New Photo - Matt Hardy Suggests Overexposed WWE Star Take Time Off After SummerSlam

Matt Hardy Suggests Overexposed WWE Star Take Time Off After SummerSlam bibonsinhaSat, August 1, 2026 at 3:17 AM UTC 0 Photo Credit: TNA With SummerSlam just days away, WWE has made Danhausen one of its biggest stars both on TV and in its promotional campaigns. But WWE Hall of Famer Matt Hardy thinks the company should ease off after the event. Speaking on the latest episode of The Extreme Life, Hardy shared his thoughts on Danhausen’s upcoming “Human Monies on a Pole Match” against Dominik Mysterio.

Matt Hardy Suggests Overexposed WWE Star Take Time Off After SummerSlam

bibonsinhaSat, August 1, 2026 at 3:17 AM UTC

0

Photo Credit: TNA

With SummerSlam just days away, WWE has made Danhausen one of its biggest stars both on TV and in its promotional campaigns. But WWE Hall of Famer Matt Hardy thinks the company should ease off after the event.

Speaking on the latest episode of The Extreme Life, Hardy shared his thoughts on Danhausen’s upcoming “Human Monies on a Pole Match” against Dominik Mysterio. While he expects the match to be entertaining, he also feels WWE is using Danhausen a little too much.

Matt Hardy wants WWE to protect Danhausen’s popularity

Hardy first praised Dominik Mysterio and said he believes the match will be good. He then said he’d like to see WWE give Danhausen a short break after SummerSlam.

“I think this is going to be a match where Dominik is going to give Danhausen a good match. I think he’ll work really hard for him, and they’ll make the most of it. But I would almost like to see Danhausen kind of be scaled back and take a little time off following this,” Hardy said.

Hardy explained that Danhausen’s popularity isn’t the problem. Instead, he thinks fans are seeing him too often. He said WWE needs to protect what makes Danhausen special.

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“He has been a little overexposed, I feel like, and I think you got to be careful, because he is a very valuable commodity to WWE. But you can’t overexpose him. You’ve got to make him a novelty,” Hardy explained.

Hardy’s comments come at a time when WWE is heavily promoting Danhausen both on and off TV.

“I mean, they’ve had him over. He’s been like a a golden goose, you know, and they’ve been like taking every egg they can from him, right? You know, he was on all these ESPN and Crossover major networks and stuff and doing WWE promotion. But it’s just you have to be careful not to overexpose them because people, if they get tired and they turn on them, then it’s a it’s a big loss,” Hardy added.

Earlier this year, Danhausen appeared in a WWE blimp campaign. Now, during SummerSlam weekend, he is leading WWE and ESPN’s “Danhausen Freeze Tour,” with a branded ice cream truck making stops around Minneapolis. Besides, he has appeared in many crossover sports events representing WWE.

Read More: CM Punk and Cody Rhodes Kiss Danhausen at WWE Live Event

The post Matt Hardy Suggests Overexposed WWE Star Take Time Off After SummerSlam appeared first on Wrestlezone.

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Matt Hardy Suggests Overexposed WWE Star Take Time Off After SummerSlam

Matt Hardy Suggests Overexposed WWE Star Take Time Off After SummerSlam bibonsinhaSat, August 1, 2026 at 3:17 AM UTC 0 Photo Cr...
New Photo - US Commodity Futures Trading Commission fines George Santos for alleged manipulative trading

US Commodity Futures Trading Commission fines George Santos for alleged manipulative trading Fri, July 31, 2026 at 10:42 PM UTC 0 WASHINGTON, July 31 (Reuters) The top U.S. derivatives regulator said on Friday it had ordered former Republican Representative George Santos to pay $35,000 for alleged manipulative trading. Santos, who was expelled from the House of Representatives in 2023, traded event contracts earlier this year on the prediction market platform Kalshi that hinged on whether he would attend President Donald Trump&x27;s State of the Union address to Congress.

US Commodity Futures Trading Commission fines George Santos for alleged manipulative trading

Fri, July 31, 2026 at 10:42 PM UTC

0

WASHINGTON, July 31 (Reuters) - The top U.S. derivatives regulator said on Friday it had ordered former Republican Representative George Santos to pay $35,000 for alleged manipulative trading.

Santos, who was expelled from the House of Representatives in 2023, traded event contracts earlier this year on the prediction market platform Kalshi that hinged on whether he would attend President Donald Trump's State of the Union address to Congress.

According to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, Santos made false statements on social media that benefited his wagers and then did not attend the address, earning him nearly $18,000. The CFTC order requires him to repay that amount, with the remainder constituting a fine.

A lawyer for Santos said in a statement that his client had settled the CFTC's allegations to avoid litigation but did not admit to them.

According to the lawyer's statement, Santos had honestly wagered that he would attend Trump's address but then changed his position to "no" due to winter weather travel disruptions in the eastern U.S.

"Mr. Santos concealed neither his intention to attend, nor his change of plans to not attend ... from anyone," attorney Joseph Murray said. "There was absolutely no intent to deceive any person nor intent to manipulate any market."

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Kalshi said it had referred Santos' trading activity to regulators. "Earlier this year, Kalshi flagged trades by George Santos in connection with markets related to the State of the Union," Robert DeNault, the company's enforcement director, said in a statement. "We investigated and quickly referred the matter to the CFTC, providing the evidence needed to secure an action against him."

Kalshi  would also pursue its own enforcement action for violations of exchange rules and would seek to reimburse affected traders if it recovered any monetary penalties, DeNault said.

Reuters and others reported earlier that the company had referred Santos' trading activity to the Justice Department, which was investigating. The Justice Department said on Friday it was not investigating Santos, however.

The boom in election betting is likely to test the ability of prediction markets such as Kalshi to police insider trading, according to experts and data shared with Reuters. Kalshi has said it is equipped to identify and block suspicious activity and protect the integrity of its markets.

Earlier this month, sources said a White House teleprompter operator was under investigation over potential insider trading on Kalshi.

Lawmakers in 2023 voted to expel Santos over criminal corruption charges and accusations of misspending campaign money.

(Reporting by Douglas Gillison in Washington; Editing by Nick Zieminski, Rod Nickel and Sanjeev Miglani)

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US Commodity Futures Trading Commission fines George Santos for alleged manipulative trading

US Commodity Futures Trading Commission fines George Santos for alleged manipulative trading Fri, July 31, 2026 at 10:42 PM UT...
New Photo - InsCorp, Inc. Reports Results for 2Q26

InsCorp, Inc. Reports Results for 2Q26 Fri, July 31, 2026 at 10:52 PM UTC 0 IBTN reports fully diluted EPS growth of 14% to $0.72 in 2Q26 compared to $0.63 in 1Q26; Declares cash dividend of $0.12 for 3Q26 NASHVILLE, Tenn., July 31, 2026 /PRNewswire/ Today, InsCorp, Inc. (OTCQX: IBTN) reported results for the second quarter ("2Q26") ended June 30, 2026. IBTN recorded fully diluted earnings per share ("EPS") of $0.72 in 2Q26 compared to $0.63 in 1Q26 and $0.71 in 2Q25.

InsCorp, Inc. Reports Results for 2Q26

Fri, July 31, 2026 at 10:52 PM UTC

0

IBTN reports fully diluted EPS growth of 14% to $0.72 in 2Q26 compared to $0.63 in 1Q26; Declares cash dividend of $0.12 for 3Q26

NASHVILLE, Tenn., July 31, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, InsCorp, Inc. (OTCQX: IBTN) reported results for the second quarter ("2Q26") ended June 30, 2026. IBTN recorded fully diluted earnings per share ("EPS") of $0.72 in 2Q26 compared to $0.63 in 1Q26 and $0.71 in 2Q25. Balance sheet growth remained solid during the quarter as average earning asset growth of 16% Y/Y reflected average loan growth of 13% Y/Y and average deposit growth of 15% Y/Y. Excluding growth associated with the strategic entry into Murfreesboro in 3Q25, average earning assets, loans, and deposits increased 10%, 8%, and 10% Y/Y, respectively, in 2Q26. InsCorp's ROA of 0.81%, ROATCE of 11.0%, andefficiency ratio of 64.8% in 2Q26 compared to respective levels of 0.72%, 9.8%, and 66.4%, in 1Q26, and 0.91%, 11.1%, and 60.7%, in 2Q25. "The quarter ended with improvement in key metrics including operating leverage, efficiency ratio, and return on equity, while core net interest margin was stable and consistent with our budget," said Jim Rieniets, President and CEO of INSBANK. "Our expectations for the near-term include greater personnel leverage across both production and support teams," Rieniets continued.

