Former Congressman Blows The Whistle On Blackmail And Honeypots In Congress In a candid interview with Human Events editor Jack Posobiec, f ormer Rep. Madison Cawthorn (R-NC) alleged that blackmail and sexual honeypot operations are far more prevalent than the American public is aware of. Cawthorn, who was elected to represent North Carolina's 11th congressional district at just 25 years old in 20...
Former Congressman Blows The Whistle On Blackmail And Honeypots In Congress In a candid interview with Human Events editor Jack Posobiec, f ormer Rep. Madison Cawthorn (R-NC) alleged that blackmail and sexual honeypot operations are far more prevalent than the American public is aware of. Cawthorn, who was elected to represent North Carolina's 11th congressional district at just 25 years old in 2020, described the typical path these lurrid situations take. It often begins at donor dinners or late-night votes, when members unwind with drinks or head back toward Capitol Hill. While many lawmakers prefer socializing with fellow congressmen to avoid complications with staffers or outside interests, invitations can quickly turn strangely personal. " Normally, the way I found that these things start getting off the ground is that it starts out—you’re maybe at a donor dinner or getting dinner after a late night of votes, ” Cawthorn said. "Then, you know, everyone has friends inside of Congress, so you start hanging out with friends. Maybe you’re grabbing drinks, or on the way back to Capitol Hill, heading back to your homes." "Then you start building these relationships, and most congressmen like to hang out with other congressmen, just because there are so many problems when you hang out with staffers or people with different angles in other parts of the Beltway, the former lawmaker continued. "I will tell you, normally, the way I came across this is that people start inviting me and saying, “Hey, why don’t you come back? My wife would love to hang out with you, and we can see what could be going on here. I think we’d have a really good time if we all got together in this way.” " Then you start piecing it together and say, “Wait a minute, what kind of invitation is this? This sounds really weird. What do you mean leave my phone at the house?” That doesn’t make any sense—these random things they’re saying. It becomes very clear what they’re looking for. That’s the big one—...
400tmax/iStock Unreleased via Getty Images Schwab US Broad Market ETF ( SCHB ) primarily tracks the Dow Jones U.S. Broad Stock Market Index . As a result, it very closely resembles the S&P 500 and its index tracking fund ( SPY ), though with broader market exposure. The returns over the last ten years have been almost identical, with SCHB slightly underperforming SPY. Data by YCharts SCHB predomin...
400tmax/iStock Unreleased via Getty Images Schwab US Broad Market ETF ( SCHB ) primarily tracks the Dow Jones U.S. Broad Stock Market Index . As a result, it very closely resembles the S&P 500 and its index tracking fund ( SPY ), though with broader market exposure. The returns over the last ten years have been almost identical, with SCHB slightly underperforming SPY. Data by YCharts SCHB predominantly remains a proxy for broad-based allocation to U.S. equities. With an expense ratio of 0.03% and passive index tracking, this is a low-cost index fund for passive investors who simply seek exposure to U.S. equities. However, at present, due to elevated equity valuations, higher earnings multiples, lower yields, and higher risk-free rates, the proposition for allocating assets to broad-based equities, whether via SCHB or SPY, warrants cautious evaluation. Portfolio Allocation The current allocation is tilted towards the technology sector, followed by financials, with just a little under ~50% combined exposure to these two sectors. The current sector allocation is similar to that of the S&P 500. However, with reference to holdings, Schwab U.S. Broad Market ETF ( SCHB ) holds around ~2,400 securities at present, with some exposure to mid to small cap subset as well, although the primary constitution remains predominantly large-cap. The top ten holdings are largely technology-focused businesses. Leaving Berkshire Hathaway Inc. ( BRK.B ) aside, virtually every other holding is highly impacted and sensitive to the technological developments and thereby reflects a little more uncertainty for formulating future expectations. The dividend yield is modest, and the returns are attributable largely to the long-term capital appreciation of the underlying securities. Top holdings (SCHB Webpage) Although there might be nothing inherently wrong with the current allocation, considering SCHB is a broad-based index fund, nevertheless, especially for value-focused investors, when we also ...
