An old Wall Street adage just got a fresh test.
"Don't fight the Fed" has guided generations of investors through rate cycles both gentle and brutal. This time, it came roaring back into the conversation after the central bank made its first major policy shift in more than three years.
Jim Cramer wasted no time translating what happened into plain language for viewers watching at home. His verdict landed within hours of the decision, and it was blunt enough to make anyone holding stocks in their portfolio pay very close attention.
Cramer delivered his warning on Sept. 16 on "Mad Money," just hours after the Federal Reserve raised its benchmark federal funds rate by a quarter percentage point to a range of 3.75% to 4%.
"If you buy stocks here, you're now officially fighting the Federal Reserve," Cramer said, invoking the old adage that ignoring it tends to hurt returns.

#wall

Updated Sept 15, 2026, 4:10 pm EDT / Original Sept 15, 2026, 6:33 am EDT
The Clarity Act, a key bill for crypto regulation, failed to advance in the Senate Tuesday. The vote was 49 to 50 in a procedural vote known as invoking cloture that could have moved it to a final vote.
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Rising oil prices and a 10-year Treasury yield climbing to around 5% have raised concerns about consumer spending and restaurant operating costs.

#updated #clarity #senate

The Los Angeles Clippers are still reeling in the aftermath of a cap circumvention scandal. For their part in helping Kawhi Leonard secure millions in off-the-court, "no-show" endorsement deals, the franchise had to give up five first-round picks and $30 million, culminating in one of the most severe penalties in NBA history.
Through it all, Kawhi escaped the scandal relatively unscathed. Besides a $700K fine, he didn't face any major consequences, and even his trade to the Toronto Raptors remains completely untouched. And yet, even now, the Clippers have yet to finalize the trade, leading some executives to suspect they are considering some sort of revenge against Leonard for how he's turned his back on the team.
"The Raptors, I'm told, are eager to consummate the trade after initially placing it on hold July 9 (to guard against a Leonard suspension or the outright voiding of his contract) and still firmly believe that the deal will happen as agreed upon and intended. Ditto for Leonard and his camp," wrote NBA insider Marc Stein. "Yet the delay has naturally led some league observers to wonder aloud whether the Clippers are holding off — or considering something even more drastic — to spite Leonard for so readily accepting the league's punishment rather than invoking his right to pursue an appeal. Any formal appeal within the NBA's auspices in such matters, remember, must be initiated by the player in question rather than the team according to league by-laws."
The Clippers have given up everything for Kawhi, and they set themselves back 10 years just to make him happy. From his very arrival, Kawhi was making outlandish requests and even forced the Clippers to give up five first-round picks (along with future MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander) in a deal for Paul George. By the end, the total cost of Leonard's services amounts to 10 first-round picks (not counting SGA), and it was all for a team that never made the Finals.
So when the Clippers were caught holding the bag in the cap circumvention scandal, they naturally expected some level of cooperation from Leonard, someone they moved heaven and earth to appease. Instead, he settled with the NBA right away, avoiding more severe penalties while stripping the Clippers of any power to fight back.

#clippers #leonard #first

George Clooney is defending Mark Ruffalo's right to "speak freely," including his recent criticisms of Oracle and Paramount.
Ruffalo was previously accused by Paramount of "antisemitism" for calling out the leaders of the two companies.
Clooney is the latest actor to speak up for Ruffalo, on the heels of 170 Jewish artists signing an open letter in his defense.
George Clooney is defending Mark Ruffalo's right to "speak freely" as the actor fends off accusations of antisemitism.
The past few weeks have seen the Avengers: Endgame star at the center of Hollywood discourse after criticizing the links between the tech company Oracle — which is owned by Paramount Skydance boss David Ellison's father, Larry — and the Israeli military. Last month, Ruffalo accused the company of aiding the Israeli military in committing genocide, prompting a statement from Paramount slamming the actor for invoking "antisemitic tropes."

#clooney #actor #oracle

Cardi B has spoken out about Lindsay Clancy, the former Massachusetts nurse charged with strangling her three children.
On Thursday (August 27), the rapper took to X **** es to direct her anger at anyone invoking postpartum psychosis to explain the deaths.
"One thing about me, when it comes to kids, is stop looking for different loopholes to give this woman an excuse for why these three kids are dead," she said. "A lot of y'all are talking about her husband probably did it, or the system failed her. We need to stop looking for an excuse. If your mental health is so **** up that you kill three f**kingkids, maybe you shouldn't be on the streets."
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"A lot of women in our hood are suffering from postpartum depression," Cardi continued. "There are women in our hoods whom **** ody offered to help with their children. Does that give them an excuse to kill their kids?"

