Its no secret that raising kids in the U.S. has become grossly expensive. The price of childcare alone has ballooned over the past decade, with many families reporting that it costs them at least a quarter of their annual income. Across many states, families need to earn an average of $180,000 to comfortably afford infant care; the high cost of living in states like California and New York can require an income exceeding $250,000.
An increasing burden on families
A new analysis by the online lending marketplace LendingTree captures why so many families are struggling to manage the enormous cost of having children. The study found that since 2023, the annual cost of raising a young child has jumped by nearly 36%, coming to about $30,000 per year. Over the course of 18 years, that amounts to almost a whopping $300,000. In four statesHawaii, North Dakota, Washington, and Marylandthat figure can be well over $300,000, even rising over $360,000.
Overall, families report spending nearly 23% of their income on the annual expenses of raising children. Childcare comprises a significant portion of those expenses for families with young kids: According to LendingTree’s analysis, childcare costs spiked by more than 50% in just the past two years. Childcare centers have always struggled to make ends meet due to the steep cost of labor. As federal funding has dried up following the pandemic, however, that financial strain has only been exacerbated.
Beyond childcare
The cost of care is just one of the many additional expenses borne by families with children. There’s the cost of housing, as well as the attendant expenses associated with food, clothing, transportation, and healthcare. The LendingTree analysis found, for example, that food costs jumped by nearly 30% since 2023. That means even in states where childcare is less expensivelike North Dakotathe annual cost of raising children can remain high due to other expenses, like housing. (In fact, the average cost of raising children over 18 years is lower in Massachusetts than it is in North Dakota.)
LendingTree’s findings also indicate that even as these costs rise precipitously, families are receiving less assistance from the government. Between 2023 and 2025, the value of federal tax credits decreased by over 44%, in part because the expanded child tax credit secured by the Biden administration expired. While it’s true that the cost of childcare continues to be one of the greatest challenges for many families, the financial burden doesn’t end thereand that’s unlikely to change without broader federal investment.
UFC is joining up with Facebook’s parent company Meta in a deal that will bring mixed martial arts to more fans around the world.
The companies said Wednesday that their multiyear partnership will give UFC the ability to use Meta’s technology platforms, services, and products, including Meta AI, Meta Glasses, Meta Quest, Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and Threads, so that UFC fans have more ways to view its content.
Meta and UFC, whose parent company is TKO Group, said they will work together to incorporate Meta’s AI glasses into UFC events.
Meta has the greatest minds in tech and they are going to take fan engagement to the next level,” UFC President and CEO Dana White said in a statement.
White mentioned that Meta is already working on some innovations for a new fighter rankings system.
The deal, whose financial terms were not disclosed, will also see the Meta brand appear in UFC’s Octagon, as well as across numerous broadcasts. Meta’s social media platform Threads will feature exclusive original UFC content.
I love this sport and Im looking forward to working with the UFC to let fans experience it in new ways, Meta Founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg said.
Zuckerberg is trained in mixed martial arts and posted about completing his first jiu jitsu tournament in 2023. That same year, there were talks of him and Tesla CEO Elon Musk squaring off in a cage match, but the event never happened.
Zuckerberg and White are no strangers to each other, with White joining Meta’s board of directors in January.
Both Zuckerberg and White are among the many high profile business figures within the orbit of President Donald Trump. After Trump won reelection in November, Zuckerberg dined at the president-elects Mar-a-Lago club in Florida and Meta donated $1 million to Trumps inauguration fund. Other Big Tech companies such as Amazon have donated similar amounts.
Trump is a longtime UFC fan and frequent attendee of major fights. His ties with White date back to 2001, when White hosted a UFC at the Republicans former casino-hotel in Atlantic City, New Jersey, the Trump Taj Mahal. Trump has also appeared with White at UFC matches over the years, especially in his 2024 campaign as part of efforts to appeal to younger male voters.
White has had speaking roles at the 2016, 2020 and 2024 Republican conventions and appeared on stage at Trumps election victory party in November.
