Imagine youve set the goal of running a marathon thats 90 days away. Youve hired a trainer who says this a less than optimal amount of time, but if you stick religiously to her fitness routine, nutrition plan, and sleep schedule, youll be ready come race day. Cheat in any of those three areas, she warns, and you wont be able to run 26.2 miles on three months notice.
Lets assume you feel pretty good about your odds of following through in each area. You believe theres a 70% chance youll stick with the fitness routine, a 70% chance youll stick with the nutrition plan, and a 70% chance youll stick with the sleep schedule. What are your odds of doing all three and showing up ready to run?
The answer, surprisingly, is only 34.3%. You have three prerequisites to success. Individually, each seems likely to happen. But you need all three to play out as planned. When we multiply your odds of completing each step in the process, the outlook isnt so rosy.
This is a relatively simple goal. You only need three things to go right. Now imagine your odds in a more complex and challenging situationlike starting a successful business or winning a coveted promotion. Suddenly, its not surprising that nine out of ten businesses supposedly fail or that most people make a tradition out of falling short on their New Years resolutions. We arent getting unlucky. Were experiencing the predicted failures associated with big goals and bad odds. But this isnt a reason to give up. Its a reason to probability hack. Here are three steps you can take to tilt the odds in your favor.
1. Think negative: do everything you can to identify and prevent bad outcomes
If you flip a coin and call heads, theres a 50% chance youll get the outcome you want and a 50% chance youll fail. Our real-life goals are more complex, but the same principle holds. The odds of all possible outcomes add up to 100%. That means, if we can make bad outcomes less likely, well automatically boost our chances of success.
Many people avoid wondering about things that could go wrong. After all, were supposed to think positive, right? Unfortunately, positive thinking wont prevent bad outcomes, which means it wont improve our odds. Preparation will. By identifying threats to our success, we can get creative and systematically de-risk our goals.
When I applied to become the product director of a growing health organization, shortly after graduating college, my odds of success werent great. I was competing against a lineup of more experienced candidates. But I didnt give up or resort to simply manifesting a good outcome. I took intentional steps to make it happen.
To keep the hiring squad from rejecting me for my youth, I grew a beard to look older. To demonstrate I was up to the task of leading a demanding team, I typed up a spiral-bound plan for improving the department and gave it to everyone I met. To fit in like an existing team member, I read books I knew the team was familiar with, which allowed me to speak their language. The day after an important interview, I woke up to find an email from the CEO. He said I was the most prepared candidate hed ever seen. Soon after, I was a twenty-one year old department head, on my way to a successful career.
2. Multiply your odds with the power of multiple attempts
An 80% chance of failure isnt necessarily bad. It means for every five attempts, you expect to succeed once. A door-to-door salesman would be absolutely thrilled with that success rate. Knocking on 200 doors per day would lead to 40 sales! For some goals, it isnt possible or practical to try multiple times. But for goals with a high degree of uncertainty, multiple attempts can actually be the most reliable way to break through. Sometimes you dont have to beat the odds, you only have to play them.
Apoorva Mehta estimates that he launched around 20 businesses before founding Instacart, including an ad network for gaming companies and a social media site for lawyers. When COVID hit, his grocery delivery service was in exactly the right place at the right time. Over a span of 10 months, Instacarts valuation increased by over $9 billion.
Thomas Edison outcompeted his peers and found a practical filament for the incandescent lamp by experimenting with 6,000 different plant materials. Through this inglorious process, he discovered an unlikely winnercarbonized bambooand won valuable patents.
Historys most famous creatives took a similar approach to produce enduring works of art. Mozart composed over 600 pieces of music. Beethoven wrote over 700. Van Gogh painted and sketched so prolifically, he averaged roughly one new work of art every 36 hours for 10 years.
And in the world of product development, Ben & Jerrys created over 300 discontinued flavors on the road to uncovering classics like Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough and becoming the top-selling ice cream brand in the United States.
Contrary to popular belief, quantity is not the sworn enemy of quality. Its a clever way to up your odds of producing great work.
