As a smooth-talking media and political pundit, Colman Domingo ’s Muncie Daniels is used to commenting on politics and the news — not becoming the news — in The Madness . However, his fate will quickly change for the worse when we meet him in the new series. When the CNN personality discovers the dead body of a white supremacist in the woods near where he’s staying in the Poconos, he winds up in the crosshairs of law enforcement and possibly framed for murder — and even his lawyer friend Kwesi (Deon Cole) warns the silver-tongued Muncie, “You’re not going to be able to talk your way out of this.... They are going to pin all this on you.” In this paranoia-inducing Netflix thriller, Daniels finds himself in the middle of a sprawling conspiracy that delves into the darkest corners of society and explores the intersections between the wealthy and powerful, the alt-right, and other fringe movements. “[The series] is examining the climate we’re in right now,” Domingo teased to TV Insider. “Who sows those seeds of disinformation? Who’s puppeteering all of this?” Related ‘Euphoria’ Star Colman Domingo Explains Season 3 Delay To clear his name, Muncie must figure out whether to trust FBI agent Franco Quiñones (John Ortiz) and reconnect with his working-class, activist roots in Philadelphia while reuniting with his family, which includes teenage son Demetrius (Thaddeus J. Mixson), estranged wife Elena (Marsha Stephanie Blake), and daughter Kallie (Gabrielle Graham) from a previous relationship. “He’s trying to solve a crime,” creator Stephen Belber previews, “but at the same time he’s trying to solve something inside of himself.” To find out what else we should know about the new thrill ride, we spoke to The Color Purple and Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom star Colman Domingo — who played Victor Strand on Fear the Walking Dead for eight seasons, won an Emmy for Euphoria , and was nominated for a 2024 Oscar for the civil rights drama Rustin — about the bind in which Muncie finds himself in The Madness , the similarities he shares with the character, and the resonance of a story that speaks to our age of online disinformation and conspiracy theories. Why were you drawn to this series and this character? What about it made you say yes to it? Colman Domingo: There’s so much about it that is raising questions about who are we in America right now. What do you believe in? And what are you believing? What’s being fed to you? These are questions that I have deep in my heart, and the series is bringing out those thoughts I have in the back of my head. Like who is manipulating all of us? I do believe there’s people feeding the public misinformation, but it benefits people with money, power, and position. Are there similarities you share with Muncie? Wildly enough, he’s from my neighborhood, from West Philly. He’s a college professor. So am I. There’s a lot of similarities. He’s a public-facing person. Even some of his ideology, where he believes that if you just get people at the table to sit and have a civil conversation, things will get better. I do believe that. I actively do that in my life. And I thought, “Oh, I understand Muncie. I understand what he’s trying to do.” But then the series takes him on another journey to actually go more full-throttle and understand all the dynamics he’s been espousing but not really having to get in the mud with. Is Muncie’s journey in the series a metaphor for how we’re all trying to make sense of this firehose of facts and information, along with disinformation, conspiracy-mongering, and lies that are coming at us 24/7? Yeah. It’s your modern-day North By Northwest, your modern-day Three Days of the Condor. He’s an everyman who has to go on this journey that he’s not ready to go on. He didn’t even know he’s been preparing for it. He was just living his best life, has a great position at CNN, and has been studying jujitsu for his own health. But he didn’t know that he’d need all that to go down the rabbit hole for real. What’s Muncie’s relationship like with his estranged wife, son Demetrius, and his older daughter Kallie from another relationship? All of it is precarious. What’s going on between he and his wife, we made it a gray area. Maybe they both started out as young activists, and the other one moved into celebrity, and the other one is a college professor, and they’re just not meeting [each other] where they used to be. It was more about having a crisis of faith in each other. Then with his daughter [Kallie], he made choices when he was younger, in a relationship he was in before he went to an Ivy League school. So he’s sort of been a deadbeat dad in that way. Then with his younger son, he’s sort of an absentee father. He believes he’s doing the best that he can by providing financially and showing up when he can. But I think he’s been a bit selfish. So this whole crisis is helping him examine not only who he is, but who has he been—and not been—to his family. Now he’s got to do some relationship repair; at the same time, he’s trying to advocate and save his own life and protect his family. Has he lost himself a bit over the years in pursuit of success and ambition? I think so. But I think if you asked Muncie, he wouldn’t say that. I think he believed, no, it’s okay to change. It’s OK to have access and agency. But I think at some point he didn’t realize even in the position that he had, he was just all talk. He was just a talking head. He wasn’t actually doing anything but adding to the noise of the media circuit business. In the crisis that he goes through, how does his family help him to survive? I think he didn’t realize how much he needed them. When we meet him, he’s in a place of stasis. He’s been trying to write this book for years. So he decided to go to the Pocono mountains to try and start writing something. Then he goes on this journey. I think it’s a beautiful hero’s journey. He didn’t know he needed all these things. He didn’t know he needed a heart. He didn’t know he needed a brain...It is ‘no place like home.’ But he realized that his home was attached to other things like celebrity, clothing, and having access. But all of that became more superficial than he even imagined. Amanda Matlovich / Netflix Muncie was a housing activist in his youth, and he reconnects with his West Philly roots and the people in his life from that time. How does he change during the course of the series? I think it’s about helping him to bridge the two parts of himself. It’s one of the first arguments that my character has with the fantastic Eisa Davis, who plays Renee, while hosting a show on CNN. And it’s at the core of the problem. For me, it’s a question of, “What’s the best way?” He’s like, “I am Black and I don’t have to actually be out on the streets anymore. I have more access here on television where I can affect a lot of more people.” And so for me, it’s raising the question of, “Is that right or is that wrong? Or is there a balance of both?” How do race and systemic racism factor into the story of a Black man who gets blamed for the death of a white supremacist? How do you think that will be eye-opening for some viewers? Race plays into it a great deal. Muncie is someone who is probably very adept at code-switching [adjusting one’s style of speech, appearance, and expression to conform to a given community and reduce the potential for discrimination]. When you have celebrity and access, you live more in a bubble where you’re probably not perceived in certain ways. But when all of that goes away, once Muncie has to let go of his Range Rover, his Tom Ford suits, and his position at CNN, he’s perceived as just another ordinary Black man on the street. So even when he goes into that New York shop and changes into a T-shirt, baseball cap, and hoodie [to disguise himself], he’s trying to normalize. Before, he believed was a bit more elevated in some way. I love the question that [his estranged wife] Elena asked him: “What were you doing going over to this white man’s house out in the woods? You felt like you had the privilege to do that? You have to always be careful. You don’t know what’s on the other side. You’re a Black man in America.” He forgot for a moment. What does the title, The Madness , refer to? I think it’s about the madness that we’re all living in when it comes to the 24-hour news cycle and trying to download and sift through information. It’s maddening! And also, I think the madness is also internal, that internal struggle of like, “Who are you, and what do you believe in? Who is real, and who is not?” I think that’s the madness. The Madness , Series Premiere, Thursday, November 28, Netflix More Headlines: ‘The Price Is Right’ Player Injures Hand Before Punch-A-Bunch Win — See Drew Carey’s Reaction Colman Domingo Details Why ‘The Madness’ Is a Drama for Today’s Era of Media Feeding Frenzies ‘DWTS’ Season 33 Finalist Chandler Kinney Reveals What She Would Have Changed About Her Journey Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade 2024: How to Watch, New Floats, Who’s Performing & More! ‘Wheel of Fortune’ Fans Blame Ryan Seacrest After Contestant’s Epic Fail
