TikTok avoids US ban by finalizing historic Trump-backed American majority ownership dealTikTok finalizes historic deal creating majority American-owned joint venture structure, aiming to avert potential U.S. ban affecting 200 million users nationwide.

TikTok announced Thursday that it has finalized a historic deal to launch a majority American-owned joint venture, a move aimed at averting a potential U.S. ban on the popular social media app.

The deal marks a major milestone for TikTok, coming after years of legal and political battles that began in 2020, when President Donald Trump raised national security concerns about the Chinese-owned platform.

The Joint Venture LLC, built on the foundation of the TikTok U.S. Data Security (USDS) organization, will satisfy U.S. regulatory requirements established by Trump’s executive order on Sept. 25 of last year, allowing millions of American users and businesses to continue operating on the platform. 

"I am so happy to have helped in saving TikTok! It will now be owned by a group of Great American Patriots and Investors, the Biggest in the World, and will be an important Voice," Trump said in a post on Truth Social Thursday. 

TIKTOK REACHES AGREEMENTS ON NEW US JOINT VENTURE WITH CLOSING SET FOR 2026

"Today, TikTok USDS Joint Venture LLC has been established in compliance with the Executive Order signed by President Trump on September 25, 2025, now enabling more than 200 million Americans and 7.5 million businesses to continue to discover, create, and thrive as part of TikTok's vibrant global community and experience," the company added. 

The company added that TikTok’s sister apps, such as CapCut and Lemon8, will also be brought under the joint venture’s U.S. oversight.

Under the TikTok agreement, American entities will hold an 80.1% stake in the new joint venture, with the original parent company ByteDance retaining 19.9%. 

Three companies, including cloud computing giant Oracle, private equity group Silver Lake and Abu Dhabi-based MGX, will serve as managing investors, each holding a 15% stake.  

TRUMP SIGNS EXECUTIVE ORDER ALLOWING TIKTOK DEAL TO PROCEED

The venture will establish a domestic cloud environment under Oracle, through robust data privacy and cybersecurity measures, to secure U.S. user data, apps and algorithms, the company said. 

"The content recommendation algorithm will be secured in Oracle's U.S. cloud environment," the company said. 

The new entity is governed by a seven-member, majority-American board of directors, including representatives from major investment firms and technology companies.

Adam Presser has been appointed chief executive officer of the new joint venture. Other corporate representation on the board includes TikTok CEO Shou Chew, Oracle’s Kenneth Glueck, Silver Lake’s Egon Durban and MGX's David Scott.

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The Joint Venture will be designed to ensure that U.S. users retain a "global TikTok experience," allowing creators to be discovered worldwide while allowing American entities to continue managing commercial activities such as e-commerce, advertising and marketing. 

https://www.foxbusiness.com/technology/tiktok-avoids-us-ban-finalizing-historic-trump-backed-american-majority-ownership-deal

What Americans should stock up on to prepare for this weekend's massive winter stormHere are some essential supplies to stock up on as a massive winter storm is expected to affect more than 40 states and over 235 million people this weekend.

Americans are being urged to prepare as a massive winter storm is expected to stretch more than 2,000 miles across the U.S. this weekend, potentially affecting more than 235 million people in over 40 states.

The storm is forecast to bring heavy snow, sleet and freezing rain beginning Friday and lasting through Monday, raising concerns about widespread power outages, dangerous travel conditions and prolonged disruptions, according to National Weather Service Director Ken Graham.

"Prepare now," Graham told FOX Weather Thursday. "If you think about power outages, you think about the cold, you need to be prepared to have what you need for a week."

CHRISTMAS TRAVELERS LEFT STRANDED AS AIRPORTS SEE MASS FLIGHT CANCELLATIONS, DELAYS

The National Weather Service recommends stocking up on essential supplies ahead of a winter storm, including:

A YEAR AFTER HURRICANE HELENE, COMMUNITIES AND BUSINESSES ARE REBUILDING WITH RESILIENCE

Officials are also reminding the public to never run generators indoors or in enclosed spaces and to ensure carbon monoxide detectors are working properly.

"When the power goes out, a lot of people have generators. I just beg everybody, please use them correctly," Graham said. "We lose a lot of people due to improper use of generators. … Keep them far away from the house. They're fine to use, but use them properly because it could be dangerous if you don't."

The National Weather Service also recommends people keep a winter survival kit in a vehicle. 

That kit should include a phone and charger, blankets, flashlights, a first-aid kit, nonperishable food, extra clothing, cat litter or sand for traction, a shovel, ice scraper and brush, waterproof matches, a basic tool kit and paper maps.

GOOGLE, PARTNERS LAUNCH SATELLITES INTO SPACE TO DETECT FIRES

Farmers and pet owners are also encouraged to move animals indoors or to sheltered areas, stockpile extra feed and ensure access to water.

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"More than half the population of the country is going to experience winter weather," Graham said. "The sheer size of this — stretching from New Mexico all the way to New England — it's going to be a big impact for a whole lot of people."

For more information about how to prepare for a winter storm, visit the National Weather Service's website.

https://www.foxbusiness.com/lifestyle/what-americans-should-stock-up-prepare-weekends-massive-winter-storm

CEO pleads guilty in massive $380M Ponzi scheme that bankrolled luxurious lifestyleCEO Todd Burkhalter, accused of masterminding Georgia's largest Ponzi scheme, pleaded guilty to defrauding more than 2,000 investors of $380 million.

The CEO of a financial advisory empire accused of masterminding Georgia’s largest Ponzi scheme to fund a life of opulent extravagance has pleaded guilty to "shamelessly" bilking investors out of a staggering $380 million, authorities announced Wednesday.

The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Georgia said 54-year-old Todd Burkhalther, founder of Drive Planning LLC, defrauded more than 2,000 people between September 2020 and June 2024. 

He reportedly used the stolen funds to charter private jets and buy a yacht, a multimillion-dollar condo in Mexico, a lavish wardrobe and luxury vehicles like Land Rovers and an RV.

The former trusted advisor of St. Petersburg, Florida, pleaded guilty to wire fraud, according to officials. He is one of two executives, including the company’s former COO, who admitted playing a role in the yearslong Ponzi scheme, the attorney's office said.

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"Todd Burkhalter perpetrated what is likely the largest Ponzi scheme in Georgia history," U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg said. "Unbelievably, Burkhalter shamelessly continued to scam his victims even while under federal investigation. Today’s guilty plea is just the first step in holding Burkhalter accountable for the considerable harm he caused."

"Todd Burkhalter built a massive Ponzi scheme on lies, exploiting trust to steal hundreds of millions of dollars from more than 2,000 victims while funding an extravagant lifestyle," Paul Brown, special agent in charge of FBI Atlanta, said.  

According to federal investigators, Drive Planning lured ordinary people by claiming they did not need to be accredited investors to participate and encouraged them to invest money from retirement accounts, savings and lines of credit.

JUDGE CLEARS WAY FOR MINNESOTA WELFARE FRAUD RINGLEADER TO FORFEIT PORSCHE, MILLIONS HELD IN ACCOUNTS

Burkhalter then promised high returns, including a 10% return every three months from a fabricated real estate loan and a 22% annual return from tax liens, while falsely claiming that investors’ money was government-protected or fully collateralized by real estate, officials said.

To perpetuate the lies, Burkhalter reportedly created a list of imaginary or irrelevant properties with fabricated valuations to present as collateral.  

OLDER AMERICANS LOST UP TO $81.5 BILLION IN THE PAST YEAR TO FINANCIAL FRAUD, FTC REPORT SAYS

Burkhalter and Drive Planning also misrepresented the scope of their relationships with real estate developers, federal investigators said. For instance, a prominent Atlanta developer reportedly discovered that Burkhalter was using a property’s name to promote Drive Planning and subsequently sued the company.

Authorities said Burkhalter did not use investors’ money for its intended purpose. Within the first few months of marketing his real estate offerings, he allegedly used the funds to repay an earlier Drive Planning investor, cover his ex-wife’s legal fees and pay expenses related to recreational vehicles.

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If Burkhalter meets the conditions of his plea agreement, prosecutors will recommend that the judge sentence him to at least 17 years in prison.

His former colleague, David Bradford, also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud Dec. 16, 2025, officials said. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for March 17. 

https://www.foxbusiness.com/lifestyle/ceo-pleads-guilty-massive-380m-ponzi-scheme-bankrolled-luxurious-lifestyle

Christian kids app claims Google, TikTok blocked ads as Congress is pressed to act: 'It's devastating'TruPlay Games said dozens of Bible game ads were rejected by major platforms despite removing religious terms, sparking calls for hearings.

A Christian gaming creator is urging Congress to examine advertising policies at Google and TikTok after the company says its ads were repeatedly rejected despite being aimed at general audiences and family-friendly content.

The American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ) said Wednesday it had sent a letter to members of Congress on behalf of its client, TruPlay Games, calling for an investigation into how the two platforms enforce their advertising rules.

According to the ACLJ, TruPlay has faced dozens of ad rejections since 2023, including for ads that were not targeted based on religious belief.

