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College Football Coach Makes Humorous Plug After USC Debacle
In the aftermath of USC's low home opener attendance, one college football coach gets humorous on pushing attendance for his team's opener. The post College Football Coach Makes Humorous Plug After USC Debacle appeared first on HEAVY.
More than half of Premier League clubs break transfer records
More than half of the Premier League's clubs have broken their transfer records in a summer window featuring four of the top flight's five most expensive ever deals. After England internationals Elliot Anderson and Morgan Rogers joined Manchester City for £116 million ($157 million) and Chelsea for £117 million respectively, the final two days of the window brought an even bigger pair of deals as summer spending pushed beyond last season's record of £3 billion, with the final figure yet to be co
Honda tells suppliers to cut costs in $9 billion push to fend off China, documents show
Japan's Honda aims to cut more than $9 billion in costs over the next four years and has instructed suppliers to drastically reduce their prices, according to internal documents and one person familiar with the matter.
President Trump pushes tax break for entertainment industry
In an effort to bring entertainment industry jobs back to the U.S., President Donald Trump is calling on Congress to create a federal tax incentive. Conan Nolan reports for the NBC4 News at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026.
FDNY Pushing Feds to Add Cardiac, Cognitive Decline to List of 9/11 Illnesses
These diseases have increased over and above what you would expect in aging," said Dr. David Prezant, FDNY WTC Health Program director.
What Box Office Bomb Crushed Obsession on Streaming?
(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.) Before we get into this week’s issue, let me ask you for some suggestions. At the risk of coining too many names for too many things (hence my dictionary of terms...), I need a name for straight-to-streaming films that are too expensive to justify a straight-to-streaming release, but not big enough to justify a theatrical release. Like some of the films I highlighted in last week’s tally of the biggest film flops of 2026 so far: Hulu’s Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice, Pizza Movie or Never Change! They don’t feel like “made for TV movies” (think Hallmark and Lifetime movies, cheap Netflix romcoms, or Disney Channel Original movies, for example) but they don’t feel big enough for the big screen. They’re not “cinematic” enough, so to speak. As I wrote... “I still need a name for this middle zone of film that’s too expensive to go straight-to-streaming but too small to justify a theatrical release (with all the PR, distribution, marketing and whatnot costs that go along with it), the Goldilocks zone of streaming film death.” Friend of the newsletter Brandon Katz has suggested the “Bermuda Budget Triangle”, “The Platform Gap” and “The Distribution Deadzone”. I love that first one. I’d offer up the much wordier “The Streaming Budget Dead Zone” or “the Goldilocks Zone of streaming film death” but that last one isn’t accurate since, unlike Goldilocks’ porridge, these films are the opposite of “just right”. That’s the problem! Anyway, if you have any suggestions, let me know! On to today’s Streaming Ratings Report. As you can tell by today’s headline, things are going to be spicy! I’m looking at a box office bomb that did really, really well on streaming, somewhat challenging a few different narratives. And another Netflix series declined in its second season. All that, plus Wicked: For Good switching streamers, The Hawk continuing its strong run, _The Bear’_s finale season finally dropping off the charts, the WNBA posting a big viewership number, “shallow libraries”, a sitcom spinoff failing to launch, more big budget IP flopping on Paramount+, 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 July 20th to July 26th, 2026. You can find a link to my terminology here.) Subscribe Film - The Latest Theatrical Success Story on Streaming In the latest edition of “Flops, Bombs and Misses of the First Half of 2026”, I made a crucial change: I started including theatrical films with the streaming misses. The streamers have collectively—including Netflix, but not to as big of an extent—stopped making a lot of straight-to-streaming films, and the ones they do make aren’t as expensive as in the heyday of the streaming bubble. After the following two films bombed in theaters, you’d guess that they’ll be included in my next collection of flops, bombs and misses six months from now: Masters of the Universe on Prime Video (only $64 million domestic box office) Mortal Kombat II on HBO Max ($79 million domestic) But you’d be wrong! Masters of the Universe, a reboot of the He-Man franchise, a toy from the 1980s, came to streaming on 22-July and did great! This long-gestating project—it’s been at every studio for years, and came close to getting a greenlight at Netflix—then finally came to theaters in June, and showed up on streaming less than two months later. (I don’t love this short theatrical window.) It surprisingly grabbed nearly 20 million hours on its debut: That means, wait for it, Masters of the Universe is