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☆ The housing market’s still in limbo - but homebuyers could pile back into the market if mortgage rates hit this key level
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-21 | by ( Phil Rosen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

"Home sales are trying to recover and are highly sensitive to changes in mortgage rates," NAR economist Lawrence Yun said. He added that home prices are still climbing in regions where jobs are being added and housing is relatively affordable. cutting rates) in the next 12 months, which will again sway the housing sector. With that outlook in mind, the economist said "home sales will steadily rebound despite several months of fluctuations." Even in a tight market, this home expert still sees potential to save money on interest rates.

☆ Peace, love, and Hitler: How Lex Fridman's podcast became a safe space for the anti-woke tech elite
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-03 | by ( Julia Black | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +26 min

Seemingly overnight, episodes of Fridman's podcast began racking up millions of views. YouTube/Lex FridmanIn his podcast, Fridman asks world-renowned scientists, historians, artists, and engineers a series of wide-eyed questions ("Who is God? But recently, "The Lex Fridman Podcast" has become a haven for a growing — and powerful — sector looking to dismantle years of "wokeness" and cancel culture. Twitter"The Lex Fridman Podcast" offered a rare opportunity to listen to four-hour conversations with luminaries of tech and science. Bhaskar Sunkara, the founder and publisher of the socialist magazine Jacobin who appeared on Fridman's podcast in December, praised Fridman's interviewing style.

☆ Tesla owners reveal the best and worst features of their cars, and what they really think of Elon Musk
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-11 | by ( Tim Levin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Insider spoke with more than a dozen Tesla owners to learn what they like most and least about their cars. We talked to more than a dozen Tesla owners to find out what they like most about their cars — and what they think needs improvement. Since electric cars don't experience the same acceleration lag as gas vehicles, Teslas jolt forward the instant you put your foot down. Con: Stiff rideSome Model 3 and Y owners told Insider their cars are too stiff and jittery over bumpy pavement. Tim Levin/InsiderOver and over, Tesla owners praised the company's extensive network of fast chargers, which is exclusive to Tesla owners in the US.

☆ Elon Musk said he's getting rid of the 'legacy' Twitter Blue badge, the longtime free verification for labeling famous and notable users
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-03 | by ( Lakshmi Varanasi | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Elon Musk tweeted Friday that legacy Twitter Blue would soon be sunset. Susan Walsh/APElon Musk tweeted Friday that legacy Twitter Blue, which he calls Blue Verified, will soon be sunset. Until now, the platform allowed people with "free" blue checks under Twitter's old verification system to keep them. That meant that blue checks wouldn't just go freely to notable figures to denote their authenticity, but to anyone who paid a monthly fee for Twitter Blue. But some key questions remain: What will happen to notable figures who fail to pay for Twitter Blue?

The central bank lifted its main funds rate by 25 bps to its highest since 2007 as it continued its fight against inflation. Yet the S&P 500 (.SPX) hit a five-month high, as traders focused resolutely on the idea that the world's most influential central bank would change course soon. Government bond markets meanwhile continued to price in rate cuts by year-end as the economic cycle turns. Over in Europe, the European Central Bank delivered a hefty 50 bps hike on Thursday and promised more of the same for March and beyond. "In terms of the impact of (central bank) hawkishness on markets," he added, "this has significantly softened."

Towns said the lawmakers could have until early spring, otherwise, to develop and fine tune any proposals that emerge from Nichols' death. Share this -Link copiedMemphis police’s vaunted Scorpion unit is deactivated after Tyre Nichols' death Memphis police’s vaunted Scorpion unit has been permanently deactivated. Share this -Link copiedNFL calls for change after 'senseless death' of Tyre Nichols A day after the release of video showing the police beating of Tyre Nichols, the NFL on Saturday condemned the violence. Demonstrations continued Saturday in Atlanta, Boston and Charlotte following the release of video footage showing five former Memphis police officers beating Tyre Nichols, who died on Jan. 10. Attorney Blake Ballin’s comments follow the release of video footage showing the officers punching and kicking Tyre Nichols during a Jan. 7 traffic stop.

