled his first set of tariffs — including a comic book store owner in Ohio.