Playwright And ‘Emily In Paris’ Actor Jeremy O. Harris Arrested In Japan For Alleged Drug Smuggling
Customs officers allegedly found 780 milligrams of Ecstasy, also known as MDMA, in his tote bag.
American playwright and actor Jeremy O. Harris, best known for his record-breaking Tony-nominated play “Slave Play,” was arrested for drug smuggling on Nov. 16, 2025, at Naha Airport in Okinawa, Japan, after customs officers allegedly found 780 milligrams of Ecstasy, also known as MDMA, in his tote bag. Harris, 36, had just arrived in Okinawa for sightseeing purposes from the United Kingdom via a layover in Taiwan.
Authorities in Japan immediately detained him on suspicion of violating the country’s strict Narcotics and Psychotropics Control Act. On Dec. 4, Okinawa customs officials filed a criminal complaint with the regional prosecutor’s office, marking the formal start of charging procedures, The Guardian reports.
As of now, he remains in custody at a police station in Tomigusuku City in southern Okinawa. Police have declined to confirm whether he has admitted to the allegations, and there is no public word on whether he has retained a lawyer. Japanese authorities said they did not find any other drugs in his luggage and believe the MDMA was for his personal use. Police are still investigating, according to Okinawa Regional Customs spokesperson Tatsunori Fukuda, The Associated Press reports.
Under Japanese law, even small amounts of illicit drugs can lead to serious consequences, potentially several years in prison if convicted.
Harris’s profile had soared in theatre and television. The 2019 production “Slave Play” was once the most Tony-nominated play in Broadway history. It received 10 nominations. Beyond the stage, he has expanded into television and film, appearing in the popular Netflix series “Emily in Paris,” Variety reports. He is also recognized for writing the 2020 film “Zola,” this year’s films “The True Beauty of Being Bitten by a Tick” and “Erupcja,” and for his role as a producer on the second season of HBO’s “Euphoria.” Harris most recently premiered his play “Spirit of the People” at the Williamstown Theatre Festival in Massachusetts in July.
2026 Housing Market Predictions, According To Redfin
U.S. homebuyers will start to get some relief in 2026. Next year will mark the beginning of a long, slow recovery for the housing market.
U.S. homebuyers will start to get some relief in 2026, with affordability improving as income growth outpaces home-price growth. Next year will mark the beginning of a long, slow recovery for the housing market.
“The Great Housing Reset” will take shape in 2026. It won’t be a quick price correction, and it won’t be a recession. Instead, the Great Housing Reset will be a yearslong period of gradual increases in home sales and normalization of prices as affordability gradually improves. It will start next year, with incomes rising faster than home prices for a prolonged period for the first time since the Great Recession era.
It won’t be enough to make homebuying affordable in the short run for Gen Zers and young families, who will be forced to make tradeoffs, from moving in with roommates or their parents to delaying having children. Politicians on both sides of the aisle will respond to the widespread housing affordability crisis, introducing policies to lower costs, including YIMBY measures and expanded manufactured housing. Some of those proposals will chip away at affordability, but they won’t be an instant fix.
Prediction 1: Mortgage Rates Will Dip to Low-6% Range, One Factor Improving Affordability
Mortgage rates will continue their slow slide but remain high relative to the pandemic era. The 30-year fixed rate will average 6.3% for the entire year, down from its 2025 average of 6.6%.
Redfin Real Estate
A weaker labor market will lead the Fed to cut interest rates in 2026 and bring monetary policy closer to neutral, which should keep mortgage rates in the low-6% range. But lingering inflation risk and the likelihood that we’ll avoid a recession will keep the Fed from cutting more than the markets have already priced in. That’s why rates may dip below 6% occasionally, but not for any meaningful period.
The Fed will change leadership in 2026, but that is also unlikely to bring significantly lower mortgage rates, as long-term rates—like mortgage rates—are set by bond markets.
Prediction 2: Homebuying Affordability Will Improve As Wages Grow Faster Than Prices
Redfin expects the median U.S. home-sale price to rise 1% year over year in 2026. Prices will tick up only marginally because still-high mortgage rates and prices, along with a weaker economy, will curb demand.
