10 Monday AM Reads

Welcome to November! Kick off the month with these insightful pre-election day morning reads. The University of Michigan's widely tracked index of American consumer sentiment has hit its lowest level ever, surpassing previous economic downturns such as 2022, the 2008 global financial crisis, the 1990 oil price shock, and the 1980s recession. Despite booming consumer spending, falling inflation since 2022-23, and an overall strong economy, consumer sentiment remains depressed.

Scientists and sleep experts argue that Daylight Saving Time (DST) should be eliminated entirely. This comes after the House passed permanent-DST legislation with President Trump's support. The Washington Post suggests scrapping DST altogether as it benefits businesses rather than farmers.

Chip sellers are retaliating against Apple for years of bullying flash-storage makers into steep discounts. As AI hyperscalers bid up prices and gobbled up supply, memory-chip makers are seeing the impact.

The global trade war initiated by President Trump has added an additional $1,100 to household expenses, according to Yale University's Budget Lab. Additionally, Trump's decision to launch a war on Iran has inflated gasoline and diesel prices, costing each US household more than $1,120.

Fox News experienced its largest pre-election month drop in ratings in the past decade. Despite still leading CNN and MSNOW, Fox averaged 1.68 million viewers in October, marking the biggest year-over-year pre-election ratings drop in 10 years.

President Trump's policies have unintentionally boosted green energy. Michael Sonnenfeldt's essay highlights the clean-energy side effects of the administration's decisions.

Noah Shachtman writes about the end for Trump's princelings or just the start, as tariffs, prosecutions, and regulations run on one man's whims. Business leaders are now asked to underwrite government projects for one man's benefit.

The book by Matthew Cole, "A Damning Account," alleges that Jared Kushner conducted diplomacy for profit. Cole connects $2 billion in slush funds from Gulf state leaders to the president's son-in-law, influencing US policy.

Many Americans who fled Trump's America are now regretting their overseas job offers. Wired explores the challenges faced by those who found the grass was not greener in Europe, including awful trains, non-free healthcare, and people being mean.

In his new memoir, Bob Woodward names confidential sources who enabled monumental scoops. The Washington Post highlights six takeaways from the book, including his disappointment with the newspaper's billionaire owner, Jeff Bezos.