NEWS - SUNDAY, MAY 03, 2026 - NEWS
A legal deadline for congressional authorization threatens to increase pressure on the administration — and underscore lagging support for the unpopular war. LA Times
VOA VIEW: Iran is heading for their own distruction.
The Department of Defense said agreements with eight companies would help establish the 'United States military as an AI-first fighting force.' LA Times
California Congressional District 45 race: Democrat Derek Tran, who won by just over 600 votes in 2024, faces five Republican challengers to represent this Orange County district. LA Times
VOA VIEW: Tran should lose.
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Russia has made a breakthrough on an anti-aging vaccine that slows cellular aging by blocking a RAGE receptor that triggers cellular aging. New York Post
The Persian Gulf countries and Israel have faced repeated Iranian attacks during the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran. The State Department move bypassed congressional review. New York Times
VOA VIEW: Helping your friends,
The president’s push to punish political enemies in his own party will play a starring role in a series of Republican primaries this month in which he has backed challengers. New York Times
VOA VIEW: We will see the results.
Sen. John Fetterman sounded the alarm Friday about the leftward drift of his own party, warning that a "small Communist takeover" is underway in Maine as Graham Platner closes in on the Democratic Senate nomination. Washington Times
VOA VIEW: Communists do not belong in US.
Nebraska became the first U.S. state to impose Medicaid work requirements eight months before the deadline set in the GOP's One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Washington Times
Have tickets to fly on Spirit? Here's what to know about refunds and alternative flights as the budget airline ceases operations. CBS
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Air traffic control audio records showed the exchanges between controllers and the pilots of some of Spirit Airlines' final flights CBS
The Republican governors of Tennessee and Alabama called state lawmakers into special sessions on Friday, initial steps in what could be a scramble to redraw congressional maps after the Supreme Court narrowed the Voting Rights Act. CBS
President Trump on Friday told Congress that hostilities with Iran have "terminated," addressing a critical 60-day deadline. CBS
VOA VIEW: It is not true.
Ford CEO Jim Farley tells CBS News, "Most of our new models are going to be more affordable versions." CBS
VOA VIEW: Time will tell.
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Since 2021, the share of U.S.-based employees who have left their jobs to work in another country has more than doubled. CBS
VOA VIEW: Not a smart move.
The average cost of a new car is about 30% more expensive than 2019, data shows. Ford CEO Jim Farley spoke with "CBS Saturday Morning" about how the car company is tackling affordability amid economic uncertainty and rising gas prices. CBS
It could be risky to delay buying plane tickets and hoping fares will drop, according to travel experts. CNBC
VOA VIEW: It would be foolish to buy today for tomorrow.
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Elon Musk, the world's richest person, took the stand and testified over the course of three days in his trial against OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. CNBC
The U.S.-Iran war and Strait of Hormuz closure have caused a global economic ripple effect, your credit score included as banks and lenders get tighter. CNBC
It seemed like what really captivated Wall Street though was corporate earnings. CNBC
The Supreme Court struck down Trump's "reciprocal" tariffs earlier this year, and Europe warned that its trade deal with Washington could be in jeopardy. CNBC
Supercar engines rely on base oils because they can withstand extreme heat, high revs and intense pressure. CNBC
VOA VIEW: Very small effect.
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Trump's executive order created a new way for Americans to save for retirement and called on Congress to expand the parameters of the deal. CNBC
VOA VIEW: It would be good if it happens.
While Democrats are favored to flip control of the House of Representatives, the upper chamber is a much closer race, traders believe. CNBC
VOA VIEW: The GOP must prevail.
When the Fed gathers again, it will mark the first time a sitting and former chair conduct business together in nearly 80 years. CNBC
VOA VIEW: He must be ousted.
