State Street earnings beat by $0.18, revenue topped estimates

A top Pentagon official has confirmed that the U.S. will continue pouring money into domestic critical minerals projects—think lithium, cobalt, and rare earths—to reduce reliance on foreign suppliers, especially China. This isn’t just about economics; it’s a national security play, ensuring the military and tech sectors have steady access to materials vital for everything from batteries to fighter jets.

Editor’s Note: The U.S. is doubling down on its strategy to untangle supply chains from geopolitical rivals. If you’ve ever wondered why your EV battery or smartphone might get pricier during global tensions, this move is part of the fix. It’s also a signal to allies (and adversaries) that America isn’t backing down in the race for mineral independence.

Blackstone, the heavyweight investment firm, is teaming up with US utility giant PPL to build natural gas power plants through a joint venture. The move signals a bet on gas as a transitional energy source, even as the world grapples with shifting toward renewables.

Editor’s Note: This partnership highlights the messy middle ground of the energy transition. While renewables are growing, big players still see gas as a necessary bridge—especially with energy demand rising. It’s a pragmatic play, but one that’ll likely stir debate about how fast we should (or can) move away from fossil fuels.

Mexico is gearing up to take action if ongoing trade talks with the U.S. don’t yield a deal by August, when new U.S. tariffs are set to kick in. Officials are signaling they won’t just sit back—they’re preparing countermeasures, though they haven’t spelled out exactly what those might be. It’s a high-stakes game of economic chicken, with both sides trying to avoid a full-blown trade war.

The US Senate is gearing up for a critical vote on whether to slash funding tied to former President Trump’s initiatives, all while racing against an impending deadline. The outcome could reshape budget priorities and ignite fresh political clashes.

The Federal Reserve’s worries about inflation aren’t just theoretical anymore—June’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) numbers confirmed prices are still climbing. This isn’t the "transitory" spike some hoped for; it’s a stubborn trend that could push the Fed to act more aggressively.