All You Need To Know About TikTok, Its Algorithm, and the US-China Deal

A central question in TikTok's potential shutdown saga has been whether the popular social video platform would keep its algorithm - the secret sauce that powers its addictive video feed - after it's divested from Chinese parent company ByteDance.

Now, it seems that it can. Wang Jingtao, deputy director of China's Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission, told reporters in Madrid on Monday that there was consensus on the authorization of "the use of intellectual property rights such as (TikTok's) algorithm" — a main sticking point in the deal.

The sides also agreed on entrusting a partner with handling U.S. user data and content security, he said. But while China has agreed that a divested TikTok could use its algorithm, it's uncertain how that would work.

Little is known about the actual deal being negotiated, including which companies are involved and whether the United States would have a stake in TikTok. Li Chenggang, China's international trade representative, said both sides have reached "basic framework consensus" to properly address TikTok-related issues in a cooperative manner, reduce investment barriers, and promote related economic and trade cooperation. The two sides now have until December 16 to work out the details, following the latest deadline extension by the Trump administration.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a press conference this week after the latest round of trade talks between the world's top two economies concluded in Madrid that U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping would speak on Friday to possibly finalize the deal. He said the objective of the deal would be to shift to American ownership.

He did not disclose the terms of the deal, saying that it is between two private parties, but added that "the commercial terms have been agreed upon."

Oracle Corp. has been floated as a likely buyer for the platform. Representatives of the company did not immediately respond to a message for comment on Monday and Tuesday.

In Madrid, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said the team was "very focused on TikTok and making sure that it was a deal that is fair for the Chinese," but also "completely respects U.S. national security concerns."

The sides also agreed on entrusting a partner with handling U.S. user data and content security, he said.

At arguments in the Supreme Court in January, a lawyer for TikTok and its Chinese parent company ByteDance Ltd. told the justices how difficult it would be to complete a deal that complies with the TikTok law, especially since Chinese law restricts the sale of the proprietary algorithm that has made the social media platform wildly successful.

American officials have previously warned the algorithm that drives what users see on the app is vulnerable to manipulation by Chinese authorities, who can use it to shape content on the platform in a way that is difficult to detect.

TikTok has said that the U.S. never presented evidence that China has attempted to manipulate content on its U.S. platform.

The House Select Committee on China says any deal between Beijing and Washington must comply with a law requiring TikTok to be sold off from its Chinese ownership or face a ban in the U.S.

"It wouldn't be in compliance if the algorithm is Chinese. There can't be any shared algorithm with ByteDance," said a committee spokesperson.

Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, the committee's ranking Democrat, said he wants information on the ownership structure.

"Underpinning all of our concerns is the Chinese Communist Party's access to American data," he said. The social media platform needs user data to determine what to show users, and Krishnamoorthi said he would be open to discussions if the app is protected from Beijing's infiltration.

Although he has no clear legal basis to do so, Trump has continued to extend the deadline for TikTok to avoid a ban in the U.S. The latest extension came on Tuesday, a day before the previous deadline was set to expire.

This gives his administration more time to broker a deal to bring the social media platform under American ownership.

It is unclear how many times Trump can keep extending the ban as the government continues to try to negotiate a deal for TikTok, which is owned by China's ByteDance. While there is no clear legal basis for the extensions, so far, there have been no legal challenges against the administration. Trump has amassed more than 15 million followers on TikTok since he joined last year, and he has credited the trendsetting platform with helping him gain traction among young voters. He said in January that he has a "warm spot for TikTok."

TikTok did not immediately respond to a message for comment on Tuesday.

For now, TikTok continues to function for its 170 million users in the U.S. Tech giants Apple, Google and Oracle were persuaded to continue to offer and support the app, on the promise that Trump's Justice Department would not use the law to seek potentially steep fines against them.

Americans are even more closely divided on what to do about TikTok than they were two years ago.

A recent Pew Research Center survey found that about one-third of Americans said they supported a TikTok ban, down from 50% in March 2023. Roughly one-third said they would oppose a ban, and a similar percentage said they weren't sure.

According to the report, among those who said they supported banning the social media platform, about 8 in 10 cited concerns over users' data security being at risk as a major factor in their decision.

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Workers fired, placed on leave for Charlie Kirk comments after assassination

The killing of Charlie Kirk is sparking debate about political violence in the U.S., as well as the types of professional consequences employees who speak out about the conservative activist's death — and other sensitive issues — might face.

A number of businesses and other organizations have shown employees the door this week because of their public remarks about Kirk, who was assassinated on Wednesday while giving a speech at Utah Valley University. Among those to lose their jobs or face sanctions: a political commentator, a university employee , a sports reporter and a U.S. secret service agent .

Private employers have the law on their side when it comes to removing a worker who makes public statements that the business views as potentially harmful, according to legal experts.

"A private company can generally fire an employee for public comments, even political ones, if those comments are deemed to harm the company's reputation, violate workplace policy or disrupt the business," said Marjorie Mesidor, a workplace attorney, to CBS MoneyWatch.

Vanessa Matsis-McCready, vice president of human resources for Engage PEO, a provider of HR solutions, said that high-profile individuals in particular must tread carefully when commenting publicly on politically charged issues.

In today's climate there is very little tolerance for that," she said. "Employers are very mindful of what is being associated with them, and they are trying to be as apolitical as possible.

Multiple firings

A number of employees across various industries, as well as in academia, are finding themselves in hot water over comments they made about Kirk's death or his political beliefs.

PHNX Sports, an online sports news site focused on Arizona, announced the firing of reporter Gerald Bourguet after he said on social media on Wednesday, in a post that has since been deleted, that "Refusing to mourn a life devoted to that cause is not the same thing as celebrating gun violence."

"Truly don't care if you think it's insensitive or poor timing to decline to respect an evil man who died," he added.

Bourguet declined to comment when contacted by CBS News.

MSNBC said It cut ties with analyst Matthew Dowd after he said in an on-air conversation that Kirk had promoted incendiary speech and that "hateful thoughts lead to hateful words, which then lead to hateful actions." In a public statement, Comcast accused Dowd of making "an unacceptable and insensitive comment about this horrific event."

"That coverage was at odds with fostering civil dialogue and being willing to listen to the points of view of those who have differing opinions. We should be able to disagree, robustly and passionately, but, ultimately, with respect. We need to do better," said Comcast executives.

Dowd, the former chief strategist for Republican President George W. Bush, apologized in a Substack post on Friday, saying he hadn't meant to imply Kirk was to blame for the violence that killed him, according to AP. But Dowd, a long-time political analyst at ABC News before joining MSNBC in 2022, also accused the network of giving in to pressure to fire him.

"The right wing media mob ginned up, went after me on a plethora of platforms, and MSNBC reacted to that mob," he wrote on Substack. "Even though most at MSNBC knew my words were being misconstrued, the timing of my words forgotten ... and that I apologized for any miscommunication on my part, I was terminated by the end of the day."

Also in the media industry, Washington Post columnist Karen Attiah said in a Substack post Monday, the company dismissed her last week after she spoke out "against political violence, racial double standards, and America's apathy toward guns," noting that she only mentioned Kirk once in a separate social media post.

A spokesperson for the Washington Post declined to comment to CBS News on personnel matters.

It's policies and standards state that "A Post journalist's use of social media must not harm the editorial integrity or journalistic reputation of The Post."

Other organizations have also taken action against workers who spoke out about Kirk. Middle Tennessee State University said in statement that it had fired a university employee over "inappropriate and callous comments on social media regarding the horrific and tragic murder of Charlie Kirk."

Nasdaq, in a statement posted on X, said it dismissed an employee over social media posts related to Kirk's shooting that the stock exchange said "were a clear violation of our policy."

In a Facebook post, the U.S. Secret Service said it placed an agent who it said expressed negative opinions about Kirk on leave. "The U.S. Secret Service will not tolerate behavior that violates our code of conduct. This employee was immediately put on administrative leave, and an investigation has begun," a U.S. Secret Service spokesperson said in a statement.

United Airlines told CBS News that it took action against employees who the company said had publicly commented on Kirk's death. "Our mission at United Airlines is to connect people and unite the world. So we've been clear with our customers and employees that there's zero tolerance for politically motivated violence or any attempt to justify it," the carrier said in a statement to CBS News.

U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy praised United for "doing what's right by placing pilots celebrating the assassination of Charlie Kirk out of service. They must be fired," in a statement t on X.

"There's no room for political violence in America and anyone applauding it will face the consequences. ESPECIALLY those we count on to ensure the safety of the flying public," Duffy wrote.

Few legal protections

First Amendment protections are generally limited for workers in the private sector, according to attorneys.

