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Try stocks with strong fundamentals, less risk in market tumult, Piper Sandler says Try stocks with strong fundamentals, less risk in market tumult, Piper Sandler says Heightened tensions around President Donald Trump’s tariffs have weighed on the market in recent days, but some stocks could provide investors safety amid persistent uncertainty, according to Piper Sandler. All three major averages closed the past week lower after Trump on Monday said that 25% tariffs would be imposed on goods from Canada and Mexico and that an additional 10% tariff on ******** goods would go into effect. That sent stocks into a tailspin, with stocks seeing their worst week since September. “Unlike selloffs in recent years, where the transmission mechanism that would provide relief for the market’s primary issues (rising CPI in ’22, rising 10yr [yield] in ’23, rising unemployment in ’24) was more predictable, this is different in that the market doesn’t quite know how far Trump is willing to go on tariffs or what his reaction function is to ‘bad news,'” wrote Piper analyst Michael Kantrowitz. “In a way, this is more reminiscent of 2018’s 4Q selloff where the market wasn’t happy with Powell’s policy plans and didn’t bottom until he pivoted.” As a result, investors should “avoid trying to time the market and pick up stocks with stronger fundamentals and less risk that they can underwrite for longer than a trade,” the Wall Street firm continued. To find such stocks, Piper ran a screen looking for companies that could be set up to outperform in the current economic environment and are positively correlated to U.S. corporate bond risk spreads. Below are some of the names that appeared on the list. Shares of food retailer Kroger rose nearly 5% Friday, touching a new 52-week high and putting the stock’s weekly gain at about 3%. By Piper’s internal ranking system, Kroger received a macroeconomic select score and corporate bond risk spread score of 1. The move Friday extended Thursday’s gains, which came on the back of Kroger forecasting annual same-store sales above analysts’ expectations. More than half of sell-side analysts have a bullish stance on the grocery chain, with 13 of 25 having an equivalent of a buy rating, and 12 a neutral option, according to LSEG data. In the past six months, Kroger has far outpaced the broader market, surging almost 28% versus less than 7% for the S & P 500. KR YTD mountain KR, year-to-date Echoing Piper, Morgan Stanley said last week that Dollar General is among the stocks it thinks might be insulated from Trump’s tariffs . The discounter, based outside Nashville, has a macro select score of 1 and a corporate bond risk spread score of 2, using Piper’s own internal scores. Shares of the discount retailer advanced more than 7% on Friday, capping a weekly gain of more than 10%. Dollar General has done well over the past month, rising almost 13%, but remains lower by more than 48% over the past year. DG YTD mountain DG, year-to-date OIl and gas producer Hess , which climbed almost 3% on Friday, also made it on to Piper’s screen, having a macro select score and corporate bond risk spread score of 2. Hess has risen almost 11% in 2025 compared with the 2% decline in the S & P 500. Source link #stocks #strong #fundamentals #risk #market #tumult #Piper #Sandler Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Newspoll: Gap widens between Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton on preferred leader Newspoll: Gap widens between Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton on preferred leader Anthony Albanese has widened the gap as the nation’s preferred leader over Peter Dutton, as a looming federal election look set to return a ********* government, a Newspoll has revealed. Ahead of what was firming as the first week of the election campaign before the arrival of Tropical Cyclone Alfred off of Queensland’s coast, the Newspoll shows both parties lifting a point on primary support. Labor’s support grew to 32 per cent while the Coalition’s rose to 39 per cent, as the Greens and One Nation remained unchanged. The change means the two party preferred split between the Coalition and Labor remains at 51 per cent to the Government’s 49 per cent, but suggests Australia is still on a path towards a ********* government. Mr Albanese also strengthened his lead over Mr Dutton as preferred prime minister, 47 per cent to 38 per cent, a net change in four points for the Labor leader, as he visited Queensland to assess damage from the ex-cyclone. Voters also lacked confidence in Mr Dutton’s capacity to lead the country, with Australians split on his readiness, 45 per cent to those who thought the Opposition Leader was not able to be Prime Minister at 55 per cent. The poll comes after wild speculation last week the Prime Minister would call an April 12 election in the aftermath of WA’s state poll. But Mr Albanese scuppered that plan amid the threat of the cyclone to Queensland and NSW. It also followed Labor’s emphatic re-election in WA, where the Prime Minister said Labor would be “fighting very hard” to snag more seats at the federal election. “This is an extraordinary result from someone who has transitioned to premier after Mark McGowan chose to step aside and has shown extraordinary leadership on behalf of West Australians,” Mr Albanese told reporters in Canberra on Sunday. “The result was outstanding. There was always going to be a drop from the quite frankly stratospheric result of the 2021 election.” Source link #Newspoll #Gap #widens #Anthony #Albanese #Peter #Dutton #preferred #leader Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Jura J10 review: | TechRadar Jura J10 review: | TechRadar Why you can trust TechRadar We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test. Jura J10: two-minute review If you like elaborate coffees with flavored syrup, the Jura J10 is the fully automatic coffee machine of your dreams – and if you don’t, it might just change your mind. The J10 also does a great job of the basics, producing consistently rich and well-balanced espresso thanks to a grinder that monitors the consistency of the grind, from which the J10 recommends the optimum temperature and extraction time for each drink (while still letting you tailor the settings to your preferences). The crema isn’t quite as thick and stable as that created by the KitchenAid KF6, but it’s still up there with the best espresso machines – and the J10 has a lot more to offer besides. In addition, its cold brew option works well as well, and is in fact one of its stand-out features. It uses a different process to the Jura Z10 we reviewed back in 2023. The Z10 also offered a cold brew option, but the J10 works by pulsing water slowly through the grounds rather than forcing it through at high pressure, as you can see in the video below, which the company says should yield a more rounded flavor. During tests, I found the process delivered a similar flavor profile to traditional overnight cold-brewing methods, taking the bitter notes out of your beans and producing a drink that’s much smoother than one brewed hot. With an ice cube or two to bring down the temperature a bit further, you’d be hard-pressed to differentiate it from the real thing. The J10 certainly isn’t a cheap option; even if you’re currently placing takeaway coffee orders several times a week, it will take some time for it to pay for itself. Nevertheless, it’s a pleasure to use. The Sweet Foam system isn’t complicated, but it’s implemented perfectly and works exactly as promised. The flavor is distributed evenly throughout the milk rather than being concentrated in the bottom of your cup, so you’ll actually need less syrup for the same intensity of **********, and you can use any type of coffee syrup you like, including sugar-free ones. A dial on the front of the machine lets you choose between hot and foamed milk (Image credit: Future) The J10 does an impressive job of texturizing milk, on a par with the excellent Siemens EQ900 Plus, and with a dose of syrup its foam is even more stable, lasting to the very last drop. It has a couple of quirks, though. The drip tray is unusually shallow, which means you have to take care not to spill its contents, and the customization menus time out sooner than I’d like. Overall, however, the Jura J10 is a treat to use. Jura J10: price and availability Launched in early 2025 Priced at £1,795 / AU$3,990 (about $2,300) Not yet available in the US, but that may change soon The Jura J10 launched in early 2025, and is available to buy direct from Jura and from a handful of third-party retailers. It has a list price of £1,795 / AU$3,990 (about $2,300), but at the time of writing (March 2025), it isn’t yet available to buy in the US. Other Jura machines are available in the States, so hopefully it will only be a matter of time before it hits those shores. Jura is charging a premium price for its fully automatic espresso machine then, but it isn’t the most expensive around. It comes in less than both the Siemens EQ900 Plus (also a great option for well-extracted espresso paired with perfectly foamed milk) and the KitchenAid KF8 (more stylish to look at, but not so good with dairy). Jura J10: specifications Swipe to scroll horizontally Name Jura J10 Type Bean-to-cup Dimensions (W x H x D) 12.5 x 13.7 x 17.6in / 31.8 × 34.8 × 44.6cm Weight 23lbs / 10.4kg Water reservoir capacity 2qt / 1.9 liters Milk frother Yes (automatic) Bars of pressure 15 User profiles 1 Jura J10 review: design Hopper for whole beans and ground coffee Detects which of its two dispensers you’re using Sweet Foam system attaches to milk texturizer The Jura J10 is a smart-looking espresso machine with a glossy piano-****** finish. The exterior is made entirely from plastic (even the silver-colored components), which in my