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Nearly two and a half years after they nearly came to blows in a viral Senate hearing, Teamsters President Sean O’Brien offered praise for Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., on Thursday after President Donald Trump nominated him to lead the Department of Homeland Security.”If anyone is willing to stand their butt up to protect America, it’s Markwayne Mullin,” O’Brien said in a statement.The endorsement marked a striking turn for the two men, who clashed publicly in November 2023 during a heated Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee hearing that appeared to be on the brink of a physical altercation.During the exchange, Mullin, a former mixed martial arts fighter, referenced a social media post in which O’Brien had said he could take the senator “any time” or “any place.”BEHIND THE SCENES: TRUMP AND WHITE HOUSE RALLY BEHIND NOEM AS ‘RADICALS’ DEMAND OUSTER”Sir, this is a time, this is a place. You want to run your mouth, we can be two consenting adults, and we can finish it here,” Mullin said at the hearing.Mullin then stood up and appeared ready to approach O’Brien before then-Committee Chairman Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., intervened.”Stop it, hold it, no, no, sit down,” Sanders said. “You’re a United States senator. Sit down.”GOP SENATORS TANGLE WITH NOEM DURING HEATED HEARING ON HER HANDLING OF DEPORTATION SURGEThe confrontation continued verbally for several minutes, with Mullin calling O’Brien a “thug” and O’Brien labeling the senator “disrespectful,” before Sanders banged his gavel and moved the hearing forward.The two men had also sparred months earlier over O’Brien’s salary compared to that of union members, forcing Sanders to step in during that hearing as well.O’Brien’s statement Thursday signaled a sharp contrast from the combative exchanges that once defined their relationship.WATCH: The Teamsters president started it: Sen. Markwayne MullinGOP SENATOR BLOCKS TRUMP DHS NOMINEES UNTIL NOEM TESTIFIES BEFORE SENATEThe statement came as Mullin was nominated to lead DHS following what Trump described as a turbulent tenure under current Secretary Kristi Noem, who will be reassigned as Special Envoy for the Shield of the Americas, a new security initiative focused on the Western Hemisphere.The clash between the two men in November 2023 followed months of escalating tensions, including a public challenge earlier that year when Mullin accepted O’Brien’s social media dare of “anyplace, anytime” and proposed a charitable mixed martial arts fight in Tulsa. But tensions appeared to cool in 2024 after Trump helped broker a truce between the two men.Mullin later recounted on “Fox Across America with Jimmy Failla” that Trump reached out early to O’Brien as Teamsters members increasingly leaned Republican.Mullin said O’Brien told him many of his members were backing Trump and that the union boss felt compelled to reflect where “my brothers” stood politically.Fox News’s Andrew Mark Miller and Houston Keene contributed to this report. 

President Donald Trump is meeting Friday with top U.S. defense industry executives as his administration looks to accelerate weapons production while military operations against Iran continue.The White House emphasized the session was scheduled weeks ago and was not convened in response to immediate battlefield shortages. Officials described the meeting as part of a broader effort to strengthen the U.S. defense industrial base and speed production of American-made weapons.”The US military has more than enough munitions, ammo, and weapons stockpiles to continue demolishing the Iranian regime and finish Operation Epic Fury, no matter how long it lasts,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement to Fox News.”Nevertheless, President Trump has always been intensely focused on strengthening our military, which is why this meeting with defense contractors was scheduled weeks ago. The President will continue to call on these US companies to more speedily build American-made weapons, which are the absolute best in the world.”Companies attending are Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, RTX Corporation, Boeing, Honeywell and L3Harris Technologies. OPERATION EPIC FURY DESTROYS IRAN’S NAVY AND CUTS MISSILE ATTACKS BY 90% IN ONGOING CAMPAIGNThe meeting comes as U.S. forces remain engaged in Operation Epic Fury, a campaign targeting Iranian military assets following coordinated U.S.-Israeli strikes. Administration officials have maintained that U.S. readiness remains strong, even as the pace of missile defense operations has drawn scrutiny on Capitol Hill.During the 2025 12-day Iran conflict, U.S. forces fired more than 150 Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) interceptors — roughly a quarter of the global inventory — to shield Israel and U.S. assets from Iranian missile attacks, according to defense assessments. Patriot PAC-3 MSE missiles are currently produced at a rate of roughly 600 to 650 annually, with replenishment timelines measured in months or years rather than weeks.PHYSICIST LAWMAKER WARNS IRAN COULD BUILD ‘HIROSHIMA-STYLE’ WEAPON, SAYS US LACKS URANIUM PLANU.S. and Israeli officials previously estimated that Iran had a large ballistic missile arsenal — roughly 2,000 to 3,000 missiles of various types at the outset of the conflict. Central Command chief Adm. Brad Cooper said Thursday Iran’s missile attacks have decreased 90% since the start of the conflict.Defense planners have described missile defense inventories as part of a broader strategic balancing act. The same high-end systems used to protect U.S. bases and partners in the Middle East are also supplied to Ukraine and positioned in the Indo-Pacific, creating what some analysts characterize as a “zero-sum” competition for inventory across theaters.Lawmakers emerging from recent classified briefings have raised questions about sustainability if operations expand. Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., warned the campaign could become a “math problem,” balancing incoming missile volumes against finite interceptor supplies and production capacity. Other members, including Republicans briefed on the operation, have said officials assured Congress U.S. forces remain in strong shape.Current and former defense officials have drawn a distinction between offensive strike weapons — which can often be surged from prepositioned stocks — and defensive interceptors such as Patriot and THAAD systems, which require longer production timelines and cannot be rapidly manufactured at scale.

