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Lennar Corp. and Taylor Morrison Home Corp. are among the firms that have worked on the proposal, which calls for builders to sell entry-level homes into a pathway-to-ownership program funded by private investors, according to people familiar with the plan. View the full article

The internet-famous monks that have captured the attention of the world on their cross-country “walk for peace” are in the final stretch of their 2,300-mile journey. The group of around 19 Buddhist monks and their rescue dog companion, Aloka, have been trekking from Fort Worth, Texas, to Washington, D.C., to promote world peace. ​ They began their walk on October 26, 2025. The journey was expected to take 120 days. Despite the recent frigid temperatures and snow storms, they’re ahead of schedule. According to a recent post on the group’s Facebook page, they plan to arrive in Washington, D.C., one week from today, Tuesday, February 10, 2026. While the exact route and schedule could change, the current pace has them completing the journey in 108 days. On February 2, 2026—the 100th day of their walk—the monks arrived in Richmond, Virginia. Today, they’re making their way from Richmond to Ashland, Virginia. Their Facebook page notes that they are walking to “raise awareness of inner peace and mindfulness across America and the world.” The movement has drawn widespread positive attention. Massive crowds of supporters have gathered to welcome the monks as they make their way to each planned stop along their route. The final stretch: Less than 100 miles left to walk The monks shared their most current schedule on Facebook. Here’s what to expect: February 10, 2026: The monks will visit the Washington National Cathedral. February 11, 2026: The group will host a meditation retreat in the afternoon and evening. February 12, 2026: The monks will depart Washington, D.C., by bus for Fort Worth, Texas. The post read, “We look forward to welcoming everyone with open hearts as we complete this peaceful journey together. Your presence would be a blessing and a gift to us all.” ​More details will be made available as they are confirmed. If you want to stay up to date on the group’s whereabouts, check their Facebook page. They share updates about their daily route. You can also track their progress each day in this live interactive map. Over 5 million followers are feeling inspired by the movement The moment’s message of hope and peace has been well-received. Millions of people worldwide have been following the Walk for Peace movement through social media. Every social media post is flooded with positive comments from well-wishers. The monks have attracted a large social media presence that continues to grow. Since January 2, 2026, the Walk for Peace Facebook page has grown from 575,000 to 2.5 million followers. The Walk for Peace Instagram account, which had 618,000 followers, now has 1.8 million. The group’s rescue dog, Aloka, has also attracted a massive social media following. The Aloka The Peace Dog Facebook page is nearing one million followers. In mid-January, Aloka had to have surgery to heal a leg injury. He’s doing well, but since he’s still recovering, and has been traveling in an escort car that follows the walking route along with the monks. View the full article

Jonathan Yasko pleaded guilty to diverting monies in real estate transactions to cover unrelated closings, and to pay for his own cars and personal travel. View the full article

Bullied and buffeted by President Donald The President’s tariffs for the past year, America’s longstanding allies are desperately seeking ways to shield themselves from the president’s impulsive wrath. U.S. trade partners are cutting deals among themselves — sometimes discarding old differences to do so — in a push to diversify their economies away from a newly protectionist United States. Some European governments and institutions are reducing their use of U.S. digital services such as Zoom and Teams. Central banks and global investors are dumping dollars and buying gold. Together, their actions could diminish U.S. influence and mean higher interest rates and prices for Americans already angry about the high cost of living. Last summer and fall, The President used the threat of punishing taxes on imports to strong-arm the European Union, Japan, South Korea, and other trading partners into accepting lopsided trade deals and promising to make massive investments in the United States. But a deal with The President, they’ve discovered, is no deal at all. The mercurial president repeatedly finds reasons to conjure new tariffs to impose on trading partners that thought they had already made enough concessions to satisfy him. Just months after reaching his agreement with the EU, The President threatened new tariffs on eight European countries for opposing his attempts to seize control of Greenland from Denmark—though he quickly backed down. And last month, he said he’d slap 100% tariffs on Canada for breaking with the United States by agreeing to reduce Canadian tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles. “Our trading partners are discovering that the largely one-sided deals they concluded with the U.S. provide little protection,’’ said former U.S. trade negotiator Wendy Cutler, senior vice president at the Asia Society Policy Institute. “As a result, trade diversification efforts by our partners are on turbo charge, looking to reduce dependence on the U.S.” The President supporters such as Paul Winfree, who was deputy director of the White House Domestic Policy Council during The President’s first term, are wary of the relative decline in U.S. Treasury note holdings by foreign central banks and view the national debt as a vulnerability rivals would like to exploit. Winfree, CEO of the Economic Policy Innovation Institute, a think tank, said that some of The President’s advisers do not feel America has fully benefited from the dollar’s status as the world’s dominant currency. “But the fact remains that every other country is jealous of our status, and many of our adversaries would love to challenge the U.S. dollar and Treasuries,” he said. White House spokesman Kush Desai insists America’s standing on the global stage has not been diminished. “President The President remains committed to the strength and power of the U.S. Dollar as the world’s reserve currency,” he said. India and the EU clinch a long-awaited deal The most eye-opening deal so far has been the pact announced last week between the 27-country EU and India, the world’s fastest growing major economy. Negotiators had been at it for nearly two decades before they closed the agreement. Likewise, an EU trade deal announced two weeks ago with the Mercosur nations of South America took a quarter century of negotiation. It will create a free-trade market of more than 700 million people. “Some of these deals have been in the works for quite some time,’’ said Maurice Obstfeld, a senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics and former chief economist at the International Monetary Fund. “The pressure from The President made them more eager to accelerate the process and reach agreement.’’ EU exporters were jubilant over the India deal. VDMA, a group of European machinery and plant engineering companies, welcomed lower Indian tariffs on machinery. “The free trade agreement between India and the EU brings much needed oxygen to a world increasingly dominated by trade conflicts,” VDMA’s executive director, Thilo Brodtmann, said in a statement. “With this agreement, Europe is sending a clear signal in favor of rules-based trade and against the law of the jungle.” ‘We have all the cards’ On Monday, The President went on social media to announce his own deal with India. The U.S., he posted, would reduce tariffs on Indian imports after India agreed to stop buying oil from Russia, which has used the sales to fund its four year war in Ukraine. The president said that India would reduce its tariffs on American products to zero and buy $500 billion worth of American products. Trade lawyer Ryan Majerus, a partner at the King & Spalding and a trade official in the Biden administration and during The President’s first term, said that businesses and legal analysts were awaiting official White House documents spelling out details of the deal. The President is banking on there being limits to other countries’ ability to pull away from the United States. America has the world’s biggest economy and consumer market. “We have all the cards,’’ The President told Fox Business this month. Countries like South Korea, dependent on America’s market and military protection, can’t afford to ignore The President’s threats. On Monday, for example, the president said he was increasing tariffs on South Korea goods because the country’s legislature has been slow to approve the trade framework announced last year. On Tuesday, the country’s Finance Ministry responded by saying its chief, Koo Yun-cheol, would push lawmakers to quickly approve a bill to invest $350 billion as promised in the agreement. “The U.S was trying to identify a counterpart that would find it difficult to refuse U.S. demands outright, given the depth of its economic and security ties,” said Cha Du Hyeogn, an analyst at South Korea’s Asan Institute for Policy Studies. Or consider Canada, which sends 75% of its exports to its southern neighbor. “Canada and U.S. will always be tightly linked through international trade,” said Obstfeld, a professor at the University of California, Berkeley. “We’re talking about adjustments more or less on the margin.’’ But the world’s growing rejection of The President’s policies is already having an impact, driving down the value of the dollar, long the currency of choice for global commerce, to its lowest level since 2022 last week versus several competing currencies. Syracuse University political scientist Daniel McDowell, author of the book “Bucking the Buck: U.S. Financial Sanctions and the International Backlash against the Dollar,” sees a vibe shift under The President: Foreign countries and investors want to reduce their exposure to the United States, which has moved from a source of security and stability to a driver of instability and unpredictability under The President. “The President has shown that he is willing to use foreign countries’ economic dependence on the U.S. as leverage against them in negotiations,” McDowell said. “As global perceptions of the US are changing, it is only natural that investors — public and private alike — are reconsidering their relationship with the dollar.” —Paul Wiseman, Josh Boak and Elaine Kurtenbach, Associated Press Associated Press videographer Yong Jun Chang and AP Business Writer Kelvin Chan contributed to this report. View the full article

Disney earnings are out, and by the looks of it, the entertainment giant is starting 2026 with some strong points in its first-quarter report, powered in part by two big hits at the box office. However, some disappointing news looking ahead to the second quarter may have spooked investors, causing shares of the stock to slide over 7% to $104.72 in afternoon trading on Monday. Shares of the Walt Disney Company (DIS) were up briefly on Tuesday morning after news that Disney named Josh D’Amaro as its new chief executive officer (starting March 18), but were back down by another half a percent to $103.99 in afternoon trading on Tuesday at the time of this writing. First, the good news: Disney’s first quarter earnings beat estimates with revenue coming in at $25.98 billion, above analyst expectations of $25.74 billion; and higher-than-expected earnings per share (EPS) of $1.63 adjusted, 6 cents above Wall Street estimates of $1.57. That’s due in large part to the entertainment giant’s experiences unit, which operates 12 theme parks across six global resorts, along with cruises and vacation clubs, which reported more than $10 billion in quarterly revenue for the first time. It also got a nice boost from Disney’s studios box office blockbuster releases “Zootopia 2” and “Avatar: Fire and Ash,” that each surpassed $1 billion at the global box office, according to Disney’s earnings report. The company also highlighted its streaming services, and said sports channel ESPN delivered strong quarterly ratings. (“ESPN capturing more than 30% of all sports viewership across networks, including ESPN on ABC.”) Now the bad news: Disney cautioned that looking ahead to its second quarter, it forecasts that its theme parks will likely see “modest operating income growth” due in part to the decline in visits from international tourists to the U.S., the Associate Press reported. In answer to a question on Monday’s earnings call, Disney CEO Bob Iger said “because international visitors tend to stay in Disney hotels less “the company was “able to read it from other indicators” and as a result “pivoted marketing and sales efforts… to a more domestic audience and we are able to keep attendance rates high.” That overall drop in foreign tourism to the U.S. could likely be the result of a few different factors, including President Donald The President’s crackdown on immigration; his administration’s aggressive stance toward foreign countries—including our close European allies and Canada—over the U.S. invasion of Venezuela and push to take over Greenland; and his high tariffs on global nations, often accompanied by anti-foreigner rhetoric. View the full article