opinion isn’t a bad thing – the whole machine is easy to wipe clean and isn’t excessively heavy. Some of its rivals weigh over 37.5lb / 17kg, so a machine I can move easily is a refreshing change. The Jura J10 is an attractive machine, and the company has even considered what its removeable milk system looks like (Image credit: Future) Unusually for an automatic coffee machine, it has two dispensers: one in the middle for coffee and hot water for espressos and americanos; another on the right for lattes, cappuccinos, and steamed milk, with optional syrup added as the milk is texturized. There’s a single, generously sized hopper on top, with an airtight seal to keep your beans fresh. Like the KitchenAid Fully Automatic Espresso Machine K8, the Jura J10 also has a chute for adding a scoop of pre-ground coffee, if you want to try something different. Image 1 of 2 The Jura J10 has a single, generously sized bean hopper(Image credit: Future) A control dial allows you to adjust the grind size. and the chute lets you add two scoops of ground coffee(Image credit: Future) Personally, I prefer the twin-hopper setup of the Siemens EQ900 Plus, which can be filled with two different beans at once. Nevertheless, it’s still nice to have an option if you want to switch to decaf in the evening, or have a guest who’s particularly fond of a certain bean or blend. The J10’s water tank is accessed by lifting a flap at the top of the machine and then pulling it out of the side. It’s easy to remove, reinsert, and carry to the tap thanks to a convenient folding handle. The J10 is supplied with a water filter, with a cartridge that pushes onto a plastic adapter and then twists into place in the bottom of the tank to help reduce limescale buildup and remove impurities. Additional filter cartridges are available direct from Jura for $20 / £15.95 / AU$27.90 each. The J10’s water tank is easily removed, and has a replaceable filter to help prevent limescale (Image credit: Future) The only drawback of the design (and it’s a minor one) is that the drip tray is wide and long, but shallow, which makes it relatively easy to spill the contents while carrying it to the sink. The machine doesn’t warn you until it’s almost full, so I found myself emptying it before I was prompted to avoid getting water on the floor. I did appreciate the spout shape at the back of the tray, though, which makes it easy to pour out the contents when you get it over the sink. In general, the milk systems of fully automatic coffee makers are quite ugly, often taking the form of open plastic tubs attached to an otherwise stylish machine by a length of slightly medical-looking rubber tubing. This isn’t the case with the Jura J10, which has a glass milk container with an airtight lid that’s designed to be stored in the fridge between uses, and which attaches to the machine’s foaming dispenser using a tube with a metal sleeve. It’s a much more stylish solution than most, and works well. The Sweet Foam system uses a small container of syrup that attaches to the milk texturizer (Image credit: Future) You do get a plain plastic tube, but this is only used for cleaning the milk system. The Jura J10 comes with a two-part tank that sits on top of the drip tray when it’s time for a deep clean. Just add some cleaning tablets (again, available to buy from Jura), choose the program, and the machine will do the rest, pouring hot water onto the tablets to make a cleaning solution, pumping it through the unit, and depositing the waste water into the smaller section ready to be poured away. The Sweet Foam system uses a small container that you fill with your preferred syrup (regular or sugar-free), which you attach to the milk foamer. As the steamed milk is dispensed, it becomes infused with syrup, distributing the flavor evenly throughout the milk. Jura J10 review: performance Espresso is consistently well-extracted with rich crema Milk is perfectly foamed, and Sweet Foam system works brilliantly Cold brew tastes authentically milk and well-rounded There’s an impressive assortment of presets, including espresso drinks, hot and steamed milk, and hot water. Tap the arrow button above the drink menu and you’ll see a set of extra options including cold brew, extra shot, and Sweet Foam. Select one of these, and you’ll see an icon over the drinks that can be prepared in the way. It’s a smart system that means you don’t have to browse through multiple menus to prepare custom drinks. As you’d expect with a premium automatic coffee machine, you can also create your own custom beverages, adjusting the temperature, volume, and brew time to suit your preferences. It’s also easy to tweak the machine’s own presets, which is a nice feature that means you can tailor the whole menu to suit your tastebuds – and your cups. The Jura J10 offers an extensive menu of customizable drink options (Image credit: Future) I was occasionally frustrated when the customization menus timed out and returned me to the home screen before I’d finished making my choices, but that was the only drawback for me. I just had to be more prepared and not spend time dithering. When you select a drink, the machine will recommend a grind setting from “mild” to “intense”. This is fairly unusual – most fully automatic espresso machines I’ve tested will adjust the grind size for you automatically, and again you’re not given a huge amount of time to do it. Image 1 of 4 The Coffee Eye system detects where you’ve placed your cup, illuminates either amber or white, and changes which drink options are shown on the menu(Image credit: Future) The milk texturizer is excellent, and foam with syrup lasts even longer(Image credit: Future) The Jura J10 makes an impressive latte macchiato(Image credit: Future) Espresso is delicious, even though the crema isn’t quite as thick and stable as that produced by the KitchenAid KF6(Image credit: Future) Both dispensers can be easily moved up and down to accommodate different sized cups, and the J10 has a system called Coffee Eye that detects which one your cup is beneath, and only displays beverages that will be dispensed there. It’s a clever addition, and one that eliminates any potential confusion. The machine also has different colored lights that illuminate to show where you’ve placed your cup – white for the espresso dispenser, and amber for the cappuccino dispenser. The Sweet Foam container lets you control the amount of syrup added to the milk, allowing you to tailor the flavor to your preferences, and you can use any type or flavor you want, including sugar-free. I used a Tate & Lyle coffee syrup provided by Jura; not only were the results delicious, with the flavor distributed much more evenly than it would be if you simply added a pump of syrup to the cup, it also made the foam on my latte macchiato even more stable and long-lasting. You have to remove and clean the container after each use, but this doesn’t require much effort. Having the syrup in some sort of tank inside the machine for use on-demand would mean the machine would need another type of cleaning cycle to wash out the sugar, and you’d be limited to one type of syrup at a time. In the J10’s setup, the syrup doesn’t enter the rest of the milk system at all, so there’s no sugar in the machine to act as a breeding ground for bacteria. Plus, you can use a different flavor whenever you feel like it. I washed the container by hand, which took only a moment, and Jura recommends popping it in the dishwasher once a week for a deeper clean. I was particularly interested to try the cold brew option, which promises authentic-tasting cold coffee drinks in moments, with the same flavor profile as cold brew that’s been extracted in the traditional way over the course of many hours. Cold brew does take longer to dispense than a shot of hot espresso, but not by much – it drips from the dispenser, rather than issuing in a stream – and the taste is very impressive. It might not be quite as flavorsome as authentic cold brew, but it’s very close; it’s sweeter, with far less bitterness than espresso brewed hot. Throw in some ice and I think you’d be hard-pressed to tell the difference. The Jura J10 comes with a two-part tank for deep-cleaning the milk system (Image credit: Future) Like any fully automatic coffee maker, the Jura J10 requires regular cleaning to keep it hygienic and ready to brew. One feature I particularly appreciated was its ability to run a rinsing cycle automatically when it hasn’t been used for a certain ******* of time. This is something I’ve only previously seen on commercial bean-to-cup machines, and it makes a lot of sense. You can tinker with the cleaning and maintenance settings (including rinsing) by tapping the small arrow button on the bottom of the coffee menu. Should you buy the Jura J10 Swipe to scroll horizontally Jura J10 score card Attribute Notes Score Value A premium machine with a price to match, but similar to equivalently specced rivals. 4/5 Design A stylish machine with a well-considered interface and smart dual dispensers. The only real drawback is an unusually wide and shallow drip tray that can be easy to spill. 4.5/5 Performance Produces consistently excellent coffee, and cold brew and Sweet Foam are genuinely great features rather than gimmicks. 5/5 Buy it if Don’t buy it if Jura J10: also consider Not completely sold on the Jura J10 coffee maker? Here are two other premium bean-to-cup machines for you to consider. How I tested the Jura J10 I used the Jura J10 with three different coffee beans: my favorite Burundi and Panama Winter Blend from local coffee shop Mokoko; Jura Malabar Monsooned India Pure Origin; and Jura Cafe Creme Guatemala, Brazil, Costa Rica Blend. The latter two were provided by Jura, along with Tate & Lyle Barista caramel syrup. (Image credit: Future) I used the milk system with chilled whole milk, purchased that day. For more details, see how we test, review, and rate products on TechRadar. First reviewed April 2025 Source link #Jura #J10 #review #TechRadar Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