currently the eighth biggest film on streaming through two weeks. My rough bar for “hit” is shows or films in the top 15%. Ergo…Masters of the Universe is a legit, streaming hit! (One quick caveat: if it falls out of the top ten next week, it will move to 13th overall, just on the edge of the top 15.) Of course, that’s the data for just 2026. Here’s how it stacks up to Prime Video’s theatrical films: That drop into its second week is typical for Amazon films, but also a worrying sign. I have a feeling interest in this film is front-loaded and we’ll see it drop off after this. As for Mortal Kombat II, in this case, the viewership numbers roughly match the theatrical outing, with only 4.1 million hours in its first week. Here’s how it stacks up to other HBO Max films: The best defense of this number is that, as a relatively violent rated-R film, Mortal Kombat II never had a good chance at breaking out. So now it’s time for a little big of “Entertainment Nuance Guy”: First, yeah, my headline is obviously facetious, since Masters of the Universe besting Obsession says more about horror as a genre than it does that film. Second, I read and listened to quite a few “nobody wanted this IP” takes about Masters of the Universe, and that’s not really true. At least enough people wanted it to power a 20 million+ hour debut! Third, both this film and Mortal Kombat II were considered “average” by viewers, but not great films, with a 6.4 and 6.3 respectively on IMDb. That’s just shy of the level needed to be a word-of-mouth hit. Fourth, in the olden days, strong word of mouth could transform a box office miss into a cable/DVD hit, like Austin Powers or The Shawshank Redemption. We haven’t seen a lot of examples of that on streaming, though. And there are far fewer ways to monetize the post-theatrical life of a film these days. Fifth, Prime Video has shown an ability to push their own titles well, likely because they control the Amazon Fire TV ecosystem. Add it all up, and here’s my nuanced take on Masters of the Universe: it was a box office bomb, but, shockingly, a streaming hit. Unfortunately, while being a theatrical hit saves your film financially, being a streaming hit does not. Both Masters of the Universe and Mortal Kombat II had big budgets and needed to make more money in theaters to justify them. So…Straight-to-Streaming or Theaters? We’ve hit a really fun point in the streaming calendar, since the films that came out in theaters in April, May, and June are now arriving on streaming. So the “Do theatrical releases help streaming performances?” question is gonna get a fresh round of updates nearly every week. No single week will answer the question, but we may get some insights. For example, so far in 2026, it looks like theatrical films are lasting longer on the weekly Nielsen film charts. Here’s a list of films that have made the charts in their fourth or fifth week of release, separated by “for kids” and “general entertainment”: It certainly seems like theatrical films are lasting just a pinch longer on the charts, with Project Hail Mary being the current five-week champion. One Battle After Another did well for HBO Max too, and even The Sheep Detectives made it four weeks. The only exception to this trend? Obsession, which only lasted two weeks on the charts. You might tempted to overreact to this news. Don’t. Obsession is a huge horror hit, but horror just doesn’t do as well on streaming. By the way, here’s the Google Trends for various theatrical and stremaing films: Plus, when it comes to Netflix in four months, Obsession may have another big boost. Quick Notes on Film Note that when I write, “the streamers have pulled back on straight-to-streaming films” that doesn’t mean “abandoned” because Netflix is gonna Netflix. On 24-July, they released 72 Hours, a Kevin Hart comedy. Along with Eddie Murphy, Mark Wahlberg, John Cena and Adam Sandler, Kevin Hart is a streaming film star now. Did this latest one work? Not really. It only garnered two weeks of 13.2 and 12.2 million hours on its debut, well below the 20-million-hour hit threshold. It also was poorly received critically—a 44 on Metacritic—and by customers—a 5.4 on IMDb on 21K IMDb reviews. 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… The latest Netflix true crime doc to pop on the charts… How The Bear finished its run… Netflix’s latest Western to return to streaming… What Paramount+ animated film flopped… And what sitcom also missed… All the flops, bombs and misses… And a whole lot more… ...please subscribe! We can only keep doing this great work with your support. Coming Soon! I’m behind by a week, so we’ve got two issues coming your way this week, including one in a couple of days or so, then we’ll be all caught up**.** Next issue, inspired by The Super Mario Galaxy Movie coming to Peacock, I’m going to take a look at the workhouse of streaming TV: kids films. Plus The Devil Wears Prada 2 continues theatrical films’ big run on streaming. All that, plus another surprise hit on Hulu, Lioness on CBS, and a whole lot more. Long term, LeBron James is filming his own “Last Dance”-style docu-series, surprising no one. But as I’ve been writing about a lot this summer, this genre is really overrated, so whoever ends up buying it (reportedly ESPN) really shouldn’t pay too much for it.