☆ California authorities want to disbar John Eastman for trying to help Trump overturn the 2020 election results
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-26 | by ( Jacob Shamsian | Charles R. Davis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

California legal authorities want to disbar John Eastman for trying to keep Donald Trump in power. Following Trump's loss in the 2020 election, Eastman, a former professor at the Chapman University School of Law, drafted legal memos that purported to offer avenues to keep him in office. The former law professor is one of many lawyers allied with Trump who has faced professional consequences for pursuing false conspiracy theories about the 2020 election. Giuliani has also been sued by election technology companies he implicated in false conspiracy theories about the election results, and has lost his ability to practice law in New York. Jeffrey Clark, a former Trump Administration Justice Department official who tried to overturn the election results, is also facing charges from the DC bar.

☆ Biden's mishandling of classified records isn't as legally perilous as Trump's, but may pose serious national security risks
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-11 | by ( Sonam Sheth | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Trump's former White House lawyer told Insider that AG Garland should appoint a special counsel to investigate Biden. A source familiar with the matter told CNN that Lausch has finished the initial part of his investigation and presented his preliminary findings to Garland. Still, he criticized the White House for waiting more than two months to disclose the existence of the inquiry. "It appears that at least two of the aggravating factors, obstruction and willfulness, are present in the Trump case, but absent in the Biden case." Cobb, Trump's former White House counsel, went further, saying that drawing a distinction between the two cases is akin to "putting lipstick on a pig."

☆ The December jobs report sent mixed signals. Here's what it means for markets.
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-09 | by ( Phil Rosen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

The December jobs report is another data point that signals the Fed has more work to do to cool the economy. "A labor market this strong means an imminent recession is highly improbable," Indeed Hiring Lab economist Nick Bunker wrote in a note. While stocks usually sell off after these strong reports, fearing the worst from the Fed, Friday saw a strong rally. History suggests there are very strong odds the stock market gains 20% this year after last year's bludgeoning. Tesla stock has tumbled to multiyear lows.

☆ Tesla's set to grow its lead in the electric car race despite its worrying demand slump, Morgan Stanley says
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-29 | by ( Alexa St. John | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

But Elon Musk's automaker remains poised to lead the EV race in 2023, Morgan Stanley said this week. EV supply outpacing consumer demand next year will benefit Tesla. Tesla will "widen its lead in the EV race" next year, Adam Jonas said. Even with the increased competition, Tesla may be in a position to extend its lead in 2023, Jonas wrote. All automakers, Tesla included, have struggled to get the cost of their EVs down.

☆ Ex-Russian president makes surprise trip to Beijing as Zelenskyy arrives in Washington, highlighting growing divisions between superpowers
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-21 | by ( Sinéad Baker | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

China's reaction to the Ukraine war differs from the strong retaliation from the US and the West. Medvedev, who was formerly Russia's president and prime minister, is now the deputy chairman of Russia's Security Council. First lady Jill Biden receives flowers from Olena Zelenskyy, spouse of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, earlier this year. Putin conceded in September, however, that China had concerns about the Ukraine war, telling Xi: "We understand your questions and concerns in this regard." The White House said the US president, Joe Biden, invited Zelenskyy "to underscore the United States' enduring commitment to Ukraine."

☆ Exclusive: Afghan government officials helped smugglers sneak almost $1 billion in cash and gold out of Afghanistan as the US-backed government neared collapse, documents show
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-20 | by ( Mattathias Schwartz | Edris Lutfi | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +13 min

The office of Ashraf Ghani, the US-backed Afghan president, had been informed about the problem, insiders say. The smuggling flouted Afghan laws requiring travelers to declare cash or gold worth $10,000 or more and a strict ban on exporting $20,000 or more. The documents identify the two men as being part of the 2021 smuggling ring; they do not allege who was behind the $824 million smuggled in 2019 and 2020. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani meets with President Joe Biden in June 2021. The UAE is also the home of Ghani and Noor, the former provincial governor with alleged ties to the Hairatan smuggling ring.