1 Dividend Stock Down 30% to Buy and Hold for the Next Decade 1 Dividend Stock Down 30% to Buy and Hold for the Next Decade Biotech giant Regeneron Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: REGN) saw its fortunes reversed last year. Though the drugmaker had performed well since the beginning of the decade, it encountered issues that sank its stock price, mostly related to one of its biggest growth drivers (more on that below). Regeneron’s shares are down by 30% over the trailing-12-month *******. However, there are still excellent reasons to invest in this stock for the long run. Here’s the rundown. Regeneron’s issues in the past year are almost entirely related to Eylea, a medicine for wet age-related macular degeneration, which it co-markets with Bayer. The Eylea franchise — including a high-dose (HD) formulation that first earned approval in 2023 — is facing stiff competition, biosimilar and otherwise. The medicine’s sales growth has slowed considerably as a result. And it might even get worse for Regeneron since Amgen’s Pavblu, a biosimilar version of Eylea, hit the market only six months ago. In the fourth quarter, combined U.S. sales of Eylea and Eylea HD increased by only 2% year over year to $1.5 billion. Eylea has been one of Regeneron’s top growth drivers for a while, so its headwinds were naturally going to spook investors. However, the biotech can rely on Dupixent, an eczema treatment it co-markets with Sanofi, to pick up much of the slack. In fact, despite the Eylea franchise’s unimpressive performance in the fourth quarter, Regeneron’s total top line grew by a healthy 10% year over year to $3.8 billion. That was because of Dupixent, whose global sales for the ******* (recorded by Sanofi) jumped by 15% year over year to $3.7 billion. Last year, Dupixent was among the 10 best-selling drugs in the world, and there’s more where that came from, considering recent clinical and regulatory wins. Though the most important is a new indication in COPD the drug earned last year, there are others. Regeneron and Sanofi are also seeking a label expansion for Dupixent in treating a rare skin disease called bullous pemphigoid. If approved, it would become the first targeted medicine in this narrow indication in the U.S. Between the COPD label expansions and others, Dupixent’s sales will continue on their upward trajectory for a while; they should succeed in recouping some of Regeneron’s Eylea-related losses. Another reason to be bullish on Regeneron is that the company can and will develop newer medicines. The biotech’s pipeline features several promising candidates. One of them is a gene therapy for a rare form of congenital deafness that is already producing highly encouraging results. Last year, Regeneron reported some data from an ongoing early-stage clinical trial for this product, showing that it had restored hearing in two patients who were deaf from birth. Story Continues The company recently shared even more data on 11 patients treated with this groundbreaking potential gene therapy who have undergone post-treatment follow-ups. According to Regeneron, 10 of these patients have experienced improvements in hearing at different levels. Several have reached near-normal levels of hearing. Furthermore, the medicine seems to be well tolerated. There’s still plenty of work to do before this treatment hits the market. However, it highlights one of Regeneron’s strengths: its innovative abilities. This gene therapy and other brand-new treatments the company is working on should eventually help it perform well after Eylea and Dupixent are no longer growth drivers. Regeneron recently announced it would initiate a quarterly dividend of $0.88, a competitive amount for a company first starting to issue payouts. Given the strength of its underlying operations, it should be more than capable of sustaining a healthy dividend program. It’s worth noting that the drugmaker also has a stock buyback program. Regeneron actively returns significant capital to its shareholders, a factor investors should consider before buying shares. Regeneron has the ability to develop innovative new medicines, robust operations, and sensible capital allocation priorities. Those all make the biotech stock still look attractive, especially after the beating it took over the past year. Ever feel like you missed the boat in buying the most successful stocks? Then you’ll want to hear this. On rare occasions, our expert team of analysts issues a “Double Down” stock recommendation for companies that they think are about to pop. If you’re worried you’ve already missed your chance to invest, now is the best time to buy before it’s too late. And the numbers speak for themselves: Nvidia: if you invested $1,000 when we doubled down in 2009, you’d have $292,207!* Apple: if you invested $1,000 when we doubled down in 2008, you’d have $45,326!* Netflix: if you invested $1,000 when we doubled down in 2004, you’d have $480,568!* Right now, we’re issuing “Double Down” alerts for three incredible companies, and there may not be another chance like this anytime soon. Continue » *Stock Advisor returns as of March 3, 2025 Prosper Junior Bakiny has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Regeneron Pharmaceuticals. The Motley Fool recommends Amgen. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. 1 Dividend Stock Down 30% to Buy and Hold for the Next Decade was originally published by The Motley Fool Source link #Dividend #Stock #Buy #Hold #Decade Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

3 Magnificent S&P 500 Dividend Stocks Down 20% to 63% to Buy and Hold Forever 3 Magnificent S&P 500 Dividend Stocks Down 20% to 63% to Buy and Hold Forever Lots of investors enjoy keeping an eye on the market in general, and their portfolio in particular, standing ready to make a move whenever one is merited. Other people, however, have neither the time nor the inclination to monitor and manage their stocks. This crowd just wants to set it and forget it for years on end. If you’re part of this latter group, then there’s good news: You have options. If you want to invest differently than your more active counterparts, plenty of tickers fit the bill. Here’s a closer look at three discounted S&P 500 dividend stocks you can feel good about buying and holding forever. For most investors, Coca-Cola is a go-to choice for a consumer goods name, and understandably so. Not only is it the world’s most prolific family of beverage brands, but its namesake cola is also woven into the fabric of culture. Coca-Cola may not be the best beverage bet for long-term investors, though. That honor arguably belongs to PepsiCo (NASDAQ: PEP) for a couple of reasons. First, PepsiCo offers the higher dividend yield of the two companies. Whereas Coke’s forward-looking yield currently stands at 2.9%, newcomers to PepsiCo will be plugging their money into a higher forward-looking yield of 3.5%. And remember: While both stocks’ yields will ebb and flow over time, the effective yield on your invested dollars is relative to the price you pay. Sure, Coca-Cola has the better dividend pedigree with 63 consecutive years of annual increases. PepsiCo is no slouch, though, having upped its yearly payout in each of the past 53 years. And since 2004, its dividend payments have grown measurably faster than Coca-Cola’s. Second, while these two beverage giants are seemingly interchangeable on the surface, their businesses are actually quite different. PepsiCo — which also owns snack foods brands like Fritos, Lay’s potato chips, Doritos, and Cheetos — makes the majority of its products in-house; most of Coca-Cola’s production is outsourced to third-party bottlers. Coke’s model is more profitable, since bottling operations are often low-margin. PepsiCo’s in-house approach gives it tighter control of the entirety of its business, though, meaning it’s nimbler when it needs to be. This won’t matter most of the time, but when it does, it really matters. PepsiCo shares are currently down 20% from their 2023 high, which is inviting, to say the least. It’s been a tough past few months for shareholders in Merck (NYSE: MRK). The stock is down nearly 30% since last June for a range of reasons including slowing sales of Gardasil in China, fresh competitive pricing in the U.S., December’s decision to end two oncology drug trials, and disappointing guidance for the current year. Investors are even concerned because the patent protection for its *******-fighting blockbuster drug Keytruda will begin expiring in 2028. These are all credible concerns. For true “forever” investors, though, these worries just aren’t a big deal. Merck stock is a compelling buy, in fact, now that its pullback has pumped up its forward-looking dividend yield to about 3.5%. Yes, even though the company is taking measures to prolong the marketable life of Keytruda, there’s no denying that the 45% of revenue this drug contributes is in jeopardy. That’s just the nature of the business. What may not be fully appreciated is that this pharmaceutical giant is very, very good at finding new profit centers to replace its aging ones. Keytruda, for instance, was added in 2006 when management acquired a company called Organon. At that time, cholesterol-fighting Zocor was Merck’s bestseller. Keytruda wouldn’t even win its first approval until 2014, when Merck’s Remicade (for autoimmune diseases) and diabetes treatment Januvia were making the most waves for the company. So patent expirations are nothing new for Merck. Keytruda will be a tough drug to fully replace, but the company has several promising prospects in its pipeline, including pulmonary arterial hypertension