Happy New Year 2025

Category: Business

Super Bowl ads feature Billy Crystal, Shania Twain, Post Malone as stars gear up for the big game

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Super Bowl LIX is just around the corner, and it’s already gearing up to be a celebrity-filled event with various star-studded ads.

Whether they feature nostalgic reunions or unlikely celebrity duos, this year’s commercials are sure to deliver.

Here are some of the highly anticipated, celebrity-led commercials set to air during the big game.

Billy Crystal, Shania Twain and Post Malone are all starring in 2025 Super Bowl commercials. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/WireImage; Photo by Samir Hussein/WireImage; Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images for MTV / Getty Images)

SYDNEY SWEENEY JOINS MEG RYAN, BILLY CRYSTAL FOR ‘WHEN HARRY MET SALLY’ SUPER BOWL AD

Hellmann’s Mayonnaise featuring Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal

Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal reunited to recreate an iconic scene from their popular 1989 romantic comedy, “When Harry Met Sally.”

The ad begins with the two of them returning to Katz’s Delicatessen in New York City for lunch, and Crystal saying, “I can’t believe they let us back in this place,” to which Ryan responded with “nobody remembers that.”

Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal reunited to recreate an iconic scene from their popular 1989 romantic comedy, “When Harry Met Sally.” (Michael Buckner/Variety/Penske Media via Getty Images/Hellman’s / Getty Images)

She later expresses feeling unsatisfied with her meal until she adds some Hellmann’s Mayonnaise, after which she pays homage to the famous scene and once again begins to mimic an orgasm. Crystal makes light of the situation with his commentary, adding “lunch and a show huh, how about that?”

In a surprise appearance, “White Lotus” actress Sydney Sweeney recites the iconic line “I’ll have what she’s having,” originally said by Estelle Reiner, director Rob Reiner’s mother, in the 1989 movie.

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Ryan and Crystal first teased that the two of them were reuniting for a special project, when they shared photos of themselves in character on social media, with the caption, “It’s finally happening, we’re reuniting for something iconic. Can’t wait to show you all soon.”

Coffee Mate featuring Shania Twain

Twain provided her voice for Coffee Mate’s first-ever Super Bowl commercial. (Lester Cohen/Getty Images for The Recording Academy / Getty Images)

Coffee Mate announced Shania Twain has lent her voice for their first-ever Super Bowl commercial for their cold foam creamer, calling her the “queen of cold foam” on their social media accounts.

The commercial features an original song sung by Twain, promoting the product, with Coffee Mate even posting a lyric video on their Instagram, so viewers can sing along on the big day.

Twain shared a video of herself wearing a pink mini dress with a halter neckline underneath a pink robe, singing the song and using a can of the cold foam creamer as a microphone. “Can’t stop singing #gimmecoldfoam drops 2/9 featuring me #coffeematecold foam,” she captioned the post.

“Okay, I’m so excited to put cold foam in my iced coffee!” one fan wrote in the comments section, while another added, “I hope we get a special shania themed bottle!”

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Uber Eats featuring Charli XCX, Martha Stewart and Matthew McConaughey

Martha Stewart and Charli XCX star in a Super Bowl commercial for Uber Eats together. (Uber Eats YouTube / Fox News)

Uber Eats will have two separate celebrity-filled ads during this year’s Super Bowl.

In one teaser for their ad featuring Charli XCX and Martha Stewart, the two can be seen taking part in the “We listen and we don’t judge” TikTok trend in which people share secrets with others with the promise they won’t be judged for it.

Stewart admitted to thinking Charli XCX was the WiFi password, while the Grammy-nominated artist admitted she assumed Stewart was on set for the commercial to do the catering. Later, Charli XCX confessed to thinking “the Super Bowl was something you could order on Uber Eats,” while Stewart said she “thought it was something else,” with Charli giving the camera a knowing look.

The teaser ended with the two saying, “We listen and we don’t judge” in unison, followed by Stewart asking the musician, “but seriously, who are you again?”

McConaughey as the former coach of the Bears in a new Super Bowl commercial for Uber Eats. (Uber Eats YouTube / Fox News)

In a separate ad for Uber Eats, Matthew McConaughey can be seen walking up to a full-length mirror with a photo of the Chicago Bears’ former coach Mike Ditka taped next to it, dressed exactly like him.

Not only did the actor style his hair like him and wear a fake mustache matching his, he also wore a Bears sweater over a button down and tie.

The commercial sees him trying to master the Midwestern accent by repeatedly saying, “Da Bears” into the mirror, ending with him walking away from the mirror and the words “Uber Eats 02.09.25” flashing across the screen.

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MSC Cruises featuring Drew Barrymore and Orlando Bloom

Drew Barrymore and Orlando Bloom star alongside each other in a Super Bowl ad for MSC Cruises. (MSC Cruises USA YouTube / Fox News)

In a teaser video shared by MSC Cruises on their YouTube channel, Drew Barrymore and Orlando Bloom can be seen as the leads for their upcoming Super Bowl commercial.

