Midwestern U.S. state; unicameral legislature; diverse economy
Berkshire Hathaway has increased its Alphabet stake to about 106 million shares—valued near $37.8 billion as of June 30—while expanding in Delta Air Lines and Lennar, and trimming holdings in several financial stocks. The shift comes under CEO Greg Abel, with Warren Buffett remaining involved but not dictating every move. The quarter also shows Berkshire’s cash pile declining as it deploys capital.
The U.S. beef supply has tightened amid an historic cattle shortage driven by drought and economic pressures. Tyson Foods is closing two beef plants and seeking buyers for another as it reshapes its beef operations. Retail beef prices have climbed while overall meat sales dip; the industry is prioritizing capacity and resilience to rebuild herds.
Omaha Public Schools have halted the use of the G.L.O.V.E. gloves after an Associated Press investigation revealed ICE's plan to distribute them. Superintendent Matthew Ray says he learned of the devices only last week, and the police department had demonstrated their use, claiming quick compliance with little force. The gloves were used twice in the 2025–26 school year; police will continue to carry other restraints.
Karoline Heintz, an incoming PennWest University freshman, was found dead in the back hatch of a Jeep near the California campus after a brief meeting with her boyfriend. Royce Moser, 18, is charged with homicide; his mother is charged with aiding in the cover-up. Investigations reveal a planned attack and a cover-up effort as authorities pursue leads across the region.
Berkshire Hathaway has expanded its Alphabet stake and outlines how it plans to use energy assets to support hyperscale computing, while facing renewed community resistance to data-centre projects. Abel says Berkshire will sell energy to AI customers only if it wouldn’t raise costs for other customers, and Buffett’s Alphabet investment continues to loom large as AI reshapes the portfolio.
Bitcoin has climbed this week as the Treasury Department doubles long-dated debt buybacks, easing yields and attracting buyers across crypto and risk assets. Trump pushes a crypto bill while inflation and debt concerns loom; analysts see potential for further gains but warn of a reversal if hawkish signals prevail.
The administration has announced a temporary, tariff-free import surge of up to 300,000 metric tons of lean ground beef to ease prices amid a shrinking U.S. cattle herd. Congress and ranchers are watching closely as imports blend with domestic meat, potentially reshaping supply and labeling rules.
Samuel Bateman, already serving a 50-year federal term for child sexual abuse, has received a state sentence for transporting young girls in an unventilated trailer after a 2022 Flagstaff stop. Three girls, aged 11-14, were found inside the trailer. The ruling underscores accountability and prevents Bateman from posing again.
The FDA has approved daraxonrasib, sold as Rasonque by Revolution Medicines, for adults with previously treated or ineligible metastatic pancreatic cancer. Clinical trials have shown median survival extended to about 13.2 months versus roughly 6.7 months with chemotherapy. The drug will be available in the US with a roughly $39,800 monthly list price and expanded-access programmes have already treated thousands.
The Trump administration has escalated a trade dispute with Canada, unveiling an executive order to rename Lake Ontario as “Lake America.” Polls show most Americans oppose the change and tariffs, while Canada vows retaliation. The move coincides with broader tariff fights and political pressure ahead of midterm elections.
This week has seen several medical research and regulatory developments. Insilico Medicine has reported that its experimental drug rentosertib changed blood‑protein patterns that aging clocks read as three to four years younger in a small trial. Stanford teams have published studies showing they can grow hindbrain neurons separately and implant human cortical organoids into mice. The US health department has appointed permanent directors for three FDA centers.
The FTC and 22 states have filed a federal lawsuit alleging Amazon has secretly inflated prices in its ad auctions since 2019 by inserting a "soft reserve" bid, extracting about $20bn from roughly 1.2 million advertisers and passing higher costs to shoppers. Amazon has called the suit "misguided" and denied it harmed advertisers or consumers.
The Independent reports a proposed, ongoing plan to boost Social Security benefits for most current beneficiaries, alongside changes to how future COLAs are calculated. The plan, part of Sanders’s Social Security Expansion Act, would tax earnings above $250,000 and is described as a response to long-term insolvency concerns facing the program. No start date is set, as the measure remains a proposal awaiting congressional action.
Sen. John Fetterman has recorded a one-minute video praising Republican Sen. Dave McCormick and saying he will work with President Trump to defend Pennsylvania’s steel industry. The clip has intensified Democratic doubts about Fetterman’s party loyalty, prompted fresh talk of a possible party switch and handed Republicans a high‑profile talking point ahead of the Nov. 3 midterms.
The Transportation Security Administration has launched Gateside by TSA PreCheck, allowing eligible PreCheck and other trusted-traveler members to apply one to three days in advance to pass through security and enter gate areas at 13 U.S. airports without a flight ticket. The pass is free, valid for one calendar day with re-entry, and the agency plans to expand the program.
