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Augusta Precious Metals Review and Gold IRA Guide

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Augusta Precious Metals is a precious metals dealer based in Beverly Hills, California specializing in gold and silver investments. The company sells IRS-approved coins and bars for self-directed precious metals IRAs and also offers precious metals for direct purchase. For IRA investors, Augusta coordinates custody through IRS-approved custodians and works with third-party custodians to manage accounts.

Before investing in a precious metals dealer, it is important to understand the company’s pricing structure, services, reputation, and potential drawbacks. This Augusta Precious Metals review examines its products, fees, customer experience, and overall value to help you decide if it’s right for your investment goals.

Overview of Augusta Precious Metals

Augusta Precious Metals is a precious metals dealer that helps investors purchase gold and silver through self-directed precious metals IRAs and direct purchases. For IRA accounts, Augusta works with a third-party custodian responsible for managing the account and coordinates custody through an IRS-approved custodian.

Augusta itself is not a custodian or repository. Instead, we partner with third-party providers who manage IRA paperwork, compliance requirements, and the safe storage of investors’ precious metals.

The company positions itself as an education-focused provider, offering one-on-one support and educational resources designed to help investors understand precious metals investing and portfolio diversification before they buy.

Augusta Precious Metals Products and Services

Augusta Precious Metals sells IRS-approved gold coins, silver coins, bars, and precious metals for direct purchase for self-directed precious metals IRAs. The company also provides educational resources and ongoing customer support to help investors understand precious metals investments and navigate future account distributions and sales.

For direct purchases, customers have the option of having the metal shipped to their home or storing it in a secure storage location. For precious metals held within an IRA, IRS rules generally require that the assets be held in an approved vault rather than in the account owner’s possession.

Hint: Precious metals held in a self-directed IRA generally cannot be stored at home. Owning IRA assets can result in taxes and penalties, which can jeopardize the account’s tax-advantaged status.

How the Augusta Precious Metals process works

Get started by contacting Augusta Precious Metals by phone, email, online chat, or through our website. An Augusta representative will explain your options and connect you with one of the company’s third-party custodial partners if you want to open a precious metals IRA.

Then, fund your account through transfers, rollovers, or new contributions, subject to Augusta’s $50,000 minimum investment requirement. Once your account is funded, you can choose from Augusta’s IRA-eligible gold and silver products. Augusta and its storage partners can help coordinate the paperwork, purchasing, and storage process.

For investors who purchase directly without opening an IRA, Augusta can arrange for home delivery or secure storage through a third-party custodian.

Augusta Precious Metals Fees and Pricing Considerations

Precious metals dealers typically sell gold and silver at a premium above the current spot price to cover costs such as sourcing, inventory, operations, and customer service. Augusta Precious Metals does not publish product price increases online, so you will need to contact a representative to confirm current prices.

If you open a precious metals IRA, you may also pay other fees charged by your custodian and storage provider. These may include account setup, annual management fees, and storage fees. These fees vary depending on the provider and service used, so investors should request a complete fee schedule before opening an account.

Augusta does not charge ongoing investment management fees because it does not actively manage its clients’ portfolios. However, other fees associated with self-directed IRAs may still apply.

Hint: Augusta does not publish product price increases or comprehensive pricing online. Before investing, please request a written breakdown including the purchase price, current spot price, custodian fees, custody fees, repurchase terms, and other charges that may affect the total investment cost.

Augusta Precious Metals Reputation and Customer Experience

Augusta Precious Metals was founded in 2012 and has established a strong reputation among precious metal dealers. The company has an A+ rating and accreditation from the Better Business Bureau (BBB), indicating that it meets the organization’s certification standards.

Customer reviews are generally positive. Augusta has an “Excellent” rating on Trustpilot, with reviewers frequently praising the company’s educational approach, responsive customer service, and account support throughout the purchasing process.

As with many precious metals dealers, some negative reviews mention concerns about pricing transparency and difficulty comparing markups across products. However, complaints seem to be relatively limited compared to the amount of positive feedback from customers.

Advantages and disadvantages of Augusta Precious Metals

Here are some things to consider before working with Augusta Precious Metals:

Strong Points:

  • Educational approach including a free Gold IRA kit with many useful resources
  • Ongoing lifetime customer service
  • 100% customer satisfaction and money back guarantee within 7 days of original purchase

Cons:

  • $50,000 minimum for cash and IRA purchases
  • Fee structure is only available through representatives

Augusta Precious Metals vs. Competitors

conclusion

Augusta Precious Metals is a long-established precious metals dealer specializing in gold and silver IRAs. The company stands out for its educational approach, one-on-one customer support, and excellent customer reviews. However, like many precious metals dealers, the company does not publish all product markups and potential account costs online, so it is important for investors to request detailed pricing information before investing.

Before opening a precious metals IRA, compare multiple providers and request all fees, storage costs, and repurchase terms in writing. Precious metals can play a different role in your retirement portfolio than traditional stocks and bonds, so consider consulting a qualified financial advisor to determine whether investing in precious metals aligns with your financial goals, risk tolerance, and long-term retirement strategy.

FAQs about Augusta Precious Metals

How long has Augusta Precious Metals been in business?

Augusta Precious Metals began business in 2012 and offers precious metals IRAs combined with educational customer service.

Does Augusta Precious Metals offer a Gold IRA?

Yes, Augusta Precious Metals offers Gold IRAs. Its team helps clients roll over funds from existing retirement accounts and form self-directed precious metals IRAs.

Is Augusta Precious Metals an authorized precious metals dealer?

Yes, Augusta Precious Metals is an authorized precious metals dealer with an excellent A+ rating and certification from the Better Business Bureau.

President Trump goes after Anti-Weaponization Fund and Iran in interview: Key points

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WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump abruptly ended a controversial and rainy interview on NBC’s “Meet the Press” after he was challenged for saying without evidence that California’s election was fraudulent.

President Trump also defended a controversial $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund, despite his administration publicly abandoning the plan, and warned that the United States would remove Iran’s highly enriched uranium “militarily with great rigor” if Iranian leaders did not agree to dispose of the material in the ongoing war.

Here are key takeaways from President Trump’s interview with “Meet the Press” host Kristen Welker, which aired on Sunday, June 7.

Trump leaves the press conference

Trump cut the interview short after the conversation turned to the slow counting of votes in California in last week’s primary, which has delayed final results in races such as the governor’s race and the Los Angeles mayor’s race.

President Trump said “the election is being rigged by the Democrats” and accused California election officials of being “crooked,” repeating similar claims to his baseless claims about his loss in the 2020 presidential election.

California election officials are still counting mail-in ballots, which are more skewed toward Democrats than Election Day votes. As a result, Democratic candidates gained more votes as mail-in votes were counted.

“We’re at their mercy on this issue. You know this election is fraudulent,” Trump told Welker, calling the U.S. a “Third World country” regarding the election.

Trump continued: “The election is skewed, you’re skewed. Meet the Press is skewed.” “You are a one-sided, distorted network. I’m sorry. Enough is enough, let’s stop. Thank you, darling. Enjoy.”

President Trump removed the microphone from his suit jacket.

“Mr. President, please. I’ve been all the way to Wisconsin,” Welker said.

“I sat in the rain with you for an hour,” Trump replied, before getting up from his chair.

Due to heavy rain, there will be a delay during the interview.

The rain could be heard pounding heavily on the metal roof of the building where Welker and Trump were sitting, which appeared to be bothering the president.

The interview took place on Friday, June 5, inside a barn in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, where President Trump was visiting for a roundtable discussion with farmers.

President Trump mentioned rain multiple times. “Is that wind or something?” Trump said at one point when the rain got particularly heavy. “What is that?”

At another moment, Mr. Welker said, “As we’re having this conversation, I can hear a lot of rain.”

“No, it’s raining heavily,” Trump interjected.

‘I’ll pay them’: President Trump still supports anti-weaponization funds

After intense bipartisan backlash, the Trump administration backed away from plans to create a $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund that could have funneled money to Trump supporters who say they were treated unfairly by past Democratic administrations.

However, in an interview with “Meet the Press,” President Trump made it clear that he still supports the idea and would not rule out the possibility of taxpayer dollars going to the individuals who assaulted police officers during the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.

“People have been horribly hurt by the Biden administration and the far-left lunatics who worked for Sleepy Joe. They’re heinous. They’re violent and what they did to people,” Trump said. “And of course they chased me more than anyone else.

“If it were up to me, I would pay them what they deserve,” the president added. “People were destroyed, lives were destroyed.”

President Trump’s anti-weaponization fund was widely condemned by Democrats and raised alarm among some Republicans about the potential for money to go to the mob that assaulted police officers on January 6th. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche told members of Congress on June 2 that the Justice Department is “not moving forward with establishing the fund.”

But Trump hasn’t changed his mind.

“Personally, I think a weaponization fund is a great idea, and so do many other Republicans,” Trump said. “I have to get it approved. If it gets approved, that’s great. If it doesn’t, I’ll be disappointed.”

President Trump says US will remove uranium with or without deal

President Trump said the United States would work with Iran to recover highly enriched uranium if there is a deal to end the Iran war, warning that otherwise the United States would use military force to remove the material.

“If we make a deal now, we will be friendly and we will all be together. It will be our equipment. Whether it is on the premises or taken off the premises, we will take it out and destroy it,” the president said.

Referring to enriched uranium, which can be used to make nuclear weapons, President Trump said, “If we can’t come to an agreement, we’re going to be very strict and eliminate it militarily.”

Iran’s nuclear program and uranium holdings remain a sticking point in negotiations between the United States and Iran. President Trump has repeatedly teased that a deal is close, but no deal has materialized. Iran has publicly stated that its right to enrich uranium is non-negotiable.

President Trump has said he would resume attacks on Iran if he did not think progress was being made in the negotiations, but said he was satisfied with the negotiations.

Asked what would cause a resumption of military action, Trump said: “My criteria is if we don’t think we’re going to get a deal or if we’re not going to get a deal fast enough.” “We are in very good negotiations with the people who are leading this country right now.”

X Contact Joey Garrison at @joeygarrison.

Twelve people are injured in a shooting near a festival in Ohio. what we know

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Police in Ohio continue to search for at least two suspects accused of raining bullets down near a popular neighborhood festival in Toledo, injuring at least 12 people.

Authorities believe the June 6 incident began when at least two people began firing at each other near the Old West End Festival, a long-running community event that draws thousands of tourists each year to one of Toledo’s most historic neighborhoods.

Organizers canceled the June 7 festival event and law enforcement asked residents to avoid the area while they searched for the suspect, collected evidence at the extensive scene and determined the cause of the shooting.

Officials called on festival attendees and people in northwest Ohio communities to share information about the violence that has rocked the region. Footage circulating on social media appeared to show festival goers running away from gunfire as chaos erupted.