The 15-second clip features Barrymore and Bloom on a cruise ship, as the “Never Been Kissed” actress is playing the piano and singing “Holiday” by Madonna. Barrymore then asks Bloom, “Was that good,” to which he responds, “Not great.”

Barrymore accepts the critique, saying “yeah, fair,” after which the words, “the holiday begins 02.09.25” appear on the screen, and Barrymore once again breaks out into song.

Bosch featuring Antonio Banderas

Antonia Banderas and former WWE wrestler, Macho Man Randy Savage, are starring together in a Super Bowl commercial for the German engineering company Bosch.

In the 15-second teaser for the ad, posted on YouTube by the company, the former wrestler can be seen struggling to open a jar of pickles, leading Banderas to step in and help him out.

After Banderas opens the jar, Savage thanks him for his help, with the actor responding with, “Don’t thank me. Thank Bosch for putting us in the same big-day commercial together.”

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Meta’s Smart Glasses featuring Chris Hemsworth and Chris Pratt

Hemsworth and Pratt are set to star in a Super Bowl commercial for Meta’s Smart Glasses. (Photo by Dave Benett/WireImage; Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images / Getty Images)

Marvel superheros, Chris Pratt and Chris Hemsworth, are reuniting to promote Meta’s Smart Glasses in the company’s new Super Bowl ad.

Not much is known about the ad, but both Hemsworth and Pratt shared sneak peeks on their Instagram accounts, with posts featuring them wearing the Smart Glasses.

Stella Artois featuring David Beckham

David Beckham is on the hunt for his long-lost twin brother in a new Super Bowl commercial for Stella Artois.

The ad starts with Beckham picking up a cold glass of beer and walking over to join his fictional parents at a table. His parents then proceed to tell him he has a twin brother whom they gave up and now lives in America, who is also named David.

It ends with Beckham grabbing baby photos of him and his brother as babies before leaving the bar to search for the other David. After Beckham gets up, the words “Who is the other David” appear on-screen, next to a glass of Stella Artois.

“The secret is out, now the search for David Beckham’s twin brother is on,” the description for the YouTube video reads.

Bud Light featuring Post Malone and Shane Gillis

Post Malone and Gillis star together in a new Bud Light commercial. (Bud Light YouTube)

Shane Gillis and Post Malone are set to star in a Super Bowl commercial for Bud Light.

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In the commercial, the musician and the comedian arrive to a house party together carrying cases of Bud Light. They hang around the front door, crack open a can, and start talking to the Ring camera, letting their friends know they’ve arrived, before getting a text telling them to head to the backyard.

Gillis is even decked out in Bud Light merchandise, wearing a hat with the brand’s name on it.

This isn’t the first time Post Malone has starred in an ad for the beer company, having appeared alongside Peyton Manning in a commercial for the brand in which he was summoned by the Bud Light genie.

Michelob Ultra featuring Willem Dafoe and Catherine O’Hara

O’Hara and Dafoe star alongside each other in the new Michelob ULTRA Super Bowl commercial. (Michelob ULTRA YouTube / Fox News)

“Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice” stars Catherine O’Hara and Willem Dafoe, who came together to star in the Super Bowl commercial for Michelob ULTRA.

Throughout the ad, the two spot younger couples in possession of Michelob ULTRA beer and challenge them to games of pickleball, with the winner getting the beer. Each of their opponents underestimated O’Hara and Dafoe, who were shown to win every match they played.

The ad ends with the two of them holding up two full glasses of Michelob ULTRA beer in a large room lined with freezers full of Michelob ULTRA cases and O’Hara asking viewers if they would “play for an ULTRA?”

The words “Superior is worth playing for” flash across the screen, later joined by “Michelob ULTRA, superior light beer.”

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February 2, 2025
American Gas Association reacts to Trump announcement of energy tariffs on Canada, Mexico

Federal worker, Stocks, Federal Reserve

The American Gas Association says it is working with President Donald Trump’s administration to “mitigate” potential rising costs as part of Trump’s new tariffs on Canada and Mexico.

The AGA noted in a statement that roughly 9% of U.S. natural gas supplies are sourced from Canada. AGA President and CEO Karen Harbert affirmed her intent to work with the Trump administration in another public statement.

“Energy security is national security, and our highly integrated North American natural gas delivery system is critical to ensuring our nation’s safety and fueling our homes and vital industries. AGA is dedicated to continuing to work with President Trump to help ensure affordable and reliable energy for American families and businesses and mitigate any potential effects of these tariffs on home heating and business costs,” said Harbert.

Trump imposed 25% import tariffs on both Mexico and Canada on Saturday, as well as a 10% tariff on Chinese imports. The energy tariffs applied to Canada are limited to 10%, the administration noted.