New client deposit and loan growth in Murfreesboro remained solid in 2Q26. "We were pleased to see continued growth from our team in Murfreesboro, and excited to share that on a direct expense and revenue basis we reached breakeven in 2Q26," said Peyton Green, CFO, INSBANK. "This accomplishment was achieved in just three quarters and is ahead of our internal projections," Green added. Deposit and loan balances attributed to the Murfreesboro team were $36.3 million and $50.3 million at 2Q26-end compared to $36.2 million and $40.4 million at 1Q26-end. The Murfreesboro expansion benefited EPS by $0.01 in 2Q26 versus ($0.06) in 1Q26 and ($0.15) in 2025.

Average earning asset growth of 16%, or $139 million, Y/Y consisted of average loan growth of 13%, or $107 million, Y/Y and short-term liquidity and securities growth of 37%, or $32 million, Y/Y in 2Q26. The loan yield of 6.54% in 2Q26 compared to 6.53% in 1Q26, which excludes $784,000 of non-accrued interest, prepayment, and late fees received in March, and 6.76% in 2Q25. The yield on securities and short-term liquidity was 4.27%, excluding approximately $75,000 of interest received on the bank's tax refund, and 4.07% in 2Q25. Average deposits increased 15%, or $116 million, Y/Y in 2Q26, which reflected interest bearing deposit growth of 15% Y/Y and noninterest bearing growth of 13% Y/Y in 2Q26. The cost of deposits improved to 3.20% in 2Q26 vs. 3.31% in 1Q26 and 3.50% in 2Q25. The average balance of non-maturity deposits (i.e., noninterest bearing, interest bearing demand, and money market) increased 50% Y/Y and 5% linked-quarter ("LQ") to $445 million, or 49% of average deposits compared to 46% in 1Q26 and 38% in 2Q25. Average CD balance growth of -6% Y/Y and -8% LQ in 2Q26 resulted in a mix of 51% of average deposits, down from 54% a quarter ago and 62% a year ago. INSBANK's loan-to-deposit ratio was 100% versus 96% a quarter ago and 99% a year ago.

Loan growth was 15% Y/Y and 8% linked-quarter annualized ("LQA") in 2Q26 and reflected solid contributions from commercial & industrial ("C&I"), commercial real estate ("CRE"), construction, and home equity ("HELOC") loans. "Although increased payoff activity over the first six months of the year restrained the growth rate, the loan pipeline remained healthy heading into the third quarter and supportive of solid growth in the second half of the year," explained Chad Hankins, Chief Lending Officer. Growth in C&I (19% Y/Y; 5% LQA), CRE (10% Y/Y; 13% LQA), and HELOC (143% Y/Y; 42% LQA), and construction & development (23% Y/Y; 11% LQ), outpaced multifamily (-2% Y/Y; -23% LQ) and consumer (-70% Y/Y; -33% LQA) in 2Q26. Funded balance growth was restrained by loan payoffs of $20 million in 2Q26 and $29 million in 1Q26 vs. $13 million in 4Q25. Medquity's loan balances increased 13% Y/Y and 20% LQA in 2Q26. "Although Medquity's loan originations decreased to $15 million in 2Q26 compared to $38 million in 1Q26, the pipeline remains strong heading into 2H26, and supportive of double digit growth," explained Blake Wilson, President, Medquity Healthcare Banking. Excluding loans related to Medquity (29% of total loans), loan growth was 16% Y/Y and 3% LQA in 2Q26.

Revenue growth of 10% Y/Y reflected net interest income growth of 14% Y/Y in 2Q26. Pre-provision pretax income ("PPNR") growth of -2% Y/Y (+5% LQ) to $2.9 million in 2Q26 reflected expense growth 18% Y/Y due to hiring activity late in 2Q25, which did not materially affect personnel expense in 2Q25, the onboarding of the five-person Murfreesboro team in 2H25, and an additional six FTEs hired in 2Q26. Solid growth in net interest income of $1.0 million Y/Y was partially offset by a drop in noninterest income of $257,000 Y/Y to $337,000 in 2Q26, which reflected a drop in SBIC income vs. 2Q25.

Net interest income increased 14% Y/Y to $8.1 million in 2Q26 versus $7.1 million in 2Q25. The LQ decline in net interest income of $209,000 was due to the inclusion of $803,801 from non-accrued interest recognized on the migration of a loan to performing status in 1Q26 and interest income received on a federal tax refund in 1Q26. Excluding these two items, net interest income grew 8% to $8.1 million in 2Q26 versus $7.5 million in 1Q26. The net interest margin ("NIM") was 3.18% in 2Q26 compared to 3.20% in 2Q25. Adjusted to exclude the non-accrued interest from the nonperforming loan that returned to accruing status and the tax refund in 1Q26, the NIM improved 15 bps LQ in 2Q26.

INSBANK's balance sheet is slightly asset sensitive. Continued improvement in the mix of non-maturity deposits to total deposits was largely responsible for decreased sensitivity on a Y/Y and LQ basis. INSBANK's asset re-pricing mismatch, relative to liability re-pricing, is short-lived and largely resolved within six months of a change in the Fed Funds rate. Assuming no change to the Fed Funds target rate and a static balance sheet, the NIM is projected to gradually increase from the current level.

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Noninterest expense growth of 18% Y/Y reflected an increase in personnel expense of 15% Y/Y in 2Q26. Personnel expense reflected associate growth of eight people, or 11%, Y/Y, and six people, or 8%, in YTD26. Excluding costs related to the Murfreesboro expansion, noninterest expense growth was 12% Y/Y in 2Q26 and 9% Y/Y in 1Q26. Noninterest expense represented 2.06% of average assets in 2Q26 versus 1.99% in 1Q26, 2.11% in 4Q25, and 2.02% in 2Q25; costs associated with the Murfreesboro expansion contributed 10 bp in 2Q26 and 1Q26. Overhead is expected to remain relatively stable on a quarterly basis over 2H26.

Asset quality measures were stable in 2Q26. Net chargeoffs ("NCOs") represented 0.00% of average loans on an annualized basis in 2Q26, 1Q26 and 2Q25. "Measures of asset quality remained stable in the quarter, as evidenced by modest nonperforming asset levels," said Philip Fons, Chief Credit Officer, INSBANK. "While local economic indicators remain healthy, our underwriting practices continue to emphasize stress scenarios to ensure durability through a nationwide credit cycle, which is arguably long overdue," Fons continued. Specifically, nonperforming loans and 90-day past dues ("NPLs") were 0.25% of loans vs. 0.27% a quarter ago and 0.65% a year ago. Loans 30-89 days past due represented 0.28% of loans at 2Q26-end vs. 0.08% a quarter ago and 0.43% a year ago. The allowance for credit losses of 1.25% of loans represented 523% of NPLs+90s vs. 503% a quarter ago and 204% a year ago.

Existing capital levels support solid asset growth. INSBANK remained "well capitalized" from a regulatory perspective with a tier-1 leverage ratio of 10.20%, a common equity tier-1 capital ratio of 11.00%, and a total risk-based capital ratio of 12.19%. InsCorp, Inc.'s tangible common equity ratio was 7.43% as of 2Q26-end versus 7.24% a quarter ago and 8.02% a year ago. Tangible book value per share increased by 4% Y/Y to $26.57, as of June 30, 2026. C&D and CRE balances represented 81% and 314% of total risk-based capital, respectively, versus 70% and 301% a year ago. Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income was ($2.4 million), or 2.2% of bank-level tier-1 capital of $109.8 million.