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The U.K. is now running a trade deficit with its largest trading partner. CNBC
VOA VIEW: UK is not acting like a good partner,
The DOD announced it has entered into agreements with seven other AI companies. CNBC
A federal grand jury indicted an illegal immigrant from El Salvador on assault charges after he allegedly rammed his car into ICE agents in California. FOX News
VOA VIEW: All illegals should be banned.
Charles Lieber, a convicted former Harvard scientist, has rebuilt his brain-computer interface lab in Shenzhen, China, according to Reuters. FOX News
Twenty-five years after intern Chandra Levy disappeared in Washington, D.C., a former detective says investigative failures left the case unsolved. FOX News
n Iranian general said more fighting with the United States is "possible" after President Donald Trump rejected the most recent peace plan. UPI
VOA VIEW: Iran is in no poison to dictate terms,
The Pentagon announced Friday that the U.S. would draw down 5,000 troops from Germany. Germany said Saturday it wasn't surprised by the move. UPI
Former U.S. Rep. David Rivera, R-Fla., was found guilty of being paid to secretly lobby elected U.S. officials to ease sanctions against Venezuela. UPI
VOA VIEW: He should receive a heavy sentence,
More than 73% of people eligible for South Korea's first round of high oil price relief payments have applied, government data showed Friday. UPI
Former U.S. Six-Party Talks envoy Joseph DeTrani said N. Korean leader Kim Jong Un still wants to normalize relations with the United States. UPI
VOA VIEW: Un cannot be trusted.
N. Korea has transferred missile technology to Iran over more than 40 years, from early Scud missile supplies to intercontinental ballistic missiles. UPI
VOA VIEW: As stated, no trust.
South Korea's exports rose 48% from a year earlier in April, staying above $80 billion for the second consecutive month, government data showed. UPI
Fuel surcharges on airline tickets issued in South Korea nearly doubled Friday as carriers respond to sharp rise in oil prices driven by the tensions. UPI
South Korean police have taken custody of a man suspected of supplying drugs to a major narcotics figure, following his arrest in Thailand. UPI
The Pentagon announced Friday that it has reached deals with eight artificial intelligence companies to deploy their software department-wide. UPI
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Fannie Mae will now accept crypto-backed mortgages via a new product by mortgage company Better Home a Finance and Coinbase. Fannie Mae will now accept crypto-backed mortgages via a new product by mortgage company. A questionable issue.
It’s not the first crypto backed mortgage, but it is the first accepted by Fannie Mae, which is under government conservatorship. The offering allows homebuyers to use their crypto assets as collateral. Fannie Mae will purchase those loans just like any other conforming mortgage.
“We ha ve now finally created the infrastructure rails to enable any tokenized asset in America to be able to be pledged to help someone afford to buy a home,” Vishal Garg, CEO of Better, told CNBC in an interview. “It starts with bitcoin, starts with [USD Coin], but going forward, it can be Apple stock or Amazon stock, or any publicly traded mutual fund, bond fund, something that you might hold in your IRA, you’re going to be able to pledge that to buy a home.”
The idea is to serve Americans who have enough crypto assets to fund a mortgage down payment but do not want to sell those assets, which would both incur taxes and forfeit any future appreciation. The new mortgage product allows them to keep the cryptocurrency and still secure home financing.
“Token-backed mortgages are a major first step to unlocking homeownership for the younger generations that have struggled with barriers to saving for a traditional down payment,” said Max Branzburg, head of consumer and business products at Coinbase, in a release. To use the product, a borrower must have a Coinbase account and would take out a regular mortgage with Better as well as a second loan, backed by either bitcoin or USD Coin. The second loan would fund the down payment on the first loan.
Both loans are held by Better, and the crypto assets, once pledged, cannot be traded. Even if the value of the crypto falls, nothing changes on the loans, as long as the borrower keeps making the monthly payments. As an example, on a $500,000 home, a borrower can pledge $250,000 in bitcoin and get a $100,000 loan to cover the cash down payment. The crypto stays in custody in Better’s Coinbase Prime account for the life of the loan and is returned once the loan is repaid.