Homebuying will become more affordable because home prices will grow more slowly than wages for a sustained period for the first time since the aftermath of the financial crisis. The small price increase, combined with mortgage rates dipping below 2025 levels, means monthly housing payments will grow more slowly than wages, too.
Redfin Real Estate
Historically, slow demand has caused prices to fall. Redfin doesn’t expect that to happen in 2026 because sellers will pull back, too. That’s largely because many would-be home sellers have enough equity to avoid falling behind on their mortgage payments. Mortgage delinquency rates are low, and most homeowners will be able to wait until the housing market recovers further before listing their home.
In the past, the same economic forces limiting homebuying demand also forced many homeowners into distressed sales, but today’s homeowners tend to have good credit, a lot of equity, and low rates, putting less pressure on potential sellers than on buyers.
The improvement in affordability will be significant enough to lure back some house hunters, but homebuying will remain out of reach for a lot of sidelined buyers. Gen Zers and young families will feel the pinch of still-high costs, with many opting for nontraditional living arrangements to afford housing.
Prediction 3: Home Sales Will Rise 3%
Redfin predicts that sales of existing homes will end 2026 up 3% from 2025, with sales coming in at an annualized rate of 4.2 million.
Redfin Real Estate
Redfin expects a stronger spring homebuying season in 2026 because mortgage rates were sitting around 6.8% during the spring of 2025—meaningfully higher than the 6.3% rates we’re predicting this year.
Sales will increase only slightly because affordability will improve just enough to lure some on-the-fence buyers. Many house hunters will remain priced out and/or limited by a stalled labor market, including some Americans who have lost their jobs—or fear losing them—as AI takes a toll on the white-collar workforce.
Prediction 4: Rents Will Rise As Demand For Apartments Rises and Supply Falls
Demand for apartments will rise as supply falls in 2026, leading to rising rents in many metro areas. Nationwide, rents will increase about 2% to 3% year over year by the end of 2026, roughly the pace of inflation.
Apartment construction has slowed from its 2021-2022 surge and is expected to continue slowing, meaning fewer apartments are hitting the market, and there’s more competition for each one. At the same time, many Americans are renting instead of buying because down payments and monthly mortgage payments are expensive. However, in some areas, such as South Florida and Southern California, tightened immigration enforcement is likely to put a lid on rental-demand growth.
Prediction 5: High Housing Costs Will Reshape Households, With More Roommates and Fewer Babies
The improvement in affordability won’t be enough to immediately boost homeownership for young families. Gen Z and millennial homeownership rates flatlined last year, which will likely continue.
Household makeup will shift further away from the nuclear family, with more adult children living with their parents and vice versa. Redfin also expects more friends to pool resources to buy homes together, often with prenup-style agreements. The share of young adults living with their parents is down from its pandemic peak but remains historically high. Roughly 6% of Americans who struggled to afford housing as of mid-2025 moved in with their parents, and another 6% moved in with roommates; those shares will increase next year.
Redfin also expects high homebuying costs to make families smaller. The fertility rate has been gradually declining for years, and it’s expected to continue falling.
More families will renovate their homes to comfortably accommodate multiple generations. In a November Thumbtack survey of more than 100 home renovation professionals, multigenerational features, like separate suites for extended family, were the most commonly cited response when asked to predict the most popular design trend of 2026. Picture a garage that’s converted into a second primary suite for adult children moving back in with their parents. Redfin agents in places like Los Angeles and Nashville say more homeowners are planning to tailor their homes to share with extended family.
Prediction 6: Affordability Crisis Will Unite Policymakers Across Party Lines
Voters in the November election—especially young ones—made it clear that lowering housing costs is their top priority. Not only are sale prices and mortgage rates high, but the total cost of homeownership is rising due to skyrocketing insurance premiums and the likelihood that utility costs will surge due to large-scale AI-driven data centers.