The Board of Directors approved the payment of a quarterly dividend of $0.12 per common share on September 4, 2026, to shareholders of record on August 14, 2026. The annualized quarterly dividend rate of $0.48 per share represents an increase of 9% compared to dividends of $0.44 per share paid in 2025. Although the Company did not repurchase shares in 1H26, 59,000 shares, or 2.0% of the prior year-end's shares, were repurchased in 2025. The current repurchase program authorizes management to repurchase 100,000 shares, or 3.4% of IBTN's outstanding shares, through January 25, 2028.

About InsCorp, Inc. and INSBANK

Since 2000, INSBANK has offered clients highly personalized services from experienced relationship managers, positioning itself as an innovator by leveraging technology to deliver those services efficiently and conveniently. In addition to its commercial-focused operation, INSBANK has two divisions: Medquity and Finworth. Medquity offers healthcare banking solutions to physicians, partnerships, and practices nationwide. Finworth offers nationally available virtual private client services for interest-bearing deposits. InsCorp, Inc., a Tennessee bank holding company, owns INSBANK. InsCorp, Inc.'s shares are traded on the OTCQX under the ticker symbol IBTN. Headquartered in Nashville at 2106 Crestmoor Road, the bank has offices in Brentwood at 5614 Franklin Pike Circle and in Murfreesboro at 1574 Medical Center Parkway. For more information, please visit  www.insbank.com.

InsCorp, Inc.

Consolidated Balance Sheets

(000's)

(Unaudited)

Change

For the period ending:

Y/Y

June 30,2026

December 31,2025

June 30,2025

Assets

Cash and due from banks

-13.0 %

2.4 %

$           4,900

$           4,783

$           5,630

Fed funds sold

-32.5 %

-26.3 %

1,349

1,830

1,999

Interest bearing deposits with banks

-62.9 %

-69.8 %

17,639

58,495

47,594

Investment Securities

72.0 %

28.2 %

100,864

78,684

58,645

Loans, net of unearned income

14.5 %

5.8 %

914,022

863,868

797,935

Allowance for Credit Losses

8.2 %

5.8 %

(11,408)

(10,780)

(10,548)

Net loans

14.6 %

5.8 %

902,614

853,088

787,387

Premises and equipment, net

1.5 %

0.0 %

12,864

12,861

12,672

Accrued interest receivable

12.2 %

6.8 %

4,660

4,364

4,155

Goodwill

0.0 %

0.0 %

1,091

1,091

1,091

Other assets

19.6 %

-7.1 %

33,719

36,281

28,201

Total Assets

14.0 %

2.7 %

$    1,079,700

$    1,051,477

$       947,374

Liabilities

0.99689428

0.95156127

0.985614843

Noninterest bearing deposits

7.4 %

1.6 %

$         94,680

$         93,228

$         88,140

Interest bearing demand deposits

35.0 %

28.5 %

34,526

26,859

25,580

Savings and money market deposits

62.9 %

11.4 %

323,129

290,184

198,316

Time deposits

-6.9 %

-6.8 %

453,091

486,243

486,843

Total deposits

13.3 %

1.0 %

905,426

896,514

798,879

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

8.0 %

0.4 %

10,643

10,596

9,853

Federal Home Loan Bank Advances

61.8 %

41.0 %

55,000

39,000

34,000

Subordinated debentures

-2.9 %

0.0 %

9,950

9,950

10,250

Other borrowings

0.1 %

0.1 %

17,404

17,393

17,382

Total Liabilities

14.7 %

2.6 %

998,423

973,453

870,364

Equity

Common stock

2.9 %

2.0 %

29,396

28,833

28,564

Retained earnings

6.4 %

7.9 %

50,246

46,581

47,234

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)

-4.4 %

36.8 %

(2,427)

(1,774)

(2,538)

Net Income

8.3 %

-7.3 %

4,062

4,384

3,750

Total Equity

5.5 %

4.2 %

81,277

78,024

77,010

Total Liabilities & Equity

14.0 %

2.7 %

$    1,079,700

$    1,051,477

$       947,374

Tangible Book Value per Share

3.8 %

2.7 %

$           26.57

$           25.87

$           25.60

InsCorp, Inc.

Consolidated Statements of Income

(000's)

(Unaudited)

Change vs.

For the Three Months Ended

Six Months Ended

2Q25

1Q26

June 30,2026

March 31,2026

June 30,2025

June 30,2026

June 30,2025

Interest Income

12.5 %

-1.3 %

$         16,259

$         16,481

$         14,447

$         32,740

$         28,039

Interest Expense

10.8 %

-0.2 %

8,118

8,131

7,329

16,249

14,496

Net Interest Income

14.4 %

-2.5 %

8,141

8,350

7,118

16,491

13,543

Provision for Credit Losses

-32.4 %

-35.4 %

257

398

380

655

643

Noninterest Income

Deposit Service Charges

40.5 %

10.3 %

118

107

84

224

168

Bank Owned Life Insurance

5.8 %

2.8 %

110

107

104

217

204

Gains (losses), net

-55.6 %

-108.2 %

(8)

98

(18)

90

(13)

Other

-72.4 %

-118.9 %

117

(619)

424

(501)

765

Total Noninterest Income

-43.3 %

-209.8 %

337

(307)

594

30

1,124

Noninterest Expense

Salaries and Benefits

14.6 %

2.1 %

3,616

3,542

3,154

7,158

6,218

Occupancy and Equipment

39.3 %

-1.6 %

379

385

272

764

538

Data Processing

41.5 %

-11.0 %

382

429

270

811

583

Marketing and Advertising

-7.5 %

30.5 %

124

95

134

219

251

Other

19.2 %

22.3 %

1,031

843

865

1,875

1,703

Total Noninterest Expense

17.8 %

4.5 %

5,532

5,294

4,695

10,827

9,293

Income Before Income Taxes

2.0 %

14.4 %

2,689

2,351

2,637

5,039

4,731

Income Tax Expense

-4.6 %

11.5 %

$             515

$             462

$             540

$             977

$             981

Net Income

3.7 %

15.1 %

$           2,174

$           1,889

$           2,097

$           4,062

$           3,750

Basic Earnings per Share

2.7 %

15.4 %

$            0.75

$            0.65

$            0.73

$            1.40

$            1.30

Diluted Earnings per Share

1.4 %

14.3 %

$            0.72

$            0.63

$            0.71

$            1.35

$            1.26

Change vs.

For the Three Months Ended

Six Months Ended

InsCorp, Inc.

2Q25

1Q26

June 30,2026

March 31,2026

June 30,2025

June 30,2026

June 30,2025

-10 bps

9 bps

0.81 %

0.72 %

0.91 %

0.77 %

0.83 %

-13 bps

117 bps

10.85 %

9.68 %

10.98 %

10.24 %

9.91 %

-14 bps

119 bps

10.97 %

9.79 %

11.11 %

5.15 %

4.98 %

Net Interest Margin

-2 bps

-16 bps

3.18 %

3.34 %

3.20 %

3.26 %

3.10 %

Efficiency

410 bps

-152 bps

64.83 %

66.35 %

60.73 %

65.56 %

63.31 %

Revenue / Employee

-4.4 %

-1.4 %

422

428

442

211

211

Expense / Employee

2.5 %

-2.2 %

276

282

269

138

134

Assets / Employee

-0.9 %

-5.3 %

13,412

14,162

13,534

-12 bps

9 bps

0.99 %

0.90 %

1.11 %

0.94 %

1.03 %

-17 bps

84 bps

10.00 %

9.16 %

10.17 %

9.56 %

9.32 %

Net Interest Margin

-5 bps

-15 bps

3.34 %

3.49 %

3.39 %

3.41 %

3.29 %

Capital Ratios

Tier-1 Leverage

-108 bps

14 bps

10.20 %

10.06 %

11.28 %

Common Equity Tier-1

-101 bps

-1 bps

11.00 %

11.01 %

12.01 %

Total Risk-Based Capital

-107 bps

-1 bps

12.19 %

12.20 %

13.26 %

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InsCorp, Inc. Reports Results for 2Q26

InsCorp, Inc. Reports Results for 2Q26 Fri, July 31, 2026 at 10:52 PM UTC 0 IBTN reports fully diluted EPS growth of 14% to $0.72 in...
New Photo - Caterpillar Will Remain an Important AI Stock for a Long Time

Caterpillar Will Remain an Important AI Stock for a Long Time Marc Guberti, The Motley FoolFri, July 31, 2026 at 10:57 PM UTC 0 Key Points Power generators are a key part of AI data centers, and Caterpillar is one of the top providers. Companies also need Caterpillar&x27;s equipment to build the data centers. These two catalysts position Caterpillar to outperform the market, and its prudent capital usage has been rewarding longterm investors. 10 stocks we like better than Caterpillar › && The emergence of Caterpillar(NYSE: CAT) as an AI stock caught many investors by surprise.

