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☆ AI could drive a natural gas boom as power companies face surging electricity demand
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-05 | by ( Spencer Kimball | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +10 min

AI data centers alone are expected to add about 323 terawatt hours of electricity demand in the U.S. by 2030, according to Wells Fargo. The forecast power demand from AI alone is seven times greater than New York City's current annual electricity consumption of 48 terawatt hours. The natural gas industry is betting gas will serve as the preferred choice. Coal plant retirements and data centers could result in 6 bcf/d of new natural gas demand in EQT's backyard by 2030, the CEO said. The level of electricity demand could help lift natural gas prices out of the doldrums.

Persons: Kena, Goldman Sachs, Robert, Richard Kinder, Kinder Morgan, Kinder, Roger Read, Wells, Goldman, Toby Rice, Rice, CNBC's, Christopher Womack, Robert Blue, EQT, Jeremy Knop, Knop, Blue, Read, Lynn, Zack Van Everen, Robert Kinder Organizations: Linden, View Press, Getty, Amazon, Google, Microsoft, Meta, Rystad Energy, Robert Blue Dominion Energy, Gas, Holt, Co, EQT Corp, U.S ., Dominion Energy, Georgia Power, Southern Company, Dominion, Renewables, CNBC, Lynn Good, Energy Locations: Linden New Jersey, U.S, Wells, Wells Fargo, New York, Houston, Pickering, Northern Virginia, Georgia, Appalachian, Virginia, Gulf

☆ US food insecurity: The rising cost of living makes it hard for people with jobs to feed their families
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-04 | by ( Tami Luhby | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —The mix of local residents visiting the Enfield Food Shelf in Connecticut has changed a lot in the last few years. It now seems that one unexpected expense tips people’s finances.”Between 300 and 400 households visit the Enfield Food Shelf in Connecticut each week. Khamphay Khen shops at the Enfield Food Shelf to help feed his family of six. The Enfield Food Shelf serves between 300 and 400 households a week. “Even though there are a lot of jobs available, and the unemployment rate is low, we’re seeing food insecurity increasing,” said East.

Persons: Kathleen Souvigney, Souvigney, ”, “, Jason Jakubowski, Khamphay, he’s, Khen, Honda, it’s, Enfield, Chloe East Organizations: CNN, Enfield Food, Survey, Connecticut Foodshare, Enfield Food Shelf, Urban Institute, The Hamilton, Brookings Institution Locations: Connecticut, Enfield, America

☆ Move over Coachella, there's a new festival wooing influencers in town
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-30 | by ( Amanda Perelli | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Lifestyle influencer Jacqlyn Burnett was more excited this year to attend the country music festival Stagecoach for the first time than to go to Coachella. Stagecoach, the annual country music festival held this past weekend in Southern California, is rivaling the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival as the new favorite among brands and social-media influencers. From the growing interest in country music to fashion, influencers and brands flocked to Stagecoach this year. Some influencers, including Paige Lorenze, Maggie and Emma Macdonald, Estelle Lebourgeois, Chloe Trujillo, and Alyssa Lynch, even skipped Coachella for Stagecoach. Béis, the luggage brand, invited influencers to Stagecoach instead of Coachella, offering themed activities and special access to the festival.

Persons: Jacqlyn Burnett, Beauty, Béis, influencers, Dominick Paielli, he's, Paielli, Paige Lorenze, Maggie, Emma Macdonald, Estelle Lebourgeois, Chloe Trujillo, Alyssa Lynch, Lynch, Liz Flora, Alix Earle, I've, Ali Grant, Stagecoach Mackenzie Gaston, Brynn Wade, Luke Scornavacco, Liz Money Organizations: Stagecoach, Valley Music, Arts Festival, Business, Clementine, Coachella, Tarte, Béis Brands, Stagecoach Mackenzie, 1AM Management Locations: Southern California, Coachella

☆ Ron Insana: The 2024 inflation scare has arrived, but there are still signs of hope for investors
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-30 | by ( Ron Insana | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Elizabeth Frantz | ReutersIt appears the great inflation scare of 2024 is upon us. The Fed's preferred measure of inflation, the core personal consumption expenditures price index, grew 2.8% from a year earlier in March. The recent inflation numbers have reduced the expected number of cuts down to one or two, with the first cut anticipated to arrive much later this year. Some recent signs of cooling emergeCommodity prices, like cocoa , coffee and copper , have been on a tear in 2024. Despite all the military activity in the Middle East, oil prices have been reasonably well behaved, taking into consideration the energy shocks of years past.

