Google has largely stayed out of the flap between Facebook and Twitter over political advertising. Facebook took a lenient policy of accepting political ads even if they contain false information, while Twitter imposed a ban on political ads altogether. On Wednesday afternoon, Google changed its status, taking the middle ground between the two social media companies. The bill, which proposes that online political ads follow the same transparency rules as TV and media, was reintroduced earlier th

US President Donald Trump (R) and Apple CEO Tim Cook (L), with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, tour the Flextronics computer manufacturing facility where Apple’s Mac Pros are assembled in Austin, Texas, on November 20, 2019. President Donald Trump and Apple CEO Tim Cook toured a Texas manufacturing facility on Wednesday, getting a glimpse of a factory used by Apple to assemble the Mac Pro desktop. “And Tim Cook is someone I greatly respect.” The plant toured on Wednesday, operated by Flex, as

Pro-democracy supporters hold their phone’s flashlight in a rally to show support for students at The Hong Kong Poytechnic University on November 19, 2019 in Hong Kong, China. The House passed a second bill to bar the export of certain munitions to Hong Kong police by the same margin. The House passed a pro-Hong Kong rights bill on Wednesday, putting President Donald Trump in a bind as he tries not to roil high-stakes trade talks with China. It would also set up the potential for sanctions on pe

But the entrepreneur who started the Bulletproof coffee craze (that’s coffee with grass-fed butter and coconut oil), Dave Asprey, has set his sights on living to 180. According to Asprey, how well he slept is about how much rapid eye movement (REM) stage sleep he had, because he believes loss of REM sleep leads to aging. While research has not pegged lack of REM sleep as a cause of aging, as you age you spend less of your sleep in REM. Research has also linked higher REM sleep to improved energy

But a new study from the University of Bath suggests that this trend is impacting male partners’ mental health. But as women made more money past that point, men become “increasingly uncomfortable” and stressed, according to the findings. Other research suggests that masculinity norms discourage men from being vulnerable, which can further get in the way of their ability to seek mental health support. When women are the breadwinners, couples have a hard time discussing any confusing emotions tha

Democratic presidential candidate, mayor of Miramar, Florida Wayne Messam speaks to the crowd during the 2019 South Carolina Democratic Party State Convention on June 22, 2019 in Columbia, South Carolina. Wayne Messam, the mayor of Miramar, Florida, dropped out of the 2020 Democratic presidential primary after failing to break through in a crowded field. Messam joined the race touting his family’s American dream story and his record as Miramar’s first black mayor. Messam owns a successful constr

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo speaks during a press conference at the U.S. Department of State on November 18, 2019 in Washington, DC. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo claimed Tuesday he wasn’t watching impeachment hearings targeting his boss, President Donald Trump. “The U.S. aid to Ukraine flowed, no investigation was launched, and President Trump has met and spoken with President Zelensky. Zelenskiy had to make those announcements — which could have boosted Trump’s effort to win reelectio

If you have one resolution for 2020, make it to clear the decks on your credit card debt. About 2 out of 3 consumers with credit cards have been toting the same balance or higher over the last decade, according to a recent survey from Bankrate.com. The personal finance website took an online poll in October of 2,257 adults, of whom 1,908 were credit card holders. Two-thirds of the credit card holders surveyed said they are as stressed or more over the balance on their cards compared to January 2

The Secure Act, as the measure is called, aims to increase the ranks of retirement savers and the amount they put away. Janhvi Bhojwani | CNBCThe Secure Act, if passed by both chambers of Congress and signed into law by President Trump, would bring the biggest changes to the U.S. retirement system since 2006. Bipartisan support hasn’t been enough to get the Secure Act across the finish line. After the bill passed the House in late May, the Senate moved to pass it under a process called unanimous

Walmart has seen “a little bit” of customer-dissatisfaction after the retailer tightened gun and ammunition policies in response to two fatal shootings over the summer at its stores, according to CEO Doug McMillon. The moves came after a July shooting at a Walmart store in Mississippi, where two people were killed, and another one in August at a Walmart in El Paso, Texas, where 22 people were killed. Last week, the El Paso Walmart reopened with increased security. “But El Paso really thrust us i

