Employers in the United States added 162,000 jobs in August, crushing expectations of 53,000. The unemployment rate stayed unchanged at 4.1% 
The new report also revised July&#8217;s weaker jobs report from a 23,000 decline to a gain of 21,000 jobs. <a href="https://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.nr0.htm">Job gains</a> in August were led by education, manufacturing, construction, the food service industry, and healthcare. 
Education added 42,000 jobs, which was expected as teachers were added back to the payroll with school starting and offsetting a decline in July. Manufacturing jobs continued to rise, adding 16,000 jobs, signaling continued strength in the industry. 
Since December, manufacturing jobs are up 58,000. Construction jobs increased by 22,000. Construction jobs were one of the only positive growth areas in July’s jobs report. Typically, strong growth in construction jobs often leads to growth in manufacturing jobs. Healthcare also added to its upward trend with 13,000 jobs in August. The food and beverage industry increased by 59,000 jobs. 
Wages also had a slight increase. Average hourly earnings rose by 0.3% in August to $37.75. Over the past 12 months, wages are up 3.1% 
President Donald Trump’s National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/video/2026/09/04/nec-director-kevin-hassett-on-august-jobs-a-really-blockbuster-number.html">told</a> CNBC, “This number was way, way better than I expected. &#8230; We went back and looked and 77 people posted their forecast at Bloomberg, and this blew past everybody. &#8230; It&#8217;s really a blockbuster number.” 
Hassett attributed the “blockbuster number” to Trump’s policy success. “Capital spending is through the roof. It’s getting set to about double since President Trump took office relative to GDP and you’re seeing the construction of factories through the roof,&#8221; he said. 
Hassett argued that capital spending is up because of Trump’s tariffs causing companies to onshore activity, along with tax changes related to depreciation.
&#8220;The expensing is making people want to invest like crazy, which is creating construction jobs,&#8221; he added.
Under the Trump administration’s &#8220;Big Beautiful Bill,&#8221; companies are able to expense 100% of the equipment they put to use in the first year — meaning that if a company bought $1 million of new machinery, it could deduct that $1 million immediately from its taxable income rather than spreading the deduction over the equipment’s useful life. 
Hassett said the momentum from the positive jobs reports might deter the Federal Reserve from raising rates. 
“In his most recent statements as [Fed] Chairman [Kevin] Warsh, he thinks that you really got to keep your eyes focused like a hawk on inflation and that if you’ve got growth that’s supply side than it doesn’t necessarily mean you have to raise rates, it’s the same thing that Greenspan believed,&#8221; he said.
He added that the Fed&#8217;s eyes will be on the inflation numbers set to come out next week. Trump, however, isn&#8217;t waiting on the inflation numbers from the Consumer Price Index next week to weigh in on his thoughts for the Fed. Trump wrote on Truth Social Friday, &#8220;Great jobs number just announced, breaking all estimates (except mine!). &#8230; Lower the interest rates because the U.S.A. is a much stronger credit than it was just a short time ago!&#8221; 
Trump then pressured Warsh and the Board of Governors to &#8220;get smart&#8221; and &#8220;be patriots for change.&#8221; 
Roughly $10 trillion in federal debt is expected to mature during 2026, requiring the Treasury Department to refinance it. Lower borrowing costs would reduce the government’s interest expenses as that debt is rolled over.
The Fed, however, must also weigh the risk that lower rates could intensify inflation, which has remained above its 2% target for more than five years. The war with Iran has added to those pressures by driving oil prices higher. Warsh has emphasized that the central bank remains committed to restoring price stability and has warned against declaring a premature victory over inflation.

Cars on production line in factory

Jobs Report Smashes Expectations. See The Numbers.