Caterpillar Will Remain an Important AI Stock for a Long Time

Marc Guberti, The Motley FoolFri, July 31, 2026 at 10:57 PM UTC

0

Key Points -

Power generators are a key part of AI data centers, and Caterpillar is one of the top providers.

Companies also need Caterpillar's equipment to build the data centers.

These two catalysts position Caterpillar to outperform the market, and its prudent capital usage has been rewarding long-term investors.

10 stocks we like better than Caterpillar ›

&&

The emergence of Caterpillar(NYSE: CAT) as an AI stock caught many investors by surprise. Although Caterpillar doesn't produce exciting chips that enable AI models, humanoid robots, or other innovations, it supplies the necessary energy components.

Caterpillar's power generators provide data centers with a backup energy source in the event of grid or utility downtime. This role has helped Caterpillar outperform the S&P 500, and it suggests that recent gains are just the beginning.

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&&

Image source: Getty Images.

Power generators continue to propel the company

Caterpillar delivered 22% year-over-year revenue growth in the first quarter, and the company's power and energy segment was a major reason. That part of the business also went up by 22% year over year and represents more than one-third of total sales.

Caterpillar's construction segment also did well as more companies build data centers. The company's equipment is vital for site construction, giving Caterpillar even more exposure to the AI boom.

The International Energy Agency projects data center electricity consumption to increase by 15% per year through 2030. That's more than four times the growth rate of total electricity consumption from all other sectors.

The heightened demand for electricity will simultaneously help Caterpillar's power generators gain market share. Deloitte offers even more ambitious targets, suggesting that power demand from AI data centers in the U.S. can grow more than 30-fold by 2035.

These long-term targets imply that AI expansion will continue for multiple years or decades. Energy is required to enable AI data centers, setting up a massive tailwind for Caterpillar.

Caterpillar anticipates more growth

Connecting the dots suggests Caterpillar can continue to post solid results, but executives opted to provide a clear picture after reporting Q1 results. After touting those earnings as better than expected, the company now anticipates "higher sales and revenue growth in 2026 compared to a quarter ago."

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Power generators and North American customers are driving most of the growth and contributed to a $62.7 billion order backlog. That backlog represents an $11.5 billion sequential increase -- a new record for the company. It offers clear revenue visibility that will make it easier for the company to achieve double-digit revenue growth rates.

That growth also comes with a rising dividend and plenty of stock buybacks. Caterpillar returned $5.7 billion to shareholders in Q1, demonstrating it can increase capital expenditures while rewarding long-term investors.

Caterpillar even delivered rising profits, with adjusted operating profits increasing from $2.6 billion in Q1 2025 to $3.1 billion in Q1 of this year. The AI boom needs power, and Caterpillar is built to supply it for years to come.

Should you buy stock in Caterpillar right now?

Before you buy stock in Caterpillar, 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 Caterpillar wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.

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Marc Guberti has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Caterpillar. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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Caterpillar Will Remain an Important AI Stock for a Long Time

Caterpillar Will Remain an Important AI Stock for a Long Time Marc Guberti, The Motley FoolFri, July 31, 2026 at 10:57 PM UTC 0 K...
New Photo - Trump says Iran not to blame for Minnesota cyberattack

Trump says Iran not to blame for Minnesota cyberattack By AJ Vicens Fri, July 31, 2026 at 6:21 PM UTC 115 By AJ Vicens CAMP DAVID, Maryland/DETROIT, July 31 (Reuters) U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters at Camp David on Friday that he does not think Iran is behind a cyberattack on Minnesota water systems, despite U.S. officials reportedly suspecting otherwise. "We heard in Minnesota there was a cyberattack, and they blame it on Iran. I don&x27;t think so," Trump said during a cabinet meeting.

Trump says Iran not to blame for Minnesota cyberattack

By AJ Vicens Fri, July 31, 2026 at 6:21 PM UTC

115

By AJ Vicens

CAMP DAVID, Maryland/DETROIT, July 31 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters at Camp David on Friday that he does not think Iran is behind a cyberattack on Minnesota water systems, despite U.S. officials reportedly suspecting otherwise.

"We heard in Minnesota there was a cyberattack, and they blame it on Iran. I don't think so," Trump said during a cabinet meeting. "I think I blame it on Minnesota because they're grossly incompetent," Trump said, calling out Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, a Democrat.

Trump did not say where he thought the attacks may have originated.  The White House press office declined to elaborate on who the president believes carried out the attacks and the state of Minnesota's role in them.

Walz said in a post on his X social media account that Trump "knows exactly who is responsible for this attack, and knows that other states were hit too." Walz added that Elon Musk's DOGE effort "took an axe to CISA and left the U.S. exposed to cyberattacks," and thanked experts in Minnesota who "were able to identify the vulnerability quickly and work with local communities to stop it."

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The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) told Reuters earlier this week that it was coordinating with the EPA and other government and industry partners to understand the scope of the issue and provide support. The agency did not immediately respond to questions Friday about either Trump or Walz's comments.

Trump's claim is at odds with a memo cited by Wired on Thursday which said that the Minnesota Fusion Center, a state-level intelligence-sharing entity, found that the July 26 and 27 hacks were “aligned” with an allegedly Iran-linked cybersabotage campaign. The New York Times, which cited unnamed U.S. and state officials, said on Thursday that investigators believed the hacks were probably the work of Tehran.

Cybersecurity experts and Minnesota's state IT agency told Reuters this week that the attacks share characteristics with hacking efforts targeting key water facility equipment that seven U.S. government agencies, including the FBI, NSA, EPA, and CISA, linked to Iranian-affiliated hackers in a July 22 report. The FBI said in an advisory published on Thursday that it has received reports of similar incidents in at least seven states that have, in some cases, "degraded water operations" since July 27.

The FBI did not immediately respond to a request for comment ON Friday.

Trump has previously politicized major cyber incidents, including when in 2016 he urged Russia to hack Hillary Clinton's emails, or when he downplayed Russian hacking efforts in the 2016 elections and mused that while it could be Russia or China, "it could also be somebody sitting on their bed that weighs 400 pounds, OK?"

(Reporting by AJ Vicens in Detroit; Additional reporting by Steve Holland, Bo Erickson and Raphael Satter; Editing by Caitlin Webber, Chizu Nomiyama and Andrea Ricci )

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Trump says Iran not to blame for Minnesota cyberattack

Trump says Iran not to blame for Minnesota cyberattack By AJ Vicens Fri, July 31, 2026 at 6:21 PM UTC 115 By AJ Vicens CAMP DAVID,...
New Photo - Trump says 'weaponization' fund is dead despite his wishes as Blanche nomination stalls

Trump says &x27;weaponization&x27; fund is dead despite his wishes as Blanche nomination stalls By Dan RosenzweigZiff, Richard Cowan and Susan Heavey Fri, July 31, 2026 at 5:15 PM UTC 32 By Dan RosenzweigZiff, Richard Cowan and Susan Heavey CAMP DAVID, Maryland/WASHINGTON, July 31 (Reuters) U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday said his "antiweaponization" fund was dead despite his affinity for it amid a standoff with fellow Republicans in the Senate that has stalled his bid to get acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche in the role permanently.

Trump says 'weaponization' fund is dead despite his wishes as Blanche nomination stalls

By Dan Rosenzweig-Ziff, Richard Cowan and Susan Heavey Fri, July 31, 2026 at 5:15 PM UTC

32

By Dan Rosenzweig-Ziff, Richard Cowan and Susan Heavey

CAMP DAVID, Maryland/WASHINGTON, July 31 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday said his "anti-weaponization" fund was dead despite his affinity for it amid a standoff with fellow Republicans in the Senate that has stalled his bid to get acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche in the role permanently.