#looking

"Hacks" star Hannah Einbinder has come to the defense of Mark Ruffalo after Paramount accused him of invoking "antisemitic tropes" when criticizing the Paramount-Warner Bros. merger.
It all kicked off on Friday, when Ruffalo shared a clip on Instagram of Paramount board member Safra Catz outlining "really profoundly scary technologies" that Oracle — the tech giant co-founded by Larry Ellison, father of Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison, who is involved in the merger's financing — used to help the Israeli military after the Oct. 7 terror attack. Ruffalo likened Larry Ellison to a "classic oligarch" and warned of the consequences if Paramount and Warner Bros. are allowed to merge, alleging that the Ellisons "are crushing workers and consolidating the wealth of the world for their own power and concentrated dominance." Of Catz, he said: "Look how she revels in what we now have come to see as a genocide, which was built on an apartheid system of oppression powered by Oracle."
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#bros

John Cusack has made his position known as Mark Ruffalo challenges Paramount's allegations. The Hulk star is locked in a feud with Paramount Skydance over its its bid to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery. Paramount responded with a statement accusing Ruffalo of invoking "antisemitic tropes" in a business dispute.
Mark Ruffalo has found an ally in John Cusack, who is standing by him in solidarity as he weathers antisemitism accusations. According to Entertainment Weekly, the allegations emerged after Ruffalo condemned Oracle last week. The tech company is owned by billionaire Larry Ellison. His son, David Ellison, heads Paramount Skydance and is spearheading the $110 billion bid to merge Paramount with Warner Bros.
Ruffalo rejected the antisemitism claims in a lengthy response on X (formerly Twitter). It read, "The accusation that I am antisemitic is appalling and fundamentally dishonest. Criticizing the actions of the Israeli prime minister, a military technology contract, or the executives who supply it is not the same as criticizing Jewish people."
The 13 Going on 30 actor clarified that his views stem from his own political beliefs. He emphasized that no one should interpret his views as animosity toward Jewish people. Ruffalo also noted that his Jewish friends and colleagues have deeply shaped his understanding of acting, activism, and humanism. Those loved ones, he said, have been like family to him throughout his life.
John Cusack, who has been a vocal supporter of Palestinian rights and a critic of corporate consolidation in Hollywood, weighed in shortly after. Responding to Ruffalo's statement, Cusack wrote simply: "Solidarity — well said."

#john #mark

Mark Ruffalo and Paramount are locked in an increasingly heated war of words over the company's proposed $110 billion merger with Warner Bros. Discovery. The media giant accused the "Avengers" actor of invoking "antisemitic tropes" after he connected the corporate transaction to Oracle technology used to **** ist the Israeli military. Ruffalo quickly rejected the allegation as "appalling" and insisted his criticism was aimed at political leaders and corporate executives, not Jewish people.
MEGA
Paramount issued a lengthy statement after Ruffalo posted a video featuring Safra Catz discussing technology Oracle reportedly made available to the Israeli military. "We are, as always, troubled when antisemitic tropes are invoked in purported service of a business dispute," the company said in a statement shared by CNN's Brian Stelter.
Paramount specifically objected to Ruffalo's use of the words "genocide" and "apartheid" while criticizing the proposed Warner Bros. Discovery acquisition. The company said the language was inappropriate when applied to a corporate transaction and argued that it diminished the suffering those terms are normally used to describe.
Paramount said "this brings us to a moment to lower the temperature, not raise it," adding that it would "rather build than further engage in such rhetoric." "This simply exposes the true motivation of some who have advocated opposition to this transaction," its statement continued.

#corporate #transaction #statement

Red Cat (RCAT) shares rallied on Friday after President Donald Trump signed a proclamation invoking Section 232 to slap ad valorem tariffs of up to 100% on imported drones and critical components.
The sweeping order targets military-grade foreign unmanned systems while imposing a 25% tariff on smaller commercial models as well to strengthen national security.
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#Stock #president

On Monday, Phoenix Suns ******* yst Eddie Johnson revisited a bold claim made by Scottie Pippen in January 2025. Appearing on an episode of the "PBD Podcast," Pippen argued that he is ahead of LeBron James from the standpoint of team success.
"I got six rings…You want individual accolades or you want championships? Because I didn't chase mine." [Timestamp – 12:47]
Reposting this quote on X, Johnson threw his support behind Pippen's claim while invoking the name of the other legendary six-time NBA champion from Chicago.
"Why shouldn't Scottie not claim he is the GOAT. He's 6-0 too and that seems to be the only fight left against LBJ. MJ fans are not happy today."
Among the three all-time greats he mentioned in his post, Johnson played against Jordan and Pippen many times in his own NBA career, which began in 1981 and lasted till 1999. During that time, Johnson witnessed Jordan and Pippen winning six NBA ******* les in Chicago.