“As investigators continue to investigate yesterday’s shooting near the Old West End Festival, we are asking anyone who witnessed the incident or who may have photos, video, or other information to come forward,” police spokesperson Mohammad Nasser said in a statement to USA TODAY. “Community members continue to play a critical role in helping investigators identify those responsible.”

What happened in the Toledo festival shooting incident?

Toledo Police Department officers responded to a report of a shooting in the north part of the city near the festival at 5:37 p.m. ET. There was already a large police presence at the scene, including off-duty police officers working for the festival, and some officers heard gunshots.

When more first responders arrived, they found multiple people who had been shot and transported several victims to local hospitals.

“It was excessive in terms of violence,” said Lt. Dan Gerken of the Toledo Police Department.

Eyewitness testimony emerges

Kevin Berry told The Associated Press that he was listening to live music with friends at the festival when the shooting occurred. “Everyone was on deck,” he said.

Berry said he saw guns thrown to the ground near a nearby arboretum, injuring at least five people.

Tito Aguilar told CBS News he was buying food when the confrontation broke out and his cell phone started recording him. Aguilar told the news outlet that he fled when gunshots rang out, but returned to the scene to look for his friends and saw several injured people.

Who are the victims?

Police have not released the identities of those injured in the shooting. Gerken said based on interviews, the ages of those shot ranged from 61 to 14.

Ohio authorities condemn ‘senseless’ Toledo shooting

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine said he was “deeply concerned about the situation in Toledo.”

“Summer festivals should be a safe place for families to come together without fear of violence,” DeWine wrote in a post on X. “Fran and I are praying for everyone affected by the incident at the Old West End Festival. We are confident that law enforcement will find the suspects involved in this senseless crime.”

Toledo Mayor Wade Kapuszkiewicz said on the X Show that Toledo has faced “more adversity than most cities over the years, and our citizens always come together to overcome it.” He noted that many urban areas have faced mass gun violence in recent years.

“But we should never shrug our shoulders and accept that as the price of living in a free society,” Kapzukiewicz said. “As a nation, we must do better. Toledo is resilient and will emerge stronger because of the unity we show in this moment.”

Contributor: Cole Behrens, The Columbus Dispatch

Donald Trump declines ‘Meet the Press’ interview

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President Donald Trump called “Meet the Press” host Kristen Welker “crooked” and “stupid” after she objected to her comments about California’s election security.

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President Donald Trump abruptly ended an interview with NBC’s “Meet the Press” and walked away after being challenged by host Kristen Welker over baseless claims of “rigging” in the California primary.

The conflict between Mr. Trump and Mr. Welker arose during the president’s visit to Wisconsin before the midterm elections, during a sit-in that was frequently interrupted by rain and weather. Wisconsin is a key battleground state for both parties that the president could win in 2024.

When Mr. Welker pointed out after the June 2 primary that “Republicans are doing well in California,” Mr. Trump said, “Our approval ratings are rapidly declining because the election was fraudulent,” leading to a tense exchange in the interview that aired on June 7.

Republicans have criticized the multi-day vote counting process in California’s primary election.

Conservative Los Angeles mayoral candidate Spencer Pratt and Trump-backed gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton are both in second place in their respective races, but their Democratic opponents have the upper hand. California has a “jungle primary” in which all candidates, regardless of political party, compete and the top two advance to the general election.

Trump, “Meet the Press” host Welker clash over California election

As Welker and Trump discussed California’s election, including the vote tabulation process, Welker pointed out that “that’s how they count votes in California.” In response, President Trump asked, “Do you know why they’re doing that? Because they’re rigging the election.”

Mr. Welker then asked President Trump if he had any evidence to support his claims, to which the president replied, “All I have to do is look,” and “I listen to what people have to say.” The NBC anchor again called for evidence of election fraud, repeating that the process, which typically takes several days, is “how the votes are counted in California.”

President Trump later questioned whether it was appropriate to hold the vote count five days after Election Day, and Welker said California officials are urging a speedy vote count, but noted that the process is slow.

President Trump told Welker: “They’re crooked, just like you guys are crooked. Your news outlets are crooked, and ‘Meet the Press’ is crooked.” Mr. Welker denied the accusations, and Mr. Trump said her questions were driven “to their own devices.”

Trump ends ‘Meet the Press’ interview

Welker urged Trump to continue the interview after he called her “stupid or twisted.” The president also criticized other news organizations, including ABC, CBS and CNN.

Trump then attempted to end the interview, removing his microphone and appearing to throw it.

President Trump said, “I’m sorry. I’ve had enough of it, so I’m going to stop doing it.” “Thank you, darling. I hope you have a great time.”

When Welker told Trump he had traveled to Wisconsin for the interview, since “MTP” typically shoots on sets in Washington, Trump responded, “We sat in the rain for an hour.” When Mr. Welker tried to continue the conversation, Mr. Trump said, “We’ve been sitting and sitting in the rain. We’ve given you plenty of time. You should straighten up the press.”

The interview ended, and Welker said from the show’s Washington studio that he spoke with Trump on June 6 and that both men mentioned the complexity of the weather. The “MTP” host also revealed that President Trump has agreed to speak with her for another interview.

Scott Pelley is thrilled about filming “60 Minutes” in new interview

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Scott Pelley compares his exit from “60 Minutes” to the death of a spouse.

The 68-year-old journalist had an emotional conversation on the New York Times podcast “The Interview,” which aired on Sunday, June 7, days after he was fired from the CBS show after a run-in with executives.

Perry, who choked up several times during an hour-long podcast conversation, said he was blindsided by the decision to fire him.

“The best way I can imagine to describe it is like your spouse was murdered,” he said. “There are times during the day when I feel great. To be honest, there are moments when I crumble when I least expect it.”

Perry told “60 Minutes” he doesn’t feel “apologetic,” but added that he cares about “the people I left behind” and “this institution that I love so much.”

Perry was fired from 60 Minutes for the first time in more than 20 years after a heated staff meeting in which he criticized CBS News editor-in-chief Bari Weiss and new 60 Minutes executive producer Nick Bilton.

In a recording obtained by The New York Times, Mr. Perry accused Mr. Weiss of “murdering” 60 Minutes and said Mr. Bilton was “poorly qualified” to serve in a meeting that followed mass layoffs of 60 Minutes executives.

In his termination letter, Bilton accused Perry of “misconduct,” saying he “hijacked my first meeting with staff and belittled me, my qualifications, and my intentions in a manner that was extremely disrespectful and disrespectful.” It added that this “staged display of hostility took place in front of staff rather than in a civil, private conversation and demonstrated a lack of interest in contributing to the future success of the program.”

Perry accused Bilton of “insensitivity” and “tone deafness” on “The Interview” when he read a statement from his cell phone to “heartbroken” employees at a meeting, saying “someone had to stand up” for them. But even after speaking out, Perry said he never expected to be fired. “That never occurred to me,” he said.

Perry argued that Weiss should lose his job, citing an editorial note Weiss contributed to a story about Immigration and Customs Enforcement protests in Minneapolis this year, and accused Weiss of “putting his thumb on the scale on behalf of President Donald Trump.”

In a statement shared with USA TODAY, CBS said Weiss’ memo was “not politically motivated and was suggested solely to make the story as strong, fair and accurate as possible.”

“We need adult supervision, and we don’t have that at the moment,” Perry told the Times. “The people who are in these jobs, through no fault of their own, have no TV experience. It’s not their fault, but they don’t know what they’re doing. There’s a subtle political bias that I’ve never seen before. So that’s my hope. We can save this. We can land this plane. But now CBS News is on the air. ”

In an Instagram post on June 6, Perry thanked fans for their support while sharing a photo of herself on a boat. “To all of you who have been so kind to me, you are the wind in my sails. Thank you so much,” he wrote.

Contributors: Taijuan Moorman and Anthony Robledo, USA TODAY.

President Trump calls interest rate hikes ‘unfair’ after jobs report

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President Donald Trump said in an interview on NBC News’ “Meet the Press” on June 7 that there is “no reason” to raise interest rates.

President Trump pushed back when asked about economists’ warnings that the Federal Reserve may need to raise interest rates after the latest U.S. jobs report. Financial markets plunged after the release of a better-than-expected report. Employers added 172,000 jobs in May, according to the Labor Department, an upward revision from the previous month.

“We’ve got a great report. We’re doing great work, but it’s unfair that every time we do great work they want to raise interest rates,” Trump told “Meet the Press” host Kristen Welker. It should be the opposite.

With inflation remaining high and the economy continuing to grow, traders are increasingly expecting interest rates to rise rather than cut this year. President Trump claimed, “If we succeed, we can kill inflation just like raising interest rates.”

He added: “My feeling is that when a country is doing well, we shouldn’t be penalized by raising interest rates too quickly.”

Trump has taken actions during his second term to exert influence over the central bank, raising concerns about its independence. However, President Trump said he would leave the appointment to new Federal Reserve Chairman Kevin Warsh, who took office at the end of May.

“Kevin is great. I want him to do whatever he wants to do,” President Trump said. “I don’t want to affect him too much.”

Contributed by Rachel Barber and Andrea Riquier, USA TODAY

Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. Please contact us at ndiller@usatoday.com.

What happened to the queen’s corgi?

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WOLFFERTON, Norfolk, England – Where are Queen Elizabeth II’s beloved corgis, Sandy and Muik?

The dogs were bequeathed to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson when Britain’s longest-reigning monarch died in 2022. In the years since, Andrew and Fergie’s relationship with Jeffrey Epstein has led to a dramatic downfall, resulting in them being evicted from their shared mansion and stripped of their royal titles.

Embroiled in scandal, the former Duke and Duchess of York virtually disappeared from public life. The same goes for the queen’s little golden fur ball.

“It’s a mystery who owns the corgis,” royal biographer Andrew Rowney told USA TODAY. Penny Junor, a royal expert and author of All the Queen’s Corgis, seems equally perplexed. “We have no idea what happened to the dogs,” she said.

To try to find a Corgi, you need to know when and where it was last seen. Must we follow in their footsteps, in their footsteps? – to uncover the truth, even if it means driving over 100 miles to the English countryside to find it.

Corgi’s last royal event was Queen Elizabeth’s funeral.

Corgis have long been synonymous with royalty, especially Queen Elizabeth, who owned more than 30 during her lifetime. Her first Corgi, Susan, was given to her by her parents on her 18th birthday in 1944. Susan famously accompanied the Queen on her honeymoon, and Princess Diana is said to have once described the pack of dogs that followed the Queen as a “moving carpet.”

In 2021, the Queen was gifted two Corgi puppies, Muik and Sandy. They are the only Corgis to have outlived her and are currently estimated to be about 6 years old.

When the Queen died, Muick and Sandy were photographed on the day of her funeral outside Windsor Castle. Images of them lying on their stomachs, resting as they awaited the arrival of Her Majesty’s coffin, a final expression of love and loyalty, sparked an outpouring of emotion on social media.

