Morning news brief
U.S. officials travel to Mexico to talk immigration enforcement. U.S. or Israeli confrontations with Iran-backed militias increase. President Biden doesn't seem to benefit from strong economic news.
Business
Offshore wind in the U.S. hit headwinds in 2023. Here's what you need to know
Rising interest rates, inflation, and global supply chain issues brought delays in 2023 for the offshore wind industry, but also some projects began generating energy.
From Swiftie beads and Barbie to Beyonce, girls ran the world economy in 2023
Girl spending was one of the most powerful economic forces in 2023. Taylor Swift and Beyoncé concerts boosted local and national economies. World leaders begged Taylor Swift to come and perform.
Christmas is the busiest day for texting
Cellular giant T-Mobile says 3 billion text messages were sent last year on December 25, Axios reports. AT&T told NPR that Christmas Day 2022 saw the most texts of any day over a 12-month period.
Holiday spending is up. Shoppers are confident, but not giddy
Consumer spending from Nov. 1 through Christmas Eve rose 3.1% year over year, new data show, a figure in line with the decade leading up to the pandemic and another positive sign for the economy.
Biden doesn't seem to be benefiting politically from relatively strong economy
The state of the economy can determine presidential elections — but that doesn't mean President Biden is getting credit for positive changes.
'The Color Purple' is the biggest Christmas Day opening since 2009
The Color Purple is now the second biggest Christmas Day opening in history — $18 million on day one of its release.
How AI is already impacting jobs in the U.S.
Whether or not artificial intelligence is coming for your job, it's almost certain to change it. Here's how Americans are dealing with AI at work.
Minimum-wage workers in 22 states will be getting raises on Jan. 1
While that's great news for the almost 10 million workers affected, 20 other states still pay minimum-wage workers the federal rate of $7.25 an hour.
The hottest Christmas gift of 2024 could be a moody, gloomy one that lives forever
Lego has plans for a Twilight themed set based off the work of a fan submission. Whether you're team Jacob or team Edward, you can soon enjoy playing with miniature versions of the main characters.