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donald trump

federal reserve

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Americans hitting the road for Labor Day weekend can expect an expensive bill at the pump as gas prices remain near record highs. 
The national average for a gallon of gas on Friday was $4.15, while diesel prices hit a record-high $5.85 per gallon. Labor Day gas prices will be more expensive than ever if the average holds above $4.00, according to fuel industry tracker AAA. 
Much of the current pain at the pump stems from uncertainty in the Strait of Hormuz amid the war between the United States and Iran. Prices across the country have spiked since the war began in February. 
“Continued volatility in the Strait of Hormuz has pushed crude oil prices in the $90 per barrel range. After a record-setting August, this Labor Day weekend is on track to also set a record at the pump,” analysis from AAA found. “Even though gasoline demand decreases this time of year, typically bringing down gas prices, this year is different due to the high cost of crude oil.”
National average gas prices hovered around $4.00 per gallon a month ago and sat at $3.20 just one year ago, <a href="https://gasprices.aaa.com/">according</a> to AAA. Before the war with Iran began, the national average for a gallon was about $3.00.
The average diesel price on Friday broke the record previously set during the early months of the Russia-Ukraine war. Rising diesel prices cause spikes across the board as the cost of transporting goods and equipment increases. 
The Trump administration says relief at the pump is coming as it touts efforts to secure the Strait of Hormuz and deals with the oil-rich Venezuela. Last week, President Donald Trump said he signed a deal with Venezuela to secure majority control of more than 65 billion barrels of oil reserves
“This Historic Transaction MORE THAN DOUBLES American Oil Reserves, greatly increases our Oil Supply, and will substantially lower Gas Prices for all Americans, long into the future,” Trump wrote.
This week, the Trump administration <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/back-in-business-more-oil-is-coming-from-the-gulf-than-before-iran-war-trump-admin-touts?author=Kassy+Akiva&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=0&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=BACK+IN+BUSINESS%3A+More+Oil+Is+Coming+From+The+Gulf+Than+Before+Iran+War%2C+Trump+Admin+Touts">maintained</a> that oil coming through the Persian Gulf had returned to higher levels than before the war started. A new wartime high of 18 million barrels of oil reportedly moved through the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday, according to American officials.

Trump Administration To Pause Gas Tax As Prices Soar Amid Iran War

Gas Prices Jump As Americans Brace For Most Expensive Labor Day At The Pump Ever

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The CEO of the popular travel station and retail outlet Buc-ee’s said he&#8217;s happy to target conservative states as the company continues to open new locations.
“We have a lot of opportunities. We’re growing. We’re building in a lot of places, but when you find a conservative, business-friendly state with a phenomenal workforce, it makes a difference,” Arch Aplin III <a href="https://www.facebook.com/reel/2419490991875500">said</a> earlier this week a video clip posted by Arkansas Republican Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders. 
“And I’m starting to realize life’s too short to try to build in places that people don’t appreciate what you’re bringing versus a place like this, where people do appreciate what you’re building,” the exec continued.
The beloved travel stop currently boasts locations in Texas, Arizona, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, South Carolina, Colorado, Missouri, Virginia, Ohio, Tennessee, and now, Arkansas. 
Buc-ee’s is known for its mascot, a cheerful cartoon beaver in a red cap. It also boasts exceptionally clean and spacious restrooms, an average of 100 gas pumps per location, and a gigantic retail and food store attached that’s become a cult-like destination for visitors.
It’s not uncommon to see visitors snapping photos of themselves perusing the selection of branded merchandise and exclusive food options, like Beaver Nuggets (crunchy, bite-sized puffed corn coated in a sweet buttery brown sugar glaze), house made fudge, pastries, extensive fresh beef jerky, and Texas barbecue brisket.
The company is also known for having exceptionally high wages for the industry. The Buc-ee’s careers website says general manager salaries range from $200,000 to $275,000 or more, while assistant general managers start at $125,000. And it’s not just management making good money. Cashiers, maintenance, and grocery stockers start at $20 per hour with no experience required. Team leads jump to $23 to $28 range while department managers make $33 per hour.
Buc-ee’s has gotten into some controversy recently, however, after <a href="https://abcnews.com/Business/wireStory/buc-ees-chain-draws-outcry-ohio-launching-fight-135879150?cid=social_twitter_abcn">filing</a> several trademark infringement lawsuits, including a recently filed suit against Beaver&#8217;s Mini Mart in Beavercreek, Ohio. Some people slammed Buc-ee&#8217;s for going after the local convenience store, and Ohio Republican Governor Mike DeWine called the lawsuit &#8220;ridiculous.&#8221; Buc-ee&#8217;s claims that Beaver&#8217;s Mini Mart&#8217;s cartoon beaver logo, red color scheme, and name cause consumer confusion. The lawsuit was filed shortly after Buc-ee’s expanded into the state for the first time.

