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Essential Properties

Essential Props Realty

Essential Properties Realty Trust Inc is a real estate investment trust. It is an internally managed real estate company acquires, owns and manages single-tenant properties that are net leased on a long-term basis to middle-market companies operating service-oriented or experience-based businesses. The Company generally invests in and leases freestanding, single-tenant commercial real estate facilities where a tenant services its customers and conducts activities that are essential to the generation of the tenant's sales and profits.

Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. Common Stock

Essential Properties Realty Trust Inc

In a 215-214 vote, the House of Representatives passed <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/health-care/25/05/45345409/trumps-big-beautiful-bill-banks-on-huge-medicaid-cuts-as-its-cost-saving-centerpiece-see-who-risks-losing-coverage-under-the-gop-proposal">President Donald Trump's "big, beautiful" budget reconciliation bill</a>, including major proposed cuts to federal retirement benefits within the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS).
What Happened: The House's budget package, determined mainly along party lines, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/05/45561526/house-gop-retreats-on-retirement-cuts-after-backlash-protections-restored-fers-changes-pushed-to-202">initially included multiple cost-saving reforms impacting federal employees</a>.
These measures were outlined to aid fund tax cuts and increased immigration enforcement. Notably, a proposal to move annuity calculations from a "high-3" to a "high-5" salary average was scratched on account of bipartisan pressure.
However, the bill still seeks to remove the FERS supplement for most federal workers retiring before age 62. As <a href="https://www.govexec.com/pay-benefits/2025/05/house-passes-reconciliation-bill-cuts-federal-employee-retirement-benefits/405523/">per</a> the Government Executive, this benefit is typically worth around a third of post-retirement income.
Other provisions, such as a requirement for new recruits to either contribute nearly 10% of their basic pay toward retirement or work without civil service protections, remain in the bill. A few exemptions were included for law enforcement officers and others, subject to mandatory retirement ages.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45566638/what-net-worth-is-enough-to-send-your-kids-to-private-school-without-sacrificing-retirement">What Net Worth Is &#8216;Enough&#8217; To Send Your Kids To Private School Without Sacrificing Retirement?</a>
Why It Matters: If enacted in its current form after moving through the Senate, the bill would dissolve a crucial bridge benefit that supports early retirees until Social Security eligibility, which <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45534539/social-security-full-retirement-age-shift-means-filing-at-62-could-chop-your-check-by-30-what-every-worker-born-in-1960-or-later-must-know">rises to 67 in 2025</a>. The FERS supplement elimination is scheduled to begin January 1, 2028, but includes a safeguard for those already eligible by that date.
The American Federation of Government Employees President Everett Kelley labelled the cuts "toxic," and said they could "drive out experienced and dedicated federal workers" while having only a nominal effect on overall spending.
Bill Shackelford of the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association highlighted that even retirees who accepted early separation packages were likely to be impacted retroactively.
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Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

News

Politics

Personal Finance

Trump's 'Big, Beautiful' Bill Strips Key Retirement Benefits From Federal Workers In Razor-Thin House Vote

Macro Economic Events

Econ #s

Economics

BBJP

Reported Earlier, Japan National Core Consumer Price Index (YoY) For April 3.5% Vs. 3.4% Est.; 3.2% Prior

World (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/">WLD</a>) blasted to the top of the cryptocurrency gainers list Thursday&nbsp;after raising $135 million to fund network expansion.
What Happened: The token, which is related to a decentralized identity verification project, skyrocketed over 24% in the last 24 hours, reaching levels not seen since early February.
The rally propelled WLD's market capitalization to $2.37 billion, its highest in over five months. The trading volume popped 165% to $1.06 billion in the last 24 hours.
On-chain activity spiked, with large transactions valued at over $100,000 spiking 62%, while daily active addresses rose 10.22%, <a href="https://app.intotheblock.com/">according</a> to IntoTheBlock.
Additionally, WLD's Open Interest exploded over 62% in the last 24 hours, <a href="https://www.coinglass.com/BitcoinOpenInterest">according </a>to Coinglass, indicating high interest from derivatives traders.
See Also:<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44621245/gold-backed-cryptos-match-yellow-metals-highs-following-trumps-liberation-day-shock"> </a><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45556899/from-amazon-to-warren-buffetts-berkshire-hathawaybitcoin-is-now-bigger-than-these-wall-street-titans">From Warren Buffett&#8217;s Berkshire Hathaway To Jeff Bezos&#8217; Amazon — Bitcoin Is Now Outshining These Wall Street Titans</a>
Why It Matters: The upsurge comes after the Sam Altman-founded project raised $135 million through a private sale of its WLD token. The financing was meant to support World&#8217;s expansion in the U.S. and around the globe.
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">World Foundation raised $135M from <a href="https://twitter.com/a16z?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@a16z</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/BainCapCrypto?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BainCapCrypto</a> to accelerate scaling the real human network. Funding was through a recent direct purchase of liquid, market-priced <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24WLD&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$WLD</a>.
&mdash; World (@worldcoin) <a href="https://twitter.com/worldcoin/status/1925253926929997841?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 21, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
World is an identity verification project that captures people&#8217;s irises to confirm their humanness and build a digital ID, allowing them to receive free WLD tokens. The project <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/05/45126342/sam-altmans-crypto-project-unveils-ai-spotting-gizmo-brings-world-to-the-us">debuted in the U.S.</a> earlier this month.
It has generated controversy over personal data privacy concerns and stands outlawed in <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/asia/24/05/38981228/sam-altman-founded-worldcoin-shown-the-door-in-hong-kong-over-privacy-concerns">Hong Kong</a>, Kenya, and <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/06/39176283/sam-altman-founded-worldcoins-suspension-extended-in-spain-crypto-plunges-55-since-march-p">Spain</a> as of this writing.
Price Action:&nbsp; At the time of writing, WLD was exchanging hands at $1.54, up 24.89% in the last 24 hours, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard?_gl=1&#x2A;380nj0&#x2A;_ga&#x2A;MTEyOTAyOTcxMy4xNzEzMzY0NTYy&#x2A;_ga_V7ZK73W7N0&#x2A;MTcxNDk4MzIzMi42LjEuMTcxNDk4OTE0Ni4wLjAuMA..">data from Benzinga Pro</a>. Year-to-date, the coin has lost over 25% of its value.
Photo Courtesy: ARTEMENKO VALENTYN on Shutterstock.com
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Coverage of Bitcoin, Etherum, Ripple and all the latest digital currencies.

Cryptocurrency

Markets

Movers

Trading Ideas

$WLD

Sam-Altman Founded World Token Rips 24%—What's Going On?

Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) reportedly plans to launch AI-powered smart glasses in late 2026 to compete with Meta Platforms, Inc.'s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>) Ray-Bans.
What Happened: Apple has ramped up efforts to begin mass production of prototypes by the end of this year with overseas suppliers, <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-05-22/apple-plans-glasses-for-2026-as-part-of-ai-push-nixes-watch-with-camera">reported</a> Bloomberg, citing people with knowledge of the matter.
The glasses are expected to have cameras, microphones and speakers — these integrations will enable the device to interpret the external environment and respond to voice commands through Siri.
See Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/entertainment/25/05/45311978/tim-cooks-apple-tv-cameo-rejected-by-seth-rogen-opts-for-netflixs-ted-sarandos-instead-we-said-no" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tim Cook's Apple TV+ Cameo Rejected By Seth Rogen, Opts For Netflix's Ted Sarandos Instead: ‘We Said No'</a>
Moreover, they could support functions like making calls, playing music, providing real-time translations and offering navigation assistance, the report noted.
This strategy is similar to that of Meta's existing eyewear and <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45534622/sergey-brin-comes-out-of-retirement-to-work-on-gemini-admits-he-made-a-lot-of-mistakes-with-google-glass-as-the-tech-giant-ramps-up-efforts-to-compete-with-meta-and-apple">upcoming devices powered</a> by Alphabet Inc.&#8217;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>) (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>) Android XR platform.
Apple has also reportedly shelved a separate project to develop a camera-equipped smartwatch that can analyze its surroundings, the report added.
Subscribe to the&nbsp;<a href="https://bztechtrends.beehiiv.com/subscribe" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Tech Trends newsletter</a>&nbsp;to get all the latest tech developments delivered to your inbox.
Why It&#8217;s Important: Apple's latest comes after the tech giant received a tepid response to its Vision Pro headset. The company's first-generation AR/VR headset struggled to gain traction with consumers due to its <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/10/41306527/apples-low-cost-vision-pro-could-hit-the-shelves-next-year-everything-you-need-to-know-about-iphone">high price and limited use cases</a>.
The Tim Cook-led company could also be planning to enter the growing market of AI-driven devices. On Wednesday, OpenAI <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/05/45550033/openai-teams-up-with-iphone-designer-jony-ive-as-chatgpt-maker-makes-push-into-hardware-apple-shares-slide">announced a collaboration</a> with former Apple chief design officer Jony Ive to launch new hardware products starting next year.
Price Action: As per <a href="http://pro.benzinga.com/">Benzinga Pro</a>, Apple shares declined by 0.36% on Thursday but rebounded with a 0.70% gain in after-hours trading.
According to Benzinga Edge Stock Rankings, Apple earned a growth score of 33.12%. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-2#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound">Click here to see how it compares with other leading stocks</a> like Meta and Alphabet.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-2#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound"><img decoding="async" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/23001631/Screenshot-2025-05-23-at-9.44.36%E2%80%AFAM.png" alt="" class="wp-image-925285" /></a></figure>
Photo Courtesy: Prathmesh T on Shutterstock.com
Check out more of Benzinga&#8217;s Consumer Tech coverage by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/consumer-tech" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">following this link</a>.
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Tech

Media

AAPL

GOOG

Apple Could Reportedly Launch AI Smart Glasses Next Year And Here Is What All They Are Expected To Do

Top U.S. banks are contemplating a joint venture to issue a dollar-pegged stablecoin in an attempt to counter the increasing competition from the cryptocurrency sector, according to a report dated Thursday.
What Happened: Companies co-owned by&nbsp;JPMorgan Chase&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JPM#NYSE">JPM</a>),&nbsp;Bank of America&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BAC#NYSE">BAC</a>),&nbsp;Citigroup&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/C#NYSE">C</a>), and&nbsp;Wells Fargo&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WFC#NYSE">WFC</a>) are exploring the possibility of a joint stablecoin, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing sources familiar with the matter. The discussions, still in their infancy, involve Early Warning Services, the operator of&nbsp;mobile payment app Zelle, and the Clearing House,&nbsp;a real-time payment network.
The decision to proceed with the stablecoin will hinge on several factors, including&nbsp;legislative actions around stablecoins and&nbsp;the demand for them. The banking industry has been gearing up for the potential widespread adoption of stablecoins, which could divert&nbsp;the deposits and transactions they&nbsp;handle.
A Bank of America spokesperson declined to comment when contacted by Benzinga. Responses from other banks are awaited.
See Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/05/45579297/peter-schiff-says-a-president-shouldnt-sell-white-house-tours-and-pocket-the-proceeds-as-t" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Peter Schiff Says A President Shouldn&#8217;t &#8216;Sell White House Tours&#8217; And Pocket The Proceeds As Trump Prepares To Have Dinner With Memecoin Holders</a>
Why It Matters: The potential joint venture by these banking giants comes at a time when the Senate is making strides towards the final passage of the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/05/45510057/senate-crypto-bill-passes-key-vote-genius-act-moves-toward-final-passage">GENIUS Act, also known as the stablecoin bill</a>. The proposed legislation aims to establish the first U.S. regulatory framework for issuers of stablecoins—digital tokens that are tied to fiat currencies like the dollar.
The SEC has already clarified that <a href="https://www.sec.gov/newsroom/speeches-statements/statement-stablecoins-040425#_ftn4">certain stablecoins</a>, particularly those pegged to the U.S. dollar and backed by low-risk, liquid assets, are not securities.
Price Action:&nbsp; Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLF#NYSE">XLF</a>), an exchange-traded fund that exposes investors to the major U.S. money banks. closed 0.12% lower at $50.23 during Thursday&#8217;s trading session, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard?_gl=1&#x2A;380nj0&#x2A;_ga&#x2A;MTEyOTAyOTcxMy4xNzEzMzY0NTYy&#x2A;_ga_V7ZK73W7N0&#x2A;MTcxNDk4MzIzMi42LjEuMTcxNDk4OTE0Ni4wLjAuMA..">data from Benzinga Pro</a>. 
The stock exhibited a moderately high momentum score as of this writing. To access more such high-momentum banking ETF stocks, visit <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-2#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound">Benzinga Edge Stock Rankings</a> for more details.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-2#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="717" height="174" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/22235624/Screenshot-2025-05-23-092605.png" alt="" class="wp-image-925274" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/22235624/Screenshot-2025-05-23-092605.png 717w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/22235624/Screenshot-2025-05-23-092605-300x73.png 300w" sizes="(max-width: 717px) 100vw, 717px" /></a></figure>
Photo Courtesy: Panchenko Vladimir on Shutterstock.com
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<li><a href="https://benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/05/45579725/bitcoin-flirts-with-112000-ethereum-dogecoin-spike-even-as-stocks-flat-on-debt-worries-analytics-platform-sees-challenge-for-btc-at-this-level" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bitcoin Flirts With $112,000 — Ethereum, Dogecoin Spike Even As Stocks Flat On Debt Worries: Analytics Platform Sees Challenge For BTC At This Level</a></li>
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Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Neuro</a>&nbsp;and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/apis?utm_source=benzinga.com&amp;utm_campaign=article-bottom" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank"></a>

JPMorgan, Bank Of America, And Other Banking Titans Discussing Joint Stablecoin To Tackle Crypto Competition: Report

Billionaire hedge-fund founder Ray Dalio on Thursday urged investors to "be afraid of the bond market," arguing that the United States is entering a "very, very serious" debt spiral that could spark a funding crisis within three years.
What Happened: Speaking at a Paley Media Council forum in New York, the Bridgewater Associates founder, speaking <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2025/05/22/ray-dalio-says-to-fear-the-bond-market-as-deficit-becomes-critical.html">with</a> CNBC, likened the federal balance sheet to "a patient whose vital signs are flashing," and said deficits near 6.5% of GDP are more than global buyers can absorb.
&#8220;I would say that if we're really looking over the next three years, to give or take a year or two, that we're in that type of a critical, critical situation," he added.
Dalio's diagnosis follows a string of red flags, which include a weak $16 billion sale of 20-year Treasurys on Wednesday, which <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/05/45550324/us-bond-market-flashing-red-30-year-yield-tops-5-prices-tank-to-october-2023-lows">yanked</a> the 30-year yield above 5% for the first time since 2023, and <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/econ-s/25/05/45479078/moodys-downgrades-us-credit-rating-over-debt-deficit-concerns">Moody's downgrade</a> of U.S. sovereign debt to Aa1 last week. Investors are now demanding steeper discounts to finance a national debt that has punched past $36 trillion, Treasury data shows.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/global/25/05/45579810/as-trump-xi-jinping-silence-drags-on-china-and-us-reopen-diplomatic-lines-amid-looming-trade-truce-deadline-and-tech-tensions">As Trump-Xi Jinping Silence Drags On, China And US Reopen Diplomatic Lines Amid Looming Trade Truce Deadline And Tech Tensions</a>
Much of the pressure comes from Capitol Hill. The House on Thursday <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/25/05/45564489/trumps-big-tax-bill-clears-the-house-30-year-yields-jump-to-515-as-bond-market-freaks">squeaked through</a> President Donald Trump's "Big, Beautiful Bill," a tax-and-spending package that the Congressional Budget Office estimates would widen the deficit by about $3.8 trillion over a decade. The vote immediately spooked bond traders, pushing 30-year yields to 5.15%.
Why It Matters: Dalio, who also blasted Moody's cut as <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/market-summary/25/05/45512063/ray-dalio-warns-against-decreasing-value-of-us-dollar-amid-mounting-government-debt-risks-are-greater-than-the-rating-agencies-are-conveying">too mild</a>, argues that ratings agencies underplay the bigger hazard—Washington's temptation to &#8220;print money&#8221; to pay its debts, eroding bondholders' real returns. If investors dump Treasurys en masse, he said, &#8220;there probably will not be enough demand&#8221; to fund new issuance.
Long-dated Treasury ETFs have slumped to 19-month lows, while a spike in yields <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/25/05/45550679/treasury-yields-top-5-these-20-stocks-tanked-in-just-one-hour?utm_source=chatgpt.com">wiped nearly $200 billion</a> from growth-stock valuations in a single hour on Wednesday. Dalio cautioned that such volatility could intensify if Congress fails to craft a bipartisan fiscal plan. "Anything that means ‘give me more' widens the hole," he said.
With key Senate votes and another slate of Treasury auctions looming, traders are bracing for further turbulence.
Photo Courtesy: Katiindies on Shutterstock.com
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<li> <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/05/45579823/intuit-ceo-calls-it-a-breakthrough-adoption-year-as-turbotax-live-revenue-jumps-stock-pops-8-after-hours">Intuit CEO Calls It A &#8216;Breakthrough Adoption Year&#8217; As TurboTax Live Revenue Jumps — Stock Pops 8% After Hours</a></li>
</ul>

