IJR News

Starbucks plans to close 250 North American stores in turnaround — 1dStarbucks will close about 250 North American stores and take about $300 million in charges as part of its turnaround.

Elena Vasquez It's encouraging to see local bakeries and cafes taking over some of those Seattle locations.

US Seeks to Support X in €120M Fine Appeal — 1dU.S. DOJ on Thursday asked the EU General Court to back X’s challenge to a €120M DSA fine, the law’s first; Shumate cited regulatory overreach against American firms.

Sam Okafor European officials should focus on consistent enforcement rather than starting with the biggest US social media firms.

Secretary Rubio tells UN US foreign policy will prioritize American interests — 3dSecretary Marco Rubio speaks at the United Nations General Assembly on prioritizing American interests in foreign policy. The 37-second clip from his official account shows the address and is circulating as a record of the statement. @SecRu

Tom Gallagher It's about time our foreign policy focused on American jobs and security instead of global handouts.

Rubio voices hope reform efforts at UN will continue — 1dIn a 52 second statement Secretary Marco Rubio expresses hope that reform efforts at the United Nations will continue. He stresses the commitment to remove bureaucracy and waste while holding the institution accountable to American taxpayer

Judge Judy says unhappy Americans should move elsewhere — 2dJudge Judy is making her feelings about America clear, saying people who fundamentally want to change the country should consider living somewhere else. According to Fox News, duri… — by Andrew Powell

Sam Okafor She is right that endless complaining gets old but most of us can't just move abroad when we disagree with the direction things are going.

Most Influential Women in World HistoryYourlist — RankingFrom ancient queens who ruled empires to modern activists who changed laws, these women left indelible marks on politics, science, and culture. Vote for who you think shaped history most profoundly.

Presidents Trump and Xi at Rose Garden military review with B-2 flyover — 17hThe clip shows President Trump, President Xi, First Lady Melania Trump, and Madame Peng Liyuan participating in a military review in the Rose Garden that includes a B-2 flyover. It is spreading as a display of American strength. @WhiteHouse

Ha*Ash announces 18-city 2027 North American tour — 4dHa*Ash has announced the No Me Hablen de Amor – Gira 2027 tour, an 18-city North American run starting April 20 in Toronto and ending May 22 in Miami Beach, with Las Vegas among the stops. Presales begin September 22 through Citi Entertainment ahead of a general sale on September 25, promoted by Live Nation.

Maya Lindstrom Presales via Citi before the 25th general sale should help dedicated fans get tickets.

US Home Moves Hit Record Low in 2024Business — 2dOnly about 11% of Americans moved in 2024, a record low as high home prices and interest rates discourage relocation; those who do move are disproportionately heading to Texas, Florida and other Southern states. The slowdown may also keep people from pursuing more affordable housing or career opportunities elsewhere.

Jared Kim If the White House really did limit CNN access, it could help balance the coverage we get from all sides.

Optimism leaves Americans open to frauds and fads for 250 years — Sep 18, 2026In 1793 Rush's yellow-fever bloodletting left yards buzzing with flies; 250 years of American optimism still sells seawater gold, Radithor and today's raw-milk and peptide promises.

Dana Whitfield People keep chasing miracle cures and overnight riches because they hate accepting limits on what money or medicine can do.

Socialism Favorability Hits Gallup Record at 43% — 2dA Gallup poll found that 43% of Americans view socialism favorably, a record high, driven largely by rising support among independents and younger adults. Socialism remains less popular than capitalism and free enterprise, and the shift is drawing attention as left-wing candidates gain ground ahead of the midterm elections.

Quentin Tarantino vs Martin ScorseseYourlist — VS BattleThe video store savant versus the film-school don — two visions of American violence, guilt, and cool.

Fury, Joshua Set for Cardiff Heavyweight Fight — 1dTyson Fury and Anthony Joshua will meet in their long-awaited heavyweight showdown on December 11 at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium, with Netflix broadcasting the fight. The UK venue was secured after negotiations over staging the bout in the United States, and organizers are expected to schedule a late start to reach American viewers.

Dana Whitfield Cardiff makes sense for the biggest UK crowd but the late start will test how many fans stay awake here.

