Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) on Sunday dismissed President Trump’s recent crackdown on Washington, D.C., as a “stunt.”
“What’s happening here in Washington, D.C. is just a stunt. Donald Trump didn’t like the fact that the walls were closing in on him, that his own base was questioning why he wouldn’t release the Epstein files, why he was protecting very powerful people,” Murphy told NBC News’s Kristen Welker on “Meet the Press.”
“He didn’t want to talk anymore about the fact that our health care system is about to collapse because of the cuts that they have made, that premiums are going to go up by 75 percent on Americans,” he added. “And so, true to form, he just decided to create a new news cycle.”
Earlier this week, Trump announced he was taking federal control of D.C.’s police department and deploying the National Guard in the city in an effort to fight crime. Trump’s recent moves in the nation’s capital have drawn heavy blowback from Democrats and reignited calls for statehood for the District, which does not have voting representation in Congress.
On Saturday, South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster (R) announced that he had authorized the deployment of 200 National Guard troops to help “restore law and order” in D.C., also saying that they could be recalled if there was a South Carolina disaster.
“I’ve authorized the deployment of 200 S.C. National Guardsmen to support President Trump in his mission to restore law and order to our nation’s capital. The federal government will pay for this deployment under Title 32,” McMaster said on the social media platform X.
“Our National Guard will work to assist President Trump’s mission, and should a hurricane or natural disaster threaten our state, they can and will be immediately recalled home to respond,” the governor added.
The Hill has reached out to the White House for comment.
If your credit score is on the lower side, you could be paying a “subprime tax” that adds up to more than $100,000 over the course of your life, according to a Bankrate study. The study found that borrowers with a 620 credit score or lower pay an average of $3,400 more each year for essentials like loans and insurance compared to those with higher scores.
For roughly one in five U.S. adults — the share of Americans with subprime credit — that extra cost can have a big impact on financial stability.
The subprime tax refers to the higher costs lenders and insurers charge borrowers with lower credit scores. Bankrate found that, on average, this works out to about 4% of a typical U.S. household’s annual income.
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These extra charges can appear across many common financial products, including:
Mortgage loan interest: $1,330 per year on average
Auto loan interest: $745 per year
Auto insurance premiums: $514 per year
Home insurance premiums: $398 per year
Personal loan interest: $328 per year
Credit card interest: $89 per year
Over five years, these costs total roughly $17,000. Over 30 years, they add up to more than $102,000, based on national averages for loan sizes, interest rates, and insurance premiums.
From a lender or insurer’s perspective, a lower credit score signals higher risk — whether that’s the possibility of missed payments or more frequent claims. To offset that risk, companies typically charge higher interest rates or premiums.
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“There is no question that you pay more for credit when you have a lower credit score,” TransUnion (NYSE:TRU) Vice President Michele Raneri told Bankrate. “And so the higher credit score that you can get…you pay less for it.”
High interest rates in the current economy can make this gap even larger. Not only are subprime borrowers charged more when approved, but they may also face more rejections, making it harder to access affordable credit.
The good news is that your credit score isn’t fixed forever. Experts say small, consistent changes can help you move into a better credit tier — and save money.
Margaret Poe, head of consumer education at TransUnion, recommends starting with your credit reports. She told Bankrate that consumers should look for late payments, high balances, or errors, and make a plan to address them. Payment history and credit utilization – how much of your available credit you use – are the two largest factors in your FICO score.
Other expert tips include:
Pay on time, every time. Even one late payment can hurt your score.
Lower your credit utilization. Try to keep balances below 30% of your available credit.
Build a positive history. Credit-building apps and rent-reporting services can help by adding on-time payments to your credit file.
Avoid unnecessary applications. Multiple credit checks in a short time can temporarily lower your score.
While improving your credit score can take time, the financial payoff is significant. A stronger score can mean lower mortgage rates, cheaper insurance premiums, and better loan offers. Over decades, avoiding the subprime tax could save you enough to cover a down payment on a home, boost your retirement savings, or build a healthy emergency fund.
As Poe puts it, understanding your credit and taking action “can potentially turn these things around” — and keep thousands of dollars in your pocket.
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Sonny Baker marks his first England call-up with a hat-trick as Manchester Originals boosted their men’s Hundred hopes by beating rivals Northern Superchargers by 57 runs at Old Trafford.