Rocket boosts bid to woo UWM brokers with new program, referral bonus
UWM pushed back on Rocket’s effort, saying its rival's new program relies on cash incentives rather than technology and service.
Anthropic changes data retention policy after pushback from customers
Anthropic's Enterprise Frontier Safeguards are a response to customer feedback.
Google's answer to Canva is an AI tool where you prompt instead of design
With Google Pics, Google is pushing deeper into the creative software market dominated by Canva and Adobe, but with a distinctly AI-first approach.
Yankees August Approval Poll: Brian Cashman
Did the Yankees do enough in August to make a push for the division in the home stretch?
Broward’s Memorial Healthcare System board to vote on CEO position this week
During his tenure, interim CEO Shane Strum has pushed for Broward Health and Memorial to work together.
Political Attacks Are Pushing Public Libraries To ‘Breaking Point,’ New Report Shows
Attacks on librarians, forced storytime cancellations and book bans are threatening the stability of public libraries
'Reasonable Consumers' Know They Don't Own Digital Games, Says Sony
You're buying a license, not the product
Some Memphis businesses push back against Memphis Safe Task Force
More than 50 Memphis businesses have signed onto a public pledge to deny service to members of the Memphis Safe Task Force.
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.
‘Most’ of Star Wars Zero Company studio Bit Reactor was furloughed ahead of launch
Last week was meant to be a moment of triumph for Bit Reactor, the Maryland-based game studio founded in 2021 with ambitions to create a great new tactical combat game. On Thursday, August 27, Bit Reactor’s debut title, Star Wars Zero Company, released to stellar reviews. And, from the Gamescom show in Cologne, Germany, studio co-founder Greg Foertsch was giving interviews discussing what the studio’s next game may be. But for many developers on the game, launch has been bittersweet. Fans love it. Critics prefer it to most recent Star Wars games. Zero Company, which is out for PS5, Xbox Series consoles and PC, is the top-selling game on Steam. Much of the team that made it, however, is currently going without pay. They were furloughed, just weeks ahead of the game’s launch. A rep for Bit Reactor confirmed to Game File today that the studio had furloughed many of its workers prior to the game’s release. They said it was a difficult decision and one that had been made before it was clear how launch would go. The rep emphasized that the call to do this was Bit Reactor’s alone (meaning not from publisher EA nor Star Wars license holder Disney). While the rep declined to comment on the scale of the furloughs, a previously unreported lawsuit brought by studio co-founder Alison Kelly in 2024 noted in a filing from August 12 of this year that Bit Reactor “has furloughed most of its employees and terminated contractors…” One source told Game File the furloughs impacted 80% of the team; another referred to there only being a skeleton crew left on Bit Reactor’s active payroll, ready to address any of Zero Company’s post-launch bugs. The issue is that Bit Reactor, a studio formed in 2021, had run out of most of its money just ahead of the launch of its first game. Over the weekend, Zachariah Scott, a senior technical artist who worked at Bit Reactor from early 2023 until an acrimonious exit this past May, said on LinkedIn that the studio was “concealing the fact that the team was Furloughed weeks ago.” Reached by phone today, Scott told Game File that he spoke to nearly a dozen Bit Reactor workers over the weekend. “Everybody has essentially the same story, which is, ‘Yeah, I got furloughed three weeks ago.” The Bit Reactor rep told Game File that the studio hoped to bring furloughed workers back, suggesting that a successful launch of the game could be impactful. Scott told Game File that workers he spoke to were less confident that even if there were returns, that all who were furloughed would get their old jobs again. A heated dispute Bit Reactor’s mid-2026 was almost even more tumultuous. The lawsuit by co-founder Alison Kelly that first revealed the furloughs was initially slated to go to trial in June. The suit is a she-said/he-said