"It is dead, but I wish it weren't, to be honest with you. I think people were horribly treated, horribly abused," he said during a cabinet meeting, one day after threatening to withdraw the nomination until next year after two key opposing senators leave office. "I'd like to see them compensated for the pain."

He urged Republican senators to confirm Blanche and warned that they "will never get anybody like him." He also criticized Senator John Cornyn for holding up Blanche's nomination, claiming that the Republican lawmaker supported Blanche until Trump endorsed Cornyn's primary opponent.

"I’d be upset also," Trump said. "I fully understand it. He shouldn't be that way. I shouldn't be that way."

Cornyn and fellow Republican Senator Thom Tillis have held up Blanche's nomination while seeking written assurances that the Justice Department will not set up the $1.8 billion "anti-weaponization" program. Trump critics have derided it as a slush fund to reward supporters with taxpayer money.

Blanche has previously told senators that the fund was dead, but has so far not agreed to put that in writing.

Earlier in the day, Trump defended Blanche in a social media post, calling for his confirmation and referring to the fund in the present tense.

Tillis said Trump's post indicated he thought it was operational.

"The president made it clear today that the so-called Anti-Weaponization Fund is still alive, which is exactly why we are attempting to formally end it," Tillis said in a post on X. His office did not immediately respond to a request for comment about Trump's statement that the fund was dead.

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Tillis said he would keep working to break the impasse and blamed "an incompetent personal advisor" to Trump for standing in the way of a settlement.

Cornyn and Tillis, whose Senate terms end in early January, were closer to an agreement after meeting with Blanche late Thursday afternoon, according to a person familiar with the matter who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

Blanche, Trump's former personal lawyer who was named acting attorney general in April, has also met with Republican Senator John Curtis.

Despite the dispute, Blanche likely does not need to be confirmed to effectively serve as attorney general for Trump's remaining term in the White House, given that acting officials can serve as long as their nomination is pending in the Senate and their nomination is not formally rejected or withdrawn.

The "anti-weaponization" fund was crafted as part of a legal settlement between ​Trump and the Justice Department to resolve his $10 billion lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service over allegedly mishandling his tax records, but it was put on hold amid opposition from congressional Republicans.

The fund could benefit Trump allies who have said they were unfairly targeted by the federal government for their involvement in the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol after Trump lost his re-election bid in 2020.

Cornyn on Thursday said he was waiting for the Justice Department to formalize assurances that it would not implement the fund. Cornyn and Tillis also object to an IRS deal that would prevent tax audits of Trump and his associates.

Trump wrote that the fund "will not benefit me, but rather the great American Patriots who were hunted down like dogs and whose lives were unfairly and illegally destroyed."

Tillis said those who attacked law enforcement should still be in prison and should not get a check from the federal government.

(Reporting by Susan Heavey; Additional reporting by Richard Cowan, Dan Rosenzweig-Ziff and Steve Holland; Editing by Andy Sullivan, Chizu Nomiyama and Andrea Ricci)

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Trump says 'weaponization' fund is dead despite his wishes as Blanche nomination stalls

Trump says &x27;weaponization&x27; fund is dead despite his wishes as Blanche nomination stalls By Dan RosenzweigZiff, ...
New Photo - 6 movies we're excited for in August

6 movies we&x27;re excited for in August Caroline Darney, For The WinFri, July 31, 2026 at 7:34 PM UTC 0 July was a quieter month in terms of frequency of big releases in the theater, but it came with two huge punches in the form of Christopher Nolan&x27;s The Odyssey and Destin Daniel Cretton&x27;s SpiderMan: Brand New Day. Both are setting records, with The Odyssey becoming Nolan&x27;s biggest weekend opening ever, and Brand New Day beating out Avengers: Endgame&x27;s Thursday preview total. Summer may be winding down, but don&x27;t worry. We aren&x27;t done with box office fun yet.

6 movies we're excited for in August

Caroline Darney, For The WinFri, July 31, 2026 at 7:34 PM UTC

0

July was a quieter month in terms of frequency of big releases in the theater, but it came with two huge punches in the form of Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey and Destin Daniel Cretton's Spider-Man: Brand New Day. Both are setting records, with The Odyssey becoming Nolan's biggest weekend opening ever, and Brand New Day beating out Avengers: Endgame's Thursday preview total.

Summer may be winding down, but don't worry. We aren't done with box office fun yet. This month features a certainly new plot for a romcom, a prehistoric thriller with Anne Hathaway, a movie that was saved from being shelved forever and more.

Here are the movies we are looking forward to in August.

One Night Only (August 7)

What if there was just one night a year where singles could do what they want? This Will Gluck (Anyone But You, Easy A) romcom asks that wild hypothetical and stars Monica Barbaro (Top Gun: Maverick) and Callum Turner (Eternity).

Super Troopers 3 (August 7)

The most dysfunctional group of highway patrolmen are back. It has been eight years since Super Troopers 2, but Jay Chandrasekhar, Brian Cox, Kevin Heffernan, Nat Faxon, Erik Stolhanske, Paul Soter and more are back for the newest shenanigans.

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The End of Oak Street (August 14)

This sci-fi thriller asks, "What if your street ended up in prehistoric times filled with dangerous dinosaurs?" Starring Anne Hathaway and Ewan McGregor, this one is packed full with action and adventure.

Mutiny (August 21)

Jason Statham beats people up on a boat. What else do you need?

Insidious: Out of the Further (August 21)

The Insidious franchise is back for its sixth installment. Lin Shaye and Sam Spruell lead the cast for this haunting sequel.

Coyote vs. Acme (August 28)

After a lot of drama over whether this film would ever be released, Coyote vs. Acme is hitting the big screen. Will Forte and John Cena star in this live-action and animated combination that allows the Coyote his day in court.

This article originally appeared on For The Win: 6 movies we're excited for in August

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6 movies we're excited for in August

6 movies we&x27;re excited for in August Caroline Darney, For The WinFri, July 31, 2026 at 7:34 PM UTC 0 July was a quieter month...
New Photo - Peru's ex-president has 15-year jail sentence for corruption charges overturned

Peru&x27;s expresident has 15year jail sentence for corruption charges overturned Adam GoldsmithFri, July 31, 2026 at 10:32 AM UTC 4 Peru&x27;s constitutional court has overturned a 15year jail sentence handed to the country&x27;s former president after he was found guilty of corruption. Ollanta Humala, who led the country from 2011 to 2016, was convicted in 2025 of accepting illegal funds from the Venezuelan president and Brazilian construction company Odebrecht to fund his election campaigns in 2006 and 2011.

Peru's ex-president has 15-year jail sentence for corruption charges overturned

Adam GoldsmithFri, July 31, 2026 at 10:32 AM UTC

4

Peru's constitutional court has overturned a 15-year jail sentence handed to the country's former president after he was found guilty of corruption.

Ollanta Humala, who led the country from 2011 to 2016, was convicted in 2025 of accepting illegal funds from the Venezuelan president and Brazilian construction company Odebrecht to fund his election campaigns in 2006 and 2011.

The former president had said he would appeal against the verdict, and now Peru's constitutional court has declared the entire criminal proceedings against him null and void.

Humala is expected to be released from Barbadillo Prison in the capital Lima, according to local media.

After the ruling, Humala's lawyer Julio Espinoza Goyena wrote on social media that the court had decided the contributions his client received on electoral campaigns "do not constitute money laundering".

He said: "The Criminal Chamber currently handling the case must order the definitive dismissal of the proceedings and the FREEDOM of former President Ollanta Humala".

When Humala was convicted, his wife Nadine Heredia was also found guilty of money laundering and sentenced to 15 years in prison.

However, she was granted safe passage to Brazil after seeking asylum in the Brazilian embassy.

Humala was the first of four Peruvian presidents to be investigated in connection with the Odebrecht scandal.

Alejandro Toledo, who governed from 2001 to 2006, was sentenced last year to more than 20 years in prison for taking $35m (£26m) in bribes from the company.

Alan GarcĂ­a, president from 1985 to 1990 and 2006 to 2011, killed himself in 2019 as he faced imminent arrest over allegations he was bribed by Odebrecht. He had denied the accusations.

