Divide and conquer … er, cut – The Federal Reserve delivered its third rate cut of 2025, lowering its benchmark rate by 25 basis points in a sharply divided 9–3 vote—the largest dissent since 2019. Policymakers signaled caution in their updated “dot plot,” projecting just one cut each in 2026 and 2027, while upgrading 2026 GDP growth expectations to 2.3% from 1.8%. (Sources: CNBC and Sherwood News)

Build it and they will come – This year, US municipal bond sales set a new record for the second year in a row, surpassing $500 billion for the first time. The 2025 total has already eclipsed last year’s tally of around $494 billion, as states and local governments ramp up borrowing to address infrastructure needs and take advantage of strong investor demand in the muni market. (Source: Bloomberg)

When one door closes … – China’s trade surplus soared past $1 trillion for the first time in the first 11 months of 2025, driven by booming exports to Europe, Australia, and Southeast Asia as manufacturers pivoted away from the US market amid steep tariffs. Shipments to the US, however, dropped nearly 30% year over year. (Source: Reuters)

Now that’s a real jackpot – In 2024, the seven states with legal online casinos collected a combined $2.1 billion in tax revenue from gambling apps, while the 30 states with legal online sportsbooks brought in about $2.9 billion. Despite far fewer states allowing online casino gaming, lawmakers across the country are eyeing legalization as a way to boost budgets, even as concerns about addiction and predatory marketing grow. (Source: The New York Times)

Apparently, petty theft doesn’t have a tax bracket – A recent survey found that wealthy Americans are more likely to steal from self-serve checkouts, with 40% of households earning over $100,000 admitting to skipping scans—more than double the rate of those earning under $30,000. Surprisingly, nearly half of these high earners say rising prices are driving their petty theft, tempting even the affluent to bend the rules. (Source: MSN)

I’m tired of this, grandpa – Just 19% of adults under 30 follow news “all or most of the time,” compared with 49% of those 65 and older—a gap that’s widened sharply since 2016. Instead of traditional outlets, younger audiences turn to social platforms and creators, while overall news engagement is dropping across every age group, signaling a wave of headline fatigue nationwide. (Source: Pew Research)

Bring out the champagne and caviar – America is seeing a record number of retirement-savings millionaires. Thanks to three straight years of strong stock market gains, 3.2% of the more than three million 401(k) accounts tracked by Alight now have balances of $1 million or more—double the percentage from just two years ago. But with today’s rising costs, the classic “millionaire lifestyle” may actually require closer to $5 million to maintain. (Source: The Wall Street Journal)

You shall not pass! – Australia has become the first country to ban social media accounts for anyone under 16, a landmark law that took effect this week. Platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube must now enforce strict age verification to protect kids from online harm and addictive algorithms, with noncompliance risking hefty penalties. (Source: CNN)

Santa came early, but now he's on the lam – A drone dropped steak, crab legs, weed, and cigarettes in the prison yard of the Lee Correctional Institution in South Carolina last week. Unfortunately for the intended recipients, corrections officers caught the contraband. Flying a drone is a misdemeanor in South Carolina, but dropping contraband is a felony that could land the pilot behind bars for up to 10 years. (Source: CBS News)

No days off – Kevin Byard has played 161 consecutive regular-season games over 10 NFL seasons, never missing a game—a streak unmatched by any current NFL defender. Byard credits his longevity to good fortune and a combination of methodology and mentality. (Source: The Athletic)