3. Prioritize low probability steps
Your overall odds of success will never be higher than your most unlikely prerequisite step. For example, imagine you need four department managers approval to pursue a time-sensitive idea at work. You think the first three each have a 98% chance of saying yes. The fourth has a 10% chance of saying yes. Again, you need all four to approve. That puts your overall odds at 9.4% not good.
One proactive step you can take is first talking to the manager who will probably say no. Why? If he says yes, your odds will skyrocket. If he rejects the idea, you wont have to waste time talking to the other three managers. This is a clever way to fail fast and focus your energy on projects that are likely to succeed.
In a production mindset, we prioritize the longest pole in the tent. In a probability mindset, we prioritize the step with the longest odds. Doing so consistently is a reliable way to experience smaller setbacks and get more of what you want in life.
Every goal that youre pursuing has two hidden numbers attached to ita probability of success and a probability of failure. If we can make the first number bigger and the second number smaller, we can rewrite your future. In the context of a single goal, it could change your outcome. Over the course of several goals, it could shift the trajectory of your career. Multiplied across a lifetime of goals, it could redefine your legacy.
The fallout from the Trump administrations dramatic cuts to American public media is only just beginning.
The governing group that oversees public educational TV in Arkansas voted on Thursday to split with PBS, the national public broadcast network best known for Sesame Street. The network formerly known as Arkansas PBS will rebrand as Arkansas TV, making it the first state public broadcast network to part with the national network synonymous with public access TV.
The state network will officially sever its ties to PBS on July 1, 2026, at the beginning of Arkansas next fiscal year. Its commission framed the decision as a cost saving measure, citing a loss of the federal funds it relies on to pay annual dues of around $2.5 million to access PBS programming. The organizations commissioners, who voted six to two in favor of splitting from PBS, are appointed by the governor.
The Arkansas network, which has already rebranded its website as ArkansasTV, says it is developing a new lineup of shows, including two shows for children, two food shows and two new series focused on history.
Public television in Arkansas is not going away, ArkansasTV Executive Director and CEO Carlton Wing said in the announcement. In fact, we invite you to join our vision for an increased focus on local programming, continuing to safeguard Arkansans in times of emergency and supporting our K-12 educators and students.
ArkansasTV paints an optimistic picture, but the states residents broadly support PBS according to recent surveying from YouGov. In a statement to Fast Company, PBS noted that 70% of Arkansas residents believe that PBS brings an excellent value to their community. The commissions decision to drop PBS membership is a blow to Arkansans who will lose free, over the air access to quality PBS programming they know and love, a PBS spokesperson said. It also goes against the will of Arkansas viewers.
Decades of public media undone
The decision to go it alone comes as the Trump administration targets public broadcasting with deep funding cuts, part of an aggressive campaign to defund agencies and initiatives it views as politically opposed to its priorities. Those cuts slashed $500 million in yearly funding from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private nonprofit authorized by Congress in 1967 to manage funds for public media.
In light of a shortage of federal funding, the organization announced in August that it planned to end operations and shut its doors. Public media has been one of the most trusted institutions in American life, providing educational opportunity, emergency alerts, civil discourse, and cultural connection to every corner of the country, CPB President and CEO Patricia Harrison said at the time.
The nonprofit historically doles out funds to PBS, NPR, and more than 1,000 local TV and radio stations. Sesame Street and Mister Rogers Neighborhood, two iconic public TV shows, were both made possible with funding from the CPB. On Truth Social, President Trump called PBS and NPR two horrible and completely biased platforms, urging Congress to defund what he characterized as a scam perpetrated by the Radical Left.
The cascade of effects from the CPBs collapse will continue, but they arent the only threat to public broadcasting under the second Trump administration. This week, the conservative nonprofit law firm the Center for American Rights called on the FCC to revoke PBS and NPRs broadcast licenses. Trump himself has also suggested revoking broadcast licenses as a political weapon, declaring that ABC affiliates should have theirs taken away after an ABC News reporter asked a question about Jeffrey Epstein in an Oval Office event last month.