HENDERSON, Nev. -- Aidan O'Connell will start at quarterback when the Las Vegas Raiders visit their AFC West rival and two-time defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs on Friday. Raiders coach Antonio Pierce made the announcement Wednesday, saying O'Connell had progressed well after breaking his right thumb on Oct. 20 in a 20-15 loss to the Los Angeles Rams . “He’s been dialed in obviously throughout this time that he’s been on (injured reserve),” Pierce said. "He’s been at all the meetings. He’s been very encouraging on the sideline. He’s got that laser-eye focus right now. Great opportunity for him.” Gardner Minshew broke his left collarbone on Sunday in a game against the Denver Broncos and is out for the season . The Raiders could have gone with Desmond Ridder to replace Minshew. Las Vegas signed Ridder off Arizona’s practice squad on Oct. 21. He started 13 games for Atlanta last season, passing for 2,836 yards and 12 touchdowns with 12 interceptions. Pierce opted for O'Connell, who became the starter midway through last season and went 5-4 the rest of the way. Minshew beat him out for the job in the preseason but then struggled through five games. Pierce then put O'Connell in the starting lineup on Oct. 13 against the Pittsburgh Steelers. O'Connell completed 27 of 40 passes for 227 yards and a touchdown with an interception in the 32-13 loss . Then O'Connell was injured early the following week at Los Angeles and was placed on IR, sidelining him for at least four weeks. The Raiders on Monday designated him to return to practice, opening a three-week window in which O'Connell could be activated. That came this week. “He carried himself like a starter, even when he was on IR," Pierce said. "He did that when he was a backup. He did a great job of just being engaged with the players, engaged on the sideline, in meeting rooms. He’s the one speaking up, talking. You could just look at his eyes. You can look at his demeanor. "He wasn’t a guy like: ‘All right, I’m out for the season. I’m not going to play. No, I’ll be back. I’m ready to be back.’ And he worked his tail off to get back.” O'Connell has a short week to prepare, complicated further because the Raiders aren't having full practices. He was the last opposing quarterback to win at Arrowhead Stadium. Even though he didn't complete a pass after the first quarter, the Raiders walked away 20-14 winners in that Christmas Day game. Las Vegas can only play a little bit of a spoiler this week. The Raiders at 2-9 have lost seven consecutive games, and the Chiefs have their sights on becoming the first team to win three Super Bowls in a row. “Let’s call a spade a spade,” Pierce said. "The best team in football against the worst team in football. Let’s change the narrative, right? Let’s go out there and make it a dog fight. Let’s make it ugly. Let’s make it scrappy. It’s Black Friday. Let’s create a little chaos. Let’s get back to Raider football and have some fun and some personality. Let it loose.” ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFLThe recent Political Bureau meeting held in December has sparked optimism and provided much-needed clarity on the direction of China's economic policies. As the country grapples with various challenges, including slowing growth, trade tensions, and the impact of the ongoing pandemic, the outcomes of this meeting have been closely watched by analysts and market participants alike.As the sun sets on this remarkable chapter in their lives, Jane and her grandmother stand together, hand in hand, knowing that they have emerged stronger, wiser, and more connected than ever before. And as they look to the future, they do so with a renewed sense of purpose and gratitude, cherishing each moment and each memory as a precious gift to be treasured for all time.NEW YORK (AP) — lawyers urged a judge again Friday to throw out his hush money conviction, balking at the prosecution’s suggestion of preserving the verdict by treating the case the way some courts do when a defendant dies. They called the idea “absurd.” The Manhattan district attorney’s office is asking Judge Juan M. Merchan to “pretend as if one of the assassination attempts against President Trump had been successful,” Trump’s lawyers wrote in a blistering 23-page response. In court papers made public Tuesday, office proposed an array of options for keeping the historic conviction on the books after Trump’s lawyers filed paperwork earlier this month asking for the case to be dismissed. They include freezing the case until Trump leaves office in 2029, agreeing that any future sentence won’t include jail time, or closing the case by noting he was convicted but that he wasn’t sentenced and his appeal wasn’t resolved because of presidential immunity. Trump lawyers Todd Blanche and Emil Bove reiterated Friday their position that the only acceptable option is overturning his conviction and dismissing his indictment, writing that anything less will interfere with the transition process and his ability to lead the country. The Manhattan district attorney’s office declined comment. It’s unclear how soon Merchan will decide. He could grant Trump’s request for dismissal, go with one of the prosecution’s suggestions, wait until a federal appeals court rules on Trump’s parallel effort to get the case moved out of state court, or choose some other option. In their response Friday, Blanche and Bove ripped each of the prosecution’s suggestions. Halting the case until Trump leaves office would force the incoming president to govern while facing the “ongoing threat” that he’ll be sentenced to imprisonment, fines or other punishment as soon as his term ends, Blanche and Bove wrote. Trump, a Republican, takes office Jan. 20. “To be clear, President Trump will never deviate from the public interest in response to these thuggish tactics,” the defense lawyers wrote. “However, the threat itself is unconstitutional.” The prosecution’s suggestion that Merchan could mitigate those concerns by promising not to sentence Trump to jail time on presidential immunity grounds is also a non-starter, Blanche and Bove wrote. The immunity statute requires dropping the case, not merely limiting sentencing options, they argued. Blanche and Bove, both of whom Trump has tabbed for high-ranking Justice Department positions, expressed outrage at the prosecution’s novel suggestion that Merchan borrow from Alabama and other states and treat the case as if Trump had died. Blanche and Bove accused prosecutors of ignoring New York precedent and attempting to “fabricate” a solution “based on an extremely troubling and irresponsible analogy between President Trump” who survived assassination attempts in Pennsylvania in July and Florida in September “and a hypothetical dead defendant.” Such an option normally comes into play when a defendant dies after being convicted but before appeals are exhausted. It is unclear whether it is viable under New York law, but prosecutors suggested that Merchan could innovate in what’s already a unique case. “This remedy would prevent defendant from being burdened during his presidency by an ongoing criminal proceeding,” prosecutors wrote in their filing this week. But at the same time, it wouldn’t “precipitously discard” the “meaningful fact that defendant was indicted and found guilty by a jury of his peers.” Prosecutors acknowledged that “presidential immunity requires accommodation” during Trump’s impending return to the White House but argued that his election to a second term should not upend the jury’s verdict, which came when he was out of office. Longstanding Justice Department policy says sitting presidents cannot face . Other world leaders don’t enjoy the same protection. For example, is even as he leads that nation’s wars in and . Trump has been fighting for months to reverse his May 30 conviction on . Prosecutors said he fudged the documents to conceal a $130,000 payment to porn actor to suppress her claim that they had sex a decade earlier, which Trump denies. In their filing Friday, Trump’s lawyers citing a social media post in which Sen. used profane language to criticize Trump’s hush money prosecution. The Pennsylvania Democrat suggested that Trump deserved a pardon, comparing his case to that of pardoned son Hunter Biden, who had been convicted of . “Weaponizing the judiciary for blatant, partisan gain diminishes the collective faith in our institutions and sows further division,” Fetterman wrote Wednesday on Truth Social. Trump’s hush money conviction was in state court, meaning a presidential pardon — issued by Biden or himself when he takes office — would not apply to the case. Presidential pardons only apply to federal crimes. Since the election, special counsel has , which pertained to Trump’s efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss and allegations that he hoarded classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate. A separate in Fulton County, Georgia, is largely on hold. Trump denies wrongdoing in all. Trump had been scheduled for sentencing in the hush money case in late November. But following Trump’s Nov. 5 election victory, Merchan halted proceedings and indefinitely postponed the former and future president’s sentencing so the defense and prosecution could weigh in on the future of the case. Merchan also delayed a decision on Trump’s to dismiss the case on immunity grounds. A dismissal would erase Trump’s conviction, sparing him the cloud of a criminal record and possible prison sentence. Trump is the first former president to be convicted of a crime and the first convicted criminal to be elected to the office.
