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Health Brief: Pentagon-NIH pact raises questions
Plus: Congress has little time to move health care policy, as Democrats formulate ambitious 2027 agenda
Abigail Breslin, Yasmin Kassim & Booboo Stewart Set To Star In Road Comedy ‘Pipe Cleaner Boy’
EXCLUSIVE: Oscar nominee Abigail Breslin (Little Miss Sunshine), Yasmin Kassim (You, Always) and Booboo Stewart (Twilight) are set to star in Pipe Cleaner Boy, a female-led road comedy written and dir...
Fact check: Would 'money out of politics' proposal live up to its name?
Opponents contend Michigan ballot Proposal 2 to get ‘money out of politics’ would do little to curb spending by out-of-state and dark money groups. Here are the facts.
HawkeyeRoundtable's Iowa-Northern Illinois Game Prediction
Even with all the unanswered questions at the quarterback position, the Hawkeyes should have little trouble getting off to a 1-0 start.
What To Watch For: Ole Miss Rebels
LOUISVILLE’S INTERIOR OFFENSIVE LINE WILL HAVE THEIR HANDS FULL It seems at times that the great “SEC Defensive Linemen” are mythologized as if they are gods, but I would challenge anyone to watch the highlights of the Ole Miss defensive line and not understand it a little bit. Will Echoles is going to be a […]
September 4 Playbook: Fetterman Shows Little Interest In Doing Job
👷 Happy Labor Day Weekend. We’re off Monday for the holiday. And thank you to everyone that makes the dream work. 🎶 Your Morning Pick Me Up. Workin For A Livin. Huey Lewis & The News PA Weather☂️ Pittsburgh | Mostly Cloudy, Showers, 86☀️ Harrisburg | Mostly Sunny, 86☀️ Philadelphia…
TN Politics: Will Memphis leaders take tougher stance against federal agencies?
The National Guard and ICE are operating in legal gray areas with little to no accountability. Otis Sanford says its time for mayors to speak out.
Emirates gives premium economy seats a new feature: privacy screens
Until now, premium economy passengers have typically had little to separate them from their neighbors. Emirates wants to change that.
Final Fantasy 7 Revelation is getting a physical version, but it will require an internet connection to download
Good news: FF7 Revelation is getting a disc version, even on PS5. Bad news: it's little more than a license-on-a-disc.
End of the world: Scientists reveal 7 countries most likely to survive a global collapse by maintaining society and food production
With countries fighting wars and natural calamities sweeping away civilisations, it seems a global collapse might be a spark away. But the possibility of entire humanity vanishing off the face of Earth seems a little less plausible with the years of effort we have spent preparing solutions for such situations.
English: College football politics are ravaging the game — for Texas, the show still goes on
It’s a hellish era for college football teams. It has become typical for us to go through the same cycle of previously unbelievable news over the offseason. The transfer portal has always resulted in some messiness, as well as highly dubious tampering claims, and finding replacements for head coaches always brings on a little bit...
Behind Closed Doors, John Fetterman Shows Little Interest in the Work of a Senator
The first-term senator, poised to be a possible swing vote, churns through staff as he alienates fellow Democrats and defends Israel.
South Grad Partners with Full-Time Facility Dog on Her First Job
At USA Health Children's & Women's Hospital, recreational therapy looks a little different for recent graduate Emma Bryson, thanks to a full-time canine colleague named Rainier.
Even second graders can reason like scientists—if we ask them the right way
When a child asks "Why does a blowfish puff up?" we often jump in with facts. But what if we paused and suggested that they ask instead, "How does a blowfish puff up?" It may seem like splitting hairs, ...
Scientists Expose Unexpected Driver of the May 2024 Superstorm
Even though the solar wind was unusually dense during the May 2024 superstorm, ions from the solar wind contributed very little to the ring current, marking the first time both were observed simultaneously during a storm of this magnitude.
AP Was There: In 1970, Gloria Steinem was a journalist, a feminist and a member of the glitterati
In April 1970, Gloria Steinem invited Lynn Sherr, who was then an Associated Press feature writer, into her Manhattan home.
