US filings for jobless aid, a proxy for layoffs, inch down modestly last week as uncertainty lingers
The number of Americans filing unemployment claims last week fell slightly as businesses continue to retain employees despite growing economic uncertainty over U.S. trade policy.
Applications for jobless benefits fell by 2,000 to 227,000 for the week ending May 17, the Labor Department said Thursday. That's pretty close to the 230,000 new applications analysts forecast.
Weekly applications for jobless benefits are seen as representative of U.S. layoffs and have mostly bounced around a historically healthy range between 200,000 and 250,000 since COVID-19 ravaged the economy and wiped out millions of jobs five years ago.
The four-week average of claims, which evens out some of the week-to-week ups and downs during more volatile stretches, rose by 1,000 to 231,500.
The total number of Americans receiving unemployment benefits for the week of May 10 climbed by 36,000 to 1.9 million.
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The Independent
18 minutes ago
- The Independent
Musk was Trump's tweeter-in-chief. Now he's using X against him
Elon Musk's X profile is like a window into his psyche: an inescapable stream of consciousness where impulsive tweets reveal his unfiltered thoughts and shifting moods. Musk harnessed his social media platform to propel Donald Trump to the White House, feeding anti-Democrat content and election conspiracy theories to his followers. Now Musk is turning that same platform – home to nearly 600 million monthly users – against him. After posting earlier in the week that Trump's signature budget policy was a 'disgusting abomination' that will 'drive America into debt slavery', the billionaire is openly taunting Trump on X, even calling for his impeachment. An analysis of Musk's tweets by The Independent shows that Musk has undergone a dramatic shift in both the tone and volume of his posts since his initial support of Trump in mid-2024 to when he began distancing himself from his governmental duties earlier this year – weeks before the White House announced his Washington tenure had finished. And now the platform has chronicled the rise and fall of the world's most powerful bromance. Musk began tweeting incessantly after he publicly endorsed Trump in July last year following the first attempt on the president's life in Butler, Pennsylvania. Then, once Musk was tapped in November to lead the Department of Government Efficiency, he emerged as Trump's tweeter-in-chief. Despite his new White House commitments, not to mention running six companies – including SpaceX, Tesla, and X itself – Musk appeared more glued to his keyboard than ever, using the platform as his primary news source, and place to share his views and stir up controversy. The first 50 days of the Trump administration arguably marked Musk's most fervent display of support for the president, both in terms of tweet content and frequency. On February 7, he mused that, 'I love @realDonaldTrump as much as a straight man can love another man.' Take President's Day, February 17, his most prolific 24-hour posting spell to date. Musk posted 262 times, according to The Independent 's analysis, with messages ranging from single emojis to lengthy missives attacking Democrats. All told, the posting spree equated to one message every five-and-a-half minutes, with no breaks. Musk had a busy Q1 — between January 20 and March 10, he posted 6,778 times – averaging more than 135 X posts per day. And he stayed on message, tweeting about his government-slashing force DOGE more than any other topic in that period, quickly followed by 'Trump' and 'president.' Social media analytics firms like Social Blade were forced to stop tracking tweets after X said these businesses had to pay for an Enterprise subscription, at $42,000 to $210,000 a month. The resulting gap has made transparency on X murkier than ever; and is also why The Independent could only analyze Musk's posts until mid-March. In early spring, Musk's public pledges of MAGA allegiance and trollish squibs began to slow down, and the subjects of his posts moved from Trump administration duties to his own commercial interests. Buyers of his electric vehicles protested against his shift to right-wing politics and efforts to dismantle federal departments, with Tesla's stock price plummeting, and a Rome dealership set ablaze. In April, Musk announced plans to significantly reduce his involvement with DOGE, opting to work remotely and allocate more time to Tesla. A month later, Musk's X daily posts at points reached single figures. In hindsight, it might be considered the calm before the storm. By the end of May, Musk came off the platform to deliver a gut punch to the Trump administration. He told NBC News that Trump's showpiece tax bill 'undermines' the work done by DOGE, without directly mentioning the president. Musk landed a heavy blow on Tuesday, blasting the president's 'Big, Beautiful Bill' as an 'outrageous, pork-filled, disgusting abomination.' But it was after a press