#time

Oregon offensive lineman Iapani Laloulu won't remind anyone of NFL legend and Hall of Famer Jerry Rice in either size or abilities on the field. But according to Oregon Duck offensive coordinator Drew Mehringer, they both possess one important trait that all players should have: You're never too old, experienced, or talented to learn new tricks.
"I don't think you could ever really put a value on having a great player with a ton of experience who's also a phenomenal leader. Those people are invaluable," Mehringer said. "I'm super thankful that Poncho (Laloulu) is here. Poncho is the rock, the apex in there. He's not only great for the offensive line unit, but he's great for the offense and the team as a whole."
That's the reason Mehringer was invoking the NFL Hall of Fame wide receiver when discussing his center. Not for the on-field skill set, but for the dedication to the little things and setting an example for others.
"I listened to a story about Jerry Rice in his 19th year in the NFL in the same offense. They're putting in drag and slant-arrow, and he's writing it down like he's never run that play before," Mehringer said. "He's run that play 10,000 times, right? But the point is that he's not 'too big-time' to take notes and learn something new that day. I feel that way about Poncho, and it leaves no excuse for anybody else in the program."
Laloulu seems to be a coach's dream. He listens, takes notes, and ultimately learns from his mistakes in order to get better.

#mehringer #offensive

President Donald Trump has always loved the idea of taking other countries' oil by force. And he claims to have accomplished that goal in Venezuela. The war there "lasted 48 minutes, and we paid for the war with what we've taken out many, many, many times. Where have you heard that before? You haven't heard that before. That's the old fashioned way, right? The old-fashioned way. To the victor belong the spoils," Trump told a crowd in Las Vegas on Wednesday.
That's not how other officials advertised U.S. oversight of Venezuelan oil. "We're the bankers, we don't direct the funds," Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent told the Economic Club of Minnesota in January. "This is the oil of the people of Venezuela," Secretary of State Marco Rubio testified to Congress a few weeks later, claiming that the U.S. government was making sure that "the needs of the Venezuelan people can be met" through oil sales.
In a way, they're both right. Shortly after the U.S. military operation in Venezuela on January 3, 2026, the two countries cut a deal to put sanctioned Venezuelan oil revenues under the control of the U.S. Treasury. The money still belongs to Venezuela on paper, but it's controlled by U.S. officials for all practical purposes—and trying to get any transparency on where it's going has been like pulling teeth.
The oil deal demonstrates the raw, unaccountable, and global power that economic sanctions give to the U.S. Treasury. Neither the American nor the Venezuelan people have a clear picture of what's going on. The case of Venezuela also shows how, despite invoking Ronald Reagan's anticommunism, the Trump administration is much more concerned with imposing direct economic control than nurturing free markets. After all, the Venezuelan oil deal is a U.S. partnership with a socialist dictatorship.
Over the past two decades, the U.S. Treasury had imposed sanctions on the Venezuelan oil and banking sectors, preventing Venezuela's state-owned oil company from exporting to North America and its socialist government from dealing in U.S. dollars. After the January 2026 operation, the Venezuelan leadership cut a deal. The Trump administration issued sanctions exemptions and even shielded Venezuelan money from U.S. lawsuits. In exchange, Venezuela began putting its oil revenues into bank accounts in the "custody" of the U.S. Treasury.

#january

On Monday afternoon, Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers sparked plenty of reaction after making blunt and controversial remarks about former National Institutes of Health leader Anthony Fauci, who testified before Congress last week.
Although Rodgers' comments quickly generated controversy, it appears the Pittsburgh Steelers have no plans to discipline him over the remarks.
Fauci, whose medical guidance played a key role in leading the United States through the COVID-19 pandemic, drew headlines after invoking the Fifth Amendment more than 100 times during last week's congressional hearing, reigniting criticism over the government's pandemic response. Rodgers, who was a vocal opponent of the COVID-19 vaccine during the pandemic, used his appearance on The Pat McAfee Show on Monday to once again criticize Fauci.
When McAfee posed a football-related question during the show, Rodgers bypassed the topic entirely and instead directed his attention toward Fauci.
"I'm gonna plead the fifth, like that absolute coward, Tony Fauci," Rodgers said with a big smile.