Persons: Jerome Powell, Elizabeth Frantz, –, specter Organizations: Federal, Committee, Reuters, Fed, Hamas Locations: Washington , U.S, Israel

☆ More people are working well past retirement age. It’s not easy
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-14 | by ( Nicole Goodkind | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

So last October, at the age of 80, Murray ended her retirement and got a job giving out samples at Costco. Forecasters expect that cohort of older , working Americans to double over the next decade. “More people are working at desk jobs that don’t require much physical labor,” said Gal Wettstein, a senior research economist at the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College. “That’s people who are changing jobs, younger workers and non-college educated workers.” Older workers tend not to change jobs, and they’re more likely to have a college degree. The Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) forbids age discrimination against people who are age 40 or older in the workplace.

Persons: Hope Murray, ”, Murray, she’ll, “, Murray isn’t, Gal Wettstein, Monique Morrissey, ” Morrissey, What’s, Heidi Brockway, Brockway, Morrissey, ageism, Bob Vaughn, Wettstein, Vaughn, Mary Susan, they’ve, Mary Susan’s, they’d, They’re, Diane Reiter, ” Reiter, she’s, I’d, She’s Organizations: New, New York CNN, Gas, Costco, ”, Pew Research Center, Center for Retirement Research, Boston College, Economic Policy Institute, Social, Social Security Agency, Social Security, Lawmakers, AARP, Retirement Research, Amazon, Economic, Worker, Brookings Locations: New York, Hollywood, San Diego, Los Angeles, Southeast Florida, Florida, United States, Charlotte , North Carolina, Asheville, Chicago

☆ Bad news for Biden (and all Americans): Inflation is creeping higher at the worst time
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-11 | by ( Elisabeth Buchwald | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

But, if you’re President Joe Biden, now is a particularly bad time for inflation to reaccelerate. On the other hand, bad economic data, especially regarding inflation, almost certainly guarantees people aren’t going to be feeling better about the economy. Significant progress over the past two years in getting inflation down from multi-decade highs has been of little help to struggling Americans. “We have more to do to lower costs for hardworking families,” he said. The shelter index, a broader component of the inflation report that covers a majority of housing expenses, is up 5.7% year-over-year.

Persons: CNN Business ’, New York CNN — There’s, Joe Biden, Biden, hasn’t, Ron Klain, ”, Ian Maule, he’s, CNN Biden, “ Organizations: CNN Business, New York CNN, Labor, Politico, Biden, Center, CNN, Republican Locations: New York, Las Vegas , Nevada

☆ Bill Gross says this income play is ‘Better than AI.’ How you can get in on it
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-09 | by ( Darla Mercado | Cfp | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Energy prices are surging, and an income-oriented play is getting some love from legendary investor Bill Gross. Better than AI," noting that these master limited partnerships have climbed by double-digits in the past 12 months. MLPs offer investors a way to bet on the exploration, transport and processing of oil and gas. Though the partnership isn't subject to federal income tax, the limited partners face taxes on the income they collect. That means MLP investors could find themselves going on extension to file returns: In that case, they could file their returns as late as Oct. 15.

Persons: Bill Gross, Gross, Stephen Ellis, Ellis Organizations: West Texas, Brent, American Pipeline, NuStar Energy, Morningstar, midstream, Enterprise Products Partners, Targa Resources, Energy, Partners, . Gas, . Enterprise Products, MLP Locations: Asia

☆ Oil price surge is the No. 1 threat to the US economy, Moody’s economist warns
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-08 | by ( Matt Egan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

But there is a growing threat to that sunny economic backdrop: surging oil prices. Global oil prices are flirting with $92 a barrel amid worries about a wider war in the Middle East. US oil prices surged above $87 a barrel late last week for the first time since late October, leaving them up about 21% this year. First, drone attacks on oil refineries deep inside Russia helped lift oil prices last month. Beyond the Middle East tensions, oil and gas prices have been boosted by OPEC and its allies, which continue to restrain supply.