Humans are a unique species, because of our collective knowledge of our own mortality. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the average life expectancy for males in the United States is 75.8 years. That means entertainer extraordinaire Dick Van Dyke is defying statistics by turning 100 years old this Saturday, December 13.
As he reaches this milestone birthday, let’s take a look back at his impressive career, what he credits his longevity to, and how he plans to celebrate. Well also cover how you can get in on the action and celebrate the Mary Poppins actor.
A brief Dick Van Dyke biography
Richard Wayne Van Dyke was born in West Plains, Missouri on December 13, 1925. He was raised in Danville, Illinois. At one time, he considered being a minister because of his mothers religious influences, but a high school drama class would ignite a love of entertainment.
During his senior year of high school, Van Dyke enlisted in the Army to help the war efforts during World War II. He first served as a radio operator, before being transferred to Special Services to entertain the troops.After his army days, Van Dyke worked as a radio DJ. He hit the road touring the United States as part of comedy duo The Merry Mutes in 1947.
Broadway first called in 1959, for the production The Girls Against the Boys, although Van Dyke is better known for his following role, of Albert Peterson in Bye Bye Birdie.
Many dont know Van Dyke also once anchored a CBS morning show with Walter Cronkite. But the CBS sitcom The Dick Van Dyke Show would make him a household name, and 1964s classic film Mary Poppins would endear him to fans for years to come. (Who would forget that authentic cockney accent?)
Longevity is a word that describes not only Van Dykes life, but also his career. Thirty years after his first hit show, he did it again in 1993, with Diagnosis Murder.
Throughout his impressive career, he has been awarded six Emmy Awards, a Grammy Award, and a Tony Award. He has received a lifetime achievement award from SAG, and was declared a Disney Legend.
Beyond the stage, screen, or airwaves, Van Dyke is a father of four, with several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Dick Van Dyke’s tips for a long life
Van Dyke is also an author, and he’s literally written the book on a long-lasting life: 100 Rules for Living to 100: An Optimist’s Guide to a Happy Life was published in November of this year.
If you havent gotten around to reading it yet, never fear. The Chitty Chitty Bang Bang actor summarized some of the tips in an interview with the New York Times.He credits his long life to exercise. He moves his body in some way every day, and hits the gym at least three times a week.
Van Dyke also values connection with others and playfulness. Theres a sense of whimsy about how he views the world. He also isnt afraid to try new things such as directing a childrens theatre production, which could help keep him young.
How Dick Van Dyke plans to celebrate
Van Dyke doesnt want a lavish party on his actual birthday. His wife Arlene Silver told People how he wants to spend his big day, and it’s surprisingly simple.
He doesn’t want to do anything, she explained. He wants to be in his room watching Jeopardy! reruns with me.”This is not to say that Van Dyke has not been properly celebrated. The city of Malibu, where he resides, is hosting a whole festival for the man, called Vandy Days. From November 28 through December 14, the schedule is packed full of screenings, themed events, and costume contests.
How you can celebrate Dick Van Dyke
If geography doesnt allow you to attend Vandy Days, there are several ways you can get in on the action.
Fathom Events is hosting special screenings of the new documentary film Dick Van Dyke 100th Celebration on December 13 and 14.
The Catchy Comedy Network is doing a marathon of The Dick Van Dyke Show, playing 100 episodes to mark the occasion.
And a new special, Starring Dick Van Dyke, will air on PBS as a part of the American Masters programming on Friday, December 12 at 9 p.m. It will also be available to stream on pbs.org/americanmasters and the PBS App.
If all else fails, you can also do your own screening or marathon at home. Throw on Mary Poppins, and watch your cares melt away. After all, it’s supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!
This holiday season isnt quite so merry for American shoppers as large shares are dipping into savings, scouring for bargains, and feeling like the overall economy is stuck in a rut under President Donald Trump, a new AP-NORC poll finds.
The vast majority of U.S. adults say theyve noticed higher than usual prices for groceries, electricity, and holiday gifts in recent months, according to the survey from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.