Shares of Meta Platforms Inc. rose slightly in midday trading, while shares of TKO Group Holdings Inc. climbed more than 2%.
Michelle Chapman, AP business writer
The White House said on Wednesday that tech billionaire Elon Musk will stay on to complete his mission to slash government spending and downsize the federal workforce, dismissing media reports that he will leave the role soon.
Politico and ABC reported that President Donald Trump had told members of his Cabinet that Musk will soon depart and return to the private sector, although the reports did not make clear if that would mean Musk leaving before his 130-day mandate as a special government employee is set to expire around late May.
Trump has tasked the Tesla and SpaceX CEO with leading efforts through the Department of Government Efficiency to cut government funding and reshape the federal bureaucracy.
“Elon Musk and President Trump have both publicly stated that Elon will depart from public service as a special government employee when his incredible work at DOGE is complete,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said.
Musk and DOGE did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the reports.
On Tuesday, Musk and Trump suffered a setback as a liberal judge in Wisconsin won election to the state Supreme Court, easily defeating a conservative judge whose campaign had been heavily bankrolled by Musk and groups tied to him.
The vote had been seen as an early referendum on Trump’s presidency and Musk’s campaign to remake the U.S. civil service.
Shares of some government contracting companies rose following the reports of Musk’s possible impending return to the private sector. Shares of Musk’s Tesla, which had been down more than 6% in early trading after a sharper-than-expected fall in first-quarter deliveries, reversed course and were up about 5% on Wednesday afternoon.
Musk told Fox News’ “Special Report with Bret Baier” last week that he was confident he would finish most of his stated aim of cutting $1 trillion in federal spending by the end of his 130 days.
But in a March 10 interview with Fox Business Network’s “Kudlow,” when he was asked by host Larry Kudlow, “You going to go another year?” Musk replied, “Yeah, I think so.”
According to the DOGE website, the only official window into its operations, DOGE estimates it has saved U.S. taxpayers $140 billion as of April 2 through a series of actions including workforce reductions, asset sales, and contract cancellations, still far short of Musk’s $1 trillion goal.
But evidence for the stated savings is often missing, and the website’s calculations have been riddled with errors and corrections.
DOGE’s mandate as a whole is set to continue to July 4, 2026. However, many of the top figures in DOGE are tied to Musk and have not said whether they would want to stay on after the departure of the billionaire, who has been the ideological force behind the government overhaul.
There has been growing unease across the U.S. over Musk’s blunt approach to mass layoffs from the government workforce. Nearly 200,000 employees have been fired, earmarked for termination or have accepted buyouts.
Republican lawmakers have faced the wrath of angry voters at unruly town halls, while many of DOGE’s efforts have become the subject of lawsuits.
Tesla dealerships have been vandalized in the U.S. and abroad, and a nationwide protest against DOGE and Trump’s agenda is planned for this Saturday.
Susan Heavey, Nandita Bose, Andrea Shalal, and Tim Reid, Reuters
Additional reporting by Shivani Jayesh Tanna, Akash Sriram, Abhirup Roy, and Sayantani Ghosh.
You cant talk about the manosphere without mentioning Andrew Tate. The British-American influencer and former professional kickboxer built his platform by promoting misogynistic ideasclaiming women should be subservient to men, suggesting rape victims should bear responsibility for their assaults, and openly describing acts of domestic violence.
The manosphere, which birthed Tate and others like him, is a network of right-wing influencers and grifters who peddle misogyny, toxic masculinity, and regressive gender rolesoften aimed at radicalizing disaffected young men. And if Tate and his brother Tristan’s warm welcome from American right-wing podcasters is any indication, this ideology is no longer confined to the darkest corners of the internet. It’s creeping into the mainstream.
Recently, the Tate brothers were allowed to leave Romania after prosecutors lifted their travel restrictions in late February. The two remain under investigation there for allegedly forming an organized criminal group, human trafficking, trafficking of minors, and money laundering. Shortly after, they landed in the United States. Around the same time, an ex-girlfriend, Brianna Stern, filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles accusing Andrew of beating and choking her during their relationship.
