President Donald Trump has placed 50% tariffs on certain Canadian goods, including wine, hockey sticks, and cement, affecting about $20 billion in imports. This move has caused concern among the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), a major Republican donor, because it could increase building material costs and worsen the housing crisis.
Key Facts
On July 20, the White House imposed 50% tariffs on selected Canadian imports under a 1930 trade law.
Tariffs cover items like wine, hockey sticks, and cement and take effect on August 19.
The NAHB says the tariffs will raise building material prices and hurt home builders.
The NAHB’s political action committee gave over $1.6 million to Republicans in 2024 and is a major GOP donor.
NAHB has urged President Trump to exclude construction materials from tariffs to protect housing affordability.
Canada supplies about 85% of U.S. softwood lumber and nearly 25% of the country’s overall supply.
Current tariffs do not affect softwood lumber, steel, aluminum, or copper, and some duties on Canadian softwood may be reduced soon.
Republican senators have expressed concern that tariffs could increase costs and inflation, complicating GOP messages before the November elections.
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Delta Air Lines announced a change to its SkyMiles rewards program with Starbucks. Starting August 5, 2024, members will earn 1 mile for every $1 spent at Starbucks, returning to the original rewards model after testing a different system this year.
Key Facts
Delta SkyMiles members earn miles by spending money at partner brands like Starbucks.
In 2022, members earned 1 mile for every $1 spent at Starbucks.
In 2024, Delta changed the program to give fixed mile amounts based on how much money was added to Starbucks cards.
On August 5, 2024, Delta will return to the original 1 mile per $1 spent model.
Some benefits remain, like double Stars on Delta travel days and exclusive offers.
To participate, members must have flown with Delta within the last 12 months, but those inactive can still earn points until October 5, 2026.
Starbucks has over 41,000 locations worldwide, including spots in 47 of the 50 busiest U.S. airports.
About 40% of Starbucks locations come from licensed spots like airport stores or inside retail chains like Target.
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Cracker Barrel’s CEO Julie Masino will step down next month after the company faced strong customer opposition to a logo change and restaurant makeover. David Deno will become the new CEO as the company continues to recover from declined sales.
Key Facts
Julie Masino, Cracker Barrel’s CEO, will step down in August but stay until October to advise the company.
David Deno, former CEO of Bloomin’ Brands, will take over as Cracker Barrel’s CEO on August 10.
Cracker Barrel tried to simplify its logo by using only the company’s name last August.
The restaurant chain aimed to attract younger customers by making its stores lighter and less cluttered.
Customers strongly disliked the logo and design changes, which led to a drop in sales.
Cracker Barrel reversed the logo and design changes after the backlash.
Same-store sales fell 1.8% in the fiscal third quarter ending May 1, 2025.
Cracker Barrel’s stock price dropped 4% in trading after the CEO announcement.
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A woman named Gia inherited her grandmother's 100-year-old home in New York and began renovating it. While working on the house, she discovered a very bad smell coming from a hidden crawl space which contained mummified animal remains, including a raccoon and a cat.
Key Facts
Gia and her sister inherited their grandmother’s house two years ago.
The house is 100 years old and needs major renovations.
Renovating old homes often causes stress and fatigue, according to a report on homeowners.
Gia noticed a rotten smell while spending time on the porch due to gas and electrical problems.
The odor worsened as the temperature rose and smelled like rotten meat and spoiled milk.
The smell came from a crawl space under a deck extension made by Gia’s grandfather.
The crawl space had been unused for over 20 years and was full of old construction materials and animal remains.
Inside, Gia found mummified animal skins and skeletons, including a raccoon, an opossum, a bird, chicken bones, and a cat.
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A corruption inquiry in New South Wales is investigating secret recordings and payments linked to a developer, Jean Nassif, who allegedly influenced state politics through a group called the Reformers. The inquiry focuses on claims of illegal donations disguised as consultancy fees, aimed at controlling the Liberal party and advancing a conservative agenda.
Key Facts
The inquiry is examining possible breaches of the Electoral Funding Act related to "operation Rosny."
Developer Jean Nassif reportedly used his money to fund a group of young Liberal operatives called the Reformers.
The Reformers allegedly conducted branch stacking, a tactic to boost support within the party to gain political power.
Secret tapes capture Nassif boasting about controlling state politicians and targeting opponents.
