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Yahoo
27 minutes ago
- Yahoo
This Democrat Thinks Voters Seeking Order Will Make or Break Elections
FALL RIVER, Mass.—Democrats' bruising loss to Donald Trump in last November's election could be explained in a single word: inflation. It should be the last thing a Democrat would want to raise with voters now. Yet it is the first thing that Rep. Jake Auchincloss of Massachusetts brings up with them. 'Prices are going up. We've all felt that,' he declares to a group of seniors at a cookout outside this former mill town 50 miles south of Boston. Meta Freezes AI Hiring After Blockbuster Spending Spree McDonald's to Cut Combo-Meal Prices After Convincing Franchisees From $24,000 to $147,000: How Much Daycare Costs Across America Trump Turns Up the Heat. Fed Chair Jerome Powell Tries to Keep His Cool. Child Care in America Is Broken. Here Are Five Ideas for How to Fix It. Then comes a mini economics tutorial. Prices for some things usually stay the same or fall, like electronics, he says. Others rise, year after year, like housing, utilities and healthcare. These sectors have what he calls 'cost disease,' which, like any disease, requires intervention. 'Policymakers need to start treating cost disease.' That, he says, means going after local-government red tape that holds down the supply of housing, and health insurers who are 'price gouging simply because they have a monopolistic position.' The Democratic Party, shut out of power and mired at its lowest approval in over 35 years, is in crisis. On culture and quality of life, voters see it as out of touch. On economics, its populist positions on trade and entitlements have been co-opted by Trump. Auchincloss thinks he knows the way out of the wilderness. A cerebral former Marine who looks younger than his 37 years, Auchincloss is a fan of social psychologist and author Jonathan Haidt's theory that the public associates morality with care, fairness, authority and loyalty. Auchincloss sums them up as 'social order.' Democrats lost, he says, because 'we were not perceived as upholding social order.' The cost disease, he argues, is one of the forces eating away at Americans' sense of social order. The late economist William Baumol coined the term to describe how prices rise most where productivity grows most slowly, such as health, education and housing. Historically, Democrats didn't give priority to costs, but rather creating jobs and expanding government benefits. That strategy backfired spectacularly on former President Joe Biden when inflation soared and his popularity plummeted. Biden is gone, but cost anxiety isn't. Some polls find Trump's approval on inflation as low as Biden's. A recent poll by NORC, sponsored by The Wall Street Journal, suggests costs are eating away at the American dream: 56% of respondents weren't confident they could buy a home, and 47% felt that way about a car, compared with 42% who weren't confident about finding a good job. The son of physician-scientists, Auchincloss studied government and economics at Harvard and business at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, joined the Marines out of college, and served in Afghanistan and Panama. Having spent 2014 helping to elect moderate Republican Charlie Baker as governor of Massachusetts, Auchincloss calls himself an 'Obama-Baker Democrat.' While he eschews the labels 'moderate' or 'centrist,' his impatience with his party's progressive wing is palpable. His formative political experience came when he ran for Congress in 2020. Despite public-health experts recommending schools reopen, Democratic-run cities and states kept them closed. They were 'too focused on process, not enough on outcomes that mattered, which was getting kids back in schools. And there was a condescending attitude to parents who were rightfully frustrated watching kids atrophy at home.' Auchincloss's district is reliably Democratic thanks to affluent liberal voters in Boston's suburbs. But its largest city is Fall River, a blue-collar city once dominated by textile mills whose residents voted last fall for the Republican presidential candidate, Trump, for the first time in a century. Here is where Auchincloss is fine-tuning his message on costs and social disorder. At a municipal services fair in a local park, a police officer relates how a railroad track converted to a recreational trail soon attracted a homeless encampment. 'You should be able to clear these open air encampments,' Auchincloss responds. Democrats, he says later, haven't been 'muscular' enough on issues like homelessness and crime. Auchincloss argues Trump and Republicans also contribute to cost disease through their closeness to corporations. At a meeting with independent pharmacist Tom Pasternak who complains about low insurance-reimbursement rates, Auchincloss blames pharmacy-benefit managers for steering patients away from cheap generics and toward their captive drugstore chains. He notes a bill to regulate such companies had wide bipartisan House support last year, but was excluded from a funding bill 'at the behest of Elon Musk and has yet to get another hearing on the floor,' which he blames on lobbying by health insurers. Auchincloss has singled out Brad Smith, who served on Musk's Department of Government Efficiency at the Department of Health and Human Services, which oversees Medicare. Auchincloss said that raised conflict of interest concerns since Smith's company, rural health provider Main Street Health, is backed by health insurers that provide Medicare Advantage plans and are regulated by or transact with the department. A spokesman for Smith said that while at DOGE, he wasn't involved in any issues related to the setting of Medicare insurance rates and that any suggestion to the contrary is false. Auchincloss has also targeted social-media companies for delivering 'digital dopamine' to children. Here, too, Haidt was an influence. Last year, Auchincloss invited Haidt, who had just published the bestseller 'The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness,' to address about eight to 10 members from both parties of the Congressional Dads Caucus. 