Roughly half of Americans say its harder than usual to afford the things they want to give as holiday gifts, and similar numbers are delaying big purchases or cutting back on nonessential purchases more than they would normally.
It’s a sobering assessment for the Republican president, who returned to the White House in large part by promising to lower prices, only to find that inflation remains a threat to his popularity just as it did for Democrat Joe Biden’s presidency. The polls findings look very similar to an AP-NORC poll from December 2022, when Biden was president and the country was grappling with higher rates of inflation. Trump’s series of tariffs have added to inflationary pressures and generated anxiety about the stability of the U.S. economy, keeping prices at levels that many Americans find frustrating.
The president has insisted there is no inflation and the U.S. economy is booming, as he expressed frustration that the public feels differently.
When will people understand what is happening? Trump said Thursday on Truth Social. When will Polls reflect the Greatness of America at this point in time, and how bad it was just one year ago?
Most U.S. adults, 68%, continue to say the countrys economy is poor, which is unchanged from December 2024, before Trump returned to the presidency.
Americans are feeling strained as they continue to see high prices
White House officials plan to send Trump barnstorming across the country in hopes of bucking up people’s faith in the economy before next year’s midterm elections. But the president this week in Pennsylvania defended the price increases tied to his tariffs by suggesting that Americans should buy fewer dolls and pencils for children. His message is a jarring contrast with what respondents expressed in the poll, even among people who backed him in the 2024 election.
Sergio Ruiz, 44, of Tucson, Arizona, said he is using more buy now, pay later programs to spread out over time the expense of gifts for his children. He doesn’t put a huge emphasis on politics, but he voted for Trump last year and would like to see lower interest rates to help boost his real estate business. He believes that more Americans having higher incomes would help to manage any affordability issues.
Prices are up. What can you do? You need to make more money, Ruiz said.
The poll found that when they do shop, about half of Americans are finding the lowest price more than they would normally. About 4 in 10 are dipping into their savings more than at other times.
Democrats are more likely than Republicans to say theyre cutting back on expenses or looking for low prices, but many Republicans are budgeting more than usual as well. About 4 in 10 Republicans are looking for low prices more than they usually would, while a similar share are shopping for nonessential items less than usual.
Views are largely similar to when Biden was president
People felt similarly dismal about holiday shopping and the economy when Biden was president in 2022. Inflation had spiked to a four-decade high that summer. Three years later, inflation has eased substantially, but it’s still running at 3%, a full percentage point above the Federal Reserve’s target as the job market appears to have entered a deep freeze.
The survey indicates that it’s the level of prices and not just the rate of inflation that is the point of pain for many families. Roughly 9 in 10 U.S. adults, 87%, say they’ve noticed higher than usual prices for groceries in the past few months, while about two-thirds say they’ve experienced higher prices than usual for electricity and holiday gifts. About half say they’ve seen higher than normal prices for gas recently.
The findings on groceries and holiday gifts are only slightly lower than in the 2022 poll, despite the slowdown from an inflation rate that hit a four-decade peak in the middle of that year.
Consumer spending has stayed resilient despite the negative sentiments about the economy, yet Trump’s tariffs have caused changes for shoppers such as Andrew Russell.
The 33-year-old adjunct professor in Arlington Heights, Illinois, said he used to shop for unique gifts from around the globe and buy online. But with the tariffs, he got his gifts locally and this year, I only bought things that I can pick up in person, he said.
Russell, who voted Democratic in last year’s election, said he worries about the economy for next year. He thinks the investment in artificial intelligence has become a bubble that could burst, taking down the stock market.
Little optimism about an economic rebound in 2026
Few people expect the situation to meaningfully improve next year a sign that Trump has done little to instill much confidence from his mix of tariffs, income tax cuts and foreign trips to attract investments. Trump has maintained that the benefits from his policies will begin to snowball in 2026.
About 4 in 10 U.S. adults expect next year will be economically worse for the country. Roughly 3 in 10 say condiions wont change much. Only about 2 in 10 think things will get better, with Republicans being more optimistic.
The belief that things will get better has slipped from last year, when about 4 in 10 said that 2025 would be better than 2024.