Now, a new report from Media Matters reveals how several pro-Trump and manosphere-aligned podcasters eagerly welcomed Tate during his U.S. visit. Between February and March, he appeared on the Hodgetwins podcast, the Nelk Boys Full Send, Sean Kellys Digital Social Hour, Patrick Bet-Davids PBD Podcast, and Candace with Candace Owens.
These interviews were shared widelyfull episodes uploaded to YouTube, Rumble, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify drew more than 9 million views. Shorter clips posted to social media racked up an additional 30.8 million.
The Nelk BoysCanadian-American YouTubers who began with prank content but now lean into right-wing politicseven walked into a UFC Power Slap event alongside the Tate brothers. There, UFC president and Trump ally Dana White greeted them with a hug and said, Welcome to the States, boys.
The current online media ecosystem incentivizes outrage and extremismand that is exactly what we saw when MAGA and manosphere podcasts platformed Andrew Tate when he returned to the U.S.,” Kayla Gogarty, research director at Media Matters, tells Fast Company. “These podcasters allowing Tate to push extreme misogyny and hate to their large followings, and then amplifying clips to millions more, is concerning, as young men that follow these shows can be radicalized down a path that could lead to abuse and violence against women.”
Not everyone on the right embraced Tates return. Socially conservative figures such as Florida Governor Ron DeSantis have voiced disgust over the support hes received. Still, prominent MAGA personalitiesincluding White House counselor Alina Habba, Candace Owens, Elon Musk, and Donald Trump Jr.remain in his corner.
The world is bracing for impact as the so-called “Liberation Day” arrives Wednesdaythe latest installment of President Trump’s tariff announcements since his return to office in January.
In a Rose Garden address at 4 p.m. ET, the president is set to unveil a sweeping “reciprocal tariff” plan, targeting not only Mexico, Canada, and China, but also other countries in a trade surplus with the U.S. or those holding tariffs on American products.
It is still unclear what countries and industries will be impacted by today’s announcement, as well as the rate of tariffs imposed, and if they will be imposed universally or by country. However, the policy changes are said to go into effect after his speech.
While much is still uncertain, here is how many world leaders are reacting ahead of Trump’s “Liberation Day” speech.
Mexico
President Claudia Sheinbaum’s “cool head” approach has helped Mexico evade some of Trump’s tariffs since he first announced 25% levies on Mexican exports in early February.
Sheinbaum said Wednesday in her daily morning briefing that she would announce an “integral plan” on Thursday. “Our interest is to strengthen the Mexican economy,” Sheinbaum said. “It’s not an issue of if you tariff me, I tariff you.”
Canada
Following on-again-off-again tariffs between the U.S. and Canadathe country America long considered its closest allyCanadian Prime Minister Mark Carney warned Trump that Canada will impose retaliatory tariffs on American exports, although no specifics have been revealed yet.
China
In early February, Trump imposed a 10% tariff on all Chinese imports, upending a tariff war between the world’s two largest economies. After the U.S. raised tariffs to 20% in early March, China responded with retaliatory tariffs, with 10% and 15% levies on various food and agricultural goods.
Ahead of “Liberation Day,” China held economic dialogue with Japan and South Korea, seeking a coordinated response among the three nations. However, Japanese and South Korean officials said that decision was not taken.
EU
Ahead of the April 2 announcement, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said, “Europe did not start this confrontation, we do not necessarily want to retaliate, but if it is necessary, we have a strong plan to retaliate and we will use it.”
In early March, the European Commission responded to Trump’s tariffs on aluminum and steel by launching “swift and proportionate countermeasures on U.S. imports into the EU,” a statement read. Countermeasures included tariffs on American goods such as bourbon and motorbikes worth up to $28 billion in exports.
An artificial intelligence watchdog is accusing OpenAI of training its default ChatGPT model on copyrighted book content without permission.