The construction of a new expressway project in Jiangxi province has recently reached a significant milestone, marking a momentous step forward in the region's infrastructure development. The new expressway, which aims to improve connectivity and facilitate economic growth in the area, has garnered widespread attention and anticipation among local residents and authorities.
In conclusion, the unveiling of the YU7 marks a pivotal moment in Xiaomi's evolution as a technology powerhouse. By expanding its portfolio to include smart vehicles, Xiaomi is not only diversifying its offerings but also reinforcing its commitment to pushing the boundaries of innovation and redefining the future of mobility. With the YU7 set to hit the roads next summer, the automotive industry can expect a new player that brings a fresh perspective and a fusion of technology and design to the table. Exciting times lie ahead as Xiaomi gears up to revolutionize the way we think about cars and transportation.As Sarah scrolled through John's phone, her worst fears were confirmed. There were several videos of her, taken without her knowledge or consent. Anger and disgust washed over her as she struggled to comprehend the violation of her privacy.
In conclusion, the "Spring Dawn Project’s" "Factory Direct Sales" initiative has emerged as a game-changer in the industry, providing a powerful tool for industrial belt merchants to boost their sales and expand their market reach. With its focus on innovation, collaboration, and data-driven insights, the platform is poised to pave the way for a new era of growth and prosperity in the digital economy.BEIRUT (AP) — Insurgents' stunning march across Syria accelerated Saturday with news that they had reached the suburbs of the capital and that government forces had withdrawn from the central city of Homs. The government was forced to deny rumors that President Bashar Assad had fled the country. The loss of Homs is a potentially crippling blow for Assad. It stands at an important intersection between Damascus and Syria’s coastal provinces of Latakia and Tartus — the Syrian leader’s base of support and home to a Russian strategic naval base. The pro-government Sham FM reported that government forces took positions outside Syria’s third-largest city, without elaborating. Rami Abdurrahman who heads the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said Syrian troops and members of different security agencies have withdrawn from the city, adding that rebels have entered parts of it. The capture of Homs is a major victory for insurgents, who have already seized the cities of Aleppo and Hama , as well as large parts of the south, in a lightning offensive that began Nov. 27. Analysts said Homs falling into rebel hands would be a game-changer. The rebels' moves around Damascus, reported by the monitor and a rebel commander, came after the Syrian army withdrew from much of southern part of the country, leaving more areas, including several provincial capitals, under the control of opposition fighters. The advances in the past week were among the largest in recent years by opposition factions, led by a group that has its origins in al-Qaida and is considered a terrorist organization by the U.S. and the United Nations. In their push to overthrow Assad's government, the insurgents, led by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group, or HTS, have met little resistance from the Syrian army. For the first time in the country's long-running civil war, the government now has control of only three of 14 provincial capitals: Damascus, Latakia and Tartus. The U.N.’s special envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, on Saturday called for urgent talks in Geneva to ensure an “orderly political transition.” Speaking to reporters at the annual Doha Forum in Qatar, he said the situation in Syria was changing by the minute. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, whose country is Assad's chief international backer, said he feels “sorry for the Syrian people.” In Damascus, people rushed to stock up on supplies. Thousands went to Syria's border with Lebanon, trying to leave the country. Many shops in the capital were shuttered, a resident told The Associated Press, and those still open ran out of staples such as sugar. Some were selling items at three times the normal price. “The situation is very strange. We are not used to that,” the resident said, insisting on anonymity, fearing retributions. “People are worried whether there will be a battle (in Damascus) or not.” It was the first time that opposition forces reached the outskirts of Damascus since 2018, when Syrian troops recaptured the area following a yearslong siege. The U.N. said it was moving noncritical staff outside the country as a precaution. Syria’s state media denied social media rumors that Assad left the country, saying he is performing his duties in Damascus. He has had little, if any, help from his allies. Russia, is busy with its war in Ukraine . Lebanon’s Hezbollah, which at one point sent thousands of fighters to shore up Assad's forces, has been weakened by a yearlong conflict with Israel. Iran has seen its proxies across the region degraded by regular Israeli airstrikes. U.S. President-elect Donald Trump on Saturday posted on social media that that the United States should avoid engaging militarily in Syria. Pedersen said a date for talks in Geneva on the implementation a U.N. resolution, adopted in 2015, and calling for a Syrian-led political process, would be announced later. The resolution calls for the establishment of a transitional governing body, followed by the drafting of a new constitution and ending with U.N.-supervised elections. Later Saturday, foreign ministers and senior diplomats from eight key countries, including Saudi Arabia, Russia, Egypt, Turkey and Iran, along with Pederson, gathered on the sidelines of the Doha Summit to discuss the situation in Syria. No details were immediately available. Rami Abdurrahman, who heads the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition war monitor, said insurgents were in the Damascus suburbs of Maadamiyah, Jaramana and Daraya. Opposition fighters were marching toward the Damascus suburb of Harasta, he added. A commander with the insurgents, Hassan Abdul-Ghani, posted on the Telegram messaging app that opposition forces had begun the “final stage” of their offensive by encircling Damascus. HTS controls much of northwest Syria and in 2017 set up a “salvation government” to run day-to-day affairs in the region. In recent years, HTS leader Abu Mohammed al-Golani has sought to remake the group’s image, cutting ties with al-Qaida, ditching hard-line officials and vowing to embrace pluralism and religious tolerance. The shock offensive began Nov. 27, during which gunmen captured the northern city of Aleppo, Syria’s largest, and the central city of Hama , the country’s fourth largest city. Opposition activists said Saturday that a day earlier, insurgents entered Palmyra, which is home to invaluable archaeological sites had been in government hands since being taken from the Islamic State group in 2017. To the south, Syrian troops left much of the province of Quneitra including the main Baath City, activists said. Syrian Observatory said government troops have withdrawn from much of the two southern provinces. The Syrian army said in a statement that it carried out redeployment and repositioning in Sweida and Daraa after its checkpoints came under attack by “terrorists." The army said it was setting up a “strong and coherent defensive and security belt in the area,” apparently to defend Damascus from the south. The Syrian government has referred to opposition gunmen as terrorists since conflict broke out in March 2011. The foreign ministers of Iran, Russia and Turkey, meeting in Qatar, called for an end to the hostilities. Turkey is a main backer of the rebels. Qatar's top diplomat, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, criticized Assad for failing to take advantage of the lull in fighting in recent years to address the country’s underlying problems. “Assad didn’t seize this opportunity to start engaging and restoring his relationship with his people,” he said. Sheikh Mohammed said he was surprised by how quickly the rebels have advanced and said there is a real threat to Syria’s “territorial integrity.” He said the war could “damage and destroy what is left if there is no sense of urgency” to start a political process. Karam reported from London. Associated Press writers Albert Aji in Damascus, Syria and Qassim Abdul-Zahra in Baghdad contributed to this report.