Millicent Simpson, 56, of Cleveland, Ohio, said she expects the economy to be worse for people like her who rely on Medicaid for health care and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Simpson voted Democratic last year and blames Trump for the greater economic pressures that she faces going into the winter.
Hes making it rough for us, she said. Hes messing with the government assistance for everybody, young and old.
___
The AP-NORC poll of 1,146 adults was conducted Dec. 4-8 using a sample drawn from NORCs probability-based AmeriSpeak Panel, which is designed to be representative of the U.S. population. The margin of sampling error for adults overall is plus or minus 4 percentage points.
Josh Boak and Amelia Thomson-Deveaux, Associated Press
I personally can never bring myself to tell people that Id rather forgo their gift and just get cash insteador better yet, a Venmo. It feels almost too blunt, a cheap shot. So each year, when I unwrap another pair of socks, I smile through gritted teeth.
I feel a twinge of guilt in admitting it. But, to my relief, it appears Im not the only one.
A new Wells Fargo survey finds younger generations are driving a shift toward digital cash gifts, choosing convenience and flexibility over traditional wrapped presents. A staggering 45% of Gen Z and 42% of millennials say theyd rather receive digital payments, compared with 27% of Gen X and just 10% of baby boomers.
I feel like were influenced by older generations, Steve Selfridge, Wells Fargos product management director, said to USA Today. Were kind of taught its not OK to ask for money.
Physical gifts are still popularbut money is quickly catching up. About 48% of gift recipients prefer cash or checks, and 29% would like digital payments through Venmo, Zelle, PayPal, or Cash App.
Gift-givers arent quite as enthusiastic about it: Only 34% enjoy giving cash or checks, and 18% digital payments. Among younger gift-givers, 32% of Gen Z and 28% of millennials are comfortable sending digital cash, compared to 11% of Gen X and 7% of baby boomers.
Its not just you, asking for money is awkward
Ive even tried practicing a polite, non-offensive script for requesting money from my family for Christmasbut when the moment comes, it just feels uncomfortably awkward.
Survey data backs this up: More than half of gift-givers say sending digital cash feels impersonal, and nearly half of recipients admit theyd appreciate it, but feel weird asking.
Still, the perks are hard to ignore: 65% of consumers agree that receiving digital cash gives them freedom to choose what they really want, and the same number cite gifting it as convenientno wrapping, postage, or shipping stress.
Roughly a third also say they appreciate digital gifts because they usually dont like most physical presents, and 32% would like to give money digitally but arent sure its socially acceptable.
So next time youre stuck on what to gift a Gen Zer, it might be simpler than you think: Just send them money.
If the holiday hustle and bustle is stressing you out, the night sky is providing a perfect moment to pause and wonder at some majesty this weekend, as the Geminid meteor shower (Geminids) is set to peak.
The Geminids are technically active annuallythis year, from around December 1 through 21, and the action peaks on the evenings of the 12th and 13th.
Lets take a look at the science and history behind this cosmic phenomenon, before we dive into how best to view it.
When was the Geminid meteor shower first discovered?
These days, the Geminid meteor shower is considered by NASA to be one of the best and most reliable annual meteor showers.
The event started much smaller. The meteors were first observed in the mid-1800s and only boasted 10-20 meteors an hour.
As time went on, Jupiter got in on the action. The planets gravity pulled the show closer to Earth.
What causes the Geminids?
It wasnt until the 1980s that scientists understood the cause of the meteor shower was asteroid 3200 Phaethon.
Typically, meteor showers are caused by a comet. Asteroid 3200 Phaethon acts like a comet, despite most asteroids taking 1.4 years to fully orbit the sun.
Scientists are still learning about this unique space object. A 2023 article, published in Planetary Science Journal by California Institute of Technology PhD student Qicheng Zhang, stated that when the asteroid approaches the sun, it forms a sodium-gas tail instead of dust.
This challenges earlier beliefs about the object. It is now hypothesized that the dense Geminid meteoroids are a result of a possible past mass loss, not an ongoing tail shedding around the sun.