In a new paper published this week, the AI Disclosures Project alleges that OpenAI likely trained its GPT-4o model using non-public material from OReilly Media. The researchers used a legally obtained dataset of 34 copyrighted OReilly books and found that GPT-4o showed strong recognition of the company’s paywalled content. By contrast, GPT-3.5 Turbo appeared more familiar with publicly accessible OReilly book samples.
“These results highlight the urgent need for increased corporate transparency regarding pre-training data sources as a means to develop formal licensing frameworks for AI content training,” the authors wrote in the paper. One of the nonprofit’s founders and paper’s authors, Tim O’Reilly, is the CEO of O’Reilly Media.
An OpenAI spokesperson didn’t immediately respond to Fast Company‘s request for comment.
Training data lies at the heart of all artificial intelligence models. Large language models require an incredible amount of information that it uses to guide back on when it churns out text or images for users.
OpenAI has struck up some licensing deals to be able to train their models on certain content. But the company, which recently fundraised and is worth $300 billion, has also come under fire for sourcing certain content. The New York Times, for example, is leading a charge against OpenAI and minority owner Microsoft over alleged copyright infringement.
The researchers acknowledged limitations in their study but argued the issue is likely part of a broader systemic problem in how large language models are developed.
“Sustainable ecosystems need to be designed so that both creators and developers can benefit from generative AI,” the authors said. “Otherwise, model developers are likely to rapidly plateau in their progress, especially as newer content becomes produced less and less by humans.”
On Wednesday, Tesla reported its largest drop in delivery numbers to date, and a 13% drop in sales since the beginning of the year, in part due to backlash against CEO Elon Musk’s role in the U.S. government, coupled with growing competition in the EV market.
However, by midday, shares of the EV maker started moving higher following an unconfirmed Politico report that Musk may soon step away from his role in the Trump administration. That report said Trump insiders and allies have become increasingly “frustrated with his unpredictability” and see him as a “political liability,” but the retreat is also likely the result of the hit his businesses have taken.
Heres what to know about the latest Tesla delivery numbers and sales, as well as how the companys stock is doing today.
Tesla first-quarter sales and delivery numbers plummet
A look at the numbers shows Tesla posted its worst sales in nearly three years. It delivered 336,681 cars in the first quarter, down from 387,000 in the first three months of 2024 and less than in any period since the second quarter of 2022. The EV maker missed analyst estimates of as low as 350,000 vehicles.
Analysts had predicted lower sales following poor European numbers, and because Tesla temporarily closed some factories to update the new Model Y. On Tuesday, Electrek reported Tesla has $200 million worth of unsold Cybertrucks sitting in its inventory.
Tesla sales in Europe and China are down
Wednesday’s sales report follows data from the European Automobile Manufacturers Association that confirm Tesla sales fell 49% in Europe in the first two months of the quarter, despite the fact that overall EV sales in Europe were up 28%, pointing to a loss of the electric vehicle market share. Another reason for the drop can be attributed to European Tesla boycotts over Musk’s controversial political views, including his support for Europe’s far-right parties.
While Europe isn’t the largest market for electric vehicles, China is. China is also Tesla’s second largest market after the U.S., where it now faces growing competition from other EV automakers. Chinese automaker BYD reported sales of more than 416,000 fully electric passenger vehicles in the quarter, up 39% from the previous year, overtaking Tesla as the worlds largest seller of EVs.
What does this mean for TSLA stock?
Shares of Tesla (Nasdaq: TSLA) fell about 2% in early trading and are now up about 4% in midday trading at the time of this writing due in part to that Politico report that Musk may be moving on from the White House.
While the Tesla stock started the year strong, and nearly doubled after the presidential election, it has lost 44% since December’s all-time high. In 2025, the stock is down over 35% year-to-date, taking a major hit due to the Musk backlash, including protests at Tesla dealerships in the form of Tesla Takedowns.