Mr Ferguson said in a 2023 interview that Mr Muik, in particular, suffered mentally after the queen’s death, adding that it took him about a year to “really enjoy it” because of the grief.

“Corgis are a link to Queen Elizabeth and were part of her iconic image,” says royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams. “It’s sad that she became the property of the son who betrayed her.”

The last official photo of the corgi was shared about nine months ago

After taking over the corgis, Ferguson frequently used social media to share updates about the animals’ strange behavior. Sandy and Muick begging for snacks. Sandy and Muik are sitting on a log. Sandy and Muik are “thriving” in nature, gleefully stretching out their royal tongues.

In September 2025, just before Ferguson stopped posting on Instagram, she shared what appears to be the last official portrait of her two corgis. The dogs posed with Union Jack flags and the caption paid tribute to the third anniversary of the late monarch’s death.

“It has been an honor to care for Her Majesty’s beloved corgis, who remind us every day of the time we spent together,” Ferguson wrote, crediting Jerry Slade as the photographer. Slade declined to comment to USA TODAY and would not say when or where the photo was taken.

Corgis moved to London suburbs after royal eviction

In October, amid mounting pressure to sever ties with his brother amid the Epstein scandal, Charles III ordered Andrew and Fergie to move out of his luxurious Windsor mansion. The two divorced in 1996, but continued to live together.

In February, shortly before his arrest, Andrew moved to Wood Farm, part of the Sandringham royal estate in Norfolk, more than 100 miles from London. The Sandringham estate has long served as a countryside retreat for the British royal family. Andrew lived temporarily at Wood Farm until his permanent home, Marsh Farm, also on the property, was renovated.

The prince lives in near-exile at Marsh Farm in the small village of Wolferton, where he reportedly plays video games 24/7. He remains under police investigation.

Mr. Ferguson’s whereabouts are unknown. She has not been seen in public this year, with conflicting reports saying she has been in Portugal, Ireland, and even (incorrectly) at Priscilla Presley’s mansion in Los Angeles.

Following the eviction, some Britons expressed concern about the fate of the Queen’s beloved dogs.

“The Queen’s corgis have also been evicted,” the Daily Mail wrote in February, claiming the corgis had been spotted on a walk in Sandringham, near Andrew’s new home.

Has your corgi ever yowled at Wolferton?

Rabbits are hopping along tree-lined streets in the sleepy village of Wolferton, the corgi’s new home. The chirping of birds cuts through the quiet summer. Squirrels and pheasants live there, and purple rhododendrons are also blooming.

Wolferton’s quaint railway station forms part of the Crown’s estate and has been used by the family for over a century. The landmark is now a museum, with grass growing from the railway line that once carried King George VI’s coffin from Norfolk to London. The late Queen and her sister Princess Margaret frequently used the station until it closed in 1969.

The village has only a few houses with well-kept gardens and a social club open three days a week. There are no big shops or pubs, but there is a controversial new resident.

Marsh Farm is just down the road from the village church. The five-bedroom property is widely thought to be a downgrade from Andrew’s previous home in Windsor, but is largely hidden by a new, tall fence that was installed just before Andrew moved in. Local residents say they have seen Andrew from time to time. But when asked about the corgi, one of the construction workers working outside a nearby home said, “I’ve never seen one.”

British locals say ‘Corgis are here already’

At Feathers Hotel and Pub, about a mile from the Sandringham mansion, the staff serves beer and food, along with some royal gossip. There are no corgis, but there is an Afghan hound named Maha with long legs and probably a much nicer coat.

“Oh, there’s a corgi,” says Sarah Hayworth, an employee standing behind the bar. “Someone saw them the other day,” Hayworth said, adding that a local resident recently bumped into a queen corgi while walking in the woods. The person walking the dog was not Andrew, but someone who appeared to be the handler or a staff member.

Pub owner John Higginson, 71, backed Hayworth’s claims. “I’ve never seen them with my own eyes, but I believe Andrew has them,” he says.

Pub gardener Gary Gay takes Mr Higginson’s dog Maha for walks almost every day, but says he has yet to meet the corgi or Andrew. Around here, it might be easier to see a king than a corgi.

Charles was in town a while ago, Gay said. He was quick to share that he had heard that local children had recently bumped into the King, who was visiting Sandringham. He claims that the children who were said to have been lost were personally escorted home by royal entourage.

Since Andrew moved in, Wolferton and the surrounding area have become “crawling” with reporters. Asked how she felt about living and working near Andrew amid scandal and media attention on his new hometown, Hayworth said: “Well, he has to live somewhere,” but pointed out that a life largely exiled behind high fences and without much human interaction is “not sustainable.”

Despite the mounting allegations against Andrew, staff say if the disgraced royal were to enter Feathers they would treat them like any other guest.

“If he came here, I would serve him,” Higginson said. “As long as he can pay.”

This week’s CPI, PPI and inflation data will impact your household finances

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1 week overview

If you’re tired of hearing about inflation, interest rates, and the economy without anyone understanding what it actually means for your bill, this week’s lineup is worth a look. New data released this week will bring three big questions into focus in the coming days.

  1. How long will these high interest rates continue?
  2. Are prices rising again behind the scenes?
  3. How does the average person feel about their finances and the economy?

Those answers will help you decide whether you need to tighten your budget, speed up your debt repayments, or stay as is for the time being.

Key economic reports to watch and why they matter

Think of this week’s data as a check on both price and mood. Here’s what you need to know:

consumer price index

Here are the first reports to watch this week: you Payroll: How prices change for things like groceries, gas, rent, and other everyday expenses. If it shows that prices are still rising at a faster pace than expected, it means your salary may not grow as much. The CPI for May 2026 is expected to be released on the next day. Wednesday June 10th.

producer price index

Second, look at how much the company pays. When costs go up, they often pass it on to you in the form of higher prices at the store, at the pump, or on your monthly bill. The PPI for May 2026 is expected to be released in the following days. Thursday, June 11th.

Consumer sentiment survey

Third, ask how they feel about their finances and economy. When people feel gloomy, they tend to refrain from traveling, eating out, and making big purchases. expect it to surface Friday June 12th.

Overall, these numbers all impact the same question that you are probably most interested in. How long will it be before borrowing money becomes cheap again?

The important thing to remember is that the Federal Reserve is monitoring all of this to determine when to ultimately start cutting rates. Your decision will affect you in the following ways:

  • credit card rate
  • car and personal loans
  • mortgage interest rate
  • What you get from saving

What this means for your money now

Here’s a quick way to break it all down.

Consumer price index and everyday costs

If the CPI report shows that prices have increased more than expected, it indicates that:

  • Day-to-day costs are still rising.
  • Borrowing costs (credit card, car loan, mortgage interest rates, etc.) are unlikely to go down anytime soon.
  • Even if inflation isn’t as high as it was a few years ago, you may continue to feel like everything is still expensive.

If the CPI reflects a gradual rise in prices, that’s a win, even if we don’t see a dramatic change. It’s more likely that:

  • Price increases are starting to slow, especially in large categories such as food, energy, and housing.
  • The Fed is more reluctant to cut rates later this year or next.
  • Over time, you’ll get some relief from interest rates on mortgages, car loans, and cards.

What you can do now

Review your top five monthly expenses and see where you can cut back.

If inflation looks like it’s going to continue, focus on essentials. Plan meals, compare prices, and find cheaper replacements for groceries, gas, and insurance. Once inflation subsides, resist the urge to celebrate by overspending. Instead, pay off your debt or rebuild your savings whenever you can.

Producer price index and monthly bill

If the PPI rises, meaning that companies pay more again, that’s a sign:

If your reporting improves, which means your costs are stable or decreasing, that’s a small win for your budget. Prices won’t suddenly drop, but the following are more likely:

  • Price increases will slow.
  • The Fed is confident it will cut rates later this year or next.
  • Eventually, you will see some relief in interest rates on loans and cards.

What you can do now

Choose one bill you would actively oppose this week: Insurance, Phone Plans, Internet, Streaming. Call, negotiate, cancel.

Look out for creative pricing changes (smaller packaging, higher commissions) and switch to store brands or alternatives when appropriate.

Americans’ emotions affect the economy

Consumer sentiment research is about job security, big purchases, and atmosphere, and those atmospheres are important. When people are depressed about the economy:

  • Delay big purchases like a car or a house.
  • They cut back on traveling, concerts, and eating out.
  • If possible, you might increase your savings out of fear.

When people feel better:

  • They are more willing to spend money and take on big commitments.
  • Companies may see that and feel it’s safer to hire more people or give them raises.

What you can do now

Even if this week’s Consumer Sentiment Survey shows people are feeling even worse than they have been lately, paychecks won’t change overnight. But it’s a reminder to be ready. If possible, set up a small emergency fund so you know which expenses to cut first if you run out of money. Be realistic about big purchases. You may need a larger cushion than usual.

If you feel better, that bodes well for job security and pay. But that doesn’t mean you should throw your budget out the window.

3 smart money moves to make this week

No matter what your numbers are, you can use this week’s report as a reminder to adjust your finances. According to experts, here are three practical moves you can use to defeat it in a day or two.

1. Give your highest interest debt a little extra love.

If you have a balance on your credit card, this is probably where high interest rates hurt you the most. Log into your account and sort by interest rate. Choose the one with the highest rate and send one additional payment, no matter how small. If you’re settling for the minimum, increase your one-time payment by even $20 or $30 this month. We can’t control when the Fed will eventually cut rates, but we can control how long we will continue to carry high debt.

2. Make sure you actually get something out of the money you save.

If you have cash sitting in your checking account or an old low-interest savings account, now is the time to fix it.

Check the current interest rate on your savings. If it’s close to zero, consider opening a high-yield savings account with a better interest rate. Move any cash you don’t need for your bills to that high-interest account. Higher interest rates hurt debt, but they also end up paying savers more. Be sure to get your share.

3. Pressure test your budget

Use this week’s headlines as inspiration for your budget stress test. Ask yourself:

  • If your rent or mortgage goes up a little, where will that money come from?
  • If interest rates stay high for another year, will you still be able to reach your goals?
  • If your job became more unstable, what would be the first expense you would cut?

No need for a 20-tab spreadsheet. Even just a quick list of expenses you need to maintain and expenses you can cut can help you feel more in control.

Conclusion: High interest rates may continue

You can’t control the numbers, but you can chip away at high-interest debt, work harder at saving, and create a simple plan for big bills. If you treat each report as a reminder to do one small money task rather than an excuse to panic, you’ll get through this period of high interest rates better than most.

This story was created with the help of artificial intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing, and publication process. learn more.

Are Spencer Pratt and Tom Steyer on the losing side? CA race updates

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In the Los Angeles mayoral primary, progressive City Council member Nitya Raman will take on reality TV star Spencer Pratt and face incumbent Mayor Karen Bass.

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The results of California’s primary election are reminiscent of the MTV reality show “The Hills,” with former villain Spencer Pratt ousted in the Los Angeles mayoral race.