Government

Bonds

Hedge Funds

Ray Dalio Warns Investors To Be 'Afraid' Of The Bond Market, Calls America's Debt Spiral 'Very Serious'

Intuit Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/INTU#NASDAQ">INTU</a>) posted a <a href="https://benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/05/45575402/intuit-q3-earnings-revenue-beat-eps-beat-raised-fy-guidance-company-seeing-exceptional-momentum-across-platforms">strong third-quarter</a> performance fueled by explosive growth in its TurboTax Live business. 
What Happened: During the earnings call on Thursday, the company&#8217;s CEO, Sasan Goodarzi, called it a &#8220;breakthrough adoption year&#8221; for its tax-prep product, TurboTax Live, highlighting the significant traction that the product has gained across consumer and business segments during the year.
The company reported a 47% year-over-year increase in TurboTax Live revenue and a 24% rise in customers using its AI-enabled service, helping push its overall Consumer Group revenue, which the product is a part of, to $4 billion.
&#8220;We saw adoption within our base,&#8221; Goodarzi said during the call, referring to Intuit&#8217;s nearly 100 million customers and users worldwide.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/05/45579297/peter-schiff-says-a-president-shouldnt-sell-white-house-tours-and-pocket-the-proceeds-as-trump-prepares-to-have-dinner-with-memecoin-holders">Peter Schiff Says A President Shouldn&#8217;t &#8216;Sell White House Tours&#8217; And Pocket The Proceeds As Trump Prepares To Have Dinner With Memecoin Holders</a>
Goodarzi emphasized that AI played a critical role in simplifying the user experience, saying that the company reduced the average return preparation time by 12% and enabled over half of its customers to finish their annual tax filings in under an hour.
Despite the strong traction, Intuit sees room for improvement. Gudari notes areas where friction still exists, particularly for users migrating from traditional assisted tax providers. &#8220;There's still so much that we can do to make the end-to-end experience seamless,&#8221; he says.
Why It Matters: TurboTax Live, which blends AI with human experts, brings significant disruption to the traditionally human-led tax preparation market, which has long been dominated by the likes of H&amp;R Block Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HRB#NYSE">HRB</a>), which has already been working with Microsoft Corp.&#8217;s Azure OpenAI to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/12/36245483/ai-can-help-do-your-taxes-how-h-r-block-utilizes-microsofts-azure-openai-for-customers">streamline tax preparation</a> process for nearly two years.
Early this week, Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GS#NYSE">GS</a>) analyst Kash Rangan called the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45497740/intuit-q3-preview-revenue-beat-likely-benefits-from-being-a-price-disrupter-says-bullish-analyst">tax-heavy third quarter</a> a &#8220;validation opportunity&#8221; for the company. He also said that Intuit is seeing &#8220;product market fit&#8221; in the assisted tax filing segment, while calling it a &#8220;price disrupter.&#8221;
The company released its <a href="https://benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/05/45575402/intuit-q3-earnings-revenue-beat-eps-beat-raised-fy-guidance-company-seeing-exceptional-momentum-across-platforms">third quarter results</a> on Thursday, reporting $7.75 billion in revenue, beating consensus estimates of $7.56 billion. It posted a profit of $11.65 per share, which came in ahead of estimates at $10.91.
Price Action: The stock was up 0.92% on Thursday, trading at $666.07 per share, and is up 8.03% after hours following its robust third quarter performance.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-2#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="135" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/22233257/Screenshot-2025-05-23-at-9.02.47-AM-1024x135.png" alt="" class="wp-image-925266" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/22233257/Screenshot-2025-05-23-at-9.02.47-AM-1024x135.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/22233257/Screenshot-2025-05-23-at-9.02.47-AM-300x39.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/22233257/Screenshot-2025-05-23-at-9.02.47-AM-768x101.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/22233257/Screenshot-2025-05-23-at-9.02.47-AM-1536x202.png 1536w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/22233257/Screenshot-2025-05-23-at-9.02.47-AM.png 1614w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a></figure>
According to Benzinga&#8217;s Edge Stock Rankings, the stock has a favorable price trend in the short, medium, and long term. Click <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-2#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound">here</a> for more insights and to see how it compares with peers and competitors such as H&amp;R Block.
Photo Courtesy: Tada Images on Shutterstock.com
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</ul>

Earnings

INTU

Intuit CEO Calls It A 'Breakthrough Adoption Year' As TurboTax Live Revenue Jumps—Stock Pops 8% After Hours

China&#8217;s Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu held a telephone conversation with U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau on Friday, with both sides agreeing to maintain ongoing communication, according to China&#8217;s Ministry of Foreign Affairs statement released Friday.
What Happened: The diplomatic engagement comes as a 90-day U.S.-China trade truce nears its deadline, with former U.S. Ambassador to Russia, Michael McFaul, calling the lack of direct communication between President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping &#8220;horrible.&#8221;
The leaders have not spoken directly since Trump&#8217;s Jan. 17 pre-inauguration call, despite Trump&#8217;s expressed <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45512353/urgent-trump-xi-talks-needed-as-trade-truce-deadline-looms-warns-ex-us-diplomat-slamming-the-horrible-lack-of-contact">willingness to visit China for talks</a>.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent recently clarified that the U.S. will &#8220;continue trading with China&#8221; while reshoring critical supply chains, signaling potential flexibility in trade relations that could impact major <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45512353/urgent-trump-xi-talks-needed-as-trade-truce-deadline-looms-warns-ex-us-diplomat-slamming-the-horrible-lack-of-contact">U.S. companies with Chinese exposure</a>.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/05/45574763/goldman-sachs-defense-stock-golden-dome">Goldman Sachs Taps This Defense Stock As Prime Beneficiary Of Trump&#8217;s $175B Golden Dome</a>
Why It Matters: The dialogue occurs against <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45534527/china-warns-of-legal-retaliation-against-us-chip-sanctions-threatens-lawsuits-for-aiding-discriminatory-tech-crackdown">escalating tech tensions</a>. China threatened legal action against entities supporting U.S. semiconductor restrictions, following Washington&#8217;s guidance warning companies against using Huawei Technologies&#8216; Ascend AI chips. 
NVIDIA Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) CEO Jensen Huang criticized U.S. chip export controls as &#8220;exactly wrong for America,&#8221; revealing his company <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45513246/nvidia-ceo-jensen-huang-says-chinese-ai-researchers-are-world-class-and-us-companies-are-hiring-a-whole-bunch-of-them">wrote off $5.5 billion in inventory</a> due to restrictions.
Trade complexities deepened with China&#8217;s criticism of the recent U.S.-UK trade pact, which Beijing called detrimental to third-party interests. Chinese researcher Zhang Yansheng described such agreements as &#8220;poison pill clauses&#8221; worse than tariffs, as Washington attempts to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/05/45400750/china-slams-uk-us-trade-pact-finds-it-against-its-interests-this-type-of-poison-pill-clause-is-actually-worse-than-the-tariffs">isolate China from supply chains</a>.
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</ul>
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