Pre-Orders For Sony's GTA 6-Themed DualSense Controllers Will Open On September 10
At $85, the hardware only costs a little bit more than the game.
Osaka squeezes into US Open third round
Two-time champion Naomi Osaka survived a second-set swoon to beat Katerina Siniakova 6-2, 5-7, 6-1 on Thursday and reach the third round of the US Open.I definitely had a couple of opportunities in the second set, and I think I was a little too hard on myself," said Osaka, who next faces Belgium's Elise Mertens, a 6-2, 7-6 (7/3) winner over Maria Timofeeva of Uzbekistan.
Smart Toilets Are Already Using AI to Analyze Your Poop
While companies promise they can help users monitor gut health, experts suggest that smart toilets provide little in the way of benefits to the average person.
South African rand muted ahead of business activity PMI
The South African rand was little changed in early trade on Thursday as a weaker dollar offered support, while locally focused investors awaited the latest private-sector purchasing managers' index (PMI) data.
South African scientists could face year in prison unless ...
Researchers warn that registration offers little benefit and that the associated costs will disadvantage early-career researchers
Katy Perry gives rare insight into Orlando Bloom split, calls Justin Trudeau ‘love of my life’
Katy Perry says she struggled after splitting with Orlando Bloom last year but ‘things shifted’ when she met boyfriend Justin Trudeau on her ‘Lifetimes’ tour.
Jessica Pegula: Tennis Influencers Have Become ‘A Little Too Much’ at US Open
Pegula said she also can appreciate what influencers can bring to the sport.
Lack of child care still a key need for WV businesses while state slowrolls lawmakers' bill
West Virginia’s business leaders continue to beat the drum that the state is woefully short on affordable childcare spots. They say it is one of the reasons the state continues to have the nation’s worst workforce participation of a little more than 50%.
Florida Democrats call for attorney general’s impeachment over Hope Florida
Democrats have little power in Tallahassee.
The 30 greatest movie and TV villains of all time
These characters are a little too good at being bad. From chilling killers to scene-stealing schemers, EW looks back at 30 of the most unforgettable villains in movie and TV history.
Rockstar Is Finally Ditching 'Tap X To Sprint' In GTA 6, But Not Everyone Is Happy: 'I’m Honestly A Little Disappointed'
For some players, this is good news; for others, it's the end of an era
Berlin's punitive measures unlikely to deter Putin: experts
Germany has announced punitive measures after publicly blaming Russia for an attempted airport drone attack. But a former diplomat, political and security analysts warn it will likely do little to deter the Kremlin.
UVA Health to bring comprehensive cancer services to Lynchburg
For cancer patients who currently travel to Charlottesville for treatment, UVA Health is hoping to make the journey a little easier.
This Little Red Dot Might Be Hiding a Black Hole From the Beginning of Time
The object is so dense that physics itself starts behaving in strange, unfamiliar ways.
Nobody is preparing for the worst day in history
There are multiple Black Swan events that could create a global famine with little to no warning. Governments must start preparing for them now — the risks of not doing so are too great.
Science reveals a surprising trace of St. Thérèse's faith
Nearly 130 years after her death, one tiny relic is offering a fascinating glimpse into the very physical reality of St. Thérèse's Little Way.
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.
Voices of Our Youth Gala celebrated the impact a mentor can have
BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF COLORADO Denver News: When chief executive officer Elycia Cook extended an invitation to the 2026 Big Little Gala, Voices of Our Youth, it came with a note advising that it would be an evening that was “Very impactful. There will be some beautiful testimonies and some tears of joy.” She wasn’t kidding. […]
Youth Sports Programs
Let the little ones get their chance to shine! The City of Chino Hills offers fun and engaging youth sports programs designed to introduce children ages 3-8 to the fundamentals of sports in a supporti
Sports Streaming Is Broken. Can DC Fix It?