"This is repeated behavior in the dozens," TruPlay CEO Brent Dusing told FOX Business. "We would get rejections multiple times a week."

TEXT WITH JESUS APP DRAWS THOUSANDS AS CREATOR SAYS AI CAN HELP PEOPLE EXPLORE SCRIPTURE

TruPlay Games produces Bible-based video games designed for children and families, including titles such as "King David’s Battles" and "Chirp Song: Words of Praise."

Dusing said the company’s mission is to offer families a faith-based alternative in children’s entertainment, centered on Christian values and biblical storytelling.

Dusing said TruPlay began advertising on Google in 2023 and on TikTok in January 2024. He said restrictions on Google began roughly a month after advertising started, while TikTok rejections escalated more sharply in 2025.

In its letter, the ACLJ said TruPlay’s ads were rejected under Google’s policy governing "religious belief in personalized advertising," even though the ads were directed to broad audiences such as parents and mobile game users rather than users selected based on religious belief.

The ACLJ said TruPlay modified ad language multiple times in an effort to comply with platform rules, including removing terms such as "Christian" and "Bible," but that ads continued to be rejected.

CHARLIE KIRK ASSASSINATION DRIVES JUMP IN BIBLE SALES

Examples cited by the group include ads originally labeled "Christian Games for Kids" and "Safe Bible Games for Kids," which were later revised but still flagged, according to TruPlay.

"Our ads were targeted to general audiences — families and parents — not to users based on religious belief," Dusing said.

Dusing said the loss of access to Google and TikTok advertising had a "devastating" business impact.

Dusing noted that Google and TikTok represent a substantial share of the digital advertising market for consumer-facing businesses. 

"When you lose those platforms, you lose a massive ability to reach your potential audience," he said.

He added that TruPlay has advertised successfully on Meta platforms, including Facebook, Instagram and X without encountering similar issues.

TikTok took similar enforcement action, according to the ACLJ, permanently suspending TruPlay’s advertising account after what the platform described as "repeated violations." In one instance cited in the letter, the ACLJ said TikTok rejected an advertisement that included the word "church." In another case, the group said TikTok declined ads because preview images in Apple’s App Store showed a cartoon depiction of Jesus.

In a statement to FOX Business, the ACLJ said it has yet to hear back from Congress.

GOOGLE REVEALS THE TOP TRENDING SEARCHES OF 2025

In a blog post published Wednesday, ACLJ Senior Associate Counsel Nathan Moelker said the organization is asking Congress to hold hearings and review whether current advertising policies that amount to viewpoint discrimination against faith-based businesses.

The ACLJ also pointed to broader concerns about how Big Tech applies content and advertising rules, citing a recent letter from FCC Chair Brendan Carr questioning Google’s removal of the Great American Family network from YouTube TV.

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Dusing pointed to automated content-moderation systems as a central issue, telling FOX Business that "these decisions aren’t being made by a person on the phone, they’re being made by automated systems."

In a statement to FOX Business, a Google spokesperson said, "Ads containing religious content are allowed to run on our platforms. Our policies prohibit targeting people based on their sensitive information, including their religious affiliations, and these are applied consistently regardless of their beliefs."

Google said TruPlay’s ads ran as recently as November, including ads containing religious terminology.

TikTok did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding the ACLJ’s claims or how their advertising policies are enforced when it comes to religious content.

https://www.foxbusiness.com/politics/christian-kids-app-claims-google-tiktok-blocked-ads-congress-pressed-act-its-devastating

LARRY KUDLOW: On the economy also, Mr. Trump is trying to save Europe from itselfPresident Trump has completely rejuvenated American capitalism with his supply-side prosperity program. Europe should take notes

President Trump, in his blockbuster speech yesterday, told the Davos crowd that "the USA is the economic engine of the planet. And when America booms, the entire world booms." So reminiscent of Ronald Reagan. Including Mr. Trump’s tried and true observation that economic security at home is the fountainhead of national security abroad. Again, ditto Reagan. I’ll tell you, if Ronald Reagan was the greatest president in the 20th century, right now Donald Trump looks like the greatest president in the 21st century.

That Davos crowd yesterday should have been sitting there taking copious notes on yellow legal pads, that they could go home and use to deliver some prosperity to their stagnant European countries, that haven’t grown in years and years. They’ve made every economic mistake in the book. Confiscatory taxes, regulatory strangleholds, phony climate change, and unfair trade practices. Four years into the Ukraine war, the Europeans are still buying oil and gas from their supposed arch-enemy Russia. And their extreme climate change policies nearly ended their industrial development. The most popular European economic policy today is bashing American companies, especially our tech companies through unfair trading practices, digital sales taxes, and the like.

Mr. Trump has completely rejuvenated American capitalism with his supply-side prosperity program of tax cuts, deregulation, "drill, baby, drill," and reciprocal fair trade. He may step on some toes to make a point for a year or so, on things like a 10 percent credit card interest rate, or jaw-boning defense companies, but Mr. Trump is a capitalist who believes in the incentive model of economic growth.

To quote my pal Art Laffer, if it pays more after tax, you will get more work. Or investment. Or risk taking. Or deregulating. Or putting the private sector back to work and stuffing the big government socialist model into tiny little moth balls. Mr. Trump has always believed in rewarding success, not punishing it. He knows, say, that today’s strong economic growth will be putting people back to work, building new factories, and producing more of virtually everything. And that can’t possibly be inflationary.

In fact, more production will bring inflation down. He knows that. He said it several times at Davos yesterday. And he’s made it clear that this old root-canal, no-growth, austerity model has to be scrapped and ended at the Federal Reserve with new people in charge.

Just a cursory look at the numbers released today enhanced the Trump boom. For the three quarters of  his second Presidency, the first year, last year, thus far, GDP is on a run rate of 4.4 percent and when all the other incentives, including energy, kick in this year, you could be running 5 percent, 6 percent, or 7 percent economic growth.

For some reason, people don’t want to talk about it, but inflation is coming down. The Fed’s allegedly most important indicator is the core Personal Consumption Expenditures Price Index deflator, which is now running at two tenths of a percent per month, or only 2.3 percent annually for the past three months.

Durable goods are running at 2 percent. And the obsessively feared tariff inflation has never materialized, even with modest Trumpian 15 percent tariffs that have already significantly reduced our trade deficit. Adding even more to economic growth.

You know, if the Europeans had any common sense, they would follow Mr. Trump’s economic lead, and bring prosperity to their people, because the truth is, the president is trying to save them from themselves.

https://www.foxbusiness.com/politics/larry-kudlow-economy-also-mr-trump-trying-save-europe-from-itself

Popular cleaning product recalled over bacterial contamination fearsSome Angry Orange cleaning products recalled due to potentially harmful bacteria that poses risks to people with weakened immune systems and lung conditions.

Roughly 1.5 million bottles of a popular household cleaning product sold nationwide are being pulled from shelves over concerns they may be contaminated with potentially harmful bacteria, federal regulators say.

Boston-based company Thrasio has issued a recall of its Angry Orange Enzyme Stain Removers after determining the products could contain Pseudomonas aeruginosa, according to a notice released Thursday by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).

Pseudomonas aeruginosa can pose serious health risks to people with weakened immune systems, lung conditions or external medical devices, the CPSC warned.

"The bacteria can enter the body if inhaled, through the eyes, or through a break in the skin," the CPSC stated. "People with healthy immune systems are usually not affected by bacteria."

FORD RECALLS 116,000 VEHICLES OVER DANGEROUS HEATER FIRE RISK AFTER 12 INCIDENT REPORTS

The recall, with the number 26-201, covers Angry Orange Enzyme Stain Removers in Fresh Clean Scent and Orange Twist Scent sold in 24-ounce, 32-ounce and one-gallon sizes.

The bottles are orange and white, with "Angry Orange" and "Stain & Odor Remover" clearly printed on the front.

Some recalled items were also sold as part of a bundle with a UV light spray attachment, officials said.

13K POUNDS OF READY-TO-EAT GRILLED CHICKEN BREASTS RECALLED OVER POSSIBLE LISTERIA CONTAMINATION

The recalled stain removers were manufactured in the U.S. and sold between March 2019 and December 2025 for prices ranging from $4 to $60.

They were available at major retailers nationwide, including Walmart, Target, The Home Depot, Meijer, Staples and TJ Maxx. 

The products were also sold online through Amazon, Walmart, Target, AngryOrange.com and Chewy.com, according to the CPSC.

In addition to the U.S. recall, roughly 43,700 bottles were sold in Canada, the CPSC said.

No injuries or illnesses have been reported in connection with the recall so far.

RECALLED TUNA CANS MISTAKENLY SHIPPED ACROSS 9 STATES DESPITE 'POTENTIALLY FATAL' BOTULISM WARNING

Consumers are urged to immediately stop using the recalled products and contact Thrasio to receive a full refund. They are also urged to dispose of the product in its original container.

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"Do not empty the product prior to disposal. Do not attempt to recycle the product bottle," the CPSC said.