On this episode of Motley Fool Money, Motley Fool analyst Sanmeet Deo talks with Dr. Will Van Derveer and Keith Kurlander, founders of the Integrative Psychiatry Institute, about the shift from using psychedelics as a counterculture fringe movement to an FDA-backed clinical model
On this episode of Motley Fool Money, Motley Fool analyst Sanmeet Deo talks with Dr. Will Van Derveer and Keith Kurlander, founders of the Integrative Psychiatry Institute, about the shift from using psychedelics as a counterculture fringe movement to an FDA-backed clinical model
takasuu Wall Street's major averages jumped on Friday to end at record highs after Iran declared the Strait of Hormuz open for commercial vessels. President Donald Trump, however, said the naval blockade will remain in effect. The benchmark S&P 500 ( SP500 ) closed up 1.2% to the record high of 7,126.07 points . On the week-to-date basis, the benchmark gained 4.54%. Seeking Alpha analyst Agar Capi...
takasuu Wall Street's major averages jumped on Friday to end at record highs after Iran declared the Strait of Hormuz open for commercial vessels. President Donald Trump, however, said the naval blockade will remain in effect. The benchmark S&P 500 ( SP500 ) closed up 1.2% to the record high of 7,126.07 points . On the week-to-date basis, the benchmark gained 4.54%. Seeking Alpha analyst Agar Capital highlighted that this week's rally is a clear demonstration of how geopolitical risk has suddenly disappeared, given the recent news coming from the Middle East.On a sector-by-sector basis, eight of the 11 S&P segments closed in the green. Technology ( XLK ) and Consumer Discretionary ( XLY ) were the strongest performers this week. Agar Capital noted that the market continues to concentrate flows in sectors with greater visibility on earnings and greater exposure to major structural themes, primarily AI, software, semiconductors, and digital advertising. It is therefore not surprising to see Technology and Communication Services leading the week. “Furthermore, the difference in performance between the two sectors tells us that risk appetite is present but remains selective, with investors continuing to focus on a few high-growth segments,” the analyst added. At the other end of the spectrum, Energy ( XLE ) and Utilities ( XLU ) were the biggest losers this week. Agar Capital argued that the weakness in Utilities suggests the market is abandoning its more defensive segments and returning to more cyclical and growth-oriented areas. Here too, investors are clearly seeking less protection at this stage and are more focused on pursuing performance, returning to old themes like AI and technology. “Personally, however, I would interpret this as a tactical rotation linked to improved sentiment. The fact remains that, should the macro or geopolitical environment become more complex again, these very sectors could quickly return to the forefront of flows,” the analyst concluded....
urbazon/E+ via Getty Images Regional banking giant Regions Financial Corporation ( RF ) reported the results from Q1 2026 before the market opened today. The company stated diluted adjusted earnings of $0.62 per share, which topped expectations by $0.03, or 5.1%. Total revenue of $1.87 billion fell just short of previous projections, missing by $50 million. The market has shown mixed reactions, wi...