Nvidia’s (NVDA) backing is often seen as a vote of confidence in a company’s technology and growth potential.The U.S. chip giant announced this week that it will invest $2 billion in Lumentum Holdings (LITE) and another $2 billion in Coherent Corp. (COHR), as it looks to strengthen supply chains needed for the massive buildout of AI infrastructure.Both companies develop optical technologies that use light to transmit data or perform sensing functions. Faster data transit is critical for running AI models.Nvidia is also making multi-billion-dollar purchase commitments with each company.“Together with Lumentum, NVIDIA is advancing the world’s most sophisticated silicon photonics to build the next generation of gigawatt-scale AI factories,” Nvidia CEO Jensen Huangsaid in a statement.Investors have already pushed the stocks sharply higher. Lumentum shares have surged about 76% year-to-date and are nearly 10x higher over the past 12 months as of March 5.Coherent stock has gained about 37.5% this year and is up roughly 250% over the past 12 months.

Nvidia stock is down year-to-date.Getty Images

Analysts significantly boost Lumentum price targetAnalysts sharply lifted their price targets on Lumentum following the news of Nvidia’s investment.Rosenblatt analyst Mike Genovese raised his price target on the stock to $900 from $580 and maintained a buy rating, The Fly reported.Related: Morgan Stanley changes its Nvidia position for the rest of 2026The firm said the deal appears to be driven by demand for co-packaged optics (CPO), a technology that moves data more efficiently within AI data centers. Rosenblatt also pointed to stronger long-term earnings potential.Stifel analyst Ruben Roy increased his price target for Lumentum stock to $800 from $480, while reiterating a buy rating. After recent meetings with CEO Michael Hurlston following the company’s fiscal second-quarter results, the analyst is raising what he called the “admittedly conservative estimates.”On Feb. 3, Lumentum reported strong fiscal second-quarter results, with revenue rising 65.5% year over year to $665.5 million. Non-GAAP earnings came in at $1.67 per share, sharply higher than 42 cents a year earlier, up 298%.What does the investment mean to Nvidia?Nvidia’s investment in the two optical tech companies is “driven by the physical limits of copper interconnects at the data rates AI clusters now demand,” Brendan Burke, research director of Futurum, said in a note. Burke said traditional copper links are impractical for the 800 Gbps speeds required in modern AI fabrics. As copper reaches its limit at higher frequencies, the optical transition is “mandatory.” “The investment in Coherent and Lumentum ensures Nvidia controls access to the specialized laser and packaging technology required to execute that transition,” Burke noted.Nvidia’s AI portfolioNvidia’s broader strategy is to invest in companies that control key layers of the AI infrastructure buildout. Its latest Q4 13F filing shows a portfolio that consists of tech holdings tied to the AI supply chain. The company’s biggest position is Intel (INTC) at about $7.9 billion at fourth quarter end, followed by Synopsys (SNPS) at roughly $2.26 billion and CoreWeave (CRWV) at about $1.74 billion, according to 13F data tracked by Whale Wisdom.Related: Nvidia buys $3 billion in under-the-radar tech stocks, exits ArmNvidia also holds smaller stakes in Nokia (NOK) and Nebius (NBIS), both valued at roughly $1 billion at the end of 2025.The latest investment in the two photonics companies is each larger than Nvidia’s stake in CoreWeave and close to the size of its second-largest holding, Synopsys.”The decision to invest in two optical partners rather than selecting a single source is architecturally deliberate rather than financially redundant,” Burke said. “Coherent and Lumentum occupy complementary positions in the optical value chain.”Related: Apple closes all stores in fast-growing market