therapy Winrevair and MK 4082, which is an orally administered anti-obesity candidate. All told, CEO Robert Davis said during the company’s fourth-quarter earnings call, there are 20 potential blockbuster drugs currently in the works with the collective potential to generate $50 billion worth of annual revenue. Even accounting for a bullish bias, that’s a lot of ways for Merck to continue its long-lived legacy of replacing older products with newer, patent-protected ones. Lastly, add The AES Corporation (NYSE: AES) to your list of S&P 500 dividend stocks to buy while they’re on *****. It’s not exactly a household name, although there’s a chance your household regularly uses its services. AES is a utility company — more specifically, it’s an energy wholesaler, meaning it produces and sells electricity to consumer-facing utilities. This can be a more efficient means of meeting the world’s growing power needs. The marketable business model hasn’t helped shareholders much lately. The stock is now down 63% from its late-2022 peak and knocking on the door of new multiyear lows mostly because the company is going through some major, expensive changes. It’s selling some assets while building new power-production facilities and taking on debt to make most of it happen. As of its most recent quarterly report, AES was servicing more than $30 billion worth of long-term liabilities with just $12.3 billion worth of annual revenue and less than $1 billion in annual net profits. Investors are understandably worried. There’s a method to the madness, though. While its messy as well as costly, AES is shifting its power production away from fossil fuels and toward renewables, which are the industry’s inevitable future. The company expects more than half of its 63 gigawatts’ worth of capacity additions slated for this year to be solar panel installations, while nearly another one-third of its infrastructure growth will be battery storage facilities. Such green-energy construction isn’t cheap, but it’s not necessarily any more expensive than more traditional forms of power production these days. And while renewable mandates are still a bit fuzzy, they’re coming. AES is ready for them. The company is reshaping itself with the modern era in mind, by adding production capacity to meet the soaring demand for electricity with the advent of power-hungry data centers. By selling and delivering electricity directly to data centers, it is addressing the industry’s current chief challenge. Although management is in the midst of an expensive transition, it has affirmed an annual target range of 5% to 7% in sales growth through 2027, with per-share earnings projected to grow between 7% and 9% for that time frame. That’s solid for any name in the utility industry. It’s also likely a taste of what to expect in the long run. You can plug into AES stock while its forward-looking yield stands at an impressive 6.4%. Before you buy stock in PepsiCo, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and PepsiCo wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005… if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $690,624!* Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 821% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 167% for the S&P 500. Don’t miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join Stock Advisor. See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of March 3, 2025 James Brumley has positions in Coca-Cola. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Merck. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. 3 Magnificent S&P 500 Dividend Stocks Down 20% to 63% to Buy and Hold Forever was originally published by The Motley Fool Source link #Magnificent #Dividend #Stocks #Buy #Hold Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

The best hero shooters on PS5 The best hero shooters on PS5 The hero shooter genre has been around for years but really started hitting its stride in the latest console generation. A lot of the best PS5 games are still narrative-focused games, but more and more of the best FPS games are starting to crack that list, with hero shooters being especially popular. These games give more personality and depth to your normal run-and-gun experience with unique characters that have their own movesets that add new layers to the gameplay. This makes it so games are determined by more than just who has the best aim and reflexes. Thanks to most of them being cross-platform games, hero shooters are easy to jump into and find matches with, but first, you need to find the right one for you. Here are the current best hero shooters you can play on PS5. There are also a ton of upcoming PS5 games that could be the next big hero shooter phenomenon. Source link #hero #shooters #PS5 Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Facing market pressure and GOP pushback, Trump delays auto tariffs – CNN International Facing market pressure and GOP pushback, Trump delays auto tariffs – CNN International Facing market pressure and GOP pushback, Trump delays auto tariffs CNN InternationalCNBC Daily Open: Trump paused tariffs for some imports — but Nasdaq enters correction territory CNBCFact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Adjusts Tariffs on Canada and Mexico to Minimize Disruption to the Automotive Industry The White House Source link #Facing #market #pressure #GOP #pushback #Trump #delays #auto #tariffs #CNN #International Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Nintendo Switch 2 FCC filings suggest Amiibos are here to stay Nintendo Switch 2 FCC filings suggest Amiibos are here to stay If you worried the Nintendo Switch 2 wouldn’t support your Amiibo collection, you can breathe easy; recent FCC filings indicate it will have NFC support, and that most likely means Amiibo. The filings also show the Switch 2 will support Wi-Fi 6, an upgrade over the original Switch’s Wi-Fi 5. That’s great news for all fans. It means the Switch 2 can support faster Internet speeds and is on-par with the base PlayStation 5 — and has higher maximum speeds than the Xbox Series S or X. As far as Amiibo go, there’s little reason to otherwise include NFC support. Nintendo’s plastic figures look great and are fun to collect, and they usually offer in-game perks of some kind or another. The filing shows the NFC reader — an RFID receiver — will be located in the right Joy-****, just as it was on the first Switch. Nintendo Switch 2 – First-look trailer The filing shave also revealed that the Switch 2 will have a USB-C port at the top and the bottom of the console and that it can charge via either. Please enable Javascript to view this content One of the biggest issues with the original Nintendo Switch was its slow Wi-Fi speeds. Although it technically supported Wi-Fi 5, few users reached maximum download speeds. The Switch OLED offered a slight improvement with an option for a hardwired connection, but the Switch 2 will hopefully bring more noticeable speed boosts. Nintendo is holding an official Direct on April 2 at 9 AM ET to offer a closer look at the Nintendo Switch 2. That event should give us concrete details (and perhaps a release date and price) instead of educated guesses, but one thing is clear from the leaks so far: the Switch 2 looks like a big improvement from the original console in all the right ways. Source link #Nintendo #Switch #FCC #filings #suggest #Amiibos #stay Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

West Coast coach Andrew McQualter looks to Hawthorn for inspiration in Eagles’ rise West Coast coach Andrew McQualter looks to Hawthorn for inspiration in Eagles’ rise West Coast coach Andrew McQualter has watched closely as Hawthorn have climbed from cellar dweller to premiership contender – and now wants his new club to emulate the Hawks’ rapid rise. It comes as McQualter conceded there would be times where the Eagles would “pull our hair out” in frustration, but was confident the playing group could quickly adapt to a faster game style. The “Hollywood Hawks” are the talk of the AFL after rising from 16th in 2023 to the semifinal last year, and they got their new campaign off a perfect start with a win over grand finalists Sydney at the SCG on Friday night. Speaking to 7NEWS as he prepares for his coaching debut against Gold Coast this Sunday, McQualter said he was optimistic about the Eagles as they embark on a new era. “I will use Hawthorn as the most recent example. Nobody probably saw them becoming a top-four team and playing in a (semifinal) last year. I’m not saying we’ll do that this year, but it can just change quickly,” he said. “We’ve got some game-plan adaptations we’re going after, some new personnel that we’ve got, new coaching staff… so that part takes time but it can also change quickly. “We’re optimistic about the work we’ve done at the moment. We’re certainly quite fit and healthy and it gives us a great starting point.” Much of the excitement around McQualter comes from the new game plan he is set to implement, which aims to help the Eagles become a quicker side in 2025. But the former Richmond caretaker coach said it was not as simple as being fast and furious every game. “It’s potentially a bit misconstrued a little bit, because ultimately, to win games you need to be able to have multiple modes,” McQualter said. “We can’t just be all-out fast and attack the whole time. We’re trying to build a well-rounded game plan but the requirements of AFL at the moment is you have to be really fast — offensively, defensively, the way you think. “We’re trying to instil that into our players but we have to be able to attack in many ways as well.” Camera IconAndrew McQualter wants West Coast to play a different way. Credit: Daniel Carson/AFL Photos/AFL Photos via Getty Images McQualter conceded the young Eagles were going to make a lot of mistakes as they learn the new style. “It’s the game in general, though – the game is littered with mistakes. Now there’s more open field, mistakes that look worse or there’s closer, slow contest play mistakes,” he said. “We know there’s going to be a lot of mistakes but we’re trying to minimise the mistakes as much as possible and still be able to protect them when we do have them. “It’ll be an ongoing challenge… we’ll have some times where we’ll pull our hair out a bit but we’ll also have some pretty exciting bits of play.” Source link #West #Coast #coach #Andrew #McQualter #Hawthorn #inspiration #Eagles #rise Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