Angry Orange did not immediately respond to FOX Business' request for comment.

https://www.foxbusiness.com/lifestyle/popular-cleaning-product-recalled-over-bacterial-contamination-fears

Elon Musk says Tesla will likely sell humanoid robots by end of next yearElon Musk said Tesla's Optimus humanoid robots could be available for public purchase by the end of 2027, saying the robots should be reliable, safe and capable of a range of functions.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk said Thursday the company is planning to make its Optimus robots available for sale to the public by the end of 2027.

Musk spoke at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, and was asked during a discussion with BlackRock CEO and interim WEF co-chair Larry Fink about when Tesla's Optimus robots will be deployed widely in manufacturing settings.

"Humanoid robotics will advance very quickly. We do have some of the Tesla Optimus robots doing simple tasks in the factory," Musk said. "Probably later this year, by the end of this year, I think they'll be doing more complex tasks and still deployed in an industrial environment."

"By the end of next year, I think we'll be selling humanoid robots to the public. That's when we're confident that it's very high reliability, very high safety, and the range of functionality is also very high. You can basically ask it to do anything you'd like," Musk said.

ELON MUSK'S NET WORTH SOARS, NOW MORE THAN DOUBLE HIS CLOSEST RIVAL'S AS TESLA STOCK CONTINUES TO SURGE

Musk has said that humanoid robots will eventually outnumber humans, explaining that "I think everyone on earth is going to have one and want one."

"Who wouldn't want a robot to, assuming it's very safe, watch over your kids, take care of your pets. If you have elderly parents – a lot of friends of mine have said that for elderly parents, it's very difficult to take care of them," Musk said, noting that elder care can be costly to find due to there being relatively fewer younger workers.

ELON MUSK'S TESLA FACES FRESH CRITICISM FROM 'BIG SHORT' INVESTOR MICHAEL BURRY

On Tuesday, Musk responded to a post on his X social media platform about the production of Cybercab and noted that there remain challenges in ramping up production for Tesla's upcoming robotaxi offering as well as for its Optimus robots.

Musk said it's an "important caveat that initial production is always very slow and follows an S-curve. The speed of the production ramp is inversely proportionate to how many new parts and steps there are." 

"For Cybercab and Optimus, almost everything is new, so the early production rate will be agonizingly slow, but eventually end up being insanely fast," the Tesla CEO said.

TESLA SHAREHOLDERS APPROVE MUSK'S $1T PAY PACKAGE

Industry experts and executives have said that scaling humanoid robots is technically complex, in part because of a lack of data needed to train the AI models that underpin robot behavior.

"For Optimus, what they (the market) need is credible evidence of scalable manufacturing, a regulatory path, and unit economists if possible," said Mahoney Asset Management CEO Ken Mahoney, whose firm is a Tesla shareholder.

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Reuters contributed to this report.

https://www.foxbusiness.com/economy/elon-musk-says-tesla-likely-sell-humanoid-robots-end-next-year

Dairy Queen launching new menu items to take on rivalsDairy Queen to launch four new drinks in February with DQ Sparklers and DQ Coolers featuring lemonade and pineapple lemonade with Tajin flavors.

Dairy Queen is expanding its beverage menu with four new drinks set to roll out next month at participating locations across the U.S.

Starting in February, the fast-food chain will introduce two new beverage platforms – DQ Sparklers and DQ Coolers – each offered in lemonade and pineapple lemonade with Tajin flavors, according to a company spokesperson.

The DQ Sparklers are made with sparkling water and served over ice, offering a "light and refreshing option," the spokesperson said.

METS' FRANCISCO LINDOR PARTNERS WITH DAIRY QUEEN FOR 'MIRACLE TREAT DAY' IMPACTING CHILDREN'S HOSPITALS

Meanwhile, the DQ Coolers blend Dairy Queen’s soft serve with its Misty Slush to create a "creamy" and "refreshing" drink, the spokesperson added.

MCDONALD’S BETS BIG ON HOT HONEY AND PROTEIN TO BRING IN CUSTOMERS

The new drinks will join Dairy Queen’s existing beverage lineup, which includes its Misty Freeze and Misty Slush beverages, Orange Julius drinks, smoothies, milkshakes, Moolattés, soft drinks and more.

FAST-FOOD CHAINS USE PSYCHOLOGY TRICK TO MAKE YOU SPEND MORE MONEY ON THEIR MENU ITEMS: REPORT

Dairy Queen, which operates more than 7,800 locations across 20 countries, also recently announced seasonal offerings tied to Valentine’s Day.

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Beginning Jan. 26, the chain will bring back its Red Velvet Cake Blizzard Treat, along with Valentine’s Cupcake deals. 

The blizzard blends red velvet cake pieces, cream cheese icing and Dairy Queen’s signature soft serve.

https://www.foxbusiness.com/lifestyle/dairy-queen-launching-new-menu-items-take-rivals

Mortgage rates tick higher but remain near 3-year lowThe average rate on a 30-year fixed mortgage rose this week to 6.09% according to the latest Freddie Mac data released on Thursday. That is up from last week's reading of 6.06%.

Mortgage rates ticked higher this week but remain the lowest in three years, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday.

Freddie Mac's latest Primary Mortgage Market Survey, released Thursday, showed the average rate on the benchmark 30-year fixed mortgage rose to 6.09% from last week's reading of 6.06%. 

The average rate on a 30-year loan was 6.96% a year ago.

HOME DELISTINGS SURGE AS SELLERS STRUGGLE TO GET THEIR PRICE

"With the economy improving and the average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage nearly a percentage point lower than last year, more homebuyers are entering the market," said Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s Chief Economist. "Buyers always should shop around for the best rate, as multiple quotes can potentially save them thousands."

THESE 10 MARKETS MAY SEE THE BIGGEST HOMEBUYING SURGE AS MORTGAGE RATES FALL

Mortgage rates are affected by several factors, including the Federal Reserve and geopolitics. Though mortgage rates are not directly affected by the Fed's interest rate decision, they closely track the 10-year Treasury yield. The 10-year yield hovered around 4.25% as of Thursday afternoon.

Meanwhile, the average rate on a 15-year fixed mortgage rose to 5.44% from last week's reading of 5.38%.

THE MARKETS WHERE HOMEBUYERS MAY FINALLY GET SOME RELIEF IN 2026, REALTOR.COM SAYS

Realtor.com senior economist Anthony Smith said recent policy decisions have contributed to recent volatility, including President Donald Trump's announcement that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac would buy $200 billion in mortgage-backed securities.

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"The announcement contributed to the recent rate declines, although uncertainty around implementation may limit the impact," Smith said. "A separate executive order outlined a framework to restrict institutional investor participation in housing markets, but with key enforcement details still undefined, any near-term effects are likely to be limited and concentrated in select metros."

https://www.foxbusiness.com/economy/mortgage-rates-tick-higher-remain-near-3-year-low

Blue Origin launches 38th New Shepard flight into spaceBlue Origin completed its 38th New Shepard flight into space on Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, launching from Van Horn, Texas and carrying six passengers.

Blue Origin successfully launched its 38th New Shepard flight into space on Thursday. 

The flight took off from West Texas before landing safely roughly 10 minutes later. 

"We just completed our 38th flight of the New Shepard program and the first of 2026," Blue Origin wrote on its website. "New Shepard has now flown 98 humans (92 individuals) into space."

Blue Origin said the crew of New Shepard Mission NS-38 includes Tim Drexler, a helicopter and airline pilot and former CEO of Ace Asphalt; Linda Edwards, a retired board-certified obstetrician/gynecologist and two-time breast cancer survivor; Alain Fernandez, an international real estate developer; Alberto Gutiérrez, an entrepreneur and founder of Civitatis, a travel tour and activities platform; Jim Hendren, a retired U.S. Air Force colonel and former F-15 fighter pilot; and Laura Stiles, the director for the New Shepard Launch Operations and Training organization. 

BLUE ORIGIN LAUNCHES KATY PERRY, ALL-FEMALE CREW INTO SPACE, COMPLETES SAFE LANDING

"As we enter 2026, we're focused on continuing to deliver transformational experiences for our customers through the proven capability and reliability of New Shepard," said Phil Joyce, the senior vice president of New Shepard. "We are grateful for our astronaut customers who put their trust in our team to bring this experience into reality." 

Blue Origin said New Shepard is named after Alan Shepard, who was the first American in space. The program has completed 37 missions and last launched Dec. 20, 2025. 

US PLANS TO BUILD NUCLEAR REACTOR ON THE MOON BY 2030, NASA SAYS

"New Shepard is Blue Origin’s fully reusable, suborbital rocket system built for human flight from the beginning. During the 11-minute journey, astronauts soar past the Kármán line (100 km/62 miles), the internationally recognized boundary of space, experiencing several minutes of weightlessness and witnessing life-changing views of Earth. The vehicle is fully autonomous — there are no pilots," according to Blue Origin. 

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Blue Origin’s foundation Club for the Future also said, "Today's NS-38 mission will carry more than 20,000 postcards to space, including personal messages that represent who we are, where we come from, and our dreams for the future." 

https://www.foxbusiness.com/technology/blue-origin-launches-38th-new-shepard-flight-space

Amazon plans to build its largest-ever retail storeAmazon plans to open its largest retail store in Chicago suburbs. The massive Orland Park location will combine shopping with fulfillment operations.