"Employers often have a strong legal basis to terminate an employee if their public comments, especially on a high-profile and sensitive topic like a murder, cause reputational damage or customer backlash," Mesidor said.

Some states - California, Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, South Carolina and West Virginia - do have laws to protect employees from being fired for their conduct off the job, including their political speech and activity, but most do not. Maynard Nexsen attorney Andrew Kragie told CBS MoneyWatch that workers at private employers typically have little protection from punishment for their public comments.

"If someone says, 'Thank goodness this person was assassinated,' then generally their employer can fire them," he said. That's because most workers are employed at-will, meaning either party can terminate the contract at any time, for any reason," he explained.

"So, most employees in the private sector can be disciplined based on what you say on social media, even if your account doesn't identify you as an employee," Kragie added.

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IHOP latest to launch value menu: What you can get for $6

At a time when eating out is costing more, some restaurant chains are turning to value menu options to draw customers in. The latest to join the trend may have you reaching for the maple syrup.

IHOP unveiled its value menu, with offerings priced at $6 at participating U.S. restaurants. At some locations, the four meals on the menu will cost $7. In a Monday press release, the company said its first-ever value menu will be available every day from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.

We know our guests are more value conscious than ever, so the launch of IHOP's Value Menu is a direct response to what they want - delicious food, variety, abundance, and affordability without compromise, seven days a week," said IHOP President Lawrence Kim in the release, describing this as "just the beginning of a new chapter where we bring fresh energy and continue to delight our guests with the comfort and joy they've come to expect from IHOP.

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The menu, found here , includes four breakfast meals, according to IHOP:

• Breakfast Faves Combo: Two buttermilk pancakes, two eggs, and a choice of two strips of bacon or pork sausage links
• Ham and Cheese Omelette: An omelette with ham and a jack, cheddar, and white cheese sauce, served with two buttermilk pancakes.
• French Toast Faves Combo: A slice of IHOP's Thick 'N Fluffy French Toast, two eggs, and your choice of two bacon strips or pork sausage links.
• House Scramble: Scrambled eggs with chopped bacon and jack and cheddar cheese, served with hash browns.

According to IHOP, the value menu will be available for a limited time at participating U.S. restaurants.

An online review by Nexstar found that at restaurants in Chicago , Los Angeles , Austin , the value menu items were listed at $6. Meanwhile, at least one location in San Francisco , New York City , and Portland , Oregon, value menu items were $7. You can check the prices of your IHOP location's menu online .

Does the First Amendment protect you at work? Charlie Kirk critics are learning the answer

Regardless of the cost, the meals are among the cheapest options at IHOP, unless you're ordering off the kids' menu.

Dine Brands, the parent company of IHOP (as well as Applebee's and Fuzzy's Taco Shop), reported in early August that year-over-year sales at the breakfast chain declined by more than 2% in the second quarter of 2025. In a statement , Dine Brands CEO John Peyton said, "IHOP saw growth fueled by its refreshed brand positioning and value strategy."

Meanwhile, eating out in general has become more expensive. The latest data From the Bureau of Labor Statistics, released earlier this month, it shows that in August, the cost of food away from home increased by almost 4% year-over-year. The month-to-month increase was much smaller, coming in at less than half a percent.

Why your iPhone may die faster this week

Other fast food chains have been turning to discounted menu items lately. Most recently, McDonald's began offering Extra Value Meals, with offerings costing 15% less than ordering each of the included items individually.

Within the last year, Domino's , Applebee's, Chili's , and Taco Bell have also offered lower-priced menu items.

Overall U.S. fast food customer traffic fell nearly 1% in the second quarter, according to Revenue Management Solutions, a consulting company. The company said price increases were sharply lower than previous quarters, suggesting that chains are already offering more deals.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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What hurdles lie ahead for any US-China TikTok deal?

(Corrects story to show Andreessen Horowitz is not a current investor in ByteDance in paragraph 13)

By David Shepardson

WASHINGTON (newsrealtime) - Questions and potential hurdles surround a framework agreement announced on Monday between the U.S. and China that would transfer short-video app TikTok to U.S.-controlled ownership, including whether any deal will comply with a 2024 law.

U.S. and Chinese officials announced the deal in principle in Madrid following trade talks, but did not provide details or answer key questions such as whether China will agree to transfer ownership of the algorithm that makes the app so popular with 170 million Americans.

WHAT HAPPENS TO THE ALGORITHM?

During previous negotiations, Chinese authorities expressed strong reluctance to allow the export of TikTok's recommendation algorithm, widely seen as owner ByteDance's most valuable asset and a key driver of the app's global popularity.

In 2020, when the Trump administration first pushed for a sale of TikTok's U.S. business, China updated its export control rules to cover technologies such as recommendation algorithms, effectively giving the government a say over any transfer.

DOES CONGRESS NEED TO APPROVE THE DEAL?

Any agreement could require approval by the Republican-controlled Congress, which passed a law in 2024 requiring ByteDance to divest TikTok or face a ban in the U.S., due to fears that TikTok's U.S. user data could be accessed by the Chinese government and allow Beijing to spy on Americans or conduct influence operations through the app.

Since that law came into effect, U.S. President Donald Trump has extended the deadline for its enforcement three times.

Some Democratic lawmakers argued that Trump had no legal authority to extend the deadline and suggested that a previous deal under consideration in April would not meet legal requirements.

Attorney General Pam Bondi sent letters to Apple, Google, and other companies in February that provide services or host TikTok, informing them that the Justice Department was relinquishing any claims for potential violations of the law. They were made public in June.

A congressional aide told NewsRealTime on Monday that lawmakers plan to scrutinize the latest deal when it is made public to see if it complies with the law.

WILL CHINA RETAIN ANY OWNERSHIP?

One issue is whether ByteDance will fully divest from TikTok U.S. after the deal.

Trump responded to a question during an Oval Office press conference about whether China will have a stake in TikTok: "We haven't decided that, but it looks to me, and I'm speaking to President Xi on Friday for confirmation."

Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Tom Cotton said in April that American investors wanting to buy TikTok must cut all ties with China.

ByteDance's current shareholders include American firms Susquehanna International Group, General Atlantic, and KKR.

If Congress rejects the latest agreement, Trump may have limited recourse. In January, the Supreme Court unanimously ruled that the law, passed by an overwhelming bipartisan majority in Congress last year and signed by former Democratic President Joe Biden, did not violate the U.S. Constitution's First Amendment protection against government abridgment of free speech.

WHO WILL CONTROL TIKTOK AFTER DIVESTITURE?

Officials expect the final deal to be very similar to what was anticipated under the previous deal outlined in April, which would spin off TikTok's U.S. operations into a new U.S.-based company, majority-owned and operated by U.S. investors. This stalled after China indicated it would withhold its approval following Trump's announcements of steep tariffs on Chinese goods. The precise structure of the new expected ownership remains unclear.

(Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Nia Williams)

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I sold my flat before the Renters' Rights Bill becomes law

"I would really like to come out of being a landlord," says Patricia Ogunfeibo.

The 61-year-old has just sold a two-bedroom flat in south-east London, one of her nine properties.

She is one of many landlords selling their properties ahead of the new Renters' Rights Bill - one of the biggest overhauls of the private rental sector.

Once the bill becomes law, the government will ban Section 21 "no-fault" evictions, give tenants greater rights to challenge rent increases, and make it illegal to discriminate against prospective tenants on benefits.

Ms Ogunfeibo says "landlords are scared" of some of the changes that are coming into effect.

The government says the bill will provide tenants with "greater security, rights and protections in their homes".

The proposed changes have been widely welcomed by tenants, including Natasha Johnson, who was evicted under the Section 21 clause in 2020 and says it was "traumatic".

Among some of the changes in the Tenants' rights bill the government wants to:

• Ban Section 21 "no-fault" evictions, where landlords can evict tenants without a reason
• Allow tenants to challenge unfair rent increases
• Make it illegal to discriminate against tenants who receive benefits or have children
• Stop bidding wars, so tenants do not pay over the advertised price
• Allow tenants to request pets

Ms Ogunfeibo, who has rented out properties since 1986, says by selling the flat she was "able to get out the money" she had invested in it.

She says she accepts that parts of the law are needed, including a Private Rented Sector Database to help landlords understand their legal obligations and demonstrate compliance.

But she is concerned that the bill will ultimately raise rents.

"We need more affordable homes in the UK at the moment," she says.

"What we don't need is the private rental sector being contracted because landlords are scared and they're selling up and they're leaving the sector."