Consultants linked to the Reformers received large payments described as "sham" to avoid donation limits or bans.
Alleged illegal donations include $2 million from Nassif, over $250,000 from the Catholic Schools Association, and $125,000 from Michael O’Hara.
Evidence includes decrypted messages and records of fundraisers with prominent Liberal figures and others speaking.
The inquiry is ongoing, and these are allegations still subject to legal judgment.
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Alan Joyce, the former Qantas chief executive, explained in his memoir how the airline gives access to its private chairman’s lounge. Membership is by invitation only and includes politicians, judges, celebrities, and companies that spend heavily with Qantas. Joyce denied using lounge access to influence politicians.
Key Facts
Alan Joyce led Qantas from 2008 until his resignation in 2023.
The chairman’s lounge is an exclusive area at major Australian airports.
Membership is decided by senior Qantas executives, not Joyce or the chairman alone.
Members include federal and state politicians, top judges, national newspaper editors, some journalists, and celebrities.
Companies that spend around $1 million yearly on Qantas flights may receive a membership to share among executives.
Membership cannot be bought or gained by collecting frequent-flyer points.
Members receive benefits like free seat selection, priority check-in, security, baggage handling, and upgrade requests.
Joyce denied claims that lounge access was used to influence politicians or provide special favors to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
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Data centers can either drain resources or help grow communities and clean energy jobs, depending on how they are powered. States can use laws and incentives to encourage building data centers in a way that benefits the environment and local areas.
Key Facts
Data centers use a lot of electricity and can strain local resources if powered poorly.
Proper laws and incentives can guide data centers to use cleaner energy sources.
When done right, data centers support the local economy and create jobs.
States have the power to influence how data centers operate through policy.
Encouraging clean energy use in data centers helps reduce pollution.
The article uses Ohio as an example of what to avoid and what to learn from.
Not all data centers are equal; the way they are powered makes a big difference.
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Global oil prices are staying near $90 for each barrel due to ongoing tensions between the U.S. and Iran. At the same time, the U.S. Federal Reserve is preparing to announce its decision on interest rates.
Key Facts
Oil prices are around $90 per barrel worldwide.
Tensions between the U.S. and Iran are causing uncertainty in oil markets.
The Federal Reserve will make a decision on interest rates soon.
Changes in interest rates can affect borrowing costs and the economy.
Market watchers are paying close attention to both oil prices and the Fed’s decision.
The news sources include CBS News and Axios, with a reporter specializing in AI.
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Debt forgiveness means a lender agrees to accept less money than owed. While forgiveness usually happens after missed payments, some lenders may offer help before payments are late if a borrower is in serious financial trouble.
Key Facts
Many people struggle with paying debts due to inflation, higher borrowing costs, and high consumer debt.
Borrowers often worry if they should ask for debt help before missing a payment.
Traditional debt settlement usually happens after payments are missed, not while payments are current.
Some lenders may offer hardship programs or other help if a borrower shows serious financial problems before missing payments.
Hardship programs can lower interest rates or monthly payments but don’t always reduce the total debt owed.
Federal student loans have separate forgiveness programs based on work or eligibility, not payment history.
Forgiveness before missed payments is rare for credit cards and similar debts but might be possible with proof of hardship.
Lenders normally expect full payment if accounts are current and may not reduce balances without strong reasons.
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Coca-Cola has restarted making its Fairlife milk products after a cyberattack shut down four plants in the U.S. The company said most of its production is back and that the attack did not affect the milk’s quality or safety.
Key Facts
Coca-Cola paused Fairlife milk production after a ransomware cyberattack on July 16.
Four U.S. plants were affected by the attack, causing a temporary halt in operations.
Coca-Cola has made "significant progress" and resumed most production at these facilities.
Hackers accessed some data during the cyberattack.
The company said existing product inventory kept store shelves stocked.
Coca-Cola bought Fairlife in 2020 for about $7 billion.
Fairlife’s yearly sales exceed $3 billion.
Coca-Cola does not expect the attack to seriously hurt its sales.
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Cracker Barrel announced that CEO Julie Masino will step down and be replaced by David Deno on August 10. Masino led a controversial logo redesign in 2025 that faced public criticism and caused the company’s value to drop, leading to the decision to keep the original logo.
Key Facts
Julie Masino was CEO of Cracker Barrel since 2023.
Masino led a new logo redesign in 2025 that removed an iconic image from the branding.