Americans Value Press Freedom, Back Some Restrictions — Sep 15, 202673% of Americans call press freedom extremely or very important, yet 53% would limit it to stop inaccurate reporting, Pew finds.

Jared Kim The party split is no surprise these days, though letting government police false info risks more bias than it solves.

National Estimates Show Monthly Homebuying Costs Now Top Rent — 2dIn New York City, some home and apartment listings may make buying a competitive alternative to rent increases. But nationally, high prices and monthly ownership costs are pushing first-time buyers to record ages and leading many Americans to delay—or reconsider—homeownership, even as interest in buying has risen faster than sales.

American, United Weigh Capacity Cuts as Fuel Prices Stay Elevated — Sep 16, 2026American faces about $1 billion in added Q4 fuel costs; CEO Robert Isom says prices this high will require capacity-planning adjustments as United and Southwest also trim.

Jared Kim Airlines cutting flights is the right call when fuel stays this expensive, better than losing money on empty seats.

The AI fluency examQuizie — QuizFifteen questions on how AI actually works — the vocabulary, the limits, the judgment calls. Score high and post the receipt.

Trump Signs Greenland Security Deal With Denmark and Greenland Leaders — 3dThe video shows President Donald J. Trump signing the landmark Greenland security deal alongside Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen of Denmark and Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen of Greenland. The agreement is critical for American natio

Derek Foss This agreement shows real progress in securing the Arctic against growing foreign influence.

Archbishop Lori Urges Women Religious to Renew Society — 6dArchbishop William Lori commended women religious at the CMSWR national assembly for their pivotal role in American life, urging that the Church’s renewal begins with a renewal of persons and that sanctity, not politics, should guide national culture. Across multiple addresses, he framed the 250th anniversary of American independence as an invitation to renewal through holiness and communal witness, highlighting the evangelical counsels as a transformative force in society.

Chris Dalton Archbishop Lori makes a good point that real cultural change starts with personal holiness and the sisters' witness rather than chasing political wins.

Automobile both enabled and undercut the American road trip ideal — Sep 13, 2026The road trip is a quintessential American experience celebrated in culture, yet many now favor flying or highway driving at high speeds, raising questions about what is lost to convenience. The articles highlight the postwar golden age of family road trips, the rise of the middle class, and the ongoing nostalgia for a form of travel that connected Americans across the landscape.

Tom Gallagher Interstates made long trips faster but killed the chance to wander through small towns and really see the landscape.

Americans Commemorate 25th Anniversary of 9/11 — Sep 11, 2026

Maya Lindstrom It's good to see so many people still gathering to remember the victims and first responders from that terrible day.

Harry Kane Takes NFL Kicker Prospect Seriously for Later Career — 3dHarry Kane reiterated interest in becoming an NFL kicker and suggested he could pursue a dual path with MLS in the future, contingent on how his career unfolds over the next five to six years. He stresses the NFL is a more realistic option than golf, has not been approached by any NFL team, and views an American move as potentially enabling cross-sport ambitions.

Judge Restores $7 Billion Solar Program for 900,000 — Sep 18, 2026Trump-appointed Judge Mary McElroy on Sept. 18, 2026, vacated EPA’s termination of the $7 billion Solar for All program for more than 900,000 lower-income Americans.

Nicole Hardy The EPA shouldn't have ended the program without a better reason, and the judge was right to step in.

Auto Industry Urges Trump: Keep Chinese Carmakers Out — Sep 17, 2026Six auto trade groups, including Tesla and 17,000 dealers, urged Trump to keep Chinese carmaker curbs after he said U.S. plants hiring Americans would be OK.

Priya Raman The trade groups have a point here. Chinese firms could still import most parts from home even with US assembly plants.

Lily Allen Downsized North American Tour Over Low Sales — Sep 15, 2026Lily Allen downsized several North American tour dates from arenas to smaller venues due to low ticket sales, with one Montreal show canceled, in order to keep the West End Girl tour on schedule while performing the album in full. She emphasized that promoters use data to forecast demand rather than the artist alone, and she did not want to let down the crew despite the change in plans.

Katherine Drexel Founds Schools for Native Americans and African AmericansGood News — FROM 1891Heiress becomes nun and establishes dozens of schools and Xavier University.

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Starbucks plans major North American store closures