Persons: “, ”, Mark Zandi, Moody’s, Donald Trump, Trump, ” Zandi, hasn’t, Andy Lipow, Brent, ” Helima Croft, Joe Brusuelas, ” Brusuelas, Brusuelas, Vincent Reinhart, Mellon, ” Reinhart, he’s, Patrick De Haan, ” De Haan Organizations: New, New York CNN, Federal Reserve, Wall, CNN, “, Iranian Revolutionary Guards, Lipow Oil Associates, CIA, RBC Capital Markets, RSM, AAA, OPEC, Lipow Locations: New York, Iran, Russia, Syria, Israel, Quds, “

☆ Surging oil prices may challenge the Federal Reserve's inflation fight
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-06 | by ( Spencer Kimball | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Mounting geopolitical tensions stemming from conflict in the Middle East and Eastern Europe have helped drive oil prices to five month highs, challenging the Federal Reserve's fight against inflation. U.S. crude oil gained 4.5% this week, touching $87 a barrel on Friday before settling at $86.91. Rising energy prices may affect the timing or magnitude of interest rate cuts, he said. The Federal Reserve is focused on bringing down core inflation, which excludes volatile energy and food prices. Escalating attacks are coming against a backdrop of an already tightening global crude market.

Persons: Brent, Bart Melek, Andy Lipow, Lipow, Bob Yawger, Yawger, Netanyahu, Manish Raj, White, Biden, John Kilduff, Kilduff, Melek, Saudi Arabia doesn't Organizations: Federal, American Automobile Association, West Texas, TD Securities, Lipow Oil Associates, Mizuho Americas, Valero, Philips, Marathon Petroleum, Velandera Energy Partners, Kyiv, JPMorgan, Financial Times, Again Capital, Bank of America, Saudi Locations: East, Eastern Europe, Iran, Israel, Ukraine, Damascus, Kyiv, Ukrainian, Russia, Saudi Arabia

☆ JPMorgan says oil could rise to nearly $100 a barrel on Russia's 'surprising' actions ahead of U.S. election
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-27 | by ( Spencer Kimball | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The price of global benchmark Brent crude oil could surge to $100 a barrel ahead of the U.S. election as Russia slashes its output, according to JPMorgan. "The shift in Russia's oil strategy is surprising," Natasha Kaneva, head of global commodities strategy at JPMorgan, told clients in a note Wednesday. Russia's cuts could push Brent to $90 in April and nearly $100 by September, which would put pressure on the Biden administration in the runup to the November presidential elections, Kaneva wrote. The White House could, however, tap the strategic petroleum reserve with space to release up to 60 million barrels, Kaneva wrote. Demand destruction, in turn, would result in lower crude prices, according to the analyst.

Persons: Natasha Kaneva, Brent, Biden, Kaneva Organizations: Brent, JPMorgan, Reuters Locations: Russia, Saudi Arabia, Moscow, OPEC, U.S

☆ Surging gas prices just hit a significant milestone
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-18 | by ( Matt Egan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

The recent jump in gas prices is already causing headaches on the inflation front. The last time gas prices were up on a year-over-year basis was late December 2023, according to AAA. Gas prices surge in MichiganAnd the concerns about Russia’s energy facilities is on top of the Houthi attacks on vessels in the Red Sea. “People have this visceral reaction to higher gas prices and they look to fix blame,” said Kloza. Unless there’s a major hurricane that strikes US Gulf Coast refineries, Kloza does not expect gas prices to hit $4 a gallon this year.

Persons: It’s, ”, Andy Lipow, Tom Kloza, Vladimir Putin, Kloza, “ It’s, we’ve, ” Kloza, Biden Organizations: New, New York CNN, White House, Federal Reserve, Gas, “, Lipow Oil Associates, AAA, Oil Price Information Service, CNN, White, Drivers Locations: New York, Russia, Ukraine, Michigan, Red, OPEC, Saudi Arabia, United States, Kloza

☆ Opinion: Trump gives Biden one big lift
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-17 | by ( Richard Galant | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +18 min

Former President Donald Trump’s favorability ratings are only slightly better. The bipartisan legislation to control the flow of migrants across the southern border was blown up by opposition from Trump. One thing that is going right for Biden is Trump himself. “I want to vote for Donald Trump in November, wrote Marc A. Thiessen in the Washington Post. … Just like office holders have released their tax returns (up until former President Donald Trump), I would like to see more candidates release their physical and mental health assessments,” Schurman observed.

