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Fed Pauses Interest Rate Cuts Despite Trump's Push For Immediate Reduction Fed Pauses Interest Rate Cuts Despite Trump's Push For Immediate Reduction
Fed Pauses Interest Rate Cuts Despite Trump's Push For Immediate Reduction The Federal Reserve kept its key interest rate in place, pausing further cuts and ignoring a demand by President Donald Trump to immediately drop rates. After three months of reductions, the Fed decided to keep the key interest rate target at 4.25 to 4.5 percent. The Fed announced the decision on Wednesday, Jan. 29, after its first meeting since President Trump returned to the White House. Chair Jerome Powell said the Fed is monitoring inflation and economic stability under the Trump administration. "We remain committed to supporting maximum employment, bringing inflation sustain…

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by Chris Spiker
Politics
Trump Calls For End To Income Tax, Offers Buyouts To 2 Million Federal Employees Trump Calls For End To Income Tax, Offers Buyouts To 2 Million Federal Employees
Trump Calls For End To Income Tax, Offers Buyouts To 2 Million Federal Employees President Donald Trump is calling for the elimination of federal income tax, advocating for a shift to a tariff-based revenue system.  He argues that this approach, which he says previously made the US “richer” and a more “powerful” economy, would mark a pivotal turning point for the nation. "America is going to be very rich again, and it's going to happen very quickly," Trump said during a speech in Florida on Monday, Jan. 27 at the 2025 Republican Issues Conference at the Trump National Doral Miami. "Instead of taxing our citizens to enrich foreign nations, we should be tariffing an…

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by Joe Lombardi
Business
Arabica Coffee Prices Spike Amid Colombia-US Tariff Dustup Arabica Coffee Prices Spike Amid Colombia-US Tariff Dustup
Arabica Coffee Prices Spike Amid Colombia-US Tariff Dustup Prices of Arabica coffee hit record highs in the aftermath of threats of tariffs by both the United States and Colombia after a dispute involving migrant deportation flights. Arabica futures hit a record of $3.56 in the Intercontinental Exchange on Monday, Jan. 27, a day after the back-and-forth dustup a day earlier, according to The Wall Street Journal. The previous record of $3.48 was recorded in early December. The US imports about 30 percent of its coffee from Colombia. Colombia agreed to accept the flights after earlier turning back two planes. This prompted President Donald Trump to…

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by Joe Lombardi
Politics
Colombia Agrees To Accept Migrant Deportation Flights After Trump Threatens 25% Tariffs Colombia Agrees To Accept Migrant Deportation Flights After Trump Threatens 25% Tariffs
Colombia Agrees To Accept Migrant Deportation Flights After Trump Threatens 25% Tariffs Colombia, one of the United States' key allies in Latin America, has agreed to accept migrant deportation flights after earlier turning back two planes, prompting President Donald Trump to threaten steep sanctions. Trump said Sunday afternoon, Jan. 26 that he would impose "emergency" 25-percent tariffs on Colombian goods after it blocked the flights. But negotiations between the countries led to an agreement late Sunday night and Trump withdrew the tariff threats. “The Government of Colombia has agreed to all of President Trump’s terms, including the unrestricted acceptance of all undocume…

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by Joe Lombardi
Politics
Trump Threatens 25% Tariffs After Colombia Turns Back Flights Carrying Migrants From US Trump Threatens 25% Tariffs After Colombia Turns Back Flights Carrying Migrants From US
Trump Threatens 25% Tariffs After Colombia Turns Back Flights Carrying Migrants From US President Donald Trump says he will impose 25 percent "emergency" tariffs on Colombian goods after the key South American ally refused to allow two two flights from the US carrying migrants to land. Click here for a new, updated story - Colombia Agrees To Accept Migrant Deportation Flights After Trump Threatens 25% Tariffs "The US cannot treat Colombian migrants as criminals," Colombia President Gustavo Petro said in a statement on Sunday, Jan. 26. "I deny the entry of American planes with Colombian migrants into our territory. "The US must establish a protocol for the dignifie…

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by Joe Lombardi
Business
Record-High Egg Prices Likely To See New Increases: What To Know Record-High Egg Prices Likely To See New Increases: What To Know
Record-High Egg Prices Likely To See New Increases: What To Know Across the country, grocery shoppers are facing sticker shock and empty shelves as egg prices continue to skyrocket.  Once an affordable staple, eggs have become increasingly expension -- and sometimes, even difficult to find — and the situation is only expected to worsen. The surge in egg prices is being driven by a combination of inflation and a devastating outbreak of avian influenza, better known as bird flu. The H5N1 virus, which made its way to the United States in 2022, has infected or killed millions of birds and infected many other animals In just the last three months, more…

