Two charts are going up and to the right at the same time: States are raking in tax revenue from sports betting and online casinos, and calls to the National Problem Gambling Helpline are on the rise.
Why it matters: The data points to a troubling trend — America’s gambling boom is driving more people into financial and emotional distress, with young men at the epicenter. But the industry continues to expand at breakneck speed, powered by aggressive marketing, state budget incentives and AI.
Churches across the U.S. and abroad are quietly experimenting with AI-generated Christmas content, from Nativity visuals and kids' lessons to full Christmas Eve sermons.
Why it matters: Christmas services draw some of the year's largest crowds, and churches' growing reliance on AI raises questions about authenticity, reverence, and whether algorithms can handle the faith's deepest themes.
Joy Reid, whose MSNBC show "The ReidOut" was canceled earlier this year, says leaving corporate media has been "liberating," allowing her to express her voice fully.
Why it matters: Reid is part of a growing wave of Black journalists — from Roland Martin and Jemele Hill to Don Lemon and Tiffany Cross —each creating independent media platforms when pushed out of mainstream media in high-profile clashes over voice, culture or politics.
Airbnb hosts in U.S. World Cup cities could earn $4,000 on average by renting out their homes during the tournament, company research shows.
Why it matters: Visiting fans are expected to boost local economies, with Airbnb guests pouring $865 million into accommodations, food, shopping and more nationwide, according to a Deloitte study commissioned by the platform.