Global

NVDA

As Trump-Xi Jinping Silence Drags On, China And US Reopen Diplomatic Lines Amid Looming Trade Truce Deadline And Tech Tensions

On Wednesday, Walt Disney Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DIS#NYSE">DIS</a>) filed a lawsuit against YouTube, a subsidiary of Alphabet Inc.'s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>) (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) Google to stop the appointment of former ESPN executive Justin Connolly as its new global head of media and sports, alleging breach of contract, unfair competition and interference with a contractual relationship.
What Happened: The lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles state court, claims Connolly signed a three-year contract in November 2024 that committed him to Disney through March 1, 2027, reported Reuters, adding that Connolly had a limited one-time termination option.
YouTube was aware of Connolly's contractual obligations, Disney alleged, seeking a court order to block his employment.
YouTube did not immediately respond to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga's</a> request for comments.
Subscribe to the&nbsp;<a href="https://bztechtrends.beehiiv.com/subscribe" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Tech Trends newsletter</a>&nbsp;to get all the latest tech developments delivered to your inbox.
Why It's Important: Connolly had spent over two decades at ESPN and Disney and stepped down earlier this week as head of platform distribution.
YouTube on Thursday confirmed the hire. Connolly will oversee relationships with major media companies and lead its growing live sports portfolio, the report added, citing sources familiar with the matter.
Price Movement: On Thursday, Alphabet Inc.'s Class A shares gained 1.37%, while Class C shares increased by 1.13%. During the same period, Disney shares rose 0.61%, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">data from Benzinga Pro</a>.
As per Benzinga Edge Stock Rankings, Alphabet boasts a growth score of 88.68%. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-2#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound">Click here to see how it compares to other companies</a>.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-2#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound"><img decoding="async" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/22224557/Screenshot-2025-05-23-at-8.14.58%E2%80%AFAM.png" alt="" class="wp-image-925254" /></a></figure>
Photo Courtesy: Bankrx on Shutterstock.com
Check out more of Benzinga's Consumer Tech coverage by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/consumer-tech" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">following this link</a>.
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/04/45090992/mark-zuckerberg-warns-of-serious-disadvantage-as-chinas-data-center-blitz-could-let-deepseek-leapfrog-us-ai-labs" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mark Zuckerberg Warns Of ‘Serious Disadvantage&#8217; As China&#8217;s Data-Center Blitz Could Let DeepSeek Leapfrog US AI Labs</a></li>
</ul>
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Legal

GOOGL

Disney Sues YouTube To Block Hiring Of Former ESPN Executive Justin Connolly Amid Sports Streaming Turf War

Leading cryptocurrencies surged higher Thursday, even as stocks remained sluggish due to President Donald Trump&#8217;s tax bill-induced debt fears.
<figure class="wp-block-table"> 
<table class="has-fixed-layout">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Cryptocurrency</td>
<td>Gains +/-</td>
<td>Price (Recorded at 9:30 p.m. ET)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>)</td>
<td>+1.30%</td>
<td>$111,396.80</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Ethereum (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/eth/usd">ETH</a>) &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
<td>+3.81%</td>
<td>$2,686.39</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Dogecoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/doge/usd">DOGE</a>)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
<td>+2.67%</td>
<td>$0.2474</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
What Happened: Bitcoin nearly reached $112,000 during the day, as part of a record-breaking rally that has put the top cryptocurrency into a tailspin.
Ethereum, the second-largest cryptocurrency, also went up roughly 4% during the day, raising its market dominance to 9.3%.
Bitcoin was up over 18% in May, while Ethereum's month-to-date gains shot past 47% as of this writing.&nbsp;
Over $300 million was liquidated from the cryptocurrency market in the last 24 hours, with shorts again bearing the brunt.
Bitcoin&#8217;s Open Interest was largely unchanged in the last 24 hours, while Ethereum witnessed a 9% jump in funds locked in derivatives.&nbsp;
Interestingly, the majority of Binance BTC traders were still short on the leading cryptocurrency.
According to the Crypto Fear and Greed Index, market sentiment has shifted dramatically from &#8220;Neutral&#8221; to &#8220;Greed&#8221; in a month's time.
Top Gainers (24-Hours)
<figure class="wp-block-table"> 
<table class="has-fixed-layout">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Cryptocurrency</td>
<td>Gains +/-</td>
<td>Price (Recorded at 8:30 p.m. ET)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Worldcoin (WLD)</td>
<td>+25.37%</td>
<td>$1.54</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Hyperliquid (HYPE)</td>
<td>+17.37%</td>
<td>$33.94</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Zcash (ZEC)</td>
<td>+16.64%</td>
<td>$50.20</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
The global cryptocurrency market capitalization topped $3.50 trillion, following an increase of 1.67% in the last 24 hours.
Stocks ended nearly flat on Thursday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 1.35 points to end at 41,859.09. The S&amp;P 500 dipped 0.04% to close at 5,842.01, while the tech-focused Nasdaq Composite closed 0.28% higher at 18,925.73.
Investors responded to the House passing the Trump <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/25/05/45564489/trumps-big-tax-bill-clears-the-house-30-year-yields-jump-to-515-as-bond-market-freaks">tax-cut bill</a>, raising concerns about debt increases and pushing the 30-year Treasury yield to levels not seen since October 2023.
See More: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/best-crypto-scanners">Best Cryptocurrency Scanners</a>
Analyst Notes: Market analysis platform Barchart projected Bitcoin's next moves, anticipating a "challenge" around $113,500.
"This 8-year trendline says it will face a challenge at about $113,500. Since late 2017, it&#8217;s been a tap-and-roll over. Will this time be different?" Barchart speculated.
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">How high can Bitcoin <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24BTC&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$BTC</a> go? This 8-year trendline says it will face a challenge at about $113,500. Since late 2017, it&#39;s been a tap-and-roll over. Will this time be different? <a href="https://t.co/kVCRmLdSF2">pic.twitter.com/kVCRmLdSF2</a>
&mdash; Barchart (@Barchart) <a href="https://twitter.com/Barchart/status/1925711549278097422?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 23, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
Cryptocurrency analyst and trader Ali Martinez noticed Ethereum's "solid" support at $2,370, with no "significant" resistance walls ahead!
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Ethereum?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Ethereum</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24ETH&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$ETH</a> has built a solid support floor at $2,370, with no significant resistance walls ahead! <a href="https://t.co/E67jeybl6e">pic.twitter.com/E67jeybl6e</a>
&mdash; Ali (@ali_charts) <a href="https://twitter.com/ali_charts/status/1925661215524585506?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 22, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
Photo Courtesy: Antonio Gravante On Shutterstock.com
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$BTC

$DOGE

$ETH

Bitcoin Flirts With $112,000 — Ethereum, Dogecoin Spike Even As Stocks Flat On Debt Worries: Analytics Platform Sees Challenge For BTC At This Level