I’m old enough to remember the “bunny ears” antenna – which my little brother and I would take turns holding to banish the static from 1980s NFL broadcasts on our black-and-white TV. The challenges of watching televised sports in 2026 are different. At home, you have to figure out where a given game ...
Settle In and Get Comfortable with the Designed for XBOX Cozy Collection
Made for side quests, little adventures, and everything in between, the Designed for XBOX Cozy Collection is available now, bringing warmth and whimsy to every journey. Step into a tiny, pixelated woodland where every click, key stroke, and button tap feels like discovering a new cozy corner. The 8BitDo keyboard, mouse, and controller bring a […]
NVIDIA's DLSS 5 Launches With NBA 2K27 On September 3, But There's Little Reason For Excitement
NVIDIA's controversial DLSS 5 finally arrives this week, but there's little reason to celebrate it.
Matias Fernandez-Pardo to Newcastle: Signing from Lille is ‘'very fast' with 'unbelievable power' like Jeremy Doku
With Newcastle United signing Matias Fernandez-Pardo for £51m from Lille, Adam Bate speaks to the players former coach to find out what makes the Belgian forward so good: You could compare him a little bit to Jeremy Doku. He is very explosive, very fast
Inside the Dodgers purchase that launched Mark Walter’s sports empire
When a a little-known financier bought the storied franchise 14 years ago, MLB owners loved the price, not the process.
PS5 Officially Has 5 GOTY Contenders Coming in September
Too many new games, too little time
Seven Scorers Lift No. 1 Stanford to 7-0 Rout
This game was a little more open-ended, but Stanford still came out well ahead.
WATCH LIVE: Phenix City All-Star team returns home
PHENIX CITY, Ala. (WRBL) — Watch WRBL News 3 coverage of the Phenix City All-Stars returning home from their run at the Little League World Series.
OpenClaw 2.0 pours glitter on slow-burning security dumpster fire
Making installation easier and putting a new wrapper on the interface while leaving most of the security to users is a recipe for more trouble with the popular agent harness
Michigan school districts offer insurance-free care to beat rising health costs
Direct primary care typically works outside insurance. But what if it were instead added to existing coverage? Three Michigan school districts are giving it a try.
Pensacola Interstate Fair 2026 music and entertainment lineup announced
There's a little something for music fans of all genres at this year's Pensacola Interstate Fair this year. Check out this complete list of acts.
‘The Christophers’: A work of art
Absorbing little drama builds to a surprise finale
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.
Scientists Create the Littlest Big Bang to Study the Universe's Origins
The discovery redefines how large atoms need to be to produce the extreme state of matter found in the early universe.
Little League World Series brings big business boost
WILLIAMSPORT, LYCOMING COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — The Little League World Series is bringing more than baseball to the Williamsport area. With more than 70,000 players, coaches, family members and fans trav...
Seven new frog species were hiding beneath Madagascar’s forest floor
Scientists have discovered seven new species of Madagascar’s elusive diamond frogs, using DNA from modern and century-old museum specimens to solve a long-running biological puzzle. The findings reveal surprising hidden diversity and could help protect these little-known amphibians as their forest habitats disappear.
ENTERTAINMENT: Watercolor exhibition opens at LR Visitor Center; Festival Ballet sets season
Watercolors by Laura Remmel Powers go on display with a 6-7:30 p.m. reception Tuesday at the Little Rock Visitor Information Center.
The 'Iron Man' Game Lives, And Its First Look Leaked
If you've spent years holding out hope for Motive's 'Iron Man' game, you can apparently stay in line a little while longer.
Opinion | The little-understood roots of our health care catastrophe
We need to understand where it went wrong if we’re going to fix it.
Marshall Street Crash Under Investigation; Businesses Remain Closed Until Damage Repaired.
Glass litters Tres Ninos' floor on Friday. Right, the front logo from the truck is screwed into the plywood covering the front of the building. NORTH ADAMS, Mass....