Investors are pressuring Nike to scrutinize its charitable partnerships after Inspire Investing’s campaign questions the company’s LGBTQ advocacy ties and its marketing of women’s sports.
Trump has pledged a $5,000 dividend for every American if Republicans retain control of Congress; the plan faces legal, fiscal and political hurdles and is criticized by experts and opponents as economically risky.
Republicans have held a two-day midterm convention in Dallas dominated by President Donald Trump and Vice‑President JD Vance. Vance has delivered a high-profile 40-minute speech that elevated his status as a potential 2028 standard-bearer while Trump has repeated ambitious claims — including a $5,000 payment pledge — and rhetoric that multiple outlets say includes misleading assertions about investment and the economy.
A Cuban man in the United States under Cuban Adjustment Act processing must choose to return to Cuba or risk deportation after a courtroom moment, ending five years of U.S. life amid economic hardship and family separation. New details show the broader uncertainty for Cubans with I-220A forms as courts revisit eligibility.
Congress has passed the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 and President Trump has signed it into law. The law expands sanctions on Russian officials, banks and a "shadow fleet" of tankers, and grants the president authority to impose tariffs of up to 100% on major buyers of Russian oil and gas.
Warren Buffett has stepped down as chairman of Berkshire Hathaway and has become chairman emeritus, remaining on the board. His son, Howard Buffett, has become non-executive chairman while Greg Abel continues as chief executive. The move completes a long‑planned succession more than nine months after Buffett handed the CEO role to Abel.
World clubs from CONCACAF, UEFA and CAF aim to compete in a mixed-host format in Miami, with new minimum standards and increased global visibility for women's club football. The event will feature Barcelona and Club America among others, as the sport expands beyond national teams.
The Guardian, Arab News and other outlets show Democrats are competitive in key races while Republicans face fundraising and polling challenges. Voters cite inflation and the Iran war as top issues; polls vary, but Democrats show an edge on the generic ballot. The result could reshape control of the House and Senate after November 3.
The Senate war powers debate has progressed with Republicans leaning toward endorsing a resolution to end the Iran war as fuel prices remain high and voters demand relief. Lawmakers have increasingly tied costs of living to military actions while Democrats press for accountability ahead of the midterms.
Moore has been injured after a late hit by Desman Stephens II during the Ducks’ game against USC. He has movement in all extremities and has been treated at a Los Angeles hospital. Stephens has been ejected for targeting and USC won 41-27. Raiola and Raiola led Oregon’s offense in relief.
The Speaker is campaigning across multiple states to defend Republican-held seats while pursuing a broader message on cost of living and reform. The push follows a six-week sprint across 20 states, with a focus on key battlegrounds as November nears.
A bipartisan permitting deal has moved toward passage in a lame-duck session, aiming to accelerate energy and infrastructure projects while preserving environmental safeguards. The measure would require data centers to cover grid upgrades they necessitate and would speed reviews under major environmental laws. The White House backs quick passage amid broad industry support, though final hurdles remain as midterms loom.
The president has been touring red states ahead of the midterms, tying policy wins to the ballot while defending his economic record amid concerns over energy costs and Iran-related tensions.
The Supreme Court is evaluating whether federal law preempts state and local lawsuits accusing oil companies of climate-related damages. Boulder, Colorado, leads a wave of cases seeking damages for disaster costs, with ExxonMobil and Suncor among the defendants. The decision could affect dozens of similar lawsuits nationwide.
Obama has headlined a Detroit rally for Abdul El-Sayed highlighting establishment support as Michigan’s crucial Senate race unfolds. El-Sayed faces Republican Mike Rogers in a contest that could decide Senate control next year. Obama’s involvement comes as Democrats seek unity amid internal divisions and a broad campaign push.
A Russian lab worker has died amid reports of pneumonic plague in Irkutsk. The case has prompted quarantines and widespread monitoring as officials assess risk to the general population. U.S. and international health authorities are watching closely while cautioning that immediate threats remain limited.
New polls show a widening partisan divide in trust in US election integrity ahead of the midterms. Republicans and independents express lower confidence than Democrats, while Trump’s approval remains historically low. The data suggests that trust in elections is diverging from leadership support, potentially shaping voter behavior in November.
President Donald Trump has suggested at a Nebraska rally that higher fuel prices from the US‑Israel war with Iran are “a small price to pay,” saying “they can take out a city — let them take out Los Angeles, let them take out San Diego.” California officials have called the comments "deranged" and "dangerous," while the White House has called the reaction a "media freakout."
The AI-driven rally has cooled as Temasek flags a potential 2027 bump and warns that the AI trade may reverse. Investors are watching Fed minutes for clues on the next move, while India’s RBI has already tightened policy, underscoring a shifting macro backdrop.