Meanwhile, billionaire businessman and Democrat Tom Steyer remains behind British-born Republican political strategist Steve Hilton in the race to replace Gov. Gavin Newsom, an outspoken critic of President Donald Trump.

The candidates who advance to the November general election will face former U.S. Secretary of Health Xavier Becerra, who has already been voted forward by voters in the Golden State.

Each California election offers voters an up-close look at the nation’s most populous state’s unique “jungle” primary, with the top two candidates advancing regardless of party.

California is attracting significant national attention as observers await the results of both primaries. Pratt, a conservative political outsider, is banking on dissatisfaction from incumbent Mayor Karen Bass’ handling of last year’s Los Angeles wildfires in his ambitious bid to unseat the former congressman.

All eyes are now on the Democratic Party, which is aiming to succeed Newsom in the gubernatorial election. Former Rep. Eric Swalwell, once considered a front-runner, resigned from Congress and withdrew from the race on April 14 following allegations of sexual misconduct.

Did Spencer Pratt win? Nithya Raman talks to ‘The Hills’ alumnus

In the Los Angeles mayoral race, Los Angeles City Council member Nithya Raman is closing in on Pratt. Mr. Basu is currently in first place with 34.81% of the vote and will advance to the general election in November, while Mr. Raman is in third place with 26.21% of the vote, a close difference to Mr. Platt who is currently in second place with 27.32%. Primary election votes are still being counted.

Bass was followed by Pratt at 28.24% and Raman at 24.89%, according to the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder and County Clerk on Friday, June 5th. Raman’s 1.32 percentage point increase since Friday was significant for her campaign.

The Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk processed 156,965 ballots on June 6th. The total number of ballots processed is 1,774,846, according to the department. This represents 30.12% of registered voters.

Who will compete to replace Gavin Newsom: Steve Hilton or Tom Steyer?

The battle with former Health Secretary Becerra remains fundamentally unchanged. Republican challenger Steve Hilton received 26.1% of the vote, compared to 26.4% the day before. Mr. Steyer rose slightly more, but remained in third place, up 21.3% from 21.1%, according to the California Secretary of State’s Office.

The gubernatorial election has attracted national attention from the beginning. Former Vice President Kamala Harris announced in July last year that she would not run for governor, raising questions about her ability to run for president again.

Sen. Alex Padilla, the state’s senior senator, has declined to run in November 2025. Rep. Katie Porter, who faced major controversy after a video surfaced of her taunting a former congressional staffer, used the viral backlash in a campaign ad. “So, could you all please step away from my shooting?” Porter joked.

June 7 will be the sixth day after in-person voting ends on June 2 that California state election officials will process primary ballots postmarked by Election Day. President Trump, who gave Hilton over Sheriff Chad Bianco a much-needed endorsement, is scrutinizing the slow-moving tally.

In a series of posts on his Truth social media platform, Trump wrote that Democrats were “stealing votes” in the gubernatorial race, without providing evidence.

Pratt also posted a meme on June 6th that questioned the security of the Los Angeles election. He wrote, “Trying to understand how votes are counted in Los Angeles.”

California election officials say the state is experiencing an influx of mail-in ballots, which will take time to count.

Singer Natasha Bedingfield declares, “The rest is yet to be written” in the “Hills” theme song, which Raman used in the closing campaign ad.

Contributions: Terry Collins, Paris Barazza

For some drug addicts, saints also help and justify a life of violent crime.

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Did he mutter a desperate prayer to St. Jude for help in his final moments as bullets flew in the fateful shootout that left the Mexican drug lord known as El Mencho fatally wounded?

Nemesio Oseguera, co-founder and head of the Jalisco Nueva Generación Cartel (CJNG), one of Mexico’s most wanted fugitives until he was killed in a Mexican military raid in February, was spending his final days in a luxury villa in Jalisco that featured a makeshift shrine featuring Catholic saints and a handwritten copy of the Bible’s 91st Psalm.

This brutal cartel is the nation’s most prolific trafficker of cocaine, heroin, and meth, and, according to the U.S. Department of State, is also the pipeline for fentanyl into U.S. soil. Still, El Mencho’s handmade altar contained statues symbolizing his typical Catholic upbringing. Statue of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the patron saint of Mexico. Saint Martin Caballero, patron saint of soldiers and travelers. and St. Jude Thaddeus, the patron saint of desperate situations.

“There couldn’t be a more orthodox Catholic,” said Andrew Chesnutt, a professor of Catholic studies at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond and an expert on Latin American Catholicism.

How can someone steeped in drug violence reconcile such a life with the devotional practice of Catholicism? Chesnutt said El Mencho, who grew up in the deeply Catholic state of Michoacán in Mexico, is like any other criminal who maintains a balance between villainy and worship, absolving or justifying the act of circumventing traditional religious frameworks to earn a living.

“It’s a complete departure from Christian moral guidelines,” he says. In that sense, he added, El Mencho and other drug traffickers are no different from the Italian mafia, which has relied on Catholic saints to protect, prosper and legitimize its operations.

Along with the saints found on the altar of El Mencho, another saint embraced by drug culture is the Santo Niño of Atocha, said Robert Almonte, a law enforcement trainer and consultant in San Antonio, Texas. It is a childlike statue of Christ, known as the patron saint of prisoners of war and those in danger. Almonte said drug lord Ovidio Guzman, the son of notorious Sinaloa kingpin Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzman, was wearing a pendant with an image of the Holy Infant when he was captured in 2019.

He said the most popular saint among Mexican drug traffickers is St. Jude Thaddeus, who was first embraced by Colombian drug cartels. St. Jude is the patron saint of lost causes and difficult situations, and to Catholics, for example, those seeking help for a terminally ill relative, Almonte said, “If you’re driving down the highway in a car loaded with drugs, you’re asking St. Jude to help make sure the drugs get to their destination.”

But experts say drug agents often pray to Mexican folk saints who are not recognized by the Catholic Church, such as Santa Muerte (Holy Death) or Jesus Malverde, whose following extends far beyond the underworld.

That’s one of the benefits of folk saints, Chesnutt said. Since they operate outside of the Catholic framework, one can ask them anything. “They’re not operating within Christian morality, so if you want to ask them to bless a shipment of fentanyl to Atlanta, that’s kosher,” he said.

Folk saints fill a void in a largely Catholic country where many saints with roots in old Europe do not necessarily resonate. Jesús Malverde, for example, was a Robin Hood-like figure modeled on the legendary green-clad Mexican bandit who distributed his plunder to the poor, earning him favor among the feared Sinaloa cartel.

“If you’re dissolving bodies in vats of acid, you can’t go to work every week and attend Sunday Mass,” said Robert Bunker, an international security and counterterrorism consultant who studies cartels. “You are not living a good Christian life. No matter how many Hail Mary you say, you are still not a clean slate.”

As Cultural Geographics once pointed out, the association with Jesús Malverde added powerful symbolism to the drug gangs that financed improvements in areas not supported by the government. One such central figure “built a church, kindergarten, and volleyball court in his hometown of Guam Chilito,” the report states.

As Almonte says, “Mexican cartel members often think they are doing the right thing.”

The Rise of Santa Muerte

Another folk saint associated with Narco culture is Santa Muerte. Due to Shinigami’s appearance and relative obscurity, it is assumed that he has malicious intent. News reports have referred to her as the “patron saint of cartels,” but a news release from the Texas governor’s office noted that a Santa Muerte altar was discovered in a stash raid in 2023, indicating “links to Mexican cartels.”

Chesnutt said the demonization of Santa Muerte began with former Mexican President Felipe Calderon, who said a military-led crackdown on cartels that began in 2006 included the destruction of numerous Santa Muerte shrines.

“He listed Santa Muerte as public enemy number one,” said Chesnutt, author of “Dedicated to Death: Santa Muerte, the Skeleton Saint.” “There’s no denying that Santa Muerte has a strong following in the cartel. If you want to bring death to your enemies, or if you’re looking for protection from death, wouldn’t it be better to ask for more hourglasses than death itself?”

Santa Muerte, who is often depicted with a crown and sickle, a globe in his hand, and an owl at his feet, is a product of religious overlap dating back to the Spanish conquest. Scholars say Catholic missionaries in the 16th century introduced the European figure of the Grim Reaper to Mexico’s indigenous peoples, believing that the fear of death would instill a desire for salvation and convert them to Christianity.

Rather, Chesnutt said, indigenous peoples associated the figure with the god of death in their own ancient belief system. This fusion eventually produced what would become Santa Muerte, despite the church’s efforts to eliminate her, and by the 1940s she was seen primarily as a love magician, calling on women to take back their wayward partners “under penalty of hitting them with the sickle.”

And in 2001, believers in Mexico City’s Tepito neighborhood installed a life-sized statue of Santa Muerte on the sidewalk outside their home because they had nowhere to put it, inadvertently sparking what Chesnutt calls “the fastest-growing religious movement on earth.” He said the statue is now housed in a glass case attached to a woman’s house, the most famous Santa Muerte shrine in the world.

Chesnutt estimates that Santa Muerte currently has 13 million to 14 million followers worldwide, the majority in Mexico and the American Southwest.

William Calvo-Quiros, a professor at the University of Michigan, said most are practicing and cultural Catholics who look to Mr. Santa Muerte for his reputation as a quick-fix solution. In his book, “Undocumented Saints: The Politics of Migratory Piety,” Calvo-Quiros said the cult of Santa Muerte is a form of spiritual pragmatism that is “less concerned with the afterlife than with the sufferings of this life.”

In Mexico, Santa Muerte has found appeal among the poor and marginalized, especially those at risk of drug violence and other dangers, who look to the “ladies with bones” for protection. As the Institute for Economics and Peace’s Humanity Vision reported earlier this year, Mexico’s homicide rate nearly doubled from 2015 to 2019, from 15.1 to 28.2 deaths per 100,000 people, an increase that coincides with the nationwide expansion of El Mencho’s CJNG cartel.

“She’s especially popular with people who may be facing death,” Chesnutt says. “That includes Mexican law enforcement and soldiers. I really call her the patron saint of the drug war.”

Temples dedicated to Santa Muerte have sprung up from Guadalajara and Los Angeles to villages in Michoacán. Believers are sharing offerings and prayers on Reddit, and statues of Santa Muerte, medals and bracelets are common at botanicas in the American Southwest. Dallas’ La Luz Botanical Garden held a “Noche de Santa” celebration of the folk saint in December.

“It’s a faith even for Catholics,” said Xenia Vitella, co-owner of the store. Although he is not a Santa Muerte believer himself, he stocks products for believers. “My tier was a believer.”

The Catholic Church is not happy. When Pope Francis addressed Mexico’s bishops in 2016, he only vaguely mentioned Santa Muerte and her cartel connections, but expressed concern about “the many who are seduced by the vain forces of the world, who glorify illusions, embrace its macabre symbols, and commodify death in exchange for money.”