President Donald Trump may declare a national housing emergency to help more Americans afford homes, and other politicians on both sides of the aisle will introduce more policies to help alleviate the housing affordability crisis. The Yes In My Backyard (YIMBY) movement will pick up more supporters across party lines, opening the door for initiatives that increase housing supply: A bipartisan congressional caucus has already proposed legislation, including the Yes in My Backyard Act, and the Build More Housing Near Transit Act is making its way through the government.
Other housing proposals will include zoning changes to make it easier to build accessory dwelling units and home additions. Redfin also expects more states to tackle the housing crisis plaguing their rural residents; some will mirror New York’s focus on building manufactured and modular homes in rural parts of the state.
Sensible policies may start to chip away at the housing affordability crisis, and quixotic proposals like the 50-year mortgage may capture the attention of politicians who want a quick housing fix. But the only thing that will make homes more affordable is time. Housing costs soared much faster than earnings during the pandemic, and while wages will start outpacing home prices next year, it will take about five years for the housing market to return to a semblance of normal.
Prediction 7: More Americans Will Refi and Remodel
Redfin expects U.S. mortgage refinance volume to increase more than 30% annually in 2026, ending the year at a total of $670 billion. More Americans will refinance largely because 20% of mortgaged homeowners have a rate above 6%, and those who bought recently with an elevated rate are chomping at the bit to bring their monthly payments down.
Redfin also anticipates more homeowners to tap home equity to fund renovations. Strong home-value appreciation over the last several years means many homeowners have sizable equity; the typical mortgaged homeowner had $181,000 in untapped equity as of mid-2025. That allows homeowners to take out a home equity line of credit or do a cash-out refinance to fund remodels. For many people, renovating their current home is more appealing and less costly than moving.
Prediction 8: NYC Outskirts, Great Lakes Region Will Be Hot … Zoom Towns Like Nashville and Austin Will Not
Areas close to New York City will attract people who need to commute to the office. The Midwest and Great Lakes regions have wide appeal because they’re fairly affordable and provide relatively safe havens against climate-related events like wildfires and floods. Small and midsized cities are luring recent graduates with affordable rents and opportunities to build stable careers in blue-collar fields, as AI replaces some entry-level white-collar jobs.
The housing markets most likely to heat up in 2026 are NYC suburbs (including Long Island, the Hudson Valley, Northern New Jersey, and Fairfield County, Connecticut), Syracuse, New York; Cleveland, Ohio; St. Louis, Missouri; Minneapolis, Minnesota; and Madison, Wisconsin.
On the flip side, homes will languish on the market in coastal Florida and throughout Texas due partly to natural disasters and surging insurance costs—and partly to pandemic-era remote workers moving back to where their office is located. People who need to sell may be forced to take a loss.
The housing markets most likely to cool in 2026 are Nashville, Tennessee; San Antonio and Austin, Texas; and Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, and Miami, Florida.
Prediction 9: Climate Migration Will Go Hyperlocal
As climate-driven events like hurricanes and wildfires become more frequent and intense, climate will become a more popular reason to move. But people won’t necessarily make big moves, like from coastal Florida to the Midwest.
Instead, Redfin expects some people living in especially vulnerable neighborhoods to move to less vulnerable parts of the same metro area. For example, Los Angeles Redfin agents say some people plan to leave places like the hills surrounding Malibu or the Pacific Palisades (or not return to places like the Palisades and Altadena after the 2025 wildfires) in favor of flat coastal neighborhoods like Santa Monica or Long Beach. That way, they can keep their job and lifestyle but live in a less vulnerable home. Many people are also shying away from building, buying, and hanging onto homes in climate-risky neighborhoods because insurance costs are sky-high.
This local climate migration could exacerbate inequality. People who can’t afford to leave a vulnerable place like Altadena will be left behind, with a lower local tax base for making climate-resilient investments in the future.
Prediction 10: NAR Will Let Local MLSs Call the Shots, Sparking Consolidation
It’s time-consuming, confusing, and inconsistent for the National Association of Realtors (NAR) to write rules for 500 local multiple listing services (MLSs). NAR will step out of the role of industry rule maker and let local branches create rules about how homes are listed in their markets, something that has already started happening.
