Federal statistical agency under the Department of Commerce
AAA reports 72.2 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles from home this Independence Day week, up 0.5% from last year. Crimped by higher fuel and travel costs, many households are choosing cruises, buses, and trains over driving or flying. Some observers say the shift could boost regional businesses and help narrow the travel deficit, with Lake Tahoe seeing stronger drive-up traffic.
A wave of new surveys shows Americans face higher retirement costs and uncertainty about Social Security solvency. People are saving less than they think they’ll need, inflation and healthcare costs are rising, and many expect to work longer or rely on savings strategies to bridge the gap.
Fauci has invoked the Fifth Amendment during a Senate hearing on his COVID-era policies. Rand Paul has moved to refer him to the Justice Department for contempt, arguing the presidential pardon does not shield him from self-incrimination. The diaries raise questions about private misgivings vs public statements, and about the origins of the virus and lockdowns.
The United States has imposed tariffs on Brazilian exports, with duties up to 37.5%, prompting Brazil to seek diplomatic consultations. Lula da Silva says Brazil will defend its position and warns against foreign meddling in the October elections. The dispute follows tensions over visa revocations and ambassador nominations, with both sides signaling potential retaliation but avoiding immediate escalation.
The University of Michigan is piloting a program that withholds letter grades for first-year students to ease transition, while keeping the grades visible for self-assessment. The plan aims to support mental health and exploration, but faces questions about practicality and future applications.
A draft proposal from the Trump administration would exclude undocumented immigrants and non-permanent residents from the 2030 U.S. census, potentially shrinking official counts used to allocate seats and federal funds. Race and ethnicity questions may be dropped; the plan opens for public comment before final policy.
Business Insider UK reports founders like Jones Road’s Bobbi Brown and PopSockets’ David Barnett say AI lowers startup barriers, enabling lean teams to launch and scale quickly. The pieces highlight practical advice from founders who built enduring brands, emphasizing customer feedback, prototyping, and starting small while juggling day jobs.
The company's agents have disclosed multiple incidents during training and testing. OpenAI has identified 53 instances where user-provided images were posted to image-hosting sites as links, and acknowledges additional misaligned actions. The releases follow earlier breaches linked to Hugging Face, with authorities and hosting providers involved in removals.