President Trump’s first-term ambassador to NATO, Kay Bailey Hutchison, warned on Sunday that Chinese President Xi Jinping “is watching” President Trump’s approach to negotiations between Russia and Ukraine.
In an interview on NewsNation’s “The Hill Sunday,” Hutchison said if the West appears weak against Russia — and if Russia doesn’t face adequate repercussions for starting the war in Ukraine — Xi could see the current moment as an opening to take Taiwan.
“Xi is watching to see if the West will crater, if the West will just give up, will walk away from Ukraine — which we have said we would not do,” Hutchison said.
“And if we look weak or vacillating or give up the ability to have Western boundaries remain secure, then I think that means to Xi that maybe this is the time for him to do what he has wanted to do for a long time, which is start taking over Taiwan,” she continued. “He certainly did enough damage in Hong Kong, and now his next feat would be Taiwan.”
Trump will meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and other European leaders on Monday to discuss the outcome of the Friday summit between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Hutchison said it’s “very good” that Trump is including European leaders in the meeting because “security that is with the European allies is going to be part of this negotiation.”
“So having them at the table, I think, is very good, and also, they deserve to have input. This is their borders, and of course, NATO is part of all of this negotiation, but I think that it is going to be really important to have the Europeans understand what is at stake,” Hutchison said.
“Most assuredly, Ukraine has to have the final say,” she added.
Uber Freight founder and CEO Lior Ron is leaving the top job to become chief operating officer at self-driving truck startup Waabi, Bloomberg reports.
Ron, who built Uber’s (NYSE:UBER) freight and logistics unit into a $5.1 billion business, will lead Waabi as it works to launch fully driverless trucks in Texas before the end of this year. According to TechCrunch, Ron’s move comes as autonomous freight technology nears commercial viability, and Waabi prepares to scale operations against deep-pocketed rivals like Aurora, which has already launched the first driverless trucking route in the U.S.
Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) veteran Rebecca Tinucci, who TechCrunch says spent six years building the automaker’s charging network, will replace Ron as head of Uber Freight after Tesla cut its charging staff last year. Ron will remain chair of Uber Freight while taking on his new role at Waabi, Bloomberg reports.
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Waabi founder and CEO Raquel Urtasun told TechCrunch that Ron will lead go-to-market strategy, expand key partnerships, and bring Waabi from its current development stage to “commercialization at scale.” She pointed to his track record of scaling Uber Freight from inception to a multibillion-dollar revenue operation as proof that he can guide Waabi through its next phase.
Ron and Urtasun share a history in the sector, TechCrunch says. Ron co-founded self-driving truck company Otto, which Uber acquired in 2016, while Urtasun served as Uber’s chief scientist for self-driving research between 2017 and 2021.
Ron said his decision to join Waabi was driven by timing and the scale of opportunity in autonomy, telling TechCrunch, “If the most impactful thing to do in the next decade is autonomy, and if the timing is right, then for me it’s really about joining forces with who I think is most positioned to lead the transformation.”
Ron described the career shift as “like going back to the roots” in an interview with Bloomberg.
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Founded in 2021, Waabi has raised $287.7 million, including a $200 million Series B in 2024 led by prominent investors, such as Uber and Khosla Ventures. Urtasun told TechCrunch the company’s “AI-first” approach allows it to develop and validate self-driving systems with fewer resources and in less time than competitors.
Central to Waabi’s development is Waabi World, a closed-loop simulator that trains and tests its self-driving software by generating real-time scenarios, including accidents and construction zones, without physical risk.
According to TechCrunch, earlier this year, Waabi declared its system “feature complete,” meaning it had all the necessary capabilities to operate without a human driver and was now focusing on performance improvements and validation ahead of its driverless launch.
The company plans to begin operations in Texas, which TechCrunch says has become a hub for autonomous freight testing and deployment, but has not disclosed the specific routes or launch partners. Waabi is collaborating with Volvo Autonomous Solutions to build custom autonomous trucks for its fleet.
Ron told TechCrunch that demand from freight operators is strong, noting that chief supply chain officers and major carriers he met at Uber Freight “could not wait” for self-driving trucks.
He added that Waabi’s trucks will be able to drive directly to customer depots, avoiding the need for costly transfer terminals, and will deliver a “commercial-ready solution” for operators looking to integrate autonomy quickly.