A recent CNN poll found 53% of Americans rate Musk negatively, with only 35% giving him a positive rating, making him even more unpopular than Vice President JD Vance (who has a 44% unfavorable rating.)
On Wednesday, Tesla reported its largest drop in delivery numbers to date, and a 13% drop in sales since the beginning of the year, in part due to backlash against CEO Elon Musk’s role in the U.S. government, coupled with growing competition in the EV market.
However, by midday, shares of the EV maker started moving higher following an unconfirmed Politico report that Musk may soon step away from his role in the Trump administration. That report said Trump insiders and allies have become increasingly “frustrated with his unpredictability” and see him as a “political liability.” But the retreat is also likely the result of the hit his businesses have taken.
Heres what to know about the latest Tesla delivery numbers and sales, as well as how the companys stock is doing today.
Tesla first-quarter sales and delivery numbers plummet
A look at the numbers shows Tesla posted its worst sales in nearly three years. It delivered 336,681 cars in the first quarter, down from 387,000 in the first three months of 2024 and less than in any period since the second quarter of 2022. The EV maker missed analyst estimates of as low as 350,000 vehicles.
Analysts had predicted lower sales following poor European numbers and because Tesla temporarily closed some factories to update the new Model Y. On Tuesday, Electrek reported Tesla has $200 million worth of unsold Cybertrucks sitting in its inventory.
Tesla sales in Europe and China are down
Wednesday’s sales report follows data from the European Automobile Manufacturers Association, which confirms Tesla sales fell 49% in Europe in the first two months of the quarter, despite the fact that overall EV sales in Europe were up 28%, pointing to a loss of the electric vehicle market share.
Another reason for the drop can be attributed to European Tesla boycotts over Musk’s controversial political views, including his support for Europe’s far-right parties.
Yet, Europe isn’t the largest market for electric vehicles, China is. China is also Tesla’s second-largest market after the U.S., where it now faces growing competition from other EV automakers. Chinese automaker BYD reported sales of more than 416,000 fully electric passenger vehicles in the quarter, up 39% from the previous year, overtaking Tesla as the worlds largest seller of EVs.
What does this mean for TSLA stock?
Shares of Tesla (Nasdaq: TSLA) fell about 2% in early trading and are now up about 4% in midday trading at the time of this writing, due in part to that Politico report that Musk may be soon moving on from the White House.
While Tesla stock started the year strong, and nearly doubled after the presidential election, it has lost 44% since December’s all-time high. In 2025, the stock is down over 35% year to date, taking a major hit due to the Musk backlash, including protests at Tesla dealerships in the form of Tesla Takedowns.
A recent CNN poll found 53% of Americans rate Musk negatively, with only 35% giving him a positive rating, making him even more unpopular than Vice President JD Vance (who has a 44% unfavorable rating).
For Jews in Canada, much like their American counterparts, Manischewitz kosher wine has become a staple of Passover and other religious celebrations.
But now many are struggling to find the New York state-made drink for the wine-heavy spring holiday as Canadian government retailers and wholesale monopolies pull American-made products from shelves in protest of U.S. President Donald Trump‘s tariffs and annexation threats.
The missing wine illustrates how Trump’s instigation of a trade war with Canada and his bellicose talk is causing pain for Canadian consumers and U.S. beverage companies like Manischewitz owner E & J Gallo Winery, as well as potential opportunities for Canadian competitors.
Many Canadian consumers are embracing a “Buy Canadian” movement and avoiding U.S.-made goods, but for some specialized products like sweet and fruity Manischewitz kosher wine, there is no true alternative, kosher goods retailers and consumers say.
Canada’s provincial governments control liquor sales and wholesaling, and since early March have all banned U.S. alcohol imports as well as most distribution and sales, including Manischewitz wine and Jack Daniels bourbon whiskey.
Existing stocks have been yanked from shelves across the sprawling nation. Private stores, allowed to sell existing supplies, told Reuters their Manischewitz bottles were snapped up by shoppers soon after the provincial governments’ bans were announced.