The redesign caused public backlash and a nearly $100 million drop in Cracker Barrel’s value.
Cracker Barrel decided to keep the original logo after the negative response.
David Deno, former CEO of Bloomin’ Brands, will become the new Cracker Barrel CEO on August 10.
Masino will stay as an advisor until October 9 to help with the transition.
Masino also changed the restaurant’s menu, aiming to make it more relevant.
David Deno expressed enthusiasm about leading Cracker Barrel and its traditional brand.
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The U.S. is building millions of new homes to address a housing shortage, but the focus on speed and low costs risks creating future problems like high maintenance costs and environmental harm. Experts say housing should be designed with long-term quality, sustainability, and residents’ health in mind, not just quick construction.
Key Facts
The U.S. needs over four million more housing units to meet demand.
Home prices and rents are rising faster than wages in many areas.
Current housing debates focus mainly on how fast and how much to build.
Building quickly often ignores long-term costs, energy use, and residents’ health.
Developers face high interest rates, materials costs, and supply chain problems.
Sustainability and good design are often cut to save money in the short term.
Energy-efficient homes can reduce monthly costs and improve health.
Long-lasting housing benefits communities over decades, not just at construction.
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Oil prices dropped sharply after a pause in fighting between the U.S. and Iran, leading to gains in the U.S. stock market. Diplomacy efforts are ongoing, with some talks focusing on maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, while U.S. military presence in the region continues to increase.
Key Facts
Brent crude oil price fell by $6.35 to $90.41 a barrel, a 6.6% drop.
U.S. benchmark oil, West Texas Intermediate, dropped 5.7% to $84.23 a barrel.
U.S. stock indexes rose: S&P 500 up 0.9%, Dow Jones up 1.2%, Nasdaq up 0.9%.
The price drop came after oil had surged above $100 a barrel recently.
U.S. Ambassador Mike Waltz said the pause in fighting aims to allow diplomacy some time.
Iran denied direct talks with the U.S. but acknowledged discussions with Oman about maritime rules.
Higher oil prices and new tariffs could increase inflation and affect U.S. Federal Reserve interest rate decisions.
The Federal Reserve is expected to keep interest rates steady in its upcoming meeting.
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Debt collectors must follow federal and state laws when trying to collect money you owe. You have rights that can help you verify a debt, avoid unfair treatment, and understand when a debt might be too old to be legally enforced.
Key Facts
You can ask debt collectors to prove that you owe the debt by sending a written validation request within 30 days of first contact.
Debts can be sold many times, and records may be inaccurate or lost.
Some debts become too old for collectors to sue you because of the "statute of limitations," which means the time period to legally enforce the debt has expired.
Making payments or acknowledging old debts can reset the time period, so be careful before agreeing to anything.
Most debt collectors cannot take money from your paycheck without suing you first and getting a court order.
Debt collectors are not allowed to harass or threaten you and must follow specific rules about how they communicate.
Knowing your rights can help you stop unfair collection calls and avoid costly mistakes in repaying debt.
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Data centers that support artificial intelligence are growing in the U.S. but are facing opposition from some local groups worried about their environmental impact. Labor unions, however, support the construction of data centers because they create many good-paying jobs and help the economy.
Key Facts
Data centers use a lot of electricity and water to run and cool their servers.
Some communities worry data centers raise electric bills, use too much water, and create noise.
Labor unions want data centers built because they provide many union construction jobs.
Unions prefer data centers built in states with strong labor and environmental standards.
In states like Illinois and California, unions support policies that encourage building data centers.
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker paused some data center projects to review rules protecting resources and affordability.
Unions want data center growth to happen responsibly with protections for workers and communities.
This issue creates political tension because environmental groups oppose data centers while unions support them.
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Gold and silver prices rose sharply earlier this year but have fallen since January. Experts say prices in August could either rise again or stay steady depending on factors like Middle East conflicts and U.S. interest rates.
Key Facts
Gold reached nearly $5,600 per ounce in January 2025, while silver peaked at $116 per ounce.
By July 27, gold priced around $4,102 and silver at $59 per ounce.
The outcome of the conflict in Iran may influence gold prices; less fighting might lower oil prices and inflation, leading to higher gold prices.
Gold prices in August could range between $3,900 and $4,350 per ounce, with a possible rise in the last quarter of the year.