This time last year, the Property Franchise Group, which is behind brands including Hunters, Fine & Country and EweMove, was managing 153,000 rental homes for landlords, but that has fallen to 150,000 at the last count.

Meanwhile, data from real estate agency Knight Frank showed that the number of new lettings properties coming to the London market in the year to August was 8% below the previous 12-month period.

"Whilst landlords will take into account many factors when deciding future investment plans, including tax and energy efficiency policies, the bill will play a major part for many in deciding their futures," says Chris Norris, chief policy officer for the National Residential Landlords Association.

Given this, amid the lack of rental housing to meet demand, it is vital that the bill has the confidence of responsible landlords as much as tenants.

He said it was key that courts had the capacity to process legitimate possession cases swiftly when Section 21 ends.

According to a survey of 821 landlords in May 2021 by the flat rental website SpareRoom, small landlords are more likely to exit the market than professional landlords.

According to the data, four in 10 UK landlords with one to two rental properties say they plan to leave the market, compared with 22% of those with five to nine properties and 26% of those with more than 10 properties.

But according to SpareRoom, so far, supply in the room rental market remains largely unaffected by the Renters' Rights Bill, with January 2025 being the highest month for flatshare ads in four years.

The Tenants' Rights Bill will introduce a new system giving new tenants a 12-month "protected period" during which they cannot be evicted if the landlord wants to move in or sell the property.

Landlords can still evict tenants for other reasons, including criminal behavior by the tenants.

After the first year, landlords would have to give tenants four months' notice to leave, doubling the current time period, and provide a specific reason for ending a tenancy.

The move is "welcome news" for Ms. Johnson, who was evicted with her teenage son from their rental property in 2020 in the middle of the Covid pandemic.

She now campaigns for others in a similar situation through the London Renters Union (LRU).

"No one should be able to go through that," she said.

"We're human beings. Some form of communication, compromise. It was really really traumatic. I wouldn't wish that on my own enemies."

She said she and her teenage son moved from shelter to shelter, and even spent one night on the street.

"The child still needs to go to school, you still need to prepare breakfast. You still need to try and be strong for that person. It eats away at your mindset, your mental health."

The LRU says ending Section 21 is a "big victory for tenants everywhere but soaring rents will continue to force many out of their homes and communities".

Jae Vail, a spokesperson for the union, said: "Every person deserves a secure home where they can build a life without living in fear of eviction for challenging mistreatment or because their landlord seeks higher profits."

However, he said tenants would "not have real security without rent control".

"Rent control would keep prices down and keep communities together," he said.

"Yet the government continues to side with the rich while ordinary people pay the price for our rigged housing system. It's time to put people's lives before landlords' portfolios."

Level the playing field

A Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government spokesperson said the Renters' Rights Bill remains on track to become law this year.

They said it was a "manifesto commitment and legislative priority" for the Labour government, and the bill's "transformational powers" would be implemented swiftly after it becomes law.

"The bill will level the playing field by providing tenants with greater security, rights and protections in their homes, and including abolishing Section 21 evictions and rightly empowering tenants to directly challenge excessive rent hikes and poor conditions," the spokesperson added.

Listen to the best of newsrealtimeRadio London on Sounds and follow newsrealtimeLondon on Facebook , X and Instagram .Send your story ideas to hello.newsrealtimelondon@newsrealtime.co.uk

• How are renting and eviction rules changing?

More on this story

• Tenants demand rent controls in a demonstration
• Charities warn the bill does not protect renters enough

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• Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

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Damon Dash's Attorney Revealed Why Damon Filed for Bankruptcy After a Successful Career in Music

People who find success in the music industry can look for alternative ways to generate revenue. Fashion brands, television deals, and live shows are some of the ways in which acclaimed singers and producers can make an extra dollar.

Unfortunately, not every artist or record executive is able to find another source of income. When the situation gets rough, filing for bankruptcy starts to look like a viable solution.

When he first struck gold in the industry, Damon Dash never imagined that he would be stuck in a complicated situation many years later. The record executive filed for bankruptcy, shocking those who might have expected him to be a millionaire after working with many famous artists.

Why did Damon file for bankruptcy? Here's what we know about the financial situation of the producer who used to be friends with Jay-Z .

Why did Damon Dash file for bankruptcy?

According to The Los Angeles Times , Damon filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy because he owes a lot of money to several people. The report states that the record executive owes more than $25 million to the United States government and his ex-partners.

On September 7, it was also said that Damon only had around $4,000 to his name, with a couple of weapons, his cell phone, and $100 in cash being his most valuable possessions.

The main reason why Damon filed for Chapter 7 is the weight of his $19 million debt to the government in the form of taxes. The details of the deficit are unknown, but the number is big enough to understand why Damon is taking such extreme measures to handle his finances.

The record executive also owes $648,000 in domestic support obligations to his ex-wife, Rachel Roy. Damon's ex-girlfriend, Cindy Morales, is also mentioned in the petition as one of the people who are owed money.

The Los Angeles Times also mentioned that Damon's lawyer, Brian D. Zinn, had something to say about his client's situation: "While it may come with a negative societal preconceived notion, bankruptcy is simply a legal tool that many successful people have used to restructure their obligations to make their debts more manageable."

The bankruptcy filing could potentially allow Damon to handle his finances in a different way, while eliminating some of his debts.

What is Damon Dash's net worth?

According to Celebrity Net Worth , Damon has a net worth of -$25 million. Yes, as in negative money. During an interview with The Breakfast Club , the producer dove into the reasoning behind his decision.

The bankruptcy status was pursued in order to make paying Damon's debts an easier challenge. Nevertheless, the change reduced his net worth by a considerable amount.

Damon's feud with Jay-Z is one of the most relevant chapters of his career. The music executive and the artist behind Adnis were business partners at Roc-a-Fella Records. According to New York , the situation went south after Def Jam Recordings bought out the company.

Tensions between the two artists grew, and their friendship vanished. Since then, Damon has focused his efforts on establishing endeavors such as a payment application and a record label division.

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A Macon attorney is accused of misusing money, not showing up for hearings. He has been disbarred.

A Macon attorney has been ordered to stop practicing law after Georgia Supreme Court justices determined on Tuesday that he had violated multiple Georgia Bar rules, according to court documents.

The justices at the state's Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that lawyer Melvin Raines II should be disbarred from practicing law in Georgia because he violated the Georgia Rules of Professional Conduct with three of his clients, according to court records.

The state Bar filed three complaints against Raines on April 25, 2024, accusing him of:

• Not abiding by a client's decision regarding representation
• Not acting with diligence and promptness in representing a client
• Not consulting the client on how to accomplish the client's objectives
• Not keeping the client informed about the status of their case
• Not complying with requests for information
• Not holding funds or other client property in an account separate from his personal account
• Not keeping records of account funds and other property by the lawyer
• Withdrawing clients' funds for his personal use
• Not making a reasonable effort to expedite litigation consistent with the client's interest
• Being dishonest, fraudulent, deceitful or misrepresenting a client

Court documents show that because Raines never responded to the complaints when they were filed, the Supreme Court ruled that he admitted to the allegations by default.

Raines told The Telegraph that he could not speak on the matter as he is appealing the decision from the justices. He has been an attorney since 2006.

Macon lawyer wrongly used $5,000 in client money, justices say

Raines represented a client indicted in September 2021 on charges of fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer. Raines told the suspect's mother he was working on a plea deal in the case and needed $5,000, according to court documents.

She provided the $5,000 in a check to Raines on March 9, 2022, according to supreme court records. He deposited the check into his account with Interest on Lawyers' Trust Accounts, which is intended for "raising money for charitable purposes, primarily the provision of civil legal services to indigent persons," according to the American Bar Association.

Raines proceeded to write four checks from that account later that month, totaling $7,150, according to court records. Over the next few months, the balance in his account dropped to less than $10.

The justices wrote in court records that Raines spent the money on personal expenses.

In that case, his client entered a guilty plea on May 5, 2022, but the court "did not accept a plea deal of a fine in lieu of time served and sentenced the son to two years in confinement," the justices said in a court document.

The client's mother asked Raines to return the $5,000 she had given him, but he told the mother that the money was given to the superior court clerk. Court records state that when the mother contacted the clerk, they said they could not accept money without a court order. Raines told the mother he would personally pay her back, but "he failed to return the money by this date," justices said in court documents.

He returned the money in cash in September 2022, but not until after she filed a complaint with the state Bar.

Macon lawyer held in contempt multiple times

In another case that Raines worked on, his client's trial was set for August 2022 and rescheduled so they could "hire other legal counsel to replace Raines," Georgia Supreme Court justices wrote in court records.