Healthcare executive’s mansion gets star treatment in the national real-estate press
Now that the kids are in college, Rod and Linda Windley are looking to sell their not-so-little piece of heaven in Sandy Springs, Ga., for $18.25 million.
Putt Chip Chill open for business in North Little Rock
Putt Chip Chill, a new entertainment venue in North Little Rock featuring a premium putting course and dining options, opened for business on Friday.
Packers vs. Cardinals Tonight: How to Watch, Odds & Prediction
The Green Bay Packers will finish their preseason at Lambeau Field on Friday night with a matchup against the Arizona Cardinals that gives Matt LaFleur one final look at the bottom half of his roster before cuts.Green Bay hosts Arizona after splitting its first two preseason games, including a 33-13 win at Denver last week. […] The post Packers vs. Cardinals Tonight: How to Watch, Odds & Prediction appeared first on HEAVY.
Nearly 1 in 5 Medicaid-eligible Adults in Expansion States Are At Risk of Losing Health Coverage Due to Insufficient or Inconsistent Work Hours
A new study found that nearly 20 percent of eligible adults in Medicaid expansion states are in danger of not meeting the minimum work hours that will be required nationwide beginning January 1. Women, unmarried people, White individuals, and those with limited education all had a higher risk of losing their health coverage due to noncompliance with these new requirements.
Calcium testing for heart health may have limited value for many, study finds
The increasingly popular test, known as a CAC scan, checks for arterial plaque. It can help those at intermediate risk of heart disease but may provide little insight for others.
Omnicom Media Launches Hearts United, Merging Hearts & Science and Mediahub
Little Black Book, Omnicom Media merges Hearts & Science and Mediahub to form Hearts United, a $9.1B global agency focused on AI-driven growth and modern media strategies
VIRTUE, V47 Entertainment and COL Group Launch World's First Microdrama Upfront
Little Black Book, 'Inside Microdramas', dedicated to the rapidly-expanding vertical entertainment economy, will be held in Singapore on October 27th
Lunar Eclipse Thursday Night: The Science Behind the Blood Moon and How to See It
Tonight, a little after 11 PM, our moon will look a little different. A partial lunar eclipse is coming on Thursday night, August 27, 2026. The moon will begin
Arkansas Rural Health Transformation Program Awards UAMS Nearly $12 Million to Fund 4 Initiatives
LITTLE ROCK — The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences received nearly $12 million in funding under the THRIVE and PACT initiatives of the Arkansas Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP).
In Trump’s Washington, Ballooning National Debt Stirs Little Action
The relative indifference to the news that the U.S. government now owes $40 trillion demonstrates how drastically the politics of deficit spending has changed.
Sanders Announces Nearly $150 Million Awarded in Rural Health Transformation Funds - Arkansas Governor
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders today announced $149.3 million in awards to recipients of the first round of Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) grants, established through President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill. The initial funding round will award $55.7 million through the Telehealth, Health-Monitoring, and Response Innovation for Vital Expansion (THRIVE) initiative and […]
Rwandans love their milk bars. The health minister wishes they'd drink a little less
A big glass of moo juice — no, make that several glasses a day — is common in Rwanda. Is that too much of a good thing?
Just six teams remain standing in South Williamsport
SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, PA(WBRE/WYOU)— The Little League World Series is down to just a half dozen teams remaining after play on Thursday in South Williamsport. Two teams have punched its tickets to championship weekend. Four more teams will take the diamond on Thursday in win-or-go-home games. The Mountain Region champs out of Henderson, Nevada clinched the […]
Vikings Make Stunning Move in Preseason Camp
Veteran Carson Wentz is splitting second-team reps with J.J. McCarthy, signaling a high-stakes battle for the backup role as Minnesota questions the young signal-caller’s immediate NFL readiness.
Meta's $18 billion lawsuit changes the future of social media
The historic settlement may change the future of social media. It may mean little for the teens at the heart of the lawsuit.
Rick Steves purchases a century-old moviehouse. Here are his plans for it
Travel writer Rick Steves, a lifelong Edmonds local who has long imagined owning The Edmonds Theater, bought the historic moviehouse for a little over $2 million.