Habits are powerful. As such, they can make or break our lives. If we make a habit of eating healthy and working out, that’s great, but if our habits are undesirable, that’s not good. Habits also play an important role in retail, and business operators know this very well. That’s why big retailers don’t make a decision for major change in their stores lightly. Changes are necessary as consumer habits also shift, but when consumer habits are constant making a change can upset customers. Target Corporation (TGT) is currently going through a transformation, after various challenges it had for years, including weak sales amid controversies that sparked huge customer boycotts, reported TheStreet’s Patricia Battle. The retail chain recently hired a new CEO in an effort to repair its reputation and is also deploying workforce changes to improve the customer experience. In 2025, Target made several moves to attract more shoppers, including several discounts and special offers. However, its latest earnings results revealed a comparable sales decrease of 2.5% year over year  in the fourth quarter. Moreover, Target’s full- year 2025 net sales dropped 1.7% to $104.8 billion, reflecting a 2.6% decrease in comparable sales, according to its 8-K filing with Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Now, Target is incorporating more changes to its business. 

Target to remove cereal with artificial colors by the end of May. Shutterstock

Target to remove cereal with artificial colors by the end of May Target recently confirmed that by the end of May it will become one of the first national retailers that only carries cereals made without certified synthetic colors. The move follows up on the Trump administration’s efforts to remove synthetic colors from foods. In May 2025, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved three food colors from natural sources. In February 2026, the FDA allowed for more flexibility, enabling companies to claim that products do not contain artificial colors as long as they are not made with petroleum-based dyes. Removing from its shelves cereals that still contain artificial dyes is part of Target’s strategy to “lead with merchandising authority” and drive further growth, according to its press release. “We know consumers are increasingly prioritizing healthier lifestyles, and we’re moving quickly to evolve our offerings to meet their needs,” stated Cara Sylvester, executive vice president and chief merchandising officer, Target.Which cereals will be removed from Target’s shelves? Target’s flagship private-label brand, Good & Gather, already excludes synthetic colors across its entire 2,500+ product lineup (including dairy, meat, and produce). The company is trying to use this brand’s success as the “gold standard” for the rest of its grocery aisles.Currently, cereals made without synthetic dyes already account for 85% of Target’s cereal sales, the company said as reported by BBC. The company declined to comment if cereal brands plan to adjust their formula to accommodate Target’s new policy. Target has not disclosed a list of cereals that will be removed from its shelves, however several brands might fall into that category as their cereals contain certified synthetic colors. Meanwhile, the majority of popular cereal and other food brands have pledged to remove artificial colors from their formula over time. For example, WK Kellogg, the company behind fan favorite Froot Loops and Rice Krispies has previously announced a plan to reformulate its cereals served in school to not include FD&C colors by the 2026-2027 school year. Moreover, the company confirmed it plans to remove these colorings from its food in retail by the end of 2027, according to the press release. While WK Kellogg did not immediately respond to a BBC inquiry, it is possible that Target’s deadline will be too short for the company to make adjustments and remain on Target’s shelves. WK Kellogg’s products sold at Target that contain artificial dyes include: Froot Loops Apple Jacks Squishmallows
Source: The Associated Press 
Another major brand behind cereals such as Cheerios and Lucky Charms, General Mills (GIS) in June 2025 also announced plans to remove certified synthetic colors from all its U.S. cereals and all K-12 school foods by summer 2026. On March 5, 2026, General Mills disclosed that its entire portfolio of K-12 school foods is now made without certified colors, successfully achieving this milestone ahead of its summer 2026 commitment. However, the company also confirmed that it is on track to remove certified colors from its U.S. cereal portfolio by summer 2026 and from its full U.S. retail portfolio by the end of 2027, meaning certain cereals might not meet Target’s deadline to remain on shelves. On the other hand, General Mills recently told the Associated Press that 85% of its U.S. retail portfolio — including brands like Cheerios and Cascadian Farm — is already free of artificial colors and that the company doesn’t anticipate that Target will halt sales of any of its products. Related: Iconic national office retailer closing stores, no bankruptcyPotential dangers of artificial colors commonly found in foods In April 2025, Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr announced a ban on eight commonly used artificial food dyes to help Americans “know what’s in their food,” reported BBC. Kennedy and his Make America Healthy Again movement also urged food and beverage makers to remove ingredients such as corn syrup, seed oils and artificial dyes from their products arguing they are related to various health problems. Following these efforts many food and beverage giants agreed to change their formulation to answer the new suggestions. For example, Coca-Cola announced in July 2025 it will use real cane sugar in its drinks sold across the United States, reported the Associated Press. Additionally, Target’s rival Walmart also pledged to eliminate synthetic dyes across all private brand food products.  