conference with the German Chancellor where Trump said he was 'disappointed' with Musk's comments, that Musk went on his most destructive X rampage yet — calling Trump ungrateful, calling for his impeachment and saying he's linked to Jeffrey Epstein. And these claims get read and spread by a wide audience: his Thursday post declaring 'Trump would have lost the election' if it weren't for his support garnered nearly 15 million views in a single day. This is more than just a playground spat between the two rich powerful men, because Musk's ownership of X allows him to reach a vast audience, some of whom are skeptical of mainstream media, and control a narrative — and his posts have been known to set off market reactions, media cycles, and political waves. Those who have stuck with X, whether they are one of Musk's 220 million followers or not, have been inundated with his musings and attacks morning, noon, and night. Musk is believed to selectively issue suspensions and use algorithms to throttle foes that are critical of both him and his ventures. According to the tech news site Platformer, the self-styled 'free speech absolutist' directed a team of 80 engineers to amplify his own tweets over others, ensuring they reach vast audiences (he allegedly did the same for Trump in November). Musk has subsequently blurred the line between platform owner, political provocateur and propagandist. How will he next use X to punish the social media-reliant, legacy media-averse president?
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Ready, set, bake! Nutrichef cookware and bakeware set makes it easy and fun - now up to 23% off at Amazon
This top-rated cookware and bakeware brand on Amazon will have you saying yes chef, with $29 off! NutriChef is the brand bringing kitchen pros and newbies alike top-tier cookware at unbeatable low prices. With thousands of rave reviews, the popular kitchen brand continues to be an Amazon bestseller with a plethora of products that suit every sized home and every aesthetic. NutriChef Professional 20 Pc Kitchen Set in Navy Blue If you are looking for the perfect entry cookware set this is a great option! Currently 15 percent off, this gorgeous navy blue set comes with the everything you need to nail the basics (plus some bonus items!). From a top-tier cupcake tray to multiple utensils, this set has everything you need to explore the kitchen for years to come. $160 (was $189) Shop Whether you're buying your very first set or looking for a reliable upgrade, NutriChef has a wide range of amazing options available now, all on sale for up to 23 percent off. Explore non-stick options, vibrant color combinations, and so much more for under $300! One set we have our eye on this summer is the brand's best-selling NutriChef Professional 20-Piece Kitchen Set. The navy blue set comes with everything you need to get started in the kitchen (and then some!), including pots, pans, and utensils. What we love about this set is that it is perfect for those looking for an affordable but reliable entry-level set. Priced at only $160, the set includes three pots, four frying pans, a strainer, and three utensils. NutriChef 54 Piece Professional Grade Complete Home Kitchen Cookware Set The motherload of kitchen sets is HERE! This set has a whopping 54 pieces in it and is tailor made for those looking to chef it up. It includes multiple frying pans, pots, knives, cutting boards, and more. Right now it is a shocking 23 percent off making it only $215 — an insanely good price for the value. $215 (was $280) Shop Users can not believe the value, with one saying: 'I LOVE these pots and pans! So happy I chose them. Nothing sticks to them, and they are beautiful! All the extras you get are awesome!' Nearly all of the Nutrichef cookware and bakeware also have an impressive non-stick coating that makes cooking a breeze. Unlike most brands that claim 'non-stick,' Nutrichef keeps its promise with quality results. Users across the board agree, with one saying: 'I have never in my life owned a pan that claimed to be non-stick that was actually non-stick! NutriChef 22-Piece Black Marble Non-Stick Cookware and Bakeware Set Restock your kitchen with top-notch tools! This set has everything you need with 22 tools that include pots, pans, oven mitts, and more. Whether baking cookies or brewing stew for the whole family — this non-stick coated cookware will have your back through it all. When you shop now you can save 14 percent off. $172 (was $200) Shop 'I was able to make pancakes without cooking spray and fried eggs without butter or oil, and nothing stuck! I feel they are very, very durable, and it was a great purchase.' Cooking should be fun, and with NutriChef, you can put the ease back into it! Whether you love to bake cupcakes, sear steak, or boil your family's favorite pasta recipe — these incredible (and generously sized!) sets will get the job done without a hitch. Cook up a good time all summer long when you shop one of these bestselling NutriChef sets off Amazon while you can still save up to 23 percent off!