ENTERTAINMENT: Stone-skipping, ‘Seersucker Soiree’ on the calendar
The annual Great Southern Stone Skipping Championships take place for the first time on the banks of the Arkansas River, starting at 9 a.m. Saturday at the boat launch in Little Rock’s Murray Park.
Vikings Hit With Major Surprise in ESPN’s Latest Mock Draft
Mock draft season is in full swing for 2027, and the Minnesota Vikings will be on the clock. ESPN’s Jordan Reid has the Vikings selecting tight end Trey’Dez Green out of LSU.This is the second mock draft in a little less than a month that has the Vikings selecting a tight end. Bleacher Report mocked […] The post Vikings Hit With Major Surprise in ESPN’s Latest Mock Draft appeared first on HEAVY.
What the Lindsay Clancy trial reveals about a broken postpartum mental health system
Lindsay Clancy’s murder trial hasn’t just dominated headlines for its tragic story and true crime fascination. For many, it has prompted a groundswell of recognition and outrage around the barriers women face when seeking care, the lack of research on postpartum mental health conditions and little education for providers.
Sunnyboy Entertainment Expands with Atlanta Office and 2 Senior Hires
Little Black Book, Bicoastal entertainment company grows Atlanta studio to handle burgeoning unscripted slate
Persona 4 Revival Hands-On: The New Stuff Still Needs to Be Dialed In, but It Remains Awesome at Its Core
In the pantheon of the Persona series, its fourth entry is held in high regard, and time will tell if Persona 4 Revival will prove to be the best of the bunch. The little bit I got to see is at least making it a pretty strong contender for that award, and it still very much feels like Persona 4. But anyone who has played it before knows it’s a very long game, so we will have to wait and see whether it's worth tuning in for or changing the channel.
The key points from Joan Laporta’s crucial meeting with Barcelona’s sports committee
Barcelona are heading into the final week of the transfer window with a clear message emerging from the club’s sporting leadership: Julian Alvarez remains the target, and there is little interest in...
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.
Trace Gallagher: LA has perfected political math
The CSD thinks if LA Mayor Karen Bass plans to flood her campaign with taxpayer cash, can’t she at least add a little water to the Palisades reservoir?
Broncos Shake Up Roster Behind Pro Bowler Courtland Sutton
The Denver Broncos have a little less depth behind Courtland Sutton on their roster after moving on from Hakeem Butler. The post Broncos Shake Up Roster Behind Pro Bowler Courtland Sutton appeared first on HEAVY.
Can nonverbal people accurately communicate through technology? Here’s what the science says
Nonverbal communication methods like Rapid Prompting Method are receiving renewed scrutiny in the news. Here's how to tell the story.
Colorado lawmaker, House leaders named in workplace-retaliation lawsuit
A former legislative aide has filed a lawsuit alleging she was mistreated, illegally directed to perform campaign work and harmed by a House leadership structure she says was fragmented, politicized and ineffective at protecting employees. The lawsuit, filed by Jennifer Chick, names Littleton Democratic Rep. Sheila Lieder, House Speaker Julie McCluskie of Dillon and House […]
Little 5 Points sneaker boutique Wish ATL closing after 22 years in business: "So thankful to Atlanta"
After decades in business, the owners of the popular Little 5 Points fashion and sneaker boutique Wish ATL plan to shut its doors for good.
Meet the science desk: Where research meets the world
Dear readers, My name is Maci Lesh, and I’m the new science editor, a title I still find a little funny, given I have spent most of my life actively avoiding anything that required a calculator. I was the kid who groaned through biology and negotiated my way out of every math class I could....
East Hardy County Little League in West Virginia Receives $25,000 Sports Matter Grant from The DICK’S Sporting Goods Foundation
As part of its ongoing efforts to break down barriers and create more opportunity for children to play Little League, The DICK’S Sporting Goods Foundation’s Sports Matter Program has awarded East […]
Syringe litter did not increase after a needle exchange ban was overturned in Pueblo, Colorado, but health services suffered
Evidence suggests that people who receive syringes from a needle exchange are less likely to dispose of them improperly.
