Affirm Introduces 'Buy Now, Pay Later' for Rent Payments Affirm Holdings Inc. (AFRM) has announced a new initiative to extend its 'Buy Now, Pay Later' (BNPL) services to the rental housing market. This move allows tenants to pay their rent in installments, providing greater flexibility in

U.S. Layoffs Surge to 17-Year High in January 2026, Signaling Economic Strain The U.S. labor market faced a significant setback in January 2026, with employers announcing 108,435 job cuts—the highest January total since the Great Recession in 2009. This figure represents a 118% increase from January

Steve Bannon Advocates for ICE and Military Presence at Polling Sites Steve Bannon, former White House chief strategist and a prominent figure in conservative media, has publicly called for the deployment of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents and military personnel at polling stations during the upcoming elections. Bannon asserts

Trump Endorses 'America First' Prosecutor in Georgia Special Election Former President Donald Trump has thrown his support behind Clay Fuller, a conservative district attorney from northwest Georgia, in the special election to replace Marjorie Taylor Greene in the U.S. House of Representatives. Background Marjorie Taylor Greene resigned

Eddie Bauer to Close All North American Stores Amid Bankruptcy Filing Eddie Bauer, the 106-year-old outdoor apparel brand, is preparing to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, which will result in the closure of all its retail stores across the United States and Canada. The company's operator, Catalyst Brands,

EEOC Investigates Nike for Alleged Discrimination Against White Employees The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has initiated an investigation into Nike, alleging that the company's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives may have resulted in discrimination against white employees and job applicants. Details of the Investigation

FCC Reopens Review of Starlink's $885M Broadband Subsidy: Implications for SpaceX and the Market The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has initiated a review of its previous decision to revoke an $885 million subsidy awarded to SpaceX's Starlink under the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF). This move

Argentina and U.S. Forge Critical Minerals Pact: Strategic Implications for Global Supply Chains On February 4, 2026, Argentina and the United States signed a pivotal agreement aimed at strengthening and securing supply chains for critical minerals, notably lithium and copper. This collaboration seeks to bolster economic growth, diversify value

DHS Pressures Tech Firms for Data on Trump Critics: Market Implications The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has been quietly issuing administrative subpoenas to major tech companies, seeking user information about individuals critical of the Trump administration. These actions have raised significant concerns about privacy rights and the potential overreach

Bill and Hillary Clinton to Testify in Epstein Congressional Probe Former U.S. President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton have agreed to testify before the House Oversight Committee as part of its investigation into their connections with the late financier Jeffrey Epstein. This decision comes amid

SpaceX Acquires xAI: Musk's AI Ambitions Take Flight Elon Musk has announced that SpaceX has acquired his artificial intelligence startup, xAI. This strategic move aims to integrate AI capabilities with space technology, creating a vertically integrated innovation engine. The Vision Behind the Merger Musk envisions a future where

Taiwan Overtakes China in MSCI Emerging Markets Index Amid AI Surge For the first time since July 2007, Taiwan has surpassed China in the MSCI Emerging Markets Index, now holding a 21.06% weighting compared to China's 20.93%. This shift underscores the growing influence of Taiwan'

Vanguard Cuts Average Fund Fees to 0.06%: Implications for ETFs and the Options Market Vanguard has announced a significant reduction in its average asset-weighted expense ratio, bringing it down to 0.06%. This move affects 84 share classes across 53 mutual funds and ETFs, further intensifying the competition among

Global Wealth Inequality Deepens: Market Implications and Stocks to Watch Recent reports highlight a significant increase in global wealth inequality, with the richest individuals amassing unprecedented fortunes. This growing disparity raises questions about its effects on the stock and options markets. The Surge in Billionaire Wealth The world's

Billionaire Wealth Soars to $18.3 Trillion: Unpacking the Market Implications Oxfam's latest report reveals a staggering 16% increase in billionaire wealth in 2025, totaling $18.3 trillion—a rise of 81% since 2020. This wealth surge, driven by favorable policies and AI advancements, has significant implications for

Trump Launches $12B 'Project Vault' to Secure Critical Minerals and Counter China On February 2, 2026, President Donald Trump announced 'Project Vault,' a $12 billion strategic initiative designed to stockpile critical minerals essential for electric vehicles, advanced weaponry, and technology manufacturing. The project combines $10 billion

UAE Royal’s $500M Stake in Trump Crypto Firm Raises Ethics Questions — Unusual Whales Breakdown A $500 million investment by UAE royal Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed in President Donald Trump’s cryptocurrency firm, World Liberty Financial, just days before his inauguration, is drawing scrutiny over potential conflicts of interest. The

Bizarre FBI Impersonation at Brooklyn Jail — Unusual Whales Take A 36-year-old Minnesota man allegedly posed as an FBI agent and showed up at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn trying to free an inmate, Luigi Mangione, by presenting fake paperwork claiming a court order for his release. Federal prosecutors charged

Trump Signals Higher Housing Prices Even as He Pushes for Lower Mortgage Rates — Unusual Whales Breakdown President Donald Trump sparked fresh debate on the U.S. housing market by publicly saying he wants to keep housing prices high, even as his administration pushes for lower mortgage rates and policies aimed

TikTok Users Deleting the App Over Trump Ban Fears — Unusual Whales Breakdown Pressure is mounting on TikTok users to ditch the app — and people are acting. Reports show that millions of U.S. users are deleting TikTok after renewed threats from the Trump administration to ban the platform, citing alleged

Trump Officials Held Covert Meetings With Alberta Separatists — Unusual Whales Take Senior officials from the Trump administration have reportedly held secret meetings with a far-right separatist group from Alberta, Canada — raising concerns about foreign interference and geopolitical risk in North America. These meetings involved the Alberta Prosperity Project (APP), a

The Justice Department is releasing more than 3 million pages of files related to the investigation into Jeffrey Epstein today. CNN reporters are going through the documents now, and we will share information here as we learn more. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said the DOJ has completed its review

Fed Keeps Rates on Hold as Powell Rejects Pressure — Unusual Whales Take In its first policy meeting of 2026, the U.S. Federal Reserve decided to pause interest rate cuts, leaving the federal funds rate in the 3.50 % – 3.75 % range — the same level after three cuts in late

OnlyFans & Social Media Influencers Are Increasingly Securing U.S. O-1 Visas — Unusual Whales Analysis A surprising shift is underway in U.S. immigration policy application: OnlyFans models, social media creators, and influencers are increasingly qualifying for the coveted O-1 visa — a non-immigrant status reserved for individuals with “extraordinary ability”