NAR, for its part, will focus on advocacy. Putting local MLSs in the driver’s seat will accelerate consolidation with many smaller branches joining bigger networks. This creation of larger, regional MLSs will bring clearer rules, faster innovation, cleaner data, and better experiences for real estate brokers, home sellers, and homebuyers.
Prediction 11: AI Will Become a Real Estate Matchmaker
Generative AI will increasingly help people decide where to move, identifying cities, towns, neighborhoods, and homes that fit users’ budgets and lifestyle criteria. Instead of a typical geographic search, homebuyers will search for precisely what they want and have a back-and-forth conversation with search sites, giving feedback to tailor their search results.
These tools will allow house hunters to find homes with niche features. For instance, Redfin agents expect wellness features to become a defining feature of next year’s high-end housing market; generative AI will help luxury house hunters find homes equipped with advanced air-filtration systems, whole-house water purification, and amenities like meditation rooms and cold-plunge pools.
AI will transform the real estate profession, too, by powering tools that help real estate agents pinpoint the right moment to connect with a customer—and the perfect home to recommend based on the buyer’s preferences.
Russell Wilson And Ciara List Their Massive $54.9M California Estate, With A Football Field And Recording Studio
If they land a buyer at that price, it would become the most expensive home ever sold in the area.
NFL quarterback Russell Wilson and his R&B recording artist wife, Ciara, have recently listed their California home for $54.9 million.
According to Realtor, the property, which sits atop 9 acres in Rancho Santa Fe, California, has been put up for sale and is listed by Brian Guiltinan of The Guiltinan Group. Based on the asking price, if the couple can get that amount, it would be the highest price a house in that area has sold for. A beachfront compound in the area recently sold for $50 million.
When the Wilsons purchased the estate in 2021, they paid $14.5 million; therefore, the profit they would realize would be almost four times that amount.
The house is located within a small gated community near the Del Mar Country Club. After purchasing the home, the football player had a large equestrian arena on the property converted into a football field. He and his teammates have used it to practice when not at the stadium.
The 30,000-square-foot property is affectionately known as Amor Estate. Amenities for the house include a professional recording studio, where, of course, his wife surely used for her line of work. There is a fitness center with an included sauna and a cold plunge with spa facilities: a club-style game room and a billiards lounge with a full bar. The house has a fireplace and a glam room with a walk-in closet with glass doors.
There is an outdoor pool, a waterslide, a pizza oven, a game pavilion with a candy bar, and a sports court. Guests could make themselves comfortable in the two-bedroom guesthouse, and a 10-car garage was on site.
The couple no longer resides at the residence, as the family moved to the East Coast when Wilson signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers last year. They stayed east when the quarterback signed with the New York Giants this season.
Gauff earned $31 million—$23 million of which came off the court through partnerships with brands like New Balance, Baker Tilly, Bose, Head, Rolex, Mercedes-Benz, and Chase Bank.
She launched Coco Gauff Enterprises in April with talent firm WME to manage her career, following seven years with Roger Federer’s Team8 agency.
WME holds no ownership stake in the business.
Gauff’s ranking, ahead of fellow WTA top-three players Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek, underscores tennis as the only major professional sport where women’s pay closely rivals men’s.
While WTA Tour prize money generally lags behind the ATP, earnings are equal at Grand Slams and Masters 1000 events. Off the court, six women earned $10 million or more from sponsorships, compared with four active men. Tennis players also dominated Sportico’s overall list of 15 highest-paid athletes, with only five coming from other sports.
Other notable mentions include Naomi Osaka, who pulled in $12.5 million in combined salary, prize money, and endorsements, with her prize winnings placing her ahead of Simone Biles, who earned $11 million from endorsements, and Venus Williams at $10 million in endorsements and $219,000 in salary and prize winnings.