about whether Kelly, until 2024 the chief operating officer of Bit Reactor, was a co-owner of the studio or whether it was solely owned by Greg Foertsch. In July 2024, Kelly sued, saying she was pushed out by Foertsch. She first sued in federal court and later refiled in Maryland’s Baltimore County, alleging breach of contract and that Foertsch had unjustly enriched himself. Kelly cited damages of over $20 million, on the basis of Bit Reactor allegedly being worth more than double that. Foertsch’s side has said Kelly was never a co-owner and has countered with claims about her job performance (which she has denied). The June trial was postponed until early 2027, as both sides have been deposing witnesses and filing more claims and denials along the way. Amid all of that, filings in the lawsuit reviewed by Game File paint a picture about Bit Reactor’s origins, early aspirations around tactics games, the team’s breakthrough in drawing the attention of Electronic Arts with the help of a pitch tied to one of EA’s non-Star Wars franchises, and early fractures among its co-founders. The real story about the company behind Zero Company
AC Black Flag Resynced Update 1.0.7 Live Tomorrow on PS5, Get the Patch Notes Here
Visual effects changed and a new pet for the Hideout
China’s AI Health Care Ambitions Hit Hard Business Questions
A state-backed push is raising the question: Who pays?
A winner, a loser, and a mid-stage signal from a major cardiology research conference
The mental health system after Lindsay Clancy, pushing boundaries for new radiopharmaceuticals, and more health news from Morning Rounds
California lawmakers greenlight a new San Diego sports arena, bypassing environmental hurdles
California leaders pushed through a controversial last-minute deal to protect the major project from environmental lawsuits.
State of Play Confirmed for 3rd September, State of Play Japan Show Straight After
See a new look at Final Fantasy 7 Revelation
A “quantum bath” puts quantum entanglement on autopilot
Physicists have demonstrated a new way to entangle distant quantum bits without the constant measurements and active control normally required. The team created a “quantum bath,” a shared environment filled with correlated microwave photons that automatically pushes separated qubits into an entangled state and helps keep them there. The experiment confirms a theoretical prediction made more than 20 years ago and could offer a simpler way to connect modules in future quantum computers.
Missouri activists want fewer cameras on citizens and more on politicians
Missouri conservatives are pushing back on Flock cameras while demanding more transparency through livestreaming in the state Senate.
Fable Won't Demand Over 100 Hours of Your Time on PS5
Expect around 20 hours of main story content
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.
High Fertility Costs Push Americans Abroad For IVF Treatment
By LJ Dawson and KFF Health News HealthDay ReportersMONDAY, Aug. 31, 2026 (HealthDay News) — In the summer of 2024, Emilie and Justin Solomon found themselves on a top-secret mission in Greece. Their family and friends thought the adventure-loving couple was on another jet-setting vacation, but they ...
Old questions return early in season
Tottenham manager Roberto de Zerbi said he was "not angry" and there was "no panic" after his side's second loss in two games - but it was a depressingly familiar story for the club's fans. With more than £300m spent in the summer, Spurs fans were expecting a push to get back into Europe, having won the Europa League two seasons ago and been in the last 16 of the Champions League in March. Instead, in the Premier League it is played two, lost two, scored none, 20th out of 20.
MeToo part deux is coming to U.S. politics
Activists are driving a renewed MeToo‑style reckoning in U.S. politics, pushing parties and lawmakers toward stronger accountability for sexual misconduct.
Pennsylvania senator prepares for push to bring single-payer healthcare to the state
Sen. Nikil Saval, representing the commonwealth’s first district in Philadelphia, circulated a letter to colleagues last week announcing his plan to introduce legislation to bring universal healthcare coverage to every resident of the state.