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Pedro Pablo Kuczynski, in office from 2016 to 2018, faced impeachment proceedings after it emerged that Odebrecht had paid him millions of dollars in his previous government role.

The investigation is ongoing. Kuczynski has always maintained the payments were not illegal.

Humala's wife Nadine Heredia (right) had also been convicted of money laundering offences, but was granted safe passage to Brazil

At their own trial, Humala and his wife, with whom he cofounded the Nationalist Party, were accused of accepting $3m in illegal contributions from the firm, which they used to finance his 2011 presidential campaign.

They were also accused of taking $200,000 from Venezuelan leader Hugo ChĂ¡vez to bankroll the 2006 campaign.

But the couple always maintained that they were the victims of political persecution.

Humala, a former army officer, came to national prominence in 2000 when he led a short-live military rebellion against then-president Alberto Fujimori.

In 2006, he ran for president on a platform inspired by the socialist revolution of Venezuela's ChĂ¡vez.

After an unsuccessful first attempt, Humala ran again in 2011; this time on a more moderate platform emulating the policies of Brazil's then-president Luiz InĂ¡cio Lula da Silva to defeat right-wing rival Keiko Fujimori, the eldest daughter of Alberto Fujimori.

His legal troubles started shortly after his term finished in 2016, when Odebrecht admitted to bribing Latin American government officials and political parties with hundreds of millions of dollars to win business.

Prosecutors accused Humala and his wife of receiving millions from Odebrecht, as well as the illegal funding from ChĂ¡vez to finance the 2006 presidential campaign.

Humala and Heredia were subsequently placed in pre-trial detention for a year, before they were eventually convicted in 2025.

Peru's ex-president and first lady sentenced to 15 years in prison

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Peru's ex-president has 15-year jail sentence for corruption charges overturned

Peru&x27;s expresident has 15year jail sentence for corruption charges overturned Adam GoldsmithFri, July 31, 2026 at 10:32 AM ...
New Photo - Why Sadie Sink’s MCU Character Was So Hard for Leakers to Figure Out Revealed

Why Sadie Sink’s MCU Character Was So Hard for Leakers to Figure Out Revealed Surya SinghFri, July 31, 2026 at 5:16 PM UTC 0 Photo Credit: Netflix Sadie Sink finally made her MCU debut in SpiderMan: Brand New Day, ending months of speculation about her mystery role. Fans and scoopers had debated several possibilities before the movie’s release. However, the final reveal showed that Sink was playing Jean Grey. A popular scooper has now explained why so many rumors were completely wrong.

Why Sadie Sink’s MCU Character Was So Hard for Leakers to Figure Out Revealed

Surya SinghFri, July 31, 2026 at 5:16 PM UTC

0

Photo Credit: Netflix

Sadie Sink finally made her MCU debut in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, ending months of speculation about her mystery role. Fans and scoopers had debated several possibilities before the movie’s release. However, the final reveal showed that Sink was playing Jean Grey. A popular scooper has now explained why so many rumors were completely wrong.

According to industry insider MyTimeToShineHello, the confusion was the result of Marvel’s intentionally aggressive anti-spoiler security during production.

The scooper wrote, “The names they used for her on set made it seem like she was a different character, which is why I and others initially thought she was someone else. But it turned out to be a production misdirection. Not long after, I learned she’s actually Jean Grey, and from that point on I only referred to her as Jean Grey.”

This confirms Marvel intentionally used decoy character names on set to avoid spoilers. As a result, even prominent scoopers were misled before the truth was finally revealed.

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Who was Sadie Sink rumored to be playing before it was revealed in Spider-Man: Brand New Day?

Prior to the movie hitting theaters, rumors about Sink playing different Marvel characters emerged. People thought she might be Gwen Stacy, Rachel Cole, Firestar, or even Jean Grey. Speculations were changing from time to time during production.

The finished movie confirms that Sink plays Jean Grey while introducing the powerful mutant to the main MCU timeline. Initially, her character is shown as a mysterious threat. Later, she becomes Peter Parker’s ally after the truth behind her actions is revealed. This role also sets up a new chapter for Jean Grey’s life in Marvel’s growing mutant universe.

Directed by Destin Daniel Cretton, Spider-Man: Brand New Day features Tom Holland, Zendaya, Jacob Batalon, Jon Bernthal, Tramell Tillman, Michael Mando, Mark Ruffalo, and Sadie Sink.

The movie is currently playing in theaters worldwide.

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Why Sadie Sink’s MCU Character Was So Hard for Leakers to Figure Out Revealed

Why Sadie Sink’s MCU Character Was So Hard for Leakers to Figure Out Revealed Surya SinghFri, July 31, 2026 at 5:16 PM UTC 0 Phot...
New Photo - Trump threatens to pull Todd Blanche’s AG nomination until after GOP holdouts leave office

Trump threatens to pull Todd Blanche’s AG nomination until after GOP holdouts leave office Megan BrandThu, July 30, 2026 at 4:00 PM UTC 458 President Donald Trump on Thursday threatened to withdraw Todd Blanche’s nomination to be attorney general until two Republican senators who have expressed concerns about Blanche leave office in January. “I have no objection to temporarily withdrawing Todd’s name, if they do not do the right thing, and putting him back after Cornyn and Tillis are out of office,” he said on Truth Social.

Trump threatens to pull Todd Blanche’s AG nomination until after GOP holdouts leave office

Megan BrandThu, July 30, 2026 at 4:00 PM UTC

458

President Donald Trump on Thursday threatened to withdraw Todd Blanche’s nomination to be attorney general until two Republican senators who have expressed concerns about Blanche leave office in January.

“I have no objection to temporarily withdrawing Todd’s name, if they do not do the right thing, and putting him back after Cornyn and Tillis are out of office,” he said on Truth Social.

The Senate Judiciary Committee postponed a vote to advance Blanche’s nomination over objections from Sens. John Cornyn of Texas and Thom Tillis of North Carolina. A single Republican “no” vote would mean the nomination fails to advance.

The pair have expressed hesitancy to support Blanche over concerns with Trump’s settlement with the Internal Revenue Service regarding the leak of his tax returns.

Responding to Trump’s post, Cornyn said on X that the president “is mistaken if he believes concerns about the provisions in his tax lawsuit settlement are limited to me and Senator Tillis.”

Tillis slammed Trump’s proposal as “about as politically tone deaf a posture as I have seen in this administration.”

He argued that the move would give journalists and Democrats “gold to mine between now and the election.” The North Carolina senator also said that Trump could “roll the dice” on the Senate confirmation process once he and Cornyn are out of office, but added, “it’s all on him.”

With midterm elections less than 100 days away, it’s unclear whether Republicans will still control the Senate come January. If Democrats flip control of the Senate, they could block Blanche’s nomination.

“What I’m focused on is the main thing, and the main thing is the 1776 fund needs to go away, or they’re going to hang this yoke around our candidates’ necks, and rightly so,” Tillis said.

“I believe the only logical conclusion I can draw from this setback is that, in fact, there is somebody who wants to enable it at the right time,” he added. “That’s unacceptable.”

Cornyn voiced the same concern on Thursday.

“The fact that they’re balking at putting that in writing tells me that they were hoping to get by with this settlement agreement and his testimony and then revitalize those provisions at a later date and that’s, I don’t think, good-faith negotiations,” Cornyn said.

“I mean, it suggests to me as they are looking for an out to do something different than what Todd Blanche testified to at his hearing, and that’s a problem,” he said.

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Cornyn met with Blanche later Thursday afternoon, a source familiar with the meeting told NBC News. Tillis was also part of the meeting, according to another source familiar with the matter.

A separate source told NBC News that the meeting took place at the National Republican Senatorial Committee and lasted a little over 45 minutes, ending only because Cornyn had to catch a flight back to Texas. That source said that Cornyn, Tillis and Blanche worked in a positive, collaborative manner to attempt to resolve the anti-weaponization fund issues.

As part of the IRS lawsuit settlement, the Justice Department created a $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund. The DOJ backtracked after bipartisan criticism, but Cornyn and Tillis are pushing for the Justice Department to formalize the verbal commitment in writing.