Osaka climbed from No. 59 to No. 16 in the WTA rankings in 2025, bouncing back after a quiet 2024 following the birth of her daughter. Her rise included a run to the U.S. Open semifinals. Williams only competed in three events in 2025, but won her first singles match since 2023 and reached the U.S. Open doubles quarterfinals, boosting her prize money to its highest level since 2021.
Olympic champion Biles, still on a break from competitive gymnastics, recently released her fifth Athleta collection and endorses brands including Audemars Piguet, Lilly, and Nulo Pet Food. Her Netflix documentary, Simone Biles Rising, earned an Emmy, and she is partnering with Playmakers Group to launch a new restaurant, Taste of Gold, in her hometown of Houston.
Shop These Black-Owned Fitness And Tech Gems To Gift For The Holiday
BLACK ENTERPRISE Kicks Off ‘12 Days Of Christmas’ Gifts
Black-owned brands need support during the holiday gifting season and beyond to sustain economic growth. BLACK ENTERPRISE’s Black-Owned Holiday Gift Guide presents 10 exceptional companies, on day five, who transform fashion, wellness, audio,and athletic performance through their storytelling, craftsmanship, and purposeful approaches. The global streetwear labels that reimagine retail join tech-forward audio brands which are designed by experts.
Daily Paper
The global fashion label Daily Paper combines African heritage with streetwear elements. The three childhood friends Hussein Suleiman, Jefferson Osei, and Abderrahmane Trabsini, transformed their 2008 creative blog into the Daily Paper brand in 2012. The brand operates globally with a main retail store in the United States and sells products worldwide. The brand provides ready-to-wear collections alongside capsule collections and accessories which showcase African patterns and diaspora narratives. A Daily Paper piece serves as a wearable statement piece with cultural significance that makes an ideal gift for people who appreciate heritage-driven fashion.
The designer watch company SPGBK produces HBCU-inspired watches that feature vibrant colors and bold accessible designs along with collegiate color schemes. The company sells affordable analog and digital watches that feature silicone straps and playful designs. SPGBK has maintained active operations through seasonal releases and special edition school-themed colorways during recent years. SPGBK operates from the U.S. with a North Carolina location while distributing products through online platforms and retail partners. The watches from SPGBK represent an affordable yet stylish choice for graduates, alumni or anyone looking for a playful watch that expresses their identity.
Therabody was established by Dr. Jason Wersland to provide percussive massage guns, recovery technology, and wellness devices which aid in pain relief and performance and self-care. The company started its operations in 2008 before changing its name to Therabody and expanding into a worldwide wellness leader during the 2010s. The U.S.-based company distributes internationally and makes a useful present for athletes and busy professionals who focus on recovery and self-care.
Eastside Golf, a culture-forward golf lifestyle brand, modernizes the sport by blending golf experience and cultural storytelling. The brand, established in 2019, sells streetwear-influenced golf apparel and lifestyle accessories such as polos, hoodies, hats, and accessories. Eastside Golf achieved major cultural prominence by securing athlete and celebrity endorsements along with retail collaborations. Through its nationwide retail locations and recent expansion into airport and physical stores, the brand delivers representation and style both on and off the course to golfers and culture-first dressers.
Blackstock & Weber is a Brooklyn-based label which designer Chris Echevarria founded to make classic men’s footwear with contemporary design elements. Their handcrafted loafers, which include penny, horse-bit and tassel options, combine traditional shoemaking techniques with contemporary design elements. Blackstock & Weber started their journey in the late 2010s to redefine the loafer market. Their Brooklyn-based brand creates durable, fashionable shoes that have a timeless look, which makes them ideal for gift recipients who value quality and sartorial detail.
Powerhandz is an athletic training gear company that was started by Darnell and Danyel Surrency Jones to help multi-sport athletes improve their hand strength and athletic performance. The company sells patented weighted training gloves along with accessories that enhance hand and arm strength, together with speed and coordination. The company operates from the Dallas area while distributing its products worldwide through sports retailers.