Incident in Gulf oil chokepoint comes days before planned talks between US and IranView the full article

Microsoft Advertising today launched the Publisher Content Marketplace (PCM), a system that lets publishers license premium content to AI products and get paid based on how that content is used. How it works. PCM creates a direct value exchange. Publishers set licensing and usage terms, while AI builders discover and license content for specific grounding scenarios. The marketplace also includes usage-based reporting, giving publishers visibility into how their content performs and where it creates the most value. Designed to scale. PCM is designed to avoid one-off licensing deals between individual publishers and AI providers. Participation is voluntary, ownership remains with publishers, and editorial independence stays intact. The marketplace supports everyone from global publishers to smaller, specialized outlets. Why we care. As AI systems shift from answering questions to making decisions, content quality matters more than ever. As agents increasingly guide purchases, finance, and healthcare choices, ads and sponsored messages will sit alongside — or draw from — premium content rather than generic web signals. That raises the bar for credibility and points to a future where brand alignment with trusted publishers and AI ecosystems directly impacts performance. Early traction. Microsoft Advertising co-designed PCM with major U.S. publishers, including Business Insider, Condé Nast, Hearst, The Associated Press, USA TODAY, and Vox Media. Early pilots grounded Microsoft Copilot responses in licensed content, with Yahoo among the first demand partners now onboarding. What’s next. Microsoft plans to expand the pilot to more publishers and AI builders that share a core belief: as the AI web evolves, high-quality content should be respected, governed, and paid for. The big picture. In an agentic web, AI tools increasingly summarize, reason, and recommend through conversation. Whether the topic is medical safety, financial eligibility, or a major purchase, outcomes depend on access to trusted, authoritative sources — many of which sit behind paywalls or in proprietary archives. The tension. The traditional web bargain was simple: publishers shared content, and platforms sent traffic back. That model breaks down when AI delivers answers directly, cutting clicks while still depending on premium content to perform well. Bottom line. If AI is going to make better decisions, it needs better inputs — and PCM is Microsoft’s bet that a sustainable content economy can power the next phase of the agentic web. Microsoft’s announcement. Building Toward a Sustainable Content Economy for the Agentic Web View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. For all the talk about Stranger Things taking nearly a decade to produce just five seasons of television, consider The Night Manager: It took this British spy thriller 10 years just to get to season two. Luckily, audiences seem to have been willing to wait, as they show performed decently in the streaming ratings when it dropped on Prime Video earlier this year. There's a reason viewers were anxious for more, even after such a long wait: Based on a John le Carré novel and starring Tom Hiddleston as Jonathan Pine, the series finds the manager of a luxury Cairo hotel running afoul of an Egyptian crime boss with ties to Dickie Roper (Hugh Laurie), one of the world's wealthiest and best-connected businessmen. Roper is a wildly charismatic, entirely amoral arms dealer and Angela Burr (the flawless Olivia Colman) is a Foreign Office agent on a quixotic quest to bring him to justice. It's crackerjack stuff. While you're waiting for a rumored third season, which hopefully won't take a decade, here are 15 other spy thrillers to keep you occupied. Stream The Night Manager on Prime Video. The Ipcress File (2022) Len Deighton occupies a similar place in the literary spy canon as John le Carré, and here Joe Cole (Peaky Blinders) is cast as Len Deighton's lead anti-hero, unnamed in the novels, but known as "Harry Palmer" in various adaptations going back to the 1960s. Set in 1963, this show sees Tom Hollander's Major Dalby offer scrappy crook Palmer a deal: If he agrees to work as an intelligence officer, he'll get a ticket out of military prison. Naturally, his first case, involving a missing nuclear scientist, expands into a globe-hopping espionage adventure with impeccable period vibes. Stream The Ipcress File on Prime Video. The Ipcress File (2022) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video A Spy Among Friends (2022) The best spy dramas have a grounding in truth (or feel like they do), so it doesn't hurt that A Spy Among Friends is based almost entirely on fact In the early 1960s, high-ranking MI6 operative Kim Philby (Guy Pearce) is revealed to have been a double agent, and is doggedly pursued by his former colleague Nicholas Elliott (Damian Lewis). The miniseries is framed around a particularly tense encounter between the two men, just as Elliott has been tasked with uncovering the details of his friend's decades-long betrayal. Stream A Spy Among Friends on MGM+ and Britbox. A Spy Among Friends (2022) at MGM+ Learn More Learn More at MGM+ Black Doves (2024 – ) This genre-bender has been a bit of a hit for Netflix—enough to have earned a second-season renewal. Keira Knightly stars as Helen Webb, wife of the Secretary of State for Defence of the U.K., and a secret spy in the employ of the mercenary spy organization of the title. She learns from her handler (Sarah Lancashire) that her lover has been killed, thus potentially blowing her cover, but luckily she has a hitman bestie (Ben Whislaw) to help her out. It's all deliberately pulpy, with a tongue-in-cheek self-awareness that lightens the tone. Stream Black Doves on Netflix. Black Doves (2024 – ) at Netflix Learn More Learn More at Netflix The Day of the Jackal (2024 – ) Cinematic in scope, this new adaptation of the Frederick Forsyth novel is buoyed by brilliant casting: Eddie Redmayne plays the Jackal, a steely international assassin pursued by MI6 operative Bianca Pullman, played by Lashana Lynch (putting her experience as the new 007 in No Time to Die to good use). I'm not sure there's anything here we haven't seen in countless other spy thrillers (including, of course, the 1973 and 1997 film adaptations), but the performances and production values are top-notch, with each episode playing out like a tense mini-movie. Stream The Day of the Jackal on Peacock. The Day of the Jackal (2024 – ) Learn More Learn More Slow Horses (2022 – ) With nods to the great spy dramas of John le Carré, Slow Horses updates the setting without losing the thrills or the style of a time-honored genre. The “Slow Horses” of the title is a group of has-been (and never-were) MI5 agents—they’ve all made messes of their jobs, but are still seen as having some use, if only in dull administrative tasks. Naturally, the group (lead by Gary Oldman's brilliantly crude, flatulent Jackson Lamb alongside foil and spymaster Diana Taverner, played by Kristin Scott Thomas) finds themselves in deeper waters than anyone had expected of them. An adaptation of Mick Harron's novel series, the show has a sly sense of humor, balancing a cynical tone with a conviction that redemption is possible, if not easy. Stream Slow Horses on Apple TV+ Slow Horses (2022 – ) at Apple TV+ Learn More Learn More at Apple TV+ The Little Drummer Girl (2018) South Korean filmmaker Park Chan-wook (Decision to Leave, No Other Choice) directs this series, based, like Night Manager, on a John le Carré novel, bringing an undeniably sexy period style into the mix. Florence Pugh is Charlie, a young actress recruited by Mossad spymaster Martin Kurtz (Michael Shannon) to infiltrate a group of Palestinian terrorists, even as she's being manipulated by an Israeli intelligence officer (Alexander Skarsgård). Crucially, like the book, the show offers nuanced characters on multiple sides of the conflict, raising serious questions about who the real villains are. Stream The Little Drummer Girl on AMC+ or buy it from Prime Video. The Little Drummer Girl (2018) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video The Agency: Central Intelligence (2024 – ) Michael Fassbender stars here as "Martian," the codename for Brandon Colby, a former undercover CIA agent just returned to London after six years in Sudan. He's left behind a lover, Dr. Samia Zahir (Jodie Turner-Smith)—a relationship he wasn't terribly forthcoming about with his handlers. When Sami turns up in London as part of a diplomatic delegation, Martian is forced to choose between his job and his personal life, which becomes more complicated when it appears that she's involved in a broader scheme involving the Sudanese government, MI6, and an undercover agent in Belarus. It's all very twisty-turny in the best tradition of spy shows, with a great cast: Jeffrey Wright plays Martian's boss and mentor; Richard Gere, the CIA London Station Chief; and Downton Abbey's Hugh Bonneville, a shifty senior MI6 operative. Stream The Agency on Paramount+. The Agency: Central Intelligence at Paramount+ Learn More Learn More at Paramount+ Snowdrop (2021 – 2022) It's late 1987, and university students Yeong-ro (Jisoo) and Soo-ho (Jung Hae-in) meet-cute in a coffee shop. She's an English Lit student, and he's an Economics grad student—or so he says. The story starts to crumble when he shows up in Yeong-ro's dorm room covered in blood. She thinks he's a pro-democracy protester hiding from the police, but actually, he's a North Korean spy sent to bring a professor back with him. The show earned itself a fair bit of controversy for suggesting that the struggle which lead to South Korean democracy was infiltrated by spies, but history notwithstanding, it's an effectively heart-wrenching spy drama. Stream Snowdrop on Disney+. Snowdrop (2021 – 2022) at Disney+ Get Deal Get Deal at Disney+ Informer (2018) Nabhaan Rizwan plays Raza Shar, a young British Pakistani Londoner with a shady past (and present) who's coerced by Paddy Considine's DS Gabe Waters into signing on to become a police informant, part of a large network employed by the show's imagined counter-terrorism organization. A known terrorist was killed just recently, but it soon becomes clear that he might have trained a number of other extremists before he died. It's a tense, fast-moving show that, like The Night Manager, places a reluctant spy in the foreground. Stream Informer on Prime Video and Britbox. Informer (2018) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Billions (2016 – 2023) This one isn't a spy drama, and generally favors a lighter tone than The Night Manager, but the two shows share a key common thread: each is about a charismatic but otherwise awful rich guy, and a government agent who is determined to stop them. Paul Giamatti plays attorney Chuck Rhoades (based, a bit, on the real-life Preet Bharara), who is working to bring down shady hedge fund manager Bobby Axelrod (Damian Lewis). Even without actual espionage, the moves and countermoves make the whole thing feel like a similarly elaborate chess game. Stream Billions on Paramount+. Billions (2016 – 2023) at Paramount+ Learn More Learn More at Paramount+ The Bureau (2015 – 2020) In addition to, or instead of, The Agency, try Le Bureau des Légends, the French original on which it's based (they're similarly addictive, though many will prefer the original on principle). Same general premise: Mathieu Kassovitz stars as Guillaume Debailly, a spy just recently returned from a six year undercover mission in Damascus. As he's trying to readjust to his old life, everything is thrown into turmoil when Nadia (Zineb Triki), the woman with whom he'd been in a relationship in Syria, turns up in Paris. Over the course of five seasons, the show excelled at dealing with day-to-day life for its intelligence workers. It's not all thrilling spy escapades, and that's very much an advantage. Stream The Bureau on Paramount+. The Bureau at Paramount+ Learn More Learn More at Paramount+ Homeland (2011 – 2020) Though the focus shifts a bit after the first few seasons, Homeland begins as a tense espionage thriller, as CIA case officer Carrie Mathison (Claire Danes) begins to suspect that that decorated Marine Corps scout sniper Nicholas Brody (Damian Lewis), recently rescued from an al-Qaeda compound, has been turned by his captors and is planning a terrorist attack on the United States. Given she's been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, her superiors don't give Mathison's suspicions much credence, forcing her to go rouge in what turns into a cat-and-mouse/is-he-or-isn't he? game between the two. Both leads won Emmys for their performances, and the series took the Outstanding Drama prize in its first year. If it pulls a few too many punches at the tail end of the first season, it makes for a compelling watch. Stream Homeland on Hulu and Netflix. Homeland (2011 – 2020) at Hulu Learn More Learn More at Hulu Down Cemetery Road (2025 – ) Blending spy and detective tropes (and based on a series of novels by Mick Herron, of Slow Horses fame), this one stars Emma Thompson as hard-living, hard-drinking private investigator Zoë Boehm. She's hired by Ruth Wilson's Sarah Trafford, a married art restorer who nobody takes very seriously (including her husband), even when she becomes invested in the fate of a young girl whose family is killed in an alleged gas explosion down the street. The girl, whose parents have died, disappears into the foster system, and no one really seems to care—until Sarah hires Zoë and her husband to look into it. Soon, both women are in way over their heads, as the missing girl points to a much broader government conspiracy. Stream Down Cemetery Road on Apple TV+. Down Cemetery Road (2025 – ) at Apple TV+ Learn More Learn More at Apple TV+ Patriot (2015 – 2018) A bit lighter in tone than The Night Manager and shot through with a vein of black comedy that wouldn't feel out of place in a Coen brothers movie, Patriot is the story of a beleagured intelligence officer who just cannot catch a break. Michael Dorman is John Tavner, tasked with ensuring that the leading candidate for the presidency of Iran doesn't win. An elaborate plan to support a more moderate rival candidate sees him taking on a non-official cover identity and getting a job at a Milwaukee piping firm. After he blows the interview, he needs to eliminate his hapless competition for the job, then he needs to borrow urine for the drug test, which winds up exposing him to extortion, etc. etc. As the screwups began to stack one on top of the other, John's situation becomes ever more precarious (and darkly hilarious—his musical talent means that a lot of exposition comes in the form of extremely specific folk songs that he performs under yet another assumed name). Stream The Patriot on Prime Video. Patriot (2015 – 2018) Learn More Learn More Spy/Master (2023) The juicy imported political thriller stars Alec Secăreanu (God's Own Country) as Victor Godeanu, a Romanian ministry director and friend to dictator Nicolae Ceaușescu (the show takes place in 1978, and is based on a true story). Godeanu is also working for the Soviets and, with his cover about to be blown, decides to defect to the United States. When Ceaușescu sends agents to kill him, the intelligence agencies of five countries become tied up in the defection drama. Stream Spy/Master on HBO Max. Spy/Master (2023) at HBO Max Get Deal Get Deal at HBO Max View the full article

