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August 26, 2026 The Appetizer “And here in Narragansett, we’re still recovering from The Squidpocalypse of ’26.”
Now, on to the numbers. Drum roll, please …
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Dig In The U.S. government crossed $40 trillion in debt last week. That number has doubled in less than a decade, and it showed up about two years earlier than forecasters penciled in. Getting from $39 trillion to $40 trillion took roughly five months. The zeros are piling up faster than anyone planned. Washington isn’t the only one with its hand out. Corporate America is on a borrowing spree of its own – something like $500 billion raised this year just to build AI data centers needed for the next wave of growth. Uncle Sam and Silicon Valley are effectively shopping in the same aisle. When lots of borrowers show up at once, money gets more expensive and investors become pickier about where they lend it. The highest-rated, “safest” bonds have been among the worst performers this year, while slightly riskier ones did better. When everyone is borrowing at once, safe doesn’t automatically mean rewarding. It’s a strange year when the honor roll kid loses the science fair. Is this a crisis? Not today. As we discussed in our Fiscal Trajectory piece, deficits become a problem not when a country runs out of money, but when investors begin to question its ability to keep borrowing at the same pace. We’re not there today. For now, the borrowing tab remains open. The question investors are increasingly asking is how much longer the happy hour lasts. |
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Weekly Specials Turns out your dog may be a better mood reader than most people. Researchers found dogs’ brains respond differently to happy, angry, fearful, and sad human faces, with happy expressions activating reward centers. Groundbreaking research for scientists. Old news for anyone with a dog. Bad news for anyone still using 😂 nonstop. In 2025, the loudly crying face 😭 became the world’s most-used emoji, overtaking both 😂 and 🤣 as younger users reshaped texting culture. Teens often abandon emojis once they become mainstream. So, if you just started using 😭, the trend clock may already be ticking. Big Food calls it a challenge while dietitians call it the whole point: consumers eating less. As GLP-1 medications reduce appetite and alter taste preferences, companies are introducing smaller portions, more protein, and comfort foods. JPMorgan estimates these drugs could eventually cut annual food and beverage sales by $30 billion to $55 billion. A humanoid robot ran 100 meters in 9.39 seconds, beating Usain Bolt’s 9.58-second world record at Beijing’s World Humanoid Robot Games. The good news for humans: they still need a padded wall to stop. |
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Corporate Lunch American Airlines is bringing seatback screens back after betting passengers would prefer their own devices. Turns out, even in the smartphone era, one more screen never hurts. Costco already sells groceries, gas, vacations, cars, and insurance – and now it’s adding Medicare plans. At this point, the only thing you can’t get at Costco is a Costco membership with your Medicare plan. Federal rules apparently had to draw the line somewhere. Amazon is expanding Prime Air drone delivery, delivering everything from groceries to electronics in as little as 30 minutes. Somehow, clicking “Buy Now” still involved too much waiting. Nestlé is using AI and nutrition science to develop foods for people on GLP-1s like Ozempic. Turns out, when appetite goes down, food companies’ creativity must go up. Disney is trying to keep both superfans and occasional visitors happy, with plans to reimagine Tomorrowland, update Spaceship Earth, and bring back fan favorites like Dreamfinder. Even the “Happiest Place on Earth” has a renovation list. Murphy USA is testing automated White Castle kiosks that can serve hot food in about two minutes. Gas station sliders, now with less waiting. |
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