“People are freaking out,” said Louise Waldman, a Winnipeg Jew who associates the particular taste of Manischewitz wine with a lifetime of Passover meals.
Manischewitz and Gallo did not respond to requests for comment.
During Passover, which begins on April 12, Jews gather for traditional meals, called seders, and eat specific foods including horseradish, parsley and eggs. Traditionally, each participant drinks four glasses of wine throughout the meal.
Aaron Bernstein of family-owned Bernstein’s Delicatessen, a Jewish food store and restaurant in Winnipeg in Western Canada, said he has had to tell patriotic Canadian shoppers that there are not domestically made versions of some kosher products.
“There’s no other product like Manischewitz wine,” he said.
Made kosher in Canada
Canadian Jews seeking kosher wine to fulfill the ceremonial obligation might still find some Israeli wine in some government-operated liquor stores. Manitoba Liquor Marts offer three kosher wines, such as both red and white from the Galil Mountain Winery, a spokesperson said.
But for some kosher foods producers in Canada, the upsurge in patriotic pride and the desire for “Made in Canada” goods is a chance to expand business.
Ritesh Patel, the director of operations for Elman’s Food Products, a Winnipeg kosher foods processor since 1938, hopes to capture more of the domestic kosher market.
The company is in talks with major national chains about carrying their pickled products like sauerkraut, eggs and horseradish, he said.
To replace some American products, Bernstein said his deli has been ordering more products from Israel, but imports take longer to arrive because of the extended supply chain.
For some Canadian Jews who keep kosher, the concern goes beyond missing holiday foods and extends to the risk of tariffs and higher prices on other staple products making groceries unaffordable.
“We’re very concerned in general. The price of food is astronomical and the price of kosher food is even more concerning,” said Richard Rabkin, the managing director of the Kashruth Council of Canada, the country’s largest kosher certification agency.
Ed White and Leah Douglas, Reuters
Nationwide protests against the Trump administration and adviser Elon Musk are planned for this Saturday, April 5 in all 50 states. The day of events, dubbed “Hands Off!,” will include protests in many red states including Alabama, Mississippi, Texas, and Florida, as well as major cities such as New York, L.A., and San Francisco. A flagship march is scheduled to take place on the grounds of the Washington Monument in Washington, D.C.
Here’s everything you need to know about the day of protests.
What is the Hands Off protest?
The aim of the protests is to voice opposition to various Trump administration policies and massive budget cuts and layoffs across federal agencies spearheaded by Musk’s so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
“This is a nationwide mobilization to stop the most brazen power grab in modern history . . . They’re taking everything they can get their hands on,” Hands Off has posted on its website. “Our health care, our data, our jobs, our services . . . we’re taking to the streets nationwide to fight back with a clear message: Hands off!”
Who’s behind the protest?
The protests are organized by Indivisible, a grassroots movement aimed at rebuilding democracy and defeating Trump, which is partnering with a broad coalition of groups including: the Womens March, United Federation of Teachers, Public Citizen, Progressive Democrats of America, Common Cause, Human Rights Campaign, MoveOn, the League of Women Voters, Planned Parenthood, as well as some unions including AFL-CIO, UAW, and SEIU.
Indivisibles co-executive director Ezra Levin told MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow that Hands Off is going through a wave moment, in which it’s seeing a larger number of people interested in volunteering, organizing, and participating.
How big is the Hands Off protest?
“We expect April 5th to be the largest single-day protest since Donald Trumps second inauguration,” a spokesperson for Hands Off told Fast Company. “Actions are scheduled in over 1000 cities nationwideand counting, with over 250,000 people expected to attend. Events [will] include marches, demonstrations and rallies.”
Many of the protests are scheduled to take place at state capitals, federal buildings, and congressional offices including at Social Securitys headquarters. There are also protests planned for the Daley Center in Chicago, city halls in Philadelphia and Los Angeles, and Bryant Park in Manhattan, as well as multiple cities outside the U.S., including London, Madrid, and Zurich.