A reader writes: I work at a fairly large nonprofit (500+ employees) outside a major city. I’ve been here four years and genuinely like my job, but my compensation has become a major source of stress. I hold a director-level title, supervise 15 part time employees, and earn just enough to qualify as exempt from earning overtime pay. Since starting, I’ve taken on significant additional responsibilities. I regularly work 45-60 hours each week and am expected to be on call for emergencies for eight hours every other weekend. I know nonprofit salaries aren’t high, but I didn’t expect to be 10 years into my career and still living paycheck to paycheck. Recently, I had my annual evaluation and decided to ask for a raise. We get small merit increases each year, but they barely keep up with inflation. I prepared a list of accomplishments and additional duties and researched comparable salaries, mostly government-funded roles with public data. Based on what I found, I’m earning $10,000–15,000 below market. My performance review was glowing. My manager even listed many of my accomplishments before I mentioned them. But toward the end, she said it seemed like I had too much on my plate and wanted to discuss reallocating tasks. To my surprise, I burst into tears. I still managed to explain why I felt I deserved a raise at the end of our conversation, but I know I didn’t present my case as clearly as I’d hoped. My manager took the request to our department head. Yesterday I was told my compensation was “deemed to be sufficient.” I’m shocked and hurt. I didn’t expect them to match the salaries I found, but I did expect something. The reasons I was given had nothing to do with my performance. First, the usual “no wiggle room in the budget.” Second, they said my salary research wasn’t relevant because the positions I found were closer to the city and might not have comparable benefits, even though the cost of living there is similar and there are no other jobs in our town like mine to compare to. Third, they said there’s no clear evidence I’ve taken on additional responsibilities because there’s no job description on file. To my manager’s credit, she immediately started working on the job description issue. The person who hired me retired a year after I started, and her files are a mess. Her replacement, my current boss, has never been able to find my original job description. Still, I’m frustrated. My compensation doesn’t match my role, and the reasons for denying a raise had nothing to do with my work. I also wasn’t given any guidance on how to advocate for myself in the future. At the same time, I don’t feel like I have leverage because I don’t intend to leave since my field has an especially terrible job market. I’m not sure what to do next. Some of the conversations about reducing my workload seem promising, but that doesn’t solve the compensation issue. I’ve thought about refusing overtime since I’m not compensated for it, but I know that could backfire since evening and weekend hours are common in my industry. Is there anything else I can do, or re my only real choices to accept my current salary or look for another job? You can read my answer to this letter at New York Magazine today. Head over there to read it. The post I was turned down for a raise — now what? appeared first on Ask a Manager. View the full article

Danish drugmaker reports rise in revenues but says prices under pressure as market becomes more crowdedView the full article