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
JD Vance reveals how President Trump really feels about Elon's attacks and reacts to awkward call for impeachment
Vice President JD Vance revealed behind-the-scenes details of Elon Musk 's blow-up on social media on Friday and President Donald Trump 's reaction. Vance spoke about the incident in a podcast interview with comedian Theo Von that was recorded on Thursday as the fight between the pair of billionaires escalated. The vice president found himself reacting in real time to some of Musk's posts on X during the interview, including an awkward post where Musk endorsed the idea of impeaching President Trump and installing Vance as president. 'I just think the idea that the president should be impeached, I'm sorry, it's insane. It's totally insane, Vance said, describing Musk's social media tirade as 'not helpful.' He said that obviously Musk had the First Amendment right to disagree with the president but that it was a mistake for him to attack Trump. Vance also shot down Musk's claim that the president was 'in the Epstein files' even though he admitted he hadn't even seen the post before the interview. 'Absolutely not. Donald Trump didn't do anything wrong with Jeffrey Epstein. Like, there's the guy is whatever the Democrats and the media says about him, that's totally BS,' he said. The vice president was with the president when Musk's criticism of Trump began, but had not seen all the posts as he traveled to Nashville for the interview with Vonn. Theo Von asks JD Vance about Elon Musk's attacks against President Trump 'I know the president, for a couple of days, I'll tell you, I don't want to reveal too many confidences, but he was getting a little frustrated, feeling like some of the criticisms were unfair coming from Elon,' he said. Vance said that Trump was actually quite restrained in his response to Musk, again asserting that Musk's attacks were not good for the country. 'But I think it's been very restrained because the president doesn't think that he needs to be in a blood feud with Elon Musk. I actually think if Elon chilled out a little bit, everything would be fine,' he said. Musk signaled his opposition to the 'Big Beautiful Bill' on Thursday and posted criticism of the president on social media. Trump responded to Musk in real time, speaking to reporters during his meeting with the German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio sat beside the president as he spoke, but did not speak about Musk themselves. The president's comments in the Oval Office further aggravated Musk, after clips of the news conference made their way to his social media feed. The highly-anticipated interview between Vance and Von was the first time the vice president spoke on camera about the feud. He reserved his public reaction for several hours as Musk fumed on social media about the president. The vice president defended President Trump on social media Friday morning. 'There are many lies the corporate media tells about President Trump. One of the most glaring is that he's impulsive or short-tempered,' Vance wrote on X. 'Anyone who has seen him operate under pressure knows that's ridiculous. It's (maybe) the single biggest disconnect between fake media perception and reality,' he continued. The vice president teased his interview with Von on social media, joking that he had no idea what they would talk about. Musk shared the post with a laugh-crying emoji, suggesting that the vice president had lightened the mood. Vance also posted a statement in support of Trump late in the evening. 'President Trump has done more than any person in my lifetime to earn the trust of the movement he leads. I'm proud to stand beside him,' Vance wrote at 10:30 pm EST on X. Vance has sided with Trump, but has demonstrated caution about attacking Musk, as he is still a very powerful and influential political donor. The vice president considers Musk a friend, and he defended the unpredictable billionaire as he prepared to exit the administration as a special advisor. 'I am going to miss him. Elon's become a very good friend,' Vance told Newsmax host Greg Kelly in an interview last week. Vance and Musk already had a relationship prior to the campaign, but their friendship has deepened since the election. 'He and his kids have come to our house and had dinner with our kids. I'm very close to him,' Vance said.
