As the United States marks its 250th birthday, Straight Arrow is taking a fresh look at the institutions, systems and social contracts that shaped modern America — and the pressures now testing them. Jennifer Bringle sits almost exactly in the middle of America’s vast middle class. Bringle, a 47-year-old freelanceContinue Reading
At a time when Democrats and Republicans can’t seem to agree on anything, an unexpected consensus is emerging across the country: America needs to build more homes. From red Texas and Montana to deep-blue California and Minnesota, housing reform has produced unusual political roommates and scrambled traditional partisan divides. Now,Continue Reading
For generations, Father’s Day had a certain low-maintenance charm: Fire up the grill, grab some beer and, if you’re feeling generous, gift him a tie, a goofy mug or a new power tool. But like fatherhood itself, the holiday is evolving. This year, Father’s Day spending in the U.S. isContinue Reading
The Federal Reserve left its key interest rate unchanged, but policymakers delivered a clear warning: Rate hikes are back on the table. The markets got the message. After Wednesday’s Fed announcement and a press conference by the new chair, Kevin Warsh, markets experienced a sell-off. Stocks fell in the afternoon,Continue Reading
The Federal Reserve left its key interest rate unchanged Wednesday, holding borrowing costs steady as policymakers weighed rising inflation against signs that the U.S. economy is losing momentum. But in a sharp reversal, nine of the 19 Fed officials signaled that there could be at least one interest rate hikeContinue Reading
As Elon Musk’s net worth rocketed past the trillion-dollar mark with Friday’s record-setting initial public offering of SpaceX, analysts have scrambled to put that unfathomable level of wealth into perspective. Still, the human mind struggles to grasp what a trillion dollars in the hands of one person truly looks like. Continue Reading
As graduation caps fly skyward this spring, many new college graduates have been grounded by a punishing job market. The unemployment rate for recent college graduates was about 5.7% in the first quarter of 2026, while 41.5% were underemployed, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. Generative AIContinue Reading