Persons: Oscar, ” Ramy Youssef, hungers, Max McCandles, Godwin Baxter, “, Frankenstein, Willem Dafoe, McCandles, Baxter, who’s, ”, Joe Biden’s, Donald Trump’s, Biden, Clay Jones, Trump, Ruth Ben, Ghiat, “ Vladimir Putin, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Viktor Orban, Adolf Hitler, Xi Jinping, Kim Jong, Saddam Hussein, —, — Donald Trump, ‘, ” Ben, Donald Trump, Marc A, Thiessen, Will, that’s, Dana M, Peterson, Erik Lundh, Will RFK, Mary ’, Aaron Rodgers, Julian Zelizer, Kamala Harris, Andrey Spektor, Hunter Biden, Andrea Hailey, We’re, Frederick D, Dennis Aftergut, Bill Bramhall, Hilary Krieger, Gary Schmidt, ” Bradley Schurman, …, Schurman, Robert Hur, Jack Ohman, Patrick T, Brown, Hur, Republicans “, Biden’s, Franklin D, Roosevelt, Willis, Fani Willis, Willis ’, Nathan Wade, Wade, Norman Eisen, Danya Perry, Joshua Kolb, Scott McAfee, Wade’s, ” “, ’ Biden, ” Jose Antonio Vargas, “ It’s, ” Dana Summers, Garry Pierre, Pierre, Ariel Henry, Henry, America sneezes, Frida Ghitis, TikTok, ” Ghitis, Catherine, Princess, Kate, George, Princess Charlotte, Prince Louis, ” Rosa Prince, Louis ’, William, ’, ” Prince, Ekaterina Kotrikadze, Jonathan I, Fareed Zakaria, Carrie Sheffield, Noah Berlatsky, Kristen Stewart’s, queerness, Doug Heye, MAGA Trump, Dean Obeidallah, Katie Britt’s, Amy Hanauer, Naomi Walker, Robert Downey Jr, Da'Vine Joy Randolph, Emma Stone, Cillian Murphy, Arturo Holmes, Jeff Yang, Jack Palance, Warren Beatty, Faye Dunaway, they’d, ” Yang, Cord Jefferson, Lily Gladstone, “ Gladstone, she’s, Leonardo, DiCaprio, Robert DeNiro, Emma Stone’s, Bella, ” Stone Organizations: CNN, Trump, Hamas, GOP, Washington Post, Mar, Hungarian, ”, Conference Board, Will RFK Jr, White House, American Enterprise Institute, Biden, Union, Republicans, Twitter, Pew Research Center, Content Agency Haiti, Haitian Times, Haitian, America, Kensington Palace, AP, Reuters, Agency, North, Hollywood Locations: Gaza, Israel, Ohio, Washington, Ukraine, Afghanistan, America, Georgia, Fulton County, Fulton, he’s, Florida, Texas, Haiti, Puerto Rico, Maryland, China, Wales, Kensington, North America, La, American

Port-au-Prince, Haiti CNN —In a city silenced by gangs, everyone notices the thrum of a helicopter beating overhead in the night – a brief sign that someone very lucky has been able to leave Port-au-Prince. Boulevards that would ordinarily be packed with cars and vendors are empty, the city’s painted “tap tap” taxis rarely full. Haiti was thrown into crisis at the start of March, as gangs called for the resignation of Prime Minister Henry and his government. Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on March 15, 2024. On Monday, amid enormous pressure to do something to staunch the violence in Port-au-Prince, Henry did announce his resignation.

Persons: Haiti CNN —, Prince, Ariel Henry, Evelio Contreras, Jimmy Cherizier, Santo, ”, Henry, –, Haiti’s, Jovenel Moïse Organizations: Haiti CNN, CNN, Kenyan, United Nations, CNN Haiti’s, Port, UN Security Council Locations: Prince, Haiti, Port, Haitian, Lower, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, United States, Kenya

☆ Yet another inflation gauge came in hot for February
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-14 | by ( Alicia Wallace | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Rising energy prices helped to fuel yet another hot inflation reading for February. A closely watched gauge of US wholesale inflation rose at its fastest pace in months, according to new data released Thursday. While a seasonal energy price surge is at the root of the gain, the latest Producer Price Index is yet another reminder of the arduous process to rein in inflation. The hot PPI report comes two days after a similar reading from the Consumer Price Index, a closely watched gauge of inflation at the retail level. Core PPI rose 0.3% for the month, a slowdown from the 0.5% jump in January.