E-commerce giant Amazon is trying to gain an edge over its big-box rivals, with plans to open its largest-ever retail store on a 35-acre plot sitting in the Chicago suburbs. 

The company is aiming to build a sprawling 230,000-square-foot property in Orland Park, which could open as soon as next year following proper approvals.

Half of the store would sell a combination of groceries, general merchandise and prepared food, while the other half would be used for fulfillment of online and in-store orders.

COSTCO BORROWS TECH UPGRADE FROM COMPETITOR TO BOOST MEMBER EXPERIENCE

The store will be separate from the fulfillment section. Customers picking up online orders and third-party delivery drivers will have separate entrances from the retail store. Online grocery orders will also be assembled in the back-of-house space, rather than workers picking out items in the same aisles as in-store shoppers, Katie Jahnke Dale, a lawyer representing Amazon, told Orland Park officials at a public meeting, according to The Wall Street Journal. 

While the company has been dominating the e-commerce space, it's still trying to capture the share of shoppers who are going in-store. According to the latest Census Bureau data, more than 80% of U.S. retail sales still occur in-store.

Town officials announced the proposed project in January, with Orland Park Mayor Jim Dodge saying that Amazon's interest in the area "demonstrates that Orland Park continues to be viewed as a premier destination for major commercial investment." 

COSTCO QUIETLY BOOSTS GAS REWARDS FOR BRANDED CREDIT CARD HOLDERS TO 5% CASH BACK

"When a global retailer of this scale is considering investment in Orland Park, it sends a strong signal about the vitality of our community and the strategic importance of this corridor," Dodge said.

Dodge said projects like this have the potential to generate "substantial sales tax revenue," which would directly benefit residents. 

COSTCO TO OPEN NEW WAREHOUSE UNDER AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT IN SOUTH LOS ANGELES

Orland Park’s Board of Trustees voted to approve the project this week. The village is not providing any financial incentives to Amazon as part of the project, according to a news release.

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Amazon is reportedly in the process of applying for permits to demolish a closed restaurant on the property and start construction on the store.

https://www.foxbusiness.com/retail/amazon-plans-build-its-largest-ever-retail-store

US, China agree to spin off TikTok's US operation, White House official confirmsTikTok finalized a deal that will spin-off its U.S. operations with the sign off of the Trump administration and the Chinese government as the social media app faced a U.S. ban.

The U.S. and China on Thursday signed off on a TikTok U.S. spin-off deal that will allow the short-form video app to continue to operate in the U.S. by addressing concerns about its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, a White House official confirmed to FOX Business.

The new TikTok U.S. joint venture, featuring a mostly American investor group led by Oracle and Silver Lake, was revealed last month when TikTok CEO Shou Chew told employees in an internal memo that the company had signed agreements to create the new entity. 

He said in the memo that the new entity would address U.S. lawmakers' concerns about the Chinese government's ability to use its influence over ByteDance to harness the platform for propaganda or to access the data of the platform's 170 million American users.

Under the terms of the agreement, ByteDance will have a nearly 20% stake in the new U.S. entity, while 15% stakes in the venture will go to Oracle, Silver Lake and MGX. The new entity is expected to be governed by a board with a majority of its directors from the U.S.

TRUMP SIGNS EXECUTIVE ORDER ALLOWING TIKTOK DEAL TO PROCEED

The deal's closing date of Jan. 22 was set when President Donald Trump signed an executive order in September that provided a 120-day delay in enforcing a 2024 law signed by then-President Joe Biden that required ByteDance to divest TikTok's U.S. business or face a ban in the country. 

The bipartisan law – known as the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act – bans social media apps linked to adversarial foreign governments, such as China, from being available in U.S. app stores. 

The law survived a Supreme Court challenge and took effect in January 2025, though Trump signed multiple extensions delaying its implementation to pursue a deal.

FROM BAN TO EMBRACE: TRUMP'S EVOLUTION ON TIKTOK AND WHAT COMES NEXT

At an event marking Trump's executive order in September, Vice President JD Vance said that TikTok's U.S. business will be valued at around $14 billion in the deal, adding that "the most important thing is that it does protect Americans' data security and ensures TikTok is still accessible."

Vance added that the deal ensures "that the American entity and American investors will actually control the algorithm" and that will prevent it from being used to disseminate foreign governments' propaganda.

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The vice president also noted that the U.S. entity having control over the algorithm was important for fulfilling the national security requirements under the law.

https://www.foxbusiness.com/technology/us-china-agree-spin-off-tiktoks-us-operation-white-house-official-confirms

Capital One is buying startup Brex for $5.15 billion in credit card firm's latest dealCapital One's acquisition of Brex is the latest deal under Rich Fairbank, a rare founder-CEO of a major U.S. bank, after its Discover Financial deal last year.{}

Capital One's acquisition of Brex is the latest deal under Rich Fairbank, a rare founder-CEO of a major U.S. bank, after its Discover Financial deal last year.https://www.cnbc.com/2026/01/22/capital-one-is-buying-startup-brex-for-5point15-billion-in-credit-card-firms-latest-deal.html

One airline soars above the rest in 2025 rankings while two major carriers crash to bottomMajor airlines see a shakeup as Delta drops from first place while American and Frontier tie for dead last due to reliability and "outside issues" while passengers paid the price.

Despite another year of flight delays, cancellations and passenger complaints, no U.S. airline truly soared in 2025, though one carrier stood out as the industry’s top performer, while two tied for the lowest rankings.

On Thursday, The Wall Street Journal released its annual ranking of the best and worst airlines. While some industry gains were spotlighted, overall performance did not improve year over year, even with higher fares and major airline investments.

By a wide margin, Southwest Airlines soared above its competitors to take the top spot. It marks the first time the carrier ranked No. 1 since 2020, ending Delta’s four-year winning streak.

RYANAIR CEO FIRES BACK AFTER MUSK FLOATS BUYING EUROPE'S LARGEST AIRLINE

According to the Journal, Southwest had the fewest customer complaints and tarmac delays, with a cancellation rate of just 0.84%. Its lowest score was for baggage handling.

The airline made headlines in recent years for cutting its workforce by 15% and starting to charge fees on checked bags.

Allegiant Air placed second, earning praise as a strong performer despite being a low-cost carrier.

The airline excelled in three areas — posting the lowest cancellation rate at 0.55%, the fewest lost bags and the fewest involuntary passenger bumps. However, when Allegiant flights are delayed, those delays tend to last longer than the industry average.

Delta Air Lines came in third, slipping from its No. 1 position over the past four years. The airline told the Journal it plans to reclaim the top spot in 2026, saying, "Delta people set the bar high for airline performance as part of our drive for continuous improvement."

Although Delta led the industry in on-time arrivals, the Journal noted that its 2024 summer system outage that caused widespread flight disruptions weighed heavily on its 2025 performance. The airline also saw increases in delays, cancellations and complaints filed with the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Alaska Airlines was recognized as a steady, reliable performer, though well behind the top three. There was a noticeable gap between Alaska and the airlines that ranked below it.

While it didn’t lead in any major category, Alaska avoided serious operational breakdowns in 2025. The carrier is expected to integrate Hawaiian Airlines data following its planned merger in 2026.

Despite its reputation for no-frills service and ongoing financial struggles, Spirit Airlines saw the biggest year-over-year improvement.

It cut its cancellation rate to 1.42%, down from its 2024 high, and jumped to fourth place in on-time arrivals, showing operational gains even as it faced bankruptcy proceedings. 

United Airlines ranked sixth, largely because of its poor performance in baggage handling. The carrier’s mishandled bag rate was 7.07 per 1,000 — well above the industry average — and its tracking technology failed to deliver better results.

JetBlue Airways ranked near the bottom but avoided the last-place spot. It performed relatively well in baggage handling — second only to Allegiant — but struggled with reliability and flight delays.

Travelers beware, as American Airlines and Frontier tied for dead last in the Journal’s rankings. Both companies wrestled with reliability and "outside issues" while passengers paid the price.

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American had the highest cancellation rate of all major airlines at 2.2% and rarely ranked higher than sixth in any category. The company blamed weather and hub disruptions for its poor performance. Also, in January of last year, one of its regional jets collided with an Army helicopter in D.C., killing 67 people.

Frontier ranked last in four of seven categories and finds itself in the bottom spot for the second year in a row. The company’s bid to acquire Spirit was rejected early in the year, and its CEO, Barry Biffle, suddenly departed Frontier in December.

READ MORE FROM FOX BUSINESS

https://www.foxbusiness.com/lifestyle/one-airline-soars-above-rest-2025-rankings-while-two-major-carriers-crash-bottom

McDonald’s bets big on hot honey and protein to bring in customersMcDonald's launches hot honey sauce and protein-packed sandwiches Jan. 27, combining nostalgia and technology strategies to boost traffic amid competition.

Fast-food giant McDonald's is adding even more items to its menu as it continues efforts to drum up traffic. 