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by Joe Lombardi
Business
Store Closings Surge To Highest Level Since Pandemic: Why 2025 Could Be Worse Store Closings Surge To Highest Level Since Pandemic: Why 2025 Could Be Worse
Store Closings Surge To Highest Level Since Pandemic: Why 2025 Could Be Worse Retail store closures surged in 2024, reaching their highest levels since the start of the pandemic, a new study said. A total of 7,325 U.S. stores closed in 2024, driven by inflation and an increasing shift toward online shopping, according to retail data firm Coresight Research. The closings marked the steepest decline in brick-and-mortar retail since nearly 10,000 stores closed in 2020. While 5,970 stores opened—the highest yearly number since 2012—closures outpaced openings by a net loss of 1,355 stores.  "Retailers that were unable to adapt supply chains and implement t…

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by Chris Spiker
Politics
Trump Orders JFK, RFK, MLK Secret Assassination Files To Be Released Trump Orders JFK, RFK, MLK Secret Assassination Files To Be Released
Trump Orders JFK, RFK, MLK Secret Assassination Files To Be Released The declassification and release of all remaining federal records related to the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy, his brother, Sen. Robert F. Kennedy, and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. have been ordered to be released by President Trump, who called it “long overdue” and in the public interest. The executive order, issued on Thursday, Jan. 23, mandates the Director of National Intelligence and the Attorney General to present plans for the release of these secret records. Files concerning the JFK assassination on Nov. 22 1963 are to be addressed within 15 days, while records related …

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by Joe Lombardi
Business
Burn Hazards Cost Fitbit $12M+ After Delayed Smartwatch Recall: CPSC Burn Hazards Cost Fitbit $12M+ After Delayed Smartwatch Recall: CPSC
Burn Hazards Cost Fitbit $12M+ After Delayed Smartwatch Recall: Cpsc Fitbit will pay more than $12 million for failing to promptly report that its Ionic smartwatches posed serious burn risks, officials said. Fitbit LLC, which is now owned by Google, has been fined $12.25 million to settle claims by the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the federal agency said in a news release on Thursday, Jan. 23. The defect caused the Ionic smartwatches to overheat, leading to second- and third-degree burns for some users. Between 2018 and 2020, Fitbit received multiple reports of its Ionic smartwatches overheating and injuring users, the CPSC said. In ear…

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by Chris Spiker
Business
Nationwide Recall Issued For This Corn Puff Product Nationwide Recall Issued For This Corn Puff Product
Nationwide Recall Issued For This Corn Puff Product A nationwide recall has been issued for a popular snack brand. Wismettac Asian Foods, Inc. has issued a nationwide recall of its Shirakiku brand Curvee Puffs Corn Puff Snack Curry Flavor due to undeclared milk. The FDA announced the recall on Monday, Jan. 20 after the company discovered the allergen was not listed on the packaging.  This oversight poses a serious health risk to individuals with milk allergies, potentially leading to life-threatening allergic reactions. The affected product is packaged in 2.46 oz flexible bags and bears the UPC code 07441078512, found on the back right…

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by Joe Lombardi
Politics
ICE Enforcement Allowed At Schools, Churches Under New Trump Policy ICE Enforcement Allowed At Schools, Churches Under New Trump Policy
ICE Enforcement Allowed At Schools, Churches Under New Trump Policy Federal immigration authorities now have the ability to arrest individuals in and around  schools and churches — areas previously considered sensitive.  This new policy change involving Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, announced on the second day of the new Trump Administration on Tuesday, Jan/ 21 by Acting Homeland Security Secretary Benjamine Huffman and represents a significant shift from long-standing guidelines. “Criminals will no longer be able to hide in America’s schools and churches to avoid arrest," Huffman said in a statement. "The Trump Administration …

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by Joe Lombardi
Politics
MA Among States Suing Trump For Ending Birthright Citizenship: 'Dangerous, Unconstitutional' MA Among States Suing Trump For Ending Birthright Citizenship: 'Dangerous, Unconstitutional'
MA Among States Suing Trump For Ending Birthright Citizenship: 'Dangerous, Unconstitutional' Several states in the Northeast are fighting to block an executive order signed by President Donald Trump that would end birthright citizenship. A coalition of 18 states – including New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Maryland – are named as plaintiffs in a lawsuit against the Trump administration that was filed in Massachusetts federal court on Tuesday, Jan. 21. The suit argues that Trump’s order denying US citizenship to the children of those who are neither a U.S. citizen nor a lawful permanent resident is unlawful. “This dangerous and unconstitutional order undermines…

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by Michael Mashburn