Why the sudden war on artificial colors found in food? In April 2025, when the FDA announced that the Agency and HHS plan to phase out petroleum-based synthetic dyes in the nation’s food supply, Kennedy Jr. called these substances “toxic.” Some public-health advocates argue artificial dyes serve little purpose beyond marketing. “The most important thing to know about food dyes is that their only purpose is to make food companies money,” stated Peter G. Lurie, president of the Center for Science in the Public Interest.Artificial dyes currently used in food: Red No. 3 (Erythrosine): A cherry-red coloring commonly used in candy, popsicles and cake-decorating gels.Red No. 40 (Allura Red): A dark red dye that is used in sports drinks, candy, condiments and cereals.Yellow No. 5 (Tartrazine): A lemon-yellow dye that is found in candy, soft drinks, chips, popcorn and cereals.Yellow No. 6 (Sunset Yellow): An orange-yellow dye that is used in candy, sauces, baked goods and preserved fruits.Blue No. 1 (Brilliant Blue): A greenish-blue dye used in ice cream, canned peas, packaged soups, popsicles and icings.Blue No. 2 (Indigo Carmine): A royal blue dye found in candy, ice cream, cereal and snacks.
Source: Healthline 
Some studies suggest the connection between some artificial colors and certain health problems, from hyperactivity and attention problems in children to higher risk of certain cancers. More Retail:Dollar General makes key move Target, Walmart can’t beat Discount retail chain suddenly closes multiple locations Lowe’s makes major change to how you interact with its stores  Food dyes have been associated with: Hyperactivity, according to OEHHA.Increase in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms in children, according to a 2022 review of studies published in the National Library of Medicine.  Changes to attention and activity in children, according to 2022 Study in Springer Nature.Red 40 is a synthetic compound found in many ultra‑processed foods and that its use increased alongside rises in early‑onset colorectal cancer rates.Some researchers have noted that the increased use of Red 40 in ultra‑processed foods has occurred alongside the rising incidence of early‑onset colorectal cancer, according to 2024 study published in Oxford Academic.Red 3 and Red 105 promoted the development of thyroid tumors in rats, raising concerns about their potential harm to humans, according to Japanese Journal of Cancer Research.Researchers linked Blue 2 to brain and mammary tumors in rats, raising significant human safety concerns, according to 2021 study published in the National Library of Medicine.Still, the FDA’s website continues to report limited evidence for harms from artificial colors. “The totality of scientific evidence shows that most children have no adverse effects when consuming foods containing color additives, but some evidence suggests that certain children may be sensitive to them,” the site reads. Consumers react to Target’s decision to remove cereals with artificial colors While Target’s move “is part of its broader ambition to build a grocery experience rooted in differentiation and international curation for today’s families,” a number of customers expressed skepticism and cynicism about the move. In a Reddit thread covering the news, some users shared suspicion of political motives behind the decision, others viewed the move as a distraction and empty gesture that prioritizes cultural trends over substantial public health reform. “They’re trying to replace the people who left with MAHA types, who are in a similar higher-income type of demographic,” wrote user ghu79421. User Due_Satisfaction2167 who is apparently among the people still boycotting the company, focused on arguing that this new move is not going to change much. “Going more MAGA/MAHA isn’t going to convince me to abandon this boycott, Target,” they wrote. On the other hand, industry experts, such as Vani Hari who is the leader of Maha, American author, activist and blogger behind Food Babe, praised the Target’s decision praising the importance of the company’s move. “When a major retailer like Target makes that kind of stance, it has impacts across the food industry, and it sends a signal that retailers are siding with consumers who want less artificial ingredients,” Hari said according to The GuardianAccording to a 2024 analysis by Nielsen, 48% of U.S. consumersactively avoid products containing artificial colors, while 37%are willing to pay more for products made with natural ingredients​. Related: Lowe’s upgrades offer for loyal customers amid sluggish sales

