October 30, 2025

What's Happening

Economy

A Little off the Top — With Even More Caution

What's going on: Another month, another cut. The Fed just dropped interest rates to their lowest level in three years — now below 4%. It’s the second cut of 2025, after September’s move. Behind the scenes, there was some debate: one member wanted to slash deeper, another said hold steady. The Fed’s statement struck an optimistic tone about the economy but admitted the job market’s starting to wobble. Fed Chair Jerome Powell said this month’s decision relied on private data and real-time snapshots since the government shutdown delayed key reports. President Donald Trump chimed in — saying the cuts should’ve come sooner and that he’ll be “very happy” when Powell’s term is over.

What it means: The Fed’s basically trying to give the job market a little breathing room. Inflation still hasn’t hit that 2% target, and Powell admitted this balancing act comes with risks: move too fast, and they could either stall hiring or push prices higher. Service inflation costs (think: haircuts, car insurance) remain stubborn, and while Americans are still spending, that confidence can fade fast. Add the shutdown’s ripple effects — frozen paychecks, stalled contracts, and delayed food and housing aid — and the economic picture gets even murkier. Bottom line: the Fed’s walking a tightrope. Powell says another rate cut in December is “far from” a sure thing, but for now, the central bank’s hoping this one lands just right.

Related: Trump Fires Entire Arts Panel Amid Ballroom, “Arc De Trump” Plans (The Guardian)

International

Did Australia Just Quietly Solve the Preterm Birth Problem?

What's going on: Australia’s landmark preterm birth prevention program just made history. A new study found that over the last six years, it reduced the rate of early births by 7% to 10%. The program encouraged doctors to let pregnancies continue as long as safely possible and to only deliver early for clear medical reasons. It also pushed for better prenatal care, including routine cervical-length measurements during mid-pregnancy, low-dose aspirin to prevent preeclampsia, and more education for patients and providers. The results: Since 2019, an average annual decrease of about 1,300 preterm births (between 20 to 36 weeks of gestation) and of about 4,000 early term births (37 to 38 weeks). Preterm birth is associated with both short- and long-term health problems, including developmental delays, hearing, and vision problems. 

What it means: For thousands of babies, those extra days in the womb made all the difference — and with results this dramatic, Australia’s model could inspire similar efforts elsewhere. But replication won’t be easy. The US, for instance, faces an ongoing OB/GYN shortage — especially in the South and rural regions — a problem that’s worsened since the Dobbs decision. And last year, the March of Dimes reported that US preterm birth rates remain at an all-time high. Still, researchers say adopting some of Australia’s strategies — especially around monitoring and prenatal care — could save more lives and close some of those gaps.

Related: AI Mammogram Readings May Be a Game-Changer in Cancer Detection (NBC News)

Economy

AI's Grip On the Job Market Gets Tighter

What's going on: Corporate America’s pink-slip parade is getting longer. Amazon said it’s cutting 14,000 jobs to redirect money toward AI development, and UPS has slashed 48,000 of its own since last year, following a rocky period. Paramount, Booz Allen Hamilton, Target, Rivian, and others are letting thousands of white-collar workers go, too — a surprising move in an economy that still looks strong on paper. The unemployment rate has held steady between 4% and 4.3% for 16 consecutive months, and consumer spending remains solid. But job seekers say it feels like a downturn: LinkedIn is flooded with résumés and new grads can’t get interviews. 

What it means: The vibes are shifting among corporations. The “we can’t find enough workers” panic from 2021 is over — now it’s all about how AI can do more, and it’s coming for desk jobs. The Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia found that higher-paying roles requiring a bachelor’s degree are the most at risk of being replaced by AI. While the World Economic Forum expects the tech to eliminate 92 million jobs by 2030, other analysts say it could also create 170 million new ones — just not always for the same people. In the meantime, white-collar workers are juggling heavier workloads as teams shrink, while blue-collar employers can’t hire fast enough. Turns out, AI still can’t master a hammer or perform open-heart surgery — at least not yet.

Related: After Meeting With China's Xi, Trump Made a Big Tariff Announcement (NBC)

Highlight Reel

BY SKIMM SPORTS

The week's sports news and culture stories, ranked.

Hang it in the Louvre: Players for Afghan Women's United fled their homeland after the Taliban’s takeover, and now they’re fighting to be recognized as a team on the global stage. 

Winning: Apple just cast one of the most exciting stars in women’s sports for its latest film. Talk about range.

Chaotic: The NBA is dealing with some spooky scandals, but hair’s one you might not have heard about.

Know It All

What's Dictionary.com's word of the year?

Game Time

Brick Breaker meets word search in Spelltower, your new favorite game. For every word you find, letter tiles disappear. The fewer tiles left when you run out of words, the better your score. Try it.