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President Donald Trump imposed 25% tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada, as well as 10% tariffs on Chinese imports. (CHIP SOMODEVILLA/POOL/AFP via Getty Images / Getty Images)

Energy resources from Canada will have a lower 10% tariff, according to the White House. In a statement obtained by Fox News Saturday, the Trump administration said the action is a response to an “extraordinary threat posed by illegal aliens and drugs, including deadly fentanyl, (that) constitutes a national emergency.”

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“This challenge threatens the fabric of our society,” the executive order states. “Gang members, smugglers, human traffickers, and illicit drugs of all kinds have poured across our borders and into our communities.

“Canada has played a central role in these challenges, including by failing to devote sufficient attention and resources or meaningfully coordinate with United States law enforcement partners to effectively stem the tide of illicit drugs.”

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau argued that Canadians are feeling betrayal by Trump’s tariffs.

Canada and Mexico each announced tariffs on U.S. imports on Saturday in retaliation for Trump placing tariffs on the two countries.

TRUMP IMPOSES TARIFFS ON IMPORTS FROM CANADA, MEXICO AND CHINA: ‘NATIONAL EMERGENCY’

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau argued on Saturday that the move “split us apart instead of bringing us together.” His administration has imposed a 25% tariff on some $155 billion worth of U.S. imports.

Trump and Trudeau attend the NATO summit at the Grove Hotel on Dec. 4, 2019. (Dan Kitwood/Getty Images / Getty Images)

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“It is going to have real consequences for people, for workers on both sides of our border,” he said. “We don’t want to be here. We didn’t ask for this, but we will not back down in standing up both for Canadians and for the incredible successful relationship between Canada and the United States.”

Fox News’ Landon Mion contributed to this report

February 2, 2025
Here’s why comedian Matt Rife traded glitzy city living for cozy Rhode Island suburbs

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Comedian Matt Rife is taking over the comedy scene – and – the Rhode Island suburbs in his latest real estate venture.

While appearing on the popular “Bad Friends” podcast last August, Rife revealed to fellow comedians and co-hosts Bobby Lee and Andrew Santino that he had recently purchased 80 acres of property in Rhode Island.

According to Rife, Rhode Island originally “wasn’t even in the top 10” states he was looking to buy property in, but something specific drew him to the Ocean State.

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Comedian Matt Rife pictured alongside an image of the Castle Hill Lighthouse in Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island. The illustration comes on the heels of Rife’s recent real estate move to Rhode Island. (Fox News / Fox News)

Rife cited sky-high real estate costs as one of the main reasons he left Los Angeles’ notorious comedy scene.

The state of the U.S. real estate market is causing many long-time residents to leave for less expensive areas — including one of 2024’s highest grossing comedians like Matt Rife, according to Billboard.

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“There were three things on my checklist. I wanted to get what I was actually f—ing paying for. ” Rife began. “There was this massive place that was probably the same price of a two-bedroom with no yard in L.A.”

“I needed to have some kind of comedy scene, and Providence has the “Comedy Connection” out there, a great club. Boston is 45 minutes away, an amazing comedy scene, and also convenient for travel. Providence is like my Burbank Airport and Boston is like my LAX,” he joked.

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Rife went on to express gratitude for his “beautiful” new property, saying that although he has “never been a morning person,” he wakes up every single day “happy” in his home.

“I’m so happy I did that,” he said.

Comedian Matt Rife at the 82nd Annual Golden Globes pictured alongside a photo of California’s highways. (Fox News / Fox News)

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The young star continued, hilariously revealing that he had purchased his current home while visiting Rhode Island for the first time before one of his shows in Connecticut.

“I was performing at Mohegan Sun, five shows or something like that,” Rife playfully bragged. “[Mohegan Sun] was an hour away, and we were on, I don’t know, Zillow, and I was like, ‘oh I’ll peep this real quick.’ And we went and checked it out, and I was like, ‘this [costs] like one show at Mohegan Sun.’ So, awesome.”

BH Group CEO and founder Isaac Toledano speaks to Fox News Digital about how Donald Trump’s 2024 election victory will fuel positive activity in real estate.

In December, Billboard revealed their list of top ten highest-grossing comedy tours of the year, with Rife quickly climbing the list and earning the number two spot for 2024.

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Rife’s comedy tour grossed more than most of the biggest names in comedy last year, topping all but one comedian: Nate Bargatze, whose tour had a net gross of $82.2 million in 2024, selling over one million tickets.

According to the Billboard study, throughout Rife’s 256 shows in 2024, the new Rhode Island resident grossed about $57.5 million, selling roughly 733,000 tickets.

The 10-person list has a combined $396.7 million in gross-earnings for 2024, a 52% spike from 2023 — making comedians top earners in the entertainment industry.