Persons: Price, we’ve, ” Kyle Anderson, ” Organizations: CNN, PPI, of Labor Statistics, Consumer, Federal Reserve, Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business, ”, BLS

☆ A New Surge in Power Use Is Threatening U.S. Climate Goals
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-13 | by ( Brad Plumer | Nadja Popovich | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +14 min

Nathan Howard for The New York TimesIn California, electric vehicles could soon account for 10 percent of peak power demand. AP Photo/Mike StewartIn interviews, utility executives say gas is needed to back up wind and solar power, which don’t run all the time. Gas plants can sometimes be easier to build than renewables, since they may not require new long-distance transmission lines. “It’s going to take a diversified fleet.”Mr. Mitchell noted that Georgia Power was planning a large build-out of solar power and batteries over the next decade and would offer incentives to companies to use less power during times of grid stress. The tech companies and manufacturers that are driving up electricity demand could also play a major role, experts say.

Persons: ”, Daniel Brooks, Nathan Howard, Lauren Justice, Biden’s, “, Tyler H, Norris, Mr, John Wilson, Ken Seiler, Seiler, Devin Hartman, Duke, Kendal Bowman, Duke Energy’s, it’s, we’ve, Georgia Power, It’s, Greg Buppert, Megan Varner, Mike Stewart, Aaron Mitchell, “ It’s, Mitchell, Heather O’Neill, Brian Janous Organizations: Electric Power Research Institute, The New York Times, Duke University, Biden, Utilities, North American Electric Reliability Corporation, Boston Consulting, Dominion Energy, Nationwide, R Street Institute, The New York Times Soaring, Duke Energy, Georgia, Southern Environmental Law Center, AP, Dominion, Georgia Power, Advanced Energy, Microsoft Locations: America, California, Virginia, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina , Tennessee, Kansas, Northern Virginia, Arizona, Texas, Illinois, New Jersey, York City, PJM, “ Texas, Ashburn, Va, Dalton , Ga, Dalton, Duke

☆ CNBC invited Trump on its air. The network didn’t even try to stop his lies
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-12 | by ( Oliver Darcy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

“I believe on the ‘Squawk’ news line, we are joined by former President Donald J. Trump, DJT 45. It’s been a while, Mr. President,” Joe Kernen, co-host of “Squawk Box,” greeted Trump on the air. Almost immediately after commencing the interview, Trump launched into one of his trademark, fact-free rants. Instead, the outlet quickly spliced Trump’s comments into a handful of clips and posted them online, amplifying his comments further. “We appreciate all the time you’ve given us this morning, Mr. President,” Kernen said.

Persons: Donald Trump, “, Donald J, Trump, It’s, ” Joe Kernen, ”, Kernen, Joe Biden’s, Biden, ” Trump, Andrew Ross Sorkin, Sorkin, Brian Roberts, Rachel Maddow, “ Biden, Fani Willis, Jean Carroll, ominously, ” Kernen Organizations: New York CNN, CNBC, Monday, Republican, U.S . Energy Information Administration, Trump, NBCU News Group, Comcast, NBC, MSNBC Locations: New York, Joe Biden’s State, U.S, Trump, China, Fulton County

☆ Gas prices have surged to four-month highs. Don’t panic
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-11 | by ( Matt Egan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

A gas price spike might be the last thing President Joe Biden needs to convince skeptical voters about his economic agenda. But experts say there is no reason to panic about gas prices, at least not yet. Gas prices always rise at this time of the year. Of course, there’s always the potential for unexpected events that could spike gas prices. If anything, De Haan said the earlier-than-expected jump in gas prices this year could cause prices to peak sooner than usual.

Persons: it’s, That’s, Joe Biden, Bespoke’s Paul Hickey, ” Hickey, “, ”, Patrick De Haan, Andy Lipow, Lipow, there’s, GasBuddy’s De Haan, De Haan Organizations: New, New York CNN, AAA, Federal, Investment, CNN, Whiting, BP Locations: New York, Indiana —, Michigan, Illinois, OPEC, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Saudi Aramco, Ukraine

Those more concerned with the climate crisis are asking a bigger question: what does this all mean for the planet? Gas-powered cars, hybrids and EVs all emit roughly the same amount of pollution to manufacture, until you get to producing the battery. Fully electric cars use large batteries made of materials that require heavy mining. And that would still mean less climate pollution on the road overall. And fully electric cars won’t be truly “green” until the energy that charges them comes from renewable sources, like wind and solar.