☆ A globally critical chip firm is driving a wedge between the U.S. and Netherlands over China tech policy
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-05 | by ( Arjun Kharpal | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

The U.S. has been putting pressure on the Netherlands to block exports to China of high-tech semiconductor equipment. The Netherlands is home to ASML, one of the most important companies in the global semiconductor supply chain. Instead, it makes and sells $200 million extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography machines to semiconductor manufacturers like Taiwan's TSMC. ASML has not been able to ship an EUV machine to China since 2019 due to various Dutch export restrictions, according to a company spokesperson. According to a Reuters report from 2020, the Dutch government withdrew ASML's license to export its EUV machines to China after extensive lobbying from the U.S. government.

☆ Gaylord Perry, Baseball Hall of Famer, two-time Cy Young winner and master of the spitball, dies at 84
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-01 | by ( The Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +3 min

GAFFNEY, S.C. — Baseball Hall of Famer and two-time Cy Young Award winner Gaylord Perry, a master of the spitball who wrote a book about using pitch, died Thursday. Gaylord Perry of the Atlanta Braves signing autographs prior to a season game at Fulton County Stadium in August 1981 in Atlanta. Baseball Hall of Famer Gaylord Perry greets fans at the All-Star FanFest in Washington on July 14, 2018. Perry was ejected from a game just once for doctoring a baseball — when he was with Seattle in August 1982. After his career, Perry founded the baseball program at Limestone College in Gaffney and was its coach for the first three years.

☆ Many of Donald Trump's legal problems are coming to an end as he launches his 3rd presidential run — but the biggest risks remain
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-27 | by ( Jacob Shamsian | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Donald Trump has steadfastly settled a number of major legal headaches in the lead-up to his 2024 run. In the lead-up to his announcement this month announcing a third presidential run, he cleared many of them away. Some of Trump's legal headaches he just can't get rid of, no matter how hard he rages. ...with a few major exceptionsTrump's most severe legal problems are also the ones he will have the most difficulty getting rid of. Trump's efforts to stay in power despite the will of American voters have also drawn scrutiny in Georgia.

☆ How Elon Musk’s Twitter Faces Mountain of Debt, Falling Revenue and Surging Costs
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-21 | by ( Mark Maurer | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +10 min

Elon Musk says his $44 billion Twitter takeover might result in a bankruptcy filing. To make the deal work, Mr. Musk has been trying to add subscription revenue and reassure advertisers about the platform’s future. What’s more, the company’s debt stack now includes floating-rate debt, meaning that interest costs are set to rise as the Federal Reserve continues to increase interest rates. Twitter’s credit ratings, which were below investment grade before the transaction with Mr. Musk, have deteriorated further. For that, Mr. Musk would need to persuade potential investors that he has a viable long-term business plan, he said.

☆ Elon Musk just unfollowed ex-Twitter CEO Parag Agrawal, the latest escalation in a lengthy feud that has included blunt texts, clashes over bots, and lawsuits
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-16 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: 1 min

Musk & Agrawal appeared to first talk in MarchElon Musk. Susan Walsh/APTesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk started buying Twitter stock on an almost-daily basis in January. Messages between Musk and Agrawal were released in September as part of a lawsuit Twitter filed against Musk. Musk, Agrawal, and Twitter chair Bret Taylor met for a meal near San Jose on March 31. "Memorable for multiple reasons," Agrawal texted.

☆ Meet Donald Trump's children with Ivana Trump, Marla Maples, and Melania Trump
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-09 | by ( Business Insider | Lloyd Lee | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

Donald Trump has five children between two of his former wives and his current wife Melania Trump. Donald Trump Jr., Eric Trump, and Ivanka Trump are children with his first wife, Ivana Trump, who died on July 14. Getty Images/Joe CorriganNow a father of five, Donald Trump Jr. was 12 when Ivana Trump and Donald Trump Sr. divorced. In 2001, a year after he graduated from college, Donald Trump Jr. went to work for his dad for the second time. He told New York magazine that Donald Trump Jr. is like his mentor and Ivanka Trump is like his second mother.

