Many analysts are predicting an election-year upturn, but they aren't accounting for the President's ability to cause more chaos. In a primetime address from the Oval Office last week, Donald Trump said, "We are poised for an economic boom the likes of which the world has never seen." This was the sort of bloviating that has convinced many voters he's hopelessly out of touch, but it did raise the question of how the economy is likely to perform in 2026, a midterm-election year. Given the data fog that the government shutdown created, the old joke applies more than ever: it's difficult to make predictions, especially about the future. But some things seem reasonably clear.

Long the province of the ultra-wealthy, prenuptial agreements are being embraced by young people--including many who don't have all that much to divvy up. More than forty per cent of millennials and Gen Z-ers claim to have signed a prenup. Andrea Zevallos declared 2016 her "year of dating." She was twenty-seven, working at Universal Studios Hollywood, the theme park, and determined to find love. She calculated it would take three dates a week. By December, she was losing hope. "It was exhausting," she said. Then, while scrolling OkCupid, she noticed a "cute guy" with a "Hamilton" reference in his handle. His name was Alex Switzky, and like her he was a musical-theatre enthusiast and aspiring screenwriter. He was different from the other men she'd met. On their second date, he started planning a third. Zevallos "was used to L.A. guys cagey about any sort of calendar." One day, Switzky called her. Accustomed to texts, she assumed that he was about to break up with her. "The most millennial response," she recalled, laughing.

Hamstrung by lawsuits, the state can't officially keep its goal to ban new gas-powered car sales by 2035. But it's going to keep trying. It's been a weird and confusing few weeks for the auto industry--especially for those who hoped to see more batteries on the road in the coming decade. Just this month: Ford announced a retrenchment in its EV business, canceling some battery-powered vehicle plans and delaying others; the European Commission proposed to backtrack its goal to transition fully to zero-emission cars by 2035; the US government said it would loosen rules that would have required automakers to ratchet up the fuel economy of their fleets. BloombergNEF projects 14 million fewer EVs will be sold in the US by 2030 than it did last year--a 20 percent drop.

Devastating truth about Rob Reiner's daughter Romy: Her own addiction battle... how she'lived in fear' of Nick... and the handsome companion she's leaning on, all revealed by heartbroken friends Baby-faced accused killers will be tried as adults after 14-year-old girl's horrific murder Trans killer, 30, who executed her parents then converted to Islam is jailed for 25 years after trying to skip'stressful' sentencing I'm Miley Cyrus's REAL mother: Woman at center of bombshell'adoption' lawsuit breaks silence about'pregnancy at age 12' and makes MORE wild claims School bus driver responds to backlash after she was fired over'English-only' sign Six common medications you should NEVER mix with alcohol: Doctors reveal how that'pre-emptive' painkiller could destroy your liver... and the most deadly combination of all Next domino falls in Michigan's Sherrone Moore scandal as top assistant defects to SEC school The extravagant gifts the rich are buying this Christmas including an'extra person' in their marriage I was forced into Witness Protection at age seven... here's how the program nearly ruined my life Former Nickelodeon star is now'homeless on the streets of Los Angeles' How Tom Brady REALLY feels about Gisele Bundchen's secret wedding to jiu-jitsu instructor... as insiders whisper about potential of his OWN second marriage The hidden blueprint to keep MAGA in power for 100 years as Trump's inner circle shows signs of cracking Kimberly Guilfoyle's'yelling fit' after ex Donald Trump Jr's new engagement... as insiders reveal her nasty texts and derogatory nickname for Bettina Anderson Smug because you love your job? READ MORE: Scientists reveal surprising secret behind Bill Gates' success The saying goes, if you find a job you love you'll never work a day in your life. But an expert has now warned that this can backfire - and the seemingly innocent idea of loving your work can take on a moral edge. Mijeong Kwon, assistant professor of management at Rice University in Texas, said the dream of enjoying your career has become compulsive for many. 'Working for money, prestige or family obligation starts to look less admirable, even suspect,' she wrote on The Conversation .