You can return faulty Retroid Pocket Minis until March 14, but there’s a catch You can return faulty Retroid Pocket Minis until March 14, but there’s a catch The Retroid Pocket Mini was a highly-anticipated device, but recently, problems with the screens have left many fans unhappy with its performance — and in some cases, unable to play the games they want at all. In response, Retroid is offering an extended return window from March 8 until March 14, but there is one large caveat: Only 200 overseas customers can utilize this option. After that, no returns will be accepted. Retroid shared the news today via its Discord. Many users have encountered incompatibility with certain filters that disrupts scanlines and results in a less-than-pleasant viewing experience. A more technical explanation is that it outputs at a lower resolution than the advertised 960p and stretches it to fit. Many users don’t notice (or don’t mind) this, but those seeking a true-to-original retro experience have raised complaints. It seems that users who don’t use CRT or gridline filters won’t experience too much of a problem, but anyone trying to use filters to capture a specific look will not get the results they’re after. Image used with permission by copyright holder Retroid asks users that “only those genuinely affected by screen-related issues utilize this return option,” citing the expense of the returns. In return, Retroid will give all Retroid Pocket Mini users a $10 stackable coupon that can be used for the upcoming Retroid Flip2 and Retroid Classic. Please enable Javascript to view this content The announcement was met with quite a bit of controversy, with many fans expressing anger the company shipped a product with faulty screen hardware, while others say the $10 compensation is an insult to long-time customers. Retroid is a well-known manufacturer of handheld gaming consoles, the majority of which are targeted toward retro games. Source link #return #faulty #Retroid #Pocket #Minis #March #catch Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Microsoft might challenge “partner” OpenAI with in-house AI models Microsoft might challenge “partner” OpenAI with in-house AI models Table of Contents Table of Contents Steadily building its own stack Rivalry, and openness to rivals Microsoft is one of the early backers of OpenAI, and has repeatedly hawked products like Copilot by touting their access to the latest ChatGPT models. Now, it seems Microsoft is looking to push its own AI models in the popular software suite, while also developing a rival to OpenAI’s reasoning models in the ”GPT-o” family. As per The Information, employees at Microsoft’s AI unit recently concluded the training of “a new family of AI model” that are currently in development under the “MAI” codename. Internally, the team is hopeful that these in-house models perform nearly as well as the top AI models from the likes of OpenAI and Anthropic. Under the leadership of its AI chief, Mustafa Suleyman, Microsoft is launching this initiative to trim down its dependence on OpenAI and develop its own AI stack for Copilot applications. The developments are not surprising. Steadily building its own stack In the last week of February, Microsoft introduced new small language models called Phi-4-multimodal and Phi-4-mini. They come with multi-modal capabilities, which means they can process text, speech, and vision as input formats, just like OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini. Luke Larsen / Digital Trends These two new AI models are already available to developers via Microsoft’s Azure AI Foundry and third-party platforms such as HuggingFace and the NVIDIA API Catalog. In benchmarks shared by the company, the Phi-4 model is already ahead of Google’s latest Gemini 2.0 series models on multiple test parameters. “It is among a few open models to successfully implement speech summarization and achieve performance levels comparable to GPT-4o model,” Microsoft noted in its blog post. The company is hoping to release its ”MAI” models commercially via its Azure service. Rivalry, and openness to rivals Aside from testing in-house AI models for Copilot, Microsoft is also exploring third-party options such as DeepSeek, xAI, and Meta. DeepSeek recently made waves by offering a high performance benchmark at a dramatically lower development cost. It has already been adopted by numerous companies and recently claimed a theoretical cost-to-profit ratio of over 500% on a daily basis. Today, we are advancing our AI ambitions with the release of DeepSeek R1 7B & 14B distilled models for Copilot+ PCs via Azure AI Foundry. This is the next step on our journey to continue to make Windows the platform for AI, seamlessly integrating intelligence from the cloud to… pic.twitter.com/QaUYrlMIt6 — Pavan Davuluri (@pavandavuluri) March 3, 2025 Aside from developing its own AI models to replace OpenAI’s GPT infrastructure for Copilot, Microsoft is also reportedly working on its own reasoning AI models, too. This would pit Microsoft against OpenAI products such as GPT-o1 as well as ******** upstarts such as DeepSeek, both of which offer reasoning capabilities. Apparently, the work on an in-house reasoning model has been expedited due to strained relationships between Microsoft and OpenAI teams over technology sharing. According to The Information, Suleyman and OpenAI have been at odds over the latter’s lack of transparency regarding the intricate workings of its AI models such as GPT-o1. Reasoning models are deemed to be the next frontier for AI development, as they offer a more nuanced understanding of queries, logical deduction, and better problem solving capabilities. Microsoft also claims that its Phi-4 model delivers stronger language, mathematical, and visual science reasoning chops. Source link #Microsoft #challenge #partner #OpenAI #inhouse #models Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Should You Buy JPMorgan Chase’s Stock at an All-Time High? Should You Buy JPMorgan Chase’s Stock at an All-Time High? JPMorgan Chase (NYSE: JPM) is the amalgam of two iconic names in the finance industry. The company is well respected and has been executing well. But is that enough of a reason to buy the stock? Considering that, at the moment, the market is pricing in what seems to be a perfect performance in the future, most investors will want to think twice before jumping in. Here’s a look at the problem with JPMorgan Chase’s stock today. JPMorgan Chase is a finance company. That’s the best way to describe it because its business touches on several important segments of the industry. For example, it owns a large bank that services consumers and businesses. It also operates an investment bank, which helps companies raise capital. And it operates a wealth management business, which handles the details of personal investing for wealthy clients. That basically touches on all of the big business lines in the finance industry with the exception of insurance. Image source: Getty Images. The roughly $700 billion market cap financial giant has been performing pretty well of late. For example, in the final quarter of 2024, JPMorgan Chase’s revenue rose 11% year over year. It increased earnings by 58%. And return on equity rose to 17% from 12% in the prior year. There is a reason why investors have been pushing the stock price up. And that’s where things get interesting if you are looking at JPMorgan Chase today. The stock has pulled back a little from its recent highs, but it is still up nearly 28% over the past year. That’s more than twice the gain of the S&P 500 index (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC). Investors are pricing in a lot of good news. Data by YCharts. For dividend investors, it is notable that JPMorgan Chase’s roughly 2% dividend yield is near the low end of its 10-year range. That suggests a premium price tag today and should give income investors pause. However, dividend yield is a less common valuation tool. Looking at more common valuation metrics backs up the valuation concerns highlighted by the dividend yield. For example, JPMorgan Chase’s price-to-sales (P/S) ratio is currently sitting at around 4.25 times versus a five-year average of around 3.3 times. The price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio is up around 12.5 times compared to a long-term average of roughly 11 times. And price-to-book value (P/B) is a bit above 2.1 times right now versus a five-year average of about 1.6 times. The P/E ratio gap is the smallest of this group of valuation tools, suggesting only modest overvaluation. But the P/S and P/B ratios are both materially above their longer-term averages. And then you have to consider that the actual stock price is within 10% of its all-time highs at the time of this writing. This is most definitely not a stock that is on *****. Story Continues JPMorgan Chase’s stock has pulled back some along with the broader market on economic concerns. But that drop isn’t nearly enough to make the stock cheap if you look at traditional valuation tools or less traditional ones, like dividend yield. That doesn’t mean JPMorgan Chase is a bad company, but even a good company can be a bad investment if you pay too much for it. Ever feel like you missed the boat in buying the most successful stocks? Then you’ll want to hear this. On rare occasions, our expert team of analysts issues a “Double Down” stock recommendation for companies that they think are about to pop. If you’re worried you’ve already missed your chance to invest, now is the best time to buy before it’s too late. And the numbers speak for themselves: Nvidia: if you invested $1,000 when we doubled down in 2009, you’d have $292,207!