urbazon/E+ via Getty Images Regional banking giant Regions Financial Corporation ( RF ) reported the results from Q1 2026 before the market opened today. The company stated diluted adjusted earnings of $0.62 per share, which topped expectations by $0.03, or 5.1%. Total revenue of $1.87 billion fell just short of previous projections, missing by $50 million. The market has shown mixed reactions, with the price of RF falling prior to the opening bell and then climbing modestly on an overall strong day for the major indices. Regions Financial has been a company that I have followed for many years. The company continues to benefit from its geographic footprint, which includes fast-growing markets in the Southeast. A low cost of deposits has helped boost its net interest margin and provided greater runway for net interest income. However, the last several months have not been kind to RF, as it has only added 3.6% in price since January 1, even though its 12-month gains exceed 45%. I last wrote about Regions after its Q4 2025 earnings were released on January 16 . I downgraded its stock to a Hold at that time, pointing to a few concerns that appeared in the company’s final financial update from last year. Larger banks are rarely able to make significant improvements in their operations in a short period of time, but I do see some progress being made by the company in Q1. I still consider RF to be a Hold, but it is closer to the Buy category than it was at the start of the year. Company Snapshot Regions Financial serves as the holding company for Regions Bank, which is listed as the 26th largest U.S. bank by the Federal Reserve based on total assets. The company is a member of the S&P 500 Index and offers banking, wealth management, and mortgage services to customers in 15 states . The largest shares of its roughly 1,250 branch locations can be found in Florida (277), Alabama (245), Tennessee (242), Georgia (128), and Mississippi (127). Readers who want more details about ...
Kevin Weil and Bill Peebles are leaving OpenAI as the company shuts down Sora and folds its science team, signaling a sharp pivot away from consumer moonshots toward enterprise AI.
Kevin Weil and Bill Peebles are leaving OpenAI as the company shuts down Sora and folds its science team, signaling a sharp pivot away from consumer moonshots toward enterprise AI.
Imagine a business with such immense pricing power that it can raise rates by as much as 4x to 5x while leaving customers virtually no option but to accept.
Imagine a business with such immense pricing power that it can raise rates by as much as 4x to 5x while leaving customers virtually no option but to accept.
franckreporter/iStock via Getty Images Corporate longevity in public markets is far rarer than most investors realize, according to a recent analysis from Morgan Stanley Investment Management. The firm’s research shows that out of every 100 publicly traded U.S. companies, only 18 remain public after four decades. The main driver of this attrition is mergers and acquisitions, which account for 43 o...
franckreporter/iStock via Getty Images Corporate longevity in public markets is far rarer than most investors realize, according to a recent analysis from Morgan Stanley Investment Management. The firm’s research shows that out of every 100 publicly traded U.S. companies, only 18 remain public after four decades. The main driver of this attrition is mergers and acquisitions, which account for 43 of the original 100 companies. Another 39 delist without being acquired, with 37 of those exits occurring “for cause”—typically due to financial distress, failure or other forced departures. Just two companies leave public markets voluntarily. The data highlight a sobering reality for stock pickers: what appears to be a permanent fixture of the market often proves temporary over a full investment lifetime. Morgan Stanley Investment Management More on the Markets Hormuz Opens: Oil Crashes, Stocks Rip Higher Liquidity Drain Underway, Will It Even Matter? 2 ETF Smart Leverage Portfolio Could Beat The S&P 500 By 200% Over 25 Years Catalyst Watch: Tesla talks AI5 chips, Intel reports, and the Warner Bros. deal goes to a vote When will Hormuz shipping normalize? See what traders are predicting
Welcome back to Canada Daily, the newsletter on business, economics and politics from Vancouver to Montreal and beyond. If this was forwarded to you, sign up here . The International Monetary Fund has good news for Canada: We’re number one . “Across the Group of Seven, Canada’s probably in the strongest position fiscally,” Nigel Chalk, director of the IMF’s Western Hemisphere Department, told us i...