Blue states should avoid disasters
Back when I was teaching political science at the U.S. Air Force Academy (and amazingly to me, a week from this column’s publication will mark 20 years since my retirement from active duty. Where the heck did that time go?) I used to teach my students about the Constitution, national security policy and little things […]
There is still some unsettled business in the NHL offseason: Red Wings GM, Dylan Larkin, Connor Hellebuyck, Adam Fantilli and more
The start of the 2026-27 NHL season is a little more than a month away, and there are still a few big storylines that still need to be settled around the league. Let’s talk about some of them… 1. The Detroit Red Wings still need a general manager, and that person has to figure out what to do with Dylan Larkin The Red Wings are definitely not the worst team in the league, but this is still a pretty chaotic situation where things are looking quite grim from the outside. They have not really done much to meaningfully improve a roster that has proven time and time again it is not good enough to make the playoffs or be a contender. They still have $19 million in unused salary cap space. The Yzer-plan has officially come to an end with general manager Steve Yzerman being moved elsewhere in the organization, while ownership seems to be taking its sweet time finding a replacement. One of their top young players, defenseman Simon Edvinsson, remains unsigned as a restricted free agent and has nobody to negotiate a new contract with at the moment. The longer that drags out into training camp, the worse that is going to be for the team, himself and his development. They still have the Dylan Larkin situation lingering over everything as their captain, longest-tenured player, and one of their best players has a trade request that has yet to be fulfilled. The entire situation is also on hold until a new general manager comes in and figures out what to do with Larkin and whether or not his request will be honored. But the latter point brings up another potential question and issue: What if a new general manager comes in and is able to convince Larkin to stay in Detroit? Is that beyond the realm of possibility? Is it really a stretch to think that Larkin’s issue was more of an Yzerman issue than a Red Wings issue? While Larkin has never said anything specifically about his relationship with Yzerman, it’s pretty clear that he did not share the vision for the franchise, or the way the team was being run and constructed. Now that somebody else is going to be running the show, there might be a door for Larkin to walk back in through. Even that brings its own set of potentially chaotic outcomes and questions, ranging from whether or not the Red Wings locker room will welcome him back as their captain, to whether or not the fan-base will be willing to do the same. I imagine the former will be a far easier sell than the latter, and even then nothing cures issues in professional sports quite like winning. They just need to find somebody that can actually turn them back into winners. For now, and based on everything we know, Larkin’s trade request still stands, and still includes just four teams he is willing to accept a trade to, including the Vegas Golden Knights, Minnesota Wild, Florida Panthers and Dallas Stars. Minnesota remains the best potential fit from a hockey and positional standpoint, but the Wild simply do not have the type of trade assets or young talent that should interest the Red Wings. None of the other three teams seem to be in any better of a situation. Nothing about this seems fun for the Red Wings. 2. Will Connor Hellebuyck be a Winnipeg Jet this season? Subscribe
Ed Stack Officially Enshrined into the Little League® Hall of Excellence
Little League® International is proud to have officially enshrined Ed Stack, Executive Chairman of DICK’S Sporting Goods, Inc. into the Little League Hall of Excellence Class of 2026.
Sports: High school football roundup Aug. 24
Alamosa High School’s Evan Anderson did a little bit of everything in the Moose’s impressive 20-8 opening-season win over Buena Vista Friday in Alamosa.
NEA Women in Business: Heather Nelson
Residence: North Little Rock and Jonesboro Education: Bachelor of Science, University of Arkansas; master’s degree, University of Arkansas at Little Rock Professional background: I am the vice chancellor for external...