'Jake is emerging as a major policy thinker among the Democrats,' said Haidt, noting the congressman's authorship of a bill to raise the minimum age for certain social-media protections to 16 from 13. Auchincloss might have a coherent message. Whether it can win elections outside deep blue Massachusetts is another matter. In this purple part of his district, reaction to his cost-disease remarks fell along party lines. Tony Branco, a Democrat, congratulated him: 'When you correct the smaller things, it tends to help with the larger things.' Judy Reese, a Republican, was dismissive. 'President Trump is trying to work on [costs] if people would just work with him.' Somewhere in between was Republican Dale Herbert: 'He was honest. He was open to anyone that had their opinions.' Write to Greg Ip at Target Shares Tumble After Retailer Names a Lifer to Steer Its Turnaround Google Is Beating Apple on Smartphone AI Fed Minutes Reveal Broad Support for Holding Rates Steady Last Month Smartmatic Case Documents Show Some Fox News Hosts' Drive to Help Trump UnitedHealth Group Names Lead Independent Director Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
27 minutes ago
- Yahoo
AI-Based Technologies Improve Customer Experience but Present New Challenges, J.D. Power Finds
Genesis Ranks Highest Overall for Tech Innovation for Fifth Consecutive Year; Hyundai Ranks Highest among Mass Market Brands for Sixth Consecutive Year TROY, Mich., August 21, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--During the past decade, J.D. Power has supported automakers in understanding user experiences across more than 100 new technologies, demonstrating a commitment to advancing automotive innovation through consumer insights. The J.D. Power 2025 U.S. Tech Experience Index (TXI) Study,SM released today, enhances these insights with the addition of a smart vehicle category that highlights the growing use of artificial intelligence (AI) in vehicles. The study, now in its 10th year, includes a new category that includes seven AI-based technologies designed to enhance the driver experience by anticipating their needs. Several smart technologies, including smart ignition, climate control and driver preferences, rank among the top 10 in the study for both low problems experienced and high customer satisfaction. "Smart technologies appear to not only anticipate the driver's needs but also reduce the cognitive workload and some of the difficulties that drivers face with digital systems," said Kathleen Rizk, senior director of user experience benchmarking and technology at J.D. Power. "Ultimately, what matters most to vehicle owners—and therefore to automakers and suppliers—is how useful the technology is and whether it enhances their driving experience. While smart technologies are not without issues, they represent a meaningful step forward. Continued development will be essential to address current challenges and maximize their effectiveness." Following are some key findings of the 2025 study: Smart technologies can improve vehicle quality and satisfaction scores: Certain smart technologies are beginning to positively impact initial vehicle quality scores. For instance, smart climate control systems—which can automatically adjust the vehicle's heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system to improve comfort and efficiency—have shown a notable improvement year over year in user experience, with a reported drop of 6.3 problems per 100 vehicles (PP100), according to the J.D. Power 2025 U.S. Initial Quality Study (IQS).SM This reduction in issues has also driven higher satisfaction in the J.D. Power 2025 U.S. Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL) StudySM among users who have this feature. This offers a much-needed workaround to address the increasing complexity of climate controls being migrated into the infotainment system. Car wash mode a shiny promise with muddied execution: Car wash mode, a new feature tracked in the TXI Study this year, is intended to automatically prepare the vehicle to go through a car wash, initiating actions such as closing all windows and disabling the windshield wipers, among others. It is a feature that sounds good in theory, but is often buried within the infotainment system, making it difficult to find, which causes delays and frustration, especially when in line at a car wash. This results in more than one-third (38%) of owners who say they need better instructions to use it. Another 15% say the feature is too slow to perform the necessary tasks to prepare the vehicle for a wash. Ultimately, despite its potential benefits, the complicated accessibility of the car wash mode and lack of user guidance are preventing it from becoming a widely adopted feature. In-vehicle payments making a comeback: Previous executions of in-vehicle shopping and payment systems within the infotainment system have been hindered by limited app offerings, complex interfaces and lengthy purchasing processes, all of which have contributed to low adoption. However, in-vehicle payment capabilities are gaining interest, with 62% of owners expressing a desire for this feature. At present, the most common uses are paying for charging, fuel, parking and tolls. "The next generation of in-vehicle shopping and payment systems has the potential to succeed if automakers focus on convenience purchases that directly enhance the vehicle experience, such as parking and fuel, and design access within the infotainment system to be simple and user-friendly," Rizk said. Recognition technologies now next challenge drivers face: Owners' perceptions of vehicle quality have shifted from broken components to issues with usability, mainly due to complex infotainment and advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). Currently, problems increasingly focus on technology requiring connectivity. In the future, according to findings in the TXI Study, the next evolution of vehicle quality problems owners will likely face will be related to inconsistent performance of recognition and authentication technologies. These technologies include biometric authentication (29.2 PP100); touchless or hidden controls (19.6 PP100); and direct driver monitoring (19.4 PP100), which are the technologies with