Regardless, the average person will delight in the vivid burst of light as the meteoroids burn up in Earths atmosphere.
How best to see the Geminids
Scientists and night-sky enthusiasts can agree that whatever label you assign 3200 Phaethon, it puts on one heck of a show.
This years offerings are best seen in the northern hemisphere, although some meteors will be visible to the southern hemisphere as well.
The moon is also cooperating, as it will be in its waning crescent moon phase and not shining too brightly.
When nightfall comes on December 12 and 13, find the darkest place you can, away from city lights. Special viewing equipment such as binoculars or telescopes are not necessaryespecially since meteors move quickly.
The action originates around the Gemini constellation, but you should not just focus there. Look at the entire night sky.
If you do miss the peak viewing time, the days around the December 12 and 13 peak should still offer quite a show.
Wealthfront Corp. is looking to rake in the wealth after going public on Friday.
The Palo Alto-based automated digital wealth platform raised $486 million after selling 43.6 million shares, putting the companys valuation at roughly $2 billion.
Wealthfront shares began trading on the Nasdaq under the ticker WLTH. The company made more than 34.6 million shares of common stock available for the IPO for $14an offering that expires on Monday, December 15.
The stock was up around 4% by mid-afternoon on Friday afternoon after trading began.
To mark the occasion, the companys leadershipincluding CEO David Fortunato, cofounder and chairman Andy Rachleff, and cofounder Dan Carrollrang the opening bell at Nasdaq MarketSite in Times Square.
Courting Gen Z and millennial investors
The listing has been a long time coming. Wealthfront was founded in 2008 under the name KaChing. In 2011, it was reborn as Wealthfront, and over the past decade or so, has become known for its automated investment products and servicessomething young investors have found particularly alluring.
Wealthfront refers to these consumers as “digital natives,” defining them as people born after 1980. The fintech also offers other financial products, such as high-yield savings accounts, and will soon start offering home lending services.
Its filing documents with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) show that the company has $88 billion in assets under management. For the six months ended July 31, it had net income of nearly $61 million on revenue of almost $176 million.
In an interview with Yahoo Finance on Friday, Fortunato said that the company will remain competitive in a tight market for a key reason: Wealthfront can offer many of the same services as traditional banks but at lower costs. [Customers] are going to be able to invest, save, and borrow from Wealthfront at a better cost than they would otherwise, he said.
He added that attracting customers early and sticking with them for the long haul has helped position Wealthfront for growth.
Our goal is to compound with our clients for decades,” he said.
Wealthfront joins other large fintech companies in going public this year, including Chime Financial and Klarna Group.
Since its IPO in June, Chime shares are down more than 23%, and Klarna, which went public in September, has seen its shares fall by almost 28%.
Time magazine has named the Architects of AI as its 2025 Person of the Year, a decision that has sparked significant backlash from gamblers who lost out on semantics.
The companies behind AI tools and infrastructure arent AI in the literal sense, so prediction markets Kalshi and Polymarket ruled that anyone betting on AI doesnt win. As author Parker Molloy pointed out on Bluesky, gamblers on the site are not pleased.
Someone please explain to me how this is not a trick? one user complained after betting on billionaire Elon Musk on Kalshi. Person of the year is a singular title
ThE aRcHiTeCtS oF AI, another user wrote. Fuck you pay me.
Others remained insistent that the platform owes them a payout. This pretty clearly shouldve resolved to yes, one user wrote. If you bought AI, reach out to Kalshi support because AI is literally on the cover and in the title Architects of AI.’
On Kalshi, anyone who bet on any of the Architects of AIincluding Sam Altman, Elon Musk, Jensen Huang, Dario Amodei, Mark Zuckerberg, Lisa Su, and Demis Hassabisstill won the bet. Those who bet their products, however, did not.