Stephen Hahn, nominee to be commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, testifies during his confirmation hearing in the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee on Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2019. President Donald Trump’s nominee to run the Food and Drug Administration was grilled at his Senate confirmation hearing Wednesday about he would tackle the teen vaping epidemic. Dr. Stephen Hahn was pressed at the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee hearing. “We need an

After cracking the billion-dollar mark, it seems Warner Bros. is interested in letting Todd Phillips direct another “Joker” movie. According to a report from The Hollywood Reporter, Phillips is currently in talks with the studio to direct a second “Joker” film, with Joaquin Phoenix back to star. Phoenix reportedly had a sequel option in his initial contract with Warner Bros.”Joker” is the fourth DC title to surpassed $1 billion at the box office. He left that meeting with the rights to at least

Lyft co-founder and President John Zimmer, acknowledging the rough ride on Wall Street since their March initial public offering, said on Wednesday that he believes the stock is a good buy right now. “I feel a deep amount of responsibility.” However, he said, “I feel like the stock is undervalued. Lyft priced its IPO at $72 per share on March 28. When trading started the next day, the stock was up as much as 23% during its first session, before closing just 8.7% higher.

Mercedes-Benz USA CEO Nicholas Speeks said sales of electric vehicles are getting a boost from owners spreading the word about their performance to other drivers. I think it’s getting cars on the road and having people speak of their experience positively,” Speeks said on “Squawk Alley.” For a decade, EVs have primarily been produced to meet government fuel economy standards with more eco-friendly alternatives to fossil fuels. There are more than 1.18 million electric vehicles on U.S. roads as o

Tech stocks are trading at their most expensive valuation since January 2005. The XLK technology ETF, which mirrors the S&P 500 information technology sector, trades at 21 times forward earnings. That is its highest forward earnings multiple in nearly 15 years. [It is] trading 35 times forward earnings, [nearly] double the S&P. AMD is currently trading at 39 times forward earnings, while Salesforce is at 53 times.

Charles Barkley is apologizing after making “unacceptable” comments toward a female journalist this week. Axios reporter Alexi McCammond tweeted late Tuesday that the retired NBA basketball player told her, “I don’t hit women but if I did I would hit you.” McCammond said she immediately objected to the comments, and that Barkley told her she “couldn’t take a joke.” “My comment was inappropriate and unacceptable,” Barkley said Wednesday in a statement issued by representatives. Correction: This s

GM says that Fiat Chrysler “corrupted” collective bargaining agreements between GM and UAW in 2009, 2011 and 2015 by paying millions in dollars in bribes. GM said the alleged bribery scheme was authorized at the highest levels of Fiat Chrysler, including the company’s late CEO Sergio Marchionne. Fiat Chrysler called the lawsuit “meritless” and said it plans to vigorously defend it. Glidden also said the lawsuit won’t affect existing collective bargaining agreements, and that there are no current

Here are some thoughts on Disney+, including what’s good and what can be improved. What’s good: Great material at a fair priceA scene from “The Mandalorian,” an original Star Wars TV series that will stream on Disney+. DisneyDisney+ has a ton of content, including a lot movies and TV shows that millennials and GenX grew up with and haven’t watched in years. Then there’s the whole Star Wars series and a bunch of earlier Star Wars TV shows, which I have yet to dive in to. It’s fun and exciting and

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), former Vice President Joe Biden, and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) enter the stage before the Democratic Presidential Debate at Otterbein University on October 15, 2019 in Westerville, Ohio. Democratic presidential hopefuls will take the stage together for the fifth time Wednesday night as the top contenders jockey for position and the flagging candidates look for a breakout moment. The 2020 presidential primary debate will go from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. Former Vice Preside

Still, a relief rally could be looming for some of the hard-hit retailers like Home Depot, based on a CNBC analysis of recent Black Friday period trading history, conducted using the Kensho hedge fund analytics tool. The SPDR S&P Retail ETF, the XRT, fell by nearly 2% on Tuesday, with disappointing results from Home Depot and Kohl’s pressuring the sector. Home Depot and Kohl’s both reported a miss on revenue, while lowering their full-year forecasts. But over the past 5 years, the S&P 500 Retail