Senate Will Take 14th Procedural Vote to End the Government Shutdown

The Senate will take its 14th procedural vote today to advance the House-passed continuing resolution to end the government shutdown at 11:30 a.m. The Senate also will hold its weekly policy lunch from 12:30 to 2:15 p.m.

When the federal government shuts down, it affects thousands of workers — not just in Washington, DC, but in every U.S. state and territory — from air traffic controllers who approve flights at every major airport to staff at the Office of Civil Rights who investigate sexual assault allegations on college campuses. The majority of these workers have been told to continue working without pay. This puts their health and well-being at risk, as they have to delay or cancel bills or make difficult choices between paying the mortgage or their utilities or buying food. And it takes a toll on morale, because for the vast majority of federal employees, the work they do matters.

Shutdowns can also disrupt essential programs that help families survive, including SNAP, WIC, and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families. These programs should never be politicized, and we can’t tolerate another wave of political brinksmanship that brings the country to the edge of chaos. When federal workers and their families are standing in line for food banks after missing a paycheck, they don’t want partisan spin, they need the wages they earned. It’s time for Congress to do its job and reopen the government immediately.

Taking an Editorial Approach to Marketing

Editorial refers to content whose primary purpose is to inform, engage or entertain audiences. This differs from more traditional marketing, which often incorporates a call to action or product pitch. Taking an editorial approach to marketing has been shown to increase engagement and lead capture. This type of content can be produced in-house or licensed from a publisher to add value to your audience.

Taking an Editorial Approach to Marketing

Thought-leadership pieces and other editorial content are a great way to attract new audiences without the use of a product pitch. By focusing on engaging and informative content, brands can establish themselves as knowledgeable entities within their industry and help audiences solve problems that they are facing.

When creating an editorial, it is important to take a firm stance on your topic and provide plenty of evidence to back up your argument. This will encourage readers to think critically about the topic and be more likely to share it on social media or elsewhere. Additionally, addressing counterarguments or making an attempt to persuade readers who may disagree is a good idea.

Creating an editorial strategy that aligns with your marketing goals is critical for long-term success. This can include identifying the type of editorial your organization wants to produce and how it will be distributed. Additionally, utilizing a content audit and partnering with publishers that have editorial content you are missing can be a great way to supplement your own original work.

How a Trade War Affects Everyone

A trade war occurs when countries attack each other’s exports with levies or taxes. This can result from a dispute over intellectual property rights, or it could be a response to other issues such as national security or the need to protect domestic jobs.

Historically, protectionist measures have had mixed effects. On the one hand, they can help local industries survive or grow, but they can also raise prices for consumers. This can lead to a recession and increase inflation, which can cause political backlash. In addition, the resulting tensions can damage relations between nations and create global economic uncertainty.

Limiting foreign imports with tariffs and quotas can protect domestic producers by raising the cost of foreign goods and encouraging consumption of locally made products. It can also reduce the need to rely on imported goods, which encourages domestic production and can boost employment. However, if these limitations escalate into a full-blown trade war, they can hurt both parties.

The US has imposed tariffs on billions of dollars worth of goods, and China has responded in kind with levies on American products from soybeans and pork to aeroplanes and steel pipes. These costs are ultimately passed on to consumers, which can affect everyone around the globe.

What is the Inflation Rate?

The inflation rate is the percentage that describes how much prices for a basket of goods and services are rising over time. The Office for National Statistics checks the prices of 700 items in this ‘basket’ each month, weighting them by how much they are bought on average. This allows for a clear picture of how rising prices are impacting people’s purchasing power. Inflation can be a good thing for those who have tangible assets like property or stocked goods priced in their currency that they can sell at higher prices. But it can be a bad thing for consumers who need to spend their income on everyday goods and services.

A number of factors influence inflation, from the impact of supply chain shortages during COVID-19 to higher household demand, higher government spending and economic growth. Economists also look at core inflation, which excludes volatile spending categories such as food and energy to focus on the underlying trends in prices.

Inflation rates are important because as prices rise, one unit of money buys fewer goods and services. This affects everyone’s cost of living and can lead to slower economic growth. It can also lead to deflation, when prices fall, as was the case during the Great Recession in 2008.

How the Unemployment Rate Affects Stocks and Consumer Prices

Unemployment is one of the most closely watched indicators of economic health. It can have a big impact on stocks and consumer prices, two key measures of the overall economy.

The unemployment rate is the percentage of people in the labor force who are jobless and actively looking for work. The Bureau of Labor Statistics calculates this figure based on a monthly survey that asks households questions about their employment status. The survey counts part-time workers as employed, but excludes those who have given up on their search for a job or have been able to find work but don’t earn enough to meet their living expenses. The survey is conducted by trained interviewers who call on a random sample of households each month. The number of households contacted may seem small compared to the population at large, but it is very large compared to most other surveys.

Many people assume that the government uses unemployment insurance (UI) claims to measure the number of unemployed, but UI claims only count those who have actually applied for benefits. This is a significant limitation, because some jobless people don’t apply for UI or don’t qualify for benefits.

Other problems with measuring the number of jobless include people who say they want a job but have been discouraged or have given up on their search. The comprehensive jobless rate (or U-5b) is designed to address these issues by counting all adults and adolescents who want a job but have been unable to find one or are working at less than their full-time, normal wage.

The Importance of Local News in a Digital Age

Local news is journalism that focuses on issues and events within a specific geographic area, and it plays a critical role in shaping community identity and fostering civic engagement by keeping residents informed about government actions, school board meetings, and community events. This heightened awareness can lead to increased civic participation as individuals feel more connected to and motivated to participate in their communities.