In that case, Raines failed to appear at a status hearing on December 1, 2022. He provided notice but dated the notice incorrectly, and the judge in the case scheduled a hearing to determine if Raines should be held in contempt, court records say.

The judge wanted Raines to explain "why, after previously being warned and admonished, he should not be found in contempt for his unexcused failure," justices said.

Raines was held in contempt, according to court documents. That was the fourth time he had faced a contempt hearing related to his attendance and notice issues.

After failing to appear in several cases in the Southwestern Judicial Circuit, he was removed from assigned pending cases, court records say.

Lawyer accused of ignoring client in lead-up to trial

Court records state that Raines was appointed to take over another attorney's client when they retired in a case set to go to trial in April 2022. The attorney told the court that Raines had been given information about the case.

When the trial time arrived, Raines had not inspected the evidence, visited his client, or responded to prosecutors trying to get in touch with him.

The trial was rescheduled several times, until November 2022, when the client asked the judge to remove Raines from his case because he could not communicate with him.

"During Raines's representation, he did not communicate with the client, did not respond to the client's requests for information and updates in his case, did not file anything on the client's behalf after entering an appearance and did not prepare for trial," the justices said.

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Inside Robert Redford's Family Tragedies: What He Said About the Deaths of His Two Sons

The late actor's sons, Scott and James, whom he shared with ex-wife Lola Van Wagenen, predeceased him.

NEED TO KNOW

• Robert Redford, who died at 89 on Tuesday, September 16, was a father to four children, whom he shared with his first wife, Lola Van Wagenen.
• Redford's two sons, Scott and James, preceded him in death; Scott died of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) at 2½ months old in 1959, while James died of cancer at 58 in 2020.
• "Something like that doesn't get completely dismissed. It probably shows up in various small ways you're not even aware of," Redford said about Scott's death in 2017.

Robert Redford , who died On Tuesday, Sept. 16, at 89 years old, he was a father to four children in his lifetime. Two of his children - sons Scott and James - died before the celebrated actor and filmmaker, in 1959 and 2020, respectively.

Redford and his first wife, Lola Van Wagenen, welcomed four children together: Scott, Shauna, James and Amy Redford. The former couple's firstborn, Scott, died from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) at 2 ½ months old. James, who was the third eldest, died of cancer in October 2020. (Robert divorced Van Wagenen in 1985. Decades later, in 2009, he married again with Sibylle Szaggars after their first meeting in 1996, when the actor invited her and a group of friends to dinner at his Sundance Mountain Resort in Utah.

Robert rarely spoke about Scott, who was born on Sept. 1, 1959 and unexpectedly died of SIDS on Nov. 19. In 2017, though, the All the President's Men Star spoke out about Scott's death in an interview with Esquire United Kingdom .

Never miss a story — sign up for newsrealtime's free daily newsletter To stay up-to-date on the best of what NewsRealTime has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

"I was only 21; my wife was 20. We were just starting our lives; I was just starting my career in New York. Of course it was traumatic, and how that plays out over time, I don't know," Robert said at the time. "We had to deal with it. You have to move on. And we had other children who came. But something like that doesn't get completely dismissed. It probably shows up in various small ways you're not even aware of."

"I'm sure there's a lot of this stuff that's subconscious. But it's pretty traumatic when it happens, particularly when you're that young. You're not equipped to deal with it," he added. When Esquire asked if he ever spent time in therapy to unpack the loss, Robert said, "Sure I did. But it never worked out. I tried a while back, two or three times. I found myself trying to psychoanalyze the analyst."

James, meanwhile, was diagnosed with primary sclerosing cholangitis, a disease that affects the liver and bile ducts, as an adult. He received two liver transplants in 1993 and founded a nonprofit called the James Redford Institute for Transplant Awareness following those surgeries. In 1999, James also released a documentary, The Kindness of Strangers , which followed organ donors and recipients.

James' wife, Kyle, announced His death at 58 in an X (previously known as Twitter) post on Oct. 16, 2020. At the time, she told The Salt Lake Tribune That James died from bile-duct cancer in his liver. Kyle said her husband's liver disease had returned in 2018, and that the cancer was discovered in November 2019 while he was awaiting a liver transplant.

Following James' death, a representative for the actor told newsrealtimethat Robert was "mourning with his family during this difficult time and asks for privacy." The representative added, " The grief is immeasurable with the loss of a child Jamie was a loving son, husband and father. His legacy lives on through his children, art, filmmaking and devoted passion to conservation and the environment.

Robert himself spoke about the importance of parenting in his life when he talked with newsrealtimefor a 1998 cover story .

Newsrealtime, think it's been easy for me. That's hard to live with. It's so untrue. The hardest thing in the world is when your children have problems," he said at the time. "There have been so many hits on our family that no one knows about, and I don't want them to, for my family's sake. I've made some interesting movies, and I've been very satisfied with the work, but if someone wrapped it all up and said to me, 'What's your greatest achievement?' I'd say, 'The children. They're the best thing in my life.'

Read the original article on newsrealtime

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Social media has us in its grip and won't let go. The Charlie Kirk killing is a case study

Charlie Kirk's mastery of social media was key to his rise as an influence in conservative politics. So the extent to which His death and its aftermath have played out on those forums should not come as a surprise.

In a microcosm of life today, social media is where Americans have gone to process last week's killing in Utah and is the chief tool. his supporters are using to police those they feel aren't showing proper respect. Investigators are looking into the time the man accused of killing Kirk, Tyler Robinson, spent in the "dark corners of the internet" — anti-social media, if you will — before he allegedly pulled the trigger.

On the other side of the world, as the Kirk story preoccupied Americans , Nepal reeled from a spasm of violence that erupted when the government tried to ban social media platforms.

All of this is forcing a closer look at the technologies that have changed our lives, how they control what we see and understand through algorithms, and the way all the time we spend on them affects our view of the world.

Cox emerges as a powerful spokesman against social media

Utah's governor, Republican Spencer Cox, believes "cancer" isn't a strong enough word to describe social media. "The most powerful companies in the history of the world have figured out how to hack our brains, get us addicted to outrage ... and get us to hate each other," Cox said Sunday on NBC's "Meet the Press."

Democratic Senator Brian Schatz from Hawaii urged Americans via social media to "pull yourself together, read a book, get some exercise, have a whiskey, walk the dog or make some pasta or go fishing or just do anything other than let this algorithm pickle your brain and ruin your soul."

Chilling videos of Kirk's September 10 assassination immediately overwhelmed sites like X, TikTok and YouTube, and companies are still working to contain their spread. Confrontational material and conspiracy theories are pushed into social media feeds because they do exactly what they're designed to do — keep people on the platforms for longer periods of time.

I do think we're in a moment here," said Laura Edelson, a professor at Northeastern University and an expert on social media algorithms. "Our country is being digitally mediated. Where we interact with other people, how we interact with broader society, that is more and more happening over feed algorithms. This is the most recent in a long line of ways that society has been changed by media technology.

Divisive content and the proliferation of the video of Kirk's death may not have been the goal but are the direct result of decisions made to maximize profits and cut back on content moderation, Edelson said.

"I don't think there are people twirling their mustaches saying how great it is that we've divided society, except the Russian troll farms and, more and more, the Chinese troll farms," she said.

X owner Elon Musk posted on his site this past week that while discourse can become negative, "it's still good that there is a discussion going." Conservative media star Ben Shapiro , who considered Kirk a friend, admired how Kirk was willing to go to different places and talk to people who disagreed with him, a practice all too rare in the social media era.

"How social media works is a disaster area, fully a disaster area," Shapiro said in an interview with Bari Weiss on a Free Press podcast. "There's no question it's making the world a worse place — and that's not a call for censorship."

How people act on social media is a bipartisan problem, said Shapiro. The most pervasive one is people who use the third-person plural — "they" are doing something to "us," he said. That's been the case when many people discuss Kirk's death, although the shooter's motives Have not become clear, and there is no evidence his actions are anything other than his own.

Collecting inflammatory posts from both sides

The liberal MeidasTouch media company has collected inflammatory social posts by conservatives, particularly those who suggest they're at "war." Meanwhile, several conservatives have combed social media for posts they consider negative toward Kirk, in some cases seeking to get people fired. The Libs of TikTok site urged that a Washington state school district be defunded because it refused to lower flags to half staff.

GOP Representative Randy Fine from Florida asked people to point out negative Kirk posts from anyone who works in government, at an institution that receives public funding, or is licensed by the government — for example, a teacher or lawyer. "These monsters want a fight?" he wrote on X. "Congratulations, they got one."