Patriots Cut Unlikely Training Camp Interception Leader After Roster Shakeup
John Saunders Jr. led the Patriots with five training camp interceptions, but a late trade helped push the promising safety off New England’s initial roster.
California Antitrust Bill Narrowed After Business Pushback
California lawmakers have pared back a proposal that would expand the state’s antitrust law to cover anticompetitive conduct by individual companies,
The Witcher 3 Remastered Accessibility Options Include Health Regen, Auto Loot, Infinite Item Durability
And more
Red Sox get massive double boost just in time for playoff push
The Red Sox are getting healthy at the perfect time, with Roman Anthony and Trevor Story returning from lengthy injury absences as Boston prepares for a crucial September playoff push.
Atletico Stand Firm as Julian Alvarez Exit Push Fuels Rumours
Julian Alvarez missed Atletico Madrid training earlier this week, triggering speculation that the Argentina international had informed the club he was suffering from depression. His agent, Fernando Hi...
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.
Progressive candidate is gaining on top two rivals in N.H. congressional race
While the establishment-backed top contenders, Stefany Shaheen and Maura Sullivan, are locked in a close contest, a progressive push by Carleigh Beriont may be gaining momentum.
David M. Shribman: Politics fuels a push for separatism in Canada
CALGARY — A wildfire is sweeping the western Canadian province of Alberta. It’s not the one you are thinking of. And a Canadian province...
Trump administration faces pushback after looking to privatize land on Yosemite National Park
A plan being considered by the Trump administration to allow a developer to use a portion of Yosemite National Park land is facing strong opposition from elected officials and conservationists, reflecting broader concerns about privatizing some of the country’s most cherished landmarks.
Rumor: Sony Reportedly Reconsidering Delaying Digital-Only Plans Due to Xbox Pushing for "100% Physical" Strategy for Xbox
Sony is reportedly thinking of delaying its digital-only plans, as Microsoft is said to be pushing for 100% physical regarding Project Helix.
'This Looks Like Dogsh*t': Disturbing DLSS 5 AI Filter Applied to Major PS5 Games After Leaking
AI don't really like it
Everton Must Be In A Worse Position Than We Think
The news of Nottingham Forest pushing for Harrison Armstrong hasn't gone down well with Evertonians.
New Mexico advocates push for stronger maternal mental health support amid Lindsay Clancy trial
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — A high-profile murder trial in Massachusetts is drawing renewed attention to maternal mental health issues and prompting conversations about support systems available to parents in New Mexico.Lindsay Clancy has admitted to killing her three young children, but her defense team argues she is not criminally responsible because she was experiencing postpartum psychosis. […]
Blakeman says Lake America is 'fun' as other NY pols push back
Republican Western New York state Sen. George Borrello told Spectrum News 1 it’s a distraction from actually addressing trade issues with Canada.
One question about the Constitution puts liberals’ appetite for sweeping change to the test
March on Washington activists called to abolish the Senate and rewrite the Constitution while pushing Zohran Mamdani-style socialist policies.
Sen. Tammy Baldwin Pushes to End High Streaming Costs and Sports Blackouts
U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin met with local sports bar owners in Eau Claire on Friday to promote her “For the Fans Act,” a piece of legislation aimed at tackling rising sports streaming costs and eliminating broadcast blackouts for local games.
Annapolis parking changes planned; business owners push reform
Parking reform is coming to Annapolis. A group of downtown businesses and residents united to push for the improvements.
RFK Jr.’s Health Department empowers political appointees like never before
Political roles are way up. Career staffing is way down, despite a push to hire after last year’s downsizing.
RFK Jr.’s Health Department empowers political appointees like never before
Political roles are way up. Career staffing is way down, despite a push to hire after last year’s downsizing.