Vibe coding is a new way to create software using AI tools such as ChatGPT, Cursor, Replit, and Gemini. It works by describing to the tool what you want in plain language and receiving written code in return. You can then simply paste the code into an environment (such as Google Colab), run it, and test the results, all without ever actually programming a single line of code. Collins Dictionary named “vibe coding” word of the year in 2025, defining it as “the use of artificial intelligence prompted by natural language to write computer code.” In this guide, you’ll understand how to start vibe coding, learn its limitations and risks, and see examples of great tools created by SEOs to inspire you to vibe code your own projects. Vibe coding variations While “vibe coding” is used as an umbrella term, there are subsets of coding with support or AI, including the following: TypeDescriptionToolsAI-assisted coding AI helps write, refactor, explain, or debug code. Used by actual developers or engineers to support their complex work.GitHub Copilot, Cursor, Claude, Google AI StudioVibe codingPlatforms that handle everything except the prompt/idea. AI does most of the work.ChatGPT, Replit, Gemini, Google AI StudioNo-code platformsPlatforms that handle everything you ask (“drag and drop” visual updates while the code happens in the background). They tend to use AI but existed long before AI became mainstream.Notion, Zapier, Wix We’ll focus exclusively on vibe coding in this guide. With vibe coding, while there’s a bit of manual work to be done, the barrier is still low — you basically need a ChatGPT account (free or paid) and access to a Google account (free). Depending on your use case, you might also need access to APIs or SEO tools subscriptions such as Semrush or Screaming Frog. Your customers search everywhere. Make sure your brand shows up. The SEO toolkit you know, plus the AI visibility data you need. Start Free Trial Get started with To set expectations, by the end of this guide, you’ll know how to run a small program on the cloud. If you expect to build a SaaS or software to sell, AI-assisted coding is a more reasonable option to take, which will involve costs and deeper coding knowledge. Vibe coding use cases Vibe coding is great when you’re trying to find outcomes for specific buckets of data, such as finding related links, adding pre-selected tags to articles, or doing something fun where the outcome doesn’t need to be exact. For example, I’ve built an app to create a daily drawing for my daughter. I type a phrase about something that she told me about her day (e.g., “I had carrot cake at daycare”). The app has some examples of drawing styles I like and some pictures of her. The outputs (drawings) are the final work as they come from AI. When I ask for specific changes, however, the program tends to worsen and redraw things I didn’t ask for. I once asked to remove a mustache and it recolored the image instead. If my daughter were a client who’d scrutinize the output and require very specific changes, I’d need someone who knows Photoshop or similar tools to make specific improvements. In this case, though, the results are good enough. Building commercial applications solely on vibe coding may require a company to hire vibe coding cleaners. However, for a demo, MVP (minimum viable product), or internal applications, vibe coding can be a useful, effective shortcut. How to create your SEO tools with vibe coding Using vibe coding to create your own SEO tools require three steps: Write a prompt describing your code Paste the code into a tool such as Google Colab Run the code and analyze the results Here’s a prompt example for a tool I built to map related links at scale. After crawling a website using Screaming Frog and extracting vector embeddings (using the crawler’s integration with OpenAI), I vibe coded a tool that would compare the topical distance between the vectors in each URL. This is exactly what I wrote on ChatGPT: I need a Google Colab code that will use OpenAI to: Check the vector embeddings existing in column C. Use cosine similarity to match with two suggestions from each locale (locale identified in Column A). The goal is to find which pages from each locale are the most similar to each other, so we can add hreflang between these pages. I’ll upload a CSV with these columns and expect a CSV in return with the answers. Then I pasted the code that ChatGPT created on Google Colab, a free Jupyter Notebook environment that allows users to write and execute Python code in a web browser. It’s important to run your program by clicking on “Run all” in Google Colab to test if the output does what you expected. This is how the process works on paper. Like everything in AI, it may look perfect, but it’s not always functioning exactly how you want it. You’ll likely encounter issues along the way — luckily, they’re simple to troubleshoot. First, be explicit about the platform you’re using in your prompt. If it’s Google Colab, say the code is for Google Colab. You might still end up with code that requires packages that aren’t installed. In this case, just paste the error into ChatGPT and it’ll likely regenerate the code or find an alternative. You don’t even need to know what the package is, just show the error and use the new code. Alternatively, you can ask Gemini directly in your Google Colab to fix the issue and update your code directly. AI tends to be very confident about anything and could return completely made-up outputs. One time I forgot to say the source data would come from a CSV file, so it simply created fake URLs, traffic, and graphs. Always check and recheck the output because “it looks good” can sometimes be wrong. If you’re connecting to an API, especially a paid API (e.g., from Semrush, OpenAI, Google Cloud, or other tools), you’ll need to request your own API key and keep in mind usage costs. Should you want an even lower execution barrier than Google Colab, you can try using Replit. Simply prompt your request and the software will create the code, design, and allow testing all on the same screen. This means a lower chance of coding errors, no copy and paste, and a URL you can share right away with anyone to see your project built with a nice design. (You should still check for poor outputs and iterate with prompts until your final app is built.) Keep in mind that while Google Colab is free (you’ll only spend if you use API keys), Replit charges a monthly subscription and per-usage fee on APIs. So the more you use an app, the more expensive it gets. Inspiring examples of SEO vibe-coded tools While Google Colab is the most basic (and easy) way to vibe code a small program, some SEOs are taking vibe coding even further by creating programs that are turned into Chrome extensions, Google Sheets automation, and even browser games. The goal behind highlighting these tools is not only to showcase great work by the community, but also to inspire, build, and adapt to your specific needs. Do you wish any of these tools had different features? Perhaps you can build them for yourself — or for the world. GBP Reviews Sentiment Analyzer (Celeste Gonzalez) After vibe coding some SEO tools on Google Colab, Celeste Gonzalez, Director of SEO Testing at RicketyRoo Inc, took her vibing skills a step further and created a Chrome extension. “I realized that I don’t need to build something big, just something useful,” she explained. Her browser extension, the GBP Reviews Sentiment Analyzer, summarizes sentiment analysis for reviews over the last 30 days and review velocity. It also allows the information to be exported into a CSV. The extension works on Google Maps and Google Business Profile pages. Instead of ChatGPT, Celeste used a combination of Claude (to create high-quality prompts) and Cursor (to paste the created prompts and generate the code). AI tools used: Claude (Sunner 4.5 model) and Cursor APIs used: Google Business Profile API (free) Platform hosting: Chrome Extension Knowledge Panel Tracker (Gus Pelogia) I became obsessed with the Knowledge Graph in 2022, when I learned how to create and manage my own knowledge panel. Since then, I found out that Google has a Knowledge Graph Search API that allows you to check the confidence score for any entity. This vibe-coded tool checks the score for your entities daily (or at any frequency you want) and returns it in a sheet. You can track multiple entities at once and just add new ones to the list at any time. The Knowledge Panel Tracker runs completely on Google Sheets, and the Knowledge Graph Search API is free to use. This guide shows how to create and run it in your own Google account, or you can see the spreadsheet here and just update the API key under Extensions > App Scripts. AI models used: ChatGPT 5.1 APIs used: Google Knowledge Graph API (free) Platform hosting: Google Sheets Inbox Hero Game (Vince Nero) How about vibe coding a link building asset? That’s what Vince Nero from BuzzStream did when creating the Inbox Hero Game. It requires you to use your keyboard to accept or reject a pitch within seconds. The game is over if you accept too many bad pitches. Inbox Hero Game is certainly more complex than running a piece of code on Google Colab, and it took Vince about 20 hours to build it all from scratch. “I learned you have to build things in pieces. Design the guy first, then the backgrounds, then one aspect of the game mechanics, etc.,” he said. The game was coded in HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. “I uploaded the files to GitHub to make it work. ChatGPT walked me through everything,” Vince explained. According to him, the longer the prompt continued, the less effective ChatGPT became, “to the point where [he’d] have to restart in a new chat.” This issue was one of the hardest and most frustrating parts of creating the game. Vince would add a new feature (e.g., score), and ChatGPT would “guarantee” it found the error, update the file, but still return with the same error. See the complete picture of your search visibility. Track, optimize, and win in Google and AI search from one platform. Start Free Trial Get started with In the end, Inbox Hero Game is a fun game that demonstrates it’s possible to create a simple game without coding knowledge, yet taking steps to perfect it would be more feasible with a developer. AI models used: ChatGPT APIs used: None Platform hosting: Webpage Vibe coding with intent Vibe coding won’t replace developers, and it shouldn’t. But as these examples show, it can responsibly unlock new ways for SEOs to prototype ideas, automate repetitive tasks, and explore creative experiments without heavy technical lift. The key is realism: Use vibe coding where precision isn’t mission-critical, validate outputs carefully, and understand when a project has outgrown “good enough” and needs additional resources and human intervention. When approached thoughtfully, vibe coding becomes less about shipping perfect software and more about expanding what’s possible — faster testing, sharper insights, and more room for experimentation. Whether you’re building an internal tool, a proof of concept, or a fun SEO side project, the best results come from pairing curiosity with restraint. View the full article

Shares in the sports streaming service FuboTV Inc. (NYSE: FUBO) are currently plunging in Tuesday trading. The stock price drop comes after the streamer reported its Q1 2026 results—and announced a relatively rare reverse stock split. Here’s what you need to know. What’s happened? Today, FuboTV Inc. announced its first-quarter results for fiscal 2026, which ended on December 31. For the quarter, Fubo reported revenue of $1.543 billion, up 40% from the year-earlier quarter. However, despite the company’s revenue growth, the streamer reported a net loss of approximately $19.1 million for the quarter. Its earnings per share for the period were negative 2 cents. About a year ago, the company made headlines after entering into an agreement with The Walt Disney Company, which announced it would acquire a 70% stake in the streamer and combine it with the company’s existing Hulu + Live TV service. As part of that deal, Fubo would remain a public company. Yet despite this, Fubo’s stock has struggled, and today, FUBO shares have fallen off a cliff-edge. They are currently trading down 25% to around $1.71 per share as of the time of this writing. Fubo announces reverse stock split Investors clearly weren’t happy with Fubo’s quarterly results. No one likes to see a net loss. But Fubo’s loss wasn’t the only thing the company announced. It also revealed that it plans to initiate a reverse stock split—a relatively rare event that is the opposite of the more common stock split some companies choose to partake in. In a regular stock split, a company decides to divide its current number of shares by a certain amount. Stock splits can occur in any increment. For example, a 2-for-1 stock split would divide each share into two, meaning there would be twice as many shares after the split as before. These new shares would also be worth half the price of the pre-split shares. This lower per-share price often makes shares appear more accessible for retail investors, which can spur buying. But in a reverse split, a company decides to combine its existing shares. For example, a company may decide to merge two shares into one. The new single share would then be worth the value of two former ones. Why is Fubo reverse-splitting its shares? Fubo didn’t get into too many specifics about why it was initiating a reserve stock split. The company said its board approved the reverse split and that it “is intended to make the stock more accessible to a broader base of investors” while also ensuring that the reduced number of shares is better “aligned with the Company’s size and scope.” The thing is, reverse stock splits aren’t generally done by companies that are on a firm financial footing. Last year, electric vehicle maker Lucid Group (Nasdaq: LCID) initiated a 1-for-10 reverse stock split in order to boost its share price and keep it from being delisted from the Nasdaq, which will delist companies whose stock price falls below a certain amount—$1 in the Nasdaq’s case—for a certain period of time. In July, EV charging company ChargePoint Holdings (NYSE: CHPT) issued a 1 for 20 reverse split in an effort to boost its share price and not get booted from the New York Stock Exchange, which also requires that a company cannot have its stock price go below the $1 mark for more than $30 consecutive days. If it does, delisting procedures can begin. Other companies including Nikola (Nasdq: NKLA) and Virgin Galactic Holdings (NYSE: SPCE) have also reverse-split their shares to avoid delisting. While Fubo’s stock price hasn’t fallen below $1, over the past year it has dropped as low as $1.57. If the stock were to lose about 40% of its current value, it would fall under the $1 mark, which would leave it vulnerable to delisting. Fast Company has reached out to Fubo for comment. How much are Fubo shares reverse-splitting by? Fubo did not announce which ratio its shares would reverse split by, but the company said it would be between between 1-for-8 and 1-for-12. The exact reverse split ratio will be determined by its board of directors. At the company’s current stock price of around $1.71 per share, a 1-for-8 to 1-for-12 reverse split would give FUBO a share price of between $13.68 and $20.52—well above the $1 threshold the stock needs to maintain to continue to be listed on the NYSE. When will Fubo’s shares begin trading at their reverse split price? Fubo said its shares will begin trading at their new reverse split price “later this quarter.” Fubo’s current Q2 ends at the end of March. View the full article