A Washington Post columnist, Karen Attiah , wrote on Monday that she was fired for a series of BlueSky posts that showed little sympathy for Kirk. But she wrote on Substack that "not performing over-the-top grief for white men who espouse violence was not the same as endorsing violence against them." A Post spokeswoman declined to comment.

"So much of what people use to talk about politics — algorithmically driven social media sites and cable television — is designed to pull Americans apart," said James Talarico, a Democratic state lawmaker in Texas who recently announced a bid for the U.S. Senate. "We've got to find our way back to each other because that's the only way we can continue this American experiment," he said on MSNBC.

Among the most persistent examples of those divisions are the lies and misinformation about elections that have spread for years through online social channels. They have undermined faith in one of the country's foundational institutions and contributed to the anger that led supporters of the President Donald Trump to violently storm the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

Whether meaningful change is possible remains an open question. Nepal's unrest illustrated the dangers of government involvement: Social media sites were shut down and users protested, suggesting it had been a way to stop criticism of the government. Police opened fire at one demonstration, killing 19 people.

Persuading social media sites to change their algorithms is also an uphill battle. They rely on attention and people spending as much time as possible on them. Unless advertisers flee out of fear of being associated with violent posts, there's little incentive for them to change, said Jasmine Enberg, a social media analyst at EMarketer.

Young people in particular are becoming aware of the dangers of spending too much time on social media, she said.

But turn their phones off? "The reality of the situation," Enberg said, "is that there's a limit to how much they can limit their behavior."

___

Associated Press writers Ali Swenson in New York and Barbara Ortutay in San Francisco contributed to this report. David Bauder writes about the intersection of media and entertainment for the AP. Follow him at http://x.com/dbauder and https://bsky.app/profile/dbauder.bsky.social .

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5 questions hanging over President Trump's British trip

President Trump will arrive in England Tuesday evening local time for a state visit.

Much pomp and circumstance is expected on Wednesday, when Trump will meet King Charles III and other members of the royal family at Windsor Castle, about 25 miles west of London.

A more political aspect of the trip will be seen on Thursday, when Trump is scheduled to meet British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

Tariffs, the war in Ukraine and the conflict in Gaza are expected to be among the topics.

Here are five questions before the trip.

Can Starmer get Trump to take a harder line with Putin?

The momentum that the White House had been seeking to create for peace in Ukraine has largely evaporated.

The suggestion of a trilateral meeting among Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and Russian President Vladimir Putin has faded. Putin has increased the intensity of his attacks on Ukraine, including the capital of Kyiv, and last week violated the airspace of Poland — a NATO member — with drones.

Drones over Poland provoked yet another contrast in reaction between the U.S. and its European allies.

Trump affirmed that the Russian action "Could have been a mistake" when he spoke to reporters at the White House. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk responded, "It wasn't. And we know it," on social media.

Starmer, for his part, criticized "the egregious and unprecedented violation." On Monday, Britain confirmed that its fighter jets would defend Polish airspace, in coordination with other NATO members.

But the furor over the drones is only a microcosm of a broader schism, where Starmer clearly wants more robust support for Ukraine in all respects than Trump appears inclined to provide.

Whether the British prime minister can persuade Trump to at least sound as if he will hold Russia more robustly to account will be closely watched.

Will the Epstein scandal derail things?

The ghost of Jeffrey Epstein continues to haunt Trump.

The controversy has been given new fuel in the U.S. after images of a birthday album produced for Epstein's 50th birthday were made public. The album includes a drawing of a female body with a message, apparently bearing Trump's signature. The president continues to insist the signature is not his.

A related aspect of the Epstein scandal threatens to disrupt his British trip.

Last week, Peter Mandelson was forced out as British ambassador to the U.S. because of his own messages to Epstein in the birthday album and - even more damagingly - the publication of later emails in which he sought to boost Epstein's morale as the financier began a prison sentence in 2008.

His departure has not ended the controversy, however.

Mandelson has been a central - and polarizing - figure in British politics since the 1990s. He was pivotal, along with former Prime Ministers Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, in shifting the British Labour Party towards a more centrist position. But he also had to resign twice from Blair-led governments amid scandals.

Now, the opposition parties in Britain want to keep the pressure on Starmer for his questionable judgment in appointing Mandelson as ambassador in the first place.

The British Parliament will hold an emergency debate about the Mandelson matter on Tuesday. Questions about the controversy are virtually certain at the Trump-Starmer press conference expected on Thursday.

Trump won't be happy about that.

Does Trump say anything about the recent right-wing protests in Britain?

Trump's right-wing populism has found echoes in Britain for a long time.

Voters in the U.K. caused a political earthquake in June 2016 by deciding to leave the European Union. Trump defeated former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to win the presidency less than five months later. The British politician most associated with Brexit, Nigel Farage, remains a Trump ally.

Trump's hard-line and inflammatory rhetoric on immigration and multiculturalism is also being replicated on the eastern side of the Atlantic.

More than 100,000 people attended a London protest on Saturday. The driving force behind the event was a far-right activist and provocateur known as Tommy Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon. Amid clashes, at least 26 police were injured.

Elon Musk addressed the rally via video link and displayed his own long-standing penchant for incendiary remarks. Musk told the crowd that "violence is coming to you" and that "you either fight back or you die."

On Monday, a Starmer spokesperson condemned "dangerous and inflammatory language which threatens violence and intimidation," apparently in reference to Musk.

What happens with trade and economic matters?

Trump and Starmer will both be seeking positive headlines from business deals that will be highlighted during the visit.

The process got underway Saturday, when the British government announced well more than $1 billion worth of investments from U.S. corporate giants, including Bank of America and PayPal. Those investments could create up to 1,800 jobs in Britain.

Trump and Starmer are also expected to sign a technology deal during the visit, perhaps with some high-profile CEOs present.

And there's a third element of agreement as well, aimed at expediting the use of nuclear energy .

But even though the British were pleased that they signed a broad trade deal with the U.S. in June, there are still points of contention, notably a 25 percent tariff rate on British steel. That could produce some tension amid the other deals.

How will Trump and Charles interact?

Trump is an open fan of the British royal family and had a particular affection for Queen Elizabeth II, who died three years ago this month.

To that extent, he is sure to savor the ceremonial grandeur of Windsor Castle on Wednesday. The state banquet set for the evening is the centerpiece.

Interactions between Trump and the British king will be closely scrutinized.

British monarchs in the modern age typically avoid direct comment on the politics of the day. But Charles's personal reserve and his history of interest in issues like environmentalism don't mark him out as an easy fit with Trump.

Expect any moments of awkwardness to be thoroughly dissected in the media.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Madeleine McCann Suspect Christian Brueckner '100 Percent' Kidnapped Toddler, Former Associate Insists Ahead of Rapist's Release From Prison

Christian Brueckner is just days away from his prison release — and an ex-associate is insisting he is the man behind the 2007 disappearance of a 3-year-old toddler Madeleine McCann .

Brueckner has been named a prime suspect in McCann's famous missing person case, although he was never formally charged in connection with her kidnapping.

While the convicted criminal has been serving a seven-year sentence for raping a 72-year-old woman in Portugal — near where McCann went missing — he is set to be released this week after completing his time in prison.

Madeleine McCann Prime Suspect to Be Released From Prison

Ahead of Brueckner's release from jail , a former associate of the rapist spoke out during an interview with British ITV News, urging authorities to somehow not let the inmate out of prison.

"I want Christian behind bars for this, for the Madeleine McCann case. This was him, I am 100 percent sure," fellow criminal and ex-associate Helge Busching declared to a reporter from an undisclosed location in Europe. "He can say I am innocent. I know what he was doing, I saw it with my own eyes. I know he's a dangerous man."

Busching made it a point to note that he and Brueckner were never personal friends, but ran a "business" together for some time in the Algarve region of Portugal - participating in things like stealing solar panels, diesel and drug dealing.

Christian Brueckner Is a 'Very Dangerous Man'

Busching said he is now a changed man who has left his criminal past behind and become a key witness for the German authorities in McCann's disappearance.

"He's a dangerous man. A really dangerous man," Busching emphasized days before the convicted pedophile is set to walk free.

During his interview, Busching chillingly recalled a conversation he had with Brueckner while attending a festival in Spain one year after McCann vanished from her family's holiday villa in Portugal.

"I told him I don't understand how somebody can rob little children from a hotel," Busching recounted, though it was Brueckner's alleged response that was concerning.

According to Busching, Brueckner replied: " She was not screaming ."

The comment made Busching wonder, "How do you know this... yeah he has something to do with this," though he was too afraid to question Brueckner further before the rapist abruptly left the festival that night.

"He took Maddie out from this hotel. He is involved, sure," Busching claimed.