One of the most enjoyable parts about any trip to Disney World — or any theme park operated by The Walt Disney Company for that matter — is revisiting favorite attractions. My family always heads straight to Space Mountain first thing in the morning, no matter how long the wait time is, and then the negotiations begin about where to go next. That’s the thing about Disney theme parks: every visit is full of rituals. Our Disney routine also includes watching the Main Street Electrical Parade at least once. Even though my kids are bona fide young adults now, it’s still magical. If Disney ever closes Space Mountain at Disneyland or cancels the parade, we will be devastated, and I suspect many visitors would feel the same way.But nostalgia alone has never driven strategy at The Walt Disney Company. Over the past few years, as I’ve reported for TheStreet, The Walt Disney Company has shown a willingness to retire long-running attractions — no matter how beloved — in favor of updates, usually focusing on intellectual property that better aligns with the company’s long-term strategy. Sometimes that means modest refurbishment, but other times it signals something bigger, such as when the company shut down Rivers of America Tom Sawyer Island and the Liberty Square Riverboat to make room for a whole new land.This week, it meant saying goodbye to a coaster that has been blasting guests into the night since the late 1990s.Disney retires Aerosmith version of the Rock ‘n’ Roller CoasterRock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith has officially closed at Disney’s Hollywood Studios after 27 years.The indoor launch coaster, manufactured by Dutch coaster company Vekoma, was one of Disney’s earliest high-intensity launch coasters. It opened in 1999 and quickly became one of the park’s defining thrill rides. Its high-speed launch, inversions in the dark, and pounding Aerosmith soundtrack made it feel different from the rest of Disney’s portfolio. But Disney confirmed that the Aerosmith version of the attraction has permanently shut down. In its place? A reimagined coaster starring The Muppets, set to debut in summer 2026.

Disney is shifting away from intellectual property it doesn’t own. Photo by Melvyn Longhurst on Getty Images