People who bet on this on Kalshi are not pleased. Lol— Parker Molloy (@parkermolloy.com) 2025-12-11T16:19:54.852Z
Polymarket explained the decision in a note. This market is about the person/thing named as TIME’s Person of the Year for 2025, not what is depicted on the cover. Per the rules, If the Person of the Year is Donald Trump and the MAGA movement, this would qualify to resolve this market to Trump. However if the Person of the Year is The MAGA movement, this would not qualify to resolve this market to Trump regardless of whether Trump is depicted on the cover, it said.
Accordingly, a Time cover which lists Architects of AI as the person of the year will not qualify for AI even if the letters AI are depicted on the cover, as AI itself is not specifically named.
People spent more than $19 million betting on the Time Person of the Year on Kalshi and more than $55 million betting on the Time Person of the Year on Polymarket. I cant believe an unregulated gambling market let people bet frivolously and then took all their money, one Bluesky user mused.
President Donald Trump was sued on Friday by preservationists asking a federal court to halt his White House ballroom project until it goes through multiple independent reviews and wins approval from Congress.
The National Trust for Historic Preservation is asking the U.S. District Court to block Trumps White House ballroom project, which already has involved razing the East Wing, until it goes through comprehensive design reviews, environmental assessments, public comments, and congressional debate and ratification.
The National Trust, a privately funded organization, argues that Trump, by fast-tracking the project, has committed multiple violations of the Administrative Procedures Act and the National Environmental Policy Act, while also exceeding his constitutional authority by not seeking congressional approval for a project of such scale.
No president is legally allowed to tear down portions of the White House without any review whatsoevernot President Trump, not President Biden, and not anyone else, the lawsuit states. And no president is legally allowed to construct a ballroom on public property without giving the public the opportunity to weigh in.
No more work should be done, the Trust argues, until administration officials complete the required reviewsreviews that should have taken place before the Defendants demolished the East Wing, and before they began construction of the Ballroomand secure the necessary approvals.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt did not immediately respond to Associated Press questions about the lawsuit and the project, including whether the president had any intention of consulting Congress. Trump has emphasized since announcing his plans that hes doing it with private funding, including his own money. But that would not necessarily change how federal laws and procedures apply to what is still a U.S. government project.
Trump, a Republican, already has bypassed the federal governments usual building practices and historical reviews with the East Wing demolition. He recently added another architectural firm for a ballroom that itself would be nearly twice the size of the White House before the East Wings demolition.
Trump has said a ballroom is overdue for the White House, previously complaining that events were held outside under a tent because the East Room and the State Dining Room could not accommodate bigger crowds. Trump, among other complaints, said guests get their feet wet if it rains during such events.
The White House is expected to submit plans for Trumps new ballroom to a federal planning commission before the year ends, about three months after construction began.
Will Scharf, who was named by Trump as chairman of the National Capital Planning Commission, said at the panels monthly meeting last week that he was told by colleagues at the White House that the long-awaited plans would be filed in December.
Once plans are submitted, thats really when the role of this commission, and its professional staff, will begin, said Scharf, who also is one of the Republican presidents top White House aides.
He said the review process would happen at a normal and deliberative pace.”
By Bill Barrow, Associated Press
The holiday season means time with family and new memories, but it can also mean lots of spendingsometimes too much.
From gifts to travel plans to grocery shopping, costs can pile up and become overwhelming, especially in a difficult economic environment. Holiday shopping can bring joy, but its important to stick to a budget and avoid going into debt, said shopping expert Trae Bodge.
Im really emphasizing that shoppers look for ways to save as much as possible this season. So we dont bring that debt into the next year, Bodge added.
Here are some expert recommendations to make the most out of your budget this holiday season:
Plan your gift list and shop around
Planning your gifts as far in advance as possible can be a great way to save money, since it gives you more time to compare and shop around, said Kiersti Torok, a social media content creator known on Instagram and TikTok as Torok Coupon Hunter.
Torok plans her shopping months in advance. She buys the chocolate and candy for her childrens Christmas stockings right after Halloween, when theyre on sale. And it’s not too early to think about next year her Christmas decorations are always bought on clearance, especially after Christmas.
If you wait until two, maybe three, days after Christmas. Things will start to hit 75% off. And thats when I shop for my kids birthdays, because theyre in July, Torok said.