McDonald’s is debuting its own version of hot honey sauce, which will be available at participating locations starting Jan. 27 for a limited time. The company is also adding a range of protein-focused sandwiches to its menu, including the Hot Honey Sausage Egg Biscuit, which contains 17 grams of protein, as it looks to align with growing consumer demand for protein-packed foods.

It will also launch the Bacon Hot Honey McCrispy Sandwich, the Hot Honey McCrispy Sandwich, both of which contain its signature McCrispy filet, and a Hot Honey Snack Wrap, which contains the McCrispy strip, and Hot Honey Sauce Dip Cup.

MCDONALD’S VALUE MEAL RETURN SPARKS INDUSTRYWIDE DISCOUNT BATTLE

The latest menu additions come shortly after McDonald’s rolled out a broader strategy that will combine nostalgia, technology and loyalty-focused initiatives as it adapts to shifting consumer habits. The fast-food giant has emphasized value leadership and consistency as it looks to keep customers coming back amid ongoing economic pressure.

McDonald's value strategy has helped intensify competition across the fast-food industry, with chains ramping up value offerings in response to McDonald’s renewed push to reignite traffic among cost-conscious consumers.

MCDONALD'S BRINGS BACK EXTRA VALUE MEALS TO LURE BUDGET-CONSCIOUS CUSTOMERS

In September, McDonald's brought back its Extra Value Meals, offering customers eight meal bundles for breakfast, lunch and dinner, saving customers 15% more than if they bought items separately. Rivals quickly followed suit with discounts of their own, especially during the mornings.  

MCDONALD'S TO SLASH COMBO MEAL PRICES TO WIN BACK BUDGET-CONSCIOUS SHOPPERS

"The restaurant industry is responding to what is effectively a period of some of the lowest measures of consumer sentiment in the last 50 years, and during these times, consumers want to feel like they're getting the best value for their money," Mark Wasilefsky, head of restaurant and franchise finance at TD Bank, told FOX Business.

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With McDonald's recent lean on value, "most scaled restaurants are working very hard with their existing menus and ingredients along with their back-office finance teams to derive wholesome, satisfying and substantive offerings at competitive prices to both retain existing clients and drive new customers," Wasilefsky said.

https://www.foxbusiness.com/lifestyle/mcdonalds-bets-big-hot-honey-protein-bring-customers

Paramount is betting European regulators won't approve WBD-Netflix. Here's how it could play outParamount is counting on European regulatory backlash to push the WBD deal away from Netflix.{}

Paramount is counting on European regulatory backlash to push the WBD deal away from Netflix.https://www.cnbc.com/2026/01/22/paramount-wbd-netflix-european-regulators.html

Lowe's bets on kids, creators and Gen Z as Americans delay homebuyingThe retailer is trying to attract more store and website visits as the U.S. housing market remains sluggish and customers postpone projects.{}

The retailer is trying to attract more store and website visits as the U.S. housing market remains sluggish and customers postpone projects.https://www.cnbc.com/2026/01/22/lowes-offers-kids-events-loyalty-program-as-americans-buy-homes-later.html

Budget flights hang in balance as bankrupt Spirit Airlines turns to private equity for lifeline: reportSpirit Airlines may escape bankruptcy through potential Castlelake takeover talks, offering hope for the struggling budget carrier's survival.

Beleaguered carrier Spirit Airlines may get a lifeline out of bankruptcy.

The low-budget carrier is in talks with Castlelake, a global alternative investment firm with approximately $33 billion in assets under management, about a potential takeover, according to CNBC.

The airline has long struggled to compete with rival carriers that offer various levels of service and fly to more destinations. Its financial situation became so perilous that the airline was forced into bankruptcy twice in one year. In August, it said it had entered the Chapter 11 process after failing to complete a reorganization less than a year earlier.

JETBLUE, SPIRIT AGREE TO TERMINATE MERGER OVER REGULATORY ISSUES

FOX Business reached out to Spirit Airlines and Castlelake for comment. 

The airline’s CEO, Dave Davis, wrote in an open letter to customers that its second restructuring process would "ensure the long-term success of our company so we can continue to serve our Guests well into the future."

Spirit added that "virtually every major airline has used these tools to improve their businesses and position them for long-term success."

SPIRIT AIRLINES PLANS TO SELL PLANES, CUT JOBS

However, Spirit warned in a Securities and Exchange Commission filing in early August that it might not survive another year. The airline said in the filing that it continues to be affected by "adverse market conditions," including continued weak demand for domestic leisure travel in the second quarter of 2025. The persisting problems created a "challenging pricing environment," the airline said. 

The carrier also projected that it will continue to "experience challenges and uncertainties" in its operations for the remainder of fiscal year 2025. 

The airline first filed for bankruptcy in November 2024 after two failed mergers over the previous two years with Frontier and JetBlue. 

The Justice Department argued at the time that blocking JetBlue's acquisition of Spirit violated antitrust law and would've hurt consumers by leaving them with fewer choices among budget air carriers and higher air fares.

Citadel co-founder Ken Griffin on Wednesday blamed the Biden administration for the rejected JetBlue merger and its impact on his firm.

"We happened to be a creditor of Spirit. Their merger with JetBlue was stopped. Spirit's in bankruptcy today," Griffin said at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

SPIRIT AIRLINES WARNS IT MAY NOT SURVIVE ANOTHER YEAR 

The no-frills airline has been attempting to rebrand itself as more premium as customer preferences have shifted away from low-cost, but it has struggled with budget cuts and less demand created by uncertainty in the economy.

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During both restructurings, the airline assured customers it would continue to operate normally throughout the bankruptcy process, and passengers could use tickets, credits and loyalty points on flights. 

https://www.foxbusiness.com/lifestyle/budget-flights-hang-balance-bankrupt-spirit-airlines-turns-private-equity-lifeline

Trump sues JPMorgan Chase and CEO Jamie Dimon for $5B over alleged 'political' debankingFIRST ON FOX: President Donald Trump is suing JPMorgan Chase and its CEO Jamie Dimon in a $5 billion lawsuit filed Thursday, accusing the financial institution of debanking him for political reasons.

FIRST ON FOX: President Donald Trump is suing JPMorgan Chase and its CEO Jamie Dimon in a $5 billion lawsuit filed Thursday, accusing the financial institution of debanking him for political reasons.

The president’s attorney, Alejandro Brito, filed the lawsuit Thursday morning in Florida state court in Miami on behalf of the president and several of his hospitality companies.

Brito quotes JPMorgan’s code of conduct, which states that the bank operates "with the highest level of integrity and ethical conduct." 

TRUMP SAYS HE WILL SUE JPMORGAN CHASE OVER ‘INCORRECT’ POST-JAN 6 DEBANKING

"We set high expectations and hold ourselves accountable. We do the right thing—not necessarily the easy or expedient thing. We abide by the letter and spirit of the laws and regulations everywhere we do business and have zero tolerance for unethical behavior," the lawsuit states, citing the bank’s code of conduct.

"Despite claiming to hold these principles dear, JPMC violated them by unilaterally—and without warning or remedy—terminating several of Plaintiff’s bank accounts," the lawsuit claims. 

A JPMorgan Chase spokesperson told Fox News Digital Thursday, "While we regret President Trump has sued us, we believe the suit has no merit. We respect the President’s right to sue us and our right to defend ourselves - that’s what courts are for. 

"JPMC does not close accounts for political or religious reasons," she continued, "We do close accounts because they create legal or regulatory risk for the company. We regret having to do so but often rules and regulatory expectations lead us to do so.  We have been asking both this administration and prior administrations to change the rules and regulations that put us in this position, and we support the Administration's efforts to prevent the weaponization of the banking sector." 

Trump had been a customer of JPMorgan for decades, and he and his affiliated entities "have transacted hundreds of millions of dollars" through JPMorgan Chase, according to the lawsuit. 

Trump’s lawyer said Feb. 19, 2021, was the day that "forever altered the dynamic of the parties’ relationship," when the bank, allegedly "without warning or provocation," notified Trump and his entities that several bank accounts they controlled, were beneficiaries of, and actively used to transact "would be closed just two months later, on April 19, 2021."

"JPMC did not provide plaintiffs with any recourse, remedy, or alternative—its decision was final and unequivocal," the lawsuit claims. 

Trump’s attorney said they are "confident that JPMC’s unilateral decision came about as a result of political and social motivations, and JPMC’s unsubstantiated, ‘woke’ beliefs that it needed to distance itself from President Trump and his conservative political views."

"In essence, JPMC debanked plaintiff’s accounts because it believed that the political tide at the moment favored doing so," the lawsuit states. "In addition to the considerable financial and reputational harm that Plaintiffs and their affiliated entities suffered, JPMC’s reckless decision is leading a growing trend by financial institutions in the United States of America to cut off a consumer’s access to banking services if their political views contradict with those of the financial institution."

Trump’s attorney alleged that, "JPMC’s conduct, in violation of its code of conduct and Dimon’s lofty assertions, is a key indicator of a systemic, subversive industry practice that aims to coerce the public to shift and re-align their political views."