With Aurora’s public market funding and head start on commercial routes, TechCrunch says that Waabi’s leadership is betting that its leaner, AI-driven approach will help it compete and scale faster in the race to lead autonomous freight in the U.S.
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Brett Okamoto has reported on mixed martial arts and boxing at ESPN since 2010. He has covered all of the biggest events in combat sports during that time, including in-depth interviews and features with names such as Dana White, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Conor McGregor, Nate Diaz, Floyd Mayweather, Manny Pacquiao and Georges St-Pierre. He was also a producer on the 30 for 30 film: “Chuck and Tito,” which looked back at the careers and rivalry of Chuck Liddell and Tito Ortiz. He lives in Las Vegas, and is an avid, below-average golfer in his spare time.
Khamzat Chimaev took what at times has felt like his destined spot atop the UFC middleweight division by defeating three-time defending champion Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 319 on Saturday in Chicago. It was a long time coming for the undefeated fighter out of Chechnya, Russia, who burst onto the scene with three UFC wins in 2020 before crawling toward the title shot with three fights in the past three years. Considering his recent pace, will Chimaev stay and defend his championship belt at middleweight, or will the 31-year-old follow in other champions’ recent footsteps and vacate in search of a second title at another weight class?
And what about his opponent, Du Plessis, who was thoroughly handled by Chimaev but is still very much a player in the division. Who will the South African get to kick off his hopeful return campaign to title contention? Another top-five contender could be just the thing Du Plessis needs next, or maybe surging wildcard opponent is more likely.
Lerone Murphy showed he has some flash in his game by producing a highlight-reel knockout of UFC newcomer Aaron Pico in the co-main, and a championship opportunity could cross his desk by the end of the year as a result.
All of these scenarios and more are potentially on the horizon for stars who competed on the UFC 319 main card. Check them out below.
Khamzat Chimaev, middleweight champion
Who should be next: Winner of Jack Della Maddalena vs. Islam Makhachev This will likely be controversial, but so be it. The UFC has a pattern right now of champions such as Ilia Topuria and Makhachev jumping around to different weight classes. It wouldn’t be ideal for Chimaev to follow the trend immediately, without a single middleweight title defense, but I don’t think I need to tell anyone this guy is a special case. It took five years for Chimaev to get the title shot — for reasons that often had nothing to do with fighting — but now he’s here and just completed one of the most dominant five-round fights in UFC history.
Chimaev said he wants to move around weight classes, and if he’s ever going to move down to 170 pounds — where Makhachev and Della Maddalena are rumored to face off for the welterweight title next — the time is now. It won’t get easier when he’s older to cut extra weight, and it would be even harder to cut if he were to move up in weight first.
Chimaev has the kind of potential that doesn’t come around every decade, so let him drop to meet more stars in the welterweight division in 2026.
Wildcard: Winner of Nassourdine Imavov vs. Caio Borralho on Sept. 9 This feels more likely to me. If Chimaev wants to be active, and he has said he does, the UFC can book this sooner rather than later to keep the middleweight division moving. The winner of Imavov vs. Borralho in Paris next month will become the rightful No. 1 contender at middleweight. If Chimaev isn’t going to move up or down to chase multiple belts, this is the obvious first title defense to make.
Dricus Du Plessis, middleweight
Who should be next: Loser of Imavov vs. Borralho Win, lose or draw, Du Plessis, Imavov and Borralho are all in their early 30s, essentially in the prime of their careers and not going anywhere. These top-10 middleweights are all likely to fight each other at some point, so there is no need to overthink these matchups. If the winner of Imavov-Borralho moves on to a title fight, the loser should fight Du Plessis. It’s what the rankings say, and sometimes, it’s that easy.
Wildcard:Reinier de Ridder RDR is interesting and truly the wild card. From a rankings standpoint, there are worthy contenders ahead of de Ridder at No. 5, in the UFC rankings (No. 7 in the ESPN rankings) but he has arguably the most momentum of any middleweight listed in the “who should be next” section above. He is in the middle of a brilliant 4-0 start to his UFC career that has included a May knockout of then-undefeated prospect Bo Nickal and a split decision win on July over former champion Robert Whittaker. He certainly will come up in matchmaking meetings for Du Plessis, but ultimately I anticipate the UFC going by the numbers when they map out the near future of the division.