The lawmakers are also asking that the Justice Department narrow part of the settlement that provided Trump, his family members and companies with protections against IRS audits.

Tillis told reporters on Thursday that he believed Blanche was “trying to fulfill the commitment he made in the hearing” but that someone was “in the way.”

“Todd Blanche is negotiating in good faith, but it’s clear that the approval to get this done is above his pay grade, and we just need to get to that pay grade,” Tillis said. “I don’t believe it’s the president. I got to get to finance guys.”

Cornyn expressed a similar view, telling reporters that he believed “if this were just between me and Todd Blanche, we would have worked this out.”

“But apparently, he’s getting some pushback from higher-ups at the White House,” he said. “I don’t know who, but this doesn’t need to be this hard.”

Cornyn said that the Justice Department was reluctant to change the formal settlement documents, so his team instead proposed “some additional paper” that would commit Blanche to his sworn Judiciary Committee testimony.

If the Justice Department agreed, Cornyn said his concerns would be satisfied. During his congressional testimony, Blanche testified the weaponization fund “is dead,” the audit protections do not extend beyond the parties to the lawsuit, and the settlement “doesn’t cover any government entity except the IRS.”

Inside the White House, a senior administration official said that people familiar with conversations involving Cornyn accused the senator of moving the goalposts, canceling meetings and refusing to communicate with the department.

Cornyn said he and Tillis aren’t the only Republican senators who are concerned about Blanche. “We’re just on the front line because we’re in the Judiciary [Committee],” he said.

Cornyn lost his primary election to the Trump-endorsed Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, and Tillis, who has clashed with Trump repeatedly, is retiring at the end of his term.

Trump took credit for the pair leaving office at the end of their terms, saying in his post that their “political careers have been ended by my action.”

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Trump threatens to pull Todd Blanche’s AG nomination until after GOP holdouts leave office

Trump threatens to pull Todd Blanche’s AG nomination until after GOP holdouts leave office Megan BrandThu, July 30, 2026 at 4...
New Photo - In bipartisan rebuke, Senate panel votes to shield special ed from RFK Jr.'s agency

In bipartisan rebuke, Senate panel votes to shield special ed from RFK Jr.&x27;s agency Zachary Schermele, USA TODAYThu, July 30, 2026 at 10:04 PM UTC 1 WASHINGTON – The Senate&x27;s education committee delivered a bipartisan rebuke of the Trump administration&x27;s Education Department dismantling, approving a bill that would fully retain key offices – including the special education division – within the agency. The panel approved the bill with a 139 vote on Thursday, July 30. Sens. Susan Collins, RMaine, and Lisa Murkowski, RAlaska, cosponsored the legislation, which was led by Sen.

In bipartisan rebuke, Senate panel votes to shield special ed from RFK Jr.'s agency

Zachary Schermele, USA TODAYThu, July 30, 2026 at 10:04 PM UTC

1

WASHINGTON – The Senate's education committee delivered a bipartisan rebuke of the Trump administration's Education Department dismantling, approving a bill that would fully retain key offices – including the special education division – within the agency.

The panel approved the bill with a 13-9 vote on Thursday, July 30. Sens. Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, co-sponsored the legislation, which was led by Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Virginia. Last month, Kaine secured a handshake agreement with Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-Louisiana, the committee chairman, to get a vote on the bill.

The measure would create a shield around core Education Department offices overseeing special education and Native American, K-12 and postsecondary education. Key functions and people from those divisions are already being shifted to other federal agencies, to varying degrees and on different timelines.

While the bill may not succeed on its own on the Senate floor, Kaine said it sent a loud message to two important groups: parents of students with disabilities and congressional appropriators. He said appropriators, the powerful lawmakers in Congress who decide how to specifically spend taxpayer dollars, now have a "lot of leverage" in funding negotiations that could help curb the Trump administration's reorganization of the Education Department.

"You shouldn’t just hand it off willy-nilly," Kaine told USA TODAY.

Murkowski, who like Collins is also an appropriator, said she had a "pretty good conversation" recently with Education Secretary Linda McMahon about downsizing the department. But she came away from it unconvinced that the millions of children who rely on the agency’s help can afford to wait for a "proof of concept."

"We cannot lose sight of the fact that, at the end of the day, we are talking about children," Murkowski said. "These are issues that have a real-time impact on our children right now."

In a letter sent to members of Congress on the same day as the vote, McMahon said her efforts were not "adding red tape" but instead “cutting through it.”

"It is a betrayal to American families that Washington politicians are rushing to protect a failing status quo in education when roughly 30% of our students can read proficiently," she wrote on social media.

Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Alabama, echoed that sentiment. He said he had "no doubt" that even with the agency’s reduced capacity and full-scale reorganization, it remains capable of sending out formulas for federal dollars on time.

Read more: Their time at the Education Department may be over. The grieving isn't.

Special ed division in the spotlight

Arguably one of the most controversial moves McMahon has made as education secretary was an agreement she signed in June to give the Health and Human Services Department a role in federal special ed programs.

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That shift has alarmed much of the disability community, who’ve voiced concerns about potential disruptions from the reshuffling, as well as HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s controversial past statements about autism.

A top Education Department official held a call earlier this month with prominent special ed advocates, several of whom came away with more questions than answers. Press Secretary Savannah Newhouse told USA TODAY at the time that a "different building, a different floor, or a different desk" wouldn’t change Education Department employees' mission to serve students with disabilities.

Read more: Go inside a private Education Department call

Yet even Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy, the doctor helming the Senate education committee, was opposed to HHS having a role in special ed. He argued Thursday that such a change could turn students with disabilities into patients to diagnose, rather than learners to educate.

"This risks reversing decades of progress," he said.

He offered his own bill in committee to shield just the special ed office from HHS. But he ultimately didn’t bring it up for a vote. He also opposed Kaine’s bill, saying it was too broad.

'Show us the receipts'

Even if Democrats can’t stop McMahon from functionally breaking apart her own agency, they may be able hold her more accountable for it.

Senators on both sides of the aisle also approved a legislative amendment Thursday that would direct the secretary to provide cost estimates for each interagency agreement she's signed. If fully passed, her travel funds would be blocked until she shared those price tags with Congress and the public.

Not a single Republican senator on the panel objected to that push. Sen. Patty Murray, the top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee who introduced the amendment, demanded McMahon “show us the receipts.”

"Secretary McMahon is duplicating the work her department was already doing by asking other agencies to do it instead, and claiming somehow this makes government 'more efficient,'" Murray said. "Fine. Prove it."

Zachary Schermele is the congressional correspondent for USA TODAY. You can reach him by email at zschermele@usatoday.com. Follow him on X at @ZachSchermele and Bluesky at @zachschermele.bsky.social.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: In bipartisan rebuke, Senate panel votes to shield special ed from RFK Jr.'s agency

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In bipartisan rebuke, Senate panel votes to shield special ed from RFK Jr.'s agency

In bipartisan rebuke, Senate panel votes to shield special ed from RFK Jr.&x27;s agency Zachary Schermele, USA TODAYThu, Jul...
New Photo - Newberry sets world record & double sprint silver for England

Newberry sets world record & double sprint silver for England Thu, July 30, 2026 at 10:02 PM UTC 0 Morgan Newberry broke the C5 world record but had to settle for an overall silver There was a silver double for England&x27;s sprint teams at the Commonwealth Games on the opening day of competition at the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome. Katy Marchant, Rhianna ParrisSmith and Sophie Capewell were edged out by Wales in the women&x27;s final, allowing an early advantage to slip as Wales roared back to win by 0.141 seconds in a new Games record of 46.760secs.

Newberry sets world record & double sprint silver for England

Thu, July 30, 2026 at 10:02 PM UTC

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Morgan Newberry broke the C5 world record but had to settle for an overall silver

There was a silver double for England's sprint teams at the Commonwealth Games on the opening day of competition at the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome.

Katy Marchant, Rhianna Parris-Smith and Sophie Capewell were edged out by Wales in the women's final, allowing an early advantage to slip as Wales roared back to win by 0.141 seconds in a new Games record of 46.760secs.

Hamish Turnbull, Harry Ledingham-Horn and Joe Truman also had to settle for silver after being beaten by Australia by 0.577secs across the three-lap race, the winners finishing in 42.455secs.