Traditionally, local news has been disseminated through newspapers, radio stations, and local television broadcasts. However, the rise of social media has created new opportunities for local news to reach and engage communities in ways that may not have previously been possible. This shift to digital platforms requires local news organizations to balance the needs of their audiences with the costs of maintaining a high level of quality reporting and verification.

As the number of local newspaper subscribers has declined, many communities have become “news deserts” without a strong local news presence. Local news is important to a democratic society because it informs citizens on key decisions being made in their communities and empowers them to hold public officials accountable. Research shows that the loss of local news has contributed to political polarization, decreased voting and civic engagement, and diminished trust in the media.

Despite declining revenues, a handful of innovative organizations are working to provide communities with locally-relevant news. For example, the Boyle Heights Beat, a bilingual community news project in Los Angeles, trains hundreds of high school journalists and gives them the tools to report on their own neighborhoods. The team of students often focuses on stories that wouldn’t appeal to a larger audience, subverting the ‘murders and festivals’ syndrome that pervades other media outlets.

Business News

Business news is the branch of journalism that deals with the economic and financial activities in the world. It covers the trends, processes, consequences and important people in finance and industry, disseminating information through various channels of mass media. It enhances transparency in corporate operations, makes people financially literate and fosters informed growth of the economy. It also exposes malpractices, shapes public opinion and acts as a watchdog.

While many newspapers and magazines publish business news, you can also find specialized publications for specific industries that may offer more in-depth coverage of a particular subject area. A librarian can help you identify these resources.

The accelerated pace of change in the business and commerce scene has led to increased viewership for business news. This trend has created new opportunities for journalists specializing in this niche. If you wish to pursue a career in this field, consider taking up professional courses in journalism and mass communication to gain the requisite knowledge.

As stocks, investment plans and portfolios become increasingly common, a clear understanding of the financial world is essential to ensure that your finances are on track. By reporting accurate and precise information on the current state of the economy, business news channels enable people to contextualise market changes, make informed decisions, and invest wisely. By highlighting key factors such as tax regulations, business laws and ethical considerations, they empower people to take control of their finances. In addition, they keep the general public informed and up to date with changes in their sectors by providing detailed insights on mergers and acquisitions.

Business Mergers and Acquisitions

A business merger involves two separate legal entities joining to create a single, combined entity. The merging entities typically retain their own names and business structures but combine their assets, liabilities, and operational functions to create a new, combined company. Mergers are commonly used by businesses looking to grow quickly or position themselves for a future sale or investment.

A common reason for a business merger is to expand into new markets, with the acquiring company taking advantage of the existing distribution channels and customer base of its target company. This type of business acquisition is often referred to as a “horizontal merger.”

In other cases, a business acquires its competitor in order to eliminate a tier of suppliers or distributors. This is referred to as a “vertical merger.” By eliminating this tier, a business can often save on manufacturing costs, as well as shipping and distribution expenses.

Businesses undergoing a business merger can also benefit from economies of scale. This often comes from streamlining operations, combining product or service offerings, and eliminating or redeploying duplicate functions. Economies of scale can lead to increased cost savings, better bargaining power with vendors and customers, and improved overall productivity.

While a business merger can be a good strategic move for some companies, it is important to keep in mind that not all M&A deals are successful. A key driver of the success or failure of M&A is culture clash, which can occur when the values and mission of one company don’t align with those of another.

What You Need to Know About Small Business

Small business is vital to the economy. They create more jobs, account for 43% of the GDP, and make up 99% of all businesses in the United States. But they also have limited resources and are more susceptible to market pressures. That’s why it’s so important for small business owners to understand their unique challenges and find the information and support they need to grow. From important definitions to expert growth tips, this guide covers everything you need to know about small business.

A small business is a privately owned company that has less revenue and fewer employees than larger businesses. Small businesses are also more likely to build closer relationships with their customers. In addition, they can choose to structure their business as a sole proprietorship, partnership, LLC, or corporation. Choosing the right structure can impact your taxes, liability, and ability to grow. It’s also important to note that meeting the Small Business Administration (SBA)’s definition of a small business may open you up to funding and government programs.

The key to a successful small business is constant innovation. You must be able to look at your business from a customer’s perspective and think of new ways to make it better. Otherwise, your competition will take advantage of your inertia and catch up. Even large corporations like Blockbuster Video, Kodak, and Borders Bookstore suffered from becoming too comfortable with their position in the market and ignoring innovation.

The Small Business Administration provides tools and resources to help you succeed in your small business. To start, review the SBA’s Small Business Size Standards to determine if your business qualifies as a small business. Then, check out the SBA’s 10-step Business Plan to get started on your path to success.

The Importance of Corporate Earnings

Corporate earnings—the profits that public companies make minus their costs—are at the heart of market pricing and a key indicator of economic trends. They’re critical for informed investing decisions and help investors evaluate a company’s performance and growth potential. They’re also used by traders to gauge the health of a sector or economy, and by central banks in setting interest rate policies.

During earnings season, market participants focus on metrics like EPS and net income to get a clear picture of a company’s profitability and cost structure, and to assess its long-term growth potential. Investors and traders may also focus on industry-specific metrics, such as research and development (R&D) spending or subscriber growth for companies that offer subscription-based services, or production volumes and commodity price trends for energy firms.

Earnings reports provide a snapshot of a company’s financial health and a glimpse into its management team’s ability to grow revenue and profit margins in the face of challenges and changing business conditions. Management teams will often provide commentary on a company’s earnings call—typically held after the formal release of the report—to provide context and amplify or dampen the narrative around important metrics like revenue growth, profit margins, and EPS.

Several different terms are used to describe the bottom line of a company’s operations, including net profit and EPS, but one of the most commonly cited is EBIT—earnings before interest and taxes. This metric is often used by analysts and investors to compare the profitability of different companies, as it excludes non-operating expenses like interest and debt payments.