Police have never found enough evidence formally Charge Brueckner with McCann's kidnapping , although he was first named as a prime suspect by German authorities in 2020.

At the time, law enforcement officials said McCann was assumed dead and Brueckner was likely the one responsible .

The convicted child abuser, however, has vehemently denied any involvement in McCann's disappearance and alleged murder.

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Hope Fellowship Church founding pastor John McKinzie resigns over "sexual sin and moral failure"

The founding pastor of Hope Fellowship Church , which draws thousands of worshippers each week, has resigned after confessing to what church leaders described as "sexual sin and moral failure," according to an email sent to the church community.

In the email sent on Tuesday morning, leaders announced the departure of John McKinzie. According to the letter, McKinzie confessed during a meeting with church leadership on Sunday and offered his resignation on Monday, which the board accepted.

The letter did not provide details on his admission. An attached FAQ stated, "John admitted to sexual sin and to a pattern of consensual behavior that made him unfit to continue in his role as pastor."

The FAQ also stated that the "Directional Leadership Team, Board, Elders and Pastoral Lead Team" will oversee the church until a new lead pastor is named.

As of Thursday morning, Hope Fellowship's website no longer mentioned McKinzie and instead listed Angela Linz and Aaron Alexander as co-interim lead pastors. An archived version of the site indicated that McKinzie and his wife have four children.

John McKinzie and the stabbing of Austin Metcalf

CBS News Texas spoke with McKinzie in April following the death of Austin Metcalf, a Frisco high school student who was fatally stabbed at a district track meet. Karmelo Anthony, another Frisco ISD student, is charged with Metcalf's murder. A trial is currently scheduled for next summer .

McKinzie offered a trauma workshop for members of the Hope Fellowship congregation, which includes the Metcalf family. A number of other congregants were at the scene, including other students, teachers, and first responders.

"I can't speak for the whole community, but I certainly speak to our church. And I just felt like it was important to help us focus in the right direction," he said.

McKinzie also spoke about the harms of social media, at a time when misinformation and vitriol were spreading about the case online.

He urged the church to pray for the Metcalf family, as well as Anthony and his family.

"Everyone matters to God. And if they matter to God, they matter to me. They matter to us. And I'm praying for him daily, praying for his family, praying for my friends, the Metcalf family, praying for our students, praying for our community," McKinzie said.

Hope Fellowship student pastor removed earlier this year

McKinzie's resignation is the second instance of a Hope Fellowship pastor being dismissed for sexual misconduct this year.

In January, the church announced it had fired student pastor Jerry Nickerson after he admitted to having "inappropriate contact with a minor" a decade earlier.

Nickerson told church leadership that it happened while volunteering in a youth leader role at another church. In an email sent to the congregation at the time, McKinzie wrote that Nickerson came forward with the information on Monday after being confronted about "past incidents" over the weekend.

"We believe that this behavior is disqualifying for those in pastoral and leadership positions, and Hope Fellowship is committed to supporting and advocating for victims of abuse," McKinzie wrote in the email.

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ICE detains green card holder father with tumor after 30 years in the US - Attorney

Paramjit Singh, a green card holder who immigrated to the United States from India more than 30 years ago, has been in federal custody for over a month after being detained by immigration agents in Chicago on July 30, according to his attorney.

Singh's attorney Luis Angeles said newsrealtime The detention has been "nothing short of horrific" for him and his family.

newsrealtime also reached out to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for comment via email.

Why It Matters

President Donald Trump Campaigned on mass deportation of undocumented immigrants, specifically targeting those with violent criminal records, and his administration increased immigration enforcement since his return to office in January. However, Many Americans have been critical of his immigration policy. As individuals with misdemeanors, decades-old infractions, or in some cases no criminal records at all have been swept up in the heightened enforcement.

Singh's case highlights the concerns raised by many immigration advocates about the administration's approach to border security and deportations.

What to Know

Singh, a lawful permanent resident who runs a business in Fort Wayne, Indiana, was detained at Chicago O'Hare Airport on July 30 after he returned from a trip to India, his family and attorney told local news station WPTA. His family said he makes this trip several times per year.

Singh has a brain tumor and a heart condition, and was kept inside the airport for five days. His condition deteriorated to the point where he had to be taken to the emergency room, reported the news station.

His family was not notified of the ER visit until they received a bill for his medical stay, Angeles said. newsrealtime.

Angeles said the alleged offense stems from an incident involving the use of a pay phone without payment, which he said is a "minor infraction for which he has already taken full accountability, served his time, and paid his debt to society."

"Efforts to secure his release have been 'exhaustive but frustrating,' " Angeles said.

"We filed for a bond redetermination and successfully won the bond hearing. However, DHS has continued to employ what I would describe as legal—yet arguably unethical—tactics to prolong his detention, despite being fully aware of his severe medical condition, which requires emergency surgery. The government is holding him without justifiable cause, exacerbating his health risks and causing immense distress to his family," he said.

Several green card holders have been detained based on decades-old legal issues. A similar case that garnered national attention was that of Jemmy Jimenez Rosa , a Massachusetts mother who was held for 10 days based on a decades-old marijuana conviction. She was also taken to the hospital while being held at the airport without access to medication.

What People Are Saying

Angels also told newsrealtime : As a lawful permanent resident (green card holder), Mr. Singh should never have been detained in the first place, as he has always followed the rules to the letter. We often hear the mantra of 'follow the rules' to achieve legal status in this country. Well, that's exactly what he did: he entered the United States lawfully, adjusted his status properly, built his American dream through hard work, and has been a significant contributor to his community.

Singh's brother, Charanjit Singh, told WPTA: We're just trying to post the bond, we're just trying to speak to someone, trying to communicate with someone. We're lost.

A Customs and Border Patrol spokesperson previously told newsrealtime : "A green card is a privilege, not a right, and under our nation's laws, our government has the authority to revoke a green card if our laws are broken and abused. Lawful Permanent Residents presenting at a U.S. port of entry with previous criminal convictions may be subject to mandatory detention and/or may be asked to provide additional documentation to be set up for an immigration hearing."

What Happens Next

WPTA reported that Singh's legal team filed an appeal and planned to seek immediate federal court review to challenge DHS's continued detention decision, and that the family aimed to post bond while the federal challenge proceeded.

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• Trump Administration Promotes Charlie Kirk's Assassination to Reinforce Deportation Efforts

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OpenAI reveals the biggest-ever study on how people are using ChatGPT - here are 3 things we've learned

• OpenAI has just revealed the largest ChatGPT usage survey in history.
• According to the findings, 70% of ChatGPT users use it outside of work.
• The survey was conducted by OpenAI's Economic Research team and Harvard economist David Deming

Open AI has just revealed the results of its largest ChatGPT usage study to date, and the insights into how people interact with the AI chatbot are fascinating.

Revealing the study on its blog , OpenAI broke down the results into three key takeaways: Who is using ChatGPT, what they are using it for, and how the use of AI is evolving over time.

The study was conducted by OpenAI's Economic Research team and Harvard economist David Deming for the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER).

While Future (the parent company of newsrealtime) has conducted its own research in the past that has provided great insight into the AI usage of the broader population , getting information directly from the creators of the world's most popular AI tool gives an excellent insight.

Here are three things we learned from the world's biggest study into ChatGPT and how people use it.

1. Usage gaps are closing

According to OpenAI, the gender gap among users who fully utilize ChatGPT has dramatically closed over the years. Previous research in January 2024 showed that of the users who had names that could be classified as masculine or feminine, 37% had "typically feminine names."

As of July 2025, however, that figure stands at 52%. Now, I have my doubts about how OpenAI can truly determine the gender of a user interacting with ChatGPT, but considering the massive influx with the same criteria, it's fair to say that there is far less of a gender gap related to AI than ever before.

Elsewhere, OpenAI reports that the adoption rate in the lowest-income countries is four times faster than that of the wealthiest.

2. How people use ChatGPT

According to OpenAI, the main reason people use ChatGPT is to get things done, and "three-quarters of conversations focus on practical guidance, seeking information, and writing."

OpenAI breaks down how people use ChatGPT into three categories: Asking, Doing, and Expressing. The study claims nearly half of all ChatGPT queries are "Asking" – where a user interacts with AI to get advice. 40% of usage is "Doing" such as "drafting text, planning, or programming," and 11% of usage is "Expressing", focused on "personal reflection, exploration, and play."

While this breakdown might not surprise you, I think it's interesting to see that writing is in fact the most common work task people use ChatGPT for. Honestly, that doesn't fill me with much hope, especially considering I spend hours and hours of my day writing without help from AI.

