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- The Cynic: August 24
The Cynic: August 24
The Cynic
August 24, 2025
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BUSINESS
This Week’s Business News
Canada’s removing a bunch of tariffs on U.S. goods—because trade wars are exhausting.
Getty Images
Finance Minister Mark Carney said Canada will lift many retaliatory tariffs on U.S. imports, signaling a rare moment of sanity in cross-border relations. Why now? Because the global economy looks like it’s been on a 3-day bender and no one wants another headache.
The move comes amid ongoing talks between the two countries over EVs, digital taxes, and who gets to be more passive-aggressive in official statements.
Carney framed it as “de-escalation.” Translation: “We’d like to stop burning each other’s exports for sport.”
India says U.S. trade talks are still ongoing—but those new tariffs are breathing down everyone's neck.
MarketWatch | iStockphoto
SpaceX is planning its tenth flight test of the same upper-stage Starship vehicle, marking a new milestone in reusability. NASA’s watching closely, and the Pentagon is definitely lurking in the group chat.
The goal? Make space launches more like UPS and less like a one-way Viking funeral. This would dramatically cut costs and, let’s be honest, look cool in a Super Bowl ad.
Critics worry about safety, but Elon’s betting that if Teslas can drive themselves into mailboxes, rockets can survive ten trips through hell.
SpaceX is about to fly the same Starship rocket for the tenth time—because Elon's tired of building new toys.
Courtesy of A Nueva York
SpaceX is planning its tenth flight test of the same upper-stage Starship vehicle, marking a new milestone in reusability. NASA’s watching closely, and the Pentagon is definitely lurking in the group chat.
The goal? Make space launches more like UPS and less like a one-way Viking funeral. This would dramatically cut costs and, let’s be honest, look cool in a Super Bowl ad.
Critics worry about safety, but Elon’s betting that if Teslas can drive themselves into mailboxes, rockets can survive ten trips through hell.
REAL ESTATE
This Week’s Real Estate News
Rate cuts might be coming, and suddenly refinancing is sexy again.
CNBC
With inflation cooling and the Fed hinting at future cuts, mortgage holders are licking their lips at the idea of 5% rates again—like it’s 2021 and crypto hasn't betrayed them yet.
Refinance applications already spiked 15% in anticipation, which is wild considering rates are still above 6.8%. Apparently hope is more powerful than APR.
Experts warn not to jump the gun, but for millions of Americans staring at 7.25% mortgages, hope is the plan.
Trump says he’d fire Fed Chair Powell—and Lisa Cook, too—if reelected.
Courtesy of Chesney Morales Partners
In a CNBC interview, Trump said he'd replace Powell, calling him “not good,” and said the same for Fed Governor Lisa Cook. No word on who he’d appoint next, but odds are it’ll be someone who thinks interest rates are a deep state plot.
This isn't the first time Trump’s clashed with Powell—but it’s the most direct threat since Powell’s reappointment. Cook, meanwhile, was singled out for “doing nothing,” which might be the new GOP insult of choice.
Markets shrugged, because firing Fed chairs is complicated. But if anyone’s willing to try it live on Truth Social, you already know who.
The Great Wealth Transfer is happening—and real estate is the crown jewel.
Realty News Report
As Boomers pass down trillions in assets, real estate is at the center of the inheritance tsunami. We’re talking beachfront homes, rental empires, and that one duplex nobody’s visited since 2009.
It’s not just rich families, either—middle-class homeowners are now passing down six-figure properties, and suddenly Thanksgiving dinner includes a conversation about 1031 exchanges.
The result? Younger generations might not own homes because they bought them—but because Grandma had a paid-off ranch house in Tampa.
‘‘Like espresso for the news—strong, a little bitter, and guaranteed to make you feel something.’’
FUN
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ADVICE
This Week’s Business Advice
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This Week’s Partner
Former Zillow exec targets $1.3T market
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