BLKBox Fitness, based in the UK, produces gym equipment and fitness products which they market through their commercial and home gym equipment range that includes racks, bars, plates, benches, and accessories. BLKBox gear is a useful gift for home gym builders or serious lifters, but check regional shipping and warranty details before making a purchase.
Soul Nation (SOUL) is as a premium audio brand which partners with artists to create performance-focused designs. Its product range includes true wireless earbuds and headphones that deliver strong bass performance, together with clear sound and extended battery duration, across different model levels. Throughout the 2010s and 2020s, Soul Nation grew its product range and artist partnerships while distributing its models through retail stores and online platforms. The brand caters to listeners who value bass strength and extended battery performance; therefore, it makes a dope gift for people who commute and exercise.
Savant Studios is a creative label and space in Brooklyn where community events are organized and streetwear is sold along with lifestyle pieces. Local designers and artists created the space to serve as a central hub for both local culture and limited-edition streetwear. Savant creates collectible wearable items and cultural gifts, which attract people who appreciate local culture together with limited-edition streetwear.
Dr. Lana “Dr. J” Joseph established JRUMZ as an audio company which produces ear wear designed by audiologists. The brand markets its noise-canceling and high-clarity earbuds and headphones based on their sound quality and hearing health benefits. Through a range of product launches, JRUMZ has established itself as a Black woman-owned audio company in recent years. The U.S.-based brand sells products through online platforms and has established retail partnerships. The JRUMZ brand provides a considerate gift option for audiophiles and performers who want professional-grade sound design.
On Oct. 28, Biles joined seven other women in Madrid to receive an “Icon” award at the Harper’s Bazaar Women of the Year 2025 ceremony.
Biles, 28, was honored not just for her athletic dominance but for her impact as a global advocate for mental health and authenticity.
The awards specifically recognize exceptional women who have inspired younger generations and left indelible marks on their respective fields, transforming their achievements into powerful messages of hope and societal change.
The theme of the evening centered on celebrating women who have turned their dreams into reality, affirming a commitment to the values that drive the pursuit of a more just and inclusive future, Harper’s Bazaar Spain reported.
On Instagram, Biles shared photos from the gala. Dressed in a white sparkling evening gown, she captioned the image “a night celebrating women.”
Biles first captured international attention at the 2016 Rio Olympics, where she secured four gold medals and one bronze. She is now the most decorated gymnast of all time, winning a total of 11 Olympic medals as well as multiple national and world honors. However, her influence now stretches far beyond the confines of the gymnastics mat.
Biles has revolutionized the sport through an athletic perspective and a social one. Her openness regarding her personal struggles and decision to prioritize her well-being during international competition offered a new understanding of strength, one that embraces vulnerability.
The ‘Icon’ award recognizes Biles as a woman who transcends borders, emphasizes that her excellence goes beyond her indisputable athletic greatness.
But even though it may feel like a chore, the end of the year is precisely the right moment to consider your money.
It’s hard to believe, but 2025 is racing to a close already. That means people are already daydreaming about holidays, travel, and gifts — and probably not about more uncomfortable things, like money.
But even though it may feel like a chore, the end of the year is precisely the right moment to consider your money. Where did you get off track in the last year? What can you do better, and what steps can you take to get there?
Whether you are looking to deal with last year’s debt, rebalance your portfolio, or make your cash work harder for you, or implement tax-savvy moves before the year winds up, an annual review can help you chart a much better course for 2026.
“As the year winds down, it’s the perfect time for a financial tune-up,” Nathan Sebesta, a financial planner with Access Wealth Strategies in Artesia, N.M., tells Current, a consumer fintech banking platform. “A strong cash position and balanced portfolio will help you start 2026 with clarity and confidence.”
So what are some smart money moves to help get next year started on the right foot? A few ideas:
Contribute to your IRA. Current annual contribution limits for these retirement accounts are $7,000 or $8,000 for those aged 50 and over. So if you are able, max out those limits and book it for the 2025 tax year. The same goes for your 401(k) or 403(b): Annual limits are $23,500, with a $7,500 catch-up provision for those over 50, so put away as much as you are able (at the very least, taking advantage of your employer’s matching funds).