Welcome back to Canada Daily, the newsletter on business, economics and politics from Vancouver to Montreal and beyond. If this was forwarded to you, sign up here . The International Monetary Fund has good news for Canada: We’re number one . “Across the Group of Seven, Canada’s probably in the strongest position fiscally,” Nigel Chalk, director of the IMF’s Western Hemisphere Department, told us in an interview. This pronouncement may seem at odds with an anticipated C$65 billion ($48 billion) deficit this fiscal year. But even after years of elevated borrowing , Canada’s net debt is expected to be in the ballpark of 43% of gross domestic product, while some G-7 peers are running closer to 100% or above. Economists have described Canada as the “cleanest dirty shirt.” The IMF believes there’s room to spend, particularly to boost productivity and build infrastructure, as Prime Minister Mark Carney has pledged to do. Chalk also praised recent changes to Canada’s tax framework, including expanding write-offs for capital expenditures. “The environment to invest in Canada is very persuasive,” he said. (There is not unanimous agreement about that.) Chalk’s message is one Carney will enjoy hearing. The prime minister has invited the world’s largest investors to a summit in September in hopes of attracting more international dollars. The event, to be held in Toronto, will be co-hosted with the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board and the Public Sector Pension Investment Board. Invitees include sovereign wealth funds, pensions, financial institutions and private equity firms. Let’s make sure we have a fresh outfit for the occasion. Also in today’s newsletter: Air Canada cuts some routes because jet fuel is so expensive. There’s a new Canadian billionaire, thanks to Nvidia . A trader-turned-philanthropist warns that prediction markets are dangerous for young men . The following was produced with the assistance of Bloomberg Automation. Top stories Air Canada will suspend summer...
On April 15, 2026, Independence Financial Advisors disclosed a complete sale of the iShares Fallen Angels USD Bond ETF (NASDAQ:FALN) , an estimated $12.99 million trade based on quarterly average pricing. According to a Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filing dated April 15, 2026, Independence Financial Advisors reported selling 476,028 shares of the iShares Fallen Angels USD Bond ETF (NAS...
On April 15, 2026, Independence Financial Advisors disclosed a complete sale of the iShares Fallen Angels USD Bond ETF (NASDAQ:FALN) , an estimated $12.99 million trade based on quarterly average pricing. According to a Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filing dated April 15, 2026, Independence Financial Advisors reported selling 476,028 shares of the iShares Fallen Angels USD Bond ETF (NASDAQ:FALN) . The estimated transaction value was $12.99 million, calculated using the average share price during the first quarter of 2026. The quarter-end position value decreased by $13.00 million, capturing both sale proceeds and price movement effects. The fund no longer holds any FALN shares. The iShares Fallen Angels USD Bond ETF (FALN) offers institutional investors targeted access to the fallen angels segment of the U.S. high yield bond market. By tracking an index of U.S. dollar-denominated bonds that have been downgraded from investment grade, the fund seeks to capture potential price recovery and attractive yield opportunities within this niche. FALN provides diversified exposure to high yield credit with a disciplined, index-based approach. The ETF's strategy is designed to appeal to investors seeking enhanced yield and potential capital appreciation from bonds with improving credit profiles. Continue reading
Speculation the Iran war is poised to end sent risky assets surging anew, extending a month-long rally that’s lifted the S&P 500 Index to a succession of records, added around $12,000 to the price of Bitcoin and pushed up credit and gold. Olaolu Aganga, Citi Wealth Head of Portfolio Construction and Analytics joins Bloomberg Businessweek Daily to discuss. (Source: Bloomberg)
Speculation the Iran war is poised to end sent risky assets surging anew, extending a month-long rally that’s lifted the S&P 500 Index to a succession of records, added around $12,000 to the price of Bitcoin and pushed up credit and gold. Olaolu Aganga, Citi Wealth Head of Portfolio Construction and Analytics joins Bloomberg Businessweek Daily to discuss. (Source: Bloomberg)
WM Technology ( MAPS ) announced its preliminary Q1 2026 results on Friday, with full earnings set for May 11, 2026, after market close. Q1 revenue is expected at $42M–$44M, with adjusted EBITDA at $5M–$7M. The company held ~$57M in cash, equivalents, and investments as of March 31, 2026. The company said it plans to delist from Nasdaq and move to OTCQX, saying current regulatory rules and industr...