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February 2, 2025
Canada, Mexico announce retaliatory tariffs on US imports in response to Trump’s tariffs on American neighbors

Economist Steve Moore and former member of White House Council of Economic advisors Tomas Philipson discuss President Donald Trump’s tariffs on foreign countries on ‘The Bottom Line.’

Canada and Mexico each announced tariffs on U.S. imports on Saturday in retaliation for U.S. President Donald Trump placing tariffs on the two countries.

Trump had signed an executive order authorizing a 25% additional tariff on imports from Canada and Mexico and a 10% additional tariff on imports from China. Energy imported from Canada, including oil, natural gas and electricity, would be taxed at an additional 10%.

The White House cited the “extraordinary threat posed by illegal aliens and drugs, including deadly fentanyl” that it argues “constitutes a national emergency.” The tariffs will go into effect on Tuesday.

The tariffs, if sustained, could cause inflation to significantly worsen after Trump vowed on the campaign trail to lower the prices of groceries, gasoline, housing, autos and other goods, according to The Associated Press. The tariffs on America’s largest trading partners also risk harming the global economy.

TRUMP IMPOSES TARIFFS ON IMPORTS FROM CANADA, MEXICO AND CHINA: ‘NATIONAL EMERGENCY’

President Donald Trump delivers his inaugural address after being sworn in as the 47th President of the United States on Jan. 20 in Washington, D.C. (Chip Somodevilla/Pool/AFP via Getty Images / Getty Images)

Trump’s order also pledges to raise the rates if the countries retaliate, which could lead to even more severe economic disruption, but that did not prevent Canada and Mexico from doing just that.

“The actions taken today by the White House split us apart instead of bringing us together,” Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said at a news conference in announcing that America’s northern neighbor would place matching 25% tariffs on up to $155 billion in U.S. imports, including alcohol and fruit.

Trudeau expressed the betrayal that many Canadians are feeling, reminding Americans that Canadian troops fought alongside them in Afghanistan and helped respond to various disasters in the U.S., including wildfires in California and Hurricane Katrina.

“We were always there standing with you, grieving with you, the American people,” he said.

Trudeau warned of economic pain due to the tariffs and encouraged Canadians to “choose Canadian products and services rather than American ones.” Still, he expressed optimism in the enduring relationship between the two countries.

“It is going to have real consequences for people, for workers on both sides of our border,” he said. “We don’t want to be here. We didn’t ask for this, but we will not back down in standing up both for Canadians and for the incredible successful relationship between Canada and the United States.”

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum similarly ordered retaliatory tariffs.

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U.S. President Donald Trump (L) and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (R) attend the NATO summit at the Grove Hotel on December 4, 2019, in Watford, England. (Dan Kitwood/Getty Images / Getty Images)

“We categorically reject the White House’s slander that the Mexican government has alliances with criminal organizations, as well as any intention of meddling in our territory,” Sheinbaum wrote in a post on X, noting that she had instructed her economy secretary to implement a response that includes retaliatory tariffs and other measures.

“If the United States government and its agencies wanted to address the serious fentanyl consumption in their country, they could fight the sale of drugs on the streets of their major cities, which they don’t do, and the laundering of money that this illegal activity generates that has done so much harm to its population,” she added.

The premier of the Canadian province of British Columbia, David Eby, also called on residents to stop buying liquor from GOP-led states in the U.S. and said it was removing American alcohol brands from government store shelves in response to the tariffs.

China also responded to Trump’s tariffs, saying they will bring a complaint to the World Trade Organization and that they would take “corresponding countermeasures to resolutely safeguard our own rights and interests.”

“China is strongly dissatisfied and firmly opposes this,” China’s commerce ministry said in a statement.

A new analysis by the Budget Lab at Yale said the average U.S. household would lose the equivalent of $1,170 in income from Trump’s new tariffs, according to The Associated Press. Economic growth would slow and inflation would worsen, and the economic impact could become even worse with retaliation from other countries.

The order would also allow for tariffs on Canadian imports of under $800. Imports below that number, according to The Associated Press, are currently allowed to cross into the U.S. without customs and duties.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and U.S. President Donald Trump. (Emmanuel Rosas/ObturadorMX/Getty Images, left, and Allison Robbert-Pool/Getty Images, right. / Getty Images)

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Democrats in Washington criticized Trump’s order, warning that any inflation in the near future would be the result of Trump’s actions.

“You’re worried about grocery prices. Don’s raising prices with his tariffs,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., wrote on X.

“You’re worried about tomato prices. Wait till Trump’s Mexico tariffs raise your tomato prices,” he said in another post.

The Democrat leader added in another post: “You’re worried about car prices. Wait till Trump’s Canada tariffs raise your car prices.”

February 2, 2025
JD Vance weighs in on deadly airliner accident during Fox Business interview

Vice President JD Vance sets the record straight with President Donald Trump’s approach to DEI and more during an appearance on ‘Sunday Morning Futures.’