3. Mostly play, less work

This part of the study is the most intriguing, in my opinion. In fact, I'm actually pretty shocked at the results. OpenAI claims 70% of people use ChatGPT in a non-work related fashion, with the study stating "ChatGPT helps improve judgment and productivity."

Without this study, I'd have honestly believed most people use ChatGPT in a work-based environment, specifically for mundane tasks that don't require a lot of brain power. Instead, it looks users are interacting with ChatGPT after the office closes and in their spare time, highlighting just how much AI has managed to infiltrate our daily lives.

You can read the full paper with even more statistics on the NBER website . What result from this survey do you find the most interesting? Let us know in the comments below.

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Analysts Increase Nvidia Stock Price Forecasts Despite China Risk

Nvidia's stock (NVDA) Slipped both Monday and Tuesday after news that China's State Administration for Market Regulation is investigating its 2020 acquisition of Mellanox Technologies. While that deal was already cleared by Chinese regulators at the time, the decision to revisit it has surprised investors. Antitrust reviews can drag on for months.

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For Nvidia, the concern is that if China were to find issues, it could impose fines or new conditions that make operations harder in a region where Nvidia is already facing limits. The company's H20 chip sales have been zeroed out in recent earnings reports, reflecting just how difficult the market has become. Adding a regulatory probe on top of trade restrictions makes China one of Nvidia's biggest risk factors moving forward.

Analysts Raise Targets but Highlight Risks

Even as China raises new obstacles, Wall Street analysts have been increasing their price targets. KeyBanc's John Vinh Argues that Nvidia's CUDA software ecosystem is a powerful moat, making it difficult for rivals to lure developers away. He maintained an overweight rating with a $230 target. William Blair's Sebastien Naji Also gave Nvidia an outperform rating with a $205 target, saying that China could still improve the company's outlook despite the current uncertainty.

But there are reasons for caution. Susquehanna analyst Christopher Rolland Raised his target to $210 but highlighted concerns regarding Nvidia's H20 chip revenue. Reports indicate that Chinese regulators have asked Nvidia to explain whether its chips could be tracked or shut down remotely, an unusual request that unsettled investors. CEO Jensen Huang denied that such capabilities exist, but lingering questions could affect sales in a critical market.

Nvidia Reports Earnings but No Boost from China

Nvidia's most recent quarter was strong on paper The company posted $1.05 per share in earnings, topping estimates of $1.01. Sales of $46.74 billion also beat expectations, and guidance for the next quarter came in at $54 billion, slightly above forecasts. Nvidia also approved a massive $60 billion buyback, signaling confidence in its own valuation.

The problem is that none of this includes China. Nvidia recorded zero sales from its H20 chips in the region and excluded those sales from its forward guidance. Without clarity on when China revenue might return, the company's headline numbers look impressive, but the full growth story is missing an important piece. For investors, that creates a gap between expectations and reality.

Nvidia Fights Rivals and Develops New Chips

Competition is also intensifying. Broadcom (AVGO) recently landed a $10 billion chip order that positions it as a serious rival in the AI space. Meanwhile, Alibaba (BABA) has developed an in-house AI chip, which is not yet on Nvidia's level but signals that major Chinese companies are preparing alternatives. While Nvidia still holds the crown , the pressure from rivals means it must keep innovating at a rapid pace.

Reports suggest Nvidia is already working on a more powerful chip for China that could bypass restrictions. It has placed orders for hundreds of thousands of H20 chips through Taiwan. Semiconductor (TSM) , building up inventory while preparing for future launches. This shows how much of Nvidia's strategy is now tied to addressing regulatory and political challenges.

Nvidia Tests Key Buy Level

From a technical perspective, Nvidia stock is testing important levels. Shares fell back to their 50-day moving average, a point many traders watch carefully for signs of support or breakdown. The official buy point remains $184.48, which also happens to be the stock's all-time high. Until the stock can convincingly clear that level again, investors may be reluctant to chase the rally.

The stock's ratings remain strong, with a top-level EPS rating of 99 and a Composite Rating of 98. But fund ownership has slipped, with only 41% of shares currently held by institutions. This suggests big money is not aggressively adding to positions at the moment. For individual investors, the question becomes whether this dip is a buying opportunity or a warning to wait on the sidelines.

Overall, Nvidia remains one of the strongest companies in the AI race, but the road ahead is no longer as smooth as it once was. The China investigation, uncertainty regarding H20 chip sales, and increasing competition all cloud the near-term outlook. Analysts remain optimistic overall, but their targets come with caveats.

If Nvidia can stabilize around current support and push above its buy point, it may well continue its record-breaking run. But if China's pressure intensifies or rivals gain more ground, the stock could stay stuck in a holding pattern.

Is Nvidia a Good Stock to Buy?

Wall Street analysts remain firmly bullish on Nvidia stock. Out of 38 analysts who have given their opinions over the past three months, 35 recommend a Buy, two suggest a Hold, and only one calls it a Sell. This gives the chipmaker a "Strong Buy" consensus rating.

The average 12-month price target for Nvidia is $211.26, representing nearly 19% upside from its latest price.

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Rothschild Forester Said to Explore Sale of Stake in The Economist Group

(newsrealtime) -- Lynn Forester de Rothschild is exploring the sale of a significant minority stake in The Economist Group, marking the first ownership change in a decade at the 182-year-old magazine read by both the political and business elite.

A sale process for around 20% in voting shares could start in the coming weeks and fetch between £200 million ($271 million) and £400 million, according to people familiar with the matter, who asked not to be identified because the discussions are private. Forester de Rothschild is working with adviser Lazard Inc., and any sale is expected to attract high-net-worth individuals, family offices and strategic investors looking for deals in the premium media sector, the people said.

The businesswoman is conducting a strategic review of her stake as part of a longer-term reshaping of her investment portfolio, some people said. The Economist's last major ownership change took place in 2015, when education company Pearson Plc sold sold most of its half stake to Italy's Agnelli family, which became the largest investor with a 43.4% stake held by its Exor NV investment firm.

The Economist Group includes the Economist magazine, website, app and podcasts as well as the Economist Intelligence Unit, which provides research on macroeconomic and geopolitical topics, and Economist Impact, which organizes events and policy research.

Telecom Business

The group, which employs 1,540 staff in 26 countries, reported revenue of £369 million and operating profit of about £48 million in the year to March 31, according to its 2025 annual report. Subscriptions increased 3% year-on-year to 1.25 million, driven by digital subscriptions, which accounted for 85% of new hires.

Forester de Rothschild, who founded the telecommunications company FirstMark Communications during the late 1990s tech boom, married the late Evelyn de Rothschild in 2000. The pair established E.L. Rothschild LLC, a family office with interests in private companies, public markets and real estate. A well-known business figure, she is stepping down from the board of Estee Lauder Cos. this year after serving on it for 25 years and founded the Council for Inclusive Capitalism .

No final decision has been made regarding a potential stake sale by Forester de Rothschild, and the size and details of the divestment could still change. A representative for the Eranda Rothschild Foundation, a British charity where Forester de Rothschild serves as a trustee, declined to comment. Forester de Rothschild did not immediately respond to LinkedIn messages seeking comment, while Lazard declined to comment.

E.L. Rothschild and the Eranda Foundation are long-term investors, as well as generous supporters of the Economist Educational Foundation. They regularly conduct strategic assessments of their portfolio and evaluate potential opportunities," a spokesperson for the Economist Group said in an emailed statement. "They are working constructively with the company on the eventual outcome.

Evelyn de Rothschild, who passed away in 2022, was a key driver for the long-planned goal of bringing together the family’s London investment bank with its French counterpart. That was seen as a key step in remaining competitive with much younger - but also bigger - multinational banks.

Earlier this year, news realtime News and the Guardian reported that Evelyn de Rothschild has been accused of sexually assaulting several women in the three decades before his death.

Famous Owners

The Economist's share capital is divided into ordinary shares, "A" special shares, "B" special shares and trust shares. The ordinary shares are mostly held by current and former employees and wealthy business dynasties including Exor, which owns all the B shares.

There are more than 100 holders of the "A" special shares, including long-standing family holdings and employees. The Rothschild family controls 26.7% of the issued share capital overall, according to the 2025 annual report. Other prominent shareholders include the Cadbury family and the Schroder banking dynasty, as shown on the Economist website.

No individual or investors acting in concert can hold shares carrying more than half in value of the dividend rights of the company. The trust shares are held by trustees, whose consent is needed for certain corporate activities and whose aim is to ensure editorial independence, according to the website.

John Micklethwait, current editor-in-chief of newsrealtimeNews and former editor-in-chief of the Economist, still owns shares in the Economist Group and was not involved in the reporting and editing of this story.