Buc-ee’s

Buc-ee’s CEO Lists Reasons He Wants To Expand Into Conservative States

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Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent&#8217;s plan to expand the government&#8217;s purchases of long-term debt is drawing fire from some of Wall Street&#8217;s biggest names, including his former boss and mentor, Stanley Druckenmiller. 
“The long-term Treasury yield is the most important price in the world. It is also the only fiscal disciplinarian the U.S. has left,” Druckenmiller <a href="https://www.wsj.com/opinion/let-the-bond-market-speak-81529d74">wrote</a>, arguing that Washington is attempting to artificially lower the long-term yield instead of fixing the market fundamentals that led to its rise in the first place. 
“Every basis point of artificial yield suppression is a subsidy to procrastination,” he added. 
The Treasury Department announced last week that it would at least double the size of its liquidity-support buybacks for long-dated securities, increasing the amount from a maximum of $2 billion to at least $4 billion per operation. 
“The U.S. Department of the Treasury is increasing, by at least double, the size of liquidity support buyback operations for longer-dated nominal coupon securities,&#8221; the department said. The expanded operations will cover securities in the 10-to-20-year and 20-to-30-year sectors.
The change will take effect September 9 and remain in place until November 4, when Treasury is scheduled to provide additional guidance.
Druckenmiller was not the only Wall Street figure to criticize the move. Nohshad Shah, head of fixed-income sales at Citadel Securities,  <a href="https://www.citadelsecurities.com/news-and-insights/macro-thoughts/hard-choices/?series=macro-thoughts">argued</a> that intervention would not provide a durable solution.
“The durable solution is not repeated intervention, but harder choices on fiscal policy and central banks willing to get ahead of inflation…including, if necessary, by hiking rates,” he said. 
Shah argued that the high yield is that fiscal and monetary policy should be tighter. 
“The bond market’s message is straightforward: fiscal or monetary policy should be tighter,&#8221; he said. &#8220;Preventing Treasuries from clearing at lower prices does not eliminate that pressure…it merely shifts it elsewhere.” 
Lisa Shalett, chief investment officer at Morgan Stanley Wealth Management, called the move a short-term gimmick. In a client note, she said Morgan Stanley views &#8220;non-crisis market intervention and financial engineering attempts as short-lived gimmicks.” 
LPL Financial&#8217;s chief fixed income strategist <a href="https://www.wsj.com/finance/stocks/u-s-stocks-and-bonds-slide-brushing-off-treasurys-buyback-plans-57ced23b">called</a> Treasury’s move a temporary fix. 
“This is a Band-Aid,&#8221; the strategist said. &#8220;This doesn’t really fix the problem.” 
Mike Sanders, head of fixed income at Madison Investments, said he was worried the market would respond. 
“My fear is that the market is going to try to fight them on it at a certain point,” Sanders said.
Not all of Wall Street pushed back on the endeavor. Portfolio manager Vincent Ahn <a href="https://www.marketwatch.com/story/pressure-on-bonds-abates-as-treasury-announces-buybacks-what-may-come-next-af7d7c76?utm_source=chatgpt.com">said</a> that “Bessent seems willing to use balance-sheet tools more aggressively when the ultralong end starts deteriorating.”
Investors initially reacted positively to the announcement, with both the S&amp;P 500 and Nasdaq trading higher following the news. 
The Treasury Department said the move reflects its desire “to provide greater support in longer-dated nominal sectors where there is consistent strong sponsorship from market participants, as evidenced by the significant volume of  high-quality offers Treasury routinely receives in longer-dated buyback operations.”