On Thursday, the Dow Jones finished nearly flat at 41,859.09. The S&amp;P 500 dipped slightly, losing 0.04% to close at 5,842.01. Meanwhile, the Nasdaq edged higher, gaining 0.3% to end the day at 18,925.73.
These are the top stocks that gained the attention of retail traders and investors throughout the day:
GameStop Corp.&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GME#NYSE">GME</a>)
GameStop shares rose 10.02%, closing at $30.86. The stock hit an intraday high of $31 and a low of $28.49, with a 52-week range of $48 to $17.70. The surge occurred despite no specific company news, potentially <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/05/45569674/gamestop-gme-stock-is-rising-thursday-whats-going-on">fueled by retail enthusiasm</a> and momentum in the crypto market, as Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) reached a record high. Earlier this year, speculation about GameStop&#8217;s involvement with Bitcoin was sparked by a photo of CEO Ryan Cohen with Strategy Chairman Michael Saylor.
IonQ Inc.&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IONQ#NYSE">IONQ</a>)
IonQ&#8217;s stock soared 36.52% to close at $45.79, with an intraday high of $48.92 and a low of $33.73. The 52-week range is $54.74 to $6.22. The surge followed CEO Niccolo de Masi&#8217;s comments comparing IonQ&#8217;s <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/05/45576711/ionq-stock-surges-after-ceo-suggests-nvidia-like-future-in-quantum-computing-space-whats-going-on">future in quantum computing</a> to Nvidia Corp. De Masi expressed confidence in IonQ&#8217;s potential to lead the sector.
Intuit Inc.&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/INTU#NASDAQ">INTU</a>)
Intuit shares increased by 0.92%, closing at $666.07. The stock reached an intraday high of $670.56 and a low of $659, with a 52-week range of $714.78 to $532.65. The rise followed the company&#8217;s announcement of better-than-expected third-quarter earnings and revenue, along with raised fiscal year guidance. Intuit reported $7.75 billion in revenue, surpassing analyst expectations. Further details are available&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/05/45575402/intuit-q3-earnings-revenue-beat-eps-beat-raised-fy-guidance-company-seeing-exceptional-momentum-across-platforms">here</a>.
Advance Auto Parts, Inc.&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAP#NYSE">AAP</a>)
Advance Auto Parts saw a significant gain of 57.04%, closing at $49.17. The stock&#8217;s intraday high was $50.04, with a low of $41.62, and a 52-week range of $71.62 to $28.89. The increase followed the release of strong <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45568189/advance-auto-parts-posts-upbeat-results-joins-domo-liveramp-urban-outfitters-and-other-big-stocks-moving-higher-on-thursday">first-quarter financial results</a>. Loss per share came in at 22 cents, beating the consensus estimate of 82 cents loss.
Tesla Inc.&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>)
Tesla&#8217;s stock rose 1.92%, closing at $341.04. The stock reached an intraday high of $347.27 and a low of $331.39, with a 52-week range of $488.54 to $167.41. Wedbush Securities Managing Director Dan Ives said that Tesla is entering a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/05/45557873/tesla-bull-dan-ives-thinks-elon-musks-ev-giant-could-be-entering-a-golden-era-says-2-trillion-market-cap-on-the-table">&#8220;golden era&#8221; </a>with a potential $2 trillion market cap due to advancements in autonomous and robotics.
Benzinga Edge Stock Rankings show that GameStop checkout in Short, Medium, and Long-term on Price Trend, here is how it fares on <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-2#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound">other metrics</a>.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-2#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="438" height="280" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/22222448/Screenshot-2025-05-23-at-11.24.07.png" alt="" class="wp-image-925246" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/22222448/Screenshot-2025-05-23-at-11.24.07.png 438w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/22222448/Screenshot-2025-05-23-at-11.24.07-300x192.png 300w" sizes="(max-width: 438px) 100vw, 438px" /></a></figure>
Photo Courtesy: Viktoriia Hnatiuk on Shutterstock.com
Prepare for the day&#8217;s trading&nbsp;<a href="https://editorial.benzinga.com/wp-admin/Premarket%20Movers%20&amp;%20News">with top premarket movers and news</a>&nbsp;by Benzinga.
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This story was generated using <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro">Benzinga Neuro</a> and edited by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/shivdeep-dhaliwal" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Shivdeep Dhaliwal</a>

Equities

IONQ

TSLA

GameStop, IonQ, Intuit, Advance Auto Parts, Tesla: Why These 5 Stocks Are On Investors' Radars Today

In a high-stakes ruling that expands presidential authority over independent federal agencies, the U.S. Supreme Court had one notable exception, the Federal Reserve.
What Happened: On Thursday, the apex court granted <a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/25951855-24a966-order/">a</a> stay that allows President Donald Trump to remove members of the National Labor Relations Board and the Merit Systems Protection Board without cause, while carving out an exception for the Federal Reserve.
The Court stated that the &#8220;arguments in this case necessarily implicat[ing] the constitutionality of for-cause removal protections&#8221; do not apply to the Federal Reserve, describing the central bank as a &#8220;uniquely structured, quasi-private entity&#8221; grounded in the historical tradition of the First and Second Banks of the United States.
Associate Justice Elena Kagan joined Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Ketanji Jackson in slamming the ruling, calling it &#8220;puzzling.&#8221; 
She argued that &#8220;the Federal Reserve's independence rests on the same constitutional and analytic foundations&#8221; as agencies like the NLRB and FTC, calling the Fed exception a &#8220;bespoke&#8221; law meant to calm the markets.
The Court&#8217;s decision is temporary and is only in effect until the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit resolves the government&#8217;s appeal.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/25/05/45579058/im-a-federal-worker-overseas-in-fear-of-losing-my-job-should-i-stop-paying-into-my-tsp-and-pay-off-debt-suze-orman-weighs-in">&#8216;I&#8217;m A Federal Worker Overseas In Fear Of Losing My Job – Should I Stop Paying Into My TSP And Pay Off Debt?&#8217; Suze Orman Weighs In</a>
Why It Matters: Trump has criticized, and even floated the idea of ousting Fed Chair Jerome Powell several times recently, for <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/04/44861571/donald-trump-blasts-too-late-and-wrong-fed-chair-powell-but-polymarket-traders-doubt-his-termination-will-come-fast-enough">not cutting rates</a> fast enough. 
The markets experienced turmoil for days following these comments, before <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44940900/us-futures-dollar-jump-amid-trumps-latest-comments-on-fed-nikkei-rebounds-to-three-week-high">Trump walked away</a>, stating that he had &#8220;no intention&#8221; of firing Powell. 
Economist Nouriel Roubini criticized Trump for his <a href="https://benzinga.com/25/04/44941184/roubini-trump-wants-a-rate-cutbut-powells-restraint-is-the-only-thing-saving-him-from-a-market-meltdown">attacks against Powell</a>, referring to it as &#8220;a repeated own goal,&#8221; while adding that even if he got his way after winning a Supreme Court battle, it would only be a&nbsp;&#8220;pyrrhic victory,&#8221; as it would ultimately only lead to higher bond yields, owing to the &#8220;de-anchoring of inflation expectations.&#8221;
Photo Courtesy: miss.cabul on Shutterstock.com
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45577818/jamie-dimon-says-he-never-bought-into-american-exceptionalism-he-blames-regulation-and-stupid-bureaucracy-for-slowing-the-country-down">Jamie Dimon Says He Never Bought Into American Exceptionalism. He Blames Regulation And &#8216;Stupid Bureaucracy&#8217; For Slowing The Country Down</a></li>
</ul>

Federal Reserve

Trump May Not Be Able To Fire Jerome Powell, Supreme Court Signals: Fed A 'Uniquely Structured, Quasi-Private Entity'