Why Disney keeps closing ridesFor more than a decade, Disney has been reshaping its parks, putting a bigger emphasis on its company-owned intellectual property.Several older attractions across Walt Disney World have closed or been announced for replacement as part of the company’s long-term redevelopment strategy. Major closures and replacements across Disney World in 2025 alone include: Rivers of America in Magic KingdomTom Sawyer Island in Magic KingdomLiberty Square Riverboat in Magic KingdomMuppet*Vision 3D in Hollywood StudiosStar Wars Launch Bay in Hollywood StudiosDINOSAUR in Animal KingdomIt’s Tough to Be a Bug! in Animal KingdomTriceraTop Spin in Animal KingdomThe changes to park attractions almost always comes down to a financial decision. During the company’s February 2, 2026 earnings call CEO Bob Iger and CFO Hugh Johnston emphasized how critical the Experiences division has become.Here are key takeaways from Disney’s latest quarterly report:The Experiences segment delivered more than $10 billion in quarterly revenue, a record milestone.Company revenue reached nearly $26 billion for the quarter, exceeding Wall Street expectations.Adjusted earnings per share came in at $1.63, also beating analyst forecasts.Parks and Experiences operating income remained a major profit driver, even as other segments face content and streaming cost pressures.Disney reiterated its commitment to strategic capital investments in parks, including attraction updates and new IP integration.“Our efforts to turbocharge this segment are well underway, and we are excited about continued progress on a robust pipeline of projects to support long-term growth,” Iger and Johnson noted during the call.The end of an era at Disney WorldThe closure of Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith is notable for another reason: Aerosmith is not a Disney-owned brand but The Muppets are.By retheming the coaster to feature Kermit the Frog and the Electric Mayhem, Disney shifts the ride from licensed rock nostalgia to fully owned intellectual property. That reduces long-term licensing complications and strengthens synergy across merchandise, streaming, and in-park storytelling.It’s the same logic that has fueled expansions tied to Star Wars, Marvel, Pixar, and classic animation properties.Related: Jim Cramer says Disney should buy rival cruise lineStill, the closure is bittersweet for many guests because the coaster was their Hollywood Studios “must-do.” It had the kind of specific identity that makes a ride unforgettable: the pre-show countdown, the stretch limo launch, the heart-thumping soundtrack.Replacing that with Muppet humor will certainly change the vibe — though Disney is betting that the franchise’s multigenerational appeal will resonate with families.“I have no nostalgia for Aerosmith, but the Muppet overlay is puzzling unless it’s a primarily adult franchise now with very few fans under 18. I read an article that said the Muppets lost a generation of children, so maybe that’s true. Personally, the biggest problem with the ride is the coaster itself. It’s an aging Vekoma spaghetti bowl coaster with a couple good elements but sort of meandering. It has since been eclipsed by superior designs. Is it so crazy to think Disney couldn’t partner with RMC one day?” wrote one commenter in a discussion thread on Reddit, reflecting a sentiment shared by many longtime fans.Disney must balance nostalgia with growthDisney trades heavily on nostalgia, as any repeat visitor like me knows, but earnings depend on growth. Executives have been clear that continued investment in the parks is central to future performance. Retheming older rides is often more cost-effective than building entirely new attractions from scratch, while still giving marketing teams something “new” to promote.It may be a smart strategy in the eyes of Wall Street, but for some fans it reads as a loss. What the news signals for Disney investorsFor investors watching the company’s stock, this closure isn’t about one ride. It’s about the broader signal. “Looking ahead, Disney’s multi-year expansion pipeline significantly strengthens the long-term growth outlook for its Experiences segment,” Media analyst Subhasish Mukherjee wrote in a column for Zacks Investment Research on Nasdaq. “The company plans to add two new cruise ships — Disney Destiny and Disney Adventure — in the near term, expanding the fleet to eight vessels, with five additional ships scheduled beyond fiscal 2026,” they said.The company also has some non-U.S. expansion plans. “Disney is set to open World of Frozen at Disneyland Paris this spring and is planning a new theme park in Abu Dhabi. Entry into fast-growing regions like Asia and the Middle East is designed to expand capacity and reduce geographic concentration. Over time, these initiatives should lift attendance, extend guest stays and boost per-capita spending, strengthening cash flow visibility beyond the near term,” the added.Disney continues to:Prioritize owned IP over licensed properties.Invest capital in refreshing park experiences rather than letting them age out.Lean on Experiences as a stabilizing force amid streaming volatility.As long as the parks division keeps producing strong revenue and operating income, we should expect more changes like this — not fewer.That doesn’t make it easier for the families who built vacation traditions around a specific attraction. And if Disney ever decides to retire Space Mountain, my family might be among the longtime visitors lining up to protest.Related: Disney is about to fundamentally change

TheStreet aims to feature only the best products and services. If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission.Why we love this dealThere are a few staples that round out every wardrobe. For women, it’s a great bag and a little black dress. For men, it’s a handsome suit. While it’s a boon to have pieces like this for dressy events, there’s one staple that’s even more important than these iconic items: the humble T-shirt. You can wear it with everything from sweats to jeans, or even with your pajama pants. They get worn so much that they often get worn out, which means you always need to buy more.If you’d like to stock up on this all-important item without breaking the bank, Walmart is having a sale on its bestselling Haozzaw V-Neck T-Shirts with prices so low it’s hard to believe. Not only are they available in 26 colors, but prices start at just $3. At that price, you can grab enough to be able to avoid laundry for weeks and still have plenty of fresh tees to wear.Haozzaw T-Shirt, Starting at $3 (was $10) at Walmart

