| Good morning, it is Thursday, August 15, and we're covering the price negotiation of important medication that makes them cheaper, a possible ban on food price gouging, ChatGPT introduces "voice mode" & much more!! First time reading? Sign up here. | | American Fact of the Day! | On August 15, 1975, the first episode of "Saturday Night Live" (SNL) premiered on NBC. Created by Lorne Michaels, this groundbreaking sketch comedy show introduced audiences to a new format of live, late-night television, featuring a mix of comedy sketches, musical performances, and guest hosts. It has since become a major influence on comedy and pop culture. | | Breaking Updates | | Price Negotiations Slash Costs for Diabetes, Heart Disease, and Blood Cancer Medications | The Biden administration has announced significant cost savings for Medicare recipients, projected to amount to approximately $1.5 billion in out-of-pocket expenses by 2026. This reduction comes as a result of new pricing agreements negotiated with pharmaceutical companies for medications used to treat conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, and arthritis. These negotiations aim to lower the costs of drugs, though the final savings figures are based on the negotiated prices before any additional discounts or rebates. | The new prices reflect substantial reductions across a range of medications. For instance, Januvia, a diabetes drug, will see a price cut of 79%, bringing the cost to $113 per 30-day supply. Other diabetes medications, like those from Novo Nordisk, will be reduced by up to 76%, with a new price of $119 for a 30-day supply. Meanwhile, drugs for chronic conditions like heart failure and chronic kidney disease will also experience significant price reductions, though the percentage savings vary. | Among the notable medications, Imbruvica, used for treating blood cancers, will have a negotiated price of $9,319 per 30-day supply, marking a 38% reduction. Other high-cost drugs include Stelara, for various inflammatory conditions, which will be priced at $4,695 with a 66% reduction. This price adjustment reflects the administration's efforts to make essential medications more affordable for Medicare beneficiaries, thereby easing the financial burden of managing chronic and severe health conditions. | Read More Here |
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| | Vice President Kamala Harris is set to outline her economic vision in a speech on Friday in Raleigh, NC, where she will advocate for a federal ban on food price gouging and criticize corporate mergers that could lead to higher grocery prices. This address marks her detailed entry into economic policy discussions since launching her presidential campaign. Harris aims to target swing state voters by addressing the rising cost of groceries and holding companies accountable for inflation. | In her upcoming speech, Harris will also propose new regulatory measures, including enhanced authorities for the Federal Trade Commission and state attorneys general to enforce her proposed ban and impose penalties on corporations that violate these rules. The speech will highlight her past experiences as California Attorney General, where she took on large corporations over issues like high prices, and reflect her broader focus on consumer protection and fair pricing. | The Vice President's address is expected to include additional proposals on prescription drug and housing costs. While former President Donald Trump has dismissed her plan as a rehash of his own ideas, Harris will continue to build on her campaign's economic platform. She is likely to emphasize her commitment to reducing living costs and improving financial security for American families, as she prepares for the Democratic National Convention and seeks to strengthen her position in the presidential race. | Read more updates here | | | American Sports & Culture |  | Where do Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese rank in our top 25 WNBA players at midseason? | A'ja Wilson still reigns supreme at the top, but where did rookies Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese land? |
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|  | USMNT reportedly hiring Mauricio Pochettino as next head coach ahead of 2026 World Cup | Mauricio Pochettino will replace Gregg Berhalter, who was fired after the USMNT's Copa América exit last month. |
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|  | Fantasy Football: Top WR sleepers, breakout candidates for 2024 | Find some of the best wide receiver values in your 2024 fantasy football drafts with these five sleepers from analyst Andy Behrens. |
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| American Business & Markets |  | ChatGPT is getting chattier with 'advanced voice mode' | OpenAI stunned users when it demonstrated an updated voice mode for the most advanced version of ChatGPT earlier this year. |
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|  | Americans are still shopping. They're just going to Walmart | Americans are cutting back – from Disney parks to Big Macs to Starbucks coffee. But they keep shopping at Walmart. |
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|  | Retail sales soar past Wall Street estimates in July | Thursday's retail sales report comes as markets are increasingly focused on data amid growing concerns about the health of the US economy. |
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| | American Politics |  | Vance and Walz set for vice presidential debate on October 1 | Republican vice presidential nominee JD Vance and his Democratic counterpart, Tim Walz, are set to participate in a debate hosted by CBS on October 1 after the Ohio senator accepted the invitation Thursday, a day after the Minnesota governor did the same. |
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|  | NJ governor intends to appoint his former chief of staff to replace Menendez in Senate | New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy intends to appoint George Helmy, his former chief of staff, to the US Senate, a source familiar with the decision told CNN. |
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|  | Second US judge blocks FTC ban on worker 'noncompete' agreements | (Reuters) -A federal judge in Florida has temporarily blocked a U.S. Federal Trade Commission rule that would ban agreements commonly signed by workers not to join their employers' rivals or launch competing businesses, becoming the second judge to rule that the ban is likely invalid. |
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