Earlier this week, Tucker Carlson agreed with a guest on his show who questioned whether Donald Trump's foreign policy overlapped with his family's business ventures.
What Happened: On an episode of The Tucker Carlson Show, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/06/32750830/hey-its-tucker-carlson-former-fox-anchor-tweets-first-episode-of-new-show-unleashes-fiery-critique-o">which Carlson started</a> on Elon Musk's Twitter, now rebranded as X after parting ways with Fox News, former Navy SEAL Shawn Ryan pointed to the Trump Organization's expansion in the Gulf region, which coincided with new U.S. defense and AI deals, <a href="https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5312419-tucker-carlson-on-trump-organization-middle-east-deals-seems-like-corruption/">reported</a> The Hill.
Trump's family business has signed agreements for: a luxury golf resort in Qatar with Qatari Diar, backed by the country's sovereign wealth fund, real estate developments in Riyadh and Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and Trump International Hotel and golf course in Oman, according to the report.
"That stuff kind of worries me," Ryan added, to which Carlson replied, "Well, it seems like corruption, yeah."
See Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/media/25/05/45426637/nvidia-ceo-jensen-huang-expected-to-unveil-new-ai-alliances-at-computex-2025-as-geopolitical-pressures-persist-over-tech-sector" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang Expected To Unveil New AI Alliances At Computex 2025 As Geopolitical Pressures Persist Over Tech Sector</a>
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Why It's Important: The overlap between Trump's public policy and his private business dealings is reviving old concerns about conflicts of interest. The White House previously dismissed these concerns, calling them "ridiculous," the report said.&nbsp;
Press secretary Karoline Leavitt earlier said Trump is following all conflict-of-interest laws, and the Trump Organization maintains that its assets are in a trust and not directly involved with foreign governments.
During Trump's trip to the Middle East, agreements <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45462404/trump-unveils-over-200-billion-worth-of-deals-with-uae-including-major-etihad-airways-commitment">exceeding $200 billion</a> were finalized between the U.S. and the UAE. Notably, Boeing (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BA#NYSE">BA</a>), GE Aerospace (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GE#NYSE">GE</a>) and Etihad Airways were part of a $14.5 billion portion of these deals.
The visit also resulted in a landmark $1.2 trillion economic accord with Qatar, which <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/05/45446924/trump-secures-12-trillion-qatar-deal-as-boeing-ge-land-record-orders">featured a historic $96 billion purchase</a> by Qatar Airways from Boeing and GE Aerospace.
Former Vice President Mike Pence <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/05/45487988/trumps-middle-east-trip-draws-rare-praise-from-mike-pence-as-very-successful-for-us-economy-amid-historic-boeing-deal-thatll-really-support-american-jobs">praised Trump&#8217;s Middle East trip</a> for its positive impact on the U.S. economy, despite previous political disagreements. Meanwhile, economist Peter Schiff warned that Qatar&#8217;s $200 billion deal with Boeing could lead to i<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/travel/25/05/45427289/peter-schiff-warns-qatars-200-billion-boeing-deal-could-spike-us-inflation-interest-rates-says-treasury-sell-off-may-follow">ncreased U.S. inflation and interest rates</a>, potentially causing a Treasury sell-off.
Benzinga Edge Stock Rankings gives Boeing a growth score of 25.29%. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-2#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound">Click here to compare its performance with other companies</a>.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-2#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound"><img decoding="async" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/22214042/Screenshot-2025-05-23-at-7.09.13%E2%80%AFAM.png" alt="" class="wp-image-925223" /></a></figure>
Photo Courtesy: Aleksandr Dyskin on Shutterstock.com
Read More:
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</ul>
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Tucker Carlson Agrees — Trump Organization's Middle East Deals Seem 'Like Corruption'

Economist Peter Schiff took potshots at President Donald Trump&#8217;s exclusive dinner on Thursday with holders of his Official Trump (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/">TRUMP</a>) meme coin.
What Happened: In an X post, Schiff said it should be &#8220;illegal&#8221; for a U.S. president to charge people to dine with him, in what plainly appeared to be a reference to Trump&#8217;s gala dinner with the top 220 investors in his meme coin.
&#8220;Campaign donations are fine. But&nbsp;not direct payments to the&nbsp;president&#8217;s&nbsp;personal account. Nor should a&nbsp;president sell White House tours&nbsp;and pocket the proceeds personally,&#8221; he said.
It&#8217;s worth mentioning that while the top 220 holders will dine with Trump at his private country club, the top 25 holders have been promised access to a VIP reception and White House tour, as well as limited-edition commemorative non-fungible tokens
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">It should be illegal for the president of the United States to charge people money to have dinner with him. Campaign donations are fine. But not direct payments to the president&#39;s personal account. Nor should a president sell White House tours and pocket the proceeds personally.
&mdash; Peter Schiff (@PeterSchiff) <a href="https://twitter.com/PeterSchiff/status/1925690788425465984?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 22, 2025</a></blockquote>
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See Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/05/45578930/bitcoin-pizza-day-turns-15-how-10000-btc-could-have-bought-private-islands-manhattan-penthouses-and-some-of-the-worlds-most-extravagant-luxuries-today" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bitcoin Pizza Day Turns 15: How 10,000 BTC Could Have Bought Private Islands, Manhattan Penthouses And Some Of The World&#8217;s Most Extravagant Luxuries Today</a>
Why It Matters: The controversy surrounding the dinner has been escalating. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/04/45027557/trumps-memecoin-dinner-event-sparks-impeachment-call-from-democratic-senator-says-potus-is-selling-access-to-those-who-enrich-him">Democrats</a> and even <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/05/45563302/pro-trump-crypto-enthusiasts-slam-trumps-memecoin-dinner-as-distasteful-and-an-unnecessary-distraction-hes-becoming-a-salesman-in-chief">some pro-Trump crypto enthusiasts</a> have voiced concerns about potential conflicts of interest and the possibility of shadowy buyers gaining access to Trump through such events.&nbsp;
Controversial cryptocurrency billionaire and Tron (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/trx/usd">TRX</a>) founder Justin Sun has been <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/05/45367052/trump-memecoin-exclusive-dinner-guest-list-revealed-with-justin-sun-shining-at-the-top-rep">revealed </a>to be TRUMP&#8217;s largest holder. He posted a video on X, showing Trump arriving at his Virginia golf club in a helicopter.
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@potus</a> is here. Let&#39;s go! &#x1f1fa;&#x1f1f8; <a href="https://t.co/EYAIWRA0ye">pic.twitter.com/EYAIWRA0ye</a>
&mdash; H.E. Justin Sun &#x1f34c; (@justinsuntron) <a href="https://twitter.com/justinsuntron/status/1925699662759055424?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 22, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Trump has <a href="https://in.benzinga.com/25/05/45187462/trump-denies-personal-profit-from-memecoin-venture-i-havent-even-looked">refuted claims</a> that he is financially benefiting from the venture. The team behind the meme coin, 80% of whose supply is controlled by an affiliate of the&nbsp;Trump Organization,&nbsp;stated that TRUMP is not a political initiative or investment opportunity but an expression of support for Trump&#8217;s ideals.
Price Action:&nbsp; At the time of writing, TRUMP was exchanging hands at $14.37, down 0.30% in the last 24 hours, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard?_gl=1&#x2A;380nj0&#x2A;_ga&#x2A;MTEyOTAyOTcxMy4xNzEzMzY0NTYy&#x2A;_ga_V7ZK73W7N0&#x2A;MTcxNDk4MzIzMi42LjEuMTcxNDk4OTE0Ni4wLjAuMA.." target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">data from Benzinga Pro</a>.
Photo Courtesy: Joshua Sukoff On Shutterstock.com
Read Next:&nbsp;
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<li><a href="https://benzinga.com/25/05/45429393/crypto-enthusiasts-secure-spot-at-trumps-meme-coin-dinner-for-just-1200-report" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Crypto Enthusiasts Reportedly Secure Spot At Trump&#8217;s Meme Coin Dinner For A Mere $1,200: Here&#8217;s How They Did It &#8211; Benzinga</a></li>
</ul>

$TRUMP

$TRX

Peter Schiff Says A President Shouldn't 'Sell White House Tours' And Pocket The Proceeds As Trump Prepares To Have Dinner With Memecoin Holders