The lawsuit goes on to allege that JPMorgan Chase and Dimon have "unlawfully and unjustifiably published some or all of their names, including the names of President Trump, the Trump Organization with its affiliated entities, and the Trump family, on a blacklist."

TRUMP ORGANIZATION, ERIC TRUMP SUE CAPITAL ONE FOR 'UNJUSTIFIABLE' 2021 DEBANKING BASED ON 'WOKE' BELIEFS

The blacklist, according to the lawsuit, allegedly is accessible by federally regulated banks and is comprised of individuals and entities that have a history of malfeasant acts and are otherwise noncompliant with applicable banking rules and regulations.

"Given that Plaintiffs have always complied with all applicable banking rules and regulations and their wealth management accounts were in good standing, JPMC’s publication of President Trump, the other Plaintiffs, the Trump Organization and its affiliated entities, and/or the Trump family’s names on this blacklist, is an intentional and malicious falsehood," the lawsuit states, alleging that JPMorgan Chase engaged in "an unfair and deceptive trade practice" by directing the publication of the names to the list, noting that the bank "had no legitimate basis to do so and knew that doing so would induce, and did in fact induce, other banking institutions not to deal with them." 

Trump is accusing JPMorgan Chase and Dimon of trade libel, violating Florida’s unfair and deceptive trade practices act, declaratory relief, and breach of implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing.

Trump’s team is demanding a jury trial.

The president teased the lawsuit in a Truth Social post over the weekend.

"I’ll be suing JPMorgan Chase over the next two weeks for incorrectly and inappropriately DEBANKING me after the January 6th Protest, a protest that turned out to be correct for those doing the protesting," Trump said in a Truth Social post. "The Election was RIGGED!"

Trump has publicly said in interviews that JPMorgan Chase gave him a deadline, reportedly 20 days, to move hundreds of millions of dollars and effectively severed his accounts after Jan. 6, 2021. He also said Bank of America later refused to accept large deposits when he attempted to bank elsewhere.

In a previous statement to Fox, JPMorgan Chase spokesperson Trish Wexler said, "Serving more than 80 million Americans is our privilege, and we agree that no one’s account should ever be closed because of political or religious beliefs. We appreciate that this administration has moved to address political debanking, and we support those efforts."

Dimon in 2025 denied that the bank debanks conservatives or customers based on political views.

"We don't debank people because of political or religious affiliations," Dimon said on Capitol Hill Feb. 13, 2025. "But there are a lot of things that can be fixed. We should fix them. The rules and requirements are so onerous, and it does cause people to be debanked in my opinion, should not be debated."

When asked whether banking regulators were primarily to blame for debanking concerns, Dimon replied, "Pretty much, yeah."

Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan, who also has faced scrutiny from the White House over debanking allegations, offered a similar response in a separate interview that day.        

"We have 70 million customers, and we're happy to serve anyone," Moynihan said.

When pressed on Trump’s allegations, Moynihan declined to elaborate in 2025, saying, "You'd have to talk to him about that, thanks."

In 2025, the Trump Organization sued Capital One after it allegedly "unjustifiably" terminated more than 300 of the company’s bank accounts and accounts belonging to numerous Trump family members in 2021. 

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ON FOX BUSINESS    

On March 8, 2021, Capital One allegedly notified Trump and the plaintiffs that hundreds of bank accounts that they controlled, were beneficiaries of and actively used would be closed June 7, 2021. According to the lawsuit, Capital One did not provide Trump and the plaintiffs with any "recourse, remedy, or alternative — its decision was final." 

The accounts affiliated with the Trump Organization held millions of dollars belonging to them and their affiliated entities. 

At the time, a Capital One spokesperson told Fox News Digital that: "Capital One has not and does not close customer accounts for political reasons."

https://www.foxbusiness.com/politics/trump-sues-jpmorgan-chase-ceo-jamie-dimon-5b-over-alleged-political-debanking

Flex office firm Industrious is seeing major growth. Here's what's driving itIn 2025, Industrious increased its global footprint by 58%, now with more than 250 units open in over 100 cities.{}

In 2025, Industrious increased its global footprint by 58%, now with more than 250 units open in over 100 cities.https://www.cnbc.com/2026/01/22/flex-office-firm-industrious-major-growth.html

GM to move production of China-built Buick SUV to U.S. plantGeneral Motors plans to move production of a Buick compact SUV from China to the U.S. for domestic sales, the company confirmed Thursday.{}

General Motors plans to move production of a Buick compact SUV from China to the U.S. for domestic sales, the company confirmed Thursday.https://www.cnbc.com/2026/01/22/gm-buick-compact-suv-china-fairfax.html

Disgraced Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes asks Trump to commute sentenceElizabeth Holmes seeks Trump commutation of 11-year fraud sentence. The Theranos founder's clemency petition is pending review after her conviction.

Disgraced Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes has filed a request asking President Donald Trump to commute her federal prison sentence, according to the U.S. Justice Department’s Office of the Pardon Attorney.

The commutation request was filed in 2025 and is currently listed as pending, meaning the clemency case has been opened, and the petition is under review.

The Office of the Pardon Attorney did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.

FORMER WORLD LEADER THANKS TRUMP FOR PARDON: 'YOU CHANGED MY LIFE'

Holmes was convicted in 2022 of one count of conspiracy to commit fraud on investors and three counts of committing fraud on individual investors, which involved wire transfers totaling more than $140 million.

She was sentenced to 11 years in federal prison and is scheduled for release in December 2031.

ELIZABETH HOLMES HAD MEDIA BUZZ, NOT A BUSINESS. THESE ARE HER UNINDICTED CO-CONSPIRATORS

"Her sentence reflects the audacity of her massive fraud and the staggering damage she caused," said U.S. Attorney Stephanie Hinds at the time.

Holmes founded Theranos in 2003 and falsely claimed the company had developed a revolutionary fingerstick blood-testing device, despite knowing the technology did not work reliably.

Prosecutors said she lived a lavish lifestyle, including living in a $15 million mansion and traveling in a Theranos-paid private jet.

CONVICTED CEO FRAUDSTER ELIZABETH HOLMES SAYS LIFE IN LOCKUP IS ‘HELL’ IN FIRST PRISON INTERVIEW

She was named by Time as one of the "100 Most Influential People" in 2015 and graced the covers of Fortune, Forbes, Inc. and Glamour.

Holmes' request adds to a growing list of clemency petitions under review. As of Jan. 21, Trump has issued 92 pardons and 23 commutations, according to the Office of the Pardon Attorney's website.

https://www.foxbusiness.com/politics/disgraced-theranos-founder-elizabeth-holmes-asks-trump-commute-sentence

Fed's favored inflation gauge shows consumer prices remained elevated in NovemberThe Commerce Department's delayed November PCE inflation report showed that inflation remained well above the Federal Reserve's 2% target rate.

The Federal Reserve's preferred inflation gauge showed that consumer prices remained elevated in November, ahead of the central bank's policy meeting next week.

The Commerce Department on Thursday reported that the personal consumption expenditures (PCE) index rose 0.2% in November on a monthly basis and is up 2.8% from last year. While the monthly figure was in line with the estimate of LSEG economists, the annual inflation reading was slightly hotter than the 2.7% economists anticipated.

Core PCE, which excludes volatile measurements of food and energy prices, was up 0.2% on a monthly basis and 2.8% year over year. Both of those figures were in line with the expectations of economists polled by LSEG.

US ECONOMY GREW AT FASTEST PACE IN 2 YEARS IN THIRD QUARTER, FUELED BY CONSUMER SPENDING

The report also included delayed PCE inflation data from October, which showed that both headline PCE and core PCE inflation were up 2.7% from a year ago in October.

Federal Reserve policymakers are focusing on the PCE headline figure as they try to bring inflation back to their long-run target of 2%, though they view core data as a better indicator of inflation. Headline PCE was in the 2.7% to 2.8% range from August through November, while core PCE was between 2.7% and 2.9% from May through November.

AMERICANS' PAYCHECKS GROW STRONGER AS MAIN STREET SHOWS NEW ECONOMIC STRENGTH

Prices for goods rose 1.4% in November and that growth rate has been little changed since September, when the annual increase jumped to that level from 0.9% in August. Goods price growth was even lower earlier last year, remaining between 0.1% and 0.6% from May to July after a 0.3% contraction in April.

Durable goods were up 1.2% in November from the prior year, up from 1% in October and 0.9% in September.

Services prices were up 3.4% in November from the prior year, up slightly from 3.3% in October. Inflation from services ranged between 3.4% and 3.6% from April through September.

The personal savings rate as a percentage of disposable personal income was 3.5% in November, down from 3.7% in October. The savings rate was 5.5% in April but gradually declined over the rest of 2025. 

TRUMP CALLS FOR ‘JERK’ POWELL TO LOWER INTEREST RATES AFTER LATEST INFLATION DATA

Michael Pearce, chief U.S. economist at Oxford Economics, said that the combined PCE inflation report for October and November showed "disposable incomes stagnating but spending rising at a strong pace regardless."