Vice President J.D. Vance spoke about what he and President Trump believe contributed to the deadly mid-air collision over Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport this week in an exclusive interview on Fox Business’ “Sunday Morning Futures,” February 2nd.

In one of his first TV interviews since becoming the 50th Vice President of the United States last month, Vance spoke to host Maria Bartiromo about Trump’s second-term agenda as well as the major crises the administration has had to tackle only days into the presidency – including the deadly plane crash that claimed 67 lives earlier this week.

“There is a very direct connection between the policies of the last administration and short-staffed air traffic controllers. That has to stop,” Vance told the Fox Business host.

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Vice President J.D. Vance speaks to Fox Business’ Maria Bartiromo in an interview that appears on “Sunday Morning Futures” tomorrow. (Fox Business / FOXBusiness)

Bartiromo asked Vance about Trump mentioning progressive DEI policies in relation to the crash between an American Airlines flight and an Army Black Hawk helicopter that crossed its flight path on Wednesday night.

In a Thursday press conference concerning the crash, Trump targeted DEI standards at the Federal Aviation Administration as contributing the crash, stating, “We have to have our smartest people. It doesn’t matter what they look like, how they speak, who they are. What matters is intellect, talent. The word ‘talent.’ They have to be talented geniuses. We can’t have regular people doing that job. They won’t be able to do it.”

Bartiromo gave Vance a chance to elaborate on Trump’s statements.

“So the president’s been very clear about this. This is not saying that the person who was at the controls is a DEI hire. But let’s just say, first of all, we should investigate everything, but let’s just say the person at the controls didn’t have enough staffing around him or her because we were turning people away because of DEI reasons,” he told the host.

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A screenshot from an EarthCam appears to show the moment an Army Black Hawk helicopter collided midair with an American Airlines jet at Reagan Washington National Airport. ((Credit: EarthCam) (EarthCam))

The vice president also slammed the media for grilling Trump over his suggestion. “And by the way, it’s so funny to me the media has picked up on this. Not you, of course, Maria, but others have picked up on this. The president made very clear that he wasn’t blaming anybody, but he was being very explicit about the fact that DEI policies have led our air traffic controllers to be short-staffed.”

“That is a scandal. Thankfully, it’s a scandal that the president has stopped,” Vance added.

Elsewhere in the interview, Bartiromo asked Vance what his political ambitions are after the vice presidency. “You’re one of the youngest vice presidents that we’ve ever seen in the history of our country. Are you expecting to run for president in three and a half years?”

“Maria, you’re the first person who’s asked me that,” Vance replied. Viewers can catch Vance’s full answer when it premieres on “Sunday Morning Futures” tomorrow.

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February 1, 2025
Costco, Teamsters, reach ‘tentative agreement’ likely averting strike as company’s DEI controversy rages on

The Big Money Show explores companies turning against DEI policies while Costco bucks the trend.

The looming threat of 18,000 Costco store employees heading to the picket lines appears less likely, with the Teamsters labor union announcing Saturday that it has reached a tentative agreement for a new contract with the grocery chain.

The negotiations come amid Costco standing firm on its Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion (DEI) policies as most companies turn their backs on the controversial initiative.

“The tentative agreement will be presented to the membership for a vote,” the union, which represents 18,000 Costco workers, wrote in a post on X without providing any details about the agreement with its negotiating committee.

Shoppers outside a Costco store in Bayonne, New Jersey, US, on Saturday, Dec. 9, 2023. Costco Wholesale Corp. is scheduled to release earnings figures on December 14. Photographer: Angus Mordant/Bloomberg via Getty Images (Angus Mordant/Bloomberg via Getty Images / Getty Images)

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Reuters, citing a memo sent to employees this week, reports that Costco is set to increase pay for most of its hourly U.S. store workers to more than $30.

According to the memo, the company will increase hourly pay for its top-of-the-scale employees over the next three years. Pay will rise by $1 to $30.20 in the first year and an extra $1 each in the subsequent two years. The bottom-of-the-scale employees will also get an increase of 50 cents to $20.

Teamsters members at Costco voted overwhelmingly in favor of a strike on Jan. 20 if a new three-year contract agreement could not be reached by midnight last night when the current contract expired.

The strike would affect 50 Costco stores across New York, New Jersey, Virginia and Washington. Costco has 617 stores nationwide.

The workers are looking for better wages, benefits, and work rules amid the company making a record $7.4 billion profit in its most recent fiscal year, which ended on Sept. 1.

The grocery wholesaler, who has long held a pro-worker image, has been locked in a protracted battle with the Teamsters union, which represents 18,000 of Costco’s 219,000 U.S. worker base.

