The $38 trillion national debt ‘milestone’ and the accounting mirage

"Portrait of Elisabeth Lederer," a painting by Gustav Klimt, sold for a record-breaking $236 million at a Sotheby’s auction in New York. The artwork, which was deemed

The U.S. Commerce Department reported a nearly 24% decrease in the trade deficit, which was delayed for over seven weeks due to a government shutdown. Despite this reduction, the trade deficit for 2025 has risen to $713.6 billion through August, marking a 25% increase from the same period in 2024.

Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google, stated that the role of a CEO is among the 'easier things' that artificial intelligence (AI) could potentially replace. He highlighted that advancements in AI could assist individuals in making decisions regarding medical treatments and stock investments.

Dunkin' customers expressed outrage after an anonymous Facebook user revealed a display indicating that a new fill policy is leading to smaller servings of coffee. One customer reported paying over $6 for a large cookie butter cloud latte, which was not filled to the top due to this policy.

Thieves are exploiting the holiday shopping rush through a method known as ghost tapping, where they can steal personal financial information from victims without their knowledge. This emerging threat poses significant risks to consumers who may be unaware of their exposed data.

Doppel has successfully raised $70 million in its Series C funding round, achieving a valuation of over $600 million. The investment, backed by Bessemer, aims to enhance the company's capabilities in combating AI-powered social engineering attacks.

According to Bank of America, the Big 5 AI hyperscalers have significantly increased their reliance on debt, quadrupling its usage to fund operations. Despite generating sufficient cash flow to cover their expenses, the introduction of debt financing has complicated the investment landscape for technology stocks.

Hopes for an interest rate cut from the Federal Reserve are diminishing despite a global economic slowdown and an increase in the VIX index, indicating heightened market volatility. This situation is contributing to a significant selloff in global markets, as investors react to mixed signals from the Fed regarding future monetary policy.