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Morgan Newberry enjoyed mixed emotions in the C4/C5 4,000m individual pursuit.

Having set a new C5 world record in qualification for the final, the 27-year-old saw the mark broken by New Zealand's Nicole Murray in the bronze medal race.

Newberry then stormed to another new world record in the gold final, posting a time of five mins 5.764secs, only for her factored time to be beaten by Australian Tara Neyland who claimed gold, just outside her own C4 record.

Lizzi Jordan and pilot Sylvie Misztal secured bronze in the tandem B sprint, winning the first two races of a best-of-three series against team-mate Sophie Unwin and her pilot Anna Whitworth-Hay.

Commonwealth Games daily schedule

Commonwealth Games medal table and results

What are the Commonwealth Games?

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Newberry sets world record & double sprint silver for England

Newberry sets world record & double sprint silver for England Thu, July 30, 2026 at 10:02 PM UTC 0 Morgan Newberry broke th...
New Photo - US Soccer needs just eight words to confirm where it stands on FIFA revolt

US Soccer needs just eight words to confirm where it stands on FIFA revolt Joseph McBride Thu, July 30, 2026 at 10:05 PM UTC 0 U.S. Soccer has joined its Concacaf members in rejecting FIFA's controversial World Cup proposal Credit:Getty Images The United States has joined the ongoing FIFA revolt by standing with its fellow Concacaf members after Gianni Infantino&x27;s proposal to sell commercial stakes in the World Cup to private investors. FIFA President Infantino has been heavily criticized for his handling of the 2026 World Cup and lashed out on social media after the competition concluded.

US Soccer needs just eight words to confirm where it stands on FIFA revolt

Joseph McBride Thu, July 30, 2026 at 10:05 PM UTC

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U.S. Soccer has joined its Concacaf members in rejecting FIFA's controversial World Cup proposal -Credit:Getty Images

The United States has joined the ongoing FIFA revolt by standing with its fellow Concacaf members after Gianni Infantino's proposal to sell commercial stakes in the World Cup to private investors.

FIFA President Infantino has been heavily criticized for his handling of the 2026 World Cup and lashed out on social media after the competition concluded. Infantino accused critics of spreading hate in a long Instagram post.

Infantino then announced plans to sell stakes in the World Cup, offering nations $40 million with an incentive of $20 million up front if they accepted by mid-September. However, UEFA strongly opposed the proposal and vowed to boycott FIFA competitions, and Concacaf has now joined the ongoing pushback.

• Donald Trump could get the last laugh as FIFA faces World Cup boycott

• UEFA set to boycott World Cup as Gianni Infantino plans causing soccer civil war

UEFA, the European soccer governing body, said its 55 member nations would boycott all FIFA competitions, including the World Cup, if the proposal remained active. It was a damning blow to Infantino as one of the most influential partners with elite soccer nations.

Concacaf then sided with UEFA and released a statement, to which U.S. Soccer announced its position of solidarity. When sharing the statement on X, the federation wrote, "U.S. Soccer stands with Concacaf and its members."

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The North American soccer governing body held a meeting with all 41 member associations on Thursday to discuss Infantino's proposal. While the overall proposal was questioned, there were also serious concerns about the manner in which it came about.

UEFA and Concacaf have now rejected the proposal -Credit:Getty Images

Concacaf members felt there was a lack of due process surrounding the proposal, with concerns over the very pressing deadline imposed by Infantino. In a statement, Concacaf wrote, "Concacaf is a confederation united by the love of our game, where football comes first.

"Guided by this philosophy over the past ten years we have built, from the ground up, an organization founded on service, transparent governance, and the long-term stewardship of football. History has shown FIFA and the football family what happens when the custodians of the game lose sight of these values.

"...The discussion reinforced the need for greater transparency and proper governance. For these reasons, Concacaf and its 41 Member Associations have rejected the proposal."

Infantino has been criticized for his role and association with Donald Trump -Credit:Getty Images

Concacaf then concluded by saying, "Concacaf reaffirms that football's future—and its greatest asset—must remain in the hands of our football family."

The revolt is damning for Infantino, as 96 members across UEFA and Concacaf have now rejected the proposal. That number is set to rise, meaning Infantino is losing control of the 211 member nations.

Infantino grew close to U.S. President Donald Trump throughout the World Cup process, but all three host nations, the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, rejected the proposal. Infantino's plan was to sell a stake in FIFA Forward Enterprises (FFE) that would raise $20 billion.

In return, influence over future World Cups, including broadcasting and commercial deals linked to the tournament, would be offered. The proposal was set to be bankrolled by Joshua Kushner, the brother of Jared Kushner, who is Trump's son-in-law.

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US Soccer needs just eight words to confirm where it stands on FIFA revolt

US Soccer needs just eight words to confirm where it stands on FIFA revolt Joseph McBride Thu, July 30, 2026 at 10:05 PM UTC 0...
New Photo - WNBA deletes post of Paige Bueckers, Angel Reese making bet on their game

WNBA deletes post of Paige Bueckers, Angel Reese making bet on their game Joseph Staszewski Thu, July 30, 2026 at 7:35 AM UTC 10 Leave it to the WNBA to create a potential gambling scandal of its own making involving two of its most highprofile stars. The league’s official X account posted — and since deleted — a video of Wings star Paige Bueckers and Dream standout Angel Reese making a friendly wager of apparently $400 during AllStar weekend practice for Wednesday night’s game, the teams’ first since the break where Atlanta nipped Dallas 8281.

WNBA deletes post of Paige Bueckers, Angel Reese making bet on their game

Joseph Staszewski Thu, July 30, 2026 at 7:35 AM UTC

10

Leave it to the WNBA to create a potential gambling scandal of its own making involving two of its most high-profile stars.

The league’s official X account posted — and since deleted — a video of Wings star Paige Bueckers and Dream standout Angel Reese making a friendly wager of apparently $400 during All-Star weekend practice for Wednesday night’s game, the teams’ first since the break where Atlanta nipped Dallas 82-81.

The caption of the video reads: “Paige Bueckers on the bet she made with Angel Reese at All-Star Weekend on tonight’s matchup.”

The video, which was saved and reposted by social media sleuths, shows Reese holding a couple of hundred-dollar bills as they appear to agree to the wager. It’s spliced in with someone behind the camera reminding an awkwardly smiling Bueckers of the bet on game day.

“At All-Star Weekend, you and Angel made a bet on this game, is that right?” the camera person asks her.

“We did?” Bueckers retorts before the video of the bet begins.

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The video could become quite the problem for the WNBA and embattled commissioner Cathy Engelbert during a time of high scrutiny of sports betting by pro and college athletes, though this was more of a friendly wager that might quietly go on among highly paid athletes. The WNBA’s CBA has a gambling clause.

It’s stated in Section 5(c) that: “Any player found by the Commissioner after a hearing to have been guilty of wagering (directly or indirectly), or of offering or attempting to wager, money or anything of value on the outcome, score, or any other aspect of any WNBA Competition shall, in the sole discretion of the Commissioner, be subject to a fine, suspension, and/or dismissal and disqualification from any further association with the WNBA.”

Paige Bueckers drives on Angel Reese during the Wings’ 82-81 loss to the Dream on July 29. 2026 in Arlington, Texas. Getty Images

After the Dream’s win, Reese posted on X: “DUBS IN THE MF CHAT” #cuatrocientos” (with a goofy emoji face.)

Engelbert is unlikely to ban Reese or Bueckers, two of the league’s biggest stars, for this, as their wager would have no effect on them doing anything other than trying to win the game even more. The two even shared a heated exchange in the first quarter when Bueckers started clapping theatrically after she was called for a foul for standing her ground on Reese in the post.

Still, the two, by letter of the law, broke a WNBA rule and could face repercussions, along with whoever posted the video to the league’s account in the first place.

The league will likely not want to look like it endorses gambling on games in any way or for this to become a bigger story than it already is.

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WNBA deletes post of Paige Bueckers, Angel Reese making bet on their game

WNBA deletes post of Paige Bueckers, Angel Reese making bet on their game Joseph Staszewski Thu, July 30, 2026 at 7:35 AM UTC 1...

 

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