the highest number of problems reported in the TXI Study. As automakers navigate challenges with recognition technologies, the focus must remain on ensuring that advancements enhance—rather than hinder—the overall driving experience. Blind spot camera is a customer must-have technology: A large majority (93%) of customers say they use the blind spot camera most of the time, and 74% say they desire the feature in a future vehicle. Notably, vehicles that include this feature also spend less time on dealer lots compared with those that lack it. Highest-Ranking Brands Genesis ranks highest overall and highest among premium brands for innovation for a fifth consecutive year, with a score of 538 (on a 1,000-point scale). Cadillac (526) ranks second and Lincoln (523) ranks third. Hyundai ranks highest among mass market brands for innovation for a sixth consecutive year, with a score of 493. Kia (474) ranks second and Mitsubishi (471) ranks third. Advanced Technology Award Recipients The U.S. Tech Experience Index (TXI) Study analyzes 40 automotive technologies, which are divided into five categories: comfort and convenience; connected vehicle; driver assist; electric vehicle; and smart vehicle. The smart vehicle category is not award eligible this year. Land Rover Defender is the premium model receiving the comfort and convenience award for its advanced air purification system. Toyota Land Cruiser and Toyota Sequoia, each in a tie, are the mass market models receiving the comfort and convenience award for camera rear-view mirror technology. Genesis GV80 is the premium model receiving the connected vehicle award for phone-based digital key. Hyundai Santa Fe is the mass market model receiving the connected vehicle award, also for phone-based digital key. GMC Hummer EV SUV receives the award for driver assist in the premium segment for active lane change assist. Hyundai Santa Fe receives the award for driver assist in the mass market segment for its blind spot camera. Kia EV9 receives the award for electric vehicle in the mass market segment for one pedal driving. The premium segment in the electric vehicle category is not award eligible this year. See the rank chart for each segment at The U.S. Tech Experience Index (TXI) Study complements the annual J.D. Power U.S. Initial Quality StudySM (IQS) and the J.D. Power U.S. Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL) StudySM by measuring how effectively each automotive brand brings new technologies to market. The TXI Study combines the level of adoption of new technologies in each brand for excellence in execution. The execution measurement examines how much owners like the new technologies and how many problems they experience while using them. The 2025 U.S. Tech Experience Index (TXI) Study is based on responses from 76,230 owners of new 2025 model-year vehicles who were surveyed after 90 days of ownership. The study was fielded from June 2024 through May 2025 based on vehicles registered from March 2024 through February 2025. For more information about the U.S. Tech Experience Index (TXI) Study, visit About J.D. Power J.D. Power is a global leader in automotive data and analytics, and provides industry intelligence, consumer insights and advisory solutions to the automotive industry and selected non-automotive industries. J.D. Power leverages its extensive proprietary datasets and software capabilities combined with advanced analytics and artificial intelligence tools to help its clients optimize business performance. J.D. Power was founded in 1968 and has offices in North America, Europe and Asia Pacific. To learn more about the company's business offerings, visit The J.D. Power auto-shopping tool can be found at About J.D. Power and Advertising/Promotional Rules: View source version on Contacts Media Relations Contacts Geno Effler, J.D. Power; West Coast; 714-621-6224; Shane Smith; East Coast; 424-903-3665; ssmith@
Yahoo
27 minutes ago
- Yahoo
MetaMask's stablecoin play to double as a revenue generator, exec says
MetaMask continues to trickle out new details of its upcoming stablecoin launch, including how mUSD will become a revenue generator for the firm. 'MetaMask will benefit from the yield that backs mUSD,' Ajay Mittal, vice president of the wallet provider's product strategy, told DL News. 'A portion of that supports MetaMask, helping us keep improving the wallet and building better features for users.' Mittal added that mUSD, like heavyweight stablecoins such as Tether and Circle, is also backed by cash and US Treasuries. Tether, the largest issuer in the industry, generated nearly $5 billion in net profits the past quarter, thanks in large part to its treasury holdings. In a brief shared with DL News, the crypto wallet provider indicated that the stablecoin will hit the market 'later this year.' Mittal declined to say precisely when. The dollar-pegged stablecoin will be issued by M0 and Stripe's newly acquired stablecoin startup, Bridge. Luca Prosperi, the co-founder and CEO of M0, told DL News that the firm is working privately with other brands on additional stablecoin offerings. Tight integration MetaMask's plans were first made public on August 6 after an errant governance proposal to integrate mUSD into the lending protocol Aave hit the wire. Mittal declined to share which lending providers MetaMask is integrating with. The stablecoin is expected to provide the wallet provider with a slew of customisations to enhance user experience when trading — a key sticking point for critics of MetaMask. 'That means potentially lower cost, greater composability across the stack, and a seamless way to ramp, swap, bridge, and spend,' Mittal told DL News. Stablecoins have ballooned to more than $278 billion this year, according to DefiLlama. Industry analysts expect this figure to continue growing on the heels of landmark stablecoin legislation in the United States. 'I expect this will be a $2.5 trillion market in no time,' Matt Hougan, chief investment officer at Bitwise, said in May. In April, Citigroup analysts predicted that the stablecoin market is on course to reach $3.7 trillion in value in five years. Liam Kelly is a Berlin-based reporter for DL News. Got a tip? Email him at liam@