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The world's most powerful people have started to realise that games have immense influence - why else would the White House post an image of Trump as Halo's Master Chief? The world's most powerful people have started to realise that games have immense influence - why else would the White House post an image of Trump as Halo's Master Chief? State of play: who holds the power in the video games industry in 2025? I love playing video games, but what interests me most as a journalist are the ways in which games intersect with real life. One of the joys of spending 20 years on this beat has been meeting hundreds of people whose lives have been meaningfully enhanced by games, and as their cultural influence has grown, these stories have become more and more plentiful. There is another side to this, however.

US and Ukrainian envoys say productive and constructive talks have taken place in Miami, but there still appears to be no major breakthrough in efforts to end Ukraine's war with Russia. Donald Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, issued a joint statement with the top Ukrainian negotiator, Rustem Umerov, after three days of meetings with European allies. The pair said the meeting focused on aligning positions on a 20-point plan, a multilateral security guarantee framework, a US Security guarantee framework for Ukraine and an economic & prosperity plan. Separate talks have been taking place in Miami between the US and the Russian envoy, Kirill Dmitriev. Our shared priority is to stop the killing, ensure guaranteed security, and create conditions for Ukraine's recovery, stability, and long-term prosperity, Witkoff and Umerov said in a statement.

Things to Do in L.A. Tap to enable a layout that focuses on the article. This is read by an automated voice. Please report any issues or inconsistencies here . After Saturday's blackout, roughly 110,000 San Francisco residents have power again. About 21,000 are still in the dark as extensive repairs continue after a substation fire.

SNL savages Trump after releasing the Epstein files in cold open... but MAGA have the last laugh Retirees are ditching golf and sun for this unlikely city...as top destinations revealed Frail woman found bludgeoned to death next to'bloodied skateboard' in her NYC apartment You've only been told half the story about the Reiner murders. These hidden horrors MUST be outed... before Hollywood's sick secrecy pact wins: MAUREEN CALLAHAN Monumental downfall of it-girl streamer who snubbed Drake's advances... as she's engulfed by disgusting scandals and family tragedy Devastating truth about Rob Reiner's daughter Romy: Her own addiction battle... how she'lived in fear' of Nick... and the handsome companion she's leaning on, all revealed by heartbroken friends Smellebrities! 10 actors whose hygiene habits prompted complaints from co-stars - after Charlotte Church said she's stopped wearing deodorant and'generally stinks' Crime drama dubbed'the greatest of all time' with the'perfect ending' and a whopping 96% Rotten Tomatoes score is now free to stream - plus there's a reboot in the works Then I learned what he told her about our sex life and I can't even look at him: ASK JANA America's cutest Christmas village battles to save itself after being hit by storms and severe flooding Prince Harry's controversial comment at Christmas that sparked Meghan Markle's bitter family feud Father Christmas is'too white' and has no right to judge if children are naughty or nice, says woke museum Inside Tinseltown's'cursed' neighborhood where Rob Reiner was murdered that also saw Marilyn Monroe and Nicole Brown Simpson's deaths Deputy Attorney General reveals REAL reason why Trump's picture in Epstein files was taken down: 'It's absurd and laughable' How Tom Brady REALLY feels about Gisele Bundchen's secret wedding to jiu-jitsu instructor... as insiders whisper about potential of his OWN second marriage Alcohol consumption falls to a record low in Britain - so, do you drink more or less than the national average? READ MORE: Do you drink more than your partner? It's a typically boozy time of year - but Brits are drinking less alcohol than in decades gone by, according to new figures. Data released by research company IWSR reveals the average UK adult consumed 10.2 alcoholic drinks a week last year.

In 1996 Nasa and the White House made the explosive announcement that the rock contained traces of Martian bugs. The meteorite, catalogued as Allen Hills (ALH) 84001, crashed onto the frozen wastes of Antarctica 13,000 years ago and was recovered in 1984. Photographs were released showing elongated segmented objects that appeared strikingly lifelike.