WM Technology ( MAPS ) announced its preliminary Q1 2026 results on Friday, with full earnings set for May 11, 2026, after market close. Q1 revenue is expected at $42M–$44M, with adjusted EBITDA at $5M–$7M. The company held ~$57M in cash, equivalents, and investments as of March 31, 2026. The company said it plans to delist from Nasdaq and move to OTCQX, saying current regulatory rules and industry limits are restricting its growth and flexibility. The stock traded near $0.35 in after-hours. Source: Press Release More on WM Technology WM Technology, Inc. (MAPS) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Prepared Remarks Transcript WM Technology, Inc. 2025 Q4 - Results - Earnings Call Presentation Seeking Alpha’s Quant Rating on WM Technology Historical earnings data for WM Technology Financial information for WM Technology
OpenAI’s head of science initiatives and the leader for its Sora AI video team are both leaving the company, adding to a recent string of departures while the company reorganizes its sprawling product portfolio. Kevin Weil , the former chief product officer who later took charge of the OpenAI for Science project, announced Friday that he’s stepping down. Weil joined OpenAI nearly two years ago and...
OpenAI’s head of science initiatives and the leader for its Sora AI video team are both leaving the company, adding to a recent string of departures while the company reorganizes its sprawling product portfolio. Kevin Weil , the former chief product officer who later took charge of the OpenAI for Science project, announced Friday that he’s stepping down. Weil joined OpenAI nearly two years ago and previously steered product development at Instagram and Twitter as an executive at those companies. Bill Peebles, who oversaw Sora, also said Friday that he’s leaving just weeks after OpenAI announced plans to discontinue support for the AI video generator. In recent weeks, OpenAI has moved to streamline its product offerings as it races to compete for business customers against rival Anthropic and pave the way for a possible initial public offering. In addition to shuttering Sora, the company is also developing a desktop application to bring together its ChatGPT chatbot, coding tool and web browser. In a post on X, Weil said his team was “being decentralized into other research teams.” An OpenAI spokesperson said the moves are part of the company’s efforts to refocus and unify its products. Prism, a tool for scientists that Weil had led as vice president of science, will become part of the company’s Codex team. The departures follow a series of changes to OpenAI’s executive bench. Earlier this month, OpenAI announced that its chief operating officer was shifting into a new role while two other top executives are going on leave due to health reasons. Wired was first to report Weil’s exit.
Wanting to invest in healthcare is a savvy instinct. It is, after all, a major expense in America. Per the Peterson-KFF Health System Tracker, "On a per capita basis, total health spending, including government, private, out-of-pocket, research, and infrastructure spending, has increased in the last five decades from $353 per year in 1970 to $15,474 per year in 2024." It can still be vexing, thoug...
Wanting to invest in healthcare is a savvy instinct. It is, after all, a major expense in America. Per the Peterson-KFF Health System Tracker, "On a per capita basis, total health spending, including government, private, out-of-pocket, research, and infrastructure spending, has increased in the last five decades from $353 per year in 1970 to $15,474 per year in 2024." It can still be vexing, though, to figure out which healthcare stocks are likely to serve you best over the coming years. I'd like to suggest one for your consideration: Becton, Dickinson (NYSE: BDX) -- which also goes by the moniker "BD." It should not only grow for you over time, but it also offers a degree of capital preservation, putting your dollars at less risk than some other healthcare concerns might. Image source: Getty Images. Continue reading
President Donald Trump said Iran has agreed to suspend its nuclear program indefinitely, fueling optimism that a deal to end their war is in reach after Tehran announced the Strait of Hormuz was open again. In a Friday phone interview, Trump asserted that any moratorium on Iran’s nuclear activities would not expire, saying it would be “unlimited.” Talks over a lasting agreement will “probably” be ...
President Donald Trump said Iran has agreed to suspend its nuclear program indefinitely, fueling optimism that a deal to end their war is in reach after Tehran announced the Strait of Hormuz was open again. In a Friday phone interview, Trump asserted that any moratorium on Iran’s nuclear activities would not expire, saying it would be “unlimited.” Talks over a lasting agreement will “probably” be held this weekend, the president said. Spencer Faragasso, Institute for Science and International Security Senior Fellow joined Bloomberg Businessweek Daily to discuss. (Source: Bloomberg)