If you have gifting to loved ones on your mind, here are some considerations related to taxes and logistics. Gifting logistics Unless you’re writing a check from your bank account, the logistics of gifting funds can get a bit complicated. If you want to gift from your IRA, your only option is to sell a chunk of it, then pay any taxes due, then write a check. That’s not terrible, so long as you understand the tax implications. IRA withdrawals are typically subject to ordinary income tax, along with penalties if you’re not yet 59½. You could also trigger some knock-on tax effects like the income-related monthly adjustment amount. In other words, gifting from your IRA isn’t as seamless as making a qualified charitable distribution from your IRA or naming someone as a beneficiary of your IRA. Things can also get tricky if you want your financial gift to go toward an investment account for someone else. It’s straightforward if you’re giving a gift to an adult with an eye toward setting them on an investing path: The recipient will have to set up the account, whether an IRA or a taxable brokerage account, and you can then write a check or transfer funds directly to the financial institution. If you’re giving an investment gift to a child, you have options. 529: Best if you know the money will be for college. It will compound tax-free and skirt taxes upon withdrawal for qualified higher-education expenses. Plus you’ll typically get a state tax break on a contribution to your home state’s plan. UGMA/UTMA (Uniform Gifts/Transfers to Minors Act): This is an open-ended way to save for minor children. There are no strictures on how the money is ultimately used, and the assets can be invested in almost anything. Note that UGMA/UTMA assets may reduce a student’s eligibility for financial aid. IRA (if the child has earned income): Funding an IRA can ensure that a young adult fully benefits from compounding for retirement, and the IRA wrapper offers tax benefits. But the young person needs to have earned enough compensation (from work) in a given year to cover the amount of the IRA contribution you’re making on their behalf, though the contribution doesn’t have to come directly from the young adult’s own coffers. Gift tax: a nonissue for most If you give $19,000 or less to any one individual in a single year, there are no reporting or tax requirements. Married couples can give twice that amount with no tax or reporting requirements. Even if you give more than $19,000 to an individual in a single year, it’s not automatically subject to gift tax. Rather, anyone exceeding the gift-tax threshold in a single year must file the gift tax return form, and that excess amount counts against their lifetime exclusion amount. Only when those excess amounts (combined with the value of the individual’s estate) exceed the lifetime exclusion amount—currently nearly $14 million—does anyone actually owe taxes on those gifts. So that’s not a barrier for most people. Tax benefits are limited Because the lifetime gift/estate tax exclusion amount is currently so high, avoiding estate tax shouldn’t be a major motivation for most people to gift assets to individuals during their lifetimes—at least for now. The estate tax exclusion has been much lower in the past and could go lower again: It was $2 million as recently as 2008, for example. Moreover, some states levy their own estate taxes, and in most cases, they’re lower than the federal threshold. In contrast with making gifts to qualified charities, you won’t be able to earn a tax deduction on your gift to an individual. The exception is a contribution to a 529 college savings plan; you may be eligible for a state tax deduction or credit. In a similar vein, gifting appreciated assets is unlikely to remove the taxes due on the gains, though it will shift the tax burden to the recipient. This article was provided to The Associated Press by Morningstar. For more personal finance content, go to https://www.morningstar.com/personal-finance. Christine Benz is director of personal finance and retirement planning for Morningstar. View the full article

Recent findings from a SurveyMonkey report, conducted in collaboration with USA Today, reveal a striking reality: a notable segment of the American workforce is grappling with significant challenges affecting their job satisfaction and productivity. With one in four employees indicating they are either struggling or burnt out, this statistic serves as a wake-up call for small business owners looking to foster healthier, more engaging work environments. The data highlights a concerning divide among workers—while 75% of employees report feeling fulfilled or merely coasting in their roles, 24% are in a precarious state. Specifically, 12% of workers identify as struggling and another 12% as burnt out. This disparity not only sheds light on the emotional landscape of the workforce but also underscores the importance of addressing employee well-being in order to create a thriving business atmosphere. Addressing worker struggles can yield significant benefits: improved job satisfaction and enhanced productivity. When employees feel supported and engaged, the entire workplace ecosystem flourishes. “Workers who are struggling or burnt out exhibit significantly lower levels of job satisfaction, morale, engagement, and productivity,” notes the report. This is especially troubling for small business owners, as lower engagement can increase turnover rates and hinder growth. For small business owners, the implications are clear. Recognizing and addressing employee wellness is vital to retaining talent and driving business success. Practical applications for improving employee satisfaction could involve implementing regular check-ins, providing resources for mental health support, or fostering a culture that encourages open communication. However, challenges lie ahead. With many small businesses operating on limited resources, developing robust wellness programs may seem daunting. Owners must balance their focus on employee care with the necessity of maintaining a lean operation. Additionally, some businesses might find it difficult to gauge employee morale effectively, particularly in hybrid or remote work environments. To confront these challenges, small business owners can tap into tools like surveys to assess employee well-being, a tactic that provides immediate insights into their staff’s morale and engagement levels. Surveys not only reveal areas needing improvement but also demonstrate to employees that their sentiments are valued—an essential step in nurturing a positive workplace culture. Furthermore, the data indicates that employees struggling with burnout may be more inclined to seek new opportunities, posing a risk to businesses reliant on a stable workforce. Retention strategies should be a priority for small business owners; creating an environment where employees feel appreciated and secure can significantly counteract turnover motivations. Ultimately, as the workforce landscape continues to evolve, small business owners must proactively engage with their employees to prevent burnout and promote a positive culture. This proactive approach can align with the aspirations of the 75% of the workforce that is thriving or coasting, transforming potential challenges into opportunities for growth and enhancement. With the revelations from SurveyMonkey and USA Today, small business owners are encouraged to take heed and implement strategies that foster proactive engagement with their workforce. Ignoring the signs of struggle can have detrimental effects, while addressing these issues can lead to a more engaged, productive, and ultimately successful business. For more detailed insights, visit the original report on the USA Today and SurveyMonkey collaboration at SurveyMonkey. Image via Google Gemini This article, "Workforce Study Reveals 24% of Employees Face Struggles or Burnout" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Recent findings from a SurveyMonkey report, conducted in collaboration with USA Today, reveal a striking reality: a notable segment of the American workforce is grappling with significant challenges affecting their job satisfaction and productivity. With one in four employees indicating they are either struggling or burnt out, this statistic serves as a wake-up call for small business owners looking to foster healthier, more engaging work environments. The data highlights a concerning divide among workers—while 75% of employees report feeling fulfilled or merely coasting in their roles, 24% are in a precarious state. Specifically, 12% of workers identify as struggling and another 12% as burnt out. This disparity not only sheds light on the emotional landscape of the workforce but also underscores the importance of addressing employee well-being in order to create a thriving business atmosphere. Addressing worker struggles can yield significant benefits: improved job satisfaction and enhanced productivity. When employees feel supported and engaged, the entire workplace ecosystem flourishes. “Workers who are struggling or burnt out exhibit significantly lower levels of job satisfaction, morale, engagement, and productivity,” notes the report. This is especially troubling for small business owners, as lower engagement can increase turnover rates and hinder growth. For small business owners, the implications are clear. Recognizing and addressing employee wellness is vital to retaining talent and driving business success. Practical applications for improving employee satisfaction could involve implementing regular check-ins, providing resources for mental health support, or fostering a culture that encourages open communication. However, challenges lie ahead. With many small businesses operating on limited resources, developing robust wellness programs may seem daunting. Owners must balance their focus on employee care with the necessity of maintaining a lean operation. Additionally, some businesses might find it difficult to gauge employee morale effectively, particularly in hybrid or remote work environments. To confront these challenges, small business owners can tap into tools like surveys to assess employee well-being, a tactic that provides immediate insights into their staff’s morale and engagement levels. Surveys not only reveal areas needing improvement but also demonstrate to employees that their sentiments are valued—an essential step in nurturing a positive workplace culture. Furthermore, the data indicates that employees struggling with burnout may be more inclined to seek new opportunities, posing a risk to businesses reliant on a stable workforce. Retention strategies should be a priority for small business owners; creating an environment where employees feel appreciated and secure can significantly counteract turnover motivations. Ultimately, as the workforce landscape continues to evolve, small business owners must proactively engage with their employees to prevent burnout and promote a positive culture. This proactive approach can align with the aspirations of the 75% of the workforce that is thriving or coasting, transforming potential challenges into opportunities for growth and enhancement. With the revelations from SurveyMonkey and USA Today, small business owners are encouraged to take heed and implement strategies that foster proactive engagement with their workforce. Ignoring the signs of struggle can have detrimental effects, while addressing these issues can lead to a more engaged, productive, and ultimately successful business. For more detailed insights, visit the original report on the USA Today and SurveyMonkey collaboration at SurveyMonkey. Image via Google Gemini This article, "Workforce Study Reveals 24% of Employees Face Struggles or Burnout" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Fortunately, they all can be overcome ... if everyone is willing. By Marc Rosenberg The Rosenberg Practice Management Library Go PRO for members-only access to more Marc Rosenberg. View the full article

Fortunately, they all can be overcome ... if everyone is willing. By Marc Rosenberg The Rosenberg Practice Management Library Go PRO for members-only access to more Marc Rosenberg. View the full article

“Me everyday bc my nervous system doesn’t know the difference between a busy day at work or being attacked by a tiger,” a TikTok post reads. The sentiment is the same across dozens of videos online. As an antidote to this workplace-anxiety, “nervous system regulation” has been trending across TikTok, with 178,500 tagged videos beneath the hashtag #nervoussystemhealing. “Real footage of me regulating my nervous system at work,” one posted, hopping around the bathroom, animatedly shaking her wrists and legs. “Pov: when you remember that slow is the secret to a regulated nervous system and your job isn’t an emergency,” another commented on a separate video captioned “your urgency is not my emergency” as a woman calmly taps away on a keyboard. It may sound self-explanatory, but what does this trend even refer to? “‘Nervous system regulation’ refers to our body’s ability to shift between stress (fight or flight) and calm (rest and digest) in a healthy and balanced way,” Dr. Jair Olivares, clinic director at wellness clinic SHA Mexico, told Fast Company. “It’s how we adapt to challenges, recover from stress, and stay mentally and physically resilient.” Anxiety and perfectionism are all adaptive responses the nervous system uses to keep us safe. This can be helpful when you’re actually in danger—like if a wild animal is chasing you. But these same responses kick in for everyday stresses that aren’t so much putting your life at risk—like Slack notifications and work deadlines—as much as they might feel like it. “When this system is dysregulated, we may feel anxious, fatigued, irritable, or burned out even without obvious causes,” explains Dr. Olivares. “Constant stimulation, emails, meetings, notifications, deadlines keeps our stress system switched ‘on’. Add to that poor posture, lack of natural light, skipped meals, and little physical movement, and the body receives few signals of safety or rest.” While it’s easy to dismiss this as another wellness trend, these gestures are signalling something more troubling afoot as workers attempt to regulate nervous systems pushed into a near-constant state of emergency. The proliferation of this content online speaks to a wider culture of workplace stress and burnout: Glassdoor named “fatigue” the word of the year for 2025, while WGSN, a global trend forecasting firm, predicted 2026 to be the year of “Great Exhaustion.” To counterbalance this, try taking micro-breaks to breathe deeply, or stimulate your vagus nerve (which is located in the neck and associated with the parasympathetic nervous system) by humming or lightly tapping on parts of the body. Dr. Olivares also recommends sitting upright or taking walking meetings during the workday to send calming signals to the brain. When in doubt, focus on deep, conscious breathing as a starting point. From there, you can focus on larger, more systemic changes you can make in your day that can nip nervous system dysregulation in the bud. Remember—it’s just a Slack notification. It can’t hurt you. View the full article

Do others think you’re ready to be partner? By Martin Bissett Passport to Partnership Go PRO for members-only access to more Martin Bissett. View the full article

Do others think you’re ready to be partner? By Martin Bissett Passport to Partnership Go PRO for members-only access to more Martin Bissett. View the full article

Bed Bath & Beyond purchased Tokens.com, a blockchain platform utilizing services from Figure, tZERO and ShyftLabs. View the full article

Search Everywhere Optimization Strategy View the full article

When you’re considering a short-term business loan, comprehending the factors that influence loan rates is essential. Your creditworthiness, current economic conditions, and the lender you choose all play significant roles in determining the terms you receive. Furthermore, the amount you borrow, the length of the loan, and whether you provide collateral can further affect your interest rate. Let’s explore these factors and see how they can impact your borrowing experience. Key Takeaways Creditworthiness significantly impacts interest rates, with higher scores leading to lower rates and better loan approval chances. Economic conditions, including inflation and demand for credit, influence borrowing costs and lending standards. The loan amount and term length affect rates, with larger loans and shorter terms typically resulting in higher interest rates. The type of lender, whether traditional banks or online lenders, can result in varying interest rates and borrowing terms. Offering collateral can lower interest rates, increase loan amounts, and improve approval chances by reducing lender risk. Creditworthiness of the Borrower When you’re considering a short-term business loan, comprehending your creditworthiness is vital, as it directly affects the interest rates you’ll be offered. Lenders evaluate both your personal and business credit histories, which can greatly influence the interest rates and standard business loan terms available to you. A strong credit profile, typically denoting a score above 700, can qualify you for lower rates, whereas scores below 600 may result in higher rates or even denial. In fact, around 20% of small business loan denials stem from credit issues, highlighting the significance of maintaining good credit. If you’re wondering how much is a business loan, bear in mind that your creditworthiness plays an important role in determining not just the loan amount, but likewise the overall financing costs. Utilizing business credit services can help you monitor and improve your credit standing, making it easier to secure favorable loan terms when needed. Economic Environment and Market Conditions The economic environment and market conditions play an essential role in determining short-term business loan rates. Factors like inflation and the Federal Reserve‘s monetary policies can directly influence your borrowing costs, as lower federal rates typically result in reduced interest rates. Furthermore, the demand for credit in the market impacts rates; high demand often leads lenders to increase rates, whereas lower demand can create more favorable borrowing conditions for you. Inflation and Interest Rates As inflation continues to rise, it directly affects the cost of borrowing, prompting lenders to increase interest rates to safeguard their profit margins and resulting in higher short-term business loan rates. When you seek fast business finance, be aware that rising inflation leads to lenders tightening their lending standards, which can limit your options. Short-term business loan rates are particularly sensitive to inflation fluctuations, causing lenders to adjust rates more frequently. Moreover, in this high-inflation environment, you might face higher spreads on loans, further increasing your borrowing costs. If you’re considering a business loan, understand that the length of business loan terms can likewise impact your overall expense, as shorter terms may carry higher rates in volatile economic conditions. Federal Reserve Policies As you traverse the terrain of short-term business loans, it’s crucial to understand how Federal Reserve policies shape interest rates and borrowing costs. The Fed’s decisions, particularly regarding the federal funds rate, directly impact short-term loan rates. When rates drop, such as the recent 0.25% cut in October 2025, borrowing costs typically decrease, benefiting businesses seeking loans. Economic factors like inflation and employment levels likewise influence the Fed’s policies. If uncertainty rises, lenders may increase short-term loan rates to manage risk. This situation affects whether a small business loan is a variable or fixed rate. Moreover, business loan credit cards and business credit options are often tied to the prime rate, which is influenced by the Fed. Market Demand Trends Comprehending market demand trends for short-term business loans requires a close look at the current economic environment and market conditions. Several factors play a critical role in shaping this demand: Prevailing economic conditions, like inflation rates and consumer spending, affect lenders’ willingness to offer competitive rates. A strong economy typically increases demand for loans as businesses seek growth opportunities, driving interest rates higher. During downturns or uncertainty, demand may fall, prompting lenders to lower rates to attract borrowers. Additionally, the Federal Reserve’s monetary policy and changes in market conditions, such as lender competition and investor sentiment, greatly impact short-term loan rates. Grasping these dynamics can help you make informed borrowing decisions. Loan Amount and Term Length When considering a short-term business loan, both the loan amount and term length play crucial roles in determining the interest rates you’ll encounter. Larger loan amounts often lead to lower interest rates since they pose reduced risk for lenders and allow for economies of scale in processing costs. Conversely, shorter loan terms typically come with higher interest rates, as lenders want to mitigate their risk by charging more for quick repayment. You’ll find average short-term loan interest rates can range between 7% and 100%, depending on these factors. Loans with terms extending up to 24 months may offer lower rates compared to those with just a few months for repayment, as longer terms create more manageable payment structures. In the end, the overall cost of borrowing, including interest and fees, hinges on the loan amount and term length, so be sure to weigh these aspects carefully to avoid excessive costs. Type of Lender When considering a short-term business loan, the type of lender you choose plays a vital role in determining your interest rates and overall borrowing costs. Traditional banks often offer lower rates but come with stricter qualification criteria, whereas online lenders may provide more flexibility at the expense of higher rates. Furthermore, alternative financing options, such as non-bank lenders, have become popular because of their less stringent approval processes, making it important to weigh your options carefully. Bank vs. Online Lenders Choosing between bank and online lenders for short-term business loans can greatly affect your borrowing experience and costs. Banks typically offer lower interest rates, ranging from 6.7% to 11.5%. Online lenders often have higher rates but faster access to funds, with approval rates nearing 25%. Although online loans provide flexibility, they may include increased costs and additional fees. If you have poor credit, online lenders might seem more accessible, but beware of high interest rates and hidden costs. Traditional banks require stricter eligibility, leading to lower approval rates (around 13.8% from large banks). In the end, comprehending these differences helps you make a better-informed decision about which lender suits your business needs. Alternative Financing Options Alternative financing options have gained traction among small business owners seeking flexibility and faster access to funds. Meanwhile, traditional banks typically offer lower interest rates. Online lenders provide quicker access, albeit often at higher rates. If you have a poor credit history, online lenders may be your best bet, though fees can escalate. Credit unions are another viable choice, frequently offering competitive rates and focusing on member service. Peer-to-peer lending platforms facilitate connections between borrowers and investors, allowing for more flexible terms. Moreover, non-bank lenders have surged in popularity, accounting for nearly 25% of small business borrowing, owing to their streamlined application processes and fewer restrictions. Each option has its pros and cons, so consider your specific needs carefully. Collateral Offered Offering collateral is a strategic move that can greatly impact the terms of your short-term business loan. By securing your loan with collateral, you not only reduce the lender’s risk but also increase your chances of loan approval. Typically, loans backed by collateral attract lower interest rates compared to unsecured options, with potential rate differences ranging from 1% to 5% based on your asset’s value. Consider these common forms of collateral: Real estate Equipment Inventory Lenders assess the type and value of your collateral when determining the loan terms. Higher quality or more liquid assets can lead to more favorable rates. Moreover, providing collateral might enable you to secure larger loan amounts and longer repayment terms, as lenders feel more confident in their investment. This strategic approach can greatly improve your borrowing experience. Interest Rate Type: Fixed vs. Variable When securing a short-term business loan, comprehension of the interest rate type is key to managing your financial commitments effectively. You’ll typically encounter two main types: fixed and variable rates. Fixed interest rates remain constant throughout the life of the loan, which helps you predict your monthly payments and simplifies budgeting. Conversely, variable interest rates fluctuate based on market conditions, often linked to an index like the prime rate. As you might benefit from lower payments if market rates decrease, budgeting can become challenging if rates rise unexpectedly. Short-term loans usually carry higher interest rates because of their quick repayment periods, and variable rates may escalate costs further if interest rates increase. In the end, choosing between fixed and variable rates hinges on your risk tolerance and financial strategy, as fixed rates provide stability, whereas variable rates can offer initial savings with potential risks. Competition Among Financial Institutions As competition intensifies among financial institutions, borrowers like you can benefit from a wider array of options and potentially lower interest rates. With more lenders vying for your business, you might find that interest rates become more favorable. Consider these key factors that influence this competitive environment: Online lenders often have fewer regulatory constraints, allowing them to offer flexible terms and lower rates. Smaller banks and credit unions may provide personalized service and competitive rates to attract borrowers away from larger institutions. Promotional offers and limited-time rates are common tactics used by lenders to stand out and draw in businesses seeking short-term financing. This heightened competition can empower you as a borrower, providing more choices and better financial terms. Always compare offers from multiple institutions to guarantee you’re getting the best deal possible for your short-term business loan. Frequently Asked Questions What Influences Short-Term Interest Rates? Short-term interest rates are influenced by several key factors. Market conditions, such as the prime rate and federal interest rates, directly affect borrowing costs. Your creditworthiness plays a significant role too; higher credit scores usually lead to lower rates. Moreover, the loan term length matters—shorter terms often attract higher rates. Finally, any additional fees, like origination charges, can increase your overall borrowing expenses, impacting the total cost of the loan. What Are the 5 C’s of Business Lending? The 5 C’s of business lending are fundamental for comprehending how lenders evaluate your loan application. They include Character, which reflects your credit history; Capacity, evaluating your ability to repay; Capital, indicating your financial investment; Collateral, which secures the loan with assets; and Conditions, related to the economic environment. Each factor plays a vital role in determining your creditworthiness and the overall risk associated with lending to you. What Are the 5 Factors Considered in Selecting the Source of Short-Term Financing? When selecting a source of short-term financing, you should consider five key factors. First, evaluate your creditworthiness, as it affects loan eligibility and terms. Next, assess the type of lender, whether a traditional Chase or an online lender, since they offer different rates and access speeds. Then, think about the loan’s purpose and your business cash flow needs. Finally, consider the loan amount and current market conditions, which influence available options. What Is the Interest Rate for a Short-Term Business Loan? The interest rate for a short-term business loan typically ranges from 7% to an astonishing 100%. This wide range often depends on various factors, including your credit score, the lender type, and the loan amount. Online lenders tend to charge higher rates compared to traditional Bank of America, which usually offer lower rates aligned with the current prime rate. It’s essential to shop around and compare offers to find the best rate available for your situation. Conclusion In conclusion, grasping the factors influencing short-term business loan rates can help you make informed borrowing decisions. Your creditworthiness, the economic environment, and the specifics of the loan, such as amount and term, all play critical roles. Furthermore, the lender type, collateral, and interest rate structure further shape your options. By considering these aspects, you can better navigate the lending environment and secure terms that align with your financial goals. Image via Google Gemini This article, "7 Key Factors Influencing Short Term Business Loan Rates" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

When you’re considering a short-term business loan, comprehending the factors that influence loan rates is essential. Your creditworthiness, current economic conditions, and the lender you choose all play significant roles in determining the terms you receive. Furthermore, the amount you borrow, the length of the loan, and whether you provide collateral can further affect your interest rate. Let’s explore these factors and see how they can impact your borrowing experience. Key Takeaways Creditworthiness significantly impacts interest rates, with higher scores leading to lower rates and better loan approval chances. Economic conditions, including inflation and demand for credit, influence borrowing costs and lending standards. The loan amount and term length affect rates, with larger loans and shorter terms typically resulting in higher interest rates. The type of lender, whether traditional banks or online lenders, can result in varying interest rates and borrowing terms. Offering collateral can lower interest rates, increase loan amounts, and improve approval chances by reducing lender risk. Creditworthiness of the Borrower When you’re considering a short-term business loan, comprehending your creditworthiness is vital, as it directly affects the interest rates you’ll be offered. Lenders evaluate both your personal and business credit histories, which can greatly influence the interest rates and standard business loan terms available to you. A strong credit profile, typically denoting a score above 700, can qualify you for lower rates, whereas scores below 600 may result in higher rates or even denial. In fact, around 20% of small business loan denials stem from credit issues, highlighting the significance of maintaining good credit. If you’re wondering how much is a business loan, bear in mind that your creditworthiness plays an important role in determining not just the loan amount, but likewise the overall financing costs. Utilizing business credit services can help you monitor and improve your credit standing, making it easier to secure favorable loan terms when needed. Economic Environment and Market Conditions The economic environment and market conditions play an essential role in determining short-term business loan rates. Factors like inflation and the Federal Reserve‘s monetary policies can directly influence your borrowing costs, as lower federal rates typically result in reduced interest rates. Furthermore, the demand for credit in the market impacts rates; high demand often leads lenders to increase rates, whereas lower demand can create more favorable borrowing conditions for you. Inflation and Interest Rates As inflation continues to rise, it directly affects the cost of borrowing, prompting lenders to increase interest rates to safeguard their profit margins and resulting in higher short-term business loan rates. When you seek fast business finance, be aware that rising inflation leads to lenders tightening their lending standards, which can limit your options. Short-term business loan rates are particularly sensitive to inflation fluctuations, causing lenders to adjust rates more frequently. Moreover, in this high-inflation environment, you might face higher spreads on loans, further increasing your borrowing costs. If you’re considering a business loan, understand that the length of business loan terms can likewise impact your overall expense, as shorter terms may carry higher rates in volatile economic conditions. Federal Reserve Policies As you traverse the terrain of short-term business loans, it’s crucial to understand how Federal Reserve policies shape interest rates and borrowing costs. The Fed’s decisions, particularly regarding the federal funds rate, directly impact short-term loan rates. When rates drop, such as the recent 0.25% cut in October 2025, borrowing costs typically decrease, benefiting businesses seeking loans. Economic factors like inflation and employment levels likewise influence the Fed’s policies. If uncertainty rises, lenders may increase short-term loan rates to manage risk. This situation affects whether a small business loan is a variable or fixed rate. Moreover, business loan credit cards and business credit options are often tied to the prime rate, which is influenced by the Fed. Market Demand Trends Comprehending market demand trends for short-term business loans requires a close look at the current economic environment and market conditions. Several factors play a critical role in shaping this demand: Prevailing economic conditions, like inflation rates and consumer spending, affect lenders’ willingness to offer competitive rates. A strong economy typically increases demand for loans as businesses seek growth opportunities, driving interest rates higher. During downturns or uncertainty, demand may fall, prompting lenders to lower rates to attract borrowers. Additionally, the Federal Reserve’s monetary policy and changes in market conditions, such as lender competition and investor sentiment, greatly impact short-term loan rates. Grasping these dynamics can help you make informed borrowing decisions. Loan Amount and Term Length When considering a short-term business loan, both the loan amount and term length play crucial roles in determining the interest rates you’ll encounter. Larger loan amounts often lead to lower interest rates since they pose reduced risk for lenders and allow for economies of scale in processing costs. Conversely, shorter loan terms typically come with higher interest rates, as lenders want to mitigate their risk by charging more for quick repayment. You’ll find average short-term loan interest rates can range between 7% and 100%, depending on these factors. Loans with terms extending up to 24 months may offer lower rates compared to those with just a few months for repayment, as longer terms create more manageable payment structures. In the end, the overall cost of borrowing, including interest and fees, hinges on the loan amount and term length, so be sure to weigh these aspects carefully to avoid excessive costs. Type of Lender When considering a short-term business loan, the type of lender you choose plays a vital role in determining your interest rates and overall borrowing costs. Traditional banks often offer lower rates but come with stricter qualification criteria, whereas online lenders may provide more flexibility at the expense of higher rates. Furthermore, alternative financing options, such as non-bank lenders, have become popular because of their less stringent approval processes, making it important to weigh your options carefully. Bank vs. Online Lenders Choosing between bank and online lenders for short-term business loans can greatly affect your borrowing experience and costs. Banks typically offer lower interest rates, ranging from 6.7% to 11.5%. Online lenders often have higher rates but faster access to funds, with approval rates nearing 25%. Although online loans provide flexibility, they may include increased costs and additional fees. If you have poor credit, online lenders might seem more accessible, but beware of high interest rates and hidden costs. Traditional banks require stricter eligibility, leading to lower approval rates (around 13.8% from large banks). In the end, comprehending these differences helps you make a better-informed decision about which lender suits your business needs. Alternative Financing Options Alternative financing options have gained traction among small business owners seeking flexibility and faster access to funds. Meanwhile, traditional banks typically offer lower interest rates. Online lenders provide quicker access, albeit often at higher rates. If you have a poor credit history, online lenders may be your best bet, though fees can escalate. Credit unions are another viable choice, frequently offering competitive rates and focusing on member service. Peer-to-peer lending platforms facilitate connections between borrowers and investors, allowing for more flexible terms. Moreover, non-bank lenders have surged in popularity, accounting for nearly 25% of small business borrowing, owing to their streamlined application processes and fewer restrictions. Each option has its pros and cons, so consider your specific needs carefully. Collateral Offered Offering collateral is a strategic move that can greatly impact the terms of your short-term business loan. By securing your loan with collateral, you not only reduce the lender’s risk but also increase your chances of loan approval. Typically, loans backed by collateral attract lower interest rates compared to unsecured options, with potential rate differences ranging from 1% to 5% based on your asset’s value. Consider these common forms of collateral: Real estate Equipment Inventory Lenders assess the type and value of your collateral when determining the loan terms. Higher quality or more liquid assets can lead to more favorable rates. Moreover, providing collateral might enable you to secure larger loan amounts and longer repayment terms, as lenders feel more confident in their investment. This strategic approach can greatly improve your borrowing experience. Interest Rate Type: Fixed vs. Variable When securing a short-term business loan, comprehension of the interest rate type is key to managing your financial commitments effectively. You’ll typically encounter two main types: fixed and variable rates. Fixed interest rates remain constant throughout the life of the loan, which helps you predict your monthly payments and simplifies budgeting. Conversely, variable interest rates fluctuate based on market conditions, often linked to an index like the prime rate. As you might benefit from lower payments if market rates decrease, budgeting can become challenging if rates rise unexpectedly. Short-term loans usually carry higher interest rates because of their quick repayment periods, and variable rates may escalate costs further if interest rates increase. In the end, choosing between fixed and variable rates hinges on your risk tolerance and financial