Trump's Labor Department is reviving a push to expand health insurance access for gig workers
The agency has sent a draft rule to the White House that would broaden how associations can offer coverage to self-employed workers and small businesses
‘So much fringe science’: RFK Jr’s advisers are pushing an extreme makeover in autism research
Experts warn the 336-page plan from RFK Jr’s advisers deflects federal dollars into unreliable alternative therapies
New Irvine hospital is a dream fulfilled | UCI Health
Dr. Thomas Cesario was a practicing UC Irvine School of Medicine physician even before the University of California bought the old Orange County medical center in 1976. After decades of pushing to get a modern hospital built on Irvine campus, he has finally seen that dream fulfilled. "We fought to have this hospital built for over 50 years, and a lot of sweat and anxiety went into that effort,” says the 86-year-old former medical school dean. “I'm thrilled that it’s now finally here."
A Year After the L.A. ICE Surge, Latino Businesses Haven’t Recovered
A 2025 push to round up undocumented immigrants continues to disrupt local economies in Los Angeles County. Local officials are doing what they can to help.
Towson business leaders push for safety plan after college students cause disturbance
Police arrived to break up the gathering, and two college-aged men were arrested and charged with disorderly conduct.
Sue Bird claims WNBA players wanted to 'shut up and dribble' despite leading 2020 political push
Sue Bird now claims WNBA players wanted to "shut up and dribble" in 2020, but her own words from that era openly contradict her revisionist stance.
OpenAI, 100+ companies warn of coming surge in AI-powered cyberattacks, call for global defense push
A letter from OpenAI told companies and governments alike to strengthen their cybersecurity because in a matter of months, AI-enabled hacking attempts will become more widespread.
GTA 6's driving and car-jacking will be "more challenging", Rockstar says, amid a seemingly big push for realism
Rockstar has apparently revamped the series' pick-up-and-play systems for something much more involved - but will it get in the way of the fun?
‘It’s a Big Map, a Very Big Map’ – GTA 6 Is Rockstar’s Most Complex World Yet
Rockstar explains how it has pushed current-gen technology to ensure GTA 6’s massive map is a step beyond Red Dead Redemption 2’s world.
El Niño climate patterns supercharged by burning of fossil fuels, study finds
‘Godzilla’ event currently brewing could push 50 million people into acute hunger before the end of next year
QB Marcel Reed’s offseason bonding push as No. 8 Texas A&M eyes more wins
The senior quarterback says he can name every teammate he’s had in four years with the Aggies and spent the offseason hosting trips and activities for the players.
Democrats' redistricting push in blue state hits legal snag
A Maryland court blocked Democrats' congressional redistricting ballot initiative after a judge ruled state deadlines for adding measures were violated.
2026 Flathead Valley Fall Sports Preview
After a 2025 fall season filled with individual and team state championships, several Flathead Valley athletes will be on the title defense, while others will make a push to reach the mountain top of Montana high school sports after falling one win short a season ago. The Glacier Wolfpack and Columbia Falls Wildkats saw their […]
The Campaign to Create Second-Class Citizens
GOP lawmakers are pushing to restrict the rights of naturalized and dual citizens—including their ability to run for office.
Mental Health Workers Say Algorithmic Triage Is Hurting Patients
Workers and policymakers are pushing for safeguards around AI’s use in health care through collective bargaining and legislation.
Hospitals are plotting a long-shot push to roll back $1 trillion in Medicaid cuts
Inside health systems' efforts to mitigate massive funding cuts.
Automakers enter energy storage business as data centers face backlash
Concerns related to the environment, energy demands and the impact of AI's expansion fuel the pushback.
Talarico wants to unearth Paxton's depositions to keep focus on his past in Senate race
Talarico is trying to keep attention on Paxton’s past by pushing to make depositions public. The case involved Unity Resources and was settled.
Buc-ee’s says it will prioritize ‘conservative, business-friendly’ states amid pushback over logo lawsuits
Gas station and travel center chain Buc-ee’s said it will seek out “conservative, business friendly” states for new locations after receiving pushback over its decision to go after small busi…
The Don’t-Mention-the-War Midterms Strategy
The shift to an economic pressure campaign could also push the conflict out of the minds of voters.
What climate science tells us about the causes of the Colorado River crisis
The scientific consensus is that rising levels of greenhouse gases in the Earth’s atmosphere have pushed the Colorado River to the brink.
Professor says West Point pushed him out over climate science teaching
Outstanding reviews, a $750k grant, then a cut - he says the timing wasn’t random
Barry Manilow taking 'quick break' from touring amid health issues
Barry Manilow was "pushing a little too hard" during recent gigs and is taking some time out to recuperate.