(Updates with comment from Economist Group in eighth paragraph.)

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Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo says she will not seek re-election to her position in 2026.

Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo announced late Monday that she will not be seeking re-election in 2026.

The decision, announced exclusively during ABC 13's evening broadcast, marks an end to the progressive Democrats tenure as Harris County's chief executive. First elected in 2018 at the age of 27 in a stunning upset for 11-year incumbent Judge Ed Emmett, Hidalgo ushered in the "blue wave" in Harris County, eventually swinging Commissioners Court from a Republican to a Democratic majority.

I am still in office until December 2026, and I've got the work cut out for me, and that's not even - knock on wood - counting any emergencies that might arise," Hidalgo told ABC 13's Melanie Lawson. "After that, I don't know. I don't know what I will do. I know that I'm not running for office this cycle. I can say that with confidence, and I know that I will stay in public service.

Hidalgo is the first woman to lead Harris County and quickly became a star among progressives nationally. She met with President Joe Biden on multiple occasions, and was pictured alongside former Vice President Kamala Harris during her visit to Houston in 2023.

Hidalgo appeared poised for a political trajectory that would see her move from local government to higher office.

But she faced obstacles during her tenure.

Her apparent frustration with her colleagues became a staple of the Commissioners Court's bi-weekly meetings. Outbursts, thinly veiled insults, and underhanded remarks directed toward her fellow Democrats became common.

The deteriorating relationship between Hidalgo and county commissioners culminated in their approval of the first-ever censure of a Harris County judge. The formal reprimand, which did not carry a direct punishment, came after Hidalgo provoked dozens of children into pressuring her colleagues to approve a tax increase proposal intended to fund an early childcare program for low-income families.

WHO IS SHE: Who is Lina Hidalgo? What to know about the Harris County judge

It was her unwavering belief in progressive policy-making that ultimately drove a wedge between her and the three Democrats on Commissioners Court. Often emboldened by righteous indignation, Hidalgo eschewed politics - and with it, coalition-building - in favor of a dogged commitment to what she viewed as right.

But the position of county judge is not, nor has it ever been, capable of crushing dissent. Unlike the mayor of Houston, the power of the county judge is built on consent between independently elected officials and not the unilateral exercise of authority over subordinates.

Harris County hasn't seen the last of Hidalgo, that much is sure. Although she said she didn't have her sights set on any particular office, the progressive political tycoon likely won't recede completely from Texas politics.

"In the future, I would like, if the voters will have me, to be in elected office again. I think that with everything I've been through, I have learned so much about how to be an elected official and make it sustainable," Hidalgo told ABC 13.

Her announcement paves the way for former U.S. Rep. Erica Lee Carter - who was elected to briefly represent Texas' 18th Congressional District following the death of her mother, longtime U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee - to declare her candidacy. Lee Carter said in July she would run for Hidalgo's seat if the judge decided not to run again.

Lee Carter would join an already crowded ballot packed to the brim with Democrats boasting significant political influence and deep local connections. Former Houston Mayor Annise Parker announced in May her candidacy followed by City Council member Letitia Plummer, who launched her campaign in July.

It's a strong Democratic ticket that is set to face off against a Republican lineup that is just beginning to find its footing.

Marty Lancton, president of the Houston firefighter's union announced his candidacy in August , and has been endorsed by a number of local Republicans, including Jim "Mattress Mack" McIngvale. Piney Point Mayor Aliza Dutt was the first to declare , and has already released significant fundraising figures.

While county Democrats have enjoyed an electoral advantage over their Republican counterparts since 2018, their lead has begun to erode in recent elections.

Republican candidate for U.S. Rep. Alex Mealer came within 20,000 votes of unseating Hidalgo in 2022, and Democrat District Attorney Sean Teare beat Republican Dan Simons by a margin of just under 2% - a decrease of roughly 5% over 2020.

The Democratic primaries will be held in March 2026 ahead of the November election.

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"A lot of mess coming": Michael Steele warns of economic chaos if Trump takes over the Fed

On Monday, the U.S. Senate confirmed President Donald Trump's latest pick for the Federal Reserve, Stephen Miran, on a party-line vote ., allowing him to participate in Tuesday's meeting where the Fed is likely to vote on whether to cut interest rates. MSNBC host Michael Steele lamented that the president is now one step closer to forcing the nation's central bank to submit to his will.

During an interview with former Department of Justice (DOJ) prosecutor Ankush Khardori, Steele argued that Trump's moves to cement control of the Fed were creating a " very troubling economic environment He noted that when the executive branch was constantly colliding with the judicial branch over how much control a president can have over an independent institution like the Fed, 'the American people are the ones who get caught in the middle.'

"One of the things that I'm fascinated about is what does this look like on the other side of tomorrow?" Steele said.

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The reality is, there's a lot of mess coming tomorrow," he continued. "And in some sense, this administration has - besides lying about that - been hiding the ball from a lot of the American people and sort of telling them, 'oh, no, the economy is going to be great. Just let us get the power and the economy is going to be great.' But history has told us it's replete with examples where that's not the case.

Khardori responded to Steele's point by saying he felt particularly pessimistic about Trump's continued attack on the Fed's independence. He noted that while the Supreme Court has so far prevented Trump's attempts to influence the Fed's board of governors, he has already made significant progress toward his goal of having loyalists in charge of monetary policy.

"Trump has already gotten a long way down the line of eliminating the independence of federal agencies. The Fed is just the last one that the Supreme Court has basically said, 'well, maybe this one might be special,'" Khardori said. "They didn't really give a very good reason, but they seem to understand politically that this would be a mess if they eliminated Fed independence entirely. So Trump has gotten a lot of what he wanted."

The Fed is expected to cut interest rates after tomorrow's meeting by 25 to 50 basis points. Even though Trump has been calling for rates to be lowered since the start of his second term, prominent economists have said that even a significant rate cut won't give the economy enough of a jolt to overcome the damage caused by Trump's tariffs and his mass deportations of undocumented immigrants whose labor fuels numerous critical economic sectors such as agriculture, hospitality, and healthcare.

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Schools in the Las Vegas area show improvement in star ratings, math and English language arts

There's good news for schools in the Clark County School District -- The Nevada Report Card released on Monday shows positive results when it comes to student learning.

More than 136 of CCSD's nearly 370 schools improved their star ratings in the 2024-2025 school year.

Star ratings are a rating system that classifies school performance on a scale of one to five stars, with five being the best.

Star ratings are calculated through categories such as math and English language arts proficiency and growth, graduation rates, and student attendance.

Quannah McCall Elementary School's principal and CCSD leaders surprised teachers on Monday morning, revealing that they are officially a four-star school . That's a jump of two stars from the previous year.

"In ELA and math, we just really push tier one core instruction. That is the basis of everything that we do at the elementary level," said Amanda Lush, principal at the North Las Vegas school.

Lush, who took on her role just weeks before the COVID pandemic, says having children start learning early, as well as being fully staffed, also provided an advantage.

"We're fortunate at McCall that we do have two full-day pre-K programs, so we have 20 kids in each program, and that builds the foundation for everything," she said.

Counselor Gianna Rodriguez says that in an area facing more challenges than others, what has really improved student scores is involving parents.

"Our parents come to parent meetings once a month, and they learn skills about, you know, how to check their kids' grades, how to help with homework," said Rodriguez.

CCSD Superintendent Jhone Ebert was there to celebrate with teachers during the announcement. She said 48 schools received five stars, up from 28 schools in the previous year.

Overall, 37% of schools increased their star rankings.

Ebert says there are several factors that led to the improvements.

Making sure that we have high-quality tier one instruction," said Ebert. "Today is a professional development day. We need to make sure that all of our teachers have the training that they need to meet every single child where they're at right now. Also, too, we have parent-teacher conferences coming up at the elementary level.

Due to a cyber-attack that has caused an outage of some websites, individual data for math and English Language Arts proficiency are not yet available for the 2024-2025 school year.

However, according to the Nevada Department of Education, all grade levels in the state showed improvement in math and English Language Arts proficiency.

To compare, 30.1% of students in Clark County were proficient in math in the 2023-2024 school year, a 1.9 percentage-point increase compared to the 2022-23 school year.

In English Language Arts, the CCSD proficiency rate was 39.3%, up 0.3 percentage points from the previous year.

"When we are all together next year, the data is going to show that we have surpassed pre-pandemic levels and are making a very steep climb on behalf of all of our children," said Ebert.

She says this year, the district is focusing on the Core 4: expanding pre-K, early literacy, increasing math scores, and workforce development at the high school level.

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