Tax credit vs. deduction: Which is better?
Saving money by shrinking your tax bill feels great, and it all starts with knowing how to use tax deductions and tax credits to your advantage. Before you file your return, make sure you understand how each one works and why they both reduce your tax burden — just in different ways. A tax credit […]
What is a dependent care FSA?
A dependent care flexible spending account (DCFSA) is a tax-advantaged account that lets you build tax-free savings for adult and childcare expenses. It’s a nice perk, but it requires some planning, and there are rules you need to follow. DCFSAs are part of many employer benefits packages or cafeteria plans. You can sign up for […]
How sports betting taxes work and what you might owe
Sports betting only became legal in the United States in 2018 after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a 1992 federal ban and ruled that states could individually determine what forms of gambling were legal within their boundaries. This opened the floodgates for various state legislatures to decide whether to allow sports betting. Currently, 40 […]
Meet Seattles New Mayor, Katie Wilson
Activism / January 7, 2026 Her victory was won by the precariat: renters, transit riders, and democratic socialists who rallied, rang doorbells, created social media, and registered new voters. A day after Zohran Mamdani’s inauguration, 3,000 miles west of New York, the people of Seattle celebrated their own democratic socialist miracle, swearing in Mayor Katie […]
Venezuela in American Politics—Plus, VA Housing for Homeless Vets
Jon Wiener: From The Nation magazine, this is Start Making Sense. I’m Jon Wiener. Later in the show: the VA must end homelessness among disabled vets, by providing housing: that’s what the 9th circuit court of appeals ordered in a historic ruling. Mark Rosenbaum of Public Counsel will explain. But first: Trump, Venezuela, and American […]
5 questions for Netflix subscribers about the Warner Bros. deal
Netflix (NFLX) has come a long way since its days of mailing DVD rentals. In early December, the streaming giant announced its plans to buy Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD)’s studio and streaming assets in a $72 billion deal that would shake up the entertainment industry landscape. The acquisition would include Warner Bros.’ film and television […]
How much is the monthly payment on a $700,000 mortgage?
A $700,000 mortgage loan may sound high. But if you’re in hot housing markets like California, Hawaii, or the Washington, D.C., areas, it can be closer to the norm — especially if you want to buy a larger house. So, the question is: Will monthly payments on a $700,000 mortgage fit your budget? Read more: […]
Gold price today, Wednesday, January 7: Gold price opens above $4,500
Gold (GC=F) futures opened at $4,505.40 per troy ounce Wednesday, up 0.2% from Tuesday’s closing price of $4,496.10. The price of gold fell in early trading. This marks gold’s first open above $4,500 since Dec. 26. The precious metal had been primarily trading in the $4,300s but pushed higher after the U.S. military action in […]
Mortgage and refinance interest rates today, January 7, 2026: A long stretch of stability
Mortgage rates have sustained a long stretch of stability. According to Zillow, the average 30-year fixed rate is 6.01%, down three basis points. Meanwhile, the 15-year fixed home loan rate is up four basis points to 5.45%. These small moves in either direction have been the norm for many weeks. Here are the current mortgage […]
The Assassination That Paved the Way for Trumps Venezuela Attack
World / January 7, 2026 How Trump’s illegal 2020 killing of Qassem Soleimani—and the West’s indifferent response—laid the groundwork for the brazen abduction of Nicolás Maduro. The American abduction of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro is undoubtedly a massive and significant historical moment. Yet, despite the headlines it has generated and the victories the US government […]