#pittsburgh #steelers

President Donald Trump announced a new round of retaliatory tariffs on July 20 against Canada, invoking the Depression-era Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act in a game of **** for tat that can have no winner.
The administration argues that the new tariffs are necessary to address Canada's harmful discrimination against the United States auto industry, and are justified by Section 338 of Smoot-Hawley. But Section 338 has never been used to impose tariffs before this year. Section 338 was designed to deter foreign retaliation by allowing the President to increase tariffs against a country that had discriminatory tariffs or trade restrictions on American goods.
While there can be no doubt that Canada's 25% tariffs on U.S. autos are discriminatory because they target American goods without putting similar burdens on goods from other countries, the administration's evidence supporting the tariffs is weak at best.
In its Proclamation announcing the new tariffs, the administration claimed that Canada's 25% tariff on U.S. autos and auto parts—enacted days after Trump's April 2, 2025 "Liberation Day" Executive Order announcing new U.S. tariffs on Canada and virtually every other country in the world—unfairly discriminates against the American auto industry, thus "disadvantaging the commerce of the United States compared to the commerce of other countries."
In support of this view, the administration claims that Canadian imports of U.S. autos "fell precipitously" by more than $5 billion, or "approximately 22%," while Canada's imports from Mexico, **** an, Korea, and Germany increased by nearly $3 billion.

#section

Invoking a wounded innocence that their desire for sports to be simple, just like they used to be, conservatives for a decade and a half have dreaded the word "politics". Now they cannot get enough.
Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio has spent 40 years in the National Football League unknown except for his defensive schemes, but last week opened his press remarks mocking the congressional testimony of Dr Anthony Fauci, jokingly invoking the Fifth Amendment before taking questions. Apropos of nothing, President Trump publicly surmised that LeBron James might be a racist. Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham is now in the act, accepting the role as the right's anti-Black, anti-transgender culture war ambassador, the role originally intended for Caitlin Clark.
If Clark has lacked the courage and dexterity to say anything beyond the milky and ambiguous, Sophie Cunningham does not suffer from such internal conflicts. Largely anonymous politically or otherwise during her eight-year career, Cunningham – she of the viral finger-point which has been adopted as a symbol of the white animosity toward the WNBA culture – is in her moment. Her comments in a lengthy 21 July ESPN profile stating her opposition to transgender athletes has earned her hero status of the specious "Protect Our Girls" movement, even though you'd need a microscope to find any critical mass of transgender women participating in sports at any level.
Cunningham plays role of the blithe and bubbly iconoclast, oblivious to the world around as she unapologetically speaks her truths, but she is every bit as political as Colin Kaepernick, Megan Rapinoe, or her locked-armed, T-shirt wearing colleagues that defined the WNBA when she first entered the league in 2019. Cunningham forged a tough, take-no-prisoners-without-taking-herself-too-seriously persona, but was too meek to address the toxic roots of her newfound fame.
So too, was ESPN, which waited nearly 75 paragraphs just to sidestep the foundation of Cunningham's rise: she is profiting from cultural fractures that may be good for her but are tearing her league apart:

#cunningham #WNBA #invoking #sports

Sports commentator Stephen A. Smith said Thursday that former White House chief medical adviser Anthony Fauci should have answered lawmakers' questions during the hostile Senate hearing earlier this week instead of invoking his Fifth Amendment rights.
Smith argued that Fauci owed the public an explanation after serving as the face of the nation's COVID-19 response.
"As it strictly pertains to the coronavirus pandemic, my attitude is, with you being the face that you have been, you can't show up on Capitol Hill and plead the Fifth 111 times," he told NewsNation's Chris Cuomo. "You just can't do that. That's not right. You've got to answer some questions."
During a three-hour hearing before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee on Wednesday, Fauci pleaded the Fifth 111 times as Republicans blasted him over his handling of the pandemic and accused the doctor of covering up the U.S.'s involvement in gain-of-function research that could have caused the spread of the virus.
Smith acknowledged that Fauci, who led the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases for nearly 40 years, may have had a legitimate legal reason to remain silent — pointing to a pardon he received from former President Biden on his final day in office for potential offenses between Jan. 1, 2014, and Jan. 19, 2025.