On Thursday, Cathie Wood-led Ark Invest made significant trades involving Block Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XYZ#NYSE">XYZ</a>) and Baidu Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BIDU#NASDAQ">BIDU</a>). 
The investment firm sold shares of the Jack Dorsey-led company through its ARK Next Generation Internet ETF (BATS:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARKW#BATS">ARKW</a>) while acquiring shares of Baidu through the ARK Autonomous Technology &amp; Robotics ETF (BATS:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARKQ#BATS">ARKQ</a>).
The Block Trade
Ark Invest executed a substantial sale of Block shares on Thursday, offloading 25,283 shares through ARKW. The sale of shares, at the latest closing price of $58.35, was valued at $1.5 million. The stock spiked 5.25% for the day, as Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) hit a fresh all-time high of $111,970.17 on Thursday.
This move follows a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45459884/cathie-woods-block-sale-ark-sells-bitcoin-play-see-what-shes-buying-instead">previous sale of 9,078 shares</a> of the Bitcoin-focused company last week. The company&#8217;s recent quarterly earnings report indicates that it fell short of expectations. Earnings per share came in at 56 cents, missing the consensus of 87 cents. 
The Baidu Trade
Ark Invest&#8217;s acquisition of Baidu shares on Thursday marks a notable addition to its ARKQ. The firm purchased 5,694 shares of the Chinese e-commerce giant. On Thursday, Baidu shares ended the day at $84.07, valuing the purchase at $478,694.
Baidu&#8217;s Apollo Go service recently achieved a milestone of eleven million paid autonomous rides, positioning it as a leader in the autonomous ride-hailing industry.
Gary Black, Managing Director of Future Fund LLC, praised Baidu&#8217;s Apollo Go as the &#8220;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45559524/gary-black-calls-tesla-rival-baidus-apollo-go-autonomous-ride-leader-following-eleven-million-paid-robotaxi-rides-milestone">world&#8217;s autonomous ride-hailing leader</a>.&#8221; This endorsement underscores the potential growth and innovation within Baidu&#8217;s autonomous driving division. Ark&#8217;s investment in Baidu reflects its confidence in the company&#8217;s ability to capitalize on the growing demand for autonomous transportation solutions.
Other Key Trades:
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Sold 100 shares of UiPath Inc. (PATH) through ARKF.</li>
<li>Bought 59,461 shares of Nextdoor Holdings Inc. (KIND) through ARKW.</li>
<li>Bought 79,135 shares of Blade Air Mobility Inc. (BLDE) through ARKX.</li>
</ul>
Benzinga Edge Stock Rankings indicates Baidu stock has a Momentum in the 34th percentile and Growth in the 89th percentile. Here is how the Chinese company <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-2#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound">fares against</a> other robot taxi players like Tesla.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="432" height="276" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/22212837/Screenshot-2025-05-23-at-10.28.23.png" alt="" class="wp-image-925212" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/22212837/Screenshot-2025-05-23-at-10.28.23.png 432w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/22212837/Screenshot-2025-05-23-at-10.28.23-300x192.png 300w" sizes="(max-width: 432px) 100vw, 432px" /></figure>
Photo Courtesy: viewimage on Shutterstock.com
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This story was generated using <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro">Benzinga Neuro</a> and edited by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/shivdeep-dhaliwal" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Shivdeep Dhaliwal</a>

ETFs

ARKQ

ARKW

BIDU

Cathie Wood Dumps Block Shares As Bitcoin Hits Fresh All-Time High, Buys Baidu Amid Robot Car Buzz

Facing financial uncertainty can be overwhelming, especially when your job security is in question and you have significant debt. That's exactly the situation a federal worker named Gillian described in a recent episode of the "<a href="https://omny.fm/shows/suze-ormans-women-and-money/ask-kt-suze-anything-should-i-stop-paying-into-my-ira-to-get-out-of-debt">Women &amp; Money</a>" podcast with Suze Orman.
Gillian, a federal employee stationed overseas, wrote in to ask for advice. She supports her spouse and child and is the sole earner in the household. Though she once felt secure in her government position, she now fears being laid off — a concern that's become more common among federal workers this year. Amid <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/03/44277188/a-poverty-sentence-heres-why-some-say-losing-a-federal-job-is-worse-than-being-fired-in-the-private-sector">federal downsizing</a> and budget cuts under the Trump administration, workers — especially those based overseas — have grown increasingly worried about job stability.
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With a considerable amount of debt on her shoulders, Gillian wondered if she should stop contributing to her thrift savings plan and instead use that money — along with her emergency fund — to reduce what she owes.
Orman didn't hesitate to weigh in.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">What Is the TSP, and Why Does It Matter?</h2>
Before diving into the advice, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45256709/approaching-retirement-suze-ormans-2025-plan-for-safe-high-earning-cash">Orman</a> clarified what the TSP is. It's the federal government's version of a 401(k), helping employees save for retirement through tax-advantaged contributions.
The question at hand was whether it made sense for Gillian to stop these contributions in order to focus entirely on debt repayment. KT, Orman's co-host, said, "I don&#8217;t think she should stop paying into the TSP, and I definitely would not use that emergency fund money."&nbsp;
Orman agreed — but added several important financial insights.
Trending: Maker of the $60,000 foldable home has 3 factory buildings, 600+ houses built, and big plans to solve housing — <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/boxabl-scaling-fast-from-spacex-orders-to-600-homes-built-this-60k-foldable-home-may-be-the-future-of-housing">this is your last chance to become an investor for $0.80 per share.</a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Debt Repayment vs. Long-Term Security</h2>
Orman emphasized that in Gillian's case, redirecting funds from her TSP and <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/25/04/44656837/build-your-retirement-portfolio-while-saving-for-emergencies-a-roth-ira-can-double-as-an-emergency-fund-is-that-true">emergency savings</a> still wouldn't make a significant dent in her total debt. In Gillan's own words, "Doing this won't even cover half of my debt," making the decision even clearer.&nbsp;
Orman shared a general rule of thumb: "When you owe more money than you are worth, you are essentially bankrupt." However, that doesn't mean liquidating all available funds is the best approach.
In fact, retirement accounts like the TSP, Roth IRA, and 401(k) are legally protected in the event of bankruptcy. That means even if the worst-case scenario happens — like losing a job or filing for bankruptcy — these funds would remain intact.&nbsp;
"Do not stop putting money in a place that's safe and sound," Orman advised.
See Also: Maximize saving for your retirement and cut down on taxes: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/wideradvisor-retirement-planning">Schedule your free call with a financial advisor to start your financial journey – no cost, no obligation</a>.&nbsp;
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Emergency Funds Are for Emergencies</h2>
As for tapping into the emergency fund, Orman was just as clear: Don't do it. The purpose of an emergency fund is to cover essential expenses in the case of income loss or other true emergencies — like, for instance, a layoff. Using it to chip away at debt, especially when it won't eliminate that debt, could leave Gillian exposed if her job situation worsens.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Final Takeaway</h2>
In short, Orman's advice to Gillian was to stay the course with retirement contributions and preserve her emergency fund. The debt remains a concern, but the protections and potential growth offered by the TSP are too valuable to give up — especially during uncertain times.
If you&#8217;re in a similar situation, it may be worth talking to a trusted financial advisor about how to balance debt repayment with <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/25/03/44459879/suze-orman-warns-the-absolute-worst-thing-that-you-can-be-doing-right-now-is-panic-because-it-hurts-long-term-security">long-term financial security</a>.
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Image: Shutterstock

'I'm A Federal Worker Overseas In Fear Of Losing My Job – Should I Stop Paying Into My TSP And Pay Off Debt?' Suze Orman Weighs In

Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) Pizza Day is here again, reminding us of the first commercial use of the prized digital currency. The event, celebrated each year on May 22, has become immortalized and serves as an important reminder of the cryptocurrency&#8217;s humble beginnings.
What happened: In 2010, Florida-based software developer Laszlo Hanyecz accidentally gave the cryptocurrency world a date to remember when he paid 10,000 BTC (yes, you heard that right) for two Papa John&#8217;s pizzas.
Hanyecz <a href="https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=137.0">said </a>on a Bitcoin forum that he &#8220;successfully traded&#8221; 10,000 Bitcoins for two pizzas.
According to the conversation on the forum, 1 Bitcoin was worth $0.0041 on the historical day, taking the total purchase amount to $41.&nbsp;
Fast forward to 2025, and the same stash is worth $1.10 billion, based on a per-unit price of $110,982.80, making the pizzas the most expensive ever.
What if Hanyecz had held onto his coins and instead used fiat currency to satisfy his pizza craving?
See Also:<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44621245/gold-backed-cryptos-match-yellow-metals-highs-following-trumps-liberation-day-shock"> </a><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45511186/coinbase-says-justice-department-has-launched-probe-into-its-recent-cyberattack">Coinbase Says DOJ Probing Latest Attack On Its Platform, Clarifies It&#8217;s Not The &#8216;Subject&#8217; Of The Investigation</a>
Well, he could have purchased a private island. And not just one, but several. For context, the Big Darby Island in the Bahamas was recently <a href="https://www.tribune242.com/news/2024/dec/17/govt-in-9m-tax-boost-as-sword-of-damocles-lifted/?news">sold </a>for $40 million.
But he'd still have plenty left. So he might as well consider buying a penthouse in the Manhattan neighborhood of New York.&nbsp;
Manhattan penthouses are <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42803829/the-super-rich-go-crazy-for-new-yorks-luxury-real-estate-as-11-billion-changes-hands">exceptionally expensive</a>. Prices range from around $2 million to over $48 million, with some reaching upwards of $135 million.
Hanyecz could have also chosen to fund a space tourism trip for dozens of people (including me). SpaceX reportedly charged around $55 million per seat for flights to the International Space Station, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/05/science/axiom-space-station.html">according </a>to a New York Times report.
While we don&#8217;t know if Hanyecz is an art aficionado, he might have used some of his fortune to outbid at some of the world&#8217;s most prestigious art auctions.
The most expensive artwork ever sold at auction was Leonardo da Vinci&#8217;s &#8220;Salvator Mundi,&#8221; <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/22/10/29325691/11-of-the-most-expensive-paintings-ever-sold-at-auction">which fetched $450 million</a> at Christie&#8217;s in New York in 2017.&nbsp;
Well, demands are boundless and luxuries plentiful. So, even a billion dollars might not be enough.
But one thing is certain—the legend of those two pizzas will keep reminding the cryptocurrency community about the importance of small beginnings.
Did you order your pies?
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Image Via Shutterstock