In a statement issued the following year, the Catholic bishop of San Angelo, Texas, called the cult of Santa Muerte “spiritually dangerous” and a “perversion of devotion to the saint.”

Such declarations mean little to believers like Marta Azcona, owner of Botanica La Fe a la Santissima Muerte in Fort Worth, Texas. The store is filled with statues of Santa Muerte, candles, bracelets, and ornaments. Occasionally, she hosts potluck-style Santa Muerte gatherings under a full moon with a bonfire in the parking lot.

Azcona, 47, said people who visit her botanical garden for blessings and spiritual cleansing feel left out in traditional religious settings because of their sexuality, tattoos or other factors. Some people hide the Santa Muerte altar in their homes from relatives and friends because of its negative connotations.

“They go to church, but they feel like they’re being judged,” said Azcona, who was raised Catholic. “There is no judgment here. People who come to her feel that everyone has turned against them. Where are they going to run away? To others who are feeling the same pain.”

Azcona stretches his forearm, revealing a tattoo of Jesus on one side and Santa Muerte on the other.

“If God and Santa (Muerte) are with us, who can be against us?” she said. “no one.”

People like Bunker said that kind of mentality is a concern, and that the flexibility allowed under Santa Muerte could make such devotion dangerous if she were to be seen less as an intermediary and more as a “goddess in her own sense.”

Almonte, the San Antonio consultant, agreed.

“Cartel members believe that no matter how much criminal activity they are involved in, as long as they pray to Santa Muerte, she will take them to heaven,” Almonte said. “That makes them even more dangerous, because they’re not afraid of dying.”

What to do before new student loan rules take effect on July 1st

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Federal student loan rules are set to change on July 1, and waiting borrowers may have fewer repayment options than they currently have. This change affects both repayment plans and some loan programs, including Parent PLUS and graduate borrowing.

Some existing plans will close to new borrowers, some will be phased out over time, and SAVE plan borrowers may be automatically transferred if they don’t choose a new option, according to federal announcements and student loan experts.. Borrowers who do not select a new plan within 90 days provided by their loan servicer will be automatically enrolled in either the standard repayment plan or the new tiered standard plan, the Department of Education said.

As Medora Lee recently wrote, the important question for borrowers is not the specifics of the policy, but what action to take now. This includes finding out which repayment plan you’re on, whether your loan was paid before or after July 1, and whether you need to consolidate your Parent PLUS loan by the deadline. The main place to check your options is studentaid.gov.

1. Check your repayment plan now

Experts say you should review your federal student loan accounts by July 1 because multiple repayment options will change at once. The most immediate step you can take is to log into studentaid.gov and see which plan you’re in and what options are still available to you.

Jack Wallace, director of government and loan relations at Illefee, said borrowers may be able to take advantage of things now that may not be available in the future. Waiting can limit the options available to you.

2. If you’re on SAVE, don’t think you can stay there

Borrowers still enrolled in the now-defunct “Saving on a Valuable Education” plan will be contacted by their loan servicer around July 1 and given a 90-day grace period to transition to the new payment plan, according to a Department of Education announcement linked in the note. Approximately 7.5 million borrowers were enrolled in SAVE.

Many SAVE borrowers have put their repayments on hold. Bright Horizons’ Stacey McFettle said that because standard plans can have higher monthly payments, borrowers are strongly encouraged to consider and apply for other income-based plans before the automatic deadline. More information is available at ed.gov.

If you are seeking public service loan forgiveness or income-based forgiveness, payments made while remaining in SAVE will not count toward your progress, McFettle said. He said existing borrowers can switch to IBR if they qualify.

3. Parent Plus borrowers may be required to consolidate before July 1st.

For parents with Parent PLUS loans, the biggest action is consolidation. Borrowers must consolidate these loans into a Direct Consolidation Loan by July 1 to remain eligible for programs such as income-driven repayment options and public service loan forgiveness.

Parents who do not integrate by then will permanently lose access to income-driven repayment plans and PSLF. Instead, you’ll be limited to a standard repayment plan, which can result in higher monthly bills.

4. Some repayment plans have been terminated or phased out

Some existing repayment plans are limited. PAYE and ICR will no longer be available for loans taken out after July 1, and both plans will be completely phased out by July 1, 2028, with borrowers in these plans having until June 30, 2028 to choose a new repayment option. Existing borrowers with old loans may still keep them for now.

IBR is also changing. Existing IBR plans will be discontinued for loans disbursed before July, but the plan will close applications to new enrollees on July 1st. If you think one of these plans fits your situation, the practical step is to check whether you qualify for a loan before closing.

5. New borrowers have fewer repayment options

Starting July 1, only two repayment plans will be available to new borrowers: the Standard Repayment Plan and the new Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP).

Standard plans offer fixed monthly payments for 10 to 30 years, depending on the loan. Monthly payments can be higher, but the total interest typically reduces over time, according to the Department of Education. RAP is described in the note as an income-driven plan with payments ranging from 1% to 10% of adjusted gross income, or $10 per month for borrowers earning less than $10,000 a year, and is forgiven after 30 years of repayment, although actual payments vary by income band and can also be adjusted based on dependents.

6. PLUS loan limits for graduates and parents will also change

Borrowers planning to take out new loans for graduate school or a dependent’s education may also want to check the timing. After July 1, Graduate PLUS loans will no longer be offered, but some existing borrowers may continue under the old limits for up to three academic years if they have made at least one payment by that date.

New Direct Unsubsidized Graduate Loans are capped at $20,500 per year, with a total cap of $100,000 for standard graduate programs, and $50,000 per year, with a total cap of $200,000 for certain specialized programs. Parent PLUS loans are capped at $20,000 per student per year, with a lifetime limit of $65,000 per dependent unless the borrower becomes a grandparent under the old rules.

If you plan to borrow under the current rules, it may be important that your application is approved and the first disbursement occurs before July 1, but what ultimately determines eligibility under the old rules is whether the loan is actually disbursed before July 1, 2026.

This story was created with the help of artificial intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing, and publication process. learn more.

Parenting these days is hell. The reason is as follows

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With a 3-year-old and a 1-year-old on each hip and suffering from postpartum anxiety, Kristin Gallant of the viral brand Big Little Feelings remembers looking around her neighborhood and scrolling through social media for clues. She said this whole “parenting” thing gave her clues about what exactly she should be doing.

“Everyone looked a lot different than me,” she said. This was before she became a parenting influencer. “They all seemed to be doing perfect. They all seemed to be cutting little cute shapes for snacks, and their hair was breaking out. It wasn’t like a diaper breakout, but that was an issue I was dealing with. They were wearing makeup. I was like, how do these people do this? What’s wrong with me?”

Kanika Chadda Gupta, a New Jersey mother, remembers similar feelings.

“A lot of people told me what to do. We had a nanny, a few nannies, a mother-in-law, a lot of aunts,” she said, adding that some of the advice she got was helpful. “But I felt really stuck, with so many opinions to sift through.”

Eventually, Gallant and Chadagupta discovered that many other parents were facing the same problem. I was overwhelmed by the culture of comparison and the constant flow of opinions and information, both in person and on social media.

“You look at social media and all of a sudden you’re like, ‘Oh my god, maybe I should make my own granola bars for my kids,'” said Anushka Salinas, CEO of baby monitor brand Nanit. “No, no, I don’t have time for that.”

Feeling overwhelmed with parenting is nothing new, but algorithms have made it inevitable, making it more pressing than ever, parents and experts say. Social media, especially influencer accounts and the ever-increasing number of new products, are exacerbating the feeling that parenting is becoming increasingly intense, extravagant, and harder to succeed.

“Bad Mamacon”

Reshma Saujani, founder of Girls Who Code and founder and CEO of Moms First, said previous generations encountered parenting feedback at social gatherings like school picnics and backyard barbecues. Parents now have many images of what they “should” do for their children. Because of this, Saujani says, “I always feel like I’m a bad mother.”

“We intentionally made that impossible,” Saujani said. “And it’s always been like this.”

School days and work days don’t match. Some working parents plan to return to work as little as two weeks after giving birth. All of these systems work together to make parents, especially mothers, feel like they’re failing, Saujani says.

She calls it “bad motherhood,” and explores it in her new documentary, No Country For Mothers. It dates back more than 200 years and has been labeled by many different labels, including helicopter moms, working moms, free-range moms, and breastfeeding and bottle-feeding moms.

“Every time we make some progress, we bring another divisive culture war,” Saujani said.

But there is hope, she said. When parents see others feeling just as lost and devastated as they are, it can be both comforting and upsetting. “I always say there is nothing more powerful than an angry mother.”

Our system is designed to make parents, especially mothers, uncomfortable.

Parents everywhere feel their bodies are getting thinner. A recent survey of 5,500 parents by New America found that 72% of parents want to spend more quality time with their children. A 2026 survey of nearly 1,500 parents by Nannit found that more than half of working parents said they rarely or never felt like they were spending enough time with their children, and two-thirds of stay-at-home parents said they felt guilty when they needed a break or wanted time alone.

Ironically, today’s parents actually spend more time with their children than previous generations, Salinas says. However, there is an idea that good parenting requires constant presence and optimization, which is completely unrealistic.

Siggy Cohen, author of You Are The Parent, says many parents feel that everything they do has a huge impact on their child’s future. That’s not true, she said.

“Think about it: When you’re overdoing it, what is it for? Who are you trying to please? What are you aiming for?” she said. “How to match something that doesn’t actually exist?”

Parenting isn’t about giving your kids the most museum memberships, library books, toys and games, Cohen said. And she asks her parents: “If we are always preoccupied with what is best for our children, are we leaving ourselves behind?”

All parents feel parental guilt, but mothers tend to be more affected by feeling overwhelmed or embarrassed. A recent LogicMark survey found that men are more likely to describe caregiving as rewarding, while women are more likely to describe it as difficult and worrying. In a recent survey of more than 1,000 women conducted by Kantar for Teleflora, 91% of respondents said they experienced “mom guilt” and 71% said they felt pressured to live up to expectations of being the “perfect” mother.

In both the Nanit and Teleflora surveys, most parents said the pressure to do more for their children came from within themselves. But Saujani said there is no denying the impact social media is having on parents’ purchasing and parenting habits, and the sense that parents are always behind the curve. Between influencer promotions, new advertising algorithms, and neighborhood conversations, there’s always pressure to do, buy, and give more to our kids, whether it’s a breakthrough potty training method, all-important swim lessons, or that must-have $1,200 Snoo basket.

Do online communities help or hurt your mental strain?

A New America survey found that parents also want more time for themselves.

“What they’re saying is, ‘We want something different than what’s currently being offered,'” said Alison Silkowski, senior policy adviser at New America’s New Practice Lab, a nonpartisan Washington, D.C.-based think tank.

Chadagupta realized that some parents may unintentionally make things difficult for themselves. They don’t want to miss soccer practice, even if it means an hour alone. She aspires to see parents adopt a more community-driven approach to raising children.