The allure of the Chinese market lies in its vast potential for growth and innovation. As China continues to solidify its position as a global economic powerhouse, foreign investors are increasingly looking towards Chinese assets as a lucrative investment opportunity. The recent success of the Wall Street funds in their Chinese investments serves as a testament to the immense potential that the Chinese market holds.On the other hand, some critics express concerns about the potential impact of exempting land value tax on government revenue. The tax revenue from land value tax plays a significant role in funding public services and infrastructure development. If the tax exemption is implemented, there could be a gap in revenue that needs to be addressed through other means, such as increasing other taxes or cutting expenses in other areas.
Beauty salons and cosmetic clinics should adhere to strict guidelines and protocols when administering Botox injections to ensure the safety and well-being of their clients. Proper training, licensing, and supervision of staff are essential to prevent incidents of poisoning and other adverse reactions.
A look at how some of Trump's picks to lead health agencies could help carry out Kennedy's overhaulThe Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that the airstrikes hit areas in Damascus, Homs, and Hama provinces, causing significant damage to military installations and infrastructure. Eyewitnesses described hearing loud explosions and seeing plumes of smoke rising from the targeted sites, underscoring the intensity of the attacks.
Moving forward, Barcelona must prioritize resolving the internal conflicts and fostering a positive team environment to improve their performance and results. Only through unity, communication, and mutual respect can the team overcome their current challenges and return to winning ways.
Trump’s lawyers rebuff DA’s idea for upholding his hush money conviction, calling it ‘absurd’High commissions and charges, like investment fees, are maddening, whether hidden or out in the open. These pesky charges also come with a financial cost. Anyone who’s ever bought a concert ticket or made a plane reservation knows that firsthand. But what retirement savers often overlook is how investment fees can add up over time and eat into their investment performance, shrink their account balance, and even delay retirement. In fact, higher investment management fees could potentially set your retirement back by four years, according to the 2022 Mercer Retirement Readiness Barometer . Mercer’s analysis found that an individual investor paying the median level of fees (in this case, 1.9%) would not be retirement-ready until age 70, well above the traditional retirement age of 65. In today’s world, we all need every dime of our 401(k) or IRA account balance. So, paying attention to investment fees or commissions charged by mutual funds, wealth advisors who provide financial advice, or brokerages is crucial. It's as essential as getting your asset allocation right and building a diversified portfolio to grow your money over time without taking outsized risks. “You can’t control the markets or where interest rates are heading, but for the most part, you can control the costs that you pay (for your investments and portfolio),” said James Martielli , head of investment & trading services at Vanguard. This fund firm has long espoused the benefits of low-cost investing. Minimizing costs is one of Vanguard’s four principles for investing success , which also includes setting clear investment goals, keeping a balanced and diversified mix of investments, and maintaining discipline (e.g., staying the course) over the long haul. Subscribe to Kiplinger’s Personal Finance Be a smarter, better informed investor. Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free E-Newsletters Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail. Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail. Types of investment fees Of course, it’s impossible to avoid investment fees. There’s no free lunch. Here are the costs you are most likely to encounter. Don't be afraid or embarrassed to speak up if you don't understand a fee or know how you are charged. Expense ratios . No doubt, expect to get nicked by fund “expense ratios.” These fees compensate stock pickers who are trying to identify the next Nvidia . They also pay for the investment pros managing index mutual funds or exchange-traded funds (ETF) that replicate a passive index, which mimics a broad market gauge like the S&P 500. You can find the expense ratio by searching the internet on the ticker or fund name, which should retrieve a fund overview. Loads or sales commissions . If you don’t opt for no-load mutual funds , which don’t charge a sales commission, expect to pay a sales charge used to remunerate brokers or financial advisors for their fund-picking services. I recommend you read Understanding Mutual Fund Share Classes for more on these fees. Advisory fees . If you use a financial adviser , you’ll also pay an advisory fee. These may be based on your assets under management, such as 1% of all the assets they manage for you. Or you may find advisers who charge a flat fee. Workplace retirement plan fees . Your 401(k) , 403(b) or 457 plan might also have a quarterly or annual maintenance fee and administration fees deducted from your account balance. Be sure to ask your plan administrator or HR department for help if you can't find or don't understand these fees. Transaction fees . For example, if you’re trading in your IRA, there could be transaction costs or commissions to buy and sell stocks and, in some cases, mutual funds. Online brokerages like Fidelity may have lower or no transaction fees on ETFs . Fees compound too The more fees you pay, the less your money is put to work in investments. Remember, what you keep is your account balance after investment costs are deducted. “These fees may seem small, but over time they can have a major impact on your investment portfolio,” an investor bulletin from the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Office of Investor Education and Advocacy warned. “Fees can really be a drag on performance, and a lot of time, investors may not even realize there are fees associated with the individual investment choices they’ve made,” Matt Bullard , regional VP for managed solutions at Fidelity Investments, noted in a blog post , “Are fees holding your portfolio back?” Just as your 401(k) contributions and gains compound over time, so do fees and trading costs. The result: costs add up over your lifetime. “The longer the time horizon, the more pernicious the effect,” said Martielli. How much do fees harm my retirement investments? OK, so how big a drag can expenses have on your retirement bottom-line? It turns out that even small costs can add up to large drags on your account balance over time, a simple investment simulation from Vanguard shows. Let’s say you have a starting balance of $100,000 (no additional contributions are made), earn 6% on your money each year and reinvest your gains. Here’s a quick look at how your starting account balance of $100,000 would grow over 30 years given different investment costs, from Vanguard's Principles for Investing Success . The takeaway: Higher costs can significantly depress a portfolio’s growth. At the end of those three decades, owning the lowest-cost portfolio would result in an account balance that is $240,302 higher than the highest-cost portfolio. And there’s even a $91,484 difference between the lowest-cost portfolio (0.10%) and the second-lowest-cost portfolio (0.70%). Lower costs can also support higher returns, the Vanguard study shows. The fund company looked at equity mutual fund returns over a 10-year period from 2012 to 2022, taking expense ratios into account. As shown in the chart below, the funds with the lowest fees (or ones in the lowest-cost quartile with average expense ratios of 0.57%) posted average annualized returns of 8.7%. Contrast that with the 5.7% annual return for funds in the highest-cost quartile (expense ratio of 2.47%). The conclusion from Vanguard based on this analysis is that lower-cost mutual funds (both active and passive) have historically outperformed higher-cost mutual funds after costs. Investment fees are declining There is good news on the investment fee front, however. Fees have fallen in recent