Persons: Akio Toyoda, EVs, Joe Biden’s, Toyota’s, Daniel Sperling, —, ”, Sam Abuelsamid, Abuelsamid, InfluenceMap, Biden, Kelley, Albert Gore, Gore, I’m, “, ” Monica Nagashima, Lia, Kena, Stephen Ciccone, ” Ciccone, BEV, ” UC’s Sperling Organizations: CNN, Toyota, Auto, US, Toyota Prius Prime, Toyota Toyota, Institute of Transportation Studies, University of California, Ford, EPA, Gas, American Council for, Prius, EV, InfluenceMap, United, Lexus, Cox Automotive, Zero Emission Transportation Association, Getty, Toyota Motor North America, ” Toyota Locations: California, West Virginia, Canada, Australia, United States, EVs, InfluenceMap’s, Japan, Rockland, Blauvelt , New York

☆ A boomer couple who moved from Minnesota to Florida said they 'lost pretty much everything' in a hurricane but don't regret the move
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-08 | by ( Noah Sheidlower | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

A boomer and her husband moved to southwest Florida from Minnesota to start her clothing business. They moved to southern Minnesota, then northern Minnesota to an off-the-grid cabin an hour north of Duluth. They knew northern Minnesota was not conducive to starting a business, so they considered Florida an ideal location. She said she's also adjusting to the fishing scene in Florida, which is mainly saltwater, compared to freshwater fishing in Minnesota. Despite all she's been through, Pelton thinks she'll stay in Florida for the time being — the only other place she's considering is India.

Persons: it's, —, Barbara Pelton, Little, Ian, Minnesota Pelton, she's, Pelton, she'll Organizations: Service, Survey, Sunshine State, Minnesota, FEMA, Day, Labor Day Locations: Florida, Minnesota, Hurricane, Duluth, snowstorms, India

☆ Get Ready for the Great Trump Diaspora
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-06 | by ( Paul Starobin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

The Atlantic devoted an entire issue to the authoritarian horrors in store for America "If Trump Wins." AdvertisementA second Trump presidency, Speer said, could serve as a "catalyst" that further fuels the growing diaspora of Americans living in exile. Since 2015, Democrats Abroad, the foreign-based arm of the DNC, has nearly tripled its membership. Since 2015, Democrats Abroad, the foreign-based arm of the Democratic National Committee, has nearly tripled its membership, which now numbers in the hundreds of thousands. My wife and I are both Trump decriers, although we didn't begin our Italy property search to find a refuge from MAGA-infused America.

Persons: specter, Donald Trump —, Trump, Gallup, George W, Bush's, Barack Obama's, Doris Speer, Speer, —, Roe, Wade —, Martha McDevitt, Pugh, Emily, Francophiles, Ernest Hemingway, James Baldwin —, Nicole Kidman's, MAGA, batty, it's, John Galey, Paul Starobin Organizations: Washington Post, Trump, America, Association of Americans Resident Overseas, dodgers, DNC, Democratic National Committee, Leggett, Italy Facebook, Côte, IRS, Citizens Abroad, Los Angeles Times, New Books Network Locations: Umbria, Italy, Montana, Tuscany, Texas, Tennessee, America, Canada, Washington, Paris, United States, Iraq, Europe, Vietnam, Sedona , Arizona, Portugal, Spain, France, United Kingdom, Norway, Netherlands, Hong Kong, Bangkok, Buenos Aires, Golden, California, MAGA

☆ Tracking an Invisible Climate Menace From 360 Miles Above
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-03 | by ( Malika Khurana | Hiroko Tabuchi | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +8 min

Gas sensor housing Infrared sensor Spectrometer Tracking an Invisible Climate Menace From 360 Miles Above There will soon be a new eye in the sky that’s designed to detect emissions of methane, an invisible yet potent gas that is dangerously heating the world. MethaneSAT will sweep the globe using a high-resolution infrared sensor to detect and track methane leaks from oil and gas sites worldwide. Scientists estimate that human-caused methane emissions are responsible for up to 30 percent of the global warming being experienced today. Figuring out where methane emissions are happening, how big they are and who’s responsible has been a challenge. Methane also seeps from natural sources, like flooded wetlands, but the majority of methane emissions today come from human activity.