The Teamsters are accusing the grocery club of not sharing its record 2024 profits – which doubled since 2019 – with its workers and have claimed Costco has engaged in “illegal and reckless behavior,” including kicking union reps out of stores, preventing employees from wearing Teamster buttons and changing the locks on union bulletin boards.

Talks broke down in January when Costco refused to reach a card check agreement. Card checks would make it easier for workers to join unions by eliminating secret ballots. About 85% of Costco’s unionized employees voted to authorize a strike.

Storch Advisors CEO and former Toys”R”Us and Target executive Gerald Storch reacts to a strong November retail report and explains how industry winners are value-based players.

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Teamsters President Sean O’Brien recently threw down the gauntlet to Costco executives.

“Costco has two choices: respect the workers who made them a success or face a national strike,” O’Brien said in a statement.

“Costco Teamsters deserve an industry-leading contract that reflects the company’s massive profits. If Costco thinks they can exploit our members while raking in billions, we’ll shut them down.

The talks come as Costco doubles down on its DEI policies.

While big companies like Target, McDonald’s and Walmart backed off from their DEI policies, Costco shareholders voted last week to reject an anti-DEI proposal brought by activist shareholder group National Center for Public Policy Research. The measure would have required the wholesale grocery chain to issue a report on the risks associated with their DEI policies.

O’Leary Ventures Chairman Kevin O’Leary declared Costco “nuts” during Wednesday’s “The Big Money Show” for not ditching DEI arguing it is bad for business. (Photo by Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images / Photographer: Ting Shen/Bloomberg via Getty Images / Getty Images)

At its annual meeting recently, more than 98% of shares voted against the proposal.

During his first week in office, President Donald Trump issued an executive order directing the termination of discriminatory practices in the federal government and encouraging termination in the private sector. Following the order, attorneys general from 19 states urged Costco to turn away from its DEI policies.

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O’Leary Ventures Chairman Kevin O’Leary declared Costco “nuts” during Wednesday’s “The Big Money Show” for not ditching DEI arguing it is bad for business.

“They’re nuts if they think I want them fighting the federal government on policy,” O’Leary said. “I don’t care who took that poll when there’s no way you’d get that result today. You don’t fight the attorney general in multiple states, you got to be out of your mind.”

Reuters contributed to this report.

February 1, 2025
Nonprofit offers long-term grief support for loved ones of plane crash victims

An update from authorities after a military helicopter collided with an American Airlines plane, killing everyone on both aircraft.

Heidi Snow Cinader knows all too well the deep pain that one experiences from losing a loved one in an airplane crash. After her fiancé died when TWA Flight 800 crashed in the Atlantic Ocean in 1996, she developed an air disaster bereavement support network to help others who faced similar losses.

Through her nonprofit, AirCraft Casualty Emotional Support Services or, ACCESS, Cinader has been helping facilitate the grieving process for people who have been affected by, or involved in, air disaster-related tragedies. For decades, her charity has been connecting those who have survived or lost loved ones in air disasters with professionally trained volunteers who have experienced similar tragedies in years past.

The moment Cinader and her band of volunteers saw the debris of the American Airlines plane in the Potomac River after it collided with a Black Hawk military helicopter, it brought them back to the day when their lives were all “changed in an instant,” Cinader told FOX Business.

AMERICAN AIRLINES PLANE, ARMY HELICOPTER COLLIDE OUTSIDE REAGAN NATIONAL AIRPORT NEAR WASHINGTON DC

“At our organization, we have the unenviable credentials of having lost loved ones in our disasters. And all these incredible people have come forward over the years from general aviation, commercial and military air crashes to really come forward to help other people get through their grief,” Cinader said.

Many of the people who are grief mentors now initially reached out for help themselves. A few years after their own loss, they became eligible to attend training and became grief mentors, offering support to others.

Emergency response units assess the airplane wreckage in the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington Airport on Jan. 30, 2025, in Arlington, Virginia. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images / Getty Images)

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Several of the volunteers reached out after Wednesday’s crash, “asking how they can help and letting me know they’re on call, and they’re ready,” she said.

A group of ACCESS volunteers, who help facilitate the grieving process for people who have been affected by or involved in air disaster-related tragedies. (Jeff Bayer )

According to Cinader, these individuals are among the few who truly understand the pain of waiting to learn what caused the plane to crash, awaiting the recovery of bodies and being overwhelmed by constant media coverage.

Aside from grief support, the nonprofit also helps those in crisis become aware of the resources available to them.

“Through the ACCESS support system and referral services, we help individuals to overcome the feelings of hopelessness, isolation, despair, and confusion that often follow an air disaster,” the website says.

“We help minimize the risk of post-traumatic stress symptoms, long-term depression, family difficulties or an inability to function socially or at work.”

A helicopter flies near the crash site of the American Airlines plane on the Potomac River after the plane crashed on approach to Reagan National Airport. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images / Getty Images)

The goal is to help people “gain renewed strength, hope, and purpose.”