decades. The average expense ratio for equities (stock) mutual funds declined for the 14 th straight year in 2023, according to the Investment Company Institute , an association representing the mutual fund industry. From 1996 to 2023, the average equity mutual fund’s expense ratio has dropped by 60%. Drilling down further, the average expense ratio at the end of 2023 for stock mutual funds fell two basis points to 0.42%, and the average expense ratio for bond mutual funds held steady at 0.37%, according to ICI data . Less-expensive investment options are also seeing fees decline . The costs for exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that track broad stock indexes like the S&P 500 and trade infrequently, for example, declined one basis point to 0.15%. The average expense ratio for index bond ETFs remained unchanged at 0.11%. The fee compression includes both actively managed funds (or ones run by professional stock pickers whose goal is to top market benchmarks) as well as index funds that mimic or match the returns of the index they track. The average expense ratio of actively managed funds declined from 1.08% in 1996 to 0.65% in 2023. However, index funds are still the lower-fee option. ICI data show that Index fund expense ratios dipped from 0.27% in 1996 to 0.05% in 2023. The fix? Invest in low-cost index funds or ETFs, or actively managed funds with consistent performance that charge lower fees than their competitors. Let’s look at another example of how lower fees, all things being equal, will net you a larger nest egg. Let’s say you invested $10,000 in a fund that produced a 10% return before expenses and had annual operating expenses of 1.5%. After 20 years, you would have $49,725, according to a Fidelity analysis . In contrast, if you had invested in a fund with expenses of only 0.50%, "then you would have ended up with $60,858 – an 18% difference.” Should I buy the cheapest ETF or mutual fund? It's important to point out that just because an actively managed fund has a higher expense ratio than an index fund doesn’t mean it can’t deliver better after-fee returns. Index funds can only match an index’s return, while a fund run by a stock picker might deliver market-beating returns that offset any drag from costs. “Fees are only an issue in the absence of value,” says Fidelity’s Bullard. “If you believe in active management — that there are people out there who are skilled and smart and have access to research that may help enable them to beat the indexes — you may be willing to pay a little more for that. Some funds may be worth paying an above-average cost for.” And when comparing actively managed funds, the one charging a lower fee isn’t necessarily better than the one charging a higher expense ratio. “Just because a mutual fund has low fees doesn’t mean it’s a good fund,” according to the Ramsey Solutions blog post, Everything You Need To Know About Investment Fees . Yes, fees matter “Look for a fund that has a reasonable expense ratio with a long-term track record of excellent returns and good management in place. That’s a winning combination,” advises Ramsey Solutions. The bottom line, even for actively managed funds, is that fees matter. “The higher the cost hurdle, the more difficult it is to outperform,” says Vanguard’s Martielli. Read More You Could Be a 401(k) Millionaire. Here's How Average IRA Balance by Age Average 401(k) Balance by Age Retirement Calculator: How Much Do I Need to Retire?1. A compact cutlery organizer with stacked, angled compartments that take up *much* less room than traditional silverware organizers. You can free up more space for those larger cooking utensils that take up an entire drawer or are sitting on your counter. Promising review: "Yes, this little utensil tray is really that good! I went from using 12 inches of horizontal space in a lovely but huge wooden utensil tray to about using about four inches (whatever the width of this godsend is). It stores my butter knives, steak knives, spoons, forks, and a slew of little teaspoons. I'd guess that the max capacity for each slot is about 10 pieces. For example, I fit four butter knives and four steak knives into the first/knife slot easily, with good wiggle room. This is such a great design. Using this tray opened up about half of my 18-inch wide drawer, which allowed me to decompress the other drawers in my kitchen a bit. I highly recommend this item. It's worth every penny." — Kathleen Cooke Get it from Amazon for $9.69 . 2. A shower curtain liner that has nine mesh pockets because the bathtub ledge has run out of room (and bottles are always falling off of it anyway). This is especially great for people who share a bathroom and have different sets of shower products to organize. Prefer a traditional shower caddy? Check out this corner tension-rod caddy . Elizabeth: I own this and *adore* it. Yes, this is my shower and I live alone. I just have lots of products, OK?! I have even more today than when I took this pic more than a year ago! It holds lots of heavy bottles of body wash and conditioner, and helps me find where my pumice stone or razor is in my pre-contacts morning haze. If I could marry an object, it'd be this shower curtain. Check out my *full* Maytex Quick Dry Mesh Pockets Waterproof PEVA Shower Curtain or Liner review . Get it from Amazon for $15.91 (available in two colors). 3. A medicine cabinet organizer so you can actually find what you need without digging through a pile of half-used ointments and expired pain relievers. It'll tidy up your toiletries, and who knows — you might even free up a drawer! Promising review: "This fits perfectly on the bottom of my medicine cabinet. It is very sturdy plastic with a great design. I can't believe how many jars, tubes, etc., it has managed to corral. Everything looks so neat! If they make a smaller one for upper cabinet shelves, I'm buying it. Wonderful little product!" — Alex Get the organizer on the bottom shelf from Amazon for $12.45 (available in two sizes and three styles). 4. A ceiling-mounted garage shelf to store all your seasonal decor, bulky coats, luggage, and any other things you only occasionally use. It’s the perfect way to clear out some closet space and don't worry, it won’t block your garage door from opening. This shelf model has an adjustable 18–33-inch ceiling drop and holds up to 600 pounds. Safe Racks is a small biz that makes handy garage storage products. Promising review: "This fits our garage perfectly. We have 24 inches of clearance from our ceiling to the top of our garage door track. We set ours at 19 inches and still have room. We bought the 18–33-inch version and had some confusion with the product description stating 25–45 inches of drop down, but it fit perfectly with a little room to spare. If you need extra storage space and to declutter your garage floor, I would highly recommend these racks." — Alyssa Gibson Get them from Amazon for $199.99+ each (available in three sizes, packs of two, and in two colors). 5. A pack of tiny Command hooks you can stick just about anywhere for some custom organization. Pop them inside your cabinet to hang measuring cups, or on your wall to show off your purses (just a heads-up, they hold up to half a pound, so maybe keep it to the smaller ones). You'll get 10 hooks and 12 small clear indoor strips. Elizabeth: Yes, this is my kitchen cabinet and this trick helps me find the correct measuring cup so much faster than back when I used to stack them in a drawer! Just be sure to account for the cups' depth while arranging the cabinet's contents. Since I took this pic my 1/2 cup met its doom in a tub of sugar so I swapped in some measuring cups with *engraved* measurements on the cups, which makes my setup even better! Get a 10-pack of hooks from Amazon for $8.34 . 6. A set of reusable vacuum storage bags for all those extra linens that take up a whole shelf. Just pack your items in, vacuum out the air, and boom — you’ve got a compact, airtight package that’s easy to store under the bed, in the attic, or even in the back of your closet. And don't worry: It works with ~any~ vacuum! Elizabeth: I'm linen closet-less in my one-bedroom apartment, so all my spare linens are folded up inside my rolling luggage underneath my bed. Set includes two jumbo, five extra large, four large, and four medium bags. Promising review: "These bags are freaking great. My fiancé and I recently moved from a 2 bed/2 bath to a 1 bed/1 bath. We lost a lot of storage space and didn't want to get rid of our guest bedding when we are planning to buy a house within the next year. We use the jumbo and large bags for our guest linens/extras. I think the medium bags could come in handy for packing luggage for extended trips back home." — Kyra Get 15 bags from Amazon for $24.87 (available in five pack sizes). 