Persons: ”, Steven Hamburg, ’, Dr, Hamburg, MethaneSAT, “, Drew Shindell, wasn’t, Biden, Bjorn Otto Sverdrup Organizations: Environmental Defense Fund, Google, Duke University, MethaneSAT, Union, Oil, Climate Initiative, Star Locations: Texas, United States

☆ Higher-for-longer interest rates favor large companies over their smaller rivals in many ways
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-18 | by ( Bryan Mena | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

High interest rates squeeze companies of all sizes, but that’s especially the case for smaller firms, unlike large companies better equipped to weather the storm. Before the Bell: How do the effects of higher-for-longer interest rates on companies vary by size? I think it might be a stretch to say that M&A activity picks up because of higher interest rates, so instead, it’s that if good businesses are beginning to suffer because of higher interest rates, then they might be more likely to be a target. Gas prices always rise as winter winds down because demand increases and gas stations must switch over to more expensive summer fuel. No matter the cause, rising gas prices are bad news for consumers already frustrated by the cost of living.

Persons: It’s, Bell, Lauren Goodwin, Matt Egan, ”, Patrick De Haan, doesn’t, ” Read, Raphael Bostic, Michelle Bowman, Philip Jefferson, Patrick Harker, Lisa Cook, Neel Kashkari, Christopher Waller Organizations: CNN Business, Bell, DC CNN, Federal Reserve, New York Life Investments, AAA, ’, HSBC, Walmart, Home Depot, Barclays, Caesars Entertainment, Nvidia, Rivian, Fidelity, Marriott, Intuit, Pacific Gas & Electric, Global, Chicago Fed, US Labor Department, National Association of Realtors, Warner Bros ., Icahn Enterprises Locations: Washington, Wingstop, United States

☆ What the U.S. can learn from Norway when it comes to EV adoption
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-17 | by ( Jeniece Pettitt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Norway boasts the highest electric vehicle adoption rate in the world. Some 82% of new car sales were EVs in Norway in 2023, according to the Norwegian Road Federation (OFV). In comparison, 7.6% of new car sales were electric in the U.S. last year, according to Kelley Blue Book estimates. In the world's largest auto market, China, 24% of new car sales were EVs in 2023, according to the China Passenger Car Association. So that's a big advantage," said Petter Haugneland, the assistant secretary general of the Norwegian EV Association.

Persons: Kelley, Ragnhild Syrstad, Syrstad, Petter Haugneland Organizations: Norwegian Road Federation, China Passenger Car Association, Norwegian Ministry of, Norwegian EV Association . CNBC Locations: Norway, U.S, China, Norwegian, Oslo

☆ Don’t look now but gas prices are rising fast
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-16 | by ( Matt Egan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Gas prices always rise as winter winds down because demand increases and gas stations must switch over to more expensive summer fuel. No matter the cause, rising gas prices are bad news for consumers already frustrated by the cost of living. And they undercut the election year message of a White House that previously pointed to cheap gas prices as evidence that Bidenomics is working. First, oil prices — the main driver of retail gas prices — tend to increase during this time of the year. For instance, without the usual backstop, last summer’s historic heatwave that knocked some refineries offline unexpectedly lifted gas prices across the country.

Persons: New York CNN —, ”, Patrick De Haan, doesn’t, De Haan, That’s, Andy Lipow, It’s, BP’s Whiting, Whiting, Lipow, ” Lipow Organizations: New, New York CNN, AAA, ’, Lipow Oil Associates, ”, BP, heatwave Locations: New York, Washington, Southern California, Indiana, Midwest, Ohio, Illinois, Colorado , Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, That’s, Israel, Iran, Saudi Arabia

☆ Retail sales tumbled 0.8% in January, much more than expected
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-15 | by ( Jeff Cox | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Consumer spending fell sharply in January, presenting a potential early danger sign for the economy, the Commerce Department reported Thursday. Advance retail sales declined 0.8% for the month following a downwardly revised 0.4% gain in December, according to the Census Bureau. Even excluding autos, sales dropped 0.6%, well below the estimate for a 0.2% gain. The sales report is adjusted for seasonal factors but not for inflation, so the report showed spending lagging the pace of price increases. While the New York survey still indicated contraction, it was a much better reading than January's -43.7 and the -15 estimate.

Persons: Dow Jones Organizations: Commerce Department, Advance, Census, Labor Department, Gas, Federal, Empire, Investors, Federal Reserve Locations: U.S, Philadelphia, New York, York

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