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent

Scott Bessent’s Latest Big Plan Has Wall Street In A Blender

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Walmart has received nearly all of the $2.9 billion in tariff refunds it was eligible for, and the retail giant says its customers will benefit through lower prices. 
&#8220;We&#8217;re investing heavily in price because customers need us to and because we believe it drives market share gains over time,&#8221; Walmart CFO John David Rainey <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/walmart-tariff-refunds-lower-prices/">said</a> in the company’s quarterly earnings call Thursday.
Walmart and other businesses that paid tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) are receiving refunds after the Supreme Court struck down the levies. So far, the federal government has refunded about $100 billion in IEEPA tariffs out of an estimated $166 billion owed, <a href="https://www.scotusblog.com/2026/08/tariff-refunds-reach-100-billion-mark/">leaving</a> roughly $66 billion still to be reimbursed. 
Walmart said it plans to use the tariff refund to <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/walmart-tariff-refunds-lower-prices/">invest</a> in lower prices, particularly on groceries and general merchandise, as consumers continue to seek relief from elevated prices. The company said customers should begin seeing the impact of those investments in the third quarter. 
Walmart has historically proved resilient during periods of economic uncertainty and high inflation, when consumers often turn to lower-priced retailers and cheaper brands. The company appears to be leaning into that advantage as consumers continue to grapple with elevated prices. 
&#8220;We’re investing in prices because customers are looking to us for value,&#8221; the company added in a statement. 
The announcement follows a round of price cuts the retail giant recently rolled out.
&#8220;This summer, we&#8217;re making even more investments in price, with thousands of Rollbacks across the products customers are shopping for most, including beef, fresh produce and beverages, grills, pools, toys and summer fashion apparel,” said Walmart executive Julie Barber. 
 The cuts included fresh ground beef falling from $6.74 to $5.94 per pound, 24-packs of Coca-Cola dropping from $14.97 to $9.97, and bags of red cherries falling from $11.18 to $5.63, among other discounts.
President Trump took credit for Walmart&#8217;s price cuts in July, saying the retailer had lowered prices at his administration&#8217;s request to celebrate America&#8217;s 250th birthday. 
“Great news! I have just been informed that one of the biggest, best, and smartest retailers in America, Walmart, will be lowering prices, by a lot, at my Administration’s request to celebrate our great Country’s 250th birthday,” Trump said. 
Walmart&#8217;s announcement of the summer rollbacks did not mention the Trump administration or attribute the price cuts to a request from the White House.

A Walmart Store Ahead Of Earnings Figures

Walmart Has Good News For Americans Tired Of High Grocery Bills

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The next time you’re waiting on an Amazon package, look up — it may be coming from the sky.
Amazon announced plans Wednesday to dramatically expand its Prime Air drone service to nearly 500 U.S. cities and towns by the end of the year.
The expansion would bring Amazon&#8217;s “ultrafast drone delivery” to communities with tens of millions of customers nationwide, the company <a href="https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/transportation/amazon-prime-air-drone-delivery-expansion">said in a news release.</a>
Amazon says Prime Air can deliver millions of popular products — including groceries, electronics, medications, cosmetics and household goods — in as little as 30 minutes. Most items weighing five pounds or less and small enough to fit in a large shoebox are eligible for drone delivery, according to the company.  
The service is already operating across 10 U.S. metro areas, including Phoenix, Tampa, Kansas City, Baton Rouge, Detroit, Omaha, Houston, Dallas, San Antonio and Waco.
Amazon also plans to launch Prime Air in the Atlanta, Chicago, Syracuse, Cleveland and Boise metro areas as part of the expansion. 
“Customers already turn to Amazon for fast Same- and Next-Day Delivery, and Prime Air provides them an even speedier option when they need it, with deliveries in as fast as 30 minutes,” David Carbon, vice president of Amazon Prime Air, said. 
The drone service comes with a familiar user experience: Shoppers will use the same Amazon app and checkout process. Customers can see whether drone delivery is<a href="https://www.amazon.com/b?node=202284444011&amp;ref_=pa_mktg_oo_null_dg_qaz2_imag_url_MAY25"> available</a> in their area and which products are eligible. When placing their first drone order, customers can select a preferred delivery point and change it later. 
Upon arrival, the drone checks the delivery area for people, pets, or vehicles before delivering the package.
“Prime Air drones use onboard cameras and sensors for navigation, obstacle detection, and safe delivery; they do not track individuals or record movements,” the company said. “There is no live camera feed monitored by any person. The onboard camera data is processed by the drone itself for safe navigation.” 
Amazon says Prime Air operates under <a href="https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/transportation/how-amazon-is-building-its-drone-delivery-system">FAA Part 135 certification</a>, the same regulatory framework used by commercial air carriers. Its drones are fully electric and designed to operate in light rain and a range of temperatures.
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Amazon Drone Delivery starts in Omaha Nebraska

