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Last updated: February 19, 2025 08:30
The Bottom Line - Tuesday, February 18
DOGE, Trump, Energy PoliciesWATCH LIVE: Trump's pick for labor secretary faces confirmation hearing
Former GOP Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer testifies in front of senators on the HELP committee.Coca-Cola introduces contender in prebiotic drink trend as ‘gut-healthy’ sodas gain popularity
Coca-Cola is entering its own contender in the trendy prebiotic soda category to compete with the popular "gut-healthy" sodas Olipop and Poppi.Arizona small businesses owners struggle to make ends meet, voting for economic relief this election
The economy is a top issue for small business owners and it could make or break votes in key battleground states like Arizona according to small business owners in the state.Energy was 'brow-beaten' by the Biden admin, says Daniel Turner
Power the Future founder Daniel Turner discusses President Donald Trump launching a national energy dominance council on 'The Bottom Line.'Vanguard ETF Overtakes State Street's Fund as World's Biggest
Vanguard Group's Standard & Poor's 500 ETF finally seized the title of the world's largest exchange-traded fund from rival State Street Global Advisors' product, the SPDR S&P 500 Trust, according to data from FactSet, LSEG and other sources.Elon Musk says saving taxpayer money comes down to ‘competence’ and ‘caring’
President Donald Trump and Elon Musk join ‘Hannity’ to discuss criticism of DOGE and whether the country is facing a ‘constitutional crisis.’Brazil gets greenlight to join OPEC+ months ahead of hosting UN’s annual climate summit
Brazil will be joining the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, or OPEC+, highlighting the South American country’s growing status as a major oil exporter.Zelenskyy on US Minerals Deal: I Can't Sell Ukraine
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy Wednesday rejected U.S. demands for $500 billion in mineral wealth from Ukraine to repay Washington for wartime aid, saying the United States had supplied nowhere near that sum so far and offered no specific security guarantees in the...Futures Tread Water as Markets Weigh Auto Tariffs
U.S. stock index futures were largely flat Wednesday as investors evaluated President Donald Trump's latest tariff threats and awaited minutes of the Federal Reserve's January meeting, expected later in the day.GameStop CEO Assails 'DEI' in France, Canada Amid Bid to Sell
GameStop CEO Ryan Cohen decried the "wokeness and DEI" policies of "Micromania" France and Canada on Tuesday, the same day the video game retailer announced it was planning to sell its operations in the two countries.Stocks making the biggest moves premarket: Etsy, SolarEdge, Toll Brothers, Bumble and more
These are the stocks posting the largest moves in premarket trading.
Musk Shows Interest in DOGE Rebate Checks to Taxpayers
Elon Musk said he will "check with the president" about sending Americans rebates for federal money saved by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).Trump's Treasury chief says Dems worried DOGE will expose their fraud
Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., on the Democrats' strategy to counter DOGE, the Senate advancing their budget resolution and GOP unity in the House regarding Trump's tax policies.Fed Concerns Rise as Tariff Threats Ratchet Higher, Wider
U.S. Federal Reserve officials remain uncertain about the impact tariffs might have on inflation, but have begun outlining more serious risks to supply chains, public expectations and ultimately prices as the scope of the Trump administration's plans for import taxes has...The Federal Reserve announced a third rate cut; fewer are expected in 2025
On the heels of rate cuts, the housing market is slowly getting closer to a full recovery.Kamala Harris signs with major Hollywood agency months after failed presidential bid: report
Former Vice President Kamala Harris was reportedly signed with Creative Artists Agency, a Hollywood talent agency, according to a Variety report on Tuesday.Musk's X in Talks to Raise Money at a $44B Valuation
Elon Musk's social media company X is in talks to raise money from investors at a $44 billion valuation, Bloomberg News reported, citing people familiar with the matter.Tariff Threats Pave Way to Gold's All-Time $2,946 High
Gold prices advanced to an all-time high Wednesday as trade war tensions and concerns over global economic growth drove safe-haven flows following U.S. President Donald Trump's new tariff threats.US Single-Family Housing Starts Tumble
U.S. single-family homebuilding fell sharply in January amid disruptions from snowstorms and freezing temperatures, with a rebound likely to be limited by higher costs from tariffs on imports and elevated mortgage rates.Single-family housing starts, which account for the...LA Schools' Ban on Cellphones, Social Media Access Begins
A ban on cellphones and other devices in classrooms passed by the nation's second-largest school district began Tuesday as students in Los Angeles returned after an extended Presidents' Day holiday weekend.DOGE looks at making cuts at the Department of Defense
The Department of Defense's $850 billion is set to be scrutinized by Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) as it continues its cost-cutting campaign.Vanguard Pauses Corporate Meetings Over New ESG Guidance
Top mutual fund manager Vanguard has paused meetings with portfolio companies while it reviews the impact of new guidance on investor activism from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, according to people familiar with the matter.