The Federal Reserve's July meeting impacts gold because gold doesn’t pay interest, so rates staying steady or falling could boost gold’s appeal.
Silver prices may move more sharply than gold, possibly hitting resistance near $68 and a low around $55 per ounce.
Some experts expect gold and silver prices to stay range-bound for months to a year before recovering.
To avoid overpaying, investors are advised to buy gold and silver gradually over time and choose trustworthy products with low extra fees.
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Kat Lieu created a recipe for Rice Krispie Treats with black sesame and miso flavors. This recipe appears in her new cookbook called “108 Asian Cookies,” which gives a new twist to traditional treats by adding Asian ingredients.
Key Facts
The recipe uses black sesame seeds, black sesame paste, and red miso to add unique flavors to Rice Krispie Treats.
Kat Lieu developed this recipe inspired by her childhood memories and her mother’s liking for Rice Krispie Treats.
The brown butter is cooked until it has a nutty aroma before marshmallows are melted into it.
The marshmallow mixture is combined with the black sesame ingredients and cereal to make the treats.
The mixture is pressed into a cake pan lined with parchment paper, then left to set before cutting.
The cookbook “108 Asian Cookies” features a variety of recipes that blend Asian flavors with classic desserts.
The recipe offers an Asian twist on a popular Western treat by adding flavors typical in Asian cooking.
Preparing the treats takes about 55 minutes from start to finish.
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Australia may build its first new oil refinery in 60 years in Western Australia to reduce reliance on imported fuel. The federal and state governments will spend $4 million on a study to see if this refinery can be built, responding to higher oil prices caused by the ongoing Middle East conflict.
Key Facts
Australia currently imports about 90% of its liquid fuels due to refinery closures over the last 25 years.
The Middle East war has caused oil prices to rise, increasing inflation risks worldwide and in Australia.
The federal government and Western Australia will jointly fund a $4 million study to explore building a new refinery.
Only two large oil refineries now operate in Australia: one in Brisbane and one in Geelong.
Building a new refinery would cost billions and likely need ongoing government support to compete.
The proposed refinery project would be led by Perdaman, a multinational company that may get government loans.
The government has a $10.7 billion fuel security plan, including funding for fuel reserves and studies to increase refining capacity.
Some environmental groups oppose expanding oil refineries, wanting a shift away from fossil fuels instead.
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AstraZeneca’s CEO, Pascal Soriot, said the company must work as quickly as Chinese firms to stay competitive in the drug industry. He highlighted the growth of China’s pharmaceutical sector and said AstraZeneca is confident it will meet its sales goals by 2030 despite some drug trial setbacks.
Key Facts
AstraZeneca plans to reach $80 billion in annual sales by 2030, up from $59 billion in 2025.
The company reported a 6% revenue increase in the first half of 2026 compared to the previous year.
CEO Pascal Soriot said Western drugmakers must increase innovation speed to compete with Chinese companies.
Chinese pharmaceutical firms are heavily investing in new technologies like antibody drug conjugates and cell therapy.
AstraZeneca experienced a recent failure in a major heart disease drug trial but continues to have a strong pipeline.
Soriot believes artificial intelligence (AI) will help speed up drug development and increase productivity, rather than reduce jobs.
The company plans to work with the new UK government leader, Andy Burnham, to clarify a US-UK drug deal linked to higher NHS medicine costs.
This deal was initially made under President Donald Trump and could raise drug prices in the UK significantly.
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DCC, a major energy company listed on the London Stock Exchange, has agreed to a £5.75 billion takeover offer from two US private equity firms, KKR and Energy Capital Partners. The company’s board supports the deal, but the founder and some large shareholders oppose it, claiming the offer undervalues the company.
Key Facts
DCC is one of the largest energy companies listed on the London Stock Exchange.
US private equity companies KKR and Energy Capital Partners plan to buy DCC for about £5.75 billion.
The DCC board recommends the takeover despite objections from its founder, Jim Flavin, and significant shareholders.
Jim Flavin believes the offer is too low given the company’s plan to increase profits by 2030.
The takeover price is £65.25 per share in cash, with an extra £1.25 per share if a related sale meets a price target.
The offer is 36% higher than DCC’s average share price before the takeover talks were public but still faces shareholder opposition.
Large shareholders like Aviva and Fidelity consider the price inadequate and plan to vote against the deal.
DCC’s board says the offer provides a guaranteed cash gain for shareholders immediately.
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