Bitcoin Pizza Day Turns 15: How 10,000 BTC Could Have Bought Private Islands, Manhattan Penthouses And Some Of The World's Most Extravagant Luxuries Today

The Trump administration terminated Harvard University&#8217;s ability to accept international students. This decision, announced on Thursday, affects current students who must transfer or risk losing their legal status.
What Happened: Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem ordered the revocation of Harvard&#8217;s Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification. Noem accused the university of &#8220;fostering violence, antisemitism, and coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party,&#8221; reported Reuters.
Harvard, which&nbsp;enrolled nearly 6,800 international students&nbsp;in the 2024-2025 academic year, called the move illegal and retaliatory. The university stated it was committed to supporting its foreign students and was preparing guidance for those impacted.
The action is part of a broader campaign by the Trump administration against Harvard, which has been a target due to its hiring practices and alleged ideological leanings. The administration has also frozen&nbsp;$3 billion in federal grants&nbsp;to the university.
In a related matter, a federal judge ruled&nbsp;that the administration could not&nbsp;terminate the legal status of&nbsp;foreign students without proper procedures. It remains unclear how this ruling will impact the action against Harvard.
See Also: <a href="https://benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/25/05/45530460/trumps-6-trillion-investment-deals-face-reality-check-only-a-fraction-may-reach-the-real-economy" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Trump's $6 Trillion Investment Deals Face Reality Check: Only A Fraction May Reach The Real Economy Trump&#8217;s $6T Investment Pledges Face Reality Check: Goldman Sees Just Timid GDP Boost </a>
Why It Matters: The revocation of Harvard&#8217;s ability to enroll international students is the latest development in a series of confrontations between the Trump administration and the university. Earlier in April, the administration <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44804541/trump-administration-halts-2-2-billion-in-harvard-grants-after-university-says-dont-dictate-what-we-can-teach-or-who-we-admit">halted $2.2 billion in grants</a> to Harvard after the university refused to comply with demands to remove diversity, equity, and inclusion programs and to screen international students for ideological concerns. This move put nearly $9 billion in federal funding at risk.
Additionally, President Donald Trump has been vocal about stripping Harvard of its <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/05/45185889/trump-harvards-not-a-school-its-a-political-entity-that-should-be-taxed">tax-exempt status</a>, accusing the university of acting as a &#8220;political entity.&#8221;
Harvard <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/04/44916659/harvard-sues-trump-administration-for-attempting-to-withhold-billions-in-federal-grants-over-alleged-antisemitism-response">filed a lawsuit</a> against the Trump administration in April, contesting the government&#8217;s attempts to withhold billions in research funding.
Photo Courtesy: f11photo on Shutterstock.com
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This story was generated using <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro">Benzinga Neuro</a> and edited by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/shivdeep-dhaliwal" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Shivdeep Dhaliwal</a>

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Trump Administration Revokes Harvard's Ability To Enroll International Students, Kristi Noem Alleges Coordination With Chinese Communist Party

A recent <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@daveramsey/video/7490955718892440878">TikTok video</a> shared by personal finance expert Dave Ramsey features a caller in deep financial distress. The woman explains she owes $19,000 across 35 credit cards and is also carrying a $30,000 student loan balance. She and her husband earn $60,000 a year but live paycheck to paycheck, struggling to keep up with minimum payments.
Ramsey didn't sugarcoat the solution. "Are you ready to endure some pain to get rid of this mess?" he asked.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Living Paycheck to Paycheck</h2>
The caller shared that she had started trying to pay off her credit cards, but each week felt like a cycle of covering the minimums and still falling behind. "It's just living paycheck to paycheck," she said.
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<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/financial-advisors/25/05/45368480/dave-ramsey-calls-listeners-math-the-most-ridiculous-thing-ive-ever-heard-proves-consistent-100-investments-can-still-make-millionaires">Ramsey</a> emphasized that this pattern reflects a lack of control over money. "This money is owning you, you don't own it," he said.
His advice? Get serious, make a plan, and stick to it — even if it's uncomfortable at first.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Turning Point: Making a Plan</h2>
Once the caller and her husband confirmed they were both ready to commit to a change, Ramsey pointed them to a free budgeting tool: EveryDollar.com, which also has mobile and desktop versions.
He explained how using a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/what-is-zero-based-budgeting">zero-based budget</a> — where every dollar is assigned a purpose before it's spent — can help break the paycheck-to-paycheck cycle. "You're telling your money what to do instead of wondering where it went," he said.
Ramsey&#8217;s approach focuses on giving each dollar a job, whether it&#8217;s for essentials like groceries and housing, or for paying down debt. When people build their budgets this way, they can prioritize their most urgent goals — in this case, getting out from under 35 credit cards.
Trending: Maker of the $60,000 foldable home has 3 factory buildings, 600+ houses built, and big plans to solve housing — <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/boxabl-scaling-fast-from-spacex-orders-to-600-homes-built-this-60k-foldable-home-may-be-the-future-of-housing">this is your last chance to become an investor for $0.80 per share.</a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Budgeting 101: The Basics Behind the Advice</h2>
<a href="https://www.ramseysolutions.com/budgeting/how-to-make-a-budget">Ramsey Solutions</a> offers a five-step method for building a working budget:
<ol class="wp-block-list">
<li>List your income. Include regular paychecks and any side hustle income.</li>
<li>List your expenses. Start with essentials like housing, food, utilities, and transportation.</li>
<li>Subtract expenses from income. Every dollar should be accounted for.</li>
<li>Track expenses all month long. Keep an eye on where your money actually goes.</li>
<li>Make a new budget before each month begins. Adjust as needed based on your financial reality.</li>
</ol>
By following this system, people can regain control of their finances — even when starting from a difficult place.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">‘You Can Do This'</h2>
Ramsey closed the call with encouragement. "When you get sick and tired of sick and tired, you're ready to change your life, kiddo. You can do it."
While climbing out of debt may require sacrifice and temporary discomfort, Ramsey emphasized that it&#8217;s possible with a plan and determination.
His broader message: A higher income alone won't fix poor money habits. Without a plan, even six-figure earners can end up broke. But with a budget — and a willingness to endure a little "pain" — people can work their way toward lasting <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/25/04/44616088/dave-ramsey-caller-tells-him-following-advice-to-pay-off-house-didnt-work-because-now-she-has-no">financial peace</a>.
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<li>Invest where it hurts — and help millions heal:<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/a-cure-for-osteoarthritis-powered-by-everyday-investors-cytonics-is-looking-to-beat-big-pharma-and-disrupt-a-390-billion-market"> Invest in Cytonics and help disrupt a $390B Big Pharma stronghold</a>.</li>
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Image: Shutterstock

Caller Owes $19K On 35 Credit Cards, Dave Ramsey Says 'Are You Ready To Endure Some Pain To Get Rid Of This Mess?'

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