John Oliver on ‘smart’ appliances: ‘Spying on you through the washing machine’
The host also discussed the rise of forgotten monthly subscriptions for anything from dishwashers to litter boxes
Why politicians are punchlines at the Edinburgh Fringe
There was a time when satire had an easier gig. Politicians said something ridiculous, comedians made fun of them, audiences laughed, and everyone went home. Subscribe Now the joke is often the headline. In a world where the unbelievable regularly makes the news, where politics can veer into parody before the comedians have had time to write the punchline, you might reasonably wonder: is satire running out of material? Not in Edinburgh. At the Fringe, I can confirm satire has a pulse, even in a relentless and rapid news cycle. Politicians as punchlines Take NewsRevue, the world’s longest-running live sketch show, where politicians are turned into punchlines at industrial speed. Its latest target? Andy Burnham - or, more accurately, his doppelganger, pictured below in the middle. The joke, he tells us, is that there have been so many politicians coming and going that even satire risks suffering from political fatigue. But perhaps that revolving door is precisely why comedy matters. When the news cycle moves faster than our ability to process it, comedians can hold up a mirror - and make us think twice. Small talk Take Ayoade Bamgboye, the Saturday Night Live UK star who won the Best Newcomer prize at last year’s Edinburgh Comedy Awards. Her Fringe debut was critically acclaimed; this year she is turning her attention to one of Britain’s most baffling social rituals: small talk. Share It’s a reminder that satire doesn’t always need a politician in its sights. Sometimes the target is simply us civilians - the strange little rules and rituals we have collectively agreed to pretend are normal. Politics and Palestinian identity For British-Palestinian comedian Sami Abu Wardeh, pictured below, comedy has a more urgent job. His new show, Sami Abu Wardeh Hates You, asks who gets to hate, and whether anger belongs to everyone, not just the far right. His comedy confronts politics and Palestinian identity while refusing to surrender the simple business of making people laugh. Shakespeare meets climate crisis And then there is HAM: an “eco-hijacking” of Hamlet, which its creators describe as “a sordid wrestle between a vegan and a sausage-lover”. Shakespeare meets the climate crisis. Meat meets moral panic. The end result? You’ll leave promising to become vegan and swiftly bulk buying Linda McCartney sausages. HAM was created by theatre company Hotter Project, aka Ell Potter and Mary Higgins, pictured below. They say comedy helped them avoid the preachiness sometimes associated with climate activism - using Shakespeare as a vessel for uncomfortable questions about the planet, politics and the way we live. Perhaps that is satire’s secret weapon. It doesn’t necessarily make the world less absurd. It makes the absurdity crystal clear. And at a moment when reality increasingly feels like it has been written by a sketch writer, the Fringe is proving there is still plenty to laugh and cry at. Satire isn’t dead. It’s alive, subletting and having the time of its life at the Fringe. Subscribe Share Channel 4 News Leave a comment
The men claiming to defend women’s sports are throwing sex toys at female athletes
The WNBA has attracted grifters who care little for basketball – and whose latest stunt exposes the hollowness of their supposed concern
‘Emomee,’ Indian Kids Life-Skills Series, Lands on Netflix (EXCLUSIVE)
An Indian children’s entertainment company has brought its debut original animated series to Netflix. “Emomee: Big Skills for Little Ones, Minis,” from the Mumbai-based brand Emomee, features 20 episo...
Too much or too little sleep may make your body age faster
Both too little and too much sleep may be linked to faster aging throughout the body. Researchers analyzing 23 biological aging clocks found the lowest aging levels among people sleeping about 6.4 to 7.8 hours per day. Short or long sleep was also associated with numerous conditions affecting the brain, heart, lungs, metabolism, and digestive system.
Powers sells HVAC divisions to Albireo Energy
North Little Rock-based Powers announced the sale of its territorial divisions in Mississippi, Oklahoma, Louisiana and Alabama to New Jersey-based Albireo Energy, an independent building controls and energy services provider...
Powers sells HVAC divisions to Albireo Energy
North Little Rock-based Powers announced the sale of its territorial divisions in Mississippi, Oklahoma, Louisiana and Alabama to New Jersey-based Albireo Energy, an independent building controls and energy services provider...