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The nonprofit seeks to support people not just in the moments after an air disaster, but for the rest of their lives. This includes major life events like birthdays and times when people are getting remarried.

Finding someone else who knows “how to live a life for the long term” is really a big piece of what the organization does, Cinader said.

“I remember so well . . . when I needed somebody to be with me for what laid ahead,” Cinader said.

February 1, 2025
Gwyneth Paltrow sells LA mansion for $22 million after sending kids to college

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Gwyneth Paltrow has sold her Los Angeles home.

The Oscar-winning actress sold her six-bedroom home in the Brentwood neighborhood for $22 million. The home was initially on the market for $29.99 million when it was listed in May, according to The Wall Street Journal.

The 8,000-square-foot house sits in Mandeville Canyon, which had been threatened by the Palisades Fire last month. The area has become a go-to place to buy because people displaced by the fires are looking for new homes, according to the Journal.

Paltrow bought the property with ex Chris Martin in 2012, two years before they consciously uncoupled, the Journal reported. The couple reportedly renovated the home, making it larger and even adding two separate living spaces for guests.

Paltrow sold her Brentwood home for $22 million. (Anthony Barcelo; Getty Images / Fox News)

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The former couple share children Apple, 20, and Moses, 18, who are both in college. She put the house on the market last year after her youngest child graduated from high school. Paltrow married producer Brad Falchuk in 2018, and the couple shared the home with her children and his daughters, Isabella, 20, and Brody, 18.

Originally built in the 1950s, the single-story, 13,000-square-foot house is surrounded by trees and features high ceilings, lush green grass in the yard and many other enviable amenities.

The exterior of the house is lined with small circular hedges. (Anthony Barcelo / Fox News)

Following a large grassy area and a gray gravel driveway is the front door lined with small circular green hedges and small trees in planters.

Once through the front door, guests will find themselves in the entryway, which features black and white tiled floors, sconce lighting, a drop chandelier in the middle of the room, wainscoting and a large mirror on the wall.

The entry boasts black and white tiled floors and a large mirror on the wall. (Anthony Barcelo / Fox News)

Past the entryway is the spacious living room, which boasts high ceilings, chevron-patterned hardwood flooring and wainscoting on the walls. On the far wall are floor-to-ceiling windows and glass French doors that lead to the backyard and bring in natural light.

Paltrow incorporated nature into her decor in the room, placing a tall tree in one corner and a smaller plant on a side table, which also boasts many books.

The living room boasts large windows and hardwood flooring. (Anthony Barcelo / Fox News)

Another highlight of the home is the large kitchen, which features circular black tiles, floor-to-ceiling windows, a door leading to the backyard and multiple hanging light fixtures placed throughout the room.

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The room features white countertops and drawers, a sizable eat-in center island that adds additional counter and storage space, a double oven, a double cooktop and a wood-burning oven. In addition, to the eat-in island, the room boasts a breakfast nook next to the large windows.

Paltrow’s kitchen features a large center island and a breakfast nook. (Anthony Barcelo / Fox News)

Elsewhere in the home is the cozy family room, which boasts yet another wall lined with floor-to-ceiling doors and windows. The wood-paneled room with white walls features light gray hardwood floors, a wood-burning fireplace, built-in bookshelves and a bar.

Some of the home’s other enviable features include a climate-controlled wine cellar, plus an office, a gym, a game room and a movie theater.

The family room features built-in bookshelves and floor-to-ceiling windows. (Anthony Barcelo / Fox News)

In the backyard, guests will find a large grassy area, an outdoor seating and dining area and a dipping pool.

The backyard also houses the large guesthouse that boasts high ceilings with exposed wooden beams, a unique light fixture and all-wooden walls with tiled flooring. The guesthouse is accessed through large glass double doors that take up the entire wall, giving anyone inside a full view of the backyard.

The one-bedroom guesthouse features a unique light fixture. (Anthony Barcelo / Fox News)

In addition to the guesthouse, the backyard features a large grass patch and a dipping pool. (Anthony Barcelo / Fox News)

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February 1, 2025
Omnilert CEO talks AI and school safety in wake of Antioch High School shooting

Omnilert was used by Antioch High School, which experienced a deadly shooting earlier this month. However, the incident happened out of the system’s field of view.”

Antioch High School in Nashville, Tennessee, was the latest to experience a deadly shooting. In the wake of the tragedy, many have questioned the efficacy of Omnilert, the artificial intelligence-powered weapons detection system that was used in the school. Now the company’s CEO, Dave Fraser, is speaking out about the advantages – and limitations – of AI security systems.

“The way our system works is it’s monitoring video cameras, and if you think about it, it’s essentially playing the role of a human being,” Fraser told Fox Business. “But for it to work, it has to be able to actually see a weapon in the same way that a human would need to see the weapon.”