"The boost from rising stock market wealth is playing a key role supporting spending of high-income households, and helps explain the ap between spending and incomes. Personal incomes growth has slowed as the job market faltered late last year, and the personal saving rate fell to a three-year low in November," Pearce explained. "That is not sustainable indefinitely, and we expect the pace of consumer spending to moderate a touch this year, even as real incomes growth picks up."

Pearce added that, "One factor for caution in this report is that the lack of CPI inflation data for October forced the Bureau of Economic Analysis to interpolate missing data. Underreported inflation will boost spending in real terms in Q4, but will be a drag in Q2 when there will be a bump up in inflation."

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The PCE inflation data, along with the GDP report released earlier on Thursday, had little impact on the market's expectations surrounding a potential interest rate cut at the Fed's policy meeting next week. The probability of rates remaining at their current range of 3.5% to 3.75% was 95% on Thursday, little changed over the last week and up from 80.1% a month ago. 

https://www.foxbusiness.com/economy/november-2025-pce-inflation

Spirit Airlines is in deal talks with investment firm Castlelake as struggling carrier seeks path forwardSpirit Airlines is in talks with investment firm Castlelake for a potential takeover of the discount airline, which is in bankruptcy, CNBC has learned.{}

Spirit Airlines is in talks with investment firm Castlelake for a potential takeover of the discount airline, which is in bankruptcy, CNBC has learned.https://www.cnbc.com/2026/01/22/spirit-airlines-deal-talks-castlelake.html

Jamie Dimon issues rare CEO criticism of Trump's immigration policy: 'I don’t like what I’m seeing'American CEOs have mostly avoided direct criticism of Trump's policies over the past year.{}

American CEOs have mostly avoided direct criticism of Trump's policies over the past year.https://www.cnbc.com/2026/01/21/jamie-dimon-trump-immigration-policy.html

Wall Street’s Texas move gains steam as NYSE Texas hits 100-company milestoneNYSE Texas achieves a major milestone with over 100 companies dual-listed in under a year, showcasing Wall Street's shift towards the Lone Star State's pro-business climate.

The New York Stock Exchange’s quiet expansion into Texas is gaining rapid traction, with NYSE President Lynn Martin revealing that more than 100 companies have already dual-listed on NYSE Texas in under a year — a milestone that underscores Wall Street’s accelerating pivot toward the Lone Star State’s pro-business climate.

"NYSE Texas, which we announced February of last year, brought it live March 31 of last year, and now have more than 100 dual listings on NYSE Texas in less than a year," President Lynn Martin told FOX Business’ Maria Bartiromo at the World Economic Forum on Thursday.

"It’s going great," she continued.

TEXAS CHAIN CRUSHES COSTCO AND TRADER JOE'S TO CLAIM AMERICA'S TOP GROCERY STORE TITLE

Earlier this week, President Donald Trump blasted plans to expand the New York Stock Exchange to Dallas, calling the move "unbelievably bad" for New York and a failure of city leadership.

"Building a New York Stock Exchange in Dallas is an unbelievably bad thing for New York. I can't believe they would let this happen," Trump wrote in a Truth Social post. He added that the move posed a "big test" for New York's newly inaugurated mayor, Zohran Mamdani.

The New York Stock Exchange has said the Dallas expansion — a fully electronic equities exchange based in Dallas — is intended to broaden its footprint and better serve companies in the South and Southwest, not to replace its New York operations. NYSE Texas launched in March 2025 and continues to operate alongside the main exchange.

"So many companies have taken the opportunity to dual list on NYSE, all the protections of the floor, everything… as well as list on NYSE Texas," Martin said. "The advantage of dual listing on NYSE Texas is you are able to take advantage of all that pro-business legislation that Governor [Greg] Abbott has enacted around shareholder rights, around... litigation, around protection of C-suite of existing companies."

Additionally, NYSE Texas’s growth coincides with a broader rebound in IPO and listings activity, according to Martin, who described a potential "super cycle" for capital markets in 2026.

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"We're seeing demand from all sectors. It feels like it's gonna be a bit of a super cycle year in terms of the amount of deals that come to market," she noted. "Now, I'm not just talking about the mega IPOs, they may or may not come to the market, but there's a tremendous amount of demand of backlog companies, companies that have been sitting on sponsors books, as well as companies that have just wanted to go for some time and put plans on hold because of volatility."

"I'm incredibly bullish about 2026 for the capital markets, for the U.S. economy," Martin added.

READ MORE FROM FOX BUSINESS

FOX Business’ Amanda Macias contributed to this report.

https://www.foxbusiness.com/markets/wall-streets-texas-move-gains-steam-nyse-texas-hits-100-company-milestone

US economy grew at fastest pace in 2 years in third quarter, fueled by consumer spendingThe U.S. economy grew at a 4.4% growth in the third quarter of 2025, beating expectations of 3.3% as consumer spending and exports drive the strong performance.

The U.S. economy grew at a faster pace than expected in the third quarter, according to the Commerce Department's estimate.

The Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) on Thursday released its final reading of third quarter GDP, which showed the economy grew at an annualized rate of 4.4% in the three-month period including July, August and September. 

That figure topped the expectations of economists polled by LSEG, who had estimated 3.3% GDP growth in the third quarter. It was also the fastest growth rate in two years.

The report also found that real GDP rose at an annualized rate of 3.8% in the second quarter. That followed a GDP contraction of 0.6% in the first quarter. Taken together, those three readings indicate the U.S. economy grew at a 2.5% annualized rate through the first three quarters of 2025.

US ECONOMY EXPECTED TO GROW FASTER IN 2026 DESPITE STAGNANT JOB MARKET: GOLDMAN SACHS

The BEA said the rise in real GDP reflected a rise in consumer spending, exports, government spending and investment. Imports also declined in the third quarter.

"Compared to the second quarter, the acceleration in real GDP in the third quarter reflected upturns in investment, exports, and government spending, as well as an acceleration in consumer spending. Imports decreased less in the third quarter than in the second," the BEA said.

The report noted that real final sales to private domestic purchasers – which is the sum of consumer spending and gross private fixed investment – rose 2.9% in Q3 after being revised down 0.1 percentage point from the previous estimate.

US CEOS FEAR ECONOMIC UNCERTAINTY MORE THAN THEIR GLOBAL PEERS AS THEY HEAD INTO 2026

Data collection for the report was impacted by the 43-day government shutdown that began on Oct. 1, which caused the BEA to delay its initial estimate for Q3 until Dec. 23 and to forego a second estimate.

EY-Parthenon chief economist Gregory Daco said that the strong GDP reading "was driven by resilient consumer spending, robust equipment and AI-related investment, a sizable boost from net international trade and a rebound in federal government outlays."

"The U.S. economy is neither overheating nor stalling – it is adjusting" to what Daco called an "unusually intense set of crosscurrents." 

INFLATION HELD STEADY IN DECEMBER, REMAINING WELL ABOVE THE FED'S 2% TARGET

Those include a significant rise in tariffs along with a notable decline in net migration and surging artificial intelligence (AI) investment. A jobless economic expansion, tax reform and uncertainty over the Federal Reserve's rate-cutting plans amid elevated inflation and a soft labor market.

Daco said the firm expects that real GDP will rise 3.2% in Q4 2025, along with average GDP growth of 2.3% for 2025 as a whole.

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https://www.foxbusiness.com/economy/us-economy-q3-2025-final

The World’s Ongoing Conflicts Underline Nuclear and Non-Nuclear States

The World’s Ongoing Conflicts Underline Nuclear and Non-Nuclear States

UNITED NATIONS, January 23 (IPS) - The two current ongoing conflicts, which have claimed the lives of hundreds and thousands of people, are between nuclear and non-nuclear states: Russia vs Ukraine and Israel vs Palestine, while some of the potential nuclear vs non-nuclear conflicts include China vs Taiwan, North Korea vs South Korea and US vs Iran (Venezuela, Mexico, Colombia, Cuba and Denmark).

Read the full story, “The World’s Ongoing Conflicts Underline Nuclear and Non-Nuclear States”, on globalissues.org

https://www.globalissues.org/news/2026/01/23/42174 {"url":"https://static.globalissues.org/ips/2026/01/Injured-civilians_-100x100.jpg"}

Procter & Gamble earnings top estimates, but shrinking demand weighs on salesProcter & Gamble topped Wall Street's estimates for its quarterly earnings, but the company's revenue was weaker than expected.{}

Procter & Gamble topped Wall Street's estimates for its quarterly earnings, but the company's revenue was weaker than expected.https://www.cnbc.com/2026/01/22/procter-gamble-pg-q2-2026-earnings.html

When the ultra rich hire family for their private investment firms, what to pay them can be trickyEven among the wealthiest families, the issue of salary is a loaded topic, according to advisors to family offices.{}

Even among the wealthiest families, the issue of salary is a loaded topic, according to advisors to family offices.https://www.cnbc.com/2026/01/22/ultra-rich-family-offices-payroll.html

US negotiating 'total access' to Greenland, Trump tells Maria BartiromoPresident Donald Trump's administration is working on a deal to secure "total access" to Greenland after dropping his threat of tariffs on Thursday.

