Good morning. Osaka has received an anonymous donation of 46 pounds of gold — worth $3.6 million — with the stipulation it be used to fix up the Japanese city’s aging water pipes. While it’s an undeniably generous gift, we can’t help but wonder if iron or plastic pipes might be more cost effective.
Taxes
With tax season underway, working Americans may soon see a financial windfall, according to President Donald Trump.
“Tax Refunds this year, because of ‘THE GREAT BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL,’ are substantially greater than ever before,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
A study by Piper Sandler projects refunds could average about $1,000 higher than usual this year — with some taxpayers potentially seeing refunds of an extra $10,000 or more.
For many households, that raises an immediate question: What’s the smartest way to use a sudden cash infusion?
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News
A federal grand jury in Michigan has indicted a third defendant in an alleged forced labor scheme tied to the Kingdom of God Global Church — a ministry prosecutors say used coercion and threats of divine punishment to operate a multi-state call center that generated roughly $50 million over more than a decade.
Kathleen Klein, 53, known as “Prophetess,” joins David Taylor and Michelle Brannon, indicted in July 2025.
Klein is charged with conspiracy to commit forced labor. Taylor and Brannon face forced labor and money laundering conspiracy charges. All three deny the allegations.
Retirement
Billionaire investor Mark Cuban says Social Security is being weakened in ways that could leave seniors with less without officially reducing their benefits.
“The administration is removing phone support for Social Security recipients,” he warned last March. “[This is] making it more difficult for seniors to get their checks. It’s a back-door way to cut SS benefits.”
As the Social Security Administration prepares to route beneficiaries’ cases nationwide instead of through local offices, some fear delays, errors and a potential “shadow” cut to benefits.
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