Your Next Amazon Package Could Come From The Sky

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Anson Frericks spent 11 years climbing to the top of Anheuser-Busch, eventually becoming the legacy beer brand&#8217;s president of sales and distribution.
And then, he watched in horror as the company he loved traded its relationship with customers for an elitist stakeholder capitalism scorecard. Most Americans can date Bud Light&#8217;s collapse to February 11, 2023 — the day that transgender-identifying social media influencer Dylan Mulvaney posted a video of himself drinking Bud Light in a bathtub, a paid promotion that permanently altered the brand&#8217;s reputation.
<iframe loading="lazy" title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/OW9CG4XLky4?si=OGwHI7tRwqXRiF39" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
But as Anson recounts in his bestselling book, &#8220;Last Call for Bud Light,&#8221; the Mulvaney campaign was just one of many poor decisions that led to Anheuser-Busch losing $30 billion in market value. The company&#8217;s executives, he wrote, &#8220;had lost touch with Anheuser-Busch’s brand. With its mission. With its consumers.&#8221;
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/i-worked-at-anheuser-busch-when-bud-light-imploded-heres-what-i-learned?author=Anson+Frericks&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=I+Worked+At+Anheuser-Busch+When+Bud+Light+Imploded.+Here%E2%80%99s+What+I+Learned.">READ AN EXCERPT FROM ANSON FRERICKS&#8217;S BESTSELLER &#8216;LAST CALL FOR BUD LIGHT&#8217;</a>
Frericks had seen the writing on the wall before the Mulvaney fiasco. He left Anheuser-Busch in 2022 and partnered with Vivek Ramaswamy to found <a href="https://strive.com/story">Strive Asset Management</a>, whose &#8220;bold vision&#8221; was &#8220;to depoliticize corporate America and restore the voices of everyday citizens in the American economy by leading companies to focus on excellence.&#8221;
Frericks breaks down all that and more in the premiere episode of The Daily Wire&#8217;s newest show, &#8220;Titans On Tomorrow.&#8221; The series brings Shapiro face to face with the founders, CEOs, and investors building the next decade of business and finance during a transformative time for the global economy.
In this exciting premiere episode, Shapiro and Frericks break down Anheuser-Busch&#8217;s fall from the top of the beer world to the punchline of a national joke. They also discuss why companies like BlackRock, State Street, and Vanguard have outsized power over corporate America, and how Strive is fighting back; whether corporate neutrality is enough, or if conservatives need to push harder; why he left the culture wars behind to build an AI company tackling serious mental illness; and what&#8217;s next as AI, biotech, and capital markets reshape the American economy.
Watch Episode One of &#8220;Titans On Tomorrow&#8221; <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/episode/ben-shapiro-show-titans-on-tomorrow-ep-1?contentProgram=The%20Ben%20Shapiro%20Show&amp;contentType=ShowEpisode&amp;elementPosition=2&amp;location=Home%20Tab&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Home%20Featured%20Carousel">exclusively at The Daily Wire.</a>

Untitled design – 2026-08-02T091151.196

He Foresaw Bud Light Losing $30 Billion. Then He Built The Fix To End Woke Capital.

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Washington residents who received certain promotional emails from Costco between June 2021 and July 2026 may be eligible for compensation under a proposed $14 million <a href="https://www.washingtoncommercialemailsettlement.com/">class action settlement.</a>
Under the proposed deal in Aaland v. Costco Wholesale Corp., Costco <a href="https://www.classaction.org/media/costco-settlement_1.pdf">agreed</a> to create a $14 million settlement fund while denying any wrongdoing.
“In agreeing to settle, Costco maintains that it complied with the law and does not admit any wrongdoing,” the document states.
The lawsuit claims that Costco used deceptive subject lines that created a false sense of urgency, including phrases like &#8220;Today is the last day to access Member-Only Savings&#8221; and &#8220;Hot Buys available for 5 Days Only.&#8221; 
According to the lawsuit, Costco continued offering some of the same promotions after telling customers they were about to expire, allegedly violating Washington’s Commercial Electronic Mail Act (CEMA) and the state&#8217;s Consumer Protection Act, the New York Post <a href="https://nypost.com/2026/07/28/lifestyle/costco-customers-could-claim-500-in-class-action-settlement/">reports</a>.
Washington residents whose email addresses are in Costco&#8217;s records and who received the promotional emails between June 2021 and July 2026 may be eligible to file a claim. 
Claim forms must be submitted by August 24, 2026. Those who wish to pursue their own lawsuit rather than participate in the settlement must opt out by the same deadline, Fox News <a href="https://www.foxbusiness.com/lifestyle/costco-shoppers-eligible-large-payout-multi-million-dollar-email-settlement">reports</a>.
Eligible claimants may receive up to $500 each qualifying email, though the actual payout will depend on the number of valid claims submitted and other court-approved deductions from the $14 million fund.
Costco also faces several other lawsuits over its products and business practices. A lawsuit filed earlier this month <a href="https://nypost.com/2026/07/09/business/costco-faces-class-action-lawsuit-alleging-protein-powder-was-laced-with-toxic-heavy-metals/">alleges</a> that one of Costco’s protein powders contains toxic heavy metals, while another <a href="https://nypost.com/2026/06/10/business/costco-fights-lawsuit-tied-to-5-rotisserie-chicken/">accuses</a> the company of falsely advertising its rotisserie chicken as containing “no preservatives.” 
A separate <a href="https://www.king5.com/video/news/costco-sued-over-claims-it-raised-prices/281-22d011e2-4918-4c67-abd2-357031c9fd03">lawsuit</a> alleges Costco continued charging higher prices tied to tariffs even after the tariffs were struck down.