Megan Hughes, a South Carolina mother, said she sometimes misses her son’s basketball games and feels guilty about it. But talking to other mothers helps, she said.

“Seeing other moms going through things like that made me feel a little more normal and knowing you weren’t the only one missing out on something,” she said.

Gallant and Chadagupta said their situation improved when they realized that the ideal of “perfect parents” was a myth. That’s why Gallant founded the parenting platform Big Little Feelings, and why Chadha Gupta hosts the podcast That’s Total Mom Sense.

Gallant said social media can be good for parents as long as it’s intentional and parents try to “not see things that make them feel bad” and try to accept parents like themselves.

“I’m more of a messy mom. I’m more of a type B mom. I’m always late,” she said. “But I try to look at all of this in a positive light, but I really accept that there’s no one right way to do it.”

Chadha-Gupta always tells people to follow their instincts, their sixth sense, which she calls “mother sense.” After all, she said, she knows herself and her children better than any influencer, podcaster or self-proclaimed “parenting expert.” Most days she cooks Indian food for her children and listens to hymns in the morning.

“No parenting book tells you to do that, right?” she said. “You have to find out what works for your personality type, your partner, your kids, and really tune out the noise.”

Madeline Mitchell’s role covering women and the care economy for USA TODAY is supported by a partnership with Pivotal and Journalism Funding Partners. Funders do not provide editorial input.Contact Madeline at: memitchell@usatoday.com and @maddiemitch_ With X.

Jennifer Boresen is a graphic journalist at USA TODAY, specializing in explanatory graphics and illustrations in a variety of fields, including politics, science, weather, and entertainment.

Here’s why you can probably retire with less than $1 million

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Conventional wisdom about retirement planning says that to retire with peace of mind, you should aim to save 10 times your annual income, or the “magic number” well above $1 million.

But research on actual retirees shows that these savings goals may be too high, at least for most of us.

The typical retiree has just $126,000 in household savings, according to the 2025 Retirement Study by Transamerica Retirement Research Center. Other research suggests that only about half of retirees have any savings for retirement.

And importantly, most retirees say they’re doing pretty well.

In an April Gallup poll, 82% of retirees said they had enough money to live comfortably.

In the 2025 Federal Survey on Household Economics and Decision Making, 83% of Americans age 60 and older said they were “comfortable” or “doing just fine” financially.

Additionally, a Transamerica survey found that 76% of retirees said they were confident they would be able to maintain a comfortable lifestyle in retirement.

“If you’re asking, ‘Are we adequately prepared for retirement?’ all of these numbers show that we are,” said Andrew Biggs, a senior fellow at the libertarian group American Enterprise Institute.

Do you really need $1 million to retire comfortably?

A few years ago, Mr. Biggs made headlines for a Wall Street Journal column with the provocative headline, “You Don’t Have to Be a Millionaire to Retire.”

What he means is that you can retire with less than $1 million. Most Americans do. And, as research repeatedly suggests, most of them seem to be doing well.

The financial security of American retirees is a topic of endless debate.

Biggs said voices in the retirement industry and news media are exaggerating the concept of a retirement “crisis” and exaggerating the need for households to save seven figures for a comfortable retirement. He’s not the only one who thinks so.

“I agree that not everyone needs $1 million,” said Anki Chen, associate director of savings and finances at Boston University’s Center for Retirement Research. “That’s a very high number for some people, but it’s not high enough for others. This one number doesn’t apply to everyone.”

Most Americans retire with less than $1 million in retirement benefits

Regardless of the benefits of a $1 million retirement account, most Americans retire with much less than that.

How well they do is a more nuanced question.

In the 2026 EBRI/Greenwald Retirement Confidence Survey, nearly three-quarters of retirees rated their financial well-being as good, very good, or excellent. Additionally, 73% said they were confident they would have enough money for retirement.

“Most retirees seem to be getting by,” said Craig Copeland, director of wealth benefits research at the Employee Benefit Research Institute. “However, it becomes difficult to define how to make ends meet.”

When it comes to saving, retirees lack confidence.

In a Transamerica survey, only 56% of retirees said they believed they had built an adequate retirement nest egg.

And this finding makes sense given that only about half of America’s oldest adults have a retirement account.

“They’re doing well financially,” Transamerica Center CEO Katherine Collinson said. “However, if you suffer a major shock, such as having to pay large out-of-pocket long-term medical expenses, your savings can be wiped out quickly.”

Transamerica’s report found that nearly 50% of retirees say they would rely on family or friends for long-term care rather than paying a professional caregiver.

The Center for Retirement Research maintains the National Retirement Risk Index, which estimates the number of workers at risk of not maintaining their standard of living after retirement.

In recent years, the risk index has ranged from approximately 40% to 50%. Currently, that rate is 39%, meaning that around two in five workers are likely to do less well in retirement.

For retirees, financial security can be fragile.

Collectively, research on retirement suggests that while most retirees are making ends meet, their financial security may be fragile.

Of course, the same is true for millions of young Americans. According to a recent study by Bankrate, only 47% of Americans have enough cash on hand to cover $1,000 in case of an emergency.

AEI’s Biggs said retirees are more financially stable than younger Americans, as evidenced by survey responses.

For example, in the Household Economics and Decision-Making Survey, the proportion of Americans who say they are worse off financially decreases with age, from about 32% of those aged 35 to 44 to 12% of those aged 75 and older.

“Only a small percentage of older adults say they have a truly difficult life, and that percentage is smaller than those who are working,” Biggs said.

How much money do you really need to retire comfortably?

If most of us didn’t need $1 million in the bank to retire comfortably, how much would we need?

According to Biggs and other experts, the answer depends on many factors, starting with how much you earned while working.

The median household income in the United States is about $84,000, according to federal data. Even if you put 10 times that amount in the bank, you still wouldn’t have $1 million.

Retirement experts say that low-income households may not need as much income to maintain their standard of living, and that “the magic number of seven figures for retirement is more appropriate for high-income earners.”

Most Americans rely primarily on Social Security for their retirement income. These benefits are progressive. The lower your income, the more income you’ll get back in your Social Security check. And that percentage affects how much you need to save to make up the benefits.

Social Security “replaces” 90% of your income up to $1,286 per month. The replacement rate drops to 32% for incomes between $1,286 and $7,749, and to 15% for incomes above $7,749.

In other words, low-income households “shouldn’t be saving as much for retirement,” Biggs said. “And they’re not saving as much for retirement.”

Generation Alpha children influence their parents’ household spending

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The youngest consumers are establishing themselves, so take note.

Generation Alpha, or children up to age 16, are becoming influential purchasing brokers in the shopping economy, and their parents are listening, according to two studies.

New research from DKC, a communications and marketing firm that advises brands, reveals that children and teens aged 8 to 15 have direct control over $95 billion and influence broader household spending.

In a survey of 1,000 parents of Generation Alpha children, 90% said their children’s preferences changed their spending behavior, and 41% said all household spending decisions were influenced by their Generation Alpha children.

“This gateway generation is increasingly becoming responsible for household spending for their families,” DKC CEO Matthew Traub told USA TODAY.

Generation Alpha children have grown up with AI

The study found that Gen Alpha children’s spending comes from allowances for doing chores (78%), payments for good grades (67%), and their own side jobs like mowing lawns or babysitting (57%). Some (14%) get paid to sell or resell products online.

DKC surveyed parents of Generation Alpha children between the ages of 8 and 15.

This generation is the first to grow up with AI and other digital tools at their disposal, and these tools are helping them shop and, in some cases, start their own businesses, Traub said.

“This has given them the opportunity to become entrepreneurs at a very early age,” he said.

Traub said the seamlessness and ease of digital transactions and the ease with which children can use their parents’ digital payment methods also make purchasing easier for this generation.

Easy to generate online

Ari Furman, U.S. consumer markets industry leader at professional services firm PwC, said Generation Alpha children have become “incredibly adept at navigating online marketplaces” during the coronavirus pandemic because they grew up with screens preloaded with payment methods.

“Many of them learned to swipe before they wrote and learned to negotiate before they drove,” Fuhrman told USA TODAY.

PwC surveyed 1,000 children aged 7 to 14 and their parents and found that 97% of Generation Alpha children said they sometimes buy things for themselves.

Other options are available for kids to have their own digital payment accounts, including Apple Cash, Greenlight, teen checking accounts, and Cash App. Retailers like Amazon offer child accounts with independent spending limits and parental approval options.

52% of Gen Alpha survey respondents added items to a shared cart for their parents to see.

“It’s like a modern-day version of ‘Can I have this?'” Furman said of adding items to an online shopping cart.

Kendall Beierlein, 14, of West Islip, New York, fills up her online shopping cart and signals her mother, Kylie, to buy something.

“She’s loading the cart,” Kylie told USA TODAY.

Kendall added: “I tell her about it and ask her permission before I buy it.”

Kylie said Kendall is very disciplined and doesn’t ask for much, so Kylie usually buys what’s in the cart. Kendall said she typically buys clothes online when the seasons change or when she grows larger than her previous size.

Kylie agreed with research that parents’ shopping decisions are influenced by their children, and said that although she doesn’t use social media much, she knows Kendall and her friends are looking at what they want and reviews online.

In the PwC report, 61% of Gen Alpha respondents said they were influenced by social media when making a purchase, and 56% cited peer influence.

What impact does Gen Alpha have?

The influence that Generation Alpha has on their parents spans a wide range of categories.

52% of parents who participated in the DKC survey said they were more likely to try new or different foods, and 30% of parents, including 43% of mothers, said they were more likely to try a new beauty product suggested by their child. 38% of parents said they were likely to travel to a new vacation destination, and 33% of parents, including 47% of fathers, said they were likely to watch a new or different sport.

But Gen Alpha kids aren’t just influencing what their parents buy. They influence what they don’t buy.

Almost half (47%) of parents surveyed said they would avoid brands their children dislike.

Gen Alpha children “make more value judgments about brands than previous generations,” Traub said. “They value not only the brands they like, but also the brands they don’t like.”

How is this generation different?

Children and teens are constantly begging their parents to buy things for them. What makes Gen Alpha more successful?

“The biggest change we’re looking at is being very digital and transaction-oriented,” Traub said. “Parents say their Alpha generation kids are making them pay more attention to Chat GPT and other AI tools.” They are also making more purchases online and are more likely to use social media to research product reviews.

Generation Alpha children are much more familiar with AI than previous generations, including using AI to search, find and buy brands and products online, making them different from previous generations of children who often ask their parents to buy them something, Fuhrman said.

“Parents have the credit cards, but the kids are the ones who shape the cards,” she says.

“Kids have been nagging their parents for what they want, but I think this generation is particularly adept at strategic negotiation and using other means of persuading parents that frankly didn’t exist before,” Fuhrman said.

“In some ways, online carts are becoming the new family group chat,” she said.