Fraser explained that unlike traditional surveillance systems, which are often used after an incident, the Omnilert system is meant to be used as a preventative tool, along with other mechanisms.

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Image depicts the Omnilert system detecting a weapon. (Courtesy: Omnilert)

“The visual approach, which is quite new, offers some pretty interesting advantages when layered with other technologies,” Fraser said.

When speaking specifically about the tragedy in Nashville, Fraser said that the shooting took place “out of the field of view,” making it “impossible” for Omnilert to see the weapon and detect the threat.

In February 2023, the Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS) board greenlit a $1 million contract with AI gun detection system, Omnilert, which is set to end on Nov. 30, 2025, according to local outlet WKRN.

Fraser told Fox Business that Omnilert’s systems are designed to work quickly, as with emergency situations “time is of the essence.”

“If it can see a weapon, it will typically detect it within less than a second and at that point the data regarding that potential detection is actually sent to human beings for verification.”

Omnilert system alert shown on a phone. (Courtesy: Omnilert)

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Once a threat is verified, Omnilert’s system can automatically activate other security tools, such as sounding alarms or locking doors. However, Fraser admits that no one system is perfect and that, in an ideal world, Omnilert would be combined with other safety measures.

The “bottom line,” Fraser says, is to use “multiple layers of defense.”

On its website, Omnilert spells out a possible layered approach to school safety. The list includes training for staff, onsite security, surveillance cameras, metal detectors and more, in addition to an AI-powered system.

According to Omnilert’s annual gun violence report, which was released earlier this month prior to the Antioch High School shooting, 2024 saw the second-highest number of K-12 school shooting incidents since 1966.

Example of how the AI-powered weapons detection system Omnilert finds a suspect with a gun.

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Following the shooting, Fran Bush, a former Metro Nashville Public Schools board member, told the New York Post that she “knew this day was gonna happen.”

“I knew it was gonna happen just because it’s like a free open door, everybody coming in,” Bush added. She also said that she unsuccessfully pushed for the school district to bring in metal detectors.

In response to a Fox Business request for comment on the lack of metal detectors, MNPS Chief of Communications and Technology Sean Braisted said the school is working with Evolv to pilot a concealed weapon detection system.

February 1, 2025
Trump tariffs take effect Saturday: What to know

Breitbart economics and finance editor John Carney breaks down President Donald Trump’s reason for threatening tariffs and dissects NPR’s failed fact-check on ‘The Bottom Line.’

The White House on Friday confirmed that President Donald Trump will implement tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China this weekend.

Press secretary Karoline Leavitt said thatTrump will impose a 25% levy on imports from Mexico and Canada and a 10% tariff on imports from China, beginning on Saturday, in response to the “illegal fentanyl that they have sourced and allowed to distribute into our country, which has killed tens of millions of Americans.”

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“These are promises made and promises kept by the president,” she said.

The comments came just after he signed an executive order titled “America First Trade Policy” which instructed government officials to “investigate the causes of our country’s large and persistent annual trade deficits in goods, as well as the economic and national security implications . . . ,” the order said.

President Donald Trump delivers his inaugural address after being sworn in as the 47th president in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 20, 2025, in Washington, D.C. (Chip Somodevilla/Pool/AFP via Getty Images / Getty Images)

However, his recent actions against China are far lower than his initial threats he made during his campaign. He pledged a universal 10% to 20% tariff on imports from all foreign countries, along with an additional 60% to 100% tariff specifically on imports from China.

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However, Democrats and opponents argue that the cost of the tariffs would just be passed on to American consumers. Over the past several months, several retailers have raised concerns about the prospect of tariffs pumping up the costs of their products or even forcing them to cut back on inventory.

Oracle founder Larry Ellison listens to President Donald Trump speak in the Roosevelt Room at the White House on Jan. 21, 2025, in Washington, D.C. (Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images / Getty Images)

For instance, Dollar Tree – which has high exposure to China – warned that if tariffs are implemented, the company might have to change product details or sizes and even stop carring items altogether if they become too expensive.

A Walmart spokesperson said in a statement to FOX Business that the company remains “concerned that significantly increased tariffs could lead to increased costs for our customers at a time when they are still feeling the remnants of inflation.”

Meanwhile, Wall Street titan Goldman Sachs also raised concerns that hiking the levies on products will drive up costs for everyday Americans.

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David French, the National Retail Federation’s executive vice president of government relations, said the United States “needs a review of our trade relationships to be sure that those relationships are structured to achieve fair, balanced and effective outcomes for American workers and businesses.”

“Tariffs are taxes paid by Americans, and any new tariff tax increases should be methodically and effectively deployed toward only the most strategic goods,” French said. “Undertaking a strategic assessment of trade priorities is an important first step.”

FOX News’ Greg Norman contributed to this report.

February 1, 2025