* Apple: if you invested $1,000 when we doubled down in 2008, you’d have $45,326!* Netflix: if you invested $1,000 when we doubled down in 2004, you’d have $480,568!* Right now, we’re issuing “Double Down” alerts for three incredible companies, and there may not be another chance like this anytime soon. Continue » *Stock Advisor returns as of March 3, 2025 JPMorgan Chase is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Reuben Gregg Brewer has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends JPMorgan Chase. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Should You Buy JPMorgan Chase’s Stock at an All-Time High? was originally published by The Motley Fool Source link #Buy #JPMorgan #Chases #Stock #AllTime #High Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Unbeaten India face record-setting New Zealand for Champions Trophy glory – DAWN.com Unbeaten India face record-setting New Zealand for Champions Trophy glory – DAWN.com Unbeaten India face record-setting New Zealand for Champions Trophy glory DAWN.comIndia vs New Zealand LIVE Cricket Score, Champions Trophy Final 2025: Mitchell, Latham rebuild after Kuldeep’s strikes; NZ 102/3 after 21 overs The Indian ExpressFinal (D/N), Dubai (DICS), March 09, 2025 ICC Champions Trophy ESPNcricinfoIND vs NZ LIVE Score, Champions Trophy 2025 Final: Ruthless India look to avoid three-peat against red-hot New Zealand Hindustan TimesLIVE: India vs New Zealand – ICC Champions Trophy 2025 final Al Jazeera English Source link #Unbeaten #India #face #recordsetting #Zealand #Champions #Trophy #glory #DAWN.com Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Konstas helps NSW grind out Shield draw at the WACA Konstas helps NSW grind out Shield draw at the WACA NSW rising star Sam Konstas has kept his cool to help thwart Western Australia’s victory bid in the drawn Sheffield Shield clash at the WACA Ground. WA declared at 4-346 in their second innings soon after lunch on day four, leaving NSW a victory target of 282 from 57 overs. The Blues weren’t interested in the run chase, with the visitors content to do their best to grind out a draw. Konstas crafted 50 off 107 ****** to help NSW recover from 1-0 to reach 4-130 by the time the two captains shook hands on Sunday evening with two overs remaining. Ladder leaders South Australia (51.76 points) have already earned hosting rights for the Shield final given they are guaranteed to finish on top, irrespective of what happens in the final round. The race for second spot will be between second-placed Queensland (36.8 points), third-placed NSW (35.39), fourth-placed WA (34.43) and fifth-placed Victoria (32.49). South Australia take on Queensland in Adelaide next week, while WA host Victoria and NSW visit Tasmania. Hilton Cartwright was the standout in WA’s second innings, with a career-high 171 not out off 294 ****** featuring 19 fours and a six. Cameron Bancroft, in his return from the fractured shoulder suffered during a sickening collision in the BBL, scored a patient 86 off 277. NSW’s chase started disastrously, with Nic Maddinson edging Joel Paris to slip on the third ball of the innings. It was 2-50 in the 25th over when Kurtis Patterson was bowled by Joel Paris (2-8) for 13. Konstas held the innings together with a crucial half-century. But the 19-year-old’s decision to trot down the pitch to block spinner Corey Rocchiccioli proved to be his undoing, with Konstas stumped well out of his crease. When Rocchiccioli had Josh Philippe caught next ball, NSW were 4-86 and a tad vulnerable. Matthew Gilkes (53no) and Oliver Davies (11no) held off WA’s charge, ensuring NSW escaped with a draw. “Five an over was probably a bit too much,” NSW allrounder Jack Edwards said. “They probably batted us out of the game. Losing the early one as well, we decided to pack it up. “He (Konstas) played well. It was good to see him apply himself and show us how much of a good, natural player he is when he’s applying himself. “It was a nice knock, and hopefully next time he can make it a really big one.” Source link #Konstas #helps #NSW #grind #Shield #draw #WACA Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

A top Amazon tech exec emailed its CEO: Don't buy the hype about Microsoft's 'breakthrough' – Business Insider A top Amazon tech exec emailed its CEO: Don't buy the hype about Microsoft's 'breakthrough' – Business Insider A top Amazon tech exec emailed its CEO: Don’t buy the hype about Microsoft’s ‘breakthrough’ Business InsiderMicrosoft’s Quantum Computing Breakthrough, Explained The DispatchKorea Herald Explains: Microsoft’s new quantum computing chip: A game changer? asianews.networkA Million Qubits Within Reach as Microsoft Redefines Quantum Computing SciTechDailyWhy new qubit may give ultrafast quantum computing a boost Harvard Gazette Source link #top #Amazon #tech #exec #emailed #CEO #Don039t #buy #hype #Microsoft039s #039breakthrough039 #Business #Insider Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Where to buy 9070 XT – AMD RX 9070 XT stock for March 7 – PCGamesN Where to buy 9070 XT – AMD RX 9070 XT stock for March 7 – PCGamesN Where to buy 9070 XT – AMD RX 9070 XT stock for March 7 PCGamesNAMD Radeon RX 9070 XT GPU Review & Benchmarks vs. 5070 Ti, 5070, 7900 XT (Sapphire Pulse) GamersNexusAMD launches Radeon RX 9070 XT and Radeon RX 9070 CG ChannelWhere to Buy the Phenomenal AMD Radeon RX 9070 and 9070 XT Graphics Cards IGNRetailer confirms Radeon RX 9070 “MSRP” only applies to first shipments, price set to increase later VideoCardz.com Source link #buy #AMD #stock #March #PCGamesN Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

2025 NFL free agent edge rusher rankings: Best team fits, projected deals for Josh Sweat, Khalil Mack, more – CBS Sports 2025 NFL free agent edge rusher rankings: Best team fits, projected deals for Josh Sweat, Khalil Mack, more – CBS Sports 2025 NFL free agent edge rusher rankings: Best team fits, projected deals for Josh Sweat, Khalil Mack, more CBS SportsRanking the NFL’s top 100 free agents: Who are the best players available this month? ESPNSam Darnold not expected back with Vikings as team focuses on other options entering free agency, per report CBS SportsNFL free agency: When it starts, top free agents and teams with most cap space NBC WashingtonLatest 2025 NFL free agency rumors: Three teams expected to be aggressive USA TODAY Source link #NFL #free #agent #edge #rusher #rankings #team #fits #projected #deals #Josh #Sweat #Khalil #Mack #CBS #Sports Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Donald Trump Just Proved He’s an Economic ******. Again. Donald Trump Just Proved He’s an Economic ******. Again. Remember the word “sanewashing” from the 2024 presidential campaign? It referred to the mainstream media’s coverage of Donald Trump’s rallies, and their tendency to pluck out quotes for their stories that made him sound like a normal candidate when he was in fact spouting fantastical lies and gibberish and authoritarian threats. I was apoplectic about it, as were TNR’s Greg Sargent and contributor Parker Molloy. The media sanewashed a lot of what Trump said, from his hate-filled rhetoric about transgender people to his descriptions of Kamala Harris. But in retrospect, his sanewashing on the economy probably benefited him more than anything else. The economy was voters’ top concern, and the common narrative in the press went like this: The economy’s terrible; inflation is punishing; voters blame Joe Biden, “fairly or not” (a classic dodge of a phrase); the Trump economy was strong until Covid, which wasn’t his fault, and Trump says he’ll bring down prices on day one and protect American workers with his tariffs. Many of these claims weren’t true, and now we’re starting to see the consequences of the casual lies Trump got away with last year. How many times did we hear him say things like, “Tariff” is “the most beautiful word in the dictionary”? Everybody knew then what’s obvious today. Tariffs are taxes. They raise prices on Americans. A lot of people said it, mostly Democrats, but Trump denied it, and the right-wing media-political complex that exists to support his every lie cranked into gear to say tariffs are great. That was then. Now we’ve moved from campaign rhetoric to policymaking, and what we’re seeing is even more obvious and embarrassing than I’d imagined. Tariffs were the centerpiece of Trump’s campaign—they were his most important proposal on the most important issue to voters. It doesn’t get more central than that. And now we’re seeing that it’s a joke. Trump has twice now imposed sweeping tariffs and twice now withdrawn or delayed them almost immediately in the face of criticism and the plunging stock market. Can you imagine if Harris had done that? If any Democrat had done that? If any other Republican had done that? Imagine that John McCain or Mitt Romney had run on some core economic promise and had won, and then once in office had put forward that core proposal but been hammered by the reaction and reversed course within 24 hours? Their credibility would have been shot. They would have had their defenders, but even most Republicans at that point would have admitted that it was embarrassing. We’ve had a few Republicans criticize Trump’s tariffs, but most, as usual, are silent. Dear Leader can do no wrong. And on the broader issue of economic performance, we keep hearing stuff like this: Peter Navarro: “The economy is in good shape right now because the Trump cavalry is riding to the rescue,” but the “Biden inflation” remains a problem. Newt Gingrich: “Just as Reagan inherited Carter’s bad economy, President Trump inherited Biden’s bad economy.” Larry Kudlow: “Right now the economy is doing poorly. This is still the Biden economy.” Stephen Moore: “These numbers that have come in so far are really the Biden numbers.