Tax check: Want to double-check that everything went through? Use this site to see when your refund is expected. Here are other ways to check if your federal and state taxes were filed. Warning: If you’re calling the IRS right now, the wait times are nuts.
Confirmed: Google is a monopoly
A federal judge has ruled that Alphabet’s Google created an illegal monopoly by controlling almost all online searches. With around 90% market share, this decision could be a game-changer for Big Tech.
📴 What a coincidence! New York Mayor Eric Adams, slapped with five federal corruption charges, had to hand over his phone to the FBI. He says he changed the passcode to prevent staff from accidentally (or intentionally) deleting important info, and, oops, he forgot his phone’s new passcode (paywall link). Nice try, but they’re still getting in, buddy.
7,000 pancreases
Listed as missing and never transplanted from 2021 to 2023. There’s a loophole in federal transplant regulations that allows organ procurement organizations to use pancreas cells for diabetes clinical trials. Meanwhile, there are folks sitting on the waiting list for these organs and the operations aren’t happening.
$2 loss
For every $1 put toward sports betting. As federal and state guidelines have loosened, fewer Americans are investing in stocks and other safer assets. This past January, folks put $14 billion into online sports betting — compare that to $1.1 billion in January 2019.
$33,110.68 in savings
Recommended for your emergency nest egg. That’s roughly six months of expenses for the average household. No surprise: Federal Reserve data shows 73% of households aren’t anywhere close.
🔍 How do you spell monopoly? G-O-O-G-L-E: A federal judge ruled it was illegal for Google to pay $26 billion for other web browsers and phone manufacturers to make it their default search engine (paywall link). How to fix this mess? Make Google’s parent company, Alphabet, sell off Google or invalidate the illegal payoff and let manufacturers select their own search engines.
An 82-year-old woman almost lost $3 million in a gold bar scam: First, she was swindled out of nearly $1 million of her life savings. A pop-up ad on her PC scared her into calling a fake federal agent. The “agent” said her money was in danger and would only be safe if she converted it to gold. Good news: Just as she was ready to hand over another $2 million in gold bars, they caught the 19-year-old scum behind this.
Spy versus spy: mSpy is a surveillance app used to track children, relatives and romantic partners without their consent. Hackers just exposed the identities of millions of customers, and the list includes senior U.S. military personnel, a U.S. federal judge and a government watchdog. Juicy stuff.
🏦 They’ve hacked Fort Knox: Ransomware group LockBit says they have 33TB of U.S. Federal Reserve data, claiming it holds “Americans’ banking secrets.” There’s no proof yet, but they’re threatening to spill it. Get proactive: Set up banking alerts, use two-factor authentication on your bank login and watch your accounts.
🚨 Don’t fall for it: Federal cybersecurity agency CISA says scammers are posing as CISA employees over the phone. Remember, a government agency will never hit you up asking for cash, crypto or gift cards.
From the “I’m-from-the-government-and-I’m-here-to-help” department: Effective June 1, the federal internet subsidies that gave 20 million low-income U.S. families access to speedy internet are over. Here’s a list of providers offering discounted internet prices through the end of 2024.
🚕 Say, “No way”: Waymo’s self-driving taxis might not be in your town yet, but if you’re traveling this summer, keep an eye out for them on the roads. They’re covered in sensors and hard to miss. PSA: They’re under federal investigation for causing more than 20 accidents. I wouldn’t get in one.
Fake business grants are on the rise: Red flags: You got it without applying, they contacted you on social media, and/or you’ve never heard of the “federal agency” behind the grant. They may also ask for upfront payments, say the funds can be used for “anything,” and then ask for personal info you already sent in your application. Watch out.
Docs off my box: At least 100 people — and potentially thousands — are suing LG over faulty fridges that kicked the bucket well before their best-by date. But LG says the suits are moot because it printed an arbitration notice on — get this — the cardboard box the fridge came in. In 2017, a federal judge threw out a similar claim by Samsung and said a notice on the box (or in the user manual) does not a contract make.
“Jetsons” era, here we come? Wisk is promising air taxis by 2030 at UberX prices. Picture flying over traffic jams in a pilotless eVTOL. Sounds cool, right? Now, the hard part: Convincing the Federal Aviation Authority these autonomous vehicles are safe — and figuring out where to fly and land them.
48,000,000 Americans who act as caregivers
A new law, The Credit for Caring Act, would provide up to a $5,000 federal tax credit for working family caregivers.
The state of Arkansas does what the Federal Government won't
Need an ID to be on social? Here’s why Arkansas says you should, in 60 seconds.
Tesla under federal criminal investigation
Did Tesla mislead its customers about its driver assistance technology? That’s what the DOJ wants to find out. Here’s the full story, in 60 seconds.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices