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Paramount Skydance is taking another step in its hostile takeover bid of Warner Bros. Discovery, saying Monday that it will name its own slate of directors before the next shareholder meeting of the Hollywood studio. Paramount also filed a suit in Delaware Chancery Court seeking to compel Warner Bros. to disclose to shareholders how it values its bid and the competing offer from Netflix. Warner Bros. is in the middle of a bidding war between Paramount and Netflix. Warner’s leadership has repeatedly rebuffed overtures from Skydance-owned Paramount — and urged shareholders to back the sale of its streaming and studio business to Netflix for $72 billion. Paramount, meanwhile, has made efforts to sweeten its $77.9 billion hostile offer for the entire company. Last week, Warner Bros. Discovery said its board determined Paramount’s offer is not in the best interests of the company or its shareholders. It again recommended shareholders support the Netflix deal. David Ellison, the chairman and CEO of Paramount Skydance, said Monday that it’s committed to seeing through its tender offer. “We do not undertake any of these actions lightly,” he said in a letter to shareholders of Warner Bros. Warner Bros. has yet to schedule its annual meeting or a special meeting to consider the Netflix offer, and Paramount did not name any potential candidates for the board. —Associated Press View the full article

Levies to be applied immediately by US could affect nations such as China, Russia and India View the full article

80,000+ WooCommerce Square WordPress plugin installations vulnerable to fraudulent charges flaw The post WooCommerce WordPress Plugin Exploit Enables Fraudulent Charges appeared first on Search Engine Journal. View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. While the market today is flooded with smart-health-tracking rings, few monitor detailed sleep stats like sleep apnea risks, which is where one truly stands out—especially if your priority is quality zzz’s. Right now, the RingConn Gen 2 smart ring is 20% off in gold, future silver, and rose gold at $239.20 (originally $299), making this wearable the perfect tech-meets-jewelry gift for yourself or a partner with Valentine’s Day on the horizon. RingConn Gen 2 $239.20 at Amazon $299.00 Save $59.80 Get Deal Get Deal $239.20 at Amazon $299.00 Save $59.80 Sizing is especially important with a smart ring since the sensors need consistent skin contact to track activity accurately. Ring Conn offers a free sizing kit to help you accurately gauge this, and they also have an easy-to-follow sizing chart. Gen 2 is RingConn’s full-featured model, compared to the more entry-level, budget-friendly Gen Air 2, which was reviewed by PCMag. Its 12-day battery life (double that of its predecessor) is one of the biggest perks, as it has a lightweight, ultra-thin design that isn’t noticeable, especially when you’re sleeping. With data and insights included with the purchase, it offers an alternative to subscription-based health tracking like the Oura. The RingConn Gen 2 measures stats like heart rate, blood oxygen, HRV/stress index, and activity, as well as sleep stages and sleep apnea monitoring, which is a relatively new innovation in the wearable category. It also lasts up to 100 meters underwater, making it suitable for shower use or swimming. This smart ring is compatible with both Android and iOS, and it works with both Google Fit and Apple Health. That said, some users say the app isn’t as user-friendly as competitors and certain insights require you to interpret trends on your own rather than getting actionable coaching that some rivals provide. It also may be prone to scratching over time compared to more rugged options like the Oura Ring Gen 4, but it comes with a 12-month warranty. If you’re looking for a long-lasting wearable health tracker that doesn’t require a subscription but still has similar core features as pricier competitors, the RingConn Gen 2 smart ring is a great option. While its data presentation may be slightly less polished and lacks coaching features, it offers the same basic-to-advanced health metrics as better-known brands at a lower upfront cost and with no recurring fees—especially at the current discount. Our Best Editor-Vetted Tech Deals Right Now Apple AirPods Pro 3 Noise Cancelling Heart Rate Wireless Earbuds — $229.99 (List Price $249.00) Apple Watch Series 11 [GPS 46mm] Smartwatch with Jet Black Aluminum Case with Black Sport Band - M/L. Sleep Score, Fitness Tracker, Health Monitoring, Always-On Display, Water Resistant — $329.00 (List Price $429.00) Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Plus — (List Price $24.99 With Code "FTV4K25") Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 — $279.99 (List Price $349.99) Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ 10.9" 64GB Wi-Fi Tablet (Graphite) — $149.99 (List Price $219.99) Deals are selected by our commerce team View the full article

Shadow chancellor Mel Stride will also propose reforms to OBR aimed at ‘fully capturing’ impact of tax cuts on growth View the full article

Muhammad Ali once joked that he should be a postage stamp because “that’s the only way I’ll ever get licked.” Now, the three-time heavyweight champion’s quip is becoming reality. Widely regarded as the most famous and influential boxer of all time, and a cultural force who fused athletic brilliance with political conviction and showmanship, Ali is being honored for the first time with a commemorative U.S. postage stamp. “As sort of the guardian of his legacy, I’m thrilled. I’m excited. I’m ecstatic,” Lonnie Ali, the champ’s wife of nearly 30 years, told The Associated Press. “Because people, every time they look at that stamp, they will remember him. And he will be in the forefront of their consciousness. And, for me, that’s a thrill.” A fighter in the ring and compassionate in life Muhammad Ali died in 2016 at the age of 74 after living with Parkinson’s disease for more than three decades. During his lifetime and posthumously, the man known as The Greatest has received numerous awards, including an Olympic gold medal in 1960, the United Nations Messenger of Peace award in 1998 and the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2005. Having his face on a stamp, Lonnie Ali said, has a particular significance because it’s a chance to highlight his mission of spreading compassion and his ability to connect with people. “He did it one person at a time,” she said. “And that’s such a lovely way to connect with people, to send them a letter and to use this stamp to reinforce the messaging in that life of connection.” Stamp to be publicly unveiled A first-day-of-issue ceremony for the Muhammad Ali Forever Stamp is planned for Thursday in Louisville, Kentucky, the birthplace of the famed boxer and home to the Muhammad Ali Center, which showcases his life and legacy. That’s when people can buy Muhammad Ali Forever Stamps featuring a black-and-white Associated Press photo from 1974 of Ali in his famous boxing pose. Each sheet of 20 stamps also features a photo of Ali posing in a pinstripe suit, a recognition of his work as an activist and humanitarian. Twenty-two million stamps have been printed. Once they sell out, they won’t be reprinted, U.S. Postal Service officials said. The stamps are expected to generate a lot of interest from collectors and noncollectors. Because they’re Forever Stamps, the First-Class Mail postage will always remain valid, which Lonnie Ali calls an “ultimate” tribute. “This is going to be a Forever Stamp from the post office,” she said. “It’s just one of those things that will be part of his legacy, and it will be one of the shining stars of his legacy, getting this stamp.” Creating a historic stamp Lisa Bobb-Semple, the USPS director of stamp services, said the idea for a Muhammad Ali stamp first came about shortly after his death almost a decade ago. But the process of developing a stamp is a long one. The USPS requires people who appear on stamps to be dead for at least three years, with the exception of presidents. As the USPS was working behind the scenes on a stamp, a friend of Ali helped to launch the #GetTheChampAStamp campaign, which sparked public interest in the idea. “We are really excited that the stars were able to align that allowed us to bring the stamp to fruition,” said Bobb-Semple, who initially had to keep the planned Ali stamp secret until it was official. “It’s one that we’ve always wanted to bring to the market.” Members of the Citizen Stamps Advisory Committee, appointed by the postmaster general, are responsible for selecting who and what appears on stamps. Each quarter, they meet with Bobb-Semple and her team to review suggestions submitted by the public. There are usually about 20 to 25 commemorative stamp issues each year. Once a stamp idea is selected, Bobb-Semple and her team work with one of several art directors to design the postage. It then goes through a lengthy final approval process, including a rigorous review by the USPS legal staff, before it can be issued to the public. Antonio Alcalá, art director and designer of the Muhammad Ali stamp, said hundreds of images were reviewed before the final choices were narrowed to a few. Finally, the AP image, taken by an unnamed photographer, was chosen. It shows Ali in his prime, posing with boxing gloves and looking straight into the camera. Alcalá said there’s a story behind every USPS stamp. “Postage stamps are miniature works of art designed to reflect the American experience, highlight heroes, history, milestones, achievements and natural wonders of America,” he said. “The Muhammad Ali stamps are a great example of that.” A candid figure on war, civil rights and religion Beyond the boxing ring, Ali was outspoken about his beliefs when many Black Americans were still fighting to be heard. Born Cassius Clay Jr., Ali changed his name after converting to Islam in the 1960s and spoke openly about race, religion and war. In 1967, he refused to be inducted into the U.S. Army, citing his religious beliefs and opposition to the Vietnam War. That stance cost Ali his heavyweight championship title and barred him from boxing for more than three years. Convicted of draft evasion, he was sentenced to five years in prison but remained free while appealing the case. The conviction was overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1971, further cementing his prominence as a worldwide figure. Later in life, Ali emerged as a global humanitarian and used his fame to promote peace, religious understanding and charitable causes, even as Parkinson’s disease limited his speech and movement. Ali’s message during a time of strife The commemorative postage stamp comes at a time of political division in the U.S. and the world. Lonnie Ali said if her husband were alive today, he’d probably “block a lot of this out” and continue to be a compassionate person who connects with people every day. That approach, she said, is especially important now. “We have to mobilize Muhammad’s life and sort of engage in the same kinds of acts of kindness and compassion that he did every day,” she said. —Susan Haigh, Associated Press View the full article

Shares of the budget airline Sun Country were flying today after the carrier announced an upcoming merger with Las Vegas-based competitor Allegiant. In a press release published on January 11, Allegiant shared its plan to acquire Minneapolis-based Sun Country in a $1.5 billion cash and stock transaction, which is expected to close in the second half of 2026. Per the release, the merger will bring together a shared customer pool of nearly 22 million annual fliers across 175 cities and more than 650 routes. It will also give Allegiant access to Sun Country’s multi-year partnership delivering packages with Amazon Prime Air, which Allegiant CEO Greg Anderson told CNBC was a major part of the deal. News of the acquisition comes as other budget carriers, like Spirit Airlines, struggle to compete in an increasingly exclusive airline industry. As of market close on Monday, Allegiant’s stock was down about 6%, whereas Sun Country’s shares soared by over 10%. Budget air carriers fight an uphill battle For small, low-cost air carriers, profitable business is a turbulent affair. According to October data from the U.S. Bureau of Transportation, a whopping 68.5% of total airline market share in the U.S. is cornered by four major companies: Delta, American, Southwest, and United. As those four powerhouses leverage their outsized financial power to battle it out over offering more and more premium perks for fliers, smaller companies are left struggling to keep up. One example of this pattern is Spirit Airlines, the beleaguered carrier that has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy twice since November 2024. Spirit hasn’t made a profit since 2019—indeed, as of late 2024, it had lost more than $2.4 billion since that time as it was unable to recover from pandemic-based losses. The company attempted to lessen its debt load through a proposed sale to JetBlue, but that ultimately fell through in 2022 when it was challenged by the Department of Justice. In recent months, Spirit has announced its second bankruptcy, canceled all routes to 12 major cities, and furloughed 1,800 flight attendants. While corporate mishandling is certainly partially responsible for Spirit’s troubles, its difficulties reflect larger hurdles for small air carriers in an industry where resources have become increasingly siloed. One way to address those issues is, as demonstrated by Spirit’s attempted sale to JetBlue, to merge with another company. Now, Allegiant and Sun Country appear to be attempting something similar by pooling their aircrafts, routes, and flier bases to meet traveler demands. “The combination will create a leading leisure-focused U.S. airline,” the press release reads, “expanding service to more popular vacation destinations across the United States, as well as international destinations, and providing more people with access to affordable, convenient air travel.” View the full article

On the red carpet of the 2026 Golden Globes, several celebrities used their garments as vehicles of protest against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and spoke openly about their dissent against the current The President administration. But on the event’s actual stage, political commentary was noticeably absent compared with years past. Popular American awards shows have long been criticized for primarily uplifting the voices of white, male, affluent creators. But, equally, the stages of these events have been used as platforms for public figures to speak out about current politics and social justice. In 1973, Marlon Brando famously rejected his best actor Oscar at the Academy Awards and sent Sacheen Littlefeather, a Native American woman, to deliver a speech on his behalf. More recently, in 2018, Seth Meyers made numerous jokes at The President’s expense at the Golden Globes. This year, though, political commentary on the Golden Globes stage was kept to a few passing comments and oblique references. It’s a shift that reflects a broader trend of Hollywood’s elite seemingly turning a blind eye to the current state of affairs during The President’s second term. “The most important thing in the world” To glean any kind of political statement from last night’s show, one might’ve needed to perform a close reading. Comedian Nikki Glasser opened the ceremony with a vague allusion to pretty much everything happening outside of Hollywood, calling the Golden Globes, “without a doubt the most important thing happening in the world right now.” Others followed with similarly discreet jabs, including one comment from director Judd Apatow that “I believe we’re in a dictatorship now,” neatly sandwiched within a stream of jokes. Even when the film One Battle After Another—a satire about revolution that critiques anti-immigration groups—won multiple awards, no statement was made directly about the current administration. Compare that tenor to 2017, when, just months after The President was elected for his first term, one of the Golden Globes’ most viral—and impactful—moments came when Meryl Streep used her acceptance speech to publicly call out the president. “Hollywood is crawling with outsiders and foreigners, and if we kick them all out, we’ll have nothing to watch except football and mixed martial arts—which are not the arts,” Streep said. Her speech came years before The President’s National Guard ever brutalized protestors in the streets; before the Department of Homeland Security separated thousands of children from their parents; before ICE agents starting showing up at schools and community centers across the country; and before agent Jonathan Ross shot and killed Minneapolis resident Renee Nicole Good just last week. Yet, somehow, it would’ve looked out of place at last night’s comparatively apolitical event. “Of course, this is for the mother” To be fair, several celebrities did make an effort to speak up. Stars including Wanda Sykes, Natasha Lyonne, and Jean Smart wore pins reading “Be Good” as a reference to Renee Nicole Good. Others sported pins with the phrase “Ice Out.” In a pre-show interview with Variety, Sykes explained of her pin, “Of course this is for the mother who was murdered by an ICE agent, and it’s really sad.” Mark Ruffalo also spoke more directly, telling Entertainment Tonight, “We’ve got, literally, storm troopers running around terrorizing, and as much as I love all this, I don’t know if I can pretend like this crazy stuff isn’t happening.” In another interview with USA Today, he added, “[The President is] a pedophile. He’s the worst human being. If we’re relying on this guy’s morality for the most powerful country in the world, then we’re all in a lot of trouble.” But, notably, these comments were shared on the red carpet, to be consumed by readers at disparate news outlets—rather than on the main stage itself, to millions of viewers at home. When the evening’s stars got their moments in the limelight, they largely opted to stay quiet. “Am I brave, or are they cowards?” The literal sidelining of political commentary at the 2026 Golden Globes may be disappointing to fans who want celebrities to speak out about injustices, but it’s not surprising, given Hollywood’s about-turn since The President’s second term began. Stars like Jennifer Lawrence, Robert de Niro, Barry Jenkins, and more who once strongly criticized the president have lately been quiet. Lawrence herself recently spoke on this change, stating in an interview with The New York Times’ “The Interview” podcast that “we’ve learned election after election, celebrities do not make a difference whatsoever on who people vote for.” But as Refinery 29 aptly observes in a recent article, that’s not entirely true. Taylor Swift’s endorsement of Kamala Harris ahead of the 2024 presidential election drove more than 400,000 people to the vote.gov site in 24 hours, it points out. And Bridgerton actress Nicola Coughlan’s advocacy for Palestine aid organizations has helped raise more than $2 million to date. Speaking to Refinery 29 after this year’s Golden Globes, actress and activist Jameela Jamil refuted the idea that her own advocacy is “brave.” “Am I brave or are they cowards?” she said. “I think they’re being greedy and weird and disappointing. Look at the billions of eyeballs on all of us collectively—there should be no outliers of the industry who are the outspoken ones . . . out there on their own with this amount of privilege.” View the full article

Continuing to retreat from Biden-era rules, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and Department of Justice withdrew a 2023 advisory opinion that had cautioned about denying credit to immigrants. View the full article

This weekly trip through the youth pop culture landscape takes us from turmoil in Stranger Things fandom, where many fans refuse to let the show end, to the kids' Wild West of Roblox, where age-verification is changing the landscape in a massive way, and all the way to Africa, where online mega-celebrity IShowSpeed is livestreaming a fascinating travelogue that people are watching all over the world. What is "Conformity Gate?"The final episode of Netflix sci-fi series Stranger Things aired on Dec. 31 and it seems that many fans are not happy (shocking, right?). Some feel that the finale left too many loose ends, some that it all happened too easily, or that it was rushed, sloppy, and that it just kind of sucked. Some fans were so unhappy with the end of the series that they concluded it couldn't really be the end; there has to be more to it. Thus was born "Conformity Gate," the fan-conspiracy-theory that states there is a secret, real ending to Stranger Things that Netflix hasn't released yet. In a nutshell, Conformity Gate imagines that the events depicted in the last episode didn't actually happened in reality. The show's antagonist, Vecna, is in control of the story, and the seeming ending is an illusion that the characters (and audience) have been fed. The evidence is scant—props are slightly different from season to season or episode to episode, characters get small details wrong in dialogue, and other small differences. These are, I'm confident, the result of continuity and editing errors mixed with fans overanalyzing. I suspect the overarching issue with the end of Stranger Things is the same problem that has plagued other ambitious TV shows—Lost, Game of Thrones, The Sopranos, etc. There isn't a fully worked out ending when the show is pitched, leaving the show's creators to try to "work something out" for the ending, as opposed to going into it knowing exactly how it's going to come out. This is also why the first seasons of good shows are almost always better than the seasons that follow: The show's creators have fully plotted out the arc of the first season, but future events are more vague so the story feels slapdash instead of inevitable. Anyway, Charlie Heaton, who plays Jonathan Byers in Stranger Things, called the Conformity Gate theory "insane," and the bio on Stranger Thing's X account was changed to read "ALL EPISODES OF STRANGER THINGS ARE NOW PLAYING (all-caps are theirs.) This doesn't close the case on Stranger Things, though. There's still money to be made on the franchise, so I'd bet we see new content at some point; it just probably won't be a new ending. Roblox age verification launchedThe new year brings a world-shaking event to videogame Roblox: mandatory ID or facial verification. It works like this: if unverified users try to chat on Roblox, they are directed to give the game permissions to use their camera, then follow a series of online instructions so a verification algorithm can divine their age group based on their features. Users over 13 can submit a photo of an identification card instead. Roblox promises any images or videos taken during the verification process will be deleted after it is complete. Players who don't want to verify can still play Roblox, but they won't be able to use communication features within it. Once Roblox knows users' ages, it only allows them to chat with others in similar age groups. Here's how the company breaks down who may chat with whom: Credit: Roblox The move is in response to longtime concerns about child safety within Roblox, which include organized groups of online predators like 764 using the game to recruit victims, Roblox mini-games with questionable content that are/were open to younger players, and at least 24 reported arrests of sex predators using Roblox to find victims. An age-verified Roblox account is a positive step, but it's far from perfect. Videos like this are popping up on TikTok, where users seem to be sharing ways to get around the filter system. I have no idea if this would work, but if it does, not only would it let kids have more "grown up" accounts, it also could lead to grown-ups getting "younger" accounts. Online groomers often mimic the age group they're interested in, and a verified account seems like it would make this much easier. Another area of concern: Last week, users on X were linking to eBay accounts specifically advertised as "13-15 age group accounts." Those auctions seem to have been taken down by eBay, but in the darker corners of the internet, I have no doubt that trade in verified Roblox accounts is brisk. What is a Choppelganger? This week's slang word combines the words "chopped" and "doppelgänger" to deliver a massive insult. "Chopped" (as you can read in Lifehacker's glossary of Gen Z and Gen A slang) describes a person who is ugly, and doppelgänger means "a ghostly duplicate of a living person," so a choppelganger is someone who looks like you, but worse. The term was coined in this post on X : This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. And it was soon adopted by TikTokers who posted videos like these: It's probably not the most widely used slang—there aren't too many places where the idea actually would come up—but it's definitely clever. Viral video of the week: Speed does Africa These are dark days for humanity, but there's some sunlight breaking through. This week's conformation of the essential goodness of people comes from YouTube legend IShowSpeed, who is in the middle of posting an epic series of livestream videos documenting a trip to Africa. The internet is responding, both in America and in Africa, with tens of millions of views. So far, Speed has visited Rwanda, Zambia, Kenya (where he and his crew went on safari and visited the Maasai Mara where Speed got a traditional tattoo, among other adventures) and more. Many more stops are planned in the coming days, including Liberia, Morocco, and Botswana. Speed is like an informal ambassador for America's people, and his open, honest, hilarious videos are acting as a cultural exchange program or a bridge between two worlds. The comments are amazing, with African people posting things like, "No words can capture the depth of what we feel as Africans. By simply revealing our humanity, you have compelled the world to witness the true brilliance of our continent—its beauty, its dignity, its spirit," and Americans saying things like, "I didn’t know Zimbabwe was lit like that" and posting emotional reaction videos like this: If you need some hopium, you should definitely go to IShowSpeed's YouTube channel and follow along on his adventures, even if you're an old fart like me. View the full article

The Justice Department has threatened the Federal Reserve with a criminal indictment over the testimony of Fed Chair Jerome Powell this summer regarding its building renovations, Powell said over the weekend. It is a major escalation by the administration after repeated attempts by President Donald The President to exert greater control over the independent institution. The President has repeatedly attacked Powell for not cutting the short-term interest rate, and even threatened to fire him. Powell’s caution has infuriated The President, who has demanded the Fed cut borrowing costs to spur the economy and reduce the interest rates the federal government pays on its debt. That anger has not subsided even after the Fed cut interest rates in three of the final four months of 2025. The President has also accused Powell of mismanaging the U.S. central bank’s $2.5 billion building renovation project. In a sharp departure from his previous responses to attacks by The President, Powell described the threat of criminal charges as simple “pretexts” to undermine the Fed’s independence when it comes to setting interest rates. While there has been a limited response from Republican lawmakers, there have been several early breaks with the party. “If there were any remaining doubt whether advisers within the The President Administration are actively pushing to end the independence of the Federal Reserve, there should now be none,” said North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis, who sits on the Banking Committee, which oversees Fed nominations. The President is already seeking to fire Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook over unproven allegations that she committed mortgage fraud. The allegation was made over the summer by Bill Pulte, a The President appointee to the Federal Housing Administration. Here are some reasons why the independence of the U.S. Federal Reserve is guarded so closely. Why the Fed’s independence matters The Fed wields extensive power over the U.S. economy. By cutting the short-term interest rate it controls — which it typically does when the economy falters — the Fed can make borrowing cheaper and encourage more spending, accelerating growth and hiring. When it raises the rate — which it does to cool the economy and combat inflation — it can weaken the economy and cause job losses. Economists have long preferred independent central banks because they can more easily take unpopular steps to fight inflation, such as raise interest rates, which makes borrowing to buy a home, car, or appliances more expensive. The importance of an independent Fed was cemented for most economists after the extended inflation spike of the 1970s and early 1980s. Former Fed Chair Arthur Burns has been widely blamed for allowing the painful inflation of that era to accelerate by succumbing to pressure from President Richard Nixon to keep rates low heading into the 1972 election. Nixon feared higher rates would cost him the election, which he won in a landslide. Paul Volcker was eventually appointed chair of the Fed in 1979 by President Jimmy Carter, and he pushed the Fed’s short-term rate to the stunningly high level of nearly 20%. (It is currently 3.6%, the lowest it has been in nearly three years.) The eye-popping rates triggered a sharp recession, pushed unemployment to nearly 11%, and spurred widespread protests. Yet Volcker didn’t flinch. By the mid-1980s, inflation had fallen back into the low single digits. Volcker’s willingness to inflict pain on the economy to throttle inflation is seen by most economists as a key example of the value of an independent Fed. Investors are watching closely An effort to fire Powell would almost certainly cause stock prices to fall and bond yields to spike higher, pushing up interest rates on government debt and raising borrowing costs for mortgages, auto loans, and credit card debt. The interest rate on the 10-year Treasury is a benchmark for mortgage rates. All major U.S. markets slid Monday at the opening bell, bond yields edged higher and the value of the U.S dollar declined. Most investors prefer an independent Fed, partly because it typically manages inflation better without being influenced by politics, but also because its decisions are more predictable. Fed officials often publicly discuss how they would alter interest rate policies if economic conditions changed. If the Fed was more swayed by politics, it would be harder for financial markets to anticipate — or understand — its decisions. While the Fed controls a short-term rate, financial markets determine longer-term borrowing costs for mortgages and other loans. And if investors worry that inflation will stay high, they will demand higher yields on government bonds, pushing up borrowing costs across the economy. In Turkey, for example, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan forced the central bank to keep interest rates low in the early 2020s, even as inflation spiked to 85%. In 2023, Erdogan allowed the central bank more independence, which has helped bring down inflation, but short-term interest rates rose to 50% to fight inflation, and remain high. The Fed’s independence doesn’t mean it’s unaccountable Fed chairs like Powell are appointed by the president to serve four-year terms, and have to be confirmed by the Senate. The president also appoints the six other members of the Fed’s governing board, who can serve staggered terms of up to 14 years. Those appointments can allow a president over time to significantly alter the Fed’s policies. Former president Joe Biden appointed four of the current seven members: Powell, Cook, Philip Jefferson, and Michael Barr. A fifth Biden appointee, Adriana Kugler, stepped down unexpectedly on Aug. 1, about five months before the end of her term. The President has already nominated his top economist, Stephen Miran, as a potential replacement, though he will require Senate approval. Cook’s term ends in 2038, so forcing her out would allow The President to appoint a loyalist sooner. The President will be able to replace Powell as Fed chair in May, when Powell’s term expires. Yet 12 members of the Fed’s interest-rate setting committee have a vote on whether to raise or lower interest rates, so even replacing the Chair doesn’t guarantee that Fed policy will shift the way The President wants. Congress, meanwhile, can set the Fed’s goals through legislation. In 1977, for example, Congress gave the Fed a “dual mandate” to keep prices stable and seek maximum employment. The Fed defines stable prices as inflation at 2%. The 1977 law also requires the Fed chair to testify before the House and Senate twice every year about the economy and interest rate policy. Could the president fire Powell before his term ends? The Supreme Court last year suggested in a ruling on other independent agencies that a president can’t fire the chair of the Fed just because he doesn’t like the chair’s policy choices. But he may be able to remove him “for cause,” typically interpreted to mean some kind of wrongdoing or negligence. It’s a likely reason the The President administration has zeroed in on the building renovation, in hopes it could provide a “for cause” pretext. Still, Powell would likely fight any attempt to remove him, and the case could wind up at the Supreme Court. —Christopher Rugaber, AP economics writer View the full article

A customer rewards program is a structured approach that businesses use to promote customer loyalty by offering incentives for repeat purchases. Typically, customers earn points for each dollar they spend or through engagement activities, which can then be redeemed for discounts or exclusive offers. These programs vary widely in structure and benefits, making it crucial to understand how they operate and their potential impact on customer behavior. Let’s explore the various elements that contribute to their success. Key Takeaways A customer rewards program incentivizes repeat purchases through various benefits, enhancing customer engagement and loyalty. Members typically earn points for every dollar spent, which can be redeemed for discounts or exclusive rewards. Tiered systems offer escalating perks as spending increases, motivating customers to reach higher spending levels. Personalized rewards boost brand loyalty, with consumers more likely to trust companies they are loyal to. Regular communication about points and rewards fosters transparency, enhancing customer satisfaction and trust in the program. Definition of a Customer Rewards Program A customer rewards program is a strategic initiative intended to improve customer engagement and encourage repeat purchases by offering various incentives, such as discounts or exclusive benefits, in exchange for loyalty. To create a successful rewards program, you need to identify the best rewards program perks that resonate with your target audience. These can include point-based systems, tiered rewards, or exclusive access to events. By rewarding specific activities like making purchases or referring friends, you can boost brand recall and increase purchase frequency. Historically, these programs have evolved from basic punch-card systems to sophisticated digital platforms that track customer behavior. Research shows that members often spend up to 18% more than non-members, highlighting the financial benefits of implementing a well-designed customer rewards program. How Customer Rewards Programs Work When you join a customer rewards program, you typically start by registering your information, which allows the system to track your points as you make purchases and engage in other qualifying activities. Most of the best rewards programs operate on a point-based system, where you earn points for each dollar spent and for engaging in activities like social media shares or referrals. These points can later be redeemed for discounts or free products. Furthermore, many programs use tiered systems that improve your loyalty for retail, offering better perks as you spend more. Comprehending how to start a loyalty program involves recognizing these elements to maximize your rewards potential and increase your overall spending in the long run. Benefits of Customer Rewards Programs Customer rewards programs offer considerable advantages for both businesses and consumers. They can increase customer spending by up to 18%, boosting sales considerably. These programs improve customer retention, keeping existing customers engaged through enticing rewards. As 95% of consumers trust a company they’re loyal to, it’s clear that encouraging brand loyalty is crucial. Benefit Explanation Example Increased Spending Members spend more than non-members Customer best rewards Improved Retention Incentives keep customers coming back Salon loyalty program examples Differentiation Personalized rewards set you apart from competitors How to make a loyalty program Types of Customer Rewards Programs When exploring customer rewards programs, you’ll encounter various types intended to improve your shopping experience. Points-based rewards systems let you earn points for purchases, which you can later redeem for discounts or free items. Furthermore, tiered membership benefits offer different levels of rewards based on your spending, whereas referral incentive programs encourage you to bring in new customers by providing bonuses for successful referrals. Points-Based Rewards System A points-based rewards system is an effective strategy that enables brands to boost customer engagement by allowing you to earn points through various activities, such as making purchases, signing up for newsletters, or interacting with the brand on social media. With a well-structured POS system with membership cards, you can track your points easily. These points can be redeemed for rewards like discounts, free products, or exclusive offers, encouraging you to engage more with the brand. The complexity of earning points can vary; some programs reward multiple interactions, whereas others focus solely on purchases. Research indicates that members in such programs tend to spend 18% more, as they’re motivated to reach higher reward thresholds for greater benefits. Tiered Membership Benefits Tiered membership benefits in customer rewards programs offer a structured approach to incentivize higher spending and cultivate brand loyalty. In these programs, you progress through various levels based on your spending, revealing rewards like increased point multipliers and exclusive discounts. For instance, you may start at the Silver level, earning 1 point per dollar spent, then move to Gold for 1.5 points, and finally reach Platinum for 2 points per dollar. Higher tiers often include perks such as free shipping and personalized offers. Research indicates that tiered programs can boost customer retention rates considerably, with engaged customers spending up to 20% more than those in non-tiered systems. Tier Level Points Earned per Dollar Silver 1 point Gold 1.5 points Platinum 2 points Referral Incentive Programs How can businesses effectively utilize the strength of their existing customer base? Referral incentive programs offer a potent solution. These programs reward customers for bringing in new clients, often giving discounts or loyalty points to both the referrer and the new customer. You’ll typically share a unique referral link or code, which the business can track easily. Research shows that referred customers are 18% more likely to remain loyal and make additional purchases compared to those acquired through traditional marketing. By implementing referral programs, businesses can considerably lower customer acquisition costs. Many successful brands integrate these programs into their loyalty strategies, enhancing customer engagement and boosting word-of-mouth marketing. This approach effectively leverages existing relationships to drive growth. Examples of Customer Rewards Programs Many businesses implement customer rewards programs to nurture loyalty and encourage repeat purchases, and several well-known examples illustrate the effectiveness of these initiatives. Starbucks Rewards allows you to earn stars with every purchase, redeeming them for free drinks and food, which keeps you engaged. Sephora‘s Beauty Insider program offers points for every dollar spent, revealing exclusive rewards and personalized offers. Marriott Bonvoy lets you earn points not just for hotel stays but likewise for car rentals and flights, providing diverse travel rewards. Amazon Prime operates as a paid loyalty program, giving members free shipping and exclusive discounts. Finally, Delta SkyMiles Medallion features tiered rewards that improve traveler loyalty through benefits like priority boarding and complimentary upgrades. Creating an Effective Customer Rewards Program Creating an effective customer rewards program requires a strategic approach that aligns with your business objectives as it appeals to your customers’ preferences. Start by clearly defining your goals, such as enhancing customer retention or increasing transaction values. A tiered rewards structure can motivate your customers to spend more, as they aim to reach the next level for added benefits. Incorporate diverse earning methods, like points for purchases, social media interactions, and referrals, to boost participation and satisfaction. Regularly review performance metrics, including retention rates and Net Promoter Scores, to adapt your offerings based on feedback. Finally, guarantee clear communication about how customers can earn and redeem rewards, as 85% of consumers say loyalty programs influence their shopping decisions. Strategies for Maximizing Customer Engagement What strategies can you employ to maximize customer engagement in your rewards program? First, consider implementing tiered rewards, as 70% of consumers engage more with brands that recognize loyalty through different reward levels. Next, offer personalized rewards customized to customer preferences; 80% of consumers are more likely to purchase when they receive personalized experiences. Furthermore, utilize social media and referral programs, which can boost customer acquisition by 30% through word-of-mouth marketing. Regular communication about points balances and available rewards keeps customers informed—83% appreciate knowing their progress. Finally, hosting exclusive events for loyalty members nurtures community and belonging, resulting in a 20% increase in repeat purchases among engaged customers. These strategies can greatly improve your rewards program’s effectiveness. Common Challenges and Solutions in Rewards Programs In rewards programs, managing program complexity and ensuring consistent customer engagement can pose significant challenges. You might find that if earning and redeeming points is too complicated, customers could become frustrated, so simplifying these processes is crucial. Furthermore, consistently engaging customers through personalized rewards can keep them motivated to participate, in the end enhancing the program’s success. Program Complexity Management Managing program complexity in customer rewards programs requires careful consideration of how to balance user-friendliness with engaging features. Common challenges include unclear communication about earning and redeeming points, which can lead to decreased engagement. Integration with existing systems can as well pose difficulties, demanding significant investment and maintenance. Regular analysis and feedback collection are vital, as 70% of companies that monitor customer input see improved satisfaction. Implementing tiered rewards can simplify the experience by offering clear milestones. Here’s a summary of common challenges and solutions: Challenge Solution Outcome Unclear program rules Simplify rules and communication Increased customer engagement System integration issues Invest in compatible software Seamless operation Lack of feedback analysis Regularly collect customer feedback Improved program satisfaction Complexity in rewards Use tiered rewards Increased spending by 20% Engagement Consistency Strategies To cultivate consistent engagement in customer rewards programs, businesses must identify and address common challenges that can hinder participation. One issue is low program participation; incorporating gamification elements, like point challenges or tiered rewards, can greatly boost customer motivation. Furthermore, studies show that customers find value in regularly updated rewards, making them 2.5 times more likely to stay engaged. Clear communication is vital, as 62% of customers forget about their rewards without reminders, leading to disengagement. To combat this, consider utilizing customer feedback to refine your offerings, ensuring they remain relevant and appealing. By focusing on personalization and maintaining open lines of communication, you can improve engagement and keep customers invested in your rewards program. Frequently Asked Questions What Is a Customer Rewards Program? A customer rewards program is a structured initiative that encourages you to make repeat purchases by offering points or benefits in return for your loyalty. You earn these points through various activities, like shopping or engaging with the brand on social media. Over time, you can redeem points for rewards such as discounts, free products, or exclusive offers, ultimately improving your shopping experience and encouraging ongoing engagement with the brand. How Do Rewards Programs Make Money? Rewards programs generate revenue by encouraging you to make repeat purchases, which often leads to increased spending. For instance, members typically spend up to 18% more than non-members. Companies collect data through these programs, allowing them to create targeted marketing that boosts conversion rates. Furthermore, tier-based structures motivate you to spend more for greater benefits, whereas referral incentives help acquire new customers through word-of-mouth, all contributing to a company’s bottom line. How to Set up a Rewards Program for Customers? To set up a rewards program for customers, start by defining your goals based on customer needs and business objectives. Choose a program type, like a points system or tiered benefits, that fits your audience. Implement user-friendly technology for tracking rewards, and market the program through channels like email and social media. Finally, regularly review its performance using metrics like retention rates and adjust based on customer feedback to guarantee ongoing success. How Effective Are Rewards Programs? Rewards programs are highly effective for businesses. They drive customer engagement, with about 75% of consumers more likely to stay loyal to a brand offering a loyalty program. These programs can increase customer spending by up to 18%, whereas companies often see a 20% boost in retention rates. Additionally, clear communication about benefits can improve participation by 30%, demonstrating the importance of effectively showcasing rewards to influence consumer behavior positively. Conclusion In conclusion, a customer rewards program is a strategic tool designed to boost customer loyalty through incentives like points and exclusive perks. By comprehending how these programs work and their various types, you can create an effective system customized to your audience. Implementing targeted engagement strategies can maximize participation, whereas being aware of common challenges allows for proactive solutions. Finally, a well-structured rewards program can greatly improve customer retention and drive repeat business for your brand. Image via Google Gemini This article, "What Is a Customer Rewards Program and How Does It Work?" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

A customer rewards program is a structured approach that businesses use to promote customer loyalty by offering incentives for repeat purchases. Typically, customers earn points for each dollar they spend or through engagement activities, which can then be redeemed for discounts or exclusive offers. These programs vary widely in structure and benefits, making it crucial to understand how they operate and their potential impact on customer behavior. Let’s explore the various elements that contribute to their success. Key Takeaways A customer rewards program incentivizes repeat purchases through various benefits, enhancing customer engagement and loyalty. Members typically earn points for every dollar spent, which can be redeemed for discounts or exclusive rewards. Tiered systems offer escalating perks as spending increases, motivating customers to reach higher spending levels. Personalized rewards boost brand loyalty, with consumers more likely to trust companies they are loyal to. Regular communication about points and rewards fosters transparency, enhancing customer satisfaction and trust in the program. Definition of a Customer Rewards Program A customer rewards program is a strategic initiative intended to improve customer engagement and encourage repeat purchases by offering various incentives, such as discounts or exclusive benefits, in exchange for loyalty. To create a successful rewards program, you need to identify the best rewards program perks that resonate with your target audience. These can include point-based systems, tiered rewards, or exclusive access to events. By rewarding specific activities like making purchases or referring friends, you can boost brand recall and increase purchase frequency. Historically, these programs have evolved from basic punch-card systems to sophisticated digital platforms that track customer behavior. Research shows that members often spend up to 18% more than non-members, highlighting the financial benefits of implementing a well-designed customer rewards program. How Customer Rewards Programs Work When you join a customer rewards program, you typically start by registering your information, which allows the system to track your points as you make purchases and engage in other qualifying activities. Most of the best rewards programs operate on a point-based system, where you earn points for each dollar spent and for engaging in activities like social media shares or referrals. These points can later be redeemed for discounts or free products. Furthermore, many programs use tiered systems that improve your loyalty for retail, offering better perks as you spend more. Comprehending how to start a loyalty program involves recognizing these elements to maximize your rewards potential and increase your overall spending in the long run. Benefits of Customer Rewards Programs Customer rewards programs offer considerable advantages for both businesses and consumers. They can increase customer spending by up to 18%, boosting sales considerably. These programs improve customer retention, keeping existing customers engaged through enticing rewards. As 95% of consumers trust a company they’re loyal to, it’s clear that encouraging brand loyalty is crucial. Benefit Explanation Example Increased Spending Members spend more than non-members Customer best rewards Improved Retention Incentives keep customers coming back Salon loyalty program examples Differentiation Personalized rewards set you apart from competitors How to make a loyalty program Types of Customer Rewards Programs When exploring customer rewards programs, you’ll encounter various types intended to improve your shopping experience. Points-based rewards systems let you earn points for purchases, which you can later redeem for discounts or free items. Furthermore, tiered membership benefits offer different levels of rewards based on your spending, whereas referral incentive programs encourage you to bring in new customers by providing bonuses for successful referrals. Points-Based Rewards System A points-based rewards system is an effective strategy that enables brands to boost customer engagement by allowing you to earn points through various activities, such as making purchases, signing up for newsletters, or interacting with the brand on social media. With a well-structured POS system with membership cards, you can track your points easily. These points can be redeemed for rewards like discounts, free products, or exclusive offers, encouraging you to engage more with the brand. The complexity of earning points can vary; some programs reward multiple interactions, whereas others focus solely on purchases. Research indicates that members in such programs tend to spend 18% more, as they’re motivated to reach higher reward thresholds for greater benefits. Tiered Membership Benefits Tiered membership benefits in customer rewards programs offer a structured approach to incentivize higher spending and cultivate brand loyalty. In these programs, you progress through various levels based on your spending, revealing rewards like increased point multipliers and exclusive discounts. For instance, you may start at the Silver level, earning 1 point per dollar spent, then move to Gold for 1.5 points, and finally reach Platinum for 2 points per dollar. Higher tiers often include perks such as free shipping and personalized offers. Research indicates that tiered programs can boost customer retention rates considerably, with engaged customers spending up to 20% more than those in non-tiered systems. Tier Level Points Earned per Dollar Silver 1 point Gold 1.5 points Platinum 2 points Referral Incentive Programs How can businesses effectively utilize the strength of their existing customer base? Referral incentive programs offer a potent solution. These programs reward customers for bringing in new clients, often giving discounts or loyalty points to both the referrer and the new customer. You’ll typically share a unique referral link or code, which the business can track easily. Research shows that referred customers are 18% more likely to remain loyal and make additional purchases compared to those acquired through traditional marketing. By implementing referral programs, businesses can considerably lower customer acquisition costs. Many successful brands integrate these programs into their loyalty strategies, enhancing customer engagement and boosting word-of-mouth marketing. This approach effectively leverages existing relationships to drive growth. Examples of Customer Rewards Programs Many businesses implement customer rewards programs to nurture loyalty and encourage repeat purchases, and several well-known examples illustrate the effectiveness of these initiatives. Starbucks Rewards allows you to earn stars with every purchase, redeeming them for free drinks and food, which keeps you engaged. Sephora‘s Beauty Insider program offers points for every dollar spent, revealing exclusive rewards and personalized offers. Marriott Bonvoy lets you earn points not just for hotel stays but likewise for car rentals and flights, providing diverse travel rewards. Amazon Prime operates as a paid loyalty program, giving members free shipping and exclusive discounts. Finally, Delta SkyMiles Medallion features tiered rewards that improve traveler loyalty through benefits like priority boarding and complimentary upgrades. Creating an Effective Customer Rewards Program Creating an effective customer rewards program requires a strategic approach that aligns with your business objectives as it appeals to your customers’ preferences. Start by clearly defining your goals, such as enhancing customer retention or increasing transaction values. A tiered rewards structure can motivate your customers to spend more, as they aim to reach the next level for added benefits. Incorporate diverse earning methods, like points for purchases, social media interactions, and referrals, to boost participation and satisfaction. Regularly review performance metrics, including retention rates and Net Promoter Scores, to adapt your offerings based on feedback. Finally, guarantee clear communication about how customers can earn and redeem rewards, as 85% of consumers say loyalty programs influence their shopping decisions. Strategies for Maximizing Customer Engagement What strategies can you employ to maximize customer engagement in your rewards program? First, consider implementing tiered rewards, as 70% of consumers engage more with brands that recognize loyalty through different reward levels. Next, offer personalized rewards customized to customer preferences; 80% of consumers are more likely to purchase when they receive personalized experiences. Furthermore, utilize social media and referral programs, which can boost customer acquisition by 30% through word-of-mouth marketing. Regular communication about points balances and available rewards keeps customers informed—83% appreciate knowing their progress. Finally, hosting exclusive events for loyalty members nurtures community and belonging, resulting in a 20% increase in repeat purchases among engaged customers. These strategies can greatly improve your rewards program’s effectiveness. Common Challenges and Solutions in Rewards Programs In rewards programs, managing program complexity and ensuring consistent customer engagement can pose significant challenges. You might find that if earning and redeeming points is too complicated, customers could become frustrated, so simplifying these processes is crucial. Furthermore, consistently engaging customers through personalized rewards can keep them motivated to participate, in the end enhancing the program’s success. Program Complexity Management Managing program complexity in customer rewards programs requires careful consideration of how to balance user-friendliness with engaging features. Common challenges include unclear communication about earning and redeeming points, which can lead to decreased engagement. Integration with existing systems can as well pose difficulties, demanding significant investment and maintenance. Regular analysis and feedback collection are vital, as 70% of companies that monitor customer input see improved satisfaction. Implementing tiered rewards can simplify the experience by offering clear milestones. Here’s a summary of common challenges and solutions: Challenge Solution Outcome Unclear program rules Simplify rules and communication Increased customer engagement System integration issues Invest in compatible software Seamless operation Lack of feedback analysis Regularly collect customer feedback Improved program satisfaction Complexity in rewards Use tiered rewards Increased spending by 20% Engagement Consistency Strategies To cultivate consistent engagement in customer rewards programs, businesses must identify and address common challenges that can hinder participation. One issue is low program participation; incorporating gamification elements, like point challenges or tiered rewards, can greatly boost customer motivation. Furthermore, studies show that customers find value in regularly updated rewards, making them 2.5 times more likely to stay engaged. Clear communication is vital, as 62% of customers forget about their rewards without reminders, leading to disengagement. To combat this, consider utilizing customer feedback to refine your offerings, ensuring they remain relevant and appealing. By focusing on personalization and maintaining open lines of communication, you can improve engagement and keep customers invested in your rewards program. Frequently Asked Questions What Is a Customer Rewards Program? A customer rewards program is a structured initiative that encourages you to make repeat purchases by offering points or benefits in return for your loyalty. You earn these points through various activities, like shopping or engaging with the brand on social media. Over time, you can redeem points for rewards such as discounts, free products, or exclusive offers, ultimately improving your shopping experience and encouraging ongoing engagement with the brand. How Do Rewards Programs Make Money? Rewards programs generate revenue by encouraging you to make repeat purchases, which often leads to increased spending. For instance, members typically spend up to 18% more than non-members. Companies collect data through these programs, allowing them to create targeted marketing that boosts conversion rates. Furthermore, tier-based structures motivate you to spend more for greater benefits, whereas referral incentives help acquire new customers through word-of-mouth, all contributing to a company’s bottom line. How to Set up a Rewards Program for Customers? To set up a rewards program for customers, start by defining your goals based on customer needs and business objectives. Choose a program type, like a points system or tiered benefits, that fits your audience. Implement user-friendly technology for tracking rewards, and market the program through channels like email and social media. Finally, regularly review its performance using metrics like retention rates and adjust based on customer feedback to guarantee ongoing success. How Effective Are Rewards Programs? Rewards programs are highly effective for businesses. They drive customer engagement, with about 75% of consumers more likely to stay loyal to a brand offering a loyalty program. These programs can increase customer spending by up to 18%, whereas companies often see a 20% boost in retention rates. Additionally, clear communication about benefits can improve participation by 30%, demonstrating the importance of effectively showcasing rewards to influence consumer behavior positively. Conclusion In conclusion, a customer rewards program is a strategic tool designed to boost customer loyalty through incentives like points and exclusive perks. By comprehending how these programs work and their various types, you can create an effective system customized to your audience. Implementing targeted engagement strategies can maximize participation, whereas being aware of common challenges allows for proactive solutions. Finally, a well-structured rewards program can greatly improve customer retention and drive repeat business for your brand. Image via Google Gemini This article, "What Is a Customer Rewards Program and How Does It Work?" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Americans stressed by high grocery bills have one bright spot to look forward to in 2026. Value-minded grocery chain Aldi is coming to more cities around the country, with 180 new stores set to open in the U.S. this year. Aldi is a compelling option for grocery shoppers on a budget. Founded in Germany, the company envisioned itself as a discount grocery store from day one. Aldi’s aggressive U.S. expansion will meet the needs of more shoppers seeking a no-frills grocery experience without compromising on quality – a niche shared by Aldi competitors like Costco and Trader Joe’s. The budget grocery chain currently operates in 39 states across more than 2,600 stores in the U.S. By the end of 2026, it plans to add 180 new stores, with some states getting their first Aldi, including a new location in Portland, Maine. The grocer is expanding aggressively in the West in particular, with 50 stores planned for Denver and Colorado Springs alone over the next five years. Phoenix will get 10 new Aldi locations in 2026, with 40 planned by the end of 2030 and four new Las Vegas area stores are on the way in the next few years as well. “These strategic investments are all about making sure customers can continue to count on us for the quality, affordable groceries and enjoyable shopping experience they love,” Aldi CEO Atty McGrath said in a press release. “As we look ahead to our next 50 years in the U.S., we’ll continue to earn shopper loyalty by staying true to what’s made ALDI successful: keeping things simple and delivering real value.” Beyond the West, Aldi is pushing deeper into the Southeast U.S. through its 2024 acquisition of Southeastern Grocers, the parent company of grocery chain Winn-Dixie. The company will continue converting many of those locations into Aldi stores, with 200 set to be finished by the end of next year. Aldi builds its brand As America’s fastest-growing grocer, Aldi is focused on entering new markets, but the company is also refining aspects of its brand in the process. Late last year, Aldi began putting its own brand on its in-house products, communicating more clearly with customers that they can only buy many of the things they enjoy at Aldi. “Private label is the core of what we do,” Scott Patton, Aldi’s chief commercial officer, told Fast Company. “I’m not going to say we invented it; I would say we’ve perfected it.” More than 90% of the grocer’s offerings are private label, but that fact isn’t always apparent to shoppers – a problem the company plans to solve. “The overall sentiment was, on average, customers didn’t know that was an Aldi brand,” Kristy Reitz, Aldi’s director of brand and design, told Fast Company. “Now if they shop us a little less frequently, they think they can find that brand elsewhere, and in fact it’s a private-label brand to Aldi.” The K-shaped economy and Aldi Aldi’s booming business isn’t a coincidence. Its stores command a loyal following by combining high quality with affordability, but it’s the latter that’s really weighing on the minds of U.S. shoppers right now. According to a poll by the Associated Press last year, an overwhelming majority of American households are worried about the high cost of groceries. Around half of people polled said that the high cost of groceries was a “major” stressor, with only 14% reporting that they weren’t worried about how much they pay to stock the fridge. No matter what you call it, rich Americans are getting richer while much of the rest of the country is struggling to make ends meet. That “K-shaped” economy is taking shape in a number of ways, but the crux of it is that lower and middle income consumers are wrestling with a higher cost of living taking a bigger bite out of their earnings while the wealthiest Americans, buoyed by stock market highs, just keep spending. Because the cost of basic needs like food and housing has soared in recent years and American wages haven’t kept up, many people in the U.S. feel left in the lurch. That leaves a lot of potential Aldi shoppers hunting for deals on the essentials. Other stripped down discount shopping options are also booming. Costco’s share price has more than doubled since the current inflationary streak began, with shoppers flocking en masse into its warehouses to stock up on high quality, low markup goods and groceries. It’s no surprise that refreshingly non-predatory brands are inspiring small armies of devoted followers who evangelize about the good deals they find. People stressed about their grocery bills have found a safe haven with stores like Aldi and Costco – and for anyone who isn’t, there’s always Erewhon. View the full article

A new move that would open up more use of certain dedicated savings accounts for home purchase purposes is under consideration, according to Politico. View the full article

Facebook owner Meta has named Dina Powell McCormick, a former The President administration adviser and longtime finance executive, as president and vice chairman of the tech giant. Powell McCormick previously served on Meta’s board of directors — where, the company notes, she was “deeply engaged” in accelerating its artificial intelligence push across platforms. In her new management role, Meta says Powell McCormick will help guide its overall strategy, including the execution of multi-billion-dollar investments. The news, announced Monday, quickly gained the applause of U.S. President Donald The President. In a post on his social media platform Truth Social, the Republican president said the move was a “great choice” by Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg — and noted that Powell McCormick had “served the The President Administration with strength and distinction.” Zuckerberg said in a statement that Powell McCormick’s experience in global finance, “combined with her deep relationships around the world,” made her “uniquely suited to help Meta” in its future growth. Powell McCormick is a veteran of two presidential administrations and the Republican National Committee. She worked as a national security adviser at the start of The President’s first term, and also held roles in the White House and the Secretary of State’s office under President George W. Bush. She is married to U.S. Sen. David McCormick, who served in high-level positions in the Commerce and Treasury departments under Bush — before he joined hedge fund Bridgewater Associates and rose to become CEO. And Powell McCormick has a long background in finance. She spent 16 years in senior leadership at Goldman Sachs, but was most recently vice chair, president and head of global client services at merchant bank BDT & MSD Partners. She’s also held a handful of other corporate board positions — including at oil giant Exxon Mobil. According to a securities filing, Powell McCormick had previously resigned from Meta’s board in December, eight months after joining as a director. The addition of Powell McCormick to Meta’s management team arrived amid wider efforts from California-based Meta to boost its ties with The President, who was once banned from Facebook. Like other powerful tech CEOs, Zuckerberg has dined with the president at the White House and doubled down on U.S. investment promises worth hundreds of billions of dollars. Last year, the company also appointed Ultimate Fighting Championship CEO Dana White to its board, another familiar figure in The President’s orbit. —Wyatte Grantham-Philips, AP business writer AP Reporter Marc Levy contributed to this report. View the full article

Central bank chair could stay on board beyond this year in effort to protect central bank’s independence View the full article

Iran hasn’t changed its flag, but the emoji for it has changed on X, the social network previously known as Twitter. Iran’s tricolor flag features green, white, and red horizontal stripes, with the country’s national emblem displayed in its center white stripe. But some opposition groups use a historical flag that instead shows a golden lion holding a sword in front of a sun. Since ongoing anti-government demonstrations erupted in Iran in December, that lion-and-sun version of the flag has been used as a symbol of protest around the world, including in demonstrations over the weekend in Los Angeles and London, where one protester held the flag at the Iranian embassy after taking down the national flag. Now it’s also on X. After an X user asked the site’s head of product, Nikita Bier, to update the flag last Thursday, Bier responded, “Give me a few hours.” The updated emoji appeared first on the web browser version of the site before rolling out to iOS devices. Other emoji vendors like Google and Facebook still use the standard emoji of Iran’s national flag, so the lion-and-sun flag isn’t available on most platforms, and it’s also not available for X on Android devices. The change on X, though, meant that accounts tied to Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs suddenly found their bios displaying an emoji that could be construed as anti-regime. Iran’s foreign ministry has since removed the emoji from its bio. X previously used default Apple emoji on iOS, but since 2023, it has used its own native emoji, according to Emojipedia. X last redesigned an emoji in 2024, when it changed its pistol emoji from a green water pistol back to an actual pistol. Protests in Iran began on December 28 over deteriorating economic conditions. They have reached every province in the country. At least 572 people have died, and more than 10,600 people have been detained, according to the Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), a U.S.-based nongovernmental organization. X users in the country haven’t had much of a chance to use or sound off about the new emoji, as Iran shut down internet access and telephone lines last Thursday. View the full article

Nearly half of all credit card users carry a balance, according to Academy Bank. Higher non-mortgage debt levels can affect home loan underwriting. View the full article

Love it or hate it, the Apple ecosystem really does have its perks. Take "Handoff," for example. With this feature, you can be working in one app on one of your devices, then continue on in the same app on one of your other devices. You can start an article in Safari on your iPhone, then finish it on your Mac, without needing to google the piece and scroll to find your spot. It isn't 100%, but when it works, it's pretty great. Microsoft actually offers a similar feature over on Windows, though it's so limited, you might not even know it exists. The feature is called Resume, and the idea is to allow you to pick up your place in an app from another device on your PC. For the most part, that means Android apps; so if you have a PC and an Android phone, Resume could offer the same benefits as someone with a Mac and an iPhone. However, so few apps actually work with Resume, that it's effectively useless. Microsoft's "Handoff" moment is coming As spotted by Windows Latest, Microsoft is making some serious updates to Resume. The company recently updated the Resume support document, which confirms Microsoft is opening the feature up to more Android apps. The support document doesn't specify what apps might be coming, but it doesn't necessarily have to for this news to be exciting; rather, the development alone implies that many more Android apps will likely be on the way—assuming their developers simply get on board. As Windows Latest explains, the reason Resume has been so limited is due to how restrictive Microsoft's API is. The only apps that can currently tap into Resume are ones that have access to the "Link to Windows" API. Many Android developers either don't know how to develop with this API, or simply can't, since their apps are not compatible. The latest update to Resume offers developers another option, however: Now, developers can use Windows Notification System (WNS), a built-in API that is far more common and supports far more apps. That said, developers can't just update their apps with the WNS and expect to be compatible with Resume. Microsoft tells Windows Latest that developers need to reach out to Microsoft directly for approval. That application needs to include the developer's WNS registration, the app's Package SID, a summary of what the app does, and screenshots of the app in action. It's basically like signing up for TSA PreCheck: Most of us who apply will likely get approved, but they don't just let anyone decide to join. You need to provide proof you qualify and submit for screening before you get there. That will likely end up working well for anyone who's interested in using Resume: The apps that will be available will all be vetted by Microsoft, so there should only be legitimate and useful apps offering that linking capability. How to enable Resume on WindowsThese changes probably won't roll out for some time on Windows. However, you can set yourself up for success now by turning the feature on. To start, head to Settings > Apps, then scroll until you find "Resume." Here, turn on the feature. Right now, you'll probably see the only app that is compatible is OneDrive. You can connect it if you wish, which will let you work on a document across both your Android device and your PC. View the full article

Want more housing market stories from Lance Lambert’s ResiClub in your inbox? Subscribe to the ResiClub newsletter. When assessing home price momentum, ResiClub believes it’s important to monitor active listings and months of supply. If active listings start to rapidly increase as homes remain on the market for longer periods, it may indicate pricing softness or weakness. Conversely, a rapid decline in active listings beyond seasonality could suggest a market that is heating up. Since the national Pandemic Housing Boom fizzled out in 2022, the national power dynamic has slowly been shifting directionally from sellers to buyers. Of course, across the country that shift has varied. Generally speaking, local housing markets where active inventory has jumped above pre-pandemic 2019 levels have experienced softer home price growth (or outright price declines) over the past 36 months. Conversely, local housing markets where active inventory remains far below pre-pandemic 2019 levels have, generally speaking, experienced more resilient home price growth over the past 36 months. Where is national active inventory headed? National active listings are on the rise on a year-over-year basis (+12.1% between December 2024 and December 2025). This indicates that homebuyers have gained some leverage in many parts of the country over the past year. Some sellers markets have turned into balanced markets, and more balanced markets have turned into buyers markets. Nationally, we’re still below pre-pandemic 2019 inventory levels (-5.5% below December 2019) and some resale markets, in particular chunks of the Midwest and Northeast, still remain tight-ish. While national active inventory is still up year-over-year, the pace of growth has slowed in recent months—more than typical seasonality would suggest—as some sellers have thrown in the towel and delisted in weak/soft markets. December inventory/active listings total, according to Realtor.com: December 2017 -> 1,127,799 📉 December 2018 -> 1,185,865 📈 December 2019 -> 1,033,887 📉 December 2020 -> 612,300 📉(Pandemic Housing Boom overheating) December 2021 -> 445,303 📉 (Pandemic Housing Boom overheating) December 2022 -> 680,925 📈 December 2023 -> 714,176 📈 December 2024 -> 871,509 📈 December 2025 -> 976,833 📈 If we maintain the current year-over-year pace of inventory growth (+105,324 homes for sale), we’d have 1,082,157 active inventory come December 2026. Below is the year-over-year active inventory percentage change by state. While active housing inventory is rising in most markets on a year-over-year basis, some markets still remain tight-ish (although it’s loosening in those places too). As ResiClub has been documenting, both active resale and new homes for sale remain the most limited across huge swaths of the Midwest and Northeast. That’s where home sellers next spring are likely, relatively speaking, to have more power than their peers in many Southern markets. In contrast, active housing inventory for sale has neared or surpassed pre-pandemic 2019 levels in many parts of the Sun Belt and Mountain West, including metro area housing markets such as Punta Gorda and Austin. Many of these areas saw major price surges during the Pandemic Housing Boom, with home prices getting stretched compared to local incomes. As pandemic-driven domestic migration slowed and mortgage rates rose, markets like Punta Gorda and Austin faced challenges, relying on local income levels to support frothy home prices. This softening trend was accelerated further by an abundance of new home supply in the Sun Belt. Builders are often willing to lower prices or offer affordability incentives (if they have the margins to do so) to maintain sales in a shifted market, which also has a cooling effect on the resale market: Some buyers, who would have previously considered existing homes, are now opting for new homes with more favorable deals—which then puts some additional upward pressure on resale inventory. At the end of December 2025, 17 states were above pre-pandemic 2019 active inventory levels: Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Nebraska, Nevada, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, and Washington. (The District of Columbia—which we left out of this analysis—is also back above pre-pandemic 2019 active inventory levels too. Softness in D.C. proper’s predates the current admin’s job cuts.) Big picture: Over the past few years we’ve observed a softening across many housing markets as strained affordability tempers the fervor of a market that was unsustainably hot during the Pandemic Housing Boom. While home prices are falling some in pockets of the Sun Belt, a big chunk of Northeast and Midwest markets still eked out a little price appreciation in 2025. Nationally aggregated home prices were pretty close to flat in 2025. Below is another version of the table above—but this one includes every month since January 2017. View the full article

There are many made-up celebrations these days, but at least National Pizza Week delivers something tasty. Coming in hot on the heels of so-called quitter’s day, when many people abandon their New Year’s resolutions, pizza shops around the U.S. will be tossing around some deals that could save customers some dough. Of course, many people don’t need an excuse to eat pizza—on any given day, about 11% of Americans do so, according to a study released in 2024 by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Americans grappling with the high cost of living got some relief as inflation cooled in November, but that doesn’t mean that food prices have come down—and particularly for families, some of these promotions can be very helpful in stretching their budgets. Several of the national chains will be serving up for National Pizza Week, which runs through Saturday. DEALS SPECIFIC TO NATIONAL PIZZA WEEK A few pizza chains with locations around the U.S. are running specials that are specifically tied to National Pizza Week, and may require membership in their loyalty programs to take advantage. At Chuck E. Cheese, for example, members of its “fun pass” get an exclusive deal: $5 for a large one-topping pizza through January 15. Meanwhile, California Pizza Kitchen is offering members of its loyalty program $5 pizzas with any $25 purchase. Casey’s is offering 25% off any pizza through January 17, though you will need to know the (very intuitive) code PIZZAWEEK to score this deal and Papa Murphy’s has a similar deal of 30% off regular-priced pizzas with the code PZWK26. Finally, Marco’s Pizza is running a promotion for takeout orders this week of $3 off any large specialty pizza, with no code required. OTHER PIZZA DEALS It’s sometimes hard to know what full price is for many food items at the largest pizza chains because they seem to always be running some sort of deal or other. And, indeed, the three pizza chains with the most locations in the U.S.—Domino’s, Pizza Hut, and Little Caesars—all have some deals on pizza that are running this week, though don’t appear to be explicitly tied to the National Pizza Week festivities. At the 7,000-plus Domino’s locations in the U.S., you should come hungry to score some of its best deals. For $6.99 each, customers can get a mix-and-match deal and choose any two items—like medium pizzas, sides, and desserts—for $6.99 each. For $7.99 each, you can instead opt for a one-topping pizza and an eight-piece order of wings or boneless chicken if you do carryout. For $9.99 each, you can choose from any two or more of its line of specialty pizzas. Finally, for $19.99, the Ann Arbor, Michigan-based chain is promising the “perfect combo meal” that includes two medium one-topping pizzas and two orders of 16-piece bread bites. Pizza Hut is in the midst of a comeback of sorts with an assist from former NFL Hall of Famer Tom Brady, who has been on TV commercials touting the chain’s Big New Yorker pizza, a 16-inch pizza that’s currently on special for $10. Meanwhile, for $6.99, customers can opt for a “hut box” deal that includes choice of an entree—a personal pan pizza, chicken wings, or a melt—along with a side of either fries or wings. The Plano, Texas-based chain also offers bigger meal deals, starting at $19.99, that might be enough to feed a family and include a mix of pizzas, sides, and choice of a dessert. Finally, Little Caesars is also running several promotions this week with prices that undercut its competitors. For $4.99 each, you can customize two one-topping pizzas from the Detroit-based chain through January 18. You can also score 15% orders of $15 or more or 20% off orders of $20 or more this week. However, to take advantage of all of these deals, you will need to know the deal-specific codes, which can be found on its website. View the full article

The The President administration’s criminal investigation of Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell appeared on Monday to be emboldening defenders of the U.S. central bank against the efforts of President Donald The President to control the Fed. The backlash reflected the bigger stakes of a contest about the fate of the Fed’s independence, the balance of power within the federal government, and the path of the U.S. economy. The President has long publicly lashed out against Powell for not slashing the Fed’s benchmark interest rates to his liking, but the prospect of a criminal indictment was a step too far for an institution that has an outsized influence on both inflation and the job market. Several Republican senators have condemned the Department of Justice’s subpoenas of the Fed, which Powell revealed Sunday and characterized as “pretexts” to pressure him to sharply cut interest rates as The President has demanded. Powell also said the Justice Department has threatened criminal indictments over his June testimony to Congress about the cost and design elements of a building renovation. The President has repeatedly used investigations — which might or might not lead to an actual indictment — to attack his political rivals, including Fed governor Lisa Cook, New York Attorney General Letitia James, and James Comey, the former FBI director. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters that The President did not direct his Justice Department to investigate Powell. “One thing for sure, the president’s made it quite clear, is Jerome Powell is bad at his job,” Leavitt said. “As for whether or not Jerome Powell is a criminal, that’s an answer the Department of Justice is going to have to find out.” A bipartisan group of former Fed chairs and top economists on Monday compared the The President administration’s actions to moves made in more impoverished countries. Some analysts said that the financial market’s muted response reflects a widespread belief that Powell could successfully fend off the allegations that his description to lawmakers of the Fed’s $2.5 billion project was criminal. “I think this is ham-handed, counter-productive, and going to set back the president’s cause,” said Jason Furman, an economist at Harvard and former top adviser to President Barack Obama. It could also unify the Fed’s interest-rate setting committee in support of Powell, and means “the next Fed chair will be under more pressure to prove their independence.” The subpoenas apply to the price tag of renovating Fed buildings, including its marble-clad headquarters in Washington, D.C. They come at an unusual moment when The President was teasing the likelihood of announcing his nominee this month to succeed Powell as the Fed chair, after The President last summer played down the idea that the Fed’s renovation costs were a fireable offense. While Powell’s term as chair ends in May, he has a separate term as a Fed governor until January 2028. The President’s moves could make it more likely that Powell will stay on the Fed’s governing board after his term as chair ends in May in order to defend the Fed’s independence from politics in making its decisions on interest rates, Furman said. While an interest rate cut was already considered unlikely at the Fed’s next meeting in about two weeks, the news of the Justice Department investigation likely means that the Fed would avoid cuts at the next meeting in order to send the message that it cannot be pressured by politics, economists said. Powell quickly found a growing number of defenders among Republicans in the Senate, who will have the choice of whether to confirm The President’s planned picks for Fed chair. Sen. Thom Tillis, a North Carolina Republican and member of the Senate Banking panel, said late Sunday in response to the subpoenas that he would oppose any of the The President administration’s nominees for the Fed, including to replace Powell. “If there were any remaining doubt whether advisers within the The President Administration are actively pushing to end the independence of the Federal Reserve, there should now be none,” Tillis said. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, an Alaska Republican, backed Tillis’ approach Monday. “After speaking with Chair Powell this morning, it’s clear the administration’s investigation is nothing more than an attempt at coercion,” Murkowski said. She voted against the White House’s nomination of Stephen Miran to the Fed’s board in September, which was barely approved by a 48-47 vote. Miran continues to be The President’s chair of the White House Council of Economic Advisers, although he is on leave due to his post at the Fed. The President has for the past year sought to pressure Powell into having the Fed slash its benchmark interest rates — a move that reflects a fundamental break over whether inflation still poses any risk to the U.S. economy. Powell maintains that inflation is still elevated in the aftermath of The President’s tariffs and has moved cautiously, whereas The President claims that inflation is no longer a worry and rates should be dramatically slashed. “I have carried out my duties without political fear or favor, focused solely on our mandate of price stability and maximum employment,” Powell said in a Sunday night video disclosing the subpoenas. “Public service sometimes requires standing firm in the face of threats.” If Powell stays on the board after his term as chair ends in May, the The President administration would be deprived of the chance to fill another seat on the board. Powell has declined at several press conferences to answer questions about his plans. Asked on Monday by reporters if Powell planned to remain a Fed governor, Kevin Hassett, director of the White House National Economic Council and a leading candidate to become Fed chair, said he was unaware of Powell’s plans. “I’ve not talked to Jay about that,” Hassett said. Powell, jettisoning the cautious approach he has taken since The President began attacking him last year for not cutting rates sharply enough, said on Sunday the subpoenas were a “pretext” to force the Fed to cut its key short-term interest rate. Sen. Kevin Cramer, a Republican from North Dakota, a frequent Powell critic, said Monday that he does not think that the Fed chair is “a criminal” and said he hopes that “this criminal investigation can be put to rest quickly,” according to CNBC. The bipartisan group of former Fed chairs and top economists said in their Monday letter that the White House’s legal actions and the possible loss of Fed independence could hurt the broader economy. “This is how monetary policy is made in emerging markets with weak institutions, with highly negative consequences for inflation and the functioning of their economies more broadly,” the statement said. “It has no place in the United States whose greatest strength is the rule of law, which is at the foundation of our economic success.” The statement was signed by former Fed chairs Ben Bernanke, Janet Yellen, and Alan Greenspan, as well as former Treasury Secretaries Henry Paulson and Robert Rubin. Still, The President’s pressure campaign had been building for some time. The president relentlessly criticized and belittled Powell, attempting to blame him for some of the discontent over the economy that followed the president’s own tariff announcements. The President appeared to preview the shocking news of the subpoenas at a Dec. 29 news conference. The president said his administration would “probably” sue Powell for “gross incompetence” on the cost of renovations, calling it the “highest price of construction per square foot in the history of the world.” “He’s just a very incompetent man,” The President said. “But we’re going to probably bring a lawsuit against him.” —Christopher Rugaber and Josh Boak, Associated Press View the full article

Cardio is good for us. We need both cardio and strength training for basic health, as well as our athletic goals. But what actually counts as cardio? Can you count walking? Lifting weights? Anything so long as you’re in the right zone? Let me break it down. What is the definition of cardio? Trick question! “Cardio” is a nickname for a certain rough category of exercise, and it doesn't have a precise definition. You’ll find different definitions of it depending on who you ask, and a lot of the research on the benefits of cardio just calls it “exercise." The closest technical term is "aerobic activity." The Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans describes aerobic activity as when: ...the body’s large muscles move in a rhythmic manner for a sustained period of time. Brisk walking, running, bicycling, jumping rope, and swimming are all examples. Aerobic activity causes a person’s heart to beat faster, and they will breathe harder than normal. That matches the World Health Organization definition, as well as the way most fitness professionals use the terms "aerobic" or "cardio" exercise. Note that the key components are: It uses large muscles (like the legs; you can’t get cardio by twiddling your thumbs) It's rhythmic (as when you pedal a bicycle for hundreds of revolutions) It can be sustained (like a 20-minute bike ride, but unlike a set of 10 squats) Exercises that fit the definition include walking, running, cycling, swimming, and using machines like a rower, elliptical, or stair machine at the gym. Is there a certain heart rate or zone that counts as cardio?No, there isn’t a strict dividing line between what counts as cardio and what doesn’t. The guidelines I quote above treat “moderate” intensity cardio as the minimum to target, but that’s not defined in terms of heart rate. I have a breakdown here of what “moderate” really means, but briefly: Anything at the effort level of a normal-paced walk (about 20 minutes per mile) is moderate. I know that’s not the answer you were hoping to find, so here’s another data point: the American Heart Association says that moderate exercise corresponds to 50-70% of your maximum heart rate. (Vigorous is 70-85%.) Most of us don’t actually know our true max heart rate, and formulas like “220 minus your age” aren’t accurate. So take that with a grain of salt. It’s more helpful to consider how exercise feels: Moderate exercise will get you breathing heavier than at rest, maybe sweating a little bit, and with a noticeably higher heart rate than when you’re sitting quietly. You don’t have to be out of breath; moderate exercise is conversational, in the sense that you could, literally, engage in conversation while you do it. If you want to get health benefits from cardio, you may want to pay more attention to intensity. Moderate exercise is great, but vigorous exercise (where it feels hard, and you won’t be able to speak in full sentences) is also excellent to have in the mix. The Norwegian 4x4 is an accessible cardio workout that features plenty of vigorous work. Does walking count as cardio? Yes, in the sense that it meets the minimum guidelines. It is moderate intensity exercise and it counts toward your minutes per week (no matter what your heart rate is while you do it). But if you have athletic goals, walking alone is probably not enough to achieve them. If walking feels easy, you probably want to increase the intensity to increase your cardio fitness. Jogging or rucking would be good next steps. Does lifting weights count as cardio?No, lifting weights does not count as cardio (with a few exceptions, which I’ll discuss in a minute.) Remember, cardio has to be rhythmic and sustained. If you aren’t doing the same movement over and over for, say, 10 minutes, it’s not cardio. So three sets of 10 on the chest press machine is definitely not cardio. You probably spent about five minutes in total, most of them resting. Doesn't count. And no, I won’t change my answer based on what your heart rate monitor says. Your heart rate only measures the intensity of cardio exercise if you are doing cardio exercise. Strength training is still strength training (not cardio) no matter what zone your heart rate is in. So what are those exceptions I mentioned? Exercising with weights can count as cardio if it meets the definition: rhythmic and sustained. Most people don’t do this! But if you’re training for a kettlebell half marathon, which is 30 minutes of the same motion, continuously, with a light kettlebell (you aren’t allowed to put the kettlebell down until time is up), then yes, that is cardio. I would also categorize the kettlebell ladder workout as a form of cardio. I do so with reservations—it’s not continuous for the whole 30-ish minutes, but then again neither is a lot of interval training. Kettlebell swings are definitely rhythmic and involve large muscles, and the workout is designed to get your breathing and heartbeat going faster than usual for pretty much the whole time. I’ll allow it. Does HIIT count as cardio? High-intensity interval training definitely taxes your cardiovascular system, but it's not necessarily the best workout when you're looking for a way to get some cardio in. If you're doing true HIIT, it's very intense, very short, and may have longish rest periods in between the hard intervals. You're working your anaerobic system, not just your aerobic capacity, so it has some of the same caveats as lifting weights. What's more, a lot of "HIIT" videos out there aren't really HIIT, and aren't even necessarily good cardio. As I've written before, "HIIT" seems to mean "a video with a timer in the corner," regardless of what kind of workout you get out of it. If you're looking for a good cardio workout, it's better to find something where you know you'll be working aerobically—which means being able to breathe rather than gasp—throughout the whole workout. What other exercises count as cardio? I’ve given some examples already, but let me give you a longer list of things that are definitely cardio, if you do them in any sort of normal way (steady state or intervals, especially if the intervals use active rest like walking). Running, jogging, or run/walk intervals (indoor or outdoor) Cycling (indoor or outdoor) Rowing on a gym machine Paddling or rowing a small boat Jumping rope Dancing (truly the most underrated form of at-home cardio) Stairmaster or stepmill machines Climbing machines like the Jacob’s Ladder or Versaclimber Elliptical machines Swimming Roller skating or rollerblading Yard work or housework that has you moving continuously (like pushing a lawn mower or shoveling snow) I also have a list of cardio options here that goes into more detail about many of the above, and here’s a list of chores and recreational activities that can also count (although many are moderate level, like walking). Hopefully these examples help you choose some exercise to do. If you have specific athletic goals, though (like running a 5K or passing a fitness test for work) you’ll want to look into a training program that is geared toward those goals. View the full article

Indonesia and Malaysia are the first two countries to ban Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence tool Grok, after the generative AI essentially flooded the social media platform X with sexually explicit, lewd images of young girls and women, made without their consent. Musk folded the generative AI tool into X when he took over Twitter, promising “free speech.” However, critics say it is instead an example of how generative AI, without clear guardrails and regulation, can result in harm. Here’s what to know. What’s happening with Grok? In short, users are typing simple prompts into the AI tool on X to “digitally undress” girls and women, some of which appear to be minors, triggering the chatbot to remove clothing from the real photos and even placing the subjects in sexually suggestive poses. These deepfake images could violate laws at home and abroad, and have prompted a global public outcry, according to CNN. How have countries besides Indonesia and Malaysia responded? On Monday, the U.K.’s independent online safety watchdog, Ofcom, launched a formal investigation into whether the chatbot’s explicit images violated its rules to protect the country’s citizens from illegal content. “Reports of Grok being used to create and share illegal non-consensual intimate images and child sexual abuse material on X have been deeply concerning,” an Ofcom spokesperson said in a statement. “Platforms must protect people in the U.K. from content that’s illegal in the U.K., and we won’t hesitate to investigate where we suspect companies are failing in their duties, especially where there’s a risk of harm to children.” “We’ll progress this investigation as a matter of the highest priority, while ensuring we follow due process,” it added. What has Elon Musk said? Despite calls from the general public—including from a recent target of Grok’s misuse, conservative influencer Ashley St. Clair, who is said to have fathered one of Musk’s children—X has not disabled Grok or stopped it from generating the lewd images. On January 3, Musk responded on X, “anyone using Grok to make illegal content will suffer the same consequences as if they upload illegal content”—in effect, passing the blame onto its own users. This prompted a slew of comments on the post, which has been viewed by some 3.8 million users, including: “please start by addressing the inappropriate images of minors if you truly care,” more calls for Musk to “clean up your site,” as well as AI-generated images of Musk in bikinis. Last week, X said Grok’s image generation tool would be available only to paying users, according to the New York Times. View the full article