President Donald Trump's administration is negotiating a deal to secure the U.S. "total access" to Greenland, Trump told Fox Business on Thursday.

Trump made the announcement during a conversation with Fox host Maria Bartiromo, reiterating his claims that the U.S. must have a presence on Greenland for national security.

"Everything comes over Greenland. If the bad guys start shooting, it comes over Greenland," Trump said. "It's pretty invaluable. It's amazing. You know, Ronald Reagan had the idea a long time ago, but we didn't have any technology at that point. The concept was great, but there was no technology. Now we have unbelievable technology."

"So what are we talking about? An acquisition of Greenland? Are you going to pay for it?" Bartiromo pressed.

TRUMP CHALLENGES CARNEY AT DAVOS, ASSERTS CANADA SHOULD BE 'GRATEFUL' FOR GOLDEN DOME MISSILE DEFENSE

"I mean, we're talking about, it's really being negotiated now, the details of it, but essentially it's total access. There's no end, there's no time limit," Trump responded.

NATO CHIEF PRAISES TRUMP AT DAVOS, SAYS HE FORCED EUROPE TO ‘STEP UP’ ON DEFENSE

Trump's statement comes a day after he walked back plans to impose heavy tariffs against European countries as part of his push to take Greenland.

WATCH THE FULL INTERVIEW:

The president said the U.S. and NATO had come to a "framework of a future deal" for U.S. access to the territory.

"Based upon a very productive meeting that I have had with the Secretary General of NATO, Mark Rutte, we have formed the framework of a future deal with respect to Greenland and, in fact, the entire Arctic Region," Trump wrote on social media.

Trump said the deal, if finalized, "will be a great one for the United States of America, and all NATO Nations," adding that the agreement led him to halt the planned tariffs.

"Based upon this understanding, I will not be imposing the Tariffs that were scheduled to go into effect on February 1st," he said.

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NATO confirmed to Fox News Digital in a statement from Spokesperson Allison Hart that negotiations are aimed "at ensuring Russia and China never gain a foothold" in Greenland.

Fox News' Jasmine Baehr contributed to this report.

https://www.foxbusiness.com/politics/us-negotiating-total-access-greenland-trump-tells-maria-bartiromo

US set to exit WHO as unpaid fees remain and legal hurdles mount aheadThe U.S. is set to officially exit the World Health Organization as questions remain over unpaid fees and legal requirements.

The U.S. is set to officially exit the World Health Organization on Thursday, one year after President Donald Trump signed an executive order directing the withdrawal.

Trump announced on the first day of his new presidency that the U.S. would be leaving the United Nations health agency, but under U.S. law, the country must provide one year’s notice and pay all outstanding fees before officially departing.

According to Reuters, the WHO said the U.S. has not yet paid the fees it owes for 2024 and 2025, totaling roughly $260 million. Member states are scheduled to discuss the U.S. departure and how it should be handled during the WHO’s executive board meeting in February, the outlet reported.

TRUMP FLOATS MASSIVE TARIFFS ON FRENCH WINE AND CHAMPAGNE OVER MACRON BOARD OF PEACE REJECTION

WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus recently urged the U.S. to reconsider its withdrawal, calling it a global loss.

"I hope the U.S. will reconsider and rejoin WHO," he said at a news conference earlier this month. "Withdrawing from the WHO is a lose for the United States, and it’s a lose for the rest of the world."

In May, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. recorded a video message to the World Health Assembly, outlining why Trump opted to withdraw the U.S. from the WHO.

"Like many legacy institutions, the WHO has become mired in bureaucratic bloat, entrenched paradigms, conflicts of interest and international power politics," Kennedy said.

MAJOR HEALTH INSURERS SCALING BACK MEDICARE ADVANTAGE OFFERINGS IN 2026

Bill Gates, chair of the Gates Foundation, which funds global health initiatives, including some of the WHO’s work, said in an interview with Reuters that he does not expect the U.S. to immediately reconsider its decision.

"I don’t think the U.S. will be coming back to WHO in the near future," he said.

Trump initially started extricating the U.S. from the organization in 2020, but President Joe Biden reversed course after taking office in 2021.

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Fox News Digital has reached out to the State Department and the White House for comment on whether the U.S. plans to leave without paying its outstanding fees and how the move could affect global health efforts.

Reuters contributed to this report.

https://www.foxbusiness.com/politics/us-set-exit-who-unpaid-fees-remain-legal-hurdles-mount-ahead

Trump floats massive tariffs on French wine and champagne over Macron Board of Peace rejectionU.S. President Donald Trump floated the prospect of 200% tariffs on French wines and champagnes over France's rejection of the Board of Peace.

President Donald Trump on Monday floated the idea of slapping a 200% tariff on French wines and champagnes when asked about French President Emmanuel Macron declining to join the Board of Peace initiative focused on working toward and end to the Gaza conflict in the Middle East.

"What I'll do is if they feel… hostile, I'll put a 200% tariff on his wines and champagnes. And he'll join. But, he doesn't have to join," Trump said on Monday.

Macron's office said on Monday that the French president had rejected Trump's invitation to join the body, according to Politico, which reported that the statement indicated the panel's charter "goes beyond the framework of Gaza and raises serious questions, in particular with respect to the principles and structure of the United Nations, which cannot be called into question."

DAVOS BRACES FOR TRUMP AMID TENSIONS OVER NATO, GREENLAND AND GLOBAL DEFENSE

Other nations, including Israel, have accepted the chance to join the board.

"Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced that he accepts the invitation of U.S. President Donald Trump and will become a member of the Board of Peace, which is to be comprised of world leaders," the prime minister's office has noted.

EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT HALTS WORK ON US TRADE DEAL IN RESPONSE TO TRUMP GREENLAND PUSH

Trump has indicated that he invited Russian President Vladimir Putin to join.

Rep. Steny Hoyer, D-Md., has decried Trump's move, declaring in part of a post on X that "extending an invitation to Putin to join the Board of Peace undermines the mission to eradicate Hamas, secure peace, and promote reconciliation amongst nations."

WITKOFF AND KUSHNER SCHEDULED TO MEET PUTIN IN MOSCOW

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"Trump’s refusal to hold Putin accountable is not only disgraceful, but also dangerous. His continued efforts to appease and partner with this craven dictator is a betrayal of freedom, democracy, and international law," Hoyer asserted.

https://www.foxbusiness.com/politics/trump-floats-massive-tariffs-french-wine-champagne-over-macron-board-peace-rejection

LARRY KUDLOW: Only Trump in Davos can save Europe from themselvesNo force, no tariffs. Lots of economic growth. Virtuoso performance at Davos today by President Trump

President Trump gave one his best ever speeches at Davos today, with his "America first" vision of economic security, where economic security at home is essential to preserve national security abroad. It was almost a direct echo of President Reagan 45-something odd years ago, when America badly outproduced the Soviet Union, and made it impossible for communism to match our prosperity or our military.

Most of the people of Davos will never admit it, but Mr. Trump’s vision will save the West if they just stop yapping and let him do it. Of course, he said he would not be using force to deal with his concerns about Greenland and the Golden Dome, and saving the West. Saying quote "I don’t have to use force. I don’t want to use force. I won’t use force."

The idea that Mr. Trump or America would open fire on its allies could only be conjured up by some completely whacked-out far-left wing press crazies, who have been trying to stir up trouble for weeks over a very serious matter. And that is protecting America and the Western Hemisphere, and the NATO alliance, from the encroachments of Russia and Communist China, especially the threats of ICBMs and nuclear weapons.

Take a look at any map, and you see that Greenland is part of the Western Hemisphere. Or the potential missile overshoot to Washington D.C. from Moscow flying over Greenland. And going back to his original Truth Social announcement, for days I’ve been quoting Mr. Trump’s words that "The United States of America is immediately open to negotiation with Denmark and/or any of these Countries."

Yet no one wanted to read that, or no one wanted to quote that. So you get these insane news headlines. Like the Wall Street Journal front page, saying "The U.S. has lost its way" or even Axios blathering on about the "end to a U.S.-led global order."

Several times in today’s Davos speech, Mr. Trump repeated his willingness to negotiate. Sure enough, shortly afterwards, After meeting with Secretary General of NATO, Mark Rutte, Mr. Trump announced that "we have formed the framework of a future deal with respect to Greenland and, in fact, the entire Arctic Region." A great deal for all NATO nations, Mr. Trump explained.

And he will not impose tariffs that were scheduled to go into effect on February 1. Vice President Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio will be working on this with Steve Witkoff. It’s the art of the deal. Stock markets rallied big time. And Trumpian leadership once again saved the day.

He also talked some more about the importance of economic growth and why it does not cause inflation. This sheds light on his forthcoming announcement of the Fed chairman.

Today was a virtuoso performance. And I’m gonna have to say it again. Whatever the Europeans think or don’t think, Mr. Trump and his "America First" policies are the only thing that will save them from themselves.

https://www.foxbusiness.com/politics/larry-kudlow-only-trump-davos-can-save-europe-from-themselves