☆ DOJ rests in Oath Keepers trial without calling witnesses who pleaded guilty to seditious conspiracy
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-03 | by ( Ryan J. Reilly | Ryan J. Reilly Is A Justice Reporter For Nbc News. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +4 min

WASHINGTON — Federal prosecutors rested their case against Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes and four other members of the far-right organization on Wednesday without calling three cooperating defendants who pleaded guilty to seditious conspiracy. But the government did not call for three members of the group who pleaded guilty to seditious conspiracy — Joshua James, Brian Ulrich and William Todd Wilson — before resting their case. Stewart Rhodes, founder of the Oath Keepers, speaks during a rally outside the White House in Washington on Jun. Susan Walsh / AP fileProsecutors may have decided that presenting any of the three defendants who pleaded guilty to seditious conspiracy would be too much of a risk on cross examination. Prosecutors also can't explicitly argue that because a witness pleaded guilty to seditious conspiracy that the defendants are guilty of the same charge, which limits the value of their testimony.

☆ The Federal Reserve just upped the ante in its inflation fight (again). A central bank expert explains what it means and what happens next.
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-03 | by ( Phil Rosen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

In case you missed it, you should know the Federal Reserve yesterday raised interest rates by 75 basis points. In this March 20, 2019, file photo, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell speaks during a news conference in Washington. In his Wednesday press conference, Chairman Jerome Powell reiterated the central bank's commitment to bringing down inflation, made evident by the three-quarter point move. The pound is also down, as traders brace for the Bank of England's interest rate decision later today. The chief market strategist of a $1.1 trillion firm explained why markets could rally for the rest of the year but ultimately crater 10% next year.

☆ Elon Musk has fired Twitter CEO Parag Agrawal. From blunt text messages and clashes over bots to lawsuits and a poop emoji, here's a history of their relationship.
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-29 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: 1 min

☆ Why the 'Amazonification' of startups isn't always a good thing
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-19 | by ( Jordan Parker Erb | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Plus, we've got news on actual robots, who are threatening to pit humans against machines. That's not always a good thing. Companies love to hire Amazon alumni who inject their firms with Jeff Bezos' metrics-focused style. Amazon-trained leaders (sometimes known as "Jeff Bots") have founded more than 650 startups, and swaths have joined the industry's top C-suites, contributing to the "Amazonification" of said firms. Now, humans need to determine how to synchronize our labor with the souls of new machines — before things get out of hand.

☆ Biden's surprise move to reclassify cannabis could supercharge legal weed — but it also carries big risks for companies and investors
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-07 | by ( Jeremy Berke | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

He announced pardons for federal cannabis possession and ordered a review of how cannabis is scheduled. While Biden's announcement stopped far short of decriminalization, he outlined three key steps:He's pardoning people federally convicted of simple cannabis possession. Biden's announcement signals that his administration — quiet on cannabis until now — will finally push for federal cannabis reform. Stifel analyst Andrew Partheniou called Biden's announcement "the most important development in US cannabis history," in a Friday morning note. If the government decides to regulate cannabis like a pharmaceutical, that could undermine the recreational cannabis industry as it currently stands.

☆ 'Barrett is like Jesus' for evangelical voters: Why confirming a new Supreme Court justice before the election mattered more to Republicans than another coronavirus stimulus
▼ + stars: | 2020-10-28 | by ( Oma Seddiq | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

It pales in comparison to getting the Supreme Court justice," an expert told Insider. The federal judge — now a newly minted Supreme Court Justice — is the first nominee in US history to be confirmed this close to an Election Day. McConnell's 'leave no vacancy behind' mindset about the courtsAnd the timing couldn't have been more ideal for the party, experts told Insider. In total, the top Republican has overseen 220 confirmations, including three Supreme Court justices. The Supreme Court offers them a shortcut "to enforce these kinds of values that they're really concerned about."

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