Courtesy of Walmart

Why do shoppers love it?If you like the fit of an oversized T-shirt, you’re going to love this one. It has a high-cut V-neck and longer sleeves than the average T-shirt, which is great for a bit of extra sun protection. They come in a wide range of sizes as well, from small to 5XL. One shopper mentions that they would be a great pick for women with larger busts. These shirts are cut long enough to cover your bottom, so you can comfortably wear them with leggings, as well as jeans and shorts.The best deals are on the purple, light blue, and pink colors, which are all $3. All the other colors are below $6, so you don’t have to spend much more to get those. It is worth noting that the manufacturer recommends that shoppers hand-wash these shirts and line-dry, so be careful not to toss them into the machine with your other laundry.More than 300 shoppers have given these tees a five-star rating, highlighting their cut, comfort, and range of colors. “I am pleased with these summer tops,” one shopper wrote. “I like the oversized fit and the longer short sleeves. The long length is great too, since I am fairly tall. The fabric doesn’t wrinkle like other summer tops. I am very pleased, and I bought five different colors.”Details to knowColors: 26, with the best deal on the purple, light blue, and pink.Sizes: Small to 5XL.Machine-washable?: No. The manufacturer recommends hand-washing and line-drying.Related: Walmart’s bestselling 3-piece rocking chair patio set is only $170, just in time for spring”These shirts have a soft, buttery feel on the skin and feel comfortable,” another shopper wrote. Several mentioned the shirts run big, so it may be worth it to order one size up.Shop more deals Ashirexll Short Sleeve Shirts, $3 (was $5) at WalmartVmvidoty Oversized Short-Sleeved Shirt, $3 (was $4) at WalmartAthletic Works Buttercore Cropped Tee, $6 (was $8) at WalmartWalmart’s bestselling Haozzaw V-Neck T-Shirt is not only a great deal, but at just $3, you can afford to stock up.

The CDC now urges “shared clinical decision-making” around certain pediatric vaccines. I’m a pediatrician. We already do that.

The investing app is stepping into the premium credit-card market long dominated by American Express and big banks.

Gold and silver rose after weak jobs data were reported.

Private Credit Firesale Begins: World’s Largest Asset Manager Gates Investors In $26 Billion Fund

Three weeks ago, when the largest US Private Credit-focused asset manager Blue Owl, was faced with a flood of redemptions due to its outsized exposure to software loans (which are very rapidly being repriced to zero thanks to the disruption from AI), the firm opted against reinstating quarterly redemptions on a retail fund and decided to return investor capital through assets sales instead (effectively also freezing the money in it and gating investors ) announcing a massive $1.4 billion sale of private credit loans, a move which we said is a private credit echo of the memorable scene from Margin Call “be first, be smarter, or cheat.” Specifically, we said the following:

While it is unclear how deep the secondary market for private credit assets is, to the extent demand is relatively scarce, a transaction of this size could dry up market liquidity. If that assumption is true, other BDCs looking to exit portfolio investments could be jeopardized. Recall the immortal line from Margin Call: “Be First, Be Smarter, or Cheat.”

Well this could very well be Blue Owl’s “Be First” moment… “Sell it all, today.” Of course, it may be the case that the secondary market is only deep for higher quality private credit assets, like the ones in the portfolio OWL is selling. For example, OWL said all of the $1.4bn of assets it intends to sell were rated the highest quality based on its internal measure of risk (all 1s or 2s on a scale of 5), although that is like Jeffrey Epstein auditing himself, and finding he did nothing wrong. The worst case is if this transaction dries up secondary liquidity for private credit assets (or proves that the bid is only there for higher quality assets), and would be very negative for other BDCs exploring portfolio sales, namely NMFC, which has said it is pursuing the sale of $500mn of its portfolio (17% of total investments as of 3Q25).

In retrospect, this was indeed Blue Owl’s “be first” moment, and the shockwaves are now smashing the private credit sector. 

Earlier this week, the liquidation panic not-so-quietly sweeping the private credit world, hit 11 when Blackstone’s Private Credit Fund (BCRED, the world’s largest with $82BN in AUM, was hit with a record 7.9% in redemptions, shocking Wall Street as the total number of permitted redemption was above the statutory maximum of 7%, which forced Blackstone’s own employees to write $150 million worth of personal checks to make sure those hoping to pull their money didn’t start a riot, and more importantly, avoid gating the fund which would have had catastrophic consequences for the entire industry. 