Why rising heat is Asia’s next major health challenge
Higher temperatures are putting new pressure on health systems across the region, prompting a broader push for awareness, prevention and earlier action.
Court blocks Trump push to strip grant funds from King County
The majority wrote that federal agencies' arguments for the changes are "fairly reduceable to the excuse 'the President made us do this.'"
As states tighten oversight, private equity’s healthcare deals decline
New state oversight laws are pumping the brakes on private equity’s push into health care, according to new data. The number of private equity-involved healthcare deals has declined since last year, and the value of those deals in the first half of 2026 is lower than it was for the same time in 2025, according to […]
Trump administration plans to target business and tourism visas of up to 200,000 asylum seekers
It is the latest crackdown by an administration that has pushed for restrictive immigration policies.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 Beta Pushes Unplanned Update to Address Fan Feedback
Infinity Ward has pushed an unplanned update for the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 beta in order to quickly address fan feedback.
Longines Drops an Elegant Monopusher Chronograph for Way Less Than You'd Expect
Longines adds a monopusher chronograph to its Master Collection for the first time, powered by a new, Longines-exclusive movement.
Too much information, not enough understanding: Opella’s push for health literacy
Underpinning modern consumer capitalism lies one simple yet profoundly powerful concept: the idea of choice.
Anime Open World Ananta Could Release Just 8 Weeks After GTA 6 on PS5
Clash of the titans
Texans push back on proposed high voltage transmission lines
Texans' land could be impacted through a process that many say is unfair.
Pebble Time 2 review: The perfect smartwatch for a select group of people
Pebble Time 2 is a smartwatch designed to push back against the trend, and it does so beautifully.
Lakers Kuminga Deal Shifts Hawks Trade Power
The Lakers' push for Jonathan Kuminga just got real. Sports Illustrated reports a new trade piece is on the table. Here is why Atlanta must act now.
First Look: The New Longines Master Chrono Monopusher (Incl. Video)
With the all-new Master Chrono Monopusher, Longines expands the collection with a pair of rather scrumptious looking watches.
Hands-On: The Longines Master Collection Launches A New Monopusher Chronograph Alongside A Refresh Of The Triple Calendar Chrono
Longines carries momentum with strong specs, aesthetic refinement, and value-driven pricing in the chronograph category.
Joy Taylor Slams NFL’s ‘Greedy’ Push for 18-Game Schedule
“You can’t dedicate your entire life to watching the NFL,” she said.
SO Pilipinas Equips More Than 500 Education Leaders to Advance Inclusive Sports Across the Philippines
Special Olympics Pilipinas has reached a new milestone in its nationwide push for inclusive education. The program recently hosted a National Training of Trainers on Unified Sports in Baguio City, that brought together 500 education leaders from the Department of Education (DepEd), representing 18 regions and a combined 45,000 schools across the Philippines.
Ex-Forza Horizon Devs Finally Find a Publisher for Clutch, PS5's Promising Open World Racer
A clutch move you might say
Trump wants cheaper beef. Republicans in key races warn his plan goes too far
Senate Republicans, including Tom Cotton and Tim Sheehy, push back on Trump's plan to import 300,000 metric tons of foreign ground beef to lower prices.
Washington nonprofit pushes fire departments across country to update pregnancy policies
Chaka Khan resists ‘straight icon’ label: ‘How do you know what the f--- I am?’
Chaka Khan pushed back against being labeled a ‘straight icon’ in a new interview: ‘How do you know what the f--- I am?’ she asked, adding, ‘I don’t ever share that part of my life.’
Google pushed a mysterious app to the Play Store; here’s what it actually does
A mostly blank listing brings questions
Japan eyes tax breaks for non-core business sales in governance reform push, sources say
Japan's government is considering tax breaks on gains from sales of non-core businesses, a move that could accelerate long-delayed corporate restructuring and spur industry consolidation, two people with knowledge of the matter said.
The Witcher 4 Set for a 2028 Release, CD Projekt Red Confirms
Developer reveals release window for RPG