Costco Wholesale in Folsom California

Costco Shoppers Have A Chance To Cash In Over Old Emails

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Elon Musk has become the world&#8217;s first former trillionaire after steep declines in Tesla and SpaceX shares wiped roughly $200 billion from his net worth.
Musk joked about becoming the world&#8217;s first former trillionaire on Friday after his fortune briefly dipped below $1 trillion.
At the height of the SpaceX IPO frenzy, Musk’s fortune hit $1.3 trillion as shares surged from their $135 IPO price to as high as $225 before retreating to <a href="https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/SPCX/">$112</a> on Monday. 
The massive swings are consistent with past IPOs, with new stocks often swinging 30-50% as the market digests excitement and volatility. However, the former trillionaire’s automaker also experienced a massive swing on Wednesday. Tesla <a href="https://www.barrons.com/articles/tesla-stock-price-loses-year-gains-6acf48c3">erased</a> a year of gains when shares fell 18% after the company reported a second-quarter operating profit of $400 million that was well below Wall Street’s expectations of $1.72 billion. 
Stocks tied to Musk tend to be especially volatile because investors are betting on the companies&#8217; potential rather than their current standing. 
Tesla&#8217;s valuation reflects expectations that it will dominate autonomous driving while expanding into robotaxis, Optimus humanoid robots, and artificial intelligence. SpaceX, while a rocket company, is also promising to establish data centers in space, with the company now owning xAI. 
The swings are compounded by the fact that Musk is an unusually active public figure, often posting multiple times a day on his social media platform, X. His comments, product announcements, and political statements can quickly shift investor sentiment and trigger sharp moves in his companies&#8217; stock prices.
Despite the sharp drop from his trillionaire peak, dramatic swings in Musk&#8217;s fortune are par for the course. On June 29, his net worth jumped by more than $60 billion in a single day, and on October 24, he added another $30 billion after Tesla reported stronger-than-expected earnings. With a majority of Musk&#8217;s wealth tied to the market value of his companies, small percentage moves in their stock prices can translate into tens of billions of dollars gained or lost in a matter of seconds.