Then, just yesterday, the panic rose to a jolly 12 out of 10 when that other “Black” fund, BlackRock, slashed the value of a private loan to zero just three months after assessing it at 100 cents on the dollar, marking the second sudden wipeout to recently hit its private-credit division. Specifically, the $25 million loan to Infinite Commerce Holdings, an Amazon aggregator that buys up online sellers of products from spa treatments to light bulbs, was now deemed worthless (see below), BlackRock TCP Capital Corp. reported in fourth-quarter filings released last week. The fund had marked the junior debt at 100 cents on the dollar in the third quarter. In other words, total wipeout in 3 months.

But the climax came this morning, also from BlackRock, when the world’s largest asset manager announced it had curbed withdrawals – i.e. gated investors – from one of its biggest private credit funds after client requests for redemptions spiked, news which was nothing short of shocking to the broader private credit space which had been dreading this moment. 

BlackRock’s $26 billion HPS Corporate Lending Fund, one of the industry’s largest non-traded business development companies, and not to be confused with the BlackRock TCP Capital Corp which just repriced one of its loans from 100 to 0, said shareholders requested 9.3% of their shares, but management decided to cap the repurchase at 5%, the company said in a statement on Friday. The total amount of shares would have been around $1.2 billion, according to Bloomberg calculations.

The firm said the step is in line with its existing management of liquidity for the fund and a “foundational” feature of the fund.

“Without it, there would be a structural mismatch between investor capital and the expected duration of the private credit loans in which HLEND invests,” the company said in the statement which of course was just a polite way of saying we can’t repay everyone without starting a firesale. 

Remarkably, HPS Investment Partners is one of the largest alternative credit managers and was purchased last year by BlackRock. The non-traded BDC, known as HLEND, offered last month to tender as much as 5% of its shares, as is typical for such business development companies. It faced withdrawals of about 4.1% in the prior period. The number has since more than doubled, and those who waited are now stuck. 

In other words, Blackrock just did what Blue Owl and BlackStone had so desperately tried to avoid doing as they knew very well, it would spark even more redemptions, forcing even more firesales, leading to even more remarking from 100 to, well, much lower, and so on.

For what happens next, watch Margin Call, the movie. And for those who won’t, private credit funds are now bracing for a wave of redemption requests as angst grows around the industry’s lending practices and exposure to businesses that could be upended by artificial intelligence. 

* * * 

But wait, there’s more: today, ground zero of the private credit collapse, Blue Owl Capital, saw its stock tumble below its SPAC launch price of $10, which was also a three year low, after Bloomberg reported the fund has a £36 million ($48 million) exposure to Century Capital Partners Ltd., a London-based property lender that filed for administration last month. 

The US private credit firm, which manages $307 billion of assets, funded the riskiest tranche of loans originated by Century, a so-called bridging lender focused on high-end central London real estate, according to people familiar with the matter who asked not to be named discussing private information. The company’s shares fell as much as 4.3% in pre-market trading.

Century, not to be confused with Market Financial Solutions, another bridging lending which fell into a UK form of insolvency earlier this week, as discussed here, entered administration with about £95 million of total debt. NatWest Group Plc and Hampshire Trust Bank Plc are among Century’s senior creditors, Bloomberg reported. Century’s administrators at RSM UK expect to recover the full amount of the loans.

Blue Owl filed for the administration of Century’s parent unit in February at a time when the upper end of London’s property market has been weighed down by higher property taxes and an exodus of wealthy residents after some tax breaks ended. Blue Owl became a creditor to Century through its 2024 acquisition of Atalaya Capital Management, a credit firm that began partnering with  entury in 2021.

Asset-backed financing has been touted as the new frontier for private credit, with some of the biggest players in the industry gathering billions to buy debt backed by hard assets. Top executives at Pimco, Carlyle Group, Marathon and Blackstone have flagged the sector as a big area of growth for the industry. Unfortunately, that growth is now over, and what follows next is a firesale liquidation, mass layoffs and ultimately… silence.

Tyler Durden
Fri, 03/06/2026 – 11:00