7. Or some hanging vacuum bags to store those off-season dresses and skirts that are crowding your closet and free up space for all the cozy sweaters you’re finally ready to wear. And as a bonus — they’ll keep your clothes safe from moths while they’re hanging out in the back of your closet. Promising review: "Bought these storage bags two weeks ago to pack my winter clothes for summer, and they did the job perfectly. They are large and sturdy. I like its five-hook design. I can store five women's jackets or four big men's jackets in ONE bag. The long bags also fit my dresses. The biggest reason I bought these bags is that I do not need to fold my seasonal clothes; just hang, zip, vacuum, done! Super convenient. Extremely happy with this space bags. I will definitely order more!" — Jia Yan Get a four-pack from Amazon for $ 28.99 + (available in four colors and in a six-pack). 8. A corner sponge organizer so you can condense all the cleaning products scattered across the edge of your sink (and also keep them from falling in). Reviewers love it and say it makes their kitchen look much more organized! This is also a better option than an organizer that hangs over your faucet because the weight of those can mess with your water flow! Promising review: "This fits our sink perfectly! It's not too big and holds a sponge and two bottles of soap. We have a standard apartment sink and it fits perfectly , it also holds very well. We have it suctioned on the sink not the counter." — Erin Johnson Get it from Amazon for $29.99 . 9. A pack of innovative moldable glue reviewers use to hang lights, fix cracked cups, organize their cords, and so much more. It’s waterproof and works on just about anything — plastic, wood, ceramic, metal, rubber, you name it. The DIY lovers are gonna eat this one up (just don't actually eat it)! Apply it to whatever you need to fix, and it'll take about 30 minutes to set and 24 to 48 hours to fully dry. Promising review: "I've used it to mount things, organize wiring in stereo cabinets, stop rattles (license plate rattled when closing trunk, two little balls of Sugru to back of plate did the trick). Even made tool hangers in the garage with it. Wonder if I could build a boat with it." — fastrnu Get an eight-pack from Amazon for $26.35 (available in seven colors). 10. An adjustable closet doubler so you can shop your closet like it's a department store instead of tearing through jam-packed drawers and creating a big mess. It hooks to the built-in rod, and you can adjust the height to hang an extra level of clothes, making it easier to find what you need (or get rid of what you don't)! Promising review: "This product has been one of my favorite Amazon finds, I’m not sure why I didn’t think of it sooner. It has doubled my closet space in my apartment where I can’t make any damage in terms of adding another permanent shelf — so this has been a perfect solution. It was easy to assemble and is sturdy. I’ve had it for a couple of weeks now with no issue. Your closet has to be pretty high for this to work or else your shirts above are going to get caught on the hangers below and for my case, some of my shirts are dragging on the floor — just keep this in mind when you’re thinking about purchasing." — Alex Get it from Amazon for $16.97 (available in three colors). 11. A corner shelf to show off your keepsakes instead of letting them collect dust in a drawer. It's a sleek, simple design that fits with any aesthetic and is six feet tall to really use up that ~vertical space~. Also check out this similar cheaper option ! Promising review: "This is one of my new favorite pieces of furniture! It's looks great, is durable, and is a great space saver in our apartment. I love it!" — Zachary James Speck Get it from Amazon for $106.46 (available in two finishes). 12. A floating bookshelf because your book collection that's been sitting on the floor deserves to be properly displayed. These hold up to 15 pounds, and reviewers say they are super easy to install. Now all your books can look like they've been perpetually Wingardium Leviosa-ed! Promising review: "These are so much fun! We ordered the small size, which fits standard hardback books (approximately 5–7 hardbacks in my experience). They're a great way to add some extra storage to our very small home, and we've placed them in our hallway so people ask us about them all the time. I'd highly recommend!" — LaBuenaVidaMere Get it from Amazon for $11.50 (available in two colors and sizes, and in packs of three). 13. A mounted wineglass rack to take advantage of the vertical space in your cabinets so you can fit more in there. Reviewers say it's super easy to install and securely holds their glasses — no more "whining" about broken stems. Elizabeth: I lucked out with some similar racks already mounted in my apartment (like these! ) and I adore them. Promising review: "I live in a small apartment, and try to use as much vertical storage as possible. This fits perfectly under the cabinet that is over my kitchen sink- installation was perfectly straightforward. It's very sturdy and beautifully displays the glasses that I received for Christmas." — DanaM Get three rows (enough for nine glasses) from Amazon for $18.99 (available in two colors and two sizes). 14. A bike hoist so you can actually park your car in the garage (a novel idea, right?). It’s got a safety lock to keep your bike from taking a tumble, and rubber hooks so your ride stays scratch-free. Plus, it can hold up to 100 pounds, so you can trust it with your gear. Check out more garage organizing tips . Promising review: "I did a lot of research and bought this mount based on the reviews. This was NOT a quick and simple project like hanging a flat panel TV. This installation took some time to do all the measuring, finding the joist location in the attic, pre-drilling holes, painting the 2X4, etc. but it looks and works great. My only advice is to take your time and measure several times. We did not use the supplied screws we used longer wood screws for the 2X4 and better quality screws for the mounting plates. We also bent the hooks a little bit to hold my bike seat better." — Freya Get it Amazon for $16.97 (also available in a two-pack and four-pack). 15. A pair of sturdy kayak straps reviewers say make getting their kayak up and down a breeze. Think of all the things you can do with the extra space now that kayaks aren’t taking up half the garage! The boat hanger attaches to the wall with four screws (mounting screws for wood studs are included). Just make sure to mount it into the wall studs, or if you're putting it on a concrete wall, you'll need to use the right molly screws. Promising review: "Great product! Easy to install, easy to manage to hang our kayaks. Bonus is it holds our paddles. We didn't have room in the garage and our fence needs redone. So my guy hung it on the side of the house in the backyard. He did a great job! Out of the way and off the ground." — ShOpPInG_mAdE_cOnVeNiEnT Get it from Amazon for $55 . 16. A leather bedside storage caddy if your water bottle takes up your entire nightstand. It has five pockets to keep all your essentials right where you need them while you're relaxing. Promising review: "One of the most useful items I have ever purchased. The pockets are the right size to hold a tablet, phone, remote, or book. My bedroom is too small for bedside tables so I use this organizer to hold anything that I might need right by my bed. I was surprised at how well it stay in place just by sliding the flat end in between the mattress and box spring." — Hannah Get it from Amazon for $8.99+ (available in three sizes and in four colors). 