… This is a bit of the Biden hangover.” Some of this is just normal partisan swordplay, but where Trump is involved, there is always a sense of a particularly potent Kool-Aid being drunk by all those who go out there and parrot these obvious, blatant lies—who even cheer them. I mention “cheer” with specific reference to Tuesday night’s address to Congress. It was filled with embarrassing moments, but the biggest laugher was when Trump pledged that “we are going to balance” the federal budget. I’m glad I wasn’t sipping a bourbon, because I would have ***** it out on the dog. A lot of Democrats laughed. But the Republicans, of course, cheered wildly. Are they kidding? How many times do we have to go over this? In the last half-century of this country’s history—50 years is a long time now—these are the numbers. They’re so lopsided that most Americans wouldn’t even believe them: • Jimmy Carter added $25 billion to the deficit.• Ronald Reagan added $74 billion. That seemed bad at the time; just you wait.• George H.W. Bush added $102 billion.• Bill Clinton reduced the deficit by $383 billion, leaving the budget in surplus when he left office.• George W. Bush added $1.54 trillion to the deficit.• Barack Obama got the deficit down to $585 billion; that is, he reduced it by $825 billion.• Donald Trump added $2.1 trillion to the deficit.• Joe Biden reduced the deficit by about $942 billion. See a pattern there? Under Republican presidents in the last half-century, the deficit has increased by a total of $3.8 trillion. Under Democrats, it’s gone down by $2.1 trillion. It’s a joke. And it’s a crime that Americans don’t know this and still tell pollsters that Republicans are more responsible stewards of the economy. Shame on Democrats for failing to hammer these facts home. Ronald Reagan left office with a healthy economy. But ever since—for 40 years—the pattern, the clear and obvious pattern, is this: Republican presidents wreck the economy, and Democratic presidents clean up the mess. This is inarguable. Fine, put an asterisk by Trump because of the pandemic. But the numbers are the numbers. If Hillary Clinton had been president during that economic collapse, do you think Republicans would have been thoughtful enough to say, “Well, in fairness to President Clinton …” The same thing is likely to happen again, by the way, and on an even grander scale. Trump wants to cut nearly $7 trillion in taxes. Congressional Republicans want to cut domestic spending by $4.5 trillion. Even a Fox News host could do that math, if he wanted to. It equals a massive budget deficit, to say nothing of the pain about to be felt by people—the people Trump professes to love—with cuts to Medicaid and other programs that, as more and more people are learning, actually do some good things. Can Donald Trump do that math? I doubt it. He’s an economic ******. Always has been. He ran a good economy? No, he inherited Obama’s economy. If you compare Obama’s last three years as president (taking out a Great Recession that began before he took office) to Trump’s first three (taking out a pandemic-related collapse because the pandemic wasn’t his fault), Obama created around 43,000 more jobs per month than Trump. These are indelible facts. As is the fact that tariffs are taxes. American consumers will pay them, as will farmers and importers, if Trump ever gets around to imposing them for real. If he keeps “imposing” tariffs and then backing off, well, it will be better for the economy than if he leaves them in place. But Democrats and our free press had better make sure that the public understands that the candidate who supposedly was “in touch” with the working class built his campaign around a proposal that’s about as real as spinning straw into gold. The sanewashing must not continue. This article first appeared in Fighting Words, a weekly TNR newsletter authored by editor Michael Tomasky. Sign up here. Source link #Donald #Trump #Proved #Hes #Economic #****** Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Trade Deadline Tracker 2025: Fantasy Hockey Style – dobberhockey.com Trade Deadline Tracker 2025: Fantasy Hockey Style – dobberhockey.com Trade Deadline Tracker 2025: Fantasy Hockey Style dobberhockey.comLive NHL trade tracker for 2024-25: Deals, grades, rumors, more ESPNMarchand trade to Panthers signals end of era for Bruins NHL.comNHL Trade Deadline 2025 Blog: How a crazy day unfolded Sportsnet.caNHL trade deadline 2025 tracker: Analysis, rumors on hockey’s big moves USA TODAY Source link #Trade #Deadline #Tracker #Fantasy #Hockey #Style #dobberhockey.com Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Will Brown run for Ohio governor? Doesn’t sound like he’s ready for rocking chair. |Opinion Will Brown run for Ohio governor? Doesn’t sound like he’s ready for rocking chair. |Opinion Thomas Suddes is a former legislative reporter with The Plain Dealer in Cleveland and writes from Ohio University. *****@*****.tld The likely 2026 party slates for Ohio’s statewide elected offices are starting to fill out, with ex-U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, a Cleveland Democrat, hovering in the background. Voters retired Brown in November, replacing him with Westlake Republican Bernie Moreno. But, Brown writing in the celebrated liberal magazine The New Republic, whose founders included the renowned journalist Walter Lippmann, said he’ll remain in the arena. This, from The New Republic article’s sub-headline: “Reconnecting the Democratic Party to the working class is an electoral and a moral imperative, and it will be my mission for the rest of my life.” Sept. 27, 2024; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown speaks to the Dispatch editorial board. That doesn’t sound like sipping iced tea in the rocking chair of a retirement home’s sun porch. It sounds instead like a statewide 2026 campaign for a return to the Senate (by unseating appointed Republican Sen. Jon Husted of Upper Arlington) or running for governor of Ohio next year against whomever the GOP slates for that job. Could dems pick between Amy Acton and Sherrod Brown? If a Brown governorship were to emerge, that would create a potentially vexing dilemma for the Ohio Democratic organization, loyal to long-term officeholder Brown though it may be: An Ohio Democrat is already running energetically for the party’s 2026 gubernatorial nomination: Bexley Democrat Dr. Amy Acton, a Youngstown native, who — during the COVID pandemic — bravely and energetically served as director of Ohio’s state Health Department in (Republican) Gov. Mike DeWine’s administration. It’d be interesting to see if, or how, Brown’s in-party fans might attempt to slide fellow Democrat Acton – a highly qualified female candidate – out of her quest for the governorship. Republicans who’ve announced they’re seeking for the GOP’s 2026 gubernatorial nomination are Ohio Attorney General David Yost, of Columbus; Upper Arlington tech zillionaire Vivek Ramaswamy; and Heather Brazell-Hill, of Morgan County’s Malta. Besides Acton, other Ohio Democrats who’ve announced they’re seeking statewide executive office nominations in 2026 are a second physician, Bryan Hambley, of suburban Cincinnati’s Loveland, who’s running for Democrats’ nomination for secretary of state; and former state Rep. Elliot Forhan, now of Greater Cleveland’s Brooklyn Heights, a Yale Law School graduate who’s running for Democrats’ 2026 nomination for Ohio attorney general. For many years, this had been a classic definition of Ohio politics, a definition formulated in 1960 by Thomas Flinn, a scholar then at Oberlin, later a member of Cleveland State’s faculty: “Ohio is now and has long been a competitive two-party state in which the Republicans enjoy the advantage. From the close of the Civil War to the election of 1896 the Republicans carried the state in every presidential contest (seven), but the outcome of these elections in Ohio was invariably close.” Will Ohio stay red? March 17, 2024; Bexley, Ohio, USA; Dr. Amy Acton appears in an upcoming PBS documentary on COVID and public health. She was pohotographed at Jeffery Mansion in Bexley. Not now, though, due to the GOP’s statewide successes and Ohio Democrats’ weaknesses. Ohio cast its presidential electoral votes in 2016, 2020 for 2024 for Donald Trump and his running mates — last year, for now-Vice President J.D. Vance, of Butler County’s Middletown. Take a glance: Ohio Republicans control every statewide elected executive office. They’ve run the Ohio Senate since January 1985 – for 40 years, almost certainly an Ohio record – and controlled Ohio’s House for all except two years since January 1995 (that is, 28 years – contrast that with Democrat Vern Riffe’s 20-year Ohio House speakership, from 1975 through 1994). Republicans hold both of Ohio’s federal Senate seats, with Westlake’s Moreno and Upper Arlington’s Jon Husted. And in ironic mimicry of 1983, a year of the locusts for Ohio Republicans, Democrats now hold only one statewide elected office – the Ohio Supreme Court seat held by Justice Jennifer Brunner. And then there’s what was once Ohio Democratic bedrock: Mahoning County (Youngstown), for decades an overwhelming bastion of Democratic power, cast 54% of its vote for Trump, 50.2% for Senate nominee Moreno, and 51.7 % for J.D. Vance (in 2022, for the Senate). All that leaves Ohio Democrats out in the cold unless they field an appealing and potentially victorious 2026 statewide