Restaurant and hospitality groups are pushing back on President Trump's depiction of the District as a hotbed of "crime, bloodshed, bedlam and squalor," saying the city is safe — and open for business.
Why it matters: Several D.C. industry leaders say Trump's rhetoric could deter visitors and hurt a tourism economy already affected by the administration's policies and mass federal firings.
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier on Wednesday made it illegal to sell 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH), a compound found in some kratom products, by classifying it as a Schedule I controlled substance in the state.
Why it matters: The announcement makes Florida the first state to ban this concentrated kratom byproduct, which acts like an opioid and has been dubbed "legal morphine" by researchers.
Fast-casual restaurants are suddenly immersed in a sales slowdown as consumers — especially cash-strapped Gen Zers — grow wary of the economy and become more price sensitive.
Why it matters: The fast-food industry had already taken a turn for the worse as low-income consumers shy away — but fast-casual restaurants typically have more insulation from a downturn because they target higher-income customers.
Bullish's stock more than doubled as it opened trading Wednesday, a day after the crypto exchange operator raised $1.11 billion in an IPO at $37 per share.
Why it matters: It's the latest IPO to come hot out of the gate, and another win for the crypto sector after a long lull in public listings.
Nvidia and AMD can sell their AI chips to China for the low price of 15% of their revenue, paid out to the U.S. government. Investors are unfazed.
Why it matters: Shareholders are focusing on the revenue opportunities that come with more access to Beijing, not on the unprecedented involvement of the Trump administration in Nvidia's business dealings.
The number of New York City office workers actually going to those offices is now higher than pre-pandemic levels — the first time that's happened since COVID hit, according to a new analysis.
Why it matters: It's an I-told-you-so moment for those who rejected the once-dire predictions that the pandemic would change New York — and the way people work — forever.
Mexico extradited 26 suspected high-ranking drug traffickers to the U.S. on Tuesday — including several linked to groups the Trump administration has designated as global terrorist organizations like the Sinaloa Cartel, per the Department of Justice.
The big picture: The extraditions come after months of pressure from President Trump, who has threatened to hit Mexico with hefty tariffs if Mexican officials don't do enough to stop the flow of drugs.
I owe a huge apology to Mel Robbins, author of the bestselling book in the world.
Maybe it was author envy, or bad "blink" instincts, or both. But I must confess to hearing the premise of "The Let Them Theory" and thinking: No shit!
"Let Them" argues that we need to stop letting others' actions or words bother and control us.
The inner Jim's response: "Duh? If I could just let people be moronic, selfish and make-me-want-to stab-myself annoying, I would — but I can't!"
Why it matters: I was wrong, at least about Robbins' book. I went down the Mel Robbins rabbit hole this past week and discovered how valuable her insights are. I get why she has sold 6 million copies in just under eight months — more books in a shorter time than any author in history.