And as these young consumers become more adept at shopping and able to influence their parents, Furman said, “We believe many of these children will have 10 years of experience earning, negotiating, and allocating capital by the time they reach adulthood. They will enter the workforce not as employees, but as managers.”

Betty Lin-Fisher is a consumer reporter for USA TODAY. Contact her at blinfisher@USATODAY.com or follow her at @blinfisher on X, Facebook and Instagram and @blinfisher.bsky.social on Bluesky.. Sign up for our free The Daily Money newsletter, breaking down complex consumer and financial news. Subscribe here.

Trump is expected to become the second president to reach age 80

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Trump has frequently questioned Joe Biden’s suitability. Now, as he prepares to become the second president after Biden to reach age 80, he faces questions about his health and fitness.

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President Donald Trump wanted everyone to know he wasn’t falling asleep on the job.

During a long cabinet meeting in December, the president closed his eyes and appeared to be dozing off, prompting an explanation to be sought at the next cabinet meeting. He told them that he had closed his eyes during the last meeting because he was “bored.”

“I didn’t sleep. I just closed it because I wanted to get out of here,” Trump said, adding, “I don’t sleep much.”

Trump, who derided his predecessor with the nickname “Sleepy Joe,” has faced increasing questions about his fitness as his second term progresses, sparking a strong backlash from the president and his allies.

But the spotlight on Trump’s health is likely to intensify as he prepares to join an exclusive club of White House occupants in their 80s created by the president, whom he often derides.

Mr. Trump, who was elected as the oldest president in history on June 14, will be the second person to take office at age 80, following Joe Biden, who withdrew from the 2024 campaign due to concerns about his age and mental acuity after coming under pressure from his own party leaders not to seek re-election.

Mr. Biden has sparked a national debate about aging and leadership, fueled by Mr. Trump’s persistent questioning of his opponent’s mental capacity. President Trump is currently celebrating a major birthday milestone, and his health is under intense scrutiny. That includes questions about swollen legs, bruised hands, and perceived drowsiness, not to mention behaviors that most Americans consider erratic, as polls show.

Mr. Trump is trying to negotiate an end to the Iran war and make other important decisions at a time when many are slowing down. He regularly boasted that he had “passed” cognitive tests and sought to assure the public that he was up to the task, saying after a medical exam last month that “everything checked out perfectly.” He continues to tout his vigor, which is central to his political advocacy.

“Most people don’t welcome frailty, but I think he’s very sensitive to frailty and wants to distance himself from any signs of frailty,” said Gwenda Blair, Trump’s biographer.

whether he wants attention, Surveys show that most Americans are concerned about the suitability of the president.

“80 years is not what it was before.”

An April Washington Post/ABC News/Ipsos poll found that 55% of U.S. adults do not believe President Trump is “in good physical health to effectively serve as president,” up from 28% in 2023. Nearly six in 10 also believe the president does not have the “mental acuity” necessary for the job.

Amid growing public concern, the president’s doctor said he was “perfectly qualified” to serve as president, and White House press secretary Davis Ingle said his energy was “unparalleled.”

“President Trump is the sharpest and most approachable president in American history, working tirelessly to solve problems and deliver on his promises, and is in excellent health,” Ingle said.

It’s not surprising that someone Trump’s age would face health problems. The president has surpassed – By 3 and a half years – Average life expectancy of American men.

But around half of men now live into their 80s, and the wealthier and better educated tend to live longer, Steven Austad said., He is a professor at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and an expert on aging. Trump was a billionaire with an Ivy League degree, and his father lived to be 93.

“Eighty is not what it used to be,” Austad said, adding, “The question is, what kind of 80 are you?”

Mr. Trump has long sought to project a strength that Mr. Blair described as “ultimate masculinity,” and the president’s allies insist he still has plenty of energy. They point to his busy schedule, which includes public events, travel, late-night posts on truth social sites, and regular interactions with the media.

“Most people at a fraction of his age would die to do what he did,” said Sean Spicer, who served as White House press secretary during President Trump’s first term. “I mean, I’m in my 50s, but in a way I’m excited about the fact that I’m in bed hours before he stops telling the truth.”

White House officials say that even though turning 90 is a significant milestone in his life, Trump does not tend to reflect on it, and the president does not talk about his birthday. Former Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy said this has always been the case.

“From the time I’ve known him, he doesn’t really like to celebrate when it comes to birthdays,” McCarthy said, adding, “That’s his style.”

This year, President Trump will hold an Ultimate Fighting Championship contest at the White House on his birthday, but White House officials said it was just a matter of good timing for the event and was not conceived as a birthday celebration.

biographer Blair, He said he believes it makes sense to use force on a day when President Trump’s advanced age is in the spotlight, saying it would demonstrate “total strength.”

Trump has long criticized what he sees as Biden’s weaknesses. As Biden occupies the Oval Office in his 80s, concerns about how his age has affected him could lead to increased scrutiny of Trump. But McCarthy said the two cannot be compared.

“There’s a fundamental difference, and it’s different in many ways,” McCarthy said, adding, “I think you could put Mr. Trump up against any president in the history of our country, and I still believe he’s better than them.” In his case, age is not the deciding factor. ”

Swollen legs, bruised hands, eyes closed

But questions about Trump’s health have mounted in President Trump’s second term.

The president was diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency last year. The disease is a benign condition that causes swelling in the lower extremities, and White House doctors said it is common in people over 70.

Trump has also experienced bruises on his hands, which doctors attribute to a combination of aspirin (an anti-inflammatory drug and blood thinner commonly taken) and regular shaking hands.

Additionally, the president’s stamina has come under scrutiny because he sometimes stretches with his eyes closed while others speak in public..

“Donald Trump’s inability to stay awake at work indicates that there is something very wrong with his health and cognitive abilities,” Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Calif.) said during a June 3 Congressional hearing questioning Secretary of State Marco Rubio about the December Cabinet meeting.

“I never saw him fall asleep,” Rubio said. On the other hand, that person doesn’t sleep.

Trump is clinically obese, according to recent body measurements. The president disparages any exercise other than golf as “boring,” joking: “At most one minute a day. If I’m lucky.” Meanwhile, Secretary of Health Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said the president was eating “really bad food,” noting that he was consuming McDonald’s, candy and Diet Coke.

“He has the constitution of God. I don’t know how he’s alive, but he’s alive,” Kennedy said in a podcast interview.

President Trump’s doctor recommended exercise and weight loss. But overall, the president’s “cognitive and physical abilities are excellent” and he is in “sufficient health to carry out all the duties of commander-in-chief and head of state,” White House physician Col. Sean Barbavera wrote summarizing the results of last month’s medical exam.

President Trump has undergone four medical exams in 13 months, raising questions about how often he visits, the types of tests performed and what doctors are looking for.

“There’s a reason why he continues to go to the hospital and undergo cognitive testing,” Liu said at the June 3 hearing.

Mehmet Oz, the doctor who oversees the Medicare and Medicaid programs, told reporters on June 2 that President Trump continues to receive medical exams because he “likes the results.”

“I actually believe he wants to make sure everything is going in the right direction,” Oz said. “He is a very methodical person.”

Oz held up a copy of a doctor’s report summarizing President Trump’s recent medical exam, calling the results “excellent.”

“That amount of energy, that amount of mental acuity, doesn’t exist in a vacuum,” Oz added. “You need a ship to carry it, but the president has the unique ability to keep moving forward with incredible strength at any time of the day.”

Is Trump more insane?

One of the biggest concerns as the population ages is the possibility of a decline in decision-making ability, aging expert Austad said.

“The conventional wisdom is that…aging brings wisdom, but after a certain point that’s no longer true,” he says. “That’s why scammers target the elderly.”

A Reuters/Ipsos poll found that 61% of Americans believe the president has become “less stable with age,” and only 45% believe he is “mentally alert and able to meet challenges.”

Some of President Trump’s recent statements have caused bipartisan alarm, most notably his threat to destroy the entire “civilization” of Iran while pressuring the regime in Tehran to comply with his demands.

“Tonight an entire civilization will perish and never return,” the president posted on social media in April, just before announcing the cease-fire.

Democrats then introduced a bill that would create a commission to evaluate President Trump’s fitness to serve as president and recommend whether to invoke the 25th Amendment. Some members of the MAGA media have suggested using the 25th Amendment to the Constitution, which provides procedures for removing the president from office.

“We stand on a dangerous precipice, and it is now a national security issue for Congress to protect the American people from an increasingly volatile and volatile situation,” Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) said in a statement about the bill.

In addition to President Trump’s comments about Iran, Raskin also addressed the president’s feud with the Pope and the fact that he posted an image of himself online that looked like Christ. President Trump’s late-night social media posts have drawn attention for containing AI-generated images, ranging from bizarre to highly controversial.

A Christ-like image posted by President Trump and a video depicting President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama as monkeys were both deleted after receiving backlash. While these posts raise questions about President Trump’s judgment, his round-the-clock social media use is also cited as a sign of his tirelessness.

Partisan views on health

Republican pollster Whit Ayers said polling results on President Trump’s health and mental state are colored by people’s partisan views of the president.

A Reuters/Ipsos poll found that 89% of Democrats think President Trump has become less stable as he ages, compared to just 30% of Republicans who say the same.

“The answer to that question reflects more about how people feel about Donald Trump than it does about how they feel about age,” Ayers said.

Doctors’ reports about Trump’s health may not upset many people. Aging expert Austad, He said the presidential administration has long hidden negative health information from the public and suspects “no one believes it.”

However, people can draw their own conclusions.

“We get to see him a lot, we get to hear his voice a lot, and I think people can judge for themselves to some extent,” Austad said.

No matter what people think about Trump’s health and fitness, Austad said there are risks to having a president in his 80s. An 80-year-old person may be highly functional, but is likely to go downhill quickly, potentially leading to poor judgment, he said.

Austad said the country, which has had two consecutive presidents in their 80s, may be ripe for a “national discussion” about presidential age limits when Trump leaves office.

“I’m very much against ageism, but I’m also a realist,” he says. “No matter what you think about Trump’s record in office so far, it could be very different in a month.”

Princess Kate reveals her children argued in the car

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Like any busy mother, the Princess of Wales can’t help but listen to her children argue, especially over their musical tastes.

During a visit to The Christie NHS Foundation Trust on June 4, Duchess Kate described how difficult it was to get Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis to agree on the soundtrack for their morning commute, saying: “Everyone wants different things.”

“We’ll do this in the morning school run. Everyone wants a different song,” the princess said. “Charlotte wants Taylor Swift and George wants rock music. He loves AC/DC…he plays guitar. And Louis wants Alex Warren.”

“Everyone wants different things,” she added.

According to People magazine, all three royal children will be attending Windsor’s prestigious Lambruck School from 2022, with Prince George expected to graduate from the prep school when he turns 13 later this summer.