ticket— without alienating the party’s key constituencies, which happen to include those Democratic women backing Amy Acton for governor. Thomas Suddes is a former legislative reporter with The Plain Dealer in Cleveland and writes from Ohio University. *****@*****.tld This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Will Sherrod Brown challenge Amy Acton for Ohio governor nod? |Opinion Source link #Brown #run #Ohio #governor #Doesnt #sound #hes #ready #rocking #chair #Opinion Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Gene Hackman died at home a week after wife Betsy Arakawa died from hantavirus, authorities say – WHIO Gene Hackman died at home a week after wife Betsy Arakawa died from hantavirus, authorities say – WHIO Gene Hackman died at home a week after wife Betsy Arakawa died from hantavirus, authorities say WHIOView Full Coverage on Google News Source link #Gene #Hackman #died #home #week #wife #Betsy #Arakawa #died #hantavirus #authorities #WHIO Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Scientists create super skin that self-heals 90% of cuts in 4 hours, fully repairs in 24 – Interesting Engineering Scientists create super skin that self-heals 90% of cuts in 4 hours, fully repairs in 24 – Interesting Engineering Scientists create super skin that self-heals 90% of cuts in 4 hours, fully repairs in 24 Interesting Engineering Source link #Scientists #create #super #skin #selfheals #cuts #hours #fully #repairs #Interesting #Engineering Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

How a BBC journalist saved a woman who walked into the sea How a BBC journalist saved a woman who walked into the sea BBC Linda Sinclair is a radio journalist with BBC Scotland A BBC Scotland journalist has received a Police Scotland bravery award after rescuing a woman from the sea in Orkney. Linda Sinclair, who has also been recognised by the Royal Humane Society, recalls how the dramatic day unfolded after she went for a beach swim with her sister. I knew something wasn’t right when the woman walking down the middle of the road refused to move aside, despite the noise of my car engine approaching. By her demeanour, I also instinctively sensed that a polite toot of the ***** was not the appropriate response. At the time I was driving to Inganess Beach on the outskirts of Kirkwall. I had discovered the bay early on in my three-month stint working at BBC Radio Orkney. It was just a five-minute drive from my house and is a truly beautiful spot. The wreck of a World War Two ship famously rests in its deeper waters where the Arctic Terns swoop for fish. The sight of planes landing and taking off from the nearby Kirkwall Airport adds to the charm of this picture postcard location. Linda and her sister Gail were driving to Inganess Beach when they spotted the lone woman on the road I would swim early in the morning when the water was still or late at night as the sun set, casting stunning ambers and pinks streaks through the sky. Braving the chilly water in a swimsuit became a daily ritual. On the evening of 16 July 2023 there was initially nothing out of the ordinary as I drove down with my sister, Gail. It was overcast and grey and not particularly warm for a summer’s night, in stark contrast to the blue skies and sunshine of the previous day. When we spotted the lone woman she was initially oblivious to us. As we approached she continued walking in the middle of the narrow road and reduced my car to a crawl, before stepping aside onto the beach. Linda Sinclair Linda pictured on Inganess Beach after an early morning swim Up ahead, Inganess was quiet apart from the odd dog walker and a child playing on the rocks as a couple looked on. As we made the short walk from the car to the beach, I couldn’t help but notice the woman again. She was kneeling in the damp sand, crying and on her mobile phone. The situation didn’t look good and I kept an eye on her as we made our way into the sea. My concerns were realised as a few moments later she followed us in to the water, fully clothed apart from her shoes. Gail and I acted quickly and, without saying a word to each other, took an arm each. My sister took the lead and spoke to the distressed woman – who appeared to be in her late 40s – to try and persuade her to come ashore. She was taller and stronger than us and it took all our collective strength to guide her back out of the chilly water. Police Scotland Linda was last month presented with a bravery award by Police Scotland Chief Constable Jo Farrell But just seconds after we got her out of the water she turned around and walked back in. I knew then we couldn’t deal with this situation alone and decided to raise the alarm. Dripping wet, I ran up to the road, flagged down a car and asked the driver to call 999. I cursed myself as it was one of the few times I had left home without my phone. Less than 15 minutes later a police sergeant and a friend of the woman arrived on the scene. They both desperately called her name and urged her to return to the shoreline but their pleas were ignored. By now the people scattered across the beach had started to gather. Another onlooker called the woman’s name again to no avail. The turning point for me was a man who started chatting to me and appeared oblivious to the enormity of the situation. Mid-conversation I turned my back on him and headed towards the police officer. I did not care if it was rude. I feared time was against us and I had to act. So I asked the sergeant if he would stop me going into the water. To my surprise he said he would not. However he did ask if I was a strong swimmer and warned if I got too close to the woman he would shout my name. I learned to swim as a child and in 2022 my sister introduced me to open water swimming. I joined a group called the Dell Dippers in my home town of Pitlochry, Perthshire, and swam with the Orkney Polar Bears during my time on the island. But for all my experience I had never tried to save someone before. I waded in and swam out to the woman, who was about parallel to the shipwreck in the deeper waters. From the shore, about 100m away, I heard the sergeant shout: “Linda, that’s close enough.” I treaded water as I asked the lady her name and what she was doing. She told me she had nothing to live for and added: “Everything is bad.” I reassured her this was not the case and rapidly tried to build a bond as we bobbed up and down a few metres apart. I asked her about her life and questions such as who she lived with. She told me she looked after her mum and dad. I said to her that they would be sad if she left them alone. My main message was that they needed her. She was important. Her life was important. I pleaded with her to return to shore and, after a few desperate minutes, she agreed. The relief was overwhelming as we silently swam side-by-side, a few metres apart, back to the beach. ‘I acted on instinct’ When we finally waded out of the sea, she threw her arms around me and gripped me tight to show her gratitude. She held me for a few moments, and it felt like our shared experience in the sea had created a bond. Seconds later she was whisked away by paramedics into the waiting ambulance. The crew asked me how I was. I felt fine but suddenly became aware of how cold I was. I started to shiver, either from the temperature, or adrenaline or both. The sergeant shook my hand, a paramedic removed my awkward neoprene boots and I rushed to my car to get some welcome heat. A few days later the officer told me he had nominated me for a bravery award. Last September I was recognised by the Royal Humane Society. And in February I was humbled to receive a separate award from Police Scotland Chief Constable Jo Farrell. People tell me I am brave but I genuinely do not think I am. I acted on instinct. To me it was the only thing to do. I could not have stood by on the shore and watched someone drown. It has played through my mind since that the loss of a close family member to suicide may have been the catalyst for my actions. I cannot be sure. But the pain of my personal loss certainly enabled me to connect with the woman and convince her not to take her own life. More than 18 months on I sincerely hope she is doing well. One thing is certain, that day on the beach will never leave me. If you’ve been affected by the issues in this story you can find information and support here. Source link #BBC #journalist #saved #woman #walked #sea Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Sheffield Shield: Western Australia’s draw with New South Wales leaves title hopes on life support Sheffield Shield: Western Australia’s draw with New South Wales leaves title hopes on life support Western Australia will need to beat Victoria next week and hope both New South Wales and Queensland lose to keep their hopes of a historic fourth straight Sheffield Shield title alive. Source link #Sheffield #Shield #Western #Australias #draw #South #Wales #leaves #title #hopes #life #support Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Living a long time isn't just about good genes, a new study says. 4 lifestyle changes that can improve your longevity. – AOL Living a long time isn't just about good genes, a new study says. 4 lifestyle changes that can improve your longevity. – AOL Living a long time isn’t just about good genes, a new study says. 4 lifestyle changes that can improve your longevity. AOLHow to slow aging, boost longevity: 4 takeaways from recent research Medical News Today’It has a measurable impact on lifespan’: Nutritionist names activity that can add years to your life GB NewsAging, Lifestyle, and Cellular Health FrontiersGenes Affect Aging and Mortality Less Than Extrinsic Factors Lifespan.io News Source link #Living #long #time #isn039t #good #genes #study #lifestyle #improve #longevity #AOL Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]