Compare prices
When youre looking to buy a gift, Bodge recommends comparing prices with other stores, looking for coupons, and signing up for emails from your favorite stores. That way, you can buy the item when its at its lowest price.
Im always looking for maybe a coupon code, so I can save a certain percentage off. Or I can earn cash back or get a free shipping offer. I really believe in those tools and use them every single time I shop, Bodge said.
To find deals more easily, Bodge recommends installing browser extensions on your computer. Some of her favorites are PayPal Honey and Rakuten.
Lately, Bodge has also noticed the increasing use of artificial intelligence to both find holiday gift ideas and sales. However, AI search engines are not very good at finding up-to-date deals, she said. Bodge recommends that you search for deals on the stores website or on sites like RetailMeNot.
If you cant find an item on sale, find a coupon, or wait to see if you can find it cheaper somewhere else.
Save on groceries by using coupons
If you’re the host of your family’s holiday celebration, you might be rushing between going to the grocery store, cooking a large meal and decorating your house. But, it’s best if you don’t let the holiday rush distract you from saving on groceries. Coupons are a great way to reduce costs so you can keep your meals on budget, and possibly use that money for other expenses. Most grocery stores offer coupons, either in paper form, on their website, or in their apps.
Couponing can be time-consuming, but the tradeoff can be saving hundreds of dollars on groceries, according to Torok. If youre trying couponing for the first time, she recommends taking small steps.
If youre looking to save money and you never couponed before, my biggest advice is to pick your favorite store youre most comfortable with and download their app, Torok said.
Once you feel comfortable using coupons with your preferred store, Torok recommends that you start comparing prices with other stores near you. This way you can shop for the best deals and save money.
If youre looking to maximize your savings, she also recommends taking advantage of websites that give you cash back on your grocery shopping. Examples include Top Cash Back and Ibotta.
Buy in bulk and stock up on groceries
When preparing for your big holiday meal, a useful tactic to save is to buy in bulk and then freeze it for when you need it, recommended Alli Powell, grocery shopping expert.
Anything that you can stock up on and freeze at a (lower) price point, then take it out of the freezer to use later, itll be such a benefit. This is something I try to do year-round, said Powell, who hosts Grocery Getting Girl, a blog and Instagram page dedicated to budget-friendly grocery shopping.
Large grocery stores typically offer sales around Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years, and this can be a perfect opportunity to buy in bulk and put it away for another time, Powell said.
Be careful with store credit cards and buy now, pay later deals
Proceed with caution when it comes to acquiring store credits cards or making purchases using buy now, pay later. If youre shopping in person this holiday season, youll likely be offered a store credit card at checkout, often paired with a large discount on your current purchase.
Bodge recommends that you only get a store credit card if you know you can pay it off in full each month and have good credit card habits.
If theres a retailer that you shop with regularly and you are responsible with your credit cards, opening a credit card can be very beneficial, Bodge said.
If you decide to acquire a store credit card, its important that you know how much interest will be charged. Store credit cards, like traditional credit cards, affect your credit score.
Similarly, making purchases using buy now, pay later is only recommended when you are sure you can afford to make all the payments on time. Buy now, pay later loans were not previously reported to the three major credit reporting bureaus, but consumers will soon see the them impact their FICO credit scores.
When it comes to travel, flexibility pays
A common mistake when making travel plans is to not allow yourself much flexibility on your flights, said Kyle Potter, editor of Thrifty Traveler, a travel and flight deal website. To save money on your travel, first book the flights and then the rest of the accommodations, that way you can allow yourself to be as flexible as possible with the dates of your flights.
Start with the flights first, becuse that gives you the freedom to shift your travel dates by even just a day. Especially over the holidays, Potter said.
Potter recommends that you track prices and set alarms for flights on Google Flights.
___
The Associated Press receives support from Charles Schwab Foundation for educational and explanatory reporting to improve financial literacy. The independent foundation is separate from Charles Schwab and Co. Inc. The AP is solely responsible for its journalism.
Adriana Morga, Associated Press