Elon Musk

Elon Musk Becomes World’s First Former Trillionaire

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In yet another series of antisemitic attacks in Toronto, masked vandals <a href="https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/window-broken-gunshot-fired-at-kivas-jewish-owned-bakery-in-toronto-police-say/article_6f3bfe35-832f-4f3b-9a85-056393b6e869.html?utm_medium=social&amp;utm_source=twitter&amp;utm_campaign=user-share">shot up and smashed</a> the windows of two Jewish-owned bakeries on Saturday, the latest gut-punch in a relentless run of anti-Jewish violence terrorizing Canada&#8217;s largest city.
Cops confirmed evidence of gunfire at the beloved bakery Kiva’s Yonge and St. Clair outpost, while a second location near Bathurst and Steeles also had its window busted out — though without shots fired there. Miraculously, nobody was hurt in either attack.
The kosher-style bagel shop, a Jewish community fixture since 1979, has three GTA locations and is currently run by brothers Ben, Elan and Steve Rafael. Police say they&#8217;re probing whether the two hits are connected.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Window broken, gunshot fired at Kiva&#39;s Jewish-owned bakery in Toronto, police say <a href="https://t.co/VFOEjwAQ6t">https://t.co/VFOEjwAQ6t</a> via <a href="https://x.com/TorontoStar?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@torontostar</a> Kiva’s bakery is kosher-style and known for its popular bagels and baked goods. It has long been a hub for the Jewish community.  The original bakery opened…
&mdash; Israel Heritage Foundation (@IHF_Heritage) <a href="https://x.com/IHF_Heritage/status/2081429686408630491?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 26, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Mayor Olivia Chow stated,  “We in Toronto will double our efforts. Toronto police through Project Resolute have been guarding synagogues and Jewish community centers and places 24/7, and we’ll see what else we could do.”
The bakery attack is only the newest scar in a years-long surge that&#8217;s turned Toronto into ground zero for antisemitic hate crime in Canada. Despite making up under 4% of the population, Jews have been the top target of hate crimes citywide since well before the pandemic — and things have only gotten uglier.
The real inflection point came after Hamas&#8217;s October 7, 2023 massacre in Israel, when antisemitic incidents in Toronto <a href="https://www.cija.ca/antisemitism_in_toronto_is_escalating_and_the_numbers_prove_it#:~:text=According%20to%20the%20report%2C%20hate%20crime%20has,7%20terrorist%20attack%20by%20Hamas%20on%20Israel.%E2%80%9D">exploded 80%</a> almost overnight. By 2024, police logged a record 443 hate crimes citywide, with Jews the victims in a jaw-dropping 40% of them and 81% of all religiously-motivated attacks.
That violence has since escalated into a terrifying pattern of gunfire at Jewish institutions. A Jewish girls elementary school in North York was <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/bais-chaya-mushka-gunshots-toronto-1.7416067">shot at three times</a> in 2024. n March 2025, a suspect was charged for targeting five Toronto synagogues. Vandalism hit Kehillat Shaarei Torah in November. March 2026 brought shootings at three synagogues, prompting a $10M security fund. In May, congregants were literally being shot at with gel-blaster guns leaving Shabbat services, with watchdog group B&#8217;nai Brith warning 2026 is shaping up to be the bloodiest year for Canadian Jews in memory.
With no arrests made in most of the recent attacks, Jewish leaders say fear is becoming the defining feature of daily life in Toronto.

Toronto City Hall Sign

Bagels And Bullets: Antisemitic Terror Wave Hits Jewish Bakery Chain

antisemitism

Jewish

Toronto

Paramount Skydance and Warner Bros. Discovery have agreed to delay closing their proposed $110 billion merger until at least June 2027 as they battle a multistate antitrust lawsuit, extending uncertainty over a deal that could reshape the American media landscape.
The agreement allows both sides to avoid a court fight over a preliminary injunction while the case proceeds toward trial.
A coalition of 12 Democratic state attorneys general, led by California Attorney General Rob Bonta, sued to block the transaction. The lawsuit claims the merger would &#8220;extinguish competition&#8221; in the media and entertainment industries.
If approved, the merger would unite major media brands, including Paramount Pictures, Warner Bros. Pictures, the Paramount+ and HBO Max streaming platforms, CBS News, and CNN under one corporate umbrella.
Rather than continue fighting emergency motions, the companies agreed not to close the transaction until June 2027 or until the court reaches a final decision.
Bonta celebrated the agreement as a major victory for the states challenging the merger.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Today’s agreement is great news for audiences, movie theaters, and the many people who write, build, and create the art, news, and entertainment so many of us enjoy.
We are eager to continue to make our case in court and celebrate another tremendous win in our effort to ensure… <a href="https://t.co/m4LFxiA5tP">pic.twitter.com/m4LFxiA5tP</a>
— Rob Bonta (@AGRobBonta) <a href="https://x.com/AGRobBonta/status/2080754504388259849?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 24, 2026</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;Today&#8217;s agreement is great news for audiences, movie theaters, and the many people who write, build, and create the art, news, and entertainment so many of us enjoy,&#8221; Bonta said. &#8220;We are eager to continue to make our case in court and celebrate another tremendous win in our effort to ensure this unlawful merger never sees the light of day.&#8221;
New York Democratic Attorney General Letitia James also praised the decision, <a href="https://x.com/NewYorkStateAG/status/2080742874610626683">calling</a> it &#8220;a critical victory in our efforts to uphold the law and protect the film and television industries.&#8221;
Paramount defended the merger and said the delay would allow the company to make its case in court.
&#8220;This is the fastest and clearest way to prove that this transaction is good for competition, good for consumers, and good for creators, a conclusion dozens of competition authorities around the world have already reached,&#8221; a Paramount spokesperson <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/business/business-news/paramount-skydance-agrees-halt-warner-bros-merger-june-2027-rcna589137">told</a> NBC News. &#8220;We look forward to proving our case at trial.&#8221;
The merger has attracted attention beyond Hollywood because Paramount is now controlled by Skydance founder and CEO David Ellison, 43, whose acquisition of Paramount was backed by his father, Oracle founder Larry Ellison, a longtime ally and supporter of President Donald Trump. Since Skydance took control of Paramount earlier this year, Ellison has overseen significant changes at CBS News, including bringing in journalist Bari Weiss to overhaul the network&#8217;s news division.
Ellison has drawn praise from President Trump, who has expressed optimism that new ownership could restore credibility to CBS News after years of criticism from conservatives and Republicans.
If this merger happens, one company will control CBS and CNN under ownership that conservatives believe is moving in a different editorial direction.