strategy, as fixed rates provide stability, whereas variable rates can offer initial savings with potential risks. Competition Among Financial Institutions As competition intensifies among financial institutions, borrowers like you can benefit from a wider array of options and potentially lower interest rates. With more lenders vying for your business, you might find that interest rates become more favorable. Consider these key factors that influence this competitive environment: Online lenders often have fewer regulatory constraints, allowing them to offer flexible terms and lower rates. Smaller banks and credit unions may provide personalized service and competitive rates to attract borrowers away from larger institutions. Promotional offers and limited-time rates are common tactics used by lenders to stand out and draw in businesses seeking short-term financing. This heightened competition can empower you as a borrower, providing more choices and better financial terms. Always compare offers from multiple institutions to guarantee you’re getting the best deal possible for your short-term business loan. Frequently Asked Questions What Influences Short-Term Interest Rates? Short-term interest rates are influenced by several key factors. Market conditions, such as the prime rate and federal interest rates, directly affect borrowing costs. Your creditworthiness plays a significant role too; higher credit scores usually lead to lower rates. Moreover, the loan term length matters—shorter terms often attract higher rates. Finally, any additional fees, like origination charges, can increase your overall borrowing expenses, impacting the total cost of the loan. What Are the 5 C’s of Business Lending? The 5 C’s of business lending are fundamental for comprehending how lenders evaluate your loan application. They include Character, which reflects your credit history; Capacity, evaluating your ability to repay; Capital, indicating your financial investment; Collateral, which secures the loan with assets; and Conditions, related to the economic environment. Each factor plays a vital role in determining your creditworthiness and the overall risk associated with lending to you. What Are the 5 Factors Considered in Selecting the Source of Short-Term Financing? When selecting a source of short-term financing, you should consider five key factors. First, evaluate your creditworthiness, as it affects loan eligibility and terms. Next, assess the type of lender, whether a traditional Chase or an online lender, since they offer different rates and access speeds. Then, think about the loan’s purpose and your business cash flow needs. Finally, consider the loan amount and current market conditions, which influence available options. What Is the Interest Rate for a Short-Term Business Loan? The interest rate for a short-term business loan typically ranges from 7% to an astonishing 100%. This wide range often depends on various factors, including your credit score, the lender type, and the loan amount. Online lenders tend to charge higher rates compared to traditional Bank of America, which usually offer lower rates aligned with the current prime rate. It’s essential to shop around and compare offers to find the best rate available for your situation. Conclusion In conclusion, grasping the factors influencing short-term business loan rates can help you make informed borrowing decisions. Your creditworthiness, the economic environment, and the specifics of the loan, such as amount and term, all play critical roles. Furthermore, the lender type, collateral, and interest rate structure further shape your options. By considering these aspects, you can better navigate the lending environment and secure terms that align with your financial goals. Image via Google Gemini This article, "7 Key Factors Influencing Short Term Business Loan Rates" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Trigger warning: I’m going to write about the upcoming midterm elections—but if it helps, I’m not going to be partisan about it. This should be a pretty straightforward topic, but lately social media has been rife with speculation that the upcoming midterm elections will somehow be canceled. And while election-related fear-mongering is hardly new, it’s usually a dull buzz. This year, whether you blame exponential cultural polarization, social media echo chambers, or the rain, election-cancelation fears have grown into an unmistakeable roar. It's alarming to be sure. But are the people who are worried about this stuff wrong, or was 2024 actually the last "free and fair" American election? To get some answers, I talked to attorney Chad Peace, an expert in U.S. elections law and a legal advisor to the Independent Voter Project, a non-partisan non-profit organization devoted to encouraging voters to participate in the electoral process. I started by asking Peace point-blank how likely he thought the chances are of the midterms being outright canceled. “Pretty close to 0% would be my guess,” he says. Who runs midterm elections? (It's not the federal government.)The unlikelihood of midterm election cancelations comes down to how they’re structured. Under the U.S. Constitution, states run their own midterm elections and are required by law to hold them every two years. While the Constitution and federal laws provide a general framework for how the midterms should work, their actual administration is handled by state and local governments. It is a highly decentralized process, and that’s by design. “It's very clear in the Constitution that the states have the control over the time, place, and the manner of elections, and the reason it’s so clear is to prevent the very concerns that we're [seeing] right now," Peace says. Debunking hypothetical election cancelling scenariosChad and I discussed several hypothetical scenarios (if not outright conspiracy theories) about how the elections might be canceled. To make this part of our conversation more scannable, I’m going to present it in Q&A format, with my questions in bold and Chad's responses in regular text. Remember, these are just the facts. Does the president have any authority cancel midterm elections?There could be some executive authority to change [election] rules, but there’s not really any executive authority to cancel them. What about an executive order? Can that cancel elections?I'd be hard pressed to find an executive order that's gonna cancel elections or really be enforceable against the states. At the end of the day, the states have extraordinary authority to conduct elections. What if the government declares martial law?Even under martial law, the states are going to conduct elections. Will it be an interesting situation? Yes. I don’t think it’s going to come to that level, but even during the Civil War, we had elections. Does declaring martial law pause the Constitution?No. Does the president certify the winners of midterm election?No. Does Congress have a way to cancel midterm elections?There’s no way to cancel them. Congress can do a lot of stuff, but at the end of the day, it’s very clear in the Constitution—and there’s a reason it was so clear—that the states have control over the time, place, and the manner of elections. Could a state cancel its own midterm elections?It would [also] be pretty hard for a state to cancel [its own] midterm elections. Could they have emergency authority and say, "we really need to postpone"? Yes. [There'd be] a fight, but eventually you’re going to have to have elections. Historically and constitutionally and within the laws of most states, elections will go on. Whatever side you’re on politically, I’m pretty sure the American electorate isn’t ready for elections not to be held. That’s pretty fundamental across voter ideology. OK, they’re not going to cancel midterm elections, but...The narrow question of whether midterm elections will be canceled in 2026 has an easy answer: no. But that doesn’t mean the 2026 election cycle will necessarily be “normal.” There’s no way to predict how midterm elections might be affected by various congressional, state, or federal actions, and this uncertainty is the real fuel for the cancelation rumors. "The real concern is what level of legitimacy do our elections have?” Peace says. “I don't think we're at the point where we've lost all legitimacy, and people are saying ‘these people aren't really our leaders.’” No matter where you are on the political spectrum, these are strange times. But they aren’t the first strange times the nation has ever experienced. “Every time has its uniqueness, but I don't think [our current political climate] is totally unprecedented,” Peace says. He points to the protests during the Vietnam War as another, fairly recent example of significant political shifts in the U.S. “It reoccurs all the time in our history. It happens when you see significant political shifts and realignment.” No one knew how the Civil War or the great Depression would end while they were happening, but elections still occurred, and we’re still here. “America and our electorate have had an amazing way of coming back to a place where we make it [through]. We make it, and we move on,” Peace says. What to do if you’re stressed out about the midterm electionsIf you’re freaking out about the legitimacy of our upcoming elections, doomscrolling social media probably won’t help, but volunteering might. “Get involved. Go to your local registrar and say, ‘I want to be an election observer,’” Peace says—particularly if you’re non-partisan. “A non-partisan, independent person who is involved and aware and observing the facts on the ground, I think, has an incredible effect on assuring the electorate that things are legitimate and fair.” A gratuitously off-topic fun fact about elections expert Chad PeaceAlong with having an epic name and being an expert in US election law, Chad Peace is the executive producer of upcoming film Attack of the Killer Tomatoes: Organic Intelligence. This gives him way more credibility in my eyes. View the full article