Prince of Wales presents Taylor Swift’s wedding invitation

Appearing on British radio show Heart Breakfast on May 22, the Prince of Wales said he was “hopeful” that he would be invited to Taylor Swift’s wedding.

“No comment,” Prince William joked with a laugh. “You’re right, I’ll be careful. That feels like a showbiz excuse, but it’s not.”

“I’m hopeful and I’m sure there may be an invitation, but we’ll see,” he added.

Prince William’s hospitalization comes almost two years after he and Princess Charlotte were spotted dancing to Swift’s “Shake It Off” on the opening night of his Elas tour in London, an experience he remembers fondly.

“Charlotte, my daughter and Louis, to be fair, Charlotte is particularly into Taylor Swift and we went to see her on her Ellas tour and it was amazing,” he said. “It was Wembley, so we had a box, so we were watching from above, quite a distance from where the actual action was happening. The atmosphere was so great. You could actually feel the floor shaking when everyone was dancing. It was just amazing.”

After watching the show from their box seats at Wembley Stadium, Prince William, Prince George and Princess Charlotte headed backstage to spend some one-on-one time with the ‘All Too Well’ singer and then-fiancé Travis Kelsey.

Fan injured at WVU baseball game as bad weather causes havoc

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Multiple West Virginia baseball fans were injured during Saturday’s Morgantown Super Regional game between the Mountaineers and Cal Poly.

A West Virginia Athletics spokesperson confirmed to USA TODAY Sports on Saturday that high winds blew over an event tent in the parking lot adjacent to Wagner Field at Kendrick Family Ballpark in Morgantown, West Virginia, injuring several fans due to weather delays.

“WVU would like to thank the first responders of EMS, police and fire who immediately secured the scene and treated the injured spectators. It was a great day for Mountaineer baseball, and Mountaineer Nation’s thoughts are all with those involved,” the statement read.

Saturday’s game between the Mountaineers and Mustangs was postponed more than an hour and a half into the eighth inning due to weather in the area, including thunderstorms and lightning. Five people were taken to local hospitals for treatment, the statement said.

“Through University Police, we can confirm that five people were transported for treatment. We are in contact with local health care providers to ensure those affected are supported in their recovery,” the statement said.

West Virginia athletic director Len Baker asked for prayers for the injured fan in a post on X.

On the field, 16th-ranked West Virginia defeated the University of California 17-1, completing a dominant victory in the Morgantown Super Regional and advancing to the program’s first College World Series. The Mountaineers scored seven runs in the second inning with back-to-back home runs by Ben Ramsden and Tyrus Hall.

West Virginia University is scheduled to begin play in the College World Series against Troy on Friday, June 12th or Saturday, June 13th. The NCAA has not announced the official start time and date for CWS.

Get to the heart of the news quickly with the USA TODAY app. Download award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, e-newspapers, and more.

Police say multiple people were shot near festival in Ohio

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Twelve people were struck by gunfire, two seriously, in a shooting near a popular neighborhood festival in Toledo, Ohio, on Saturday, June 6, city officials announced at a press conference.

Toledo Police Department officers responded at approximately 5:37 p.m. ET to reports of a shooting in the area of ​​Delaware Avenue and Glenwood Avenue, near the annual Old West End Festival, the department said.

Police believe the incident occurred when at least two people began firing at each other at the festival. No deaths were reported as of late Saturday, police said.

The department said investigators are actively searching for the suspect involved in the shooting. Authorities are asking people who attended the festival to share any photos or videos they have.

Officials said police were on the scene at the time of the shooting, heard gunshots, and had a large police presence, including off-duty officers working for the festival.

When officers arrived, they found multiple people suffering from gunshot wounds. Police said several victims were taken to area hospitals for treatment.

“It was excessive in terms of violence,” said Lt. Dan Gerken of the Toledo Police Department.

The shooting occurred near the Old West End Festival. The Old West End Festival is a long-running community event that draws thousands of visitors each year to one of Toledo’s most historic neighborhoods.

“It’s really unfortunate that some people, for whatever reason that may have crossed their minds, decided to interrupt an event that has been a beloved community event for years and years,” said Sgt. Mohammad Ali Nasser is a public information officer for the Toledo Police Department.

Police said the investigation spanned multiple locations, including areas near Delaware Avenue and Robinwood Avenue. Residents and festival-goers were urged to avoid the area and to expect a heavy law enforcement presence as officers continued to search and investigators determined the cause of the shooting.

USA TODAY has contacted the Toledo Police Department for additional information.

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine said in a social media post that he was “deeply concerned” about the Toledo shooting.

“Summer festivals should be a safe place for families to come together without fear of violence,” DeWine said on the X-Post. He said the family is praying for the victim and added that he is confident “law enforcement will find the suspects involved in this senseless crime.”

This story is developing and will be updated with new information.

Reporter Anthony Thompson can be reached at ajthompson@usatodayco.com.

Saturday, June 6th Powerball Jackpot $212 Million: Winning Numbers

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The Powerball jackpot has risen to $212 million, including a $94.5 million cash option, ahead of the drawing on Saturday, June 6th.

The jackpot hasn’t been won in more than a month since May 2, when the $20 million prize was split between Texas and Florida tickets. Drawings take place three times a week, and prizes continue to grow until someone matches all six numbers.

Since its launch in 1992, the Powerball jackpot has been hit more than 400 times. Indiana, Missouri, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin rank among the states with the most winning jackpot tickets.

Here’s what you need to know about Saturday night’s Powerball drawing.

How to play Powerball

Powerball tickets cost $2 and are sold in 45 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Tickets can be purchased at authorized retailers such as convenience stores, gas stations, and grocery stores. In some states, players can also purchase tickets online.

To play, select 6 numbers. There are five white balls ranging from 1 to 69 and one red Powerball ranging from 1 to 26. Players can also select the “Quick Pick” option, which randomly selects numbers.

For an additional $1, players can add a “power play” option that doubles, triples, quadruples, 5x or 10x their non-jackpot winnings.

To win the jackpot, your ticket must match all five white balls and the Powerball in any order.

What are the winning Powerball numbers for June 6th?

USA TODAY will publish the winning numbers at 10:59 p.m. ET after the lottery drawing.

Top 10 Powerball Jackpots

  • $2.04 billion in California on November 7, 2022
  • December 24, 2025, $1.817 billion in Arkansas.
  • $1.787 billion in Missouri and Texas on September 6, 2025
  • $1.765 billion in California on October 11, 2023
  • January 13, 2016, $1.586 billion in California, Florida, and Tennessee
  • April 6, 2024, $1.326 billion in Oregon.
  • $1.08 billion in California on July 19, 2023
  • $842.4 million in Michigan on January 1, 2024
  • March 27, 2019, $768.4 million in Wisconsin
  • August 23, 2017, $758.7 million in Massachusetts

Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Contact us at fernando.cervantes@usatodayco.com and follow us at X @fern_cerv_.

Canada bans Texas livestock due to spread of flesh-eating parasites

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A spokesperson for Texas Governor Greg Abbott said Canada was overreacting to the temporary restrictions. Mr Abbott previously declared a state of disaster against the parasite.

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Canada has placed a temporary ban on livestock in Texas due to the continuing spread of the New World screwworm, officials announced June 5.

U.S. officials recently confirmed that it has been decades since the meat-eating parasite was eradicated from the country. This parasitic disease, spread through screwworm flies, poses a serious risk to Texas’ $15.5 billion livestock industry.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency announced it is temporarily suspending imports of livestock, including horses, from Texas. The restriction applies to animals originating from or present in Texas within 21 days before attempting to enter Canada, according to a June 5 agency news release. The New World screwworm fly is currently not in Canada.

“We will continue to work closely with our U.S. authorities to assess developments and adjust our response as necessary,” the Canadian government agency said in a statement.

Where was the New World screwworm detected?

On June 3, the U.S. Department of Agriculture confirmed the presence of screwworm larvae in the navel of a 3-week-old calf in southern Texas, the first case in the country after the infection spread from Mexico. On June 5, USDA confirmed a second case in a 1-month-old calf 9.0 miles away.

The New World screwworm fly is about the size of a housefly and lays eggs in open wounds and body openings such as the eyes, nose, and mouth of warm-blooded animals. Once hatched, the larvae burrow into the animal’s flesh, feeding on living tissue and creating painful, foul-smelling wounds.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, secondary infections and other illnesses can cause serious and often fatal harm. As the screwworm grows, it burrows into the soil and emerges as a mature fly to begin the process again.

Canada has already banned most livestock imports from Mexico to prevent the spread of screwworm into the country. In July, U.S. authorities closed the southern ports of entry with Mexico to livestock trade.

The United States is Canada’s largest importer of agricultural products, supplying more than $3 billion in live animals and other animal products in 2024, according to USDA data. Texas is the largest producer of beef and cattle in the United States, but the data does not specify how much Texas supplies to Canada.

‘Overreaction’ by Canada, Texas says. Governor declares state of disaster

On June 5, Texas Governor Greg Abbott declared a state of disaster, citing an “imminent threat” from screwworms.

Mr. Abbott’s spokesman, Andrew Mahallis, said Canada was overreacting as the state of Texas and the Department of Agriculture worked quickly to contain and eradicate the wartworm in a limited area of ​​south Texas.

“This pest affects live animals and does not affect Texas beef that has been tested,” Mahalelis said in a statement to USA TODAY on June 6. “Canada’s widespread restrictions on livestock in Texas are more of a political overreaction than based on science.”

Many states in the southern United States are at risk of infestation due to warm, humid temperatures that favor the screwworm, but Canadian officials said the parasite cannot survive in Canada’s cold climate. However, the length of time that screwworm flies can survive in the Canadian summer is shortened.

Screw maggots are endemic to South America and the Caribbean.

The United States eradicated the New World screwworm in 1966, and North America eradicated the New World screwworm by the 2000s. However, the fly’s habitat is thought to be expanding due to rising temperatures and changes in weather due to climate change.

U.S. authorities are working to expand the use of sterile male screw flies to stem the spread of the parasite. Authorities are using radiation to sterilize male flies and releasing them into areas where screwworms live. Female screwworm flies usually mate only once, after which they lay infertile eggs and gradually reduce their population.

Responsibility for response

The Trump administration is facing growing criticism over Elon Musk’s Office of Efficiency’s cuts to a U.S. Agency for International Development program that monitors and prevents the spread of the New World screwworm in Central America, according to an agricultural trade publication. Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller told NBC that the USDA is moving too slowly and relying only on partial solutions that will take years.

In response to emailed questions, the Department of Agriculture denied that budget cuts caused the infestation of screw maggots into the country. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins accused the Biden administration, which left office about a year and a half ago, of allowing the parasite to spread through past immigration and border policies.

Instead, the Department of Agriculture is investing in the production and release of sterile flies, she said.

Contributor: Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA TODAY

Eduardo Cuevas is based in New York City. Contact him via email: emcuevas1@usatoday.com Or with Signal on emcuevas.01.