#smith

Nicki Minaj became the subject of one of the night's jokes Friday, July 24, during the White House Correspondents' ****** ociation Dinner at the Waldorf Astoria in Washington, D.C.
President Donald Trump took the podium to roast Hollywood and the media, invoking the rapper while joking about the organization's April gala, which was cut short after a gunman breached security and opened fire.
"After hearing the gunshots, many people yelled, 'Get down!' which caused Nicki Minaj to start twerking," Trump said. "Can you believe it? She's the only one that really understood what that meant."
Minaj has has become one of Trump's most prominent celebrity supporters during his second term after previously criticizing some of his immigration policies during his first administration.
Earlier this month, she joined Trump at a White House Rose Garden event and later posed with him in the Oval Office. Sharing a photo July 6 on X, she wrote, "Whoa!!!! #WhiteHouseBarbie with her favorite President of all time!!!"

#white #Friday #correspondents #association

The United States caught an enormous break on Sunday.
FIFA gave USMNT striker Folarin Balogun, the team's leading goal scorer at this World Cup, a rare reprieve for the controversial red card he received on July 1 in the team's 2-0 Round of 32 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina. By rule, Balogun was to sit out the next match, a Monday night showdown against Belgium in Seattle in the Round of 16.
But on Sunday, FIFA announced it has essentially suspended that suspension, invoking Article 27 of its disciplinary code, which says FIFA's "judicial body may decide to fully or partially suspend the implementation of a disciplinary measure."
So Balogun is good to go—a huge boost for the U.S. attack.
"We accept the decision of the Disciplinary Committee and are pleased that Folarin Balogun is eligible to compete tomorrow," U.S. Soccer said in a statement. "Our full attention is on the Round of 16 match against Belgium in Seattle, and we look forward to the continued support of our amazing fans."

NHL free agency begins at 11 a.m. Central on July 1 with a class lacking at the top.
The available free agents have been pared down over the last couple weeks from a perceived weak class. Alex Tuch (Washington) and Darren Raddysh (Toronto) each signed new deals with teams following trades before July 1.
Notable names in the class include goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky, defensemen John Carlson and Rasmus Andersson and forwards Alex Ovechkin, Anders Lee and Patrick Kane.
The Nashville Predators open free agency with $17.8 million in cap ***** e, according to Puckpedia. Erik Haula is the most notable Predators player headed to free agency. Nashville has shored up its forward depth with a couple trades over the 10 days, including acquiring and extending center Jack Drury.
Across the league, the most notable news might come from the trade market. Columbus defenseman Zach Werenski reportedly nixed a trade to Dallas, Sportsnet reported on June 30, by invoking the no-movement clause in his contract.

NHL free agency begins at 11 a.m. Central on July 1 with a class lacking at the top.
The available free agents have been pared down over the last couple weeks from a perceived weak class. Alex Tuch (Washington) and Darren Raddysh (Toronto) each signed new deals with teams following trades before July 1.
Notable names in the class include goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky, defensemen John Carlson and Rasmus Andersson and forwards Alex Ovechkin, Anders Lee and Patrick Kane.
The Nashville Predators open free agency with $17.8 million in cap ***** e, according to Puckpedia. Erik Haula is the most notable Predators player headed to free agency. Nashville has shored up its forward depth with a couple trades over the 10 days, including acquiring and extending center Jack Drury.
Across the league, the most notable news might come from the trade market. Columbus defenseman Zach Werenski reportedly nixed a trade to Dallas, Sportsnet reported on June 30, by invoking the no-movement clause in his contract.

President Trump on Thursday announced that he is invoking the Defense Production Act of 1950 to provide hundreds of millions of dollars in federal support for the coal industry.
The Cold War-era law gives the president broad powers to shape key industries involved in national defense and emergency preparedness. Trump’s move makes $500 million available under the DPA to coal mining firms, coal-fired electricity plants and coal exporters, part of a broader effort to boost domestic oil, gas and coal production at a time when energy prices are soaring.
Thirteen coal-fired plants will share $425 million in funding, Bloomberg reports. Companies benefiting from the funds include Duke Energy, Hallador Energy and Oklahoma Gas & Electric. Another $75 million will be used for a new coal export facility in Oakland, California.
In addition to the Defense Production Act funds, the Energy Department will provide $185 million in separate grants to build new coal-fired plants in Alaska and West Virginia, and to restart a facility in Maryland.
“Today, we’re taking historic action to bring down the price of energy and the cost of living for all Americans with the power of clean, beautiful coal,” Trump said at an event at the White House. “If you look at China, if you look at so many of the successful countries, they’re using coal.”