17. A light, but sturdy bed frame that'll give you 14 inches of room underneath to stash extra blankets, luggage, and any other things you don't need all the time. Reviewers love how easy it is to assemble and really appreciate the extra storage space. Elizabeth: Cover it with a bed skirt and no one'll know your clever secret. I own this and love it. It's super easy to assemble and very sturdy, and has plenty of space for me to store all my luggage packed with out-of-season clothes and spare linens (as described in #6!). Promising review: "This bed frame is amazing...no hassle set up is true! No noise and no box spring needed. Great storage space underneath as well . I am so glad i found this. :)" — Dana Get a full size from Amazon for $75 (available in seven sizes and three styles). 18. Or some adjustable bed risers because it's all about using that vertical space! These give you an extra three, five, or eight inches of space under your furniture — perfect for hiding stuff you don’t want anyone to see (like that pile of laundry 😉). They work on couches and futons too, and you can just hide them with a dust ruffle to keep things cute. And don't worry these are super sturdy and hold up to 1,300 lbs! Here are some handy under-bed storage ideas . Home It is a small business that makes all kind of products for your home! Promising review: "These blow my mind. They've added so much storage under our bed. I worried about them being durable enough to withstand our weight but there was no need to worry. Just this past weekend, both my husband and I were on the bed when two of our teenage sons ran and jumped on the bed with us. I didn't even hear a creak from these bed risers. There must have been close to 800 lbs. on our bed at that point and these risers held up like champs." — Kelly McHone Get them from Amazon for $19.99+ (also available in white and brown). 19. A mixer attachment mount to efficiently store the odd-shaped KitchenAid attachments that take up too much precious drawer space. It's especially great for maximizing the space in small kitchens. This Texas-based small business stocks lots of helpful kitchen organization products , so check them out! Promising review: " Some of the best money I spent on Etsy. Durable and effective. I'm a frequent baker (even more so this time of year) and I was constantly having to go through my cabinets to find the attachment I needed (not so much an organization issue as a small kitchen/storage issue). This keeps the attachments out of the way, easily accessible, and ready to use when it's time to bake. I highly recommend." — esposi26 Get it from 3D Home Solution on Etsy for $11 (available in three colors and with your choice of Command strips or wood screws for mounting). 20. A three-pack of heavy-duty bungees for keeping charging cables and extension cords neatly bundled so they don’t tangle into a mess. This reviewer even uses them to hang their rakes and shovels! Promising review: "I really like this organizer. I used them in my garage to hang two 150-foot outdoor electrical cords, and folding patio chairs. Great idea and much stronger than bungee cords." — Ann Lajuan Get it from Amazon for $14.97 (available in six colors). 21. And a wall-mounted rack to handle those annoying brooms, mops, rakes, and shovels that are always falling over. This rack has five slots and can hold up to 38 pounds, so it’ll keep everything neatly stored and off the floor. Included with the garage organizers are screws, anchors, a drilling template, and a guide – everything you'll need to set this up. Home It is a small business that makes all kind of products for your home! Promising review: "It's a broom rack and it performs its job well. The springs holding the mechanisms are strong. The plastic feels durable and like it would last. It came with mounting hardware but the screws were too long for my hollow core door, so I used toggle bolts instead (some folks call them 'butterfly' screws). As you can see in my images it can be loaded full of various tools and holds everything in place, feels sturdy once bolted to the door. The fold away hooks are a nice touch. We turned our unused hot water tank room as an efficient use of space to store vacs, brooms and mops. I plan on adding a small shelf in here for some cleaning detergents and whatnot like extra filters and mop heads etc." — Jakobe Get it from Amazon for $11.98 (available in two styles). 22. A set of fishing rod racks that hook onto the back of your garage door, cleverly making use of space you never knew you had. Reviewers love how easy they are to install and how much room they free up! Hardware included for easy, no tool installation on standard garage doors. If the door is a hard insulated or wood door, self tapping screws are not included but can be shipped at no cost. Can also be installed on walls and ceilings. Promising review: "I love these racks. They work just like they say. I have two sets with all of my best poles. It works with my surf rods and with my casting rods wonderfully. I did have to move my hurricane braces down a couple of inches from the top edge of the panels. That was my door installer's fault for trying to save on screws. I have no problems with mine falling out and I use my garage like a front door." — amo Get them from Amazon for $39.99 . 23. An under-cabinet paper towel holder to free up some counter space and make it significantly easier to grab a paper towel when your hands are covered in food. You can screw it in or use a sticky adhesive (if you're renting). Promising review: "We don't have a ton of counter space so I hated that a large portion of it was always being used by a paper towel holder and it was never in the same spot. I finally caved and bought this. Best. Decision. EVER! Now it's always in the same spot, easy to swap out rolls because of the open end, and looks nice! The only thing I'd say is I wish it came with two different length screws for wall vs. under cabinet installation. We had to purchase some because the ones that came with it were too long for under cabinet install and went through our cabinets. It was easily hidden though so not a big deal to us!" — Amber Waldecker Get it from Amazon for $9.98 (available in sets of two, four, and in six colors). 24. A T-shirt roll holder that allows you to use your bedroom, closet, or even bathroom door for extra storage and free up that much-needed space in your drawers! It has adjustable loops to neatly display your T-shirts, leggings, towels, and more. The Roll Keeper is owned by Kelso, Washington's resident crafter, Traci. Traci has been crafting for over 40 years and created her storage design to help organize vinyl, soon realizing that it was the perfect organization solution for much more. Her shop has versions for bottles, wrapping paper, pens, and more. My colleague Mallory Mower owns this and loves it. Here's what she has to say: "Before getting this I was driving myself up the wall with my bad folding habits. I basically shoved all my shirts into the storage drawers under my bed, because I have a teeny tiny closet (the picture above gives you a solid idea of how small it is). This has given me a massive amount of clothing storage I didn't have before. The quality is stellar and Traci is 10/10 the most thoughtful person I've purchased an Etsy product from!" Get it from The Roll Keeper on Amazon for $23.99 (available in black or white). 25. An outlet shelf to turn your basic outlet into a mini shelf — perfect for holding your electric toothbrush, mini diffuser, or whatever little gadgets you’re constantly using. It installs just like a regular outlet cover, and you can choose whether to have the shelf above or below the outlet. Promising review: "I absolutely love this thing! I have much less clutter on my sink thanks to this. If there's anyone not sure if it will fit due to an object, all you need is 1.25 inches of space between the edge of your existing outlet plate and the piece of furniture. I have a GFCI with a standard wall plate." — Amazon Customer Get it from Amazon for $14.99+ (available in four colors and in a pack of two or four). 26. A charming fruit hammock that'll free up counter space and be a fun conversation starter. Just screw it into the underside of your cabinets, and voilà — your bananas get their own little vacation spot 🏖️. Oh, to be a piece of fruit lying in a hammock. macraYAYmacrame is an Indianapolis, Indiana-based shop that makes a variety of cool macrame accessories. Promising review: "Beautiful and functional! This is the perfect addition to our beachy kitchen. We spray painted the hooks matte black to match our other hardware. It’s so cute!" — Melissa Wilkes Get it from macraYAYmacrame on Etsy for $33 . Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.