In this photo illustration, the Paramount logo is seen

One Of Hollywood’s Biggest Deals Just Hit A Wall

cbs news

david ellison

entertainment

HBO Max

hollywood

letitia james

media

paramount

Rob Bonta

warner bros

Warner Brothers

A new company says it has found an alternative to selling America&#8217;s retiring small businesses to private equity firms.
Traditionally, owners pass businesses to family, sell them, or close them. <a href="https://www.americanoperator.com/">American Operator</a> is pitching a fourth option: helping employees or industry veterans buy them instead.
According to founder William Fry, small businesses employ roughly 62 million Americans, account for about 43% of U.S. GDP, and create <a href="https://advocacy.sba.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Small-Business-Job-Creation-Fact-Sheet-Apr2022.pdf">two out of three jobs</a>. With more than <a href="https://news.gallup.com/poll/657362/small-business-owners-lack-succession-plan.aspx?utm_source=chatgpt.com">half</a> of U.S. small business owners nearing retirement and fewer children <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/283212990_Coming_Home_or_Breaking_Free_A_Closer_Look_at_the_Succession_Intentions_of_Next-generation_Family_Business_Members">interested</a> in taking over family businesses, Fry says the country is approaching a massive small-business ownership transition.
Fry launched American Operator late last year to give sellers an alternative option. The firm helps operators, who are sometimes current employees or veterans of the industry, co-purchase a retiring owner&#8217;s business. It starts with 10% equity and a planned path to 70% majority ownership. 
American Operator is distinguishing itself from private equity by keeping businesses small and avoiding reselling other PE operations, which often are not well-versed in the specific industry. It does so using an Operate-To-Own model.
&#8220;You need to know how an industry works and then we handle the acquisition,&#8221; Fry said of the process. The retiring owners often join American Operator&#8217;s advisory council after the sale, meaning they keep a hand in the continued success of the business they built.
“We view our mission as a fight to preserve the American Dream, populist capitalism, and a local ownership. We do not want a world where everything is a big box retailer or a Private Equity-owned outpost,” Fry told The Daily Wire.
Fry pointed to the veterinary industry as a negative example of what private-equity consolidation can do. A Bank of America <a href="https://www.investopedia.com/soaring-vet-prices-are-forcing-pet-owners-to-skip-visits-11914589">study</a> has tied PE-backed consolidators to sharp increases in veterinary prices since 2020, alongside a decline in visits as pet owners priced out of care. 
Fry acknowledged that his company is no match for PE capital-wise, but said those retirees are choosing to entrust their business to an individual who will keep it running in a similar way to how it was before. 
One completed American Operator deal involves Anne the Plumber, a residential plumbing company that has served Rhode Island since 2014, as <a href="https://nypost.com/2026/03/13/business/american-operator-gives-small-business-owners-retirement-options/">reported</a> by The New York Post. Rather than sell to an outside buyer, founder Anne-Marie Rosario Flores transferred control to Wilson Molina, an operator she had mentored, with backing from American Operator&#8217;s capital. Molina now serves as CEO with a path to majority ownership. Flores is still involved with the business.
The company has completed 95 deals totaling roughly $300 million to date. Fry said he eventually hopes to combine the businesses into a publicly traded holding company that would allow everyday investors to buy into a portfolio of Main Street businesses. 
“Our mission statement is to revive the American Dream,” Fry said. “Whether that&#8217;s ensuring a small business owner receives fair value for their life&#8217;s work or a new entrepreneur gets a chance to become a millionaire, our model is focused on advancing wealth on Main Street and making sure the broader public knows that hard work still matters in this country.”

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