Make your charity count. This is the time of year when people donate to the causes they care most about. If you do it by Dec. 31, you can enjoy the deductions when tax time rolls around in April. And here’s a new wrinkle: “The biggest item I’m discussing with my clients is that charitable contributions are probably worth more this year than next year, based on changes in the tax code,” says Mitchell Kraus, a financial planner at Capital Intelligence Associates. “I’m encouraging clients to set up Donor Advised Funds.” These are vehicles that let you take an immediate tax deduction, invest those funds for growth, and then make grants over time on a schedule of your choosing.
Tap your Flexible Spending Account. If you have put money into an FSA account—perhaps to cover out-of-pocket medical costs, for instance— the rules are often “use it or lose it,” meaning you have to spend it by the end of the year or forfeit it altogether. So make sure to do so on any number of items, such as deductibles, copayments, prescriptions, or eyeglasses.
Review your cash. When you have cash sitting in your portfolio—whether it’s your emergency savings or it’s meant for a specific goal like a down payment on a home—there’s no reason for it to be earning nothing, as is often the case with big banks. “Revisit your cash reserves,” suggests Sebesta. “Make sure your emergency fund is fully funded and earning a competitive yield in a high-interest savings account.” By doing so, you could easily start generating returns of 4% or even more, without taking on the risk of more volatile asset classes.
Rebalance. Whatever your target portfolio allocation is, you have probably strayed from that over the course of the year. So it’s a good time to get back on track with the proportions of stocks, bonds, cash, or alternatives that make sense for you. While you’re at it, don’t forget tax-loss harvesting: If you’re looking to sell disappointing stocks, book that loss by the end of the year to offset up to $3,000 of ordinary income.
Be smart about gifting. If you’re in a position to be generous with your money — to an adult child or grandkid, for instance — you might as well get the most out of it yourself. Right now, the 2025 limit, before gift taxes take effect, is $19,000.
“If utilizing the annual gift tax exclusion, complete the gift by year-end,” advises Kevin McLoughlin, a financial planner with Trio Wealth Management in Great Falls, Va. In a similar way, when it comes to college savings, “Make 529 contributions by year-end to take advantage of state tax deductions,” he says.
Trim spending plans. As enjoyable as the holidays are, it’s also the time of year when people tend to dig themselves a big financial hole. According to one survey from the financial site NerdWallet, 31% of people still haven’t paid off their credit card balances from last year’s holidays.
So be proactive and avoid loading up on debt to start 2026. That might mean staying close to home instead of taking a lavish trip, or limiting the dollar amount on gifts between friends and family, or using a year-end bonus for something smart like trimming high-interest debt. If your credit could use a bump, consider using a secured charge card for your holiday purchases, which can help you build your credit history as you spend without taking on debt, as you can only spend the amount of money available in your account.
Take all of these steps, and instead of being weighed down by the missteps of 2025, you can enter 2026 with that most valuable of gifts: A financial head start.
Trump Administration Eliminates Prison Standards That Protect Transgender Inmates
Data from the National Institutes of Health reveal that physical and sexual assault are a part of the prison experience. Approximately 21% of male inmates are physically assaulted during a six-month period.
The Trump administration is eliminating prison standards to protect transgender, intersex, and gender-nonconforming inmates. The Department of Justice (DOJ) has instructed inspectors to forgo the standards that aim to protect inmates from sexual violence, according to an internal memo first reported by NPR.
The memo comes as the DOJ works on revising federal standards related to the 2003 Rape Elimination Act to align with President Donald Trump’s executive order on “gender ideology extremism.” The executive order only recognizes two sexes: male and female.
On Sept. 4, 2003, President George W. Bush signed the PREA law into effect to eradicate prisoner rape in correctional facilities nationwide. As a result of PREA, the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) established the Protecting Inmates and Safeguarding Communities Program in 2004. Funding allowed states to support the efforts in preventing and eliminating prisoner rape between inmates in state and local prisons, jails, and police lockup facilities.