The China Fund, Inc. Declares DistributionsBy JOSH BOAK WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump loved to use tariffs on foreign goods during his first presidency. But their impact was barely noticeable in the overall economy, even if their aftershocks were clear in specific industries. The data show they never fully delivered on his promised factory jobs. Nor did they provoke the avalanche of inflation that critics feared. This time, though, his tariff threats might be different . The president-elect is talking about going much bigger — on a potential scale that creates more uncertainty about whether he’ll do what he says and what the consequences could be. “There’s going to be a lot more tariffs, I mean, he’s pretty clear,” said Michael Stumo, the CEO of Coalition for a Prosperous America, a group that has supported import taxes to help domestic manufacturing. The president-elect posted on social media Monday that on his first day in office he would impose 25% tariffs on all goods imported from Mexico and Canada until those countries satisfactorily stop illegal immigration and the flow of illegal drugs such as fentanyl into the United States. Those tariffs could essentially blow up the North American trade pact that Trump’s team negotiated during his initial term. Chinese imports would face additional tariffs of 10% until Beijing cracks down on the production of materials used in making fentanyl, Trump posted. Democrats and business groups warn of risks from Trump’s tariff threats Business groups were quick to warn about rapidly escalating inflation , while Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said she would counter the move with tariffs on U.S. products. House Democrats put together legislation to strip a president’s ability to unilaterally apply tariffs this drastic, warning that they would likely lead to higher prices for autos, shoes, housing and groceries. Sheinbaum said Wednesday that her administration is already working up a list of possible retaliatory tariffs “if the situation comes to that.” “The economy department is preparing it,” Sheinbaum said. “If there are tariffs, Mexico would increase tariffs, it is a technical task about what would also benefit Mexico,” she said, suggesting her country would impose targeted import duties on U.S. goods in sensitive areas. Related Articles National Politics | Trump transition says Cabinet picks, appointees were targeted by bomb threats, swatting attacks National Politics | Southwest states certify election results after the process led to controversy in previous years National Politics | Political stress: Can you stay engaged without sacrificing your mental health? National Politics | Trump fills out his economic team with two veterans of his first administration National Politics | Trump chooses controversial Stanford professor Dr. Jay Bhattacharya to lead NIH House Democrats on Tuesday introduced a bill that would require congressional approval for a president to impose tariffs due to claims of a national emergency, a largely symbolic action given Republicans’ coming control of both the House and Senate. “This legislation would enable Congress to limit this sweeping emergency authority and put in place the necessary Congressional oversight before any president – Democrat or Republican – could indiscriminately raise costs on the American people through tariffs,” said Rep. Suzan DelBene, D-Wash. But for Trump, tariffs are now a tested tool that seems less politically controversial even if the mandate he received in November’s election largely involved restraining inflation. The tariffs he imposed on China in his first term were continued by President Joe Biden, a Democrat who even expanded tariffs and restrictions on the world’s second largest economy. Biden administration officials looked at removing Trump’s tariffs in order to bring down inflationary pressures, only to find they were unlikely to help significantly. Tariffs were “so new and unique that it freaked everybody out in 2017,” said Stumo, but they were ultimately somewhat modest. Trump’s first term tariffs had a modest impact on economy Trump imposed tariffs on solar panels and washing machines at the start of 2018, moves that might have pushed up prices in those sectors even though they also overlapped with plans to open washing machine plants in Tennessee and South Carolina. His administration also levied tariffs on steel and aluminum, including against allies. He then increased tariffs on China, leading to a trade conflict and a limited 2020 agreement that failed to produce the promised Chinese purchases of U.S. goods. Still, the dispute changed relations with China as more U.S. companies looked for alternative suppliers in other countries. Economic research also found the United States may have sacrificed some of its “soft power” as the Chinese population began to watch fewer American movies. The Federal Reserve kept inflation roughly on target, but factory construction spending never jumped in a way that suggested a lasting gain in manufacturing jobs. Separate economic research found the tariff war with China did nothing economically for the communities hurt by offshoring, but it did help Trump and Republicans in those communities politically. When Trump first became president in 2017, the federal government collected $34.6 billion in customs, duties and fees. That sum more than doubled under Trump to $70.8 billion in 2019, according to Office of Management and Budget records. While that sum might seem meaningful, it was relatively small compared to the overall economy. America’s gross domestic product is now $29.3 trillion, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis. The total tariffs collected in the United States would equal less than 0.3% of GDP. Trump wants much more far-reaching tariffs going forward The new tariffs being floated by Trump now are dramatically larger and there could be far more significant impacts. If Mexico, Canada, and China faced the additional tariffs proposed by Trump on all goods imported to the United States, that could be roughly equal to $266 billion in tax collections, a number that does not assume any disruptions in trade or retaliatory moves by other countries. The cost of those taxes would likely be borne by U.S. families, importers and domestic and foreign companies in the form of higher prices or lower profits. Former Biden administration officials said they worried that companies could piggyback on Trump’s tariffs — if they’re imposed — as a rationale to raise their prices, just as many companies after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 boosted food and energy costs and gave several major companies the space to raise prices, according to their own earnings calls with investors. But what Trump didn’t really spell out is what might cause him to back down on tariffs and declare a victory. What he is creating instead with his tariff threats is a sense of uncertainty as companies and countries await the details to figure out what all of this could mean. “We know the key economic policy priorities of the incoming Trump administration, but we don’t know how or when they will be addressed,” said Greg Daco, chief U.S. economist at EY-Parthenon. AP writer Mark Stevenson contributed to this report from Mexico City.In a world where competitiveness often reigns supreme, Messi's actions stand out as a shining example of true sportsmanship and emotional intelligence. Instead of being consumed by the desire to win at all costs, Messi showed a deep understanding of the importance of empathy, compassion, and respect for his fellow players.