Kudlow - Tuesday, February 18
DOGE battle, Budget bill, Trump’s executive actionsTrader Joe's recalls frozen fruit product over 'foreign material' concerns: 'Please discard'
Trader Joe's is recalling its frozen Organic Acai Bowls "out of an abundance of caution" due to potential plastic contamination, the chain announced on Feb. 14.Late entrepreneur's Spanish island estate hits market for whopping $78M
A sprawling property linked to the late Rainer Schaller recently went up for sale on the Spanish island of Mallorca. It has an over $78.3 million (€72 million) asking price.Liz Peek says it's a message to taxpayers to ‘care’ about where their money goes
Panelists Liz Peek and Allysia Finley discuss DOGE claiming it has already saved Americans $55 billion on ‘The Bottom Line.’Trump designed a 'win-win' situation for the US and Ukraine, says Treasury Secretary Bessent
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent discusses his meeting with Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelenskyy, the state of the United States economy and the Trump administration's tariff policy on 'Special Report.'US Lags World Stocks But Still Flirts With New Highs
Even though Wall Street stocks lag world markets this year, the S&P500 still managed to wring out another record high on Tuesday - with a mix of new tariff threats, housing updates and Federal Reserve minutes to digest later today.As 2025 kicks in, so are layoffs: these are some companies cutting jobs
This year only has just over two-and-a-half months in the books so far, but multiple companies have already announced layoffs, including Blue Origin, JPMorgan Chase and Estee Lauder.Battle of the chambers: Trump budget test vote cleared in Senate as House GOP lags behind
The Senate maneuvered past a procedural hurdle on its preferred Trump budget bill after leapfrogging the House Republicans, who were expected to take the lead on the process.Trade barriers aren’t something that Trump came up with on his own, expert points out
Harris Financial Group managing partner Jamie Cox gives his take on whether there will be a 20% S&P 500 'three-peat' and President Donald Trump's tariff strategy.Trump being ‘very unfair’ to Zelenskyy, expert argues
Hermitage Capital Management CEO Sir William Browder weighs in on the latest news emerging from the Russia-Ukraine war as President Zelenskyy cancels his visit to Saudi Arabia.Wildfire victims are adjusting to their new normals

How the world's largest asset manager is using nearly $28 billion of acquisitions to reinvent itself
Over the past year, BlackRock has cut deals to buy infrastructure investment firm GIP, private credit manager HPS and data provider Preqin.Apple to Launch Lower-Cost iPhone to Capture a Broader Market
Apple is set to launch its latest budget iPhone model Wednesday as it looks to grab a bigger share of the mid-range smartphone market and fend off competition from rivals such Samsung and China's Huawei.October 7 will happen again if Hamas remains in power, UN Watch executive director warns
UN Watch Executive Director Hillel Neuer weighs in on the Israel-Hamas hostage release, the anticipated second phase of ceasefire talks and the organization bringing dissidents together at the Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy.Get ready for the 2023 tax season now with these steps
Planning ahead for next year's tax season can save you money and headaches. An expert provides tips on what you can do now to put yourself in a good position the next time you file.‘All phases’ of Israel’s ceasefire deal should be done ‘pretty soon,’ expert reveals
U.S. Envoy for Hostages Adam Boehler joins ‘Mornings with Maria’ to break down the latest news emerging from the Israel-Hamas war as tensions continue to de-escalate.How to protect US data from China, former acting DHS secretary reveals
Former acting DHS secretary Chad Wolf weighs in on the most pressing threats from Mexico and China on 'The Bottom Line.'Bozeman, Montana home to a booming real estate market
Nestled among the mountains in southwestern Montana is Bozeman. The fast-growing city is home to a dynamic real estate market.KFC moving US headquarters from Kentucky to Texas, citing better prospects for growth
KFC will be moving its longtime headquarters from Kentucky, the only home its ever known, to Plano, Texas, the company announced on Tuesday.President Trump is 'testing the waters' with government agency control: Market expert
Amerivet Securities head of U.S. rates Gregory Faranello and Bullseye American Ingenuity Fund's Adam Johnson analyze President Donald Trump's latest executive order, Southwest Airlines' layoffs and Bill Ackman's big market move.EV maker Nikola files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection
EV maker Nikola Corporation filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Wednesday after the embattled company faced “significant" macroeconomic challenges.Dems are making a ‘tactical, political mistake,’ says Rep. Jeff Van Drew
Rep. Jeff Van Drew, R-N.J., discusses how a D.C. judge declined 14 Democratic attorneys' general requests to stop DOGE on ‘The Evening Edit.’