Lerone Murphy, featherweight
Who should be next:Alexander Volkanovski It almost certainly will be Volkanovski. There was talk of Aaron Pico getting a shot at the featherweight champion if he defeated Murphy, so I can’t think of a reason why the same wouldn’t be true of Murphy — especially considering how emphatic his spinning back elbow knockout win was. Murphy will be the underdog against Volkanovski, but he’ll be a live one. He doesn’t have one obvious trump card to play, but that’s OK. He has more than proved he’s well-rounded and has no holes in his game. The biggest knock on him before Saturday was his lack of finishes, but he answered that call in a big way against Pico.
This sport is so unpredictable, both inside the Octagon and in how it hands out opportunities. Murphy wasn’t even supposed to be in this Pico matchup. After six years of relative obscurity in the UFC, he was the forgotten man at 145 pounds. Then he finishes a highly thought of former Bellator MMA star on three weeks’ notice and, bang, he is in the conversation to get a title shot before the end of the year. It’s hard not to feel excited for the guy.
Wild card:Yair Rodriguez The only opponent the UFC could give Volkanovski instead of Murphy at this point is the other forgotten man of the division, Movsar Evloev. If that were to happen, Rodriguez would be the only matchup for Murphy. But I don’t see any of that happening.
Who should be next: Each other My goodness! This is an absolute dream matchup for fans. I can’t think of a non-championship welterweight matchup I’d choose ahead of this one, and that includes Prates’ callout of former champion Leon Edwards. Prates has proven to be a knockout machine. Even in his only UFC loss to Ian Machado Garry, he put Garry on the ropes late in the fight.
Page’s past two fights, including his unanimous decision win over Jared Cannonier on Saturday, were at middleweight, but he’s clearly a welterweight. Cannonier was ranked inside the top 10, but Page isn’t expected to make an extended run at middleweight. Page wants to fight Edwards in 2026 in England. Prates wants to fight Edwards. Let’s have Prates and Page duke it out in October, and the winner gets his wish. Page’s unorthodox and elusive style versus Prates’ knockout wizardry will be fun to watch.
Baisangur Susurkaev improves to 9-0 after a 2nd round submission
Baysangur Susurkaev locks in the rear-naked chokehold on Eric Nolan to remain undefeated.
Who should be next:Bryan Battle If the UFC doesn’t cut Battle, this fight makes a lot of sense. Battle was supposed to fight at UFC 319 but missed weight by four pounds. It was an especially egregious mistake, as he had also missed weight for his last fight at welterweight and should have had no issues moving up a weight class. The reason I like this one for Susurkaev is that the UFC will want to continue to build on the momentum of Susurkaev’s wild week. How does it do that? Find a story. In this case, Battle has become a bit of a “villain,” due to his lack of professionalism. Let Susarkaev be the “good guy” here, and let the fan base get behind him. As a bonus, Battle is a fun stylistic matchup for Susurkaev.
Wild card:Nursulton Ruziboev The justification for this is that Ruziboev was supposed to fight Battle on Saturday. It’d be a nice move for the UFC to give Ruziboev an opponent such as Susurkaev, who has so much hype. There’s value in those fights, and I’m sure some will argue Battle shouldn’t be rewarded with this kind of fight after missing weight. But for the sake of building Susuarkaev, I think Battle is the No. 1 option.
An 11-year-old girl has died at a Cornwall beauty spot after an incident in the water.
Emergency services were called to Wacker Quay at Antony, Torpoint, after concerns were raised for a person in the water on Saturday at about 18:00 BST.
The girl, from the South Devon area, was recovered and given emergency treatment but died at the scene.
Devon and Cornwall Police said her death was not being treated as suspicious and a file was being prepared for the coroner.
A spokesperson for the force added the girl’s family had been informed and would be supported by officers.
Wacker Quay forms part of the Tamar Valley landscape and provides free public access to the River Lynher.
Speaking to BBC Radio Cornwall, a coastguard spokesperson said teams had responded to 20 callouts throughout the day.
They added the wind on Saturday afternoon did “catch quite a few people out”.
There were 10 lifeboat taskings and “a couple of helicopter taskings”, they said.
Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.), the ranking Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, said he was very disappointed by the historic summit between President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday.
In an interview on NewsNation’s “The Hill Sunday,” Smith criticized the U.S. president for appearing to emerge from his meeting more aligned with Putin in pushing for an end to the war in Ukraine without first agreeing to a ceasefire.