Sexual Violence Inside Prisons
Data from the National Institutes of Health reveal that physical and sexual assault are a part of the prison experience. Approximately 21% of male inmates are physically assaulted during six months.
Inmates who identify as transgender, intersex, or gender-nonconforming are uniquely vulnerable to sexual violence, according to the internal memo.
This latest move from the Trump administration peels back another layer of protection for the LGBTQ+ community, particularly those who identify as transgender. In a series of executive orders signed in his first few days in office, Trump eliminated a long-standing federal policy that allowed for incarcerated trans women to be housed in facilities that aligned with their gender identity. He also signed an executive order that banned transgender troops from serving openly in the military.
As a result, the Trump administration rescinded the retirements of United States Air Force and Space Force members who had earned the right after over 15 years of service. Seventeen transgender servicemembers fileda lawsuit, Ireland v. United States, against the Trump administration to receive the benefits they earned.
Williams said his frustration was explicitly aimed at the immediate drying up of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) funding following changes in policy and a shift in the political climate.
He made the clarification while accepting the Shoe of the Year award at the 2025 Footwear News Achievement Awards in New York City on Wednesday, Dec. 3.
He acknowledged that his initial remarks could be easily condensed into a negative soundbite, but he refuted any suggestion that he plans to cease his efforts toward systemic change.
“That’s where the soundbite of me saying I hate politics [came from],” he said in a video from the event. “Which was in response to the DEI support and donations drying up because of new policies.
“So yes, I got frustrated. And the soundbiters, they caught me lacking. But sound bite this…I will never stop fighting. I will never stop raising money to help level the playing field. Never.”
Pharrell Williams responds to the recent controversy surrounding his political comments while accepting the 2025 FNAA 'Shoe Of The Year' award:
“Sound bite this. Since most people don’t like to read or do research anymore, sound bite this. God is the greatest. Sound bite this.… pic.twitter.com/llDF3dK4Sh
Furthermore, the creative director of Louis Vuitton spoke of his humble beginnings in Virginia. “You don’t know what I know and you ain’t seen what I saw. No, you ain’t been where I go. I’m from the mud.”
In his speech, Williams continued with personal stories of his family enduring multiple evictions, utility shut-offs, and having to pump water as a child. He gave his ancestors who arrived in Virginia as enslaved captives their due. He noted the perseverance required to stay on their feet without even having shoes.
“I’m proletariat,” he continued. “In fact, I’m lumpenproletariat. Sound bite this. I had to stay on my feet.”
The fashion icon stressed that his deep connection to the working class and the struggles of Black folks means he is committed to sustained advocacy, regardless of the political environment.
Ray J had a not-so-great November. The R&B singer was arrested on a charge of making a criminal threat days after he was hit with a lawsuit by American Express.
According to US Weekly, the finance company filed paperwork stating that the entrepreneur and his company, Tronix Network, breached a contract by owing American Express $139,849.85.
In the lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles Superior Court on Nov. 19, the credit card company accused the “I Hit it First” recording artist of failing to make payments on his American Express account since May.
The Tronix Network is a streaming platform Ray J launched in 2024. He said he sold his shares in Raycom Global to fund it.
On Nov. 27, he was arrested after a domestic dispute involving his estranged wife, Princess Love, with reports that he was possibly armed with a handgun during an Instagram livestream.
But that’s not all. He also chastised Beyoncé and Jay-Z, who have apparently attended multiple shows during Brandy’s joint tour with Monica, on social media earlier this month. (Brandy, of course, is Ray J’s sister.)
“N**gas need to pull up when they come to the show,” he said, according to Billboard. “Come say what’s up to Brandy too, Jay-Z and Beyoncé. We big fans, we got our family there and we know y’all there and we love y’all and we look up to y’all.”
He added, “For y’all to come to every one of Brandy and Monica’s shows and never say what’s up to B and take all the pictures, I don’t like it.”
Ray J clarified that he was speaking for himself, not for his sister or his family.
