Once upon a time, kids headed for college got some extra-long sheets, a few crates and a hug good-bye from their parents — now they're getting thousands of dollars in dorm furnishings and interior design help.
Why it matters: Parents and "dorm-fluencers" are throwing themselves into glamorizing these temporary living spaces.
Media and arts criticism, once a vibrant part of most major news organizations, is undergoing sweeping changes as newsrooms face financial challenges and cultural and political pressure around bias.
Why it matters: Critics help audiences better understand the media they consume. Without them, audiences are left to interpret through social media commentary, which can lack nuance, fact-checking and editorial standards.
The domestic summer box office, which extends from May to Labor Day, brought in roughly $3.67 billion in sales this year, per Comscore, falling shy of last summer's total and behind analyst expectations of $4 billion.
Why it matters: A strong showing in May had movie enthusiasts hopeful that this year's summer box office — which typically comprises around 35%-40% of total annual sales — could help offset the downward trend of moviegoing following the pandemic.
President Trump on Tuesday said a court's ruling blocking most of his tariffs "was an emergency," and that the administration would seek an immediate hearing from the Supreme Court.
Why it matters: The centerpiece of Trump's economic agenda is hanging in the balance.
The National Football League has struck a content licensing deal with sports business news outlet Front Office Sports, FOS founder and CEO Adam White told Axios.
Why it matters: It's the first time the NFL has partnered with a sports business-focused news outlet to share content.
The 2026 U.S. midterm elections are expected to be the most expensive on record, thanks to a competitive battle for control of Congress and a surge in streaming video advertising, according to a new projection from ad analytics platform AdImpact.
Why it matters: The bullish projections are based in part on unprecedented early spending this year, fueled by competitive gubernatorial primaries, tight House and Senate races, and contentious down-ballot issues.
Elon Musk says Tesla will eventually derive 80% of its value from Optimus humanoid robots, another sign that he's moving past the electric car business.
Why it matters: Tesla's vehicle deliveries have been falling worldwide, but Musk has been pointing investors to the company's shift to AI and automation, including humanoids and self-driving taxis.
The Walt Disney Company on Tuesdaysaid it has agreed to pay $10 million to settle a children's privacy lawsuit with the Federal Trade Commission related to videos it uploaded on YouTube mostly during the pandemic.
Why it matters: It's the first known case in which a YouTube content provider has settled with the FTC over children's privacy violations since the agency's landmark settlement with YouTube and its parent Google in 2019.
Almost 70% of U.S. adults said the American dream, or the idea that hard work pays off, doesn't hold true anymore or never did, according to a new WSJ-NORC poll.
That's the highest percentage in almost 15 years of surveys, up almost 3% from 2024.
Why it matters: Traditional economic indicators such as inflation and unemployment aren't high by historic standards, but there is a persistent disconnect between the economy and consumer sentiment that has shifted Americans' belief in their prospect of upward mobility.
Anthropic on Tuesday announced that it's raised $13 billion in new venture capital funding at a $183 billion post-money valuation.
Why it matters: This makes Anthropic the world's fourth-most valuable startup, tripling its valuation from this past spring, and gives it more capital firepower to compete with AI market leader OpenAI.
Condé Nast on Tuesday named Chloe Malle as its new head of editorial content of Vogue U.S., marking the most significant step taken by longtime Vogue leader Anna Wintour in mapping her succession plan.
Why it matters: Malle was a predictable pick for Wintour, who — since stepping down as Vogue's editor-in-chief in June — has mostly named Vogue loyalists to top positions within Condé Nast.
Kraft Heinz announced plans Monday to split into a pair of independently, publicly traded companies.
The big picture: This follows similar separations by Kellogg and Keurig Dr Pepper, and is the ignominious end to Warren Buffett's rare foray into private equity.
ChatGPT guardrails for teens and people in emotional distress will roll out by the end of the year, OpenAI promised Tuesday.
Why it matters: Stories about ChatGPT encouraging suicide or murder or failing to appropriately intervene have been accumulating recently, and people close to those harmed are blaming or suing OpenAI.
The bull market has legs that could power the S&P 500 to a peak of 9,914 in September 2027, says Bank of America. With the S&P just crossing 6,500 for the first time, that would imply a rally of about 52.5% from current levels.
Why it matters: It's an extremely bullish call after the market has already had 20 record highs this year.
Facing tariffs and insults from President Trump, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had a far friendlier interaction on Monday with his Russian and Chinese counterparts during his first visit to China in seven years.
The big picture: Successive U.S. presidents have aggressively courted India as a counterweight to China. Trump is actively trying to drive a wedge between India and Russia while seeking to gradually peel Russia away from China. So the image of all three leaders literally holding hands is, at the very least, a symbolic blow.
The largest Powerball jackpot of the year grew again after no one matched all of the numbers in the Labor Day lottery drawing Monday.
Why it matters: This is the fifth-largest Powerball prize ever, underscoring how rare it is for jackpots to soar this high — and how long streaks without a winner can supercharge them.