“The summit in Alaska was very disappointing,” Smith said in the interview. “We took the demand for a ceasefire off the table in exchange for nothing.”
Smith also criticized Trump’s “deference” to the Russian leader, contrasting that approach with the antagonism on display during the explosive Oval Office meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in February.
“The deference that President Trump showed to Putin—never once just stating the basic notion that Ukraine has a right to exist as a sovereign, democratic country and that the invasion was illegal, unlawful,” Smith said.
“And you contrast that with the way President Trump and Vice President Vance treated Zelensky when he was in the West Wing back in February — it sends the wrong signal if we’re trying to force Putin to the table and get a negotiated end to this war,” he continued.
Smith said it “makes sense” for Trump to be trying to get Putin and Zelensky in a room together, saying, “I applaud that effort, but you have to understand what Putin wants out of this.”
“Putin wants all of Ukraine, and he’s just trying to play President Trump and buy time to get in a better position to do that,” he continued. “That’s the calculation of Putin that has to be changed.”
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Social Security is constantly changing with updates to tax maximums, cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs), exemptions, and more. Some worry that increased payouts could deplete the program by the time today’s 30- and 40-somethings retire.
The good news is that Social Security is more resilient than it seems. As long as payroll taxes are collected, funds will remain, though the question is how much will be left. Without changes, Social Security will pay out more than it takes in, with a projected shortfall by 2035. However, this doesn’t mean checks will stop; they’ll just be smaller.
The most common advice from financial planners is to save for retirement as if Social Security doesn’t exist, though this isn’t feasible for everyone who views it as part of their retirement plan. So, what can you do now to maximize your benefits?
Make more money — it’s a no-brainer, right?
Maximizing your income is key to boosting your Social Security benefits, as they’re based on your highest 35 years of indexed earnings. Higher earnings, especially during peak years, directly impact your retirement check. Advocate for raises, add extra income streams and track your SSA statement annually to ensure accuracy and replace lower-earning years.
Increasing your earnings and lowering your expenses are key steps in building a solid retirement plan. But navigating the complexities of your financial situation can be overwhelming, especially if you’re unsure how to optimize your income for the future.
That’s where a professional can help.With Advisor.com, you can find the best advisor for your needs — both in terms of what they can offer your finances, and what they’ll charge to work for you.
Advisor.com is a free service that helps you find a financial advisor who can co-create a plan to reach your financial goals. By matching you with a curated list of the best options for you from their database of thousands, you get a pre-screened financial advisor you can trust.
Maximizing your Social Security benefits often means delaying them as long as possible. If you’re in your 30s or 40s, focus on creating a financial plan that reduces your reliance on Social Security in the early years of retirement.
For instance, having substantial cash reserves beyond your emergency fund can allow you to cover expenses without tapping into Social Security right away. This provides flexibility and ensures your benefits grow to their maximum potential.
If you’re willing to park your money for at least a year, you can get a rate of return over ten times higher than a typical high-yield savings account with a certificate of deposit (CD). A CD locks in your funds for a set period, providing stability and guaranteed returns, which the stock market cannot promise.
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Taxable brokerage accounts are an excellent resource for early retirement withdrawals, though they are less tax-efficient due to capital gains and dividend taxes. Tapping into these accounts can bridge the gap between leaving the workforce and accessing other retirement funds, helping you preserve tax-advantaged accounts like 401(k)s and IRAs for later use.
While you can claim Social Security as early as 62, waiting until your full retirement age (around 67 for most people) or even until age 70 can significantly increase your monthly benefit. Each year you delay past your full retirement age adds about 8% to your payments.
For those retiring before 70, relying on other resources like a 401(k) or IRA can help cover living expenses while your Social Security benefits grow.
For retirees seeking stability and diversification, a gold IRA offers a way to invest directly in precious metals.
One way to invest in gold that also provides significant tax advantages is to open a gold IRA with the help of Priority Gold.
Gold IRAs allow investors to hold physical gold or gold-related assets within a retirement account, which combines the tax advantages of an IRA with the protective benefits of investing in gold, making it an attractive option for those looking to potentially hedge their retirement funds against economic uncertainties.
